Last Things audiobook

Last Things by Jacqueline West is a standalone young adult fantasy read that just oozes mystery and intrigue along the way. The story is told with a dual point of view alternating between the two main characters of Anders Thorson and Thea Malcom.Anders is a teenage rock god… well an aspiring one. Anders fronts the band Last Things with a couple of his friends. The guys have a permanent gig at a local bar and have gained a huge following for their small neck of the woods but have made a pact to not move on until after graduation.Anders and Last Things certainly have their share of fans packing the place when they play and even a few outside of their gigs. Thea Malcom is one of the girls that always seems to be around and being a bit of a loner some find Thea a bit strange. When things begin happening around and to Anders and those closest to him Thea becomes a suspect in what is happening.Being set in northern Minnesota with plenty of woods around this one certainly had that creepy, atmospheric vibe to it almost as if those woods were another character in the story. While it’s also a slow burn story that takes a good long while soaking in an air of mystery before heading the reader to the darker fantasy it still did a good job of holding my attention along the way and I rather enjoyed it when it was all said and done.I received an advance copy from the publisher via Edelweiss.For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

A biased review, I admit -- but this is honestly my favorite book I've ever written, and I'm thrilled that it will be heading out into the real world very soon. Thanks, readers.

TITLE: Last ThingsAUTHOR: Jacqueline WestRELEASE DATE: May 7thGENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy, ParanormalNARRATORS: LENGTH: RATING: 4.5 StarsCLIFFHANGER:NoREAD MY REVIEW ON THE BLOGLAST THINGS was a total surprise and I didn't expect it to love it as much as I did. It is told in dual POV and the author lets you get closer to the characters only in baby steps and it isn't clear until the last third of the story what we are dealing with here. The enemy and the main characters are kept in mystery which worked really well, I thought. I just wanted to KNOW.Thea's actions is a little creepy, keeping us guessing almost until the big showdown whether she is on the good side or the bad. Her behavior is borderline stalkerish, she's the girl always standing at the edge of a room, observing. There are glimpses of her being infatuated with Anders but that's not what this is about. At the end of the book I found out how lonely and a little tragic, sad, her life must be. Although she is creepy AF sometimes I couldn't help but love her because I felt her heart was pure. Kudos to the author for making me feel that way about a very ambiguous character.Anders is tragic in his own way. He wants to be a rock star like nothing else in the world and we know how evil always figures that out and uses those wishes to its advantage. Anders, unknowingly, made a deal with the devil years ago. Now, on the verge to stardom he has become a little cautious of offers that fall into his lap and, while he is flattered by the attention he receives, he doesn't want to do it without his band mates. I loved that Anders integrity never wavered in that regard. As much as he argued with his best friends, he never wanted to sacrifice them for his own gain.If you read this story it will give you an idea how witch hunts in medival times started. How people spread rumors about an outsider who is "different", tell lies about them, gang up on them to bring them down. Listen closely, there is a message in this book too.The storytelling is wonderful - the spooky vibe of fog rising and wobbeling above the ground, the atmosphere of it is thick in this story.The narrators Lisa Flanagan and Josh Bloomberg are new to me, too and they did an AMAZING job to transfer the mood with their performance. They manage the feat to make your hairs stand up on your arms.I admit I took a chance on LAST THINGS. It's not my usual genre, it's a new-to-me author who I've never heard of before. If that applies to you too and you are up for an adventure, that is captivating, truly unique and spooky, be sure to give this one a chance.

Title: Last ThingsSeries: StandaloneAuthor: Jacqueline WestRelease date: May 7, 2019Cliffhanger: NoGenre: YA fantasyJacqueline West explains in the author's note that this story is inspired by the legend of blues singer Robert Johnson, the man who's told to have sold his soul to the devil for his musical talent. She gives it her own metal band spin with a high schooler who has rocketed to fame in a small town in Minnesota. I'm not a metal fan, but those who are will find a lot of references in the book to enjoy. Thea Malcom adds an extra level of mystery and creepiness as the second protagonist with ambiguous intentions. After reading the first chapter I was immediately disturbed by her behavior and curious if she was a morally grey character, a villain, or a hero in disguise. The story was a shade slow moving in the beginning, but once it gains momentum, it's pretty compulsive reading. Anders Thorson is one third of the band Last Things and unarguably the mega talent that has them hanging on the edge of stardom. Patrick, the drummer, and Jezz, the bassist are decent but can't compare the the awe inspiring performances Anders has quickly become known for. First impressions of him tell you that he's typically a quiet guy who's not entirely comfortable with people praising his talent. When he steps onstage he dons his alter ego. The boy that has lightning fast hands on the strings, and an aloof rock star edge that makes the girls in his school crazy. At first he seems humble. Unable to take compliments or reach for fame and fortune because he hasn't properly suffered as an artist. He seems to drown in Self-recrimination and shame. The truth is far darker. It's a secret that he convinces himself is only his wild imagination, but constantly wears on his conscience regardless. You can’t be the lead in something without it putting other people in the background. And you can’t just keep taking what you didn’t earn. You need to pay for it somehow.I don't want to say too much about Thea for fear of spoiling the mystery surrounding her. Be prepared to wonder if she's a sick in the head stalker who has become unhealthily fixated on Anders. She exhibits all of the traits of someone like that, but there's always a little niggle of doubt about her true objective. There are dark and sinister creatures lurking in this tiny town that give more dimension to the story. Thea and her Aunt Mae are the only ones who seem to be aware of them, both gifted with supernatural talents. Mae is widely distrusted and gossiped about for odd occurrences she was tied to in the past, and as a result Thea is given a wide berth at school. Everyone sees her intense interest in Last Things, but more specifically Anders. She's even jokingly called his stalker for showing up at every single one of their shows and staring him down with laser focus. But when a local girl disappears it's no longer a joking matter. West constantly attempts to cast doubt on the motivations of Thea, pretty far into the book. She also withholds a lot of the character background until later on to maintain a level of suspense for the reader. You're given small pieces of history and character development, but nothing concrete until around the last third of the book. While I understood her reasoning for that, it caused Thea to feel somewhat two-dimensional for a good portion of the plot. That being said, once her truth was revealed I was impressed with how distinct this was from anything else I've read. There were a couple of things that were not at all what I was expecting before opening up the book. Most notably, the small romantic sub-plot. However, I wouldn't categorize this book as romantic, really. It has a strong horror/paranormal feel that permeates every page. The dark things aren’t quite real, anyway. Not on this side of the cracks. But when you’re empty inside, dark things will find a place inside of you. Like water. Like air. Dig a hole. There will always be enough darkness to fill it up.The seemingly ordinary town is crawling with malevolent things that the townspeople are completely unaware of. Some glaringly dangerous, others hiding behind a facade. The only question is, who will come out victorious in the end? I appreciated West's lyrical writing style and her ability to create a dark, atmospheric setting that almost becomes a character in and of itself. If you're looking for a YA fantasy that's a little different than what's being offered right now, give this one a shot. FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON:

Find my full review here: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yaficti...LAST THINGS is a YA fantasy that follows two teens, Anders and Thea, in alternating points-of-view. Anders is the vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter for the metal band, Last Things, which also includes his BFFs Patrick and Jezz. Anders’s talent is world-class, bigger than the small town where he lives and plays. Together (but mostly with Anders’s feelings), they decided not to make any money from their playing until after they graduate high school, when Anders plans to take a year off while they try to make it big.Thea is potentially a stalker. She follows Anders around town and goes to every show (though pretty much all the teens in town go to all the shows). She knows there is something darker at play here, hiding in the woods. No one else can see what she sees and she lurks in the shadows, not really drawing attention to herself. She lives with her Aunt Mae, who maybe has visions of the future, and who most of the people in town have written off as insane. They barely have enough money to get by.Whether Thea is actually a stalker and what the darker things mean for Anders is slow-building with reveals and more information coming slowly, mostly towards the end of the book. The book is well-written, making the reader question what they know and who knows what throughout.What I loved: This is a light thriller which is shrouded in mystery, and as such, it is quite the page turner. I was completely driven to find out what was going to happen and who everyone really was. The pacing is quite artistic, slowly increasing throughout the book to the intense ending/escalation. The premise and characters were really fascinating- I could easily have spent more time in this well-crafted world. What left me wanting more: As a small thing, there are still some unanswered questions in the book While this was most likely intentional and allows one to draw their own conclusions on some things, I did want some more information on certain characters. I will say that most of the plotlines are drawn to a close and we get many answers in the book, so it is not a cliffhanger or open ending.Final verdict: Overall, this is a masterfully paced YA fantasy/light thriller that will keep the reader guessing and second-guessing. I would highly recommend for fans of supernatural books with shrouds of mystery.

Okay friends, this book was a ride! Let's start with that, because I'm still trying to put together all my thoughts into a coherent review and that's forefront on my mind. It's always a breath of fresh air to read something outside the lines, to read something that is atmospheric and intriguing. That's this book, perfectly described. Last Things is what I've been waiting for, and it was a darn good way to start the month.Let's talk characters. Anders Thorson is now one of my favorite male characters. Why, you ask? He's a teenage boy, in a rock band, who isn't a brooding jackass. Anders is sweet. He loves his family, and his cat. He loves his guitar, his band, and is adorably humble when it comes to his talent. He isn't the kind of guy who uses girls, but instead is genuinely interested in one and too shy to reciprocate anything. In other words, Anders is an excellent character. I loved him from the moment I met him and, even as his dark secrets started to spiral into the open, I was 100% behind him. He's a character you can root for, and that makes this book such an easy read. Add in the fact that he's also the "damsel in distress" in this book, and you have my heart.Yes friends, the woman saves the man in this book. Thea, if it's possible, is an even more intriguing character than Anders. I love how the story starts out with her shrouded in mystery. It's not obvious whether she's stalking Anders, or protecting him. As the story progresses though, and you start to see into Thea's past, things get more layered than I could have hoped for. Thea is strong. There's no two ways about it! She's the type of character who will give up everything if necessary, for the good of someone else. Watching her interactions with the world around her, and with Anders, was just perfection. The link between them drove the book forward, and I both helplessly and eagerly held on.The fact that this story also revolves around music, and the ties that it has to emotions, made me so happy. As West wrote out Anders' songs, I could actually hear them in my head. I could feel the emotions that were pouring out of him, and I could sense the energy in the room when he performed. This is a book that is rife with atmosphere. The pages crackle and sizzle, the woods press in too close and too dark. It fascinated me that I flew through this book, and yet I felt connected to it too. Such a wonderful way to read a story.Long story short, this was a lot of fun to read and I'm highly recommending that you put this on your TBR if it isn't there already. It's well worth your time!

Amazing. The perfect blend of frightening and musical. Jacqueline's poetry background shines in the lyrics, and her real-world metal band inspirations are evident in the band she's created. It's a love letter to the North Woods, as well as to off beat metal clubs and the kids in that scene.

In a small town deep in the northwoods, metal guitarist Anders Thorson and his band, Last Things, are about to be the next big thing. But there’s something uncanny about his ability, and there’s something in the woods. This is freaking great!

I got a really creepy vibe from this book, but also found it very fun to read. I liked the supernatural elements throughout the book, I thought it brought a lot of different aspects to the story. I also enjoyed the inclusion of a lot of the lyrics from the songs they were singing at the Crow’s Nest.The story is told in alternating perspectives, one being Anders who is the lead singer of the band Last Things, the other being the new girl in town, Thea. Anders is the typical brooding musician at the beginning of the book. I enjoyed reading from his perspective especially when songs would “come“ to him. Thea is one of the most interesting characters I’ve gotten a chance of reading the perspective from. There is a lot of talk about her aunt Mae who she lives with and in turn her.I enjoyed the story overall and found myself having a hard time putting the book down because of the way each chapter ended. This book was written so well, I can’t wait to pick up another book by this author!

I got offered an ARC without even knowing what title it would be. This book showed up a couple weeks ago. It sounded interesting and is out soon, so I plopped down with it about 2 1/2 hours ago. I couldn't put it down, as it teases the reader perfectly with the mystery behind the male protagonist Anders and him being a music prodigy leading a metal band.Then there is Thea, who is super intriguing and has her own interesting past. Jacqueline West describes since with the right amount of detail that helps the reader truly capture the scenes as they unfold.And while the story of someone wanting so much out of life, they unknowingly trade a piece of themselves isn't original, it works so well with this story.This was a nice standalone book, but I wouldn't complain about future adventures of Thea should it happen, and a super fun, enjoyable read. I definitely recommend it if you want a good combo of YA, supernatural, and metal music.

This was a strange delightful little story, unexpected and original.