High school senior Anders Thorson is unusually gifted. His band, Last Things, is legendary in their northern Minnesota hometown. With guitar skills that would amaze even if he weren’t only eighteen, Anders is the focus of head-turning admiration. And Thea Malcom, a newcomer to the insular town, is one of his admirers. Thea seems to turn up everywhere Anders goes: gigs at the local coffeehouse, guitar lessons, even in the woods near Anders’s home.
When strange things start happening to Anders, blame immediately falls on Thea. But is she trying to hurt him? Or save him? Can he trust a girl who doesn’t seem to know the difference between dreams and reality? And how much are they both willing to sacrifice to get what they want?
Told from Anders’s and Thea’s dual points of view, this exquisitely crafted novel is full of unexpected twists and is for fans of Holly Black’s The Darkest Part of the Forest and Melissa Albert’s The Hazel Wood.
Title: Last Things | Author: Jacqueline West | Publisher: Greenwillow Books | Pub. Date: 7 May 2019 | Pages: 154 |ASIN: B07CL2RMPK | Genre: Fantasy YA | Language: English | Triggers: None | Rating: 5 out of 5 | Source: Received a copy from the publisher
Last Things Review
Last Things sizzles with tension from beginning to end. This fast-paced read weaves a story of good vs. evil and asks, how far would you go to achieve your dream?
Anders Thorson is a dynamic and relatable hero. His only dream is to become a rock star and leave his small town behind. But, be careful what you wish for because Anders is about to find himself in an epic battle for his soul. Thankfully, he has an ally. Thea Malcom. Except, she’s not who she appears to be. Can Anders trust her?
It’s been a while since I’ve seen teenagers written with such realism. Anders might be a rock star in his home town, but his insecurities lead him down the wrong path. He is about to lose everything he loves, and I couldn’t put the book down until I learned his fate. His flaws make him interesting and I think young readers will see a little of themselves in his struggles.
I especially appreciated how the popular pretty girl Frankie was portrayed. Typically, this character is the ‘mean girl’, the one who only likes the hero for his good looks, or in this case, his killer guitar playing skills. Except, Frankie is more than a stereotype. Yes, she’s pretty and popular and in the beginning I was rolling my eyes and annoyed that yet another young female character was portrayed in this unflattering light, but the book surprised me. Frankie surprised me and that was refreshing.
But beyond the teenage drama lies a deeper story of light vs. darkness. The fantasy elements are reserved more toward the end of the story, and I’d say they’re more on the lighter side, but there is a slow build up throughout the book that has a satisfying payoff.
This book is worth reading. Check it out!
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Nico Bell is a horror and science fiction writer. Her work has appeared in The Second Corona Book of Horror Stories, Drabbledark Anthology and Horror Tree’s Trembling with Fear. She joined the Coolthulhu Crew in May 2018.
