The Last Hero

August 22, 2022
Lewis brings their First Sister trilogy to a dramatic conclusion in this empowering sci-fi epic (following The Second Rebel). The expansive cast grapples with grief and the desire for revenge as galaxy-shattering conflict becomes increasingly inevitable. Working to change the Sisterhood from within, Astrid and Lily—now Mother Lilian I—are undermined at every turn by enemies at the highest echelons of Gean government. Meanwhile Hiro, mourning their partner’s death, works to prevent their father from unleashing a weapon that could endanger the fragile peace between the Geans, the Icarii, and the distant, powerful Synthetics. And, still suffering the aftereffects of the Genekey virus, Luce and Hemlock work to hold the fragmenting Aster factions together. One of Lewis’s great strengths is their fluent, authentic-feeling representation of multiple marginalized identities; this outing is particularly notable for having three disabled point-of-view characters. Heavy with side plots and political messaging, this book occasionally feels like it’s trying to do too much in a single volume. Still, it provides a satisfying escalation and closes out character arcs well. Anyone looking for diverse, queernorm space opera will want to check out this series. Agent: Alexandra Machinist, ICM Partners.

September 1, 2022

The conclusion to this epic space opera picks up where The Second Rebel left off, after Astrid has freed herself from the Sisterhood, but not of her lost past. She attempts to assist the rebel raids against those who continue to control the Sisterhood, but the high-stakes plans of those at the top are relentless. Meanwhile, the other series characters' stories continue to unfold. Luce tries to bring together two factions who are engaging in mutual destruction, as she also learns to use the new body she is left with after the Genekey virus. Souji wishes to be the driver of humanity's future. Hiro val Akira wishes to destroy the parent who created so much pain. The character arcs are complex and woven together effectively across all the books. The themes of science and alien technology are placed against religious politics and gender constructs, creating a harsh setting that may feel too familiar at times to readers. Multiple plot lines are resolved with hope for the future, but not all. VERDICT The finale to Lewis's "First Sister" trilogy sticks the landing to complete a dynamic, action-filled story.--Kristi Chadwick

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