Post Published on January 26, 2011.
Last Updated on July 12, 2021 by davemackey.
The Last Hunter ($2.99 Kindle eBook, also available in print) by Jeremy Robinson is the first in a series of young adult techno-thrillers. Yes, I’m a bit embarrassed to admit it – but I just read a YA book and enjoyed it. Honestly, I had no clue it was YA until just a few moments ago. I did wonder why Robinson chose to cast the protagonist as a young teenager.
Still, while the book is classified as YA it is probably important to note that it is YA in the same way that C.S. Lewis‘ Chronicles of Narnia, Philip Pullman‘s Subtle Knife, or Frank Peretti‘s Cooper Kids are YA. In other words, the topics addressed, the philosophical underpinnings, and sometimes the storyline are not blase.
I’m not going to even begin to attempt a synopsis of this book – to do so without revealing too much of the thrill of the storyline is almost impossible. Instead, let me just note a few of the topics that are addressed in the novel that really drew in my attention:
- Nephilim – I’m always a sucker for these guys. We know so little about them, other than their mention in Genesis and a few other brief passages, but there is plenty of opportunity to build lore around them.
- Mythology (especially Norse) – Mythology is always fascinating, and I appreciate Robinson’s endeavors to provide an explanation for the origin of these myths.
- Hollow Earth – Okay, its not strictly hollow earth – but it is kind of. You’ll feel some Journey to the Center of the Earth (Jules Vernes) vibes from this one, and perhaps a touch of The Lost World (Arthur Conan Doyle).
- Ancient Man – Part of the novel revolves around Antartica as a green continent and the presence of ancient civilizations on the continent.
- Large Creatures – I’m also a sucker for large creatures – e.g. prehistoric or modern gigantic marvels (dinosaurs and so on).
Charity really loved the character development and character interactions at the beginning and the end of the book – but was a little disappointed in the middle (when all the action occurred) due to the lack of character development.
Overall, I would give the book 5/5 stars, but for one issue – Robinson describes in excruciating detail several painful scenes – e.g. when someone or something suffers great pain or death. I’m not objecting due to any inability to write but simply because the passages where physically hard to read. One felt the pain of the characters, the disgust, the anguish – and while there is a sense in which one reads to understand, there is also a sense in which we read to relax…and those portions were not relaxing at all!