Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Charlaine Harris continues to weave intrigue, romance, danger, and suspense into the sixth and final installment in the Gunnie Rose alternative history series, The Last Wizards’ Ball. Lizbeth Rose and Prince Eli Savarov function as chaperones to Lizbeth’s sister Felicia during the week-long Wizards’ Ball where young magical practitioners from across the globe hope to make a romantic match and strengthen alliances.
The ball is being held in San Diego this year, but war and violence are on the rise in Europe. German and Japanese wizards are also courting Felicia, and some don’t want to take no for an answer. As the situation turns deadly, Lizbeth needs to protect her sister while navigating a world that is pulling Eli and Felicia in different directions.
Lizbeth is capable, loyal, brave, generally even-tempered, and a great shot, and has nerves of steel. She’s more relaxed when she’s not in a social situation so the ball week full of festivities is not in her comfort zone. Felicia has a gift for languages, and has and has gained confidence in herself and her abilities. She has the power to kill and to restore life. Eli was born an aristocrat and longs to be back in the good graces of the tsar. He’s not good at sharing his feelings and often fails to communicate. Other characters play secondary roles with varying degrees of depth.
Charlaine Harris is known for excellent characterization and fantastic world-building and she delivers on both of those points in this book. I was easily transported to the depicted events. Family drama, political intrigue, magic, romance, communication issues, war, and many more threads are explored during the novel. It’s also one that causes the reader to think about life, love, duty, community, and family. Exceptional characters, intense fight scenes, and thought-provoking situations made this an entertaining read.
Charlaine Harris is one of my favorite authors and she did not let me down with this conclusion to the series. The characters are compelling, led by strong and capable protagonists. While I hoped for a different ending, the ending was in keeping with the somewhat dark alternative history theme.
Overall, this book was suspenseful and action-packed. It should delight those readers who enjoy alternate history, action adventure, and fantasy novels that have a strong female lead character. However, be aware that it is also unsettling at times. The first novel in the series explains the alternative history aspect that is not fully explained in the succeeding novels. I can’t wait to read my next book by this author.
Saga Press – S&S / Saga Press and Charlaine Harris provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for July 22, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
The ball is being held in San Diego this year, but war and violence are on the rise in Europe. German and Japanese wizards are also courting Felicia, and some don’t want to take no for an answer. As the situation turns deadly, Lizbeth needs to protect her sister while navigating a world that is pulling Eli and Felicia in different directions.
Lizbeth is capable, loyal, brave, generally even-tempered, and a great shot, and has nerves of steel. She’s more relaxed when she’s not in a social situation so the ball week full of festivities is not in her comfort zone. Felicia has a gift for languages, and has and has gained confidence in herself and her abilities. She has the power to kill and to restore life. Eli was born an aristocrat and longs to be back in the good graces of the tsar. He’s not good at sharing his feelings and often fails to communicate. Other characters play secondary roles with varying degrees of depth.
Charlaine Harris is known for excellent characterization and fantastic world-building and she delivers on both of those points in this book. I was easily transported to the depicted events. Family drama, political intrigue, magic, romance, communication issues, war, and many more threads are explored during the novel. It’s also one that causes the reader to think about life, love, duty, community, and family. Exceptional characters, intense fight scenes, and thought-provoking situations made this an entertaining read.
Charlaine Harris is one of my favorite authors and she did not let me down with this conclusion to the series. The characters are compelling, led by strong and capable protagonists. While I hoped for a different ending, the ending was in keeping with the somewhat dark alternative history theme.
Overall, this book was suspenseful and action-packed. It should delight those readers who enjoy alternate history, action adventure, and fantasy novels that have a strong female lead character. However, be aware that it is also unsettling at times. The first novel in the series explains the alternative history aspect that is not fully explained in the succeeding novels. I can’t wait to read my next book by this author.
Saga Press – S&S / Saga Press and Charlaine Harris provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for July 22, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The synopsis mentions it twice, but I don’t want to believe it- final book struggles here. Things were building to something big over the course of the series and I was all anticipation to see just what that ‘big’ would be. Charlaine Harris has crafted an impressive alternate history world that includes those who wield magic and places where the wild west is alive and well.
The Last Wizard’s Ball is the sixth Gunnie Rose installment and continues the storyline that started in book one. Definitely not a good place to dive in.
The Last Wizard’s Ball opens with Lizbeth and Eli in San Diego living at his family home with Felicia to escort her around to all the society function related to the Wizard’s Ball. Things are tense when the first event is interrupted by a hail of arrows all directed at their group including Felix with Felicia as the target. Other incidents mount up and tensions between certain factions add to it. The Germans and Japanese are allied in efforts to go to war against England and her allies and this carries over to the magic users at the Ball.
Lizbeth feels hampered by her lack of knowledge and sophistication needed to navigate this world and keep Felicia out of danger and from making a mistake with her love life. Her frustration rises when she realizes Eli and even Felicia are keeping secrets from her again. The world is a powder keg waiting for a match and this includes Lizbeth and Eli’s marriage.
The Last Wizard’s Ball was a book for which I had high expectations. I appreciated the diversity of this alt-history world and the excitement of the wizards of the world coming to one place- all the political intrigue and power matches getting ready to take place. Felicia is powerful and has come into her own- she’s the belle of the ball and that comes with its own dangers. Lizbeth, Eli, and Felix have to stay alert for danger to come from rivals or from those who covet Felicia for power.
My first check came from the introductory note promising messy drama. I’m never a fan of unnecessary drama and any actual warning before the book starts about drama just seems ominous.
My second check came from the realization that Eli is at his secret holding again, sneaking off to secret meetings, not explaining even when his loyalty should be to Lizbeth and Lizbeth is back to turning into a pressure cooker and getting the hives over having to be in Eli’s world so she’s constantly cranky, looking for fault, and refusing to see anyone’s perspective except her own. She does a tit for tat and keeps her own secrets and flings ultimatums while she’s het up. And, my wariness mounted as events and behavior unraveled further. I wondered if they were under some curse or something because it was like they were trying to destroy their relationship and, even for them, they were exaggerated versions of their worst moments. Even Felicia wasn’t behaving consistently with how she’d earlier been portrayed and was trying to burn down her relationship with her sister.
But, it got worse for me. I’m frustrated because I can’t give examples and speculate on all that I questioned because of spoilers and there is also a very good chance that I’m feeling a minority opinion.
This book went directions that left me amazed and not in a positive way. But, I went beyond frustration to loathing when I got to the very last pages where so much that was previous was exploded and tossed aside with this big wide highway of open-ending. I’ve never read a series that had such a wide-open ending. And, that was what finished the series. I was left with one big why??? Let’s spend five books getting you to fall in love with these characters and establish these relationships and then toss it all into a windstorm and see where it falls.
I get it. Authors write the book and its their story to tell. But, a reader/listener gets vested, too. I really wish I could unknow that last chapter- that I could have hope of an alt-ending for an alt-history series. I’ll conclude by reiterating that I’m only one reader reaction and I know anyone who made it through the previous book will feel compelled to grab this one up. Hopefully, their experience will be pleasanter than mine.
4.5 out of 5.
Gunnie Rose 6
Lizbeth Rose's half-sister Felicia has been invited to the Grand Wizards' Ball, a way for magic users from all over the world in search of mates to connect. Felicia is essentially the belle of the Ball considering her power, her specialty, and her beauty. But with war pending in Asia and Europe, she's also someone wanted by Germany and Japan to add to their war efforts.
Lizbeth is escorting Felicia to the various get-togethers, increasingly aware of the dangers surrounding them. Add Eli's secrecy and longing to return to the Tsar's court and Lizbeth is feeling truly out of her comfort zone. But she's determined to do whatever she must to protect her family.
I wish to thank Saga Press, Simon & Schuster Publishing, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this, the last planned installment of the Gunnie Rose series. This has become one of my favorite series over the years. I'm truly sad to hear that this is the last entry. Anticipated publication date is July 22, 2005. Seriously, pre-order NOW!
As usual, the action was well done, even if more up close and personal this time. The cracks in Lizbeth and Eli's marriage are spreading despite their love. Lizbeth despises secrecy, especially when it surrounds something that involves her. Her uncomfortableness with the society rules she must abide by while escorting Felicia to the various events are acknowledged by those around her, but it is a life that Eli was raised in. As to Eli himself, he is torn between his potential return to his former life in the HRE and his love for his wife. If I could sum up my thoughts and reactions, it would probably be "sometimes love isn't enough". Or even, "opposites attracting doesn't always end in forever after."
I always suspected this would come, yet had hoped that they would find a middle ground that could make both of them happy. Sadly whatever happiness that Eli and Lizbeth find will not be together. There is a lot of scope for the future in the series despite it being announced as the sixth and final book. After all, New America has their greedy little eyes on Texoma. Perhaps, sometime down the line, there will be short stories or novellas, even if another novel will never arrive.
Gunnie Rose 6
Lizbeth Rose's half-sister Felicia has been invited to the Grand Wizards' Ball, a way for magic users from all over the world in search of mates to connect. Felicia is essentially the belle of the Ball considering her power, her specialty, and her beauty. But with war pending in Asia and Europe, she's also someone wanted by Germany and Japan to add to their war efforts.
Lizbeth is escorting Felicia to the various get-togethers, increasingly aware of the dangers surrounding them. Add Eli's secrecy and longing to return to the Tsar's court and Lizbeth is feeling truly out of her comfort zone. But she's determined to do whatever she must to protect her family.
I wish to thank Saga Press, Simon & Schuster Publishing, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this, the last planned installment of the Gunnie Rose series. This has become one of my favorite series over the years. I'm truly sad to hear that this is the last entry. Anticipated publication date is July 22, 2005. Seriously, pre-order NOW!
As usual, the action was well done, even if more up close and personal this time. The cracks in Lizbeth and Eli's marriage are spreading despite their love. Lizbeth despises secrecy, especially when it surrounds something that involves her. Her uncomfortableness with the society rules she must abide by while escorting Felicia to the various events are acknowledged by those around her, but it is a life that Eli was raised in. As to Eli himself, he is torn between his potential return to his former life in the HRE and his love for his wife. If I could sum up my thoughts and reactions, it would probably be "sometimes love isn't enough". Or even, "opposites attracting doesn't always end in forever after."
I always suspected this would come, yet had hoped that they would find a middle ground that could make both of them happy. Sadly whatever happiness that Eli and Lizbeth find will not be together. There is a lot of scope for the future in the series despite it being announced as the sixth and final book. After all, New America has their greedy little eyes on Texoma. Perhaps, sometime down the line, there will be short stories or novellas, even if another novel will never arrive.
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
fast-paced
This was an exciting story, but the ending was so profoundly unsatisfying that I spent ten minutes explaining the plot of the series to my husband just so I could further explain to him why the ending was terrible.
Without going to far into spoiler territory -- six books later we see no character development or growth from our protagonist. At the end of the series we find her sitting right where we found her. No one has a happy ending. Our only consolation is that the story takes place circa 1939 and they're all mercifully dead by now.
Without going to far into spoiler territory -- six books later we see no character development or growth from our protagonist. At the end of the series we find her sitting right where we found her. No one has a happy ending. Our only consolation is that the story takes place circa 1939 and they're all mercifully dead by now.
This was an interesting book but honestly didn't feel like a satisfying ending. I liked the real world tie-in of WWII (which is I guess actually WWI in this world) but the character relationships were disappointing to me. I will continue to read and see what - if anything - happens next!