The Last Republic

Deseret Series, Book 1

De: Ryan McBeth

Narrado por: Garan Patrick

In 1849, Brigham Young declared independence. In 2025, the United States declares war.

In the heart of the American West lies Deseret—a Mormon theocratic nation born of faith, isolation, and resilience. For nearly two centuries, it has stood as a testament to independence and religious devotion. But now, Deseret finds itself at the center of a global conflict, its survival threatened by the world's only remaining superpower: the United States.

When the US launches a military operation to dismantle Deseret's alliance with Iran, the battle-lines blur between morality, faith, and ambition. As American forces attack, the citizens of Deseret fight back with unyielding resolve, advanced weapons, and a belief that their cause is divine.

Amidst the chaos, an embedded journalist with the 101st Airborne wrestles with the human cost of war, while Deseret fighter pilot rises as a symbol of resistance. In the shadows, a Mossad courier uncovers secrets that could shift the balance of power, and a police lieutenant faces a moral reckoning that could determine the fate of his nation.

The Last Republic is a gripping tale of geopolitics, faith, and survival—a story where ideologies clash, loyalties are tested, and no one emerges unscathed. As the smoke clears, one question remains: How far will a nation go to protect its identity, and what price will it pay?

Welcome to Deseret. Choose your side.

©2025 Ryan McBeth Productions LLC. (P)2025 Ryan McBeth Productions LLC.

Great sophomore effort!!

Looking forward to seeing how this turns out for Levi and the others.. as was pointed out “who is the bad guy here”?

Have you ever heard a Utah accent?

How does a Latter-day Saint say "Nephi," "Moroni," "Stripling Warriors," etc? It's really hard to listen to this, especially when you have accents for other groups and just have awkward, stinted speech with mispronounced words for the people of Deseret.

The plot is decent, though.

Fun ride

I enjoyed this, Some very interesting ideas.

Characters could be fleshed out more, but it’s done well!

A very interesting take on alternative American history

I appreciated the genuine effort the author took to reflect what Utah and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints might look like in 2025 in this alternative history scenario. It's not every day the scriptures that you hold dear in your heart become chapter headers in a way that helps carry the story. Great writing, looking forward to the next book!

IF you love High Castles this one is for you!

I love alternate histories, and this one grabbed me right away. Ryan McBeth asks what might have happened if Brigham Young had succeeded in turning the original Utah Territory, stretching across what is now several states into the nation of Deseret. In this reimagining, Deseret defeats the United States in the early 1930s, and in the modern day both countries stand on the brink of another war, and the global stakes for such a war.

The story is vivid, detailed, and full of tension, leaving me wanting even more of the moments and decisions that shape the characters. It’s a gripping setup for a world I can’t wait to see expand. I’m excited to see where Ryan McBeth takes us next.

5 x 5

Good world building good story What Tom Clancy books used to be can't wait for the next one Too bad you can't autograph an audiobook 5 / 5

really caught me off guard

really good story and great narration, came to the book from Ryan's YouTube and was not disappointed

really interesting world building and fast paced storytelling

really interesting world building and fast paced storytelling. the voice acting was also well done. I would definitely recommend it.

A great story and a new author

I loved the idea of this book. What if the Mormon pilgrims who traveled to Utah, actually started their own country? What would it look like? What would relations be between it and The United States? New author Ryan McBeth takes his considerable knowledge of military and intelligence background and crafts an interesting story of political and military intrigue. The narrator is the one downside for me. I just found his voice boring and not very interesting though he did a good job with foreign men, his American and Desseret accents were plain and uninteresting in my opinion. Still I would recommend it.

the complicated relationships

loved the story and the history that made up the story. looking forward to more from this author.