The Last Sun

April 30, 2018
Edwards’s debut combines swashbuckling action, political intrigue, and romance into a fast-paced and enjoyable adventure. New Atlantis is a self-contained nation of magic users, ensconced on Nantucket Island after a devastating war and ruled by courts named for the major arcana of the tarot. Rune St. John and his bound companion and bodyguard, Brand, are the last survivors of the fallen Sun Court; they make a living doing odd jobs involving varying degrees of danger, mostly for the formidable Lord Tower. After participating in an attack on the Lovers Court, Rune and Brand end up shielding the sheltered and abused grandson of Lady Lovers and searching for the missing son of Lady Justice. Their quest leads them to a conspiracy that involves undead monsters and murder, and may be connected to the fall of Rune’s court and the brutal assault he endured afterward. Rune is an entertaining narrator, and his bond with Brand provides a strong emotional cornerstone for their martial and magical skullduggery. Edwards’s intriguing worldbuilding and appealing characters set the stage and pique the reader’s interest for sequels. Agent: Sara Megibow, KT Literary.

Starred review from May 15, 2018

When Atlantis fell years ago, survivors replaced their ruined home by building New Atlantis on Nantucket Island, where powers are held by the courts of Arcana. Rune Saint John is the last of the fallen Sun Court, who works as a sometime investigator for his former protector Lord Tower. When Rune and companion/bodyguard Brand are asked to find Addam, the middle son of Lady Judgment, they are cast into a mystery that goes much deeper than a missing-persons case. There's also a mythical creature walking the streets that is somehow connected to the decimation of Rune's family and court and his torture at the hands of a masked group. Uncovering the truth will open the door to a painful past, but Rune's future may depend on taking such a risk. Edwards's gorgeous debut presents an alternate modern world that is at once unusual and familiar, with a grand interplay of powers formed by family and the supernatural. VERDICT Intriguing characters, a fast-paced mystery, and an original magical hierarchy will immediately hook readers, who will eagerly await the next volume in this urban fantasy series.--Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton

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