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Oct 13, 2018TEENREVIEWCREW rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
The Last Namsara, by Kristen Ciccarelli, is an excellent fantasy book, and possibly my new favourite book. It starts off quickly, and keeps the fast-pace steady throughout the book. The world building is elaborate and detailed, revealing unknown details until the end as Asha unravels the past. The plot is deceptively simple at first, but has side plots seamlessly woven in, adding the mystery, character development, and suspense. Though the twist ending wasn’t entirely surprising, and somewhat cliche, it had new aspects and the perfect amount of foreshadowing. Asha, the main character, is multi-faceted, and nowhere near perfect. She seems very human, and she is, though not exactly likeable, a character that you want to succeed. Torwin, though a side character and the love interest, has dimensions and purpose. He is essential to the storyline and an amazing character. The refreshing twist on soulmates is wonderfully done, as it still needs leaves the element of choice. Both the major antagonist and the “side” antagonist’s motives are slightly unclear, but otherwise well-rounded characters. The story ends dramatically but conclusively, even as it leaves questions for the readers. Overall, The Last Namsara is a wonderful book, filled with excitement, betrayal, and love. 5/5 - @SoleilAngel of the Teen Review Board of the Hamilton Public Library The Last Namsara, is a fantasy novel with intricate relations not just between humans, but with dragons as well. From this novel, Ciccarelli showed that sometimes, it’s not always blood over love. Sometimes, even the people closest to you can still betray you. I absolutely loved the balance of good and evil, comparing the sky to earth. The Namsara seen as the hero, the Iskari as the destructor, as she felt no pain when she brought death upon her people. The concept of balance is stunning, and I love how the author connected with her audience. The novel felt very relatable, being told what to say, and never having our own freedom as young adults. The author does not portray the dragons as pets, but well respected, cunning creatures equal to humans, with strong personalities. Asha’s character shows that women can dominate just as much as men can. Women can be heroes too. She was not the typical weak-willed girl you would expect. As her story continues, her viciousness and the connections she holds with history form a story that you can’t resist! Ciccarelli really linked the past and present to create a wonderful story. I would recommend this novel for teens between 12-16, although I’m sure some adults would enjoy it as well. I would say the storyline isn’t as intricate as let’s say, Hunger Games, and I’m sure some adults would prefer something that they relate to more, other than self-worth. Overall, it was absolutely amazing! Well done Ciccarelli! 4/5. @LoveoverBlood of the Hamilton Public Library Teen Review Board.