Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

Just a wonderful, wonderful story with so much heart. I truly felt like I was with the characters in the book, it only being 203 pages devastated me a little but just WOW also because ONLY 203 pages and it was that incredible?!? Sci-fi has always been a genre I love, but this book gave me a whole new love and appreciation for it. Also, any book with siblings and a cat should be an automatic read!

I admittedly have procrastinated granting this book feedback, but... I think I can firmly say that I had a very good time with this story. It's queer! It's a space opera! It's... A SPACE OPERA!

I found myself absolutely flying through this book -- it's formatted and written in the perfect way to be a light and entertaining read, and it's one that I loved to end my stressful days with. I think that this book was an absolute romp of a time, and I'll be recommending it to my friends who are all about this style of writing.

All my thanks to both Netgalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read and review this ARC!

The Last Gifts of the Universe is truly the gift that our universe (or at least those of us in the US who did not vote for the current administration) needs right now.

Set in the future, space archivists Scout, their brother, and their cat Pumpkin are in a life or death search for answers as to why all advanced civilizations in the universe are being systematically killed off. Chasing one lead after another, they are in a race against time and a corporate entity named Verity whose sole goal is to reach the information before them in order to use it to exploit those that still remain living.

This book is a warning against extreme capitalism even in the face of extinction and the hope and joy in the little things in life that keep us going when facing that same threat. The novel is delightful, charming, almost saccharine sweet, clean, with no romance so it should appeal to everyone who loves science fiction or feel good messaging. Plus, there is a space helmet wearing cat and that is just the cherry on top.

Highly recommended for fans of cozy sci fi and novellas by the likes of Mitch Albom.

4.5 Stars Overall

Thank you to NetGalley, Riley August, and Hanover Square Press for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I picked this book randomly from the hundreds on my kindle and it really ended up being so timely and relevant. I was not expecting such a poignant and emotional story. Don’t let the cutesy cover and space theme fool you, this is a story about humanity and how we move forward in the face of grief, disaster and tragedy. “This one is” will stay with me a long time.

I really enjoyed following this trio as they tried to find out the secrets of other dead planets. Very interesting premise and a super hopeful message. I look forward to reading more from Riley August.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

This was a real riveting experience of a book. The cover is beautiful but there’s an entire world inside the pages that I think really flow effortlessly.

I was so intrigued by the premise of this book and I wasn't disappointed! As Kieran and Scout (and Pumpkin of course, I adore Pumpkin) travel through space exploring dead planets, I found myself getting more and more wrapped up in the story. It wasn't just our main characters though, the whole cast of characters was beautifully written. The tension Riley August was able to create, the sense of urgency was just fantastic. This book consumed me for a whole day and as soon as I finished I was sad it was over. I sincerely hope there is more coming and this turns into a series because I'll be first in line for even more of this crew!

Thank you @htp_hive for the finished copy! #htphive @htpbooks @hanoversquarepress

Space • small cast of characters • cute sassy kitty • nonbinary rep • grief • humanity • family
Great on audio!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I enjoyed this! It’s a sci fi/dystopian novella with some stakes, but at its core, a story about loss, hope, and what we leave behind. This story had humor mixed with tender moments of friendship and love, captured in a Backman-esque fashion (you know what I mean?) And there’s a cat named Pumpkin- he’s got his own space suit!! If you like Monk & Robot by Becky Chambers (+ higher stakes) you’ll enjoy this I think! It was a soothing palate cleanser between heavier books.

3.5 Stars, but i round up.

I really enjoyed this cozy sci-fi that explores loss and grief in a really impactful way. I was drawn to the cute "cozy" cover that gave me major Becky Chambers vibes. In fact, this book, which trades major character development for instead grander thematic writing (in this case, surrounding death and an uncertain future), feels much like Becky Chambers style of writing, and I mean that as a compliment. I would recommend this to readers looking for coziness, with likeable characters, which explores deeper themes. Also, there is a cat in space and ::spoiler:: he does make it to the end of the story.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

*spoilers*





I enjoyed reading this but I also wish we'd had a few more loose ends tied up at the close than we did. The main enemy felt more like a macguffin and the evil corporation had more of a presence in the long run but there wasn't a solution for either problem, This book was just a snapshot of characters in the middle of their journey dealing with grief, essentially. I'll read more from this author in the future, but I wish we'd had more time with the story in the long run, because what we got from this novella was interesting nonetheless.

Thanks for the free Netgalley book!

This book started off a bit slow, but once it got going, it really ran. Pumpkin is the GOAT, and provided much needed levity.

The way this book tackles the themes of grief and seizing each moment for what it is were heartfelt, well written, and poignant.

This was a beautiful and heavy story about preserving hope and memory even when facing the end of the world. It felt very timely. I also appreciated the sibling bond between Scout and their brother.

This cover has a chokehold on me, it’s adorable and has a cat wearing a spacesuit and literally this cover is exactly what you get in the story, okay actually it does have it’s more serious moments that are hard hitting but don’t worry, nothing happens to the cat. I also cannot do animal death, I don’t want to see or hear about animals passing away so no need to worry. This follows a couple characters. We have Scout, their brother Kieran, and their cat, Pumpkin and they are space archivists scouring the universe for information on what has decimated every planet but their own. They’re traveling through outer space and visiting planets, searching for any reason there’s no longer any life on these once inhabited places and Along the way, they find a message left from one of the planet’s occupants. That kind of kickstarts the race from dead planet to dead planet, trying to get answers. And along the way they encounter danger at every turn. This book is like alien, world-ending plague science fiction but with a cute cat. The writing in this is the type that is buttery smooth, it’s easy to read. It’s not a complicated scifi, the inner workings of the plot are easy to understand. I walked away from this book feeling deeply moved, sure it was cute and sweet, I loved the message about how precious life is, and how every living thing is connected by that but don’t think you won’t walk away having shed a tear or 2. If you’re looking for a hug in form of a book, this is definitely one I recommend.

Scout and Kieran are Archivists, exploring space in the hopes of encountering research and treasures from ancient civilizations that might help humanity survive a dangerous, ineffable entity called the Remnants.

This book is an utter delight, and it gives me hope in a dark, dark world. It’s short, beautifully written, and has a cheeky cat named Pumpkin. Really can’t get better than that.

Highly recommended.

Traveling through space with a cat? Sign me up. I am a big fan of sci-fi crews with pets. This is a cozy sci-fi story but does have some world stakes in trying to survive extinction. It has a 1st person POV and while I really liked the plot and characters, I was not the biggest fan of the writing style. It didn't stop me from enjoying the book, but it did give me a little pause every now and again. It does have some interesting relationship development involving family obligations between the siblings. I did want to know a little more about the civilizations they are gathering information about, but since it wasn't directly related to the plot, I can understand why it was limited in some places.

Overall a solid queer cozy sci-fi adventure.

This is the year I am just picking everything with cats on it and embracing my cat lady role.

Except this might have started as a "yay cat" read but ended up being one of my favorite reads of the entire year.

I am not using the term lightly when I say this is a masterpiece of emotional science fiction that transcends typical genre boundaries with its profound existential theme, having you feel so cynical yet so incredibly hopeful in equal measure. Following Scout's desperate mission to save civilization, this gripping tale evokes every emotion imaginable, from wonder to devastating grief that left me ugly sobbing into my pillow. August gives us an unforgettable tale about the end of existence that will resonate with you--even if sci-fi isn't your typical go to. This haunting exploration of humanity's last chapter proved to be both epic in scope and deeply personal in its emotional impact.

Thank you to the author, Hanover Square Press, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a charming novel! I found this book to be so cozy and entertaining, exactly what I needed to get in the spirit for the season as things start getting colder. If anyone is looking for cozy sci-fi this book will scratch that itch most assuredly.

In the The Last Gifts of the Universe, author Riley August delivers a classic save the universe sci-fi adventure, that is also cozy and a profound meditation on grief and the ties that bind each of us together. Scout is an archivist travelling with their techie brother and space-faring cat across a dead universe dredging up useful technology from worlds that were abandoned centuries ago. One such cache suddenly reveals the potential for the answers to what killed hundreds of planets and may soon threaten Scout's own world. This sets off a race across the universe to beat out the money- and power-hungry corporation also seeking the information. Between the action, Scout can't stop themselves from watching the last words of the woman who put the cache together, telling the story of her great love in beautiful prose that might not be expected but is most welcome. The nonbinary representation is nuanced and authentic.

This is a fantastic read that packs a lot of heart into a slightly shorter page count. (I wasn't expecting this to be less than 300 pages, but it made pretty good use of each one). Despite its short length, the story feels complete and incredibly well-crafted, with a compelling plot and well developed characters. I loved how the author balanced moments of quiet introspection with thrilling discoveries, creating an emotional and captivating experience. It's a gem of a book with a great cover--I can't wait to get our physical copies in here at the branch!