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melissajkincaid 's review for:
The Last Soldier of Nava
by Yejin Suh
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
⭐⭐⭐⭐ = 4 stars!
The Last Soldier of Nava is a YA sapphic fantasy steeped in Korean mythology, following a young woman, known only as Shadow, who awakens after a thousand years. Once a legendary soldier forged from the death of a dragon and wielding shadow magic, she remembers almost nothing of her past life. What she does know is unsettling: she was a weapon, a puppet of the Moonbearer, created for destruction. But beneath the immortal power and fractured memories, she feels like a lost girl trying to figure out who she really is and who she wants to be.
I really liked Shadow. She’s not your stereotypical ‘badass’ female lead. Yes, she’s powerful and mysterious, but what made her compelling was her vulnerability. She doesn’t want to be the thing others made her into. She’s thoughtful, introspective, and often unsure, and that made me root for her even more.
Scarlet, on the other hand, is sharp-edged: blunt, cold, often abrasive. I didn’t warm up to her right away. Honestly, I found her kind of unpleasant at first, but as the layers started peeling back, she became one of my favourite parts of the story. Her complexity, her unapologetic boldness, and her banter with Shadow made for some of the best character dynamics. There’s real fire between them, but also tenderness and moments of vulnerability that made their connection feel earned. The fact that Scarlet wasn’t immediately likable made their growing relationship feel even more satisfying. Being a YA fantasy, I expected this element to be a sprinkle to the overall torrent of the story.
Suh’s writing is direct, accessible, and flows really well. I found myself flying through the pages. The worldbuilding is also beautifully handled: immersive without being overwhelming, filled with fascinating magic and touches of Korean mythology that gave the story a fresh, distinctive flavour.
What to Expect:
✨ Fierce FMCs
🦌 Enemies to Lovers
☁️ Slow Burn Romance
🌈 Sapphic Representation
✨ Korean Mythology
🦌 Light & Shadow Magic
☁️ Court Intrigue
🌈 Deer Riders
✨ YA Fantasy
🦌 A Cliffhanger Ending
My only gripe was that the Saint, Scarlet’s sister, ‘The Desert Rose’, wasn’t given much backstory. We didn’t really learn who she was, how she became a saint, or what her connection to the Moonbearer was. All we really got was that she was Scarlet’s sister and that Shadow killed her. That aside, though, everything else was explained pretty well.
Fair warning: the book ends on a pretty vague cliffhanger, so prepare yourself. But overall, this was such a fun, compelling, and heartfelt read. I loved being immersed in this world and can’t wait to see what comes next.
Huge thanks to HarperCollins Australia (Harper Voyager AU) for the physical ARC! ❤️✨
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The Last Soldier of Nava is a YA sapphic fantasy steeped in Korean mythology, following a young woman, known only as Shadow, who awakens after a thousand years. Once a legendary soldier forged from the death of a dragon and wielding shadow magic, she remembers almost nothing of her past life. What she does know is unsettling: she was a weapon, a puppet of the Moonbearer, created for destruction. But beneath the immortal power and fractured memories, she feels like a lost girl trying to figure out who she really is and who she wants to be.
I really liked Shadow. She’s not your stereotypical ‘badass’ female lead. Yes, she’s powerful and mysterious, but what made her compelling was her vulnerability. She doesn’t want to be the thing others made her into. She’s thoughtful, introspective, and often unsure, and that made me root for her even more.
Scarlet, on the other hand, is sharp-edged: blunt, cold, often abrasive. I didn’t warm up to her right away. Honestly, I found her kind of unpleasant at first, but as the layers started peeling back, she became one of my favourite parts of the story. Her complexity, her unapologetic boldness, and her banter with Shadow made for some of the best character dynamics. There’s real fire between them, but also tenderness and moments of vulnerability that made their connection feel earned. The fact that Scarlet wasn’t immediately likable made their growing relationship feel even more satisfying. Being a YA fantasy, I expected this element to be a sprinkle to the overall torrent of the story.
Suh’s writing is direct, accessible, and flows really well. I found myself flying through the pages. The worldbuilding is also beautifully handled: immersive without being overwhelming, filled with fascinating magic and touches of Korean mythology that gave the story a fresh, distinctive flavour.
What to Expect:
✨ Fierce FMCs
🦌 Enemies to Lovers
☁️ Slow Burn Romance
🌈 Sapphic Representation
✨ Korean Mythology
🦌 Light & Shadow Magic
☁️ Court Intrigue
🌈 Deer Riders
✨ YA Fantasy
🦌 A Cliffhanger Ending
My only gripe was that the Saint, Scarlet’s sister, ‘The Desert Rose’, wasn’t given much backstory. We didn’t really learn who she was, how she became a saint, or what her connection to the Moonbearer was. All we really got was that she was Scarlet’s sister and that Shadow killed her. That aside, though, everything else was explained pretty well.
Fair warning: the book ends on a pretty vague cliffhanger, so prepare yourself. But overall, this was such a fun, compelling, and heartfelt read. I loved being immersed in this world and can’t wait to see what comes next.
Huge thanks to HarperCollins Australia (Harper Voyager AU) for the physical ARC! ❤️✨
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