As a fantasy and science fiction book reviewer who takes himself entirely too seriously, I am constantly looking for the latest cerebral and poetic hit to recommend and impress people I know. But, there is a time and a place for almost everything in fiction, and sometimes you just want pulpy fun that has a ridiculous premise and delivers fabulous spectacle. Often these books fall short, but The Last Shield by Cameron Johnston is a rare occurrence of delivering on all its ridiculous promises.
The Last Shield is billed as a standalone fantasy gender-swapped reimagining of the movie Die Hard, and despite a skyscraper’s worth of initial reservations I can safely say that this book absolutely delivers on this in the best way possible. The world-building of this book is succinct, yet engrossing. The ancient forest realm of Sunweald is bordered on two sides by far mightier nations, which is a bad place to start. To make matters worse, the Sunweald Palace is a relatively small estate with a vault of treasures and magical superweapons that are coveted by all. The only thing that stands between these greater powers and a catch of magical nukes is the Lord Regent, the young heir to the throne, and the realm’s elite Shields, dedicated to guarding the royal line and its treasures against all foes.
Unbeknownst to all, a group of vicious brigands called the Wildwood Reivers have been stealing arcane artifacts and smuggling them across the borders, out of Sunweald. The objects they most desire are stored in the mystical Wyrm Vault, hidden away deep in the bones of the earth, within the walls of the Palace itself. When the Reivers decide to make a big play for the grand vault itself, it falls to Briar (commander of the guard one day from retirement), to defend the ancient corridors and secret tunnels of the Palace.
Anyone even vaguely familiar with the movie Die Hard should be able to pick out the skeleton of the movie from the synopsis. My biggest worry going into The Last Shield was that I was just going to be watching a one-to-one reshoot of the movie, but with swords. I am happy to immediately say that Johnston uses the movie more as a thematic guiding light and less as holy source material. There is a ton of imagination and plenty of details in this book that feel fresh and new while also capturing the magic of the original movie. If you like Die Hard, and you like fantasy, here is something you will absolutely love that isn’t just lazy pandering. This is the poster child for how adaptations should work.
Much like John McClane, Briar is the focal point of this story, and the majority of the text (after some setup) is watching her just carve through brigands like a knife through hot butter. Briar’s deal is a “veteran who is so dedicated to her craft that she achieves a brutal murderous efficiency that an automaton would envy.” Briar rocks. She is the rare kind of older fantasy protagonist that we rarely get and I treasured her aches and pains; she is easily one of the most relatable protagonists I have read this year. She is a train just plowing through cars left on the track without ever slowing down.
Likewise, the villains are deliciously stabbable. I am not here for nuanced grey antagonists who actually have a point. I wanted greedy motherfuckers getting thrown in a woodchipper, and Johnston heard my siren call. I found myself saying “Eat it, dirtbag” to several deaths and felt nothing but adrenaline as Briar cleaned house. The spectacle is, on full display as Briar swings from towers, fights her way up spiral staircases, and banters with the villains. The story has a nice slow burn for the first fifth and then builds a terrifying momentum until the last page. There isn’t a ton of depth to the book, but that isn’t a problem. Sometimes you are in the mood for mindless fun made by a deft hand: and The Last Shield kills it in that regard.
I read this entire book in one sitting on a plane and don’t have a single regret. The Last Shield is a clever combination of spectacle and fun draped over a lovable protagonist. It is simply put, a good time, and if you are looking for a short distraction look no further.
Rating: The Last Shield – 8.5/10
-Andrew
An ARC of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts on this book are my own.
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