The Last Runner

The Runners of Abra Series, Book 1

By: Shaun Stevenson

Narrated by: LC Kane

Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

When Eric was only 13, he was taken from his family and the peaceful rice fields on the island of Jedros to become a Runner. Roaming the five islands of Abra, Runners are tasked with jobs - jobs they must see to the end. Either finish the job or die.

©2018 Shaun Stevenson (P)2018 Crimson Pulse Media LLC

A Great Story

What a find. Intense action and intriguing characters. Can be listened to by adults and young adults.
Hope to see it continue.
The narrator did an excellent job. Even though the main character was a male, you would not notice it in her voice. She keeps you listening to the end.
This book was given to me free for my voluntary unbiased review.

Great new world!

I loved the concept of the runners and the gems but the story left me with a lot of unanswered questions. I am guessing the next book(s) will go over that stuff. Fingers crossed. I could have done without the talking horses, but the rest of the book was action-packed fun!

Quite an Intriguing Story

I enjoyed this story. Although it did remind me a bit of the Hunger Games (which is fine), it still has an original premise to it. I look forward to seeing some of the characters expanded on in future books.

LC Kane did a nice job, although it was a little confusing at times since the story is told in first person by a young man .

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

great young adult book

a very nice story very interesting and well written the story was very good the narrator did a good job as well and very enjoyable book to listen to
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review

Great Start to a Fantasy Thriller!

I listened to this book with my children (ages 13, 11 & 9 yrs old) and we all really liked it. They are asking for the next in the series and were disappointed when they found out it's not out yet. No spoilers but it was left in a cliff hanger. This started a little slow and confusing but is a bit to be expected with it being the first in a series and the confusion made us stay interested in the beginning while we were trying to figure it out. I'd compare this to SkyRaiders and the Hunger Games. It was also clean enough that even my 9 year old was ok with it. The narrator did a great job with the acting, voices, and was a pleasure to listen to. I would definitely recommend this one to the fantasy readers. I know we're looking forward to the next one.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Pretty good YA fantasy story

I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Definitely geared towards a younger audience, but it was pretty good. The story is interesting and kept me interested. The narration is also pretty decent. All in all, a good listen.

Imaginative and Exciting

I loved this book and not just because the main character's name is the same as mine. Yes, it's another YA story where some nobody from nowhere suddenly discovers he is the chosen one but it was such a unique and imaginative world that I just went with it.

Poor Eric finds himself clasped and doomed to live out the rest of his life in slavery as a runner. He's bound to complete his jobs or die in a puff of purple smoke While at first completely terrified of his new fate, he starts to question whether the life of the runner is better than his life in abject poverty tending rice fields. After all, he reasons, he's just exchanging one form of slavery for another. And thus he resigns himself to being a runner until something unheard of happens to him in training and he's suddenly thrust into the limelight, a place far too dangerous to be in Abra.

Like Eric, you're never sure who's good and who's bad in a world that has far more shades of grey than blacks and whites. I like that in a story and the characters in this one did not disappoint.

I also really liked the narrator. Although, I will admit that it took me most of the way through the first chapter before I realized that the main character was a boy. Ms. Kane tells the story well and her voices are interesting and varied enough to tell the characters apart without needing to be told who is talking. I especially liked the voice of the runner who accompanies Eric on his first job. Although, don't ask me to spell it.

I'm looking forward to the rest of the story and I hope Ms. Kane narrates. I definitely recommend this one.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

A Treat for the Imagination,Gripping YA Fantasy

This is a really neat and intriguing idea for a story, and I was captivated and drawn into the story from beginning to end. I loved the writing and the narration, and really felt for Eric and his circumstances. Sometimes both choices are bad, and that's our only option. I would love to read/listen to more in the series, and think any young adult or adult alike would like the story. Great job!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.