If you haven’t already, check out my review of the first novel in the Cities in Dust series, As The World Falls Down. You can read it here.
Thank you to Witchlight Press and Katy Nicholas for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
All quotes are taken from The Last Place on Earth by Katy Nicholas.
// Book Content Warnings: death, mentions of torture, disease, mentions of sexual assault, mentions of abuse, violence, mentions of suicide //
There will be spoilers for the first novel in this review!
// Quick Statistics //
Overall: 4/5 Stars
Plot: 3.5/5 Stars
Setting: 5/5 Stars
Characters: 5/5 Stars
Writing: 5/5 Stars
Memorability: 3/5 Stars
// Quick Review //
While not exceeding my love of the first novel in the series, The Last Place on Earth presents a fresh and broad array of challenges that Katy Nicholas’ lovable characters must endure. Nicholas’ latest book is full of suspense, mystery, and high-stakes. After reading As the World Falls Down‘s sequel, I cannot wait for the third novel in this unpredictable series.
“Trouble was coming, looming on the horizon like a violent storm. And we were directly in its path.”
// Other Information //
Publisher: Witchlight Press
Page Count: 330 pages
Release Date: March 20, 2021
Series: Cities in Dust #2
Genre: Fiction, Adult, Young adult, Apocalyptic, Post-apocalyptic, Dystopian, Science fiction, Romance
// Book Description (from Amazon) //
Five years on from a devastating virus, Halley Clarke and Nate Reynolds find themselves back in Siren Bay where they fell in love. The peace is soon shattered when Halley begins to experience strange visions. The London community isn’t fairing much better either-Claire is missing, and not even psychic-conduit Eve can find her. Fortunately, Halley’s new abilities prove useful in locating the runaway teen. But what has spooked Claire enough to make her flee? As Halley’s visions intensify, a ghost from her past reaches out. He has the answers Halley so desperately wants. But he also has a story to tell her which comes with a dire warning; the broken man is heading to London, and it will have fatal consequences for someone Halley loves unless they can change the course of the future.
// Characters //
While full of characters from the first novel (Halley, Nate, Eve, Claire, and the rest of the crew), The Last Place on Earth is also full of new and unfamiliar characters that left me curious. Nicholas does a great job of adding fresh twists to their story while still taking their series in one direction.
If you are not familiar with Halley, the main character, to-be mama bear, and all-around badass, then you are missing out. Halley was my favorite character in this novel due to her unmistakable motivation to protect everyone she loves. She is utterly selfless, which I really admire. And, would it really be a review of this novel if I didn’t mention Nate? The perfect man for Halley? No, it wouldn’t be. Nate is, again, amazing. He is kind, understanding, smart, and a total sweetheart.
I enjoyed how the love between Nate and Halley, even in the darkest of times, shines through. Nicholas does a great job of making their characters realistic and making it feel like Halley and Nate are right in front of you, acting out the chaos that can be found within the novel’s pages.
Introduced in this novel, most importantly, is Halley’s father. After reading As the World Falls Down I was desperate to discover the story behind Halley’s heritage, and The Last Place on Earth delivered it to me. The novel actually changes POV’s at one point, about 47% through, to Sam’s, where we learn about his past. His section was my favorite part of the novel because it was something fresh and unexpected. Plus, it answered so many questions that had been left unanswered after the first book.
One thing I want to acknowledge is that the characters are incredibly intertwined in this series in the past and present. It becomes especially evident during the switch to Sam’s POV. It’s one of the little things that I thought was really neat.
“There was no way that we would all come out of this alive. No matter what we did. No matter what scenario played out.”
// Writing and Setting //
Nicholas’ writing has a way of drawing one in with a pleasant introduction, just to engulf you in a world of chaos and horrors.
Once again, the world of the Cities in Dust series is magnificent. It is dark and yet bright, despairing yet hopeful. The Last Place on Earth adds more to the world Nicholas created, yet also creates new questions about it.
// Plot //
The book picks off right where As the World Falls Down ends. Halley and Nate have just found Rebecca, Halley’s aunt, dead. Halley is devastated and not ready to return to the rest of the survivors, so she and Nate take a stop at the place where they first met. After some recuperation, Nate and Halley travel back to the rest of the survivors to find that chaos has erupted. Claire is missing, a strange man may bring about the decimation of their family, and Halley keeps seeing spectral figures. Halley must navigate the past to learn how to best fight against foes in the future.
Unfortunately, I was frustrated at first with the novel. It took me a while to become really intrigued by the story. For the first half of the book, none of my answers were questioned and more were introduced. The only thing that kept me reading was my need to have my questions answered. However, I am so glad I kept reading because once the POV switched from Halley’s to her father’s I became fascinated with the story. The second half of the novel was my favorite and redeemed my opinion of it. It became fast-paced and answered my questions while also delving deeper into the world of the series.
“‘Every lifetime, no matter where in the universe you end up, you find each other. Every. Single. Time. Death is nothing but a minor inconvenience to the two of you.'”
// Overall Review //
The Last Place on Earth left me excited for the next novel in this fantastic and intriguing series.
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Maya's Reviews 