"Merz's debut novel has all of the assurance of a master storyteller and her world-building skills are incredible as she takes you to the world of the Ver dala Ven, a magical race whose purpose is to guide people in wartorn world. You will enter a world of memorable cast of characters whose dreams, loves, conflicts and hatred will be as real as your own or as real as the latest tragedy on the evening news. You will enter the powerful country of Jantideva who rules this planet. You will fall in love with characters like freedom-fighter Shonti, Shelon who battles Jantideva to free his people from slavery. Coba-the Verdala Ven who is prophecized to finding the massing star that will heal his world. Gella, the Shonti woman that loves Shelon and shares his dream of freeing their people. Bail and Jishni the dakas,which are the rulers of Jantideva who can make decisions that affect their citizens but cannot stop the fragmentation of their family. Taen-the son of Coba and Jishni a cruel and ruthless young man who seek power and revenge against his own family. Bailin, the son of Bail and Jishni who falls in love with Shonti bid of independence that will put him in odds with his family. Merz's imaginative world is so realistic and so like our in it's age-old conflicts, hatred and tragedies I could almost swear I felt like she visited there herself and chronicled all of the scenes in this book! Another I loved about this novel is that the author's ability to have you sympathize with some of the more villianous characters of the novel and have characters you might admire say or do something that will shock you. The Last Gate's plot twists, action sequences and heartwarming romance with have you turning pages through the night! Unforgettable experience awaits you between the pages of this book so enter Coba, Shelon, Gella's world of intrigue, romance, adventure! "
Rodney Powell, Resident Elizabeth Merz Scholar
"Cobo is Ver dala Ven, a magical being who is thought to be the last of his kind. A forbidden romance with the monarch he served resulted in a child, and instead of continuing to serve her, he chose to run away from his traditional responsibilities and go into exile. Eighteen years later Cobo is called home by a vision, and must reconcile with past mistakes, a son he never knew, and the arrival of the first sign of an ancient prophecy promising a return of the singing spirit guide that once empowered his race."
Elizabeth A. Merz, Resident Elizabeth A. Merz Scholar
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Overall Review
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence - 10% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 50% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%
Tone of book
- sensitive (sigh....)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- fantasy world/fantasy past
Mental/magical powers focus
Yes
Inner Struggle
Yes
Plotlet:
- coping with mental/magical powers
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- religious figure
- mage/magician
Age:
- 20's-30's
Has magical/special powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character:
- fire/lightning/weather cntrl
- telekinesis
- mind reading
- clairvoyant
- can see into the future
- can fly
- Invisibility
- can read emotions
- healing
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- a teen
Profession/status:
- Prince/Nobleman/King
- religious figure
Has magical powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist:
- mind reading
- mind control
Eccentric:
Yes
- obsessed
- emotionally unstable
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- an above average amount
- a substantial amount
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Terrain
- Desert
- Mountains
- Domed/Underground City
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- humans in a primitive/fantasy society
- humans in a contemporary society
- big overbuilt futuristic city
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- none/very little science jargon needed
Sex in book?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references only
- descript of kissing
- descript of touching personal anatomy
- licking
- orgies
How much dialogue?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
