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bory's review against another edition
4.0
For such a short little book, The Last Gifts of the Universe packs quite a punch. It's funny, it's endearing, it has good action, and it's really, really sad. Not gonna lie, I shed a tear at one point. But it's also uplifting, and hopeful, and ends in a good place.
The characters are great; Pumpkin is the MVP, obviously.
My sole issue is that, like similar books (e.g., Falling Dark by Tom Lloyd), the author choses to leave it open-ended. I crave closure and resolution, and there isn't one here, not really.
Overall, I liked the book and I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another novel by Rory August in future.
The characters are great; Pumpkin is the MVP, obviously.
My sole issue is that, like similar books (e.g., Falling Dark by Tom Lloyd), the author choses to leave it open-ended. I crave closure and resolution, and there isn't one here, not really.
Overall, I liked the book and I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another novel by Rory August in future.
loverrbboy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
i cried:/// also i can’t read and didn’t realise that the protag is nonbinary until halfway through the book. my main reason for no 5 stars is a) how are they petting the cat while meteorside ??? like. surely the cat’s spacesuit covers the whole shit right? and the cat cant feel thru it? it’s a spacesuit?? and b) i have no idea what any of the characters look like besides pumpkin. please. i’m a visual learner, tell me what these siblings look like. need me an Ovlan. oh and not 100% closure here and the science nerd in me is unsatisfied but ITS NICE DO READ IT!! cw suffocation
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent
alphabetseeds's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This book was lovely: hopeful in the face of absolute destruction and obliteration. The main character, Scout, chooses to soldier on even though the odds are staked against them and their brother as they race a megacorp's mercs to caches that might change the turn of the tide for humanity's survival.
I'm a sucker for stories about librarians and archivists, and especially a sucker for narratives that provide space for those artifacts to shine.
It's a short read but it did make me tear up. There's a whole lot in these pages about perseverance, grief, legacies, and second chances. And Pumpkin might be the best non-talking fictional cat ever.
I'm a sucker for stories about librarians and archivists, and especially a sucker for narratives that provide space for those artifacts to shine.
It's a short read but it did make me tear up. There's a whole lot in these pages about perseverance, grief, legacies, and second chances. And Pumpkin might be the best non-talking fictional cat ever.
nairforceone's review against another edition
5.0
Rory August’s The Last Gifts of the Universe is somehow both a hauntingly beautiful meditation on grief and loss, as well as a delightful space-faring romp, and I’m honestly in awe of how it manages to encompass both of those things in a lean, and efficient narrative.
Last Gifts follows Scout and their brother Kieran – two space archaeologists – who, along with their cat Pumpkin, are racing against the profit-obsessed Verity Corporation to find caches of data from dead interstellar civilizations. These caches may hold the key to discovering the origins of and defeating the mysterious Remnants who have been destroying planets across the galaxy.
August’s world-building in Last Gifts applies such a light touch while still being satisfying that it’s beyond admirable. We learn precious little about the galaxy at large. All we see are dead planets (side-note: can it be called world-building if all the worlds are dead?) and the only hints of the larger galactic civilization are the fact that space archaeologists and corporate greed exist (alongside pizza, beer, trashy b-movies, and videogames, thank god).
But the slight world-building serves the story well, as we spend most of our time exploring Scout’s emotions regarding life, death, and the inevitability of all things – when confronted by the last words of the representative of a long-dead species. We feel Scout’s anger, fear, and desperation to hold on to all they hold dear (including the cat) so thoroughly and effectively, that the greater world beyond their inner turmoil feels like something of an afterthought – which anyone who has gone through true grief can tell you is pretty much the case.
When the events of the plot and world do propel the narrative forward, it’s with such swiftness that putting the book down seems all but impossible – again, exactly like a race against time, certain death, and evil corporatists should. And what’s extra surprising is that the book doesn’t overstay its welcome. In fact, the ending might take you by surprise – which can be a good and bad thing based on how you look at it:
Some may not feel satisfied by the book’s lack of closure in terms of overall plot and questions, but honestly that just made me love it even more. It ties so closely to the themes of death and inevitability – and embracing life in the face of them – that if August HAD opted for a complete resolution (which is always tempting) it might have been a lesser book for it. But the fact that August took the high ground shows how much care and thought and love went into crafting this narrative.
The Last Gifts of the Universe is a dark, grief-filled, weird, fast, fun read that ends much faster than you expect it to. Such is life.
Read this book if you have a soul, have lost a soul, or want to gain yours back.
10/10
Last Gifts follows Scout and their brother Kieran – two space archaeologists – who, along with their cat Pumpkin, are racing against the profit-obsessed Verity Corporation to find caches of data from dead interstellar civilizations. These caches may hold the key to discovering the origins of and defeating the mysterious Remnants who have been destroying planets across the galaxy.
August’s world-building in Last Gifts applies such a light touch while still being satisfying that it’s beyond admirable. We learn precious little about the galaxy at large. All we see are dead planets (side-note: can it be called world-building if all the worlds are dead?) and the only hints of the larger galactic civilization are the fact that space archaeologists and corporate greed exist (alongside pizza, beer, trashy b-movies, and videogames, thank god).
But the slight world-building serves the story well, as we spend most of our time exploring Scout’s emotions regarding life, death, and the inevitability of all things – when confronted by the last words of the representative of a long-dead species. We feel Scout’s anger, fear, and desperation to hold on to all they hold dear (including the cat) so thoroughly and effectively, that the greater world beyond their inner turmoil feels like something of an afterthought – which anyone who has gone through true grief can tell you is pretty much the case.
When the events of the plot and world do propel the narrative forward, it’s with such swiftness that putting the book down seems all but impossible – again, exactly like a race against time, certain death, and evil corporatists should. And what’s extra surprising is that the book doesn’t overstay its welcome. In fact, the ending might take you by surprise – which can be a good and bad thing based on how you look at it:
Spoiler
Some may not feel satisfied by the book’s lack of closure in terms of overall plot and questions, but honestly that just made me love it even more. It ties so closely to the themes of death and inevitability – and embracing life in the face of them – that if August HAD opted for a complete resolution (which is always tempting) it might have been a lesser book for it. But the fact that August took the high ground shows how much care and thought and love went into crafting this narrative.
The Last Gifts of the Universe is a dark, grief-filled, weird, fast, fun read that ends much faster than you expect it to. Such is life.
Read this book if you have a soul, have lost a soul, or want to gain yours back.
10/10
tuftymctavish's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It’s very reminiscent of a video game; exploring alien ruins and finding the path to the thing, scanning and interacting with stuff, action sequences and desperate escape scenes, before returning to the calm of our spaceship. It nearly sidestepped describing the technology in just a passing phrase (and I’ve read many a tale that spends huge spans of pages setting up theirs, Honor Harrington!). And there are some moving scenes later on too, particularly involving the alien race who’s stuff they’re rummaging around in (that really isn’t all that alien - more like a colony whom we’ve lost contact with).
lariss892's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bkwrm1317's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Space cats, warm fuzzies, mercenaries working for the big corporation, and discoveries that could save everyone. Loved this read!
delaynakh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
“This is not to say that in the face of terrible, we should not fight. There is much evil in the world that can and will be made better by people bold enough to stand against it.”
Book Dynamics✨
200 pages
1 POV
Story within a story
I grabbed this after seeing 1 review on Instagram. Saving the galaxy with a cute space cat? Sign me up!
But..
WOW. I didn’t realize how impactful this book would be.
The story is paced nicely to keep you invested with Blyreena’s message woven into the race to save Home.
The last 20% is a beautiful portrayal of grief and what it means to fully live 🥹
Overall: grab it if you want a cute book with depth
Favorite Character: Pumpkin. Without a single doubt!