Readers and fellow fantasists who enjoy the escape to a universe so intricate, fans of series like The Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter, this read is a guaranteed sister-obsession to you all. The doors open to the mystical fantasy world post the Methueyn War; the universe one gets sucked into may seem quite relatable at first. The book’s dynamics and jargon are exciting to establish, but there is always more to come. But is this seeming calm—the stillness before the storm—just a fiction created by this gripping book? The book poses a great many questions, and for the most part it is only possible to suggest the answers in retrospect. The mental image can turn 180 degrees in the span of a split second (or, more precisely, the turn of a page). As you board, your excitement will soar since this journey takes place in a universe that teaches its laws as more pages are turned.
The book’s perspective, which serves as a prelude to The Dynamicist, fascinates readers with its high stakes. Fair warning to all acrophobic readers: the book may take you to the highest of heights and leave you there for the duration of the plot’s most gripping, jaw-clenching cliff-hangers. With the extra addition of being unable to put the book down, a cheerful attitude or a peaceful mind are assured to be impossibilities.
The book effectively portrays the elusive concept of trust in today’s fast-paced world. As the reader navigates through the story, they must decide which character to trust and who acts as their moral compass, leading them to the satisfying conclusion. The plot is intricate, but the book’s well-organized elements, such as the geography, character lists, and division into two parts, help the reader navigate through various genres, including fiction, action, thriller, fantasy, and magic. The story includes witches, demons, seers, knights, soldiers, and other factions, each playing a crucial role in the plot’s twists and turns, resembling a chess board arrangement. Despite its complexity, the reader never feels lost due to the author’s effective storytelling techniques.
How far can one go for love? There is no objective answer to this question but what if the choice renders the choosing between right and wrong, between duty and devotion? A convoluted take on this seems to fascinate Hunt’s writing in Last Worst Hopes as it embodies a message open to interpretation. The ultimate, final, reveal of who the One True Devil was is a quiet shocker. You might need to read it twice. This surprising outcome sheds insight on yet another intriguing aspect of the literature that departs from the stereotypical hero and villain roles. The distinction between the two is unmistakably clear but also appears to be rather narrow. Who or what is the One True Devil? Does evil have anything to do with it? Answering this would be a huge spoiler, and readers may have their own interpretation.
Last Worst Hopes is a complex story—an emotional and intellectual puzzle that poses many questions to the reader, and the identity of the One True Devil is only one of them. And it works, for few can resist a good puzzle.
The fear of the unknown rises towards the end of the first part which is reinforced by the distressing events that sync together making one question who, or what is the true enemy. An angle from here looks like revenge but a see through there looks like justice, the conical vision of the chapters may render the readers speechless into deciphering its complexity, but an epiphany is never far off!
The concept of protagonist may be affirmed but the idea of a hero is ambiguous. Instead of waiting for The One, Lee Hunt tries to show that the hero may in all, and the need of the hour might just be to congregate into the one but the personification of evil, the Devil always shows up as the gigantic but lonely. A hidden nudge here.
After all the twists and turns, the plot takes due to political intrigues and political schemes, some people may think that riding in the front seat of universally dangerous amusement park rides is a piece of cake. This also alludes to current political situations, hypocrisies that lead to painful repercussions, and divided views on a range of societal and communal issues that reveal hidden truths and mysteries about themselves.
Characters like Mick, Val and Farah resemble the everyday heroes that knock on the doors of fate to commit to greater good, intentionally, or otherwise. The terror of the war cloaks its hood onto the budding positivity many-a-times resonating the precarious successes one might have before the ultimate one in real life. But as for recuperating, the author brings a terrific comeback in Part Two of True War that follows that sheds some characters and instances of the past in a whole new light which takes some getting used to. Lee Hunt crafts this mystery-verse admirably with a large cast, demonstrating a genuine mastery of the ideation to production process. Yet, what really jumps out is how each member of the ensemble is portrayed. Embarrassment, longing, and the illusion of glory all seem to transform into actual bravery, identity rediscovery, and belief in oneself. Every job has been meticulously prepared with its own set of responsibilities, making it difficult for the reader to stray into specific contingency plans while making a determination about a character. Even while it seems contradictory, this war-zone, escape to reality turns out to be a trap created by a web of masks.
With a backdrop of drama and a made-up world war, the author transports the reader to the heights of ecstasy, enchantment, mystic wonder, and ultimately toe-curling adventure. As they say, the loudest splash originates from the greatest height. The topography of the stakes and outcomes that readers experience because of the struggle and tiredness of these characters in large numbers is revealed by leaving a situation with emotions that are considerably different from those one would have entered with. The igniting spark of the need to know what happens next is another spell that is scattered across the book’s pages and against which one does not necessarily need to shield themselves.
The platter of various personalities of the characters, their jargon of changes along the path, the mystic codes of magic, protocols of the world within – this kind of a literary masterpiece pulls one to strap on to a ride on the wings of a mythical creature soaring into Hunt’s intriguing universe that would not require a bookmark at all.
Last Worst Hopes by Lee Hunt is a must-read for all fans of fantasy and intricate universes. With its well-organized elements and effective storytelling techniques, the book takes the reader on a thrilling journey through a world of witches, demons, knights, and soldiers. As the plot twists and turns, the reader is left questioning who to trust and what the true enemy is. This emotional and intellectual puzzle is sure to leave readers speechless and itching for more. With its gripping plot and complex characters, Last Worst Hopes is the perfect addition to any fantasy lover’s collection.
Also Read: Exploring Humanity Through Fiction: An Interview with Author Lee Hunt
