The Last Lumenian by S. G. Blaise: A Book Review
Genre: Fantasy
Blaise details an interesting story in her work, The Last Lumenian, featuring a rebel princess wanting to save her world. I was looking forward to reading this piece as it the synopsis reminded me of Star Wars’s Princess Lia. And while, there were good parts in the story as well as some excellent writing shown, unfortunately, Blaise was unable to meet my expectations.
Personally, I feel that Blaise had 3 stories shoved into one which caused each to be a little rushed, undercooked, and floppy. If she would have separated them and allowed them to grow separately before bringing them together, I feel like the idea would have reached its potential, but as it is… I would consider the story a massive flop. Please excuse me while I explain.
The 3 Stories that should have been:
- Rebel Princess – I feel that this way the main storyline Blaise was trying to create. Surrounding Lilla, I feel Rebel Princess could have been very much the coming-of-age story Blaise hinted at. Give her a challenging relationship with her father, a horrible stepmom, a sympathetic brother. Keep the claustrophobia. Keep the loss of the mother. HOWEVER, let this story allow Lilla to grow. Give her the chance to figure out her heritage, learn her powers, struggle against her oppressors. Callum (the love interest) can be in the story, but let him be the enemy. That’s the whole point of the enemies-to-loves trope! Don’t tease it! Give it. Let this be the main part of the refugee war.
- The Love Story – Allow heat to grow between Lilla and Callum. Let Lilla start to depend on him and he on her. Keep with the 3 favors (all of which were pointless since Callum never called on them). Have her hate him only to realize that he is the only one she knows she can trust to be there. Here can be the war with his people. Have him say they are coming – but don’t have them attack without warning. Allow the chance to have some people saved. Allow the chance of some kind of alliance. Here the marriage contract can take place. Here the “bride’s choice” can take place. Create a sense of a bigger war coming.
- The Main War – Here is where the battle with DLD lies (he needs a new name. DLD is cringy.) Have the forces prepare. Give the shock factors. Finish the coming-of-age story and make it into a coming-of-her-own. Give Lilla something to lose and threaten to take it away.
As it is now, The Last Lumenian is a shallow, thrown together heap of childish fantasies. What little girl doesn’t want to be a princess that helps the world even at the cost of fighting her own father? What little girl doesn’t want some sort of magic that only she has? Take the ideas and form them. World-build. This piece needs it. Character-build. This piece needs it.
Blaise, I am sorry, but whoever you paid to edit this work was a waste of money. I would have destroyed your manuscript before agreeing to let you publish it. So much work needs to be done before I would consider this work to be readable. As it is, 100% would NOT recommend.
Would I be interested in reading more work of yours? Perhaps. You had some good ideas. What you need is a strong hand in the writing it takes to make the ideas into a fabulous journey. Until your writing matches your thoughts – count me out. (Or pay me to ‘destroy’/edit the work).
Who would most enjoy the work and who should stay clear (if necessary):
Everyone should stay clear of this work. 100% would NOT recommend… UNLESS you are a writer and are 1. Looking for what NOT to do or 2. Wish the cringe heavily from writing.
Other books like the one reviewed:
Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout (same concept of warrior princess)
| Plot: | 6 / 10 |
| Characters: | 5 / 10 |
| Writing: | 8 / 10 |
| Editor: | 7 / 10 |
| Total | 26 / 40 |
Title: The Last Lumenian
Author: S. G. Blaise
Edition: ARC 2nd Paperback Edition
Published: 2021 (originally 2020)
Publisher: Independent
ISBN: 9781734760507
If you want to get it: Amazon; Barnes&Noble
Rosey Reviews 