I applied for this because I was a debut author who wanted to see what the NetGalley copy would look like. I did not expect it to ruin my NG ratio. So, I’ve rated it 5 stars, don’t judge me!

This book had me glued from beginning to end! It begins with a mystery (the main character's best friend has been missing for four years), which I feel is always a great way to start.

I enjoyed the characters - while many of them are the typical "good guys, nice people", there are a few more morally grey ones (ahem, Lochlan) who I found really interesting and enjoyable. The relationship and dynamic between Cassia and Lucas was also really lovely to read about.

I love that the story ended in a place that clearly shows there's more to come (because I need more!), and I feel that the author ended it in a really good place. I would love to see more world-building in the Selene Realm in the next book.

A solid 4.25 stars from me!

Thank you so much to the author for sending me an e-ARC to read and review.

I enjoy urban fantasies – like I do like epic and high fantasies, especially with tons of quests available for the taking – but there’s something almost easy about urban fantasies/fantasies set in the modern world (since I think urban fantasies are specifically set in cities and not smaller towns like some modern fantasies?).

I like urban fantasies/modern world fantasies because it’s sort of more accessible for new readers. Also to readers new to the genre. There’s less of the typical fantasy names (listen, those apostrophes and accent marks are difficult even to a trained fantasy reader!); there’s not too much world-building and info-dumping because you already know most/half of the world presented to you.

Cassia’s love for her sister is plain to see from the get-go. I mean she did literally go into a who ‘nother world to help save her sister. Basically all of her motivation throughout the book is focused on her sister. As someone who really likes (positive) sibling relations; I definitely appreciated seeing the love Cassia has for her. I really like Cassia and Lucas’s close friendship (bit of a spoiler but they stay friends and don’t go any further). As someone who’s not a fan of friends to lovers in books (it has to be written a certain way), I cherish any friends who stay friends. I like how they were dependent on each other growing up and they came back to that a bit in this book and I hope the next book has that more.

Speaking of morally-grey characters, we have one in the form of Lochlan and he was great. Definitely can’t wait for the next two books to see what he gets up to. I don’t know if I was a fan of morally grey characters in my younger years (my word, that sounds weird to type) but I definitely am now that I’m older. Maybe it’s because I can tell (most) authors have a lot of fun writing them and that makes me like them more. Lochlan is probably one of my favourites so I’m only going to say nice things about him because I usually had a grin when he was on the page.

Dual-Pov for the win! Patel Papathanasiou did it well as I liked how it went from a newcomer (Cassia) and she’s learning about the world-building and the magic system and we, as the readers, are learning about it with her. And then it switches to Lucas and the way he thinks of the worldbuilding and the magic system – there’s no real second guessing because he’s very familiar with it. Which I liked as well because it allowed me to ease more into the world-building because of the easy way he viewed it.

I always enjoy it when I can see that the author is passionate about their writing. It shines through in their work and also wherever they talk about their work. I could see it on all of Shameez’s social media and all throughout the book. It makes for a more enjoyable read – the author enjoyed writing it, therefore you can enjoy reading it.

There was a bit of found family and I relished every bit because – I mean – it’s found family. What else can I say? I hope that the found family aspect is a bit better written in the sequel and that it comes easier – the camaraderie and the way the characters interact with each other.

Magic and monsters and the chance of a miracle cure for her little sister. When Cassia finds herself dragged into a parallel realm against her will, her life is forever changed. As she becomes increasingly involved in events beyond her control, Cassia is confronted with a lot of secrets from the past and has to come to grips with a reality very different from the one she has always known.

I really enjoyed the world building and the general storyline as well as many of the side characters. I would love to see what happens to them as the series continues. Unfortunately the three main characters and the romance fell a little flat for me. It was (and this is my personal opinion) too much of the usual YA fantasy love triangle that everyone seems to be writing. It feels over used and I think that the three main characters had a lot more potential to be something new and fresh in this specific genre.

Calla, Cassia's little sister is dying and no one can figure out why. When Cassia wakes in another realm, she finds her missing best friend Lucas, and he knows how to save her sister. He is part of the Reborn, people from Earth who in this realm have abilities. The original inhabitants are the Firsts and their king released a curse to cull the Reborns. She must learn to heal her sister and help break the curse before time runs out and she is trapped there forever!

With rich, 'picture ready' descriptions that breathe life into the story, this is an inviting narrative, making you feel like you've always been in this world or should I say these realms. The author successfully realizes each character, gifting them with a unique voice, mannerisms and outlook on life. You are along for the ride with each character's actions. She achieves this with her empathetic writing.

The Selene realm is captivating and the author embellishes it with gusto. An engrossing mythology is introduced and cultivated beautifully as is the weaving of the plot threads. Full of interesting characters, some you'll wish were your friends, others you will love to smirk at, *cough, cough, Lochlan*, and a main villain who is so impressively despicable you will love to hate him. The author succeeds in making you have strong feelings for the characters and caring for the outcome of the story, in all its unexpected glory.

Bigotry rears its ugly head resulting in you fiercely rooting for the targeted group, the Reborns. This book is about the power of love, of family both by blood and chosen. A great sense of humor and a great sense of right and wrong are instilled in the excellent storytelling.

I can say I honestly adored this book, in all its exciting and unpredictable splendor, and cannot wait to start book 2.

This book got me into reading fantasy again.

Following the story of Cassia, a strong and assertive POC lead, as she is thrust into a world of magic and power.

I became entwined in the realm, just as she did and the world around me fell away.

While I definitely have my favourite characters, I loved that everyone gave me something different.

From Lucas' protectiveness ("Touch her again and you'll regret it.") to Lochlan with his smart mouth and witty banter ("I, on the other hand, know how to use a whip.") and last, but certainly not least, Min-Jun who I just want to keep in my pocket because he is so soft, sweet and gentle. ("He swallowed the piece of apple he'd been chewing and nodded once before closing his eyes and sending a wave of calmness over her. Xanax had nothing on him.")

The world descriptions had me inside the hospital with Cassia, to picking bananas with Min-Jun and baking in the kitchen with Brie (I have never wanted a plate of freshly baked bread and cheese more in my life!)

With found family, witty dialogue and nail biting action, this book will drag you away from reality and you'll be sad to put it down once you're done (but knowing that there is more will definitely keep the flame alive!)

Immersive is the one word I would use to describe it.

I haven't read a fantasy novel in a while so it was nice to dive into this book as it was fast-paced compared to other fantasy novels. I didn't realise how much I missed reading fantasy until I started reading The Last Feather. Despite the book is fast-paced, the world-building was done incredibly well and it was easy to decipher between the human realm and the Selene realm. The writing style made it easy to understand the story as well as to read. To top it all off IT IS A DUAL POV !! and you all know how I love a good dual pov book.

Everything about the plot and the characters was so so refreshing and different!! I loved how diverse the characters were. There were twists in the book that I was perhaps a little predictable but nonetheless quite enjoyable and which creates a perfect setting for the next book as there are still so many unanswered questions!

I thoroughly enjoyed this and it has made me fall in love with Fantasy again! Diving into the Selene realm was a magical experience and I cannot wait to see what Cassia and the gang get up to next!

The Last Feather will be out on 19 July 2022 and can be purchased from the following sites: Locally on Loot, Takealot, Exclusive Books, Wordsworth Books and internationally on Book Depository, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Books A Million, and, Indie Bound.

I really was excited for this debut novel but was very bored with the writing style of it, which just didn't seem to work for me. The characters weren't too interesting either. But I do look forward to what the author writes next and hope it'll be more exciting.

This was sadly a DNF for me very early on. I didn’t like the writing style, it felt very amateurish and needed more polishing and editing. I couldn’t connect with characters who all were too surface-level deep. Overall a cool concept but read like a first draft. 2 stars.

I tried this book a few times until I got hooked- it's definitely the kind of book you can read in a day (just because it's very simple).
However the writing style wasn't my favourite, it just felt a bit like every little thing was explained and would've preferred having a bit of mystery rather than all that info dump at the start.
I love me a good fantasy so I expected more and I was a little disappointed.
Overall it was okay- 2.5 stars.

Firstly, despite Cassia being twenty-two and having taken responsibility for caring for her ailing younger sister, she often behaves more like a mid-teen than a twenty-something. This sets the tone for the book, which reads like a YA adventure, with the emotions dialled high and many of the characters still unsure of who they are and their role in life. This isn’t in the way of a criticism – I regularly read and enjoy YA fantasy adventures, but it is important for other readers to know whether this is one they’d enjoy, or not.

I very much liked the poignancy of the separation between Lucas and Cassia at the beginning of the novel, which is powerfully written. So I assumed that the developing romance would feature the two of them – and it came a nice surprise when this wasn’t the case. Given that this is the relationship that drives the narrative throughout the book, I was delighted that it came from an enduring, close-knit bond that didn’t evolve into smouldering looks and all the sensations around physical attraction. Although there is all of that going on – it is far more confusing and difficult and fortunately for me, it didn’t upstage the ongoing issue of Cassia’s urgent task while in the magical realm.

Overall, I enjoyed the story. Plenty is going on throughout, with lots of action and drama and while at times I found Cassia annoyingly stubborn and self-centred – they were flaws I could live with. However there were aspects of the world that I did find irritating. Because of the ongoing pace of events, people need to be able to move around fast in a world where there is no mechanised transport. The author has decided to use a magical strain of wolf which are ridden and can travel very fast. Having chosen such a quirky form of transport, she then proceeds to treat these strong, powerful creatures like cars. They promptly bound up and allow anyone at all to clamber on board, they don’t appear to get tired, or ever act up. And once at the destination, everyone jumps down and they politely wait around for the return journey. Just like a car… I find it inconceivable that such apex predators would tamely submit to such treatment and it bugged me throughout the book.

That said, I did get caught up in the story and was sorry when it came to an end. There isn’t any mention on Goodreads or Amazon of a sequel – and there should be, because there are far too many dangling plotpoints waving in the wind. I, for one, want to know what happens next. Recommended for fans of YA portal fantasy adventures featuring a headstrong and plucky heroine. While I obtained an arc of The Last Feather from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
8/10

The last feather written by Shameez Patel Papathanasiou Is a debut novel and is the first novel in 'The Selene trilogy' which is an ongoing fantasy series.

It follows Cassia, a strong POC lead, who is thrust unexpectedly into a world of magic and power. As she searches for a way to save her sister, a curse released by The king of the firsts traps her in this unknown world. If Cassia wants to return home, she must find a way to break the curse before her time runs out.

This book completely blew me away. Not only did it have everyone's favorite things (found family, magic, wonderful characters) but it also had the perfect mixture of fantasy and magical realism.

Shameez had an absolutely incredible method of drawing the reader into her world. Like the characters, I was sucked into this wonderful new world that definitely became one of my new favorite settings. Once I picked up this book, I did not want to put it down. Whether I was in the middle of plot reading or just general descriptions, my attention was always in this book.

While I loved the main characters, I absolutely adored the side characters. Not only were they incredibly diverse, but they were also funny and wonderful to read about. I loved how eventhough they weren't the main characters, they still all had their individual stories and unique abilities. It made the general characters in this book especially loveable.

The last feather was an exceptional read. Even though I now have to wait for book 2, I loved reading this book and experiencing the journey it took me on. It was a wonderful debut and I cannot wait to read more of Shameez's books.

I loved The Last Feather, it was definitely an amazing read. This book fits in the fantasy and adventure genre. It has a lovely writing style and plot, as well as great characters. I’m excited for what comes next!

[This review is posted on GoodReads and Storygraph. An extended version is also posted on Instagram. Links are attached]

A portal fantasy with lots of potential. Started off slow but picked up in the last 40%. World building and dialogue can be improved, but the overall story was enjoyable.

The Last Feather
by Shameez Patel Papathanasiou

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy

THOUGHTS:

I was hooked reading this book.

Things have been happening and had happened that constantly teased the reader to keep on reading. But never in a way that would overwhelm or frustrate you but rather to keep you intrigued.

The revelations. The secrets. The world building and even the characters (regardless of how minor) made an impression. And our main characters, Cassia and Luke, were just adorable. Their friendship is such a goal and you can’t help but root for them for something more.

Both characters have responsibilities thrust upon them and they selflessly took it. And their support system, the family and friends-turned-family that they met along the journey made their burden both rewarding yet difficult. And it bleeds throughout the page and it was amazing.

I commend the writer for writing such strong and lovable characters that you can’t help but root and cheer for.

This is the first book of the trilogy and I am really looking forward and curious for the next one.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A fun read!

In this book we follow a girl as she deals with her sister's mysterious illness. She has also lost her best friend whoo disappears one night. But she is thrust into a new world where she meets him again, staying only to find out how she can save her sister.

I really liked the writing. The friends to lovers romance was adorable, and although the pacing was a little slow, I really enjoyed the turn this story took. The character relationships were well-developed and they were all unique. The dialogue was fun at times, and some situations were very heart-wrenching. The history of this magic and world was compelling. It immediately drew me in.

Highly recommend!

In a Nutshell: Alternate realm fantasy with some hits and misses. Interesting characters, decent world building, a lot of action in the second half. First of a planned trilogy.

Story Synopsis:
Cassia’s younger sister Calla is dying but doctors have no clue about what’s ailing her. This is the latest in a long run of tragedies, including the death of their dad and the sudden disappearance of Cassia’s best friend Luke four years ago. Luke still keeps appearing in her dreams but what she doesn’t know then is that Luke is alive, and is trying to contact her from another realm. Soon, Cassia finds herself in this strange ‘Selene Realm’, with Luke and his new friends who call themselves “Reborns”. They have varied magical abilities but are under the rule of the original beings of the realm, the cruel “Firsts”. Cassia finds herself dealing with the difficulties and dangers of her new world, which involves a threat to the very existence of the Reborns through the monstrous Rahlogs. At the same time, she wants to get back home as soon as she can so that she can save Calla. How will she manage all this with the limited time she has in the Selene Realm?

Where the book worked for me:
😍 The book goes ahead at a fairly steady pace, medium towards the start and faster as it progresses.
😍 I liked the concept of the beings in the alternate realm. The Firsts, the Reborns and the Rahlogs are distinct, and yet not so distinct when you get to know them.
😍 I LOVED the fact that there is no clichéd romantic angle between the main characters. I am so fed up of shoehorned romance in fiction.
😍 Cassie is not an easy character to like. If this were a first person narration, I would have disliked the book for sure as she seems too full of herself. But keeping a distance from her is easier with the third person narration. The other characters are better, not necessarily good or bad but morally grey, which adds to the complexities of knowing them.

Where the book left me with mixed feelings:
😑 The world building was decent. But the detailing was somewhat hazy. I loved the villages, the various beings (as I mentioned above), the Baskian wolves, the magical abilities… But I felt like I didn’t get to know the place at all. It seems like it could have been any old village in Europe, albeit one with plenty of bananas!
😑 There are a few unforeseen twists that add to the fun. However, some of the twists are spoiled by foreshadowing.
😑 The ending isn’t exactly a cliffhanger ending, though it completes just one arc of the story and sets up the stage for the next part of the series. To this extent, it did well. But there is no closure to what happened a chapter before. Again, no spoilers, but things are at a very dangerous point, and in the next chapter, we hear from the said character something as vague as “All is well. Everyone is fine. It ended well.” But what happened? How did it get sorted out? Am I supposed to wait till the next book to know that?
😑 Some of the characters’ abilities are mentioned again and again but they aren’t used consistently. Cassie is supposed to have an eidetic memory yet she uses a highlighter on her medical textbooks to remember what’s important. Lochlan can teleport but doesn’t do so a crucial moments when it is really needed. The characters supposedly need a recharge time after excessive use of their magical abilities but just when their “downtime” starts varies as per the scene. Sometimes, it is after just one magical action, sometimes after multiple. I wish the plot sketching had been more precise.
😑 The basic writing itself is, at times, inconsistent. Here we have a book with characters openly talking of having sex (though there are no sex scenes). And at the same time, we have lines like “She threw him a vulgar gesture”? (And this comes twice in the book!) If the target audience is adults and not the YA segment, this periphrasis doesn’t make sense.
😑 The titular ‘feather’ is relevant to the plot in two ways, thus making it an interesting choice. But I don’t think it represents the story well.

Where the book could have worked better for me:
😒 Misleading marketing. I picked up this book on the assumption that it was a standalone. If I pick up a book that’s part of a series, I like to know about it in advance. The blurbs on NetGalley/Goodreads/Amazon don’t mention that this is the first of a planned trilogy. The only place where this is revealed is on the cover. Just see if you can locate that line on the teeny cover pic. Furthermore, the blurb on all three sites highlights the fact that this is a debut work. I always cut some slack for debut authors. But it turns out that this author already has a published book named “An Acquired Taste” to her name.
😒 As there are more books in this series, I don’t know if some of these below points will be tackled in future. But there are many lacunae in the plotting. Without going into spoilers, certain things are mentioned and then swept aside, as if they weren’t relevant at all. (Example: the portal that opened to another realm – what was its significance and who did it?) Some characters behave in a very biased way towards certain other characters, but there’s no rationale provided for their behaviour. (Example: Ro’s behaviour towards Lochlan – why was she so antagonistic with him?)
😒 Trivial point this, but the character names of Cassia’s family sounded very odd to me. Cassia and Calla are both names of Greek origin, their father is named “Deo”, which has Hindu roots, and their surname is “Khan”, which is a common Muslim last name. Their racial identity is not mentioned at all, nor is any of these cultures (Greek/Hindu/Muslim) relevant to or used in the story. Were they “Khan” just to provide a token PoC representation to the story?

Overall, a nice story with the good vs. evil trope, but with the lines blurred between the two. Somehow, the writing has a YA feel to it though it isn’t a YA book. Still, not bad, and I am sure the flaws will sort themselves with more writing experience. I might just pick up the rest of the series.

3.5 stars, rounding up because it kept me going ahead despite the shortcomings.

My thanks to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Last Feather”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Main triggers: Brutal animal cruelty, cannibalism, behind-the-scenes gore and death.

I haven't read many fantasy books, but I couldn't pass up an opportunity to support a South African author. And I loved it! This could be the book that finally gets me into the genre.

I was gripped from the start. It's got magic, monsters and mystery. I think what hooked me, though, is the way the story appeals to the heart.

We meet Cassia in the human world. She's a medical whizz on a mission to find out what happened to her missing best friend Lucas while trying to heal her sister Calla's idiopathic illness.

Understandably, she has a LOT of questions when she is dragged to a place that she didn't know existed. In the Selene realm, she finds curses, fiendish royals, strange creatures and Lucas. He can heal Calla, but he needs Cassia's help first. Before the feathers run out.

The story takes us on a journey through both of their perspectives, featuring many fascinating side characters along the way.

I adored that even though lovable giant Lucas is fiercely protective of her, Cassia is tough. She adapts swiftly and soon shows her worth. She was taken there for good reason, after all.

The pace is fast, the story tense and thrilling, the characters rugged and raw. Ultimately, it's about love, family and friendship and, with the author's featherlight touch, the heart overpowers the horror in this story. I highly recommend it! I can't wait for part two of the Selene Trilogy.

It was such a pleasure to take part in #thelastfeatherblogtoursa. Thank you so much Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for the eARC of this brilliant book!

Wow wow wow, guys — I absolutely loved this fantasy adventure from local Cape Town author Shameez Patel Papathanasiou. I finished The Last Feather this afternoon, just in time for today’s blog tour stop. This book officially releases 1 August in South Africa and 19 July in UK/US.

Cassia’s sister is dying of a mysterious illness, but when Cass is taken against her will to another dimension she learns there might be a cure after all. She finds a land filled with magical people, one of whom is her childhood best friend who disappeared four years ago. He needs her help. Can she save his people and her own sister before she runs out of time and is stuck in the new dimension forever?

This book has everything you could want in a fantasy:

• portals to another realm

• a fiery female MC discovering her powers

• strong friendship

• a snarky prince

• all the banter!

• a curse that results in almost-zombies

• endearing side characters that form a rag tag found family

Sounds great, right?! My only word of complaint is I want MORE! And I have to wait until next year for the sequel. Thankfully, Shameez assures me it’s already been written and that I’ll get even more of my favorite character, Lochlan, in that one.

I definitely recommend this one for every fantasy lover out there!

I had the privilege of receiving this book as part of the blog tour, as an advanced readers copy and I’m leaving this review voluntary.

The setup of this book is fantastic, and something happens to the MFC that has happened to me as well, almost exactly to the point, except where Lukas was a few hours older than her, my friend was a few hours younger than me.

The book builds beautifully, it creates a world where I would love to visit. It is such a fast-paced, action-packed book that I could not put it down, so I finished it in less than a day.

The hints to the next book also keeps you gripped up until the very end and you cannot help but devour the book and every word that was written.

Thank you Shameez for writing such a brilliant story! I cannot wait to devour book 2!