I really wanted to like this book, and the first third or so was promising. However, I had to settle on 2 stars because I found myself reading it to finish it versus being invested in it. I don’t see myself reading more books in this series, as it became rather boring and convoluted quickly.

Copy given by net galley. Opinions clearly my own.

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book and it's not that I completely disliked the second half, it's more accurate to say that I feel like that the two halves are different books. They are written in such completely different ways that I was left very confused, which made it hard for me to enjoy the second half. The writing is great, and I enjoyed the characters but the turn from a light, comedy to heavy and philosophical was too much for me.

Oh my gosh. This book was eye opening, crazy, completely understandable, mind blowing, and I could see this being a truth. It was hard to put down and I had to know what happened next. I don't want to say more and give anything away but this is a book that makes you believe in doing bigger and breaks you down into insignificance and builds you back up sort of. Overall I enjoyed it.

Sarya is the last human and she has spent her entire life hiding the fact that she is human because humans were destroyed for a reason. Unfortunately Sarya does not understand why humans were so horrible that the entire race had to be destroyed (and neither does the reader). Set in some unknown future where people are rated by their intelligence (and put into ‘tiers’), Sarya is rated quite low (since her adopted mother, from a murderous insect like race had to get her papers to explain her somehow and the one she can pass for is not a high tier). She has lived her whole life on a space station where everyone knows their place and those of sufficient intelligence are connected to the Network, something Sarya has only experienced thru a less than ideal connection. As the book begins, this lack of connection is about to change for Sarya. This offers an interesting read by an author who has done some well thought out world/universe building.

You can’t accuse Zack Jordan’s The Last Human of having a misleading title. It’s the story of Sarya, who is quite literally the last human being in the universe. That she even exists is a bit of a fluke; she was saved by one of the Widows, which are among the most lethal species that exist, and adopted in an atypical moment of emotion. Now Sarya has to disguise herself as a low-intelligence species, pretending to be something she’s not, because humans? Well, they’re viewed with horror and terror – remembered as one of the most terrifying species that ever existed in the annals of the Network (a networked intelligence that pretty much regulates life across the cosmos and nicely keeps the peace). And when a higher tier intelligence – in other words, an intelligence that’s basically like a god to something below it – recognizes Sarya for what he is, a series of events kicks off with ramifications for literally all life as anyone knows it.

That, as well as some of the tone of the early chapters, might lead you to expect a space opera with shades of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy or even Catherynne M. Valente’s Space Opera, and to some degree, Jordan provides that for us. With a slew of inventive, weird species and a rich universe anchored by the Network, Jordan builds an immersive, rich universe within pages, and that dazzling scope of imagination never lets up over the course of the book. Jordan gives us a universe that’s vibrant and complex, as well as giving readers the feeling of being tossed into a world that’s so more immense than our own. That’s only amplified by his conceit of tiered intelligences, where each tier is so far beyond the others as to almost be incomprehensible – a writing choice that only underlines humanity’s insignificance in the universe.

All of that sets up a really fun premise, as Sarya finds herself beset on all sides, trying to figure out her place in the universe, and just maybe see if there are other humans still alive somewhere. The book has a way of constantly evolving and changing around you, as new characters appear and old ones evolve, situations change, realities shift, and so much more. It’s imaginative, weird, and a ton of fun…

…and then the book changes in a far, far bigger way, changing from a fun space opera romp into something more philosophical, complex, mind-bending, and existential. What I thought was an adventure novel got more and more ambitious, getting into questions of free will, the nature of intelligence, human nature, and the nature of life itself. Did it feel like a natural outgrowth of the book to that point? Well, yes, in some ways – Jordan’s ideas about intelligence tiers set up some of the later concepts in subtle ways – but it’s still a major change in the very type of book we thought this was.

Now, whether that’s a problem for you or not really depends on the kind of reader you are, and how invested you were in the genre you were reading. In some ways, I loved that ambitious second half – it’s the mark of a writer who has ideas to spare, and I loved how ambitious, weird, and genuinely complex that whole section is. But I also can’t deny a sense of confusion as the book turned on a dime; what’s more, it felt like a lot of the material that I was enjoying in the first half got tossed out or left behind. And even if that second half settles the plot of the book is solid ways, it still feels like an ending that doesn’t quite fit with the first on a tonal level.

That all being said, I still liked and recommend The Last Human – it’s too original, too rich, too imaginative, and too thoughtful not to deserve some reading. That it shifts so wildly will cause some people to dislike it, and I don’t entirely disagree with them, but I can’t bring myself to fault a book for starting in a familiar genre and then evolving to something far more complex and even philosophical. Does Jordan manage that transition perfectly? No, probably not…but I’ll take a book that takes chances pretty much anytime over something that plays it safe. And besides that, if this is only Jordan’s first book, I can’t wait to see where he goes from here.

Sayra isn't the most scary creature on her space station, Watertower. She just wants to be treated better than her current status, which isn't much higher than a laundry hamper, and trying to keep her real identity a secret. But on a field trip she meets someone like her and that is when things go wrong, her mother is killed fighting for her and a rogue space suit grabs her and takes her on board with a ragtag crew fleeing the now exploding Watertower.

This is a good book full of twists, suspense and action. This is also a very philosophical book at times. It takes a long look at the human race and how it believes humans would act in certain circumstances. It is one reaction I suppose, but the writing was good and I enjoyed the book..

The review will appear on my blog on March 24th

Picture it!
We are in the future. There is a galaxies-spanning network of alien races, all working together. What links them is the Network. It translates, allows FTL travel etc. In this future, humans no longer exist. They have been deemed too dangerous and were eradicated.
Why though? Was it because we're violent and always prey on the weak instead of collaborating on a huge scale? Was it because we were too stupid compared to these other species? Or maybe we just liked to not become a member of the Network but also didn't play by its rules for non-citizens? You'll have to read the book to find out.
The Network has elevated most species, but there are still different intelligences. They are grouped into tiers. Despite what I can only call racism, the lower tiers still benefit from the higher ones. Think Dyson Spheres.
One such sphere is Watertower Station where our protagonist, Sarya, grows up. She is the adopted daughter of a Widow, an alien race with mandibles and blades known for their fighting skills. And when I say adopted, I mean secretly-human adopted.
How it can be that humanity has been wiped out and not been seen for thousands of years if not longer but now ONE single teenage human suddenly makes an appearance? Again, read the book and find out, it's actually cool.
As most coming-of-age stories go, Sarya's world is thrown into the grinder one day and her home is suddenly gone. She now has to navigate a weird galaxy as "the monster". I bet that wasn't what she had in mind when she grumbled about the low tier the fake-species of her fake ID was categorized with.
And of course she has side-kicks such as a sentient space suit, but it's not really about that.
Or it is for about two thirds of the book. Then the underlying questions get addressed: such as who we are and who we want to be, if we can play nicely with others, what it takes for a species to survive, what we're willing to sacrifice and what not, ... many say "the book gets talky" but I liked the deeper examination of these really important questions.

Just as much as I liked the worldbuilding of this book. The station at first, then ships, then the wider world so to speak. The different alien races were hilarious and I liked the nicely addressed plausible differences that have to be overcome for a successful cooperation - but also that they CAN be overcome. Hive-mind theories have been out there forever. The question is if a species such as humanity can go from being as we are now to becoming such a group-intelligence and I liked the examination of that topic a lot.

The writing style was also very good and gave the story the necessary flow. Oh, and I liked the way the publisher decided to display the different Network information. *lol* Dry humour is exactly my thing.

Yes, I have received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for this review, but that in no way influenced my opinion about this book. The author really did write something nice that keeps changing while you read, but in a totally plausible way that was fun and light but also serious, informed and deep. Scifi the way I like it. :D

The Last Human by Zack Jordan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was immediately hooked on the concept of an enormous galaxy-wide Network of aliens living and cooperating ... but fearing one species above all else: Humans. You know... because we break things. Get all tribal and s**t. We like to exploit weaknesses in others and lord over their spoils because we're a**holes.

Turns out, our main character is the last of this dastardly breed, growing up small in a huge network of Dyson Spheres with countless old alien species categorized in a hierarchy based on Tiered Intelligence.

Most of the book is rather fun and filled with all the normal Coming of Age stuff of discovery and adventure and breaking out of the rigid hierarchy while trying to get a grip on BEING the big bad that everyone is shivering in their boots about. A little girl should never have to be such a horrible monster. ; ;

I really enjoyed this book, but I'll be perfectly honest, I didn't LOVE it until the last third came rolling around. The whole Tiered Intelligence bit made it a real joy to read. What does it really mean? Networking, of course. Many, many collections of minds within other collections of minds. The more minds, the higher the Tier. When we get to the top Tier, we're dealing with the mind that can CREATE a full network of Dyson Spheres... and much more.

So what's the real story about? What is this little last human's fate?

NOT TELLING! Muahahahahahahaha... but it's awesome. Really awesome. :)

I loved the whole thing about game theory, biological emulation, and hawks vs doves. :)

I have read a lot of books this year, but The Last Human has to be the strangest!
There is only one human left in the entire universe, Sarya, who was adopted but Shenya. Right away, I knew I was entering a time and place like none I had ever experienced. Shenya is well she is, kind of like a spider. A dangerous, spider who has managed to keep Sarya's true heritage hidden, as humans are loathed throughout the galaxy. There are many more unique characters, who all manage to interact through the Network. It is quite a humorous journey through space, with underlying philosophical themes.
A lot of The Last Human was entertaining, but there was also an awful lot of philosophizing. Not that the questions raised or the concepts weren't interesting, it's just not what I was expecting from what started as a fun and quirky read. 3.5 stars.

Review by 2shay..........🌟🌟🌟.....

Look at the cover. Did you take a good look? It’s brilliant. Every one of the strange, alien creatures depicted on the cover are in the book. Some are furry, some are slick or slimy and a few have exoskeletons. They’re all sentient, with minds connected by the Network so they can communicate flawlessly. Then there is the bright yellow triangle, the universal danger sign, with a human outlined. So, it’s fairly obvious from the cover that all those many alien creatures fear humans. We know, from the title, that there is only one human left. The cover and the blurb made this a must read for me.

Sarya The Daughter is that one human. Sarya is the adopted daughter of Shenya The Widow. Shenya is an eight legged, huge, spider-like creature with deadly blades as extensions of her legs. She loves her daughter without reservation, and has concealed her species identity for years. Theirs is a strange and intense relationship.

This book is beautifully crafted. It’s lovely. It’s complex. The author’s exploration of intelligence, free-will and point-of view are interesting...up to a point. That point, for me, was 58%. I just could not continue. I know that many people will love this book, I did for a while. As the story progressed, it became more about the great questions...who or what controls the universe...and less and less about the characters.

I have never, until now, given 3 Stars to a book I didn’t finish, but I was completely enchanted for a while. Pick up a copy, and, hopefully...

Enjoy! ARC graciously provided by Random House/Del Rey and NetGalley for an honest and voluntary review.

This is a good book. I really enjoyed it. The character is well developed and the story is packed with action and adventure. The author does a great job delivering a story with a solid plot and interesting subplots.

An epic space opera that provides a roller-coaster ride that unfolds across light-years of travel and
centuries of history of a myriad of galaxies and species. One of those rare books that you hate to put down while life happens .. yet, you fear that the fun will end too soon … and you know you'll miss these beloved characters. Jordan spins a yarn brimming with warmth, humor and at the same time
he waxes philosophical with expansive ideas. His world building is superb as he seamlessly fleshes out his array of alien species. I felt like I was re-stepping into the cantina scene of Star Wars - A New Hope.
Sarya is the last surviving human … the rest of the species reportedly annihilated in war, centuries ago. She was adopted and reared by Shenya the Widow - recognized as a killing machine and part of a feared sentient race … best described as a walking spider with a chitin armored carapace and multiple appendages with razor sharp blades and a chittering mandible. Sarya the Daugter's life is confined to the Water Town space station …. keeping a low profile and her true heritage a secret. Shenya has registered her as a low intelligent species from Spaal. All species fear and hate "Humans" and would have her killed if the truth was known. She is aware of her dubious heritage and dreams of exploring the possibility of the existence of surviving humans. But then the ominous and scary bounty hunter , Hood unexpectedly attempts to kidnap her …. she miraculously escapes to the sanctuary of her home. Her mother is mortally wounded while protecting her ,and at the same time a catastrophic event occurs resulting in the imminent explosion of the station. Sarya the is able to escape on a stolen space ship, with the aid of a band of misfit saviors … with dubious motivation. "Eleven" … the rebellious AI spacesuit who saves her life against programmed orders, appears to be the most reliable in this motley band. Jordan fleshes out these eclectic characters with an innovative flare. They briefly include … Mer, the hairy alien who would rather kill than talk, and his charge the multiple eyed fluff ball Sandy … who is a Tier 3 intellect ( making her at least 12 times smarter than Sarya, a Tier 2 … also, Roche, the android who is on his sixtieth lifetime. It truly is a joy to witness the interplay between so many variable alien species.
The unifying construct that drives the narrative is the existence of the Network. Apparently an unseen but unfathomably large intellect that controls the cosmos. Can it truly be benevolent?.. and at what price? It's presence enables communication and prevents conflict between millions of species. It provides and regulates technology .. and provides a common language, Network Standard allowing cross species communication.... not to mention, faster-than-light travel and data transfer. It is the Ultimate Universal authority …. and possible oppressor. As we journey with Sarya and her bizarre band of misfits, we explore the meaning and importance of individuality .. free will … and we struggle between the importance of chaos versus order. This cosmic journey is not to be missed!
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House / Del Rey publishing for supplying an Uncorrected Proof of this gem in exchange for an honest review. Hopefully, this is not the last of Sarya the Daughter and or Destroyer. (readers remains.com)

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book. We are thrown into an amazing world where humans are extinct and throughout the story we find out why. It really was an interesting concept. Halfway through the book, I felt like the story slowed down a bit and it was hard to trudge through. If you can get through it though, the ending is worth the read.

Review will be live on 12-25-2019 at Book Confessions of an ExBallerina https://www.exballerina.com/2019/12/book-review-last-human-by-zack-jordan.html

I just could not finish this book. It started well -- humorous, exciting, suspenseful, but I found myself quickly bored. Hopefully, I'm just not the right reader and others will appreciate the story. It does show promise, just not for me.

This book was an entertaining read with some good concepts about self-awareness, general cognition, and person-hood. The story is both easy enough to follow as well as unpredictable in its outcome.

Take a teen human girl, raise her by a civilized version of the Alien monster, and then make her a tool for one or more superintelligences. This really has a little bit of everything in there, and has some real potential for a long-term series. I'm looking forward to see what happens to Sarya next.

2 stars for the first third of the book. 0 stars for the rest.

As other reviewers have noted this book is fun and an entertaining read in the beginning, but it quickly goes downhill. I just couldn't get on-board (heh) with the setup in the second third of this book. The last third was even worse. I decided to split it into three parts considering the way the plot plays out. Tough to write more about that due to spoilers but if you've read the book you probably understand what I mean.

Sarya is a decent character in the first third, interesting and unique. But pffffft that all fizzles out fast. I really lost interest quickly but continued on anyway. Not sure why.

I was looking for a fun space romp, and this kind of fits the bill in the first third. The rest is just nonsense.

The Last Human was such a fun and quirky space opera! Sarya the Widow is not a widow at all as her mother raised her to be. To everyone she meets she is a Spaal raised as a Widow but in reality, she is secretly an extinct and forbidden race..she is human! The author takes us readers on a wild ride through such a unique and perplexing world of his own design.
I loved how everything was well thought out and explained throughout the story and although some parts were strange, it worked well within the plot. I really enjoyed the characters in the story and how different species and aliens amongst the universe were joined together in harmony due to advanced technology.
Such a great concept that ultimately did not fall flat or dissapoint. I was worried in the beginning that such a cool premise would not follow through to the end but I fell Zack Jordan did a good job at delivering an entertaining story from start to finish, with a few laughs along the way.

The Last Human tells the story of Sarya, the titular human who through a series of events finds herself on a grand adventure with a misfit band of alien being that makes her question everything she knew to be true and her place in the universe.

It's a well written allegory of the idea of free will, the (over?) reliance of technology and the never-ending struggle between order and chaos. There are intermittent chapters of exposition structured in a way that it gives enough context of the action without it being an info dump. While I don't know if the scientific concepts about time, space and such is accurate, it makes for a fine backdrop to a possible (alternate?) future.

The ending seemed to sow seeds of a sequel, one of which I'd be interested in reading.

I received a free copy of this book through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

THIS WAS FREAKING MINDBLOWING!!!! seriously one of the best sci-fi books I've ever read!!!! Where do I even start??? How can describe this awesomeness??!! It's always so much harder to review books I loved so much because I just want to scream and say read it!!!

Ok, ok. So let's start with characters. There were so many different characters in this world, I mean, it is a sci-fi story about different species interacting with each other. And I just loved all the unique and interesting species we get to meet! It's a huge universe and all the intelligencies (as they are called in this epic story) are able to live in harmony because of the Network. A system that helps to find compromise for all the species to live in piece. They all have their different ways of lives and their own way of communicating but Network can translate all that through its system that is integrated into everyone's mind. I just freaking love this idea!! How cool would that be if just humans were able to communicate like that??
So, back to the story. Our main character is Sarya (the last living human) adopted and raisd by a different species. She has to hide the fact that she is human because everyone hates them (since they just destroy everything) and were extinct long time ago. But then there is a new species in town (aka watertower space station) that tells her that there is still a colony of humans out there and that they can take her there. And this starts the whole story and boy is it good and mindblowing, did I mention that it's mindblowing??

"What is mind?"

I've highlighted so many quotes from this book because it's not just a funny action packed story but it's also incredibly philosophical! It breaks your mind while you try to understand how small the universe is and that mind is more powerful than body.

"She is a speck of dust in a galaxy that is also a speck of dust, in a universe that is not much bigger. She has held this universe, under an infinite sky, and she has seen how small it is. She has seen more death than she could have imagined, and she knows that she’s seen nothing yet. Reality is larger and smaller than she ever imagined , and she is everything and nothing at the same time."

It questions reality and all that we know about universe, physics and science and religion. How our mind controls things and yet it doesn't? What is intelligence and what is a body? What is instinct and what is stronger? Your mind or your instincts. Ahhh seriously loved this!!!

As I mentioned earlier this was also a fun read. I chuckled and laughed and it was easy to read, even all the sciencey stuff. I loved the writing style in general. Just the way the author puts the words together, and makes this whole new world... I have no way of describing it.

What else can I say besides read it!!! This story was incredible and I didn't want it to end! If you love sci-fi, philosophy and fun diverse characters, read it, read it, read it!!

An epic adventure through the galaxy for Sarya the Human as she tries to find the rest of the human species. Along the way, she learns more than she expects about what it means to be what you are. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end.