4 Stars

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Science Fiction

Where you can find The Last Hope: Barnes and Noble | Amazon | BookBub | Wednesday Books

Book synopsis:

A stunning conclusion to the sci-fi romance duology by writing duo Krista & Becca Ritchie, The Last Hope is filled with twists and turns you’ll never see coming.

Sacrifice all you have to survive.

Imprisoned for weeks on an enemy starcraft, Franny, Court, and Mykal have sat with an unfathomable revelation. But as they fight to stay alive, escaping prison means trusting a young mysterious stranger. He knows everything about their lost histories, and when answers aren’t given freely, the bonded trio are forced to join a mission. One that will determine the fate of humanity.

Legend says, a baby—the first of her species—has the power to cloak and teleport planets. Tasked with retrieving the infant, Court fears the baby is just a myth, and if they fail, they’ll never find the truth about their origins.

As Court and Mykal grow closer, their linked bond becomes harder to hide, and dynamics change when Franny begins to fall for someone new. Vulnerable and with no choice, the hunt for the baby sends the trio on a dangerous path to Saltare-1: a water world where their enemies can’t die and survival comes at a high cost.

Author Bio:

Krista & Becca Ritchie are New York Times Bestselling Authors and identical twins, one a science nerd, the other a comic book geek. With their shared passion for writing, they combined their mental powers as kids and have never stopped telling stories. Graduates from the University of Georgia in Biology and English & Journalism, the twin writing duo now lives in Atlanta. The Raging Ones is their first young adult novel.

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First Line:

“You’ve escaped one prison before, so you’ll be escaping another in no time.”

The Last Hope by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie

My Review:

The Last Hope picks up thirty-one days after the events of The Raging Ones. Frannie, Mykal, and Court are being held captive on the Romulus. Resigned to dying, they are surprised when Stork rescues them. Stork in an enigma. He is a Saltarian working with the humans, something that hasn’t been heard of before. Once the trio is brought to the human ship, they learn why they were freed. They also learned the heavy price that the humans paid for their freedom. Buy, they also learn of a myth. An infant with the powers to cloak and teleport planets has been born. It is up to Frannie, Mykal and Court to find the baby, retrieve her and save Earth. If they can’t, then it will be destroyed. Can they do it?

After the cliffhanger that ended The Raging Ones, I was waiting for The Last Hope to come out. I needed to read this book. I was curious to see where the authors were going to take Frannie, Mykal, and Court. I wanted to explore more of their bond. I am happy to report that the authors explained everything and more in The Last Hope.

I loved how the author showed how Franny, Court, and Mykal’s bond worked. While they did somewhat show it in The Raging Ones, it was on full display here. I loved it. Franny did get the short end of the stick when it came to the bond. She felt everything, including Court and Mykal’s intimate moments. That scene where she was sleeping in Stork’s bed with Zimmer highlighted it perfectly. I also liked when the tables were turned on Court and Mykal when she kissed Stork. I laughed through the whole scene.

I did feel bad for Stork, but at the same time, I was annoyed with him. He knew so much about Mykal, Franny, and Court’s past. I understood that he had a promise to keep, but still. I liked that I couldn’t read him either. Usually, I wouldn’t say that. But I loved it. I liked not knowing what he was thinking. It made him even more mysterious.

I loved that the authors brought Zimmer, Kinden, Padgett, and Gem into the story. Along with Mykal, Franny, and Court, I had thought they were banished. So, when they showed up at the Lucretzia, I was surprised. Even surprised that they cared enough about the Mykal, Franny, and Court to find them and attempt to rescue them. I was even more amazed when Stork allowed them to stay aboard the Lucretzia.

I was worried about the romance between Court and Mykal for 90% of the book. I figured that since they weren’t on Saltare-3 and once they were rescued by Stork that they could be together. Instead, they were forced to uncouple and act like they didn’t have feelings for each other. My heart was broken. Of course, things do get rectified but still. Uggh.

I was worried about the romance between Court and Mykal for 90% of the book. I figured that since they weren’t on Saltare-3 and once they were rescued by Stork that they could be together. Instead, they were forced to uncouple and act like they didn’t have feelings for each other. My heart was broken. Of course, things do get rectified but still. Uggh.

The storyline involving finding the baby was interesting. I liked that they had to search four different orphanages to find her. Then there was the twist to that plotline. Talk about taking me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting what was revealed to be revealed.

The end of The Last Hope fell a little short for me. I was mad that a specific character ended up dying. OMG, I was so angry. I was hoping that the character’s death date was later than sooner. I did like that everyone got their HEA. Even though this is a duology, I am hoping that certain characters get their books. I would love to see a book with Kinden in it!!!

I would give The Last Hope an Older Teen rating. There is sex. There is no language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 16 read this book.

I would reread The Last Hope. I would recommend it to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**