My thanks to Penguin Random House Children’s UK and NetGalley for a review copy of this book.

This is the first of a fantasy adventure series, the Endling series, (I’m not sure how many books it has). Byx, our ‘heroine’ is a dairne, a dog-like creature who has opposable thumbs, can walk on two legs, and can speak. Their most valuable characteristic is their ability to tell when anyone (human or otherwise) is lying. Byx is the runt of her small pack, who themselves are the last few of the dairnes left in their land, hunted by humans and constantly needing to move about. One day, just before the pack has planned to move on, Byx sneaks off to take a last look at the sea, in which process she ends up rescuing and befriending a much smaller creature, Tobble the wobbyk. When she returns to her home, she finds her pack has been ruthlessly killed and she is the last of the dairnes left alive, an ‘Endling’. Now she must set off on a journey, accompanied by Tobble, and a young human girl Khara, who has actually captured them, to look for a home, or rather a place where according to legend other dairnes once lived. While this isn’t a very straightforward quest and their path is riddled with danger, Byx and her friends soon find that what they are looking for and what they are fighting is much bigger than any of them had realised when they started off, and there are very few along the way that they can trust.

This was a very enjoyable read for me. While it may be set in a fantasy world, many of the issues it deals with and throws up are things that are very much a part of (and relevant to) the world we live in. Most important among them is inequality, not only between the sexes, but also between different living beings—certain species being dubbed (and treated) inferior simply because they don’t do things like others do. Then there is the more important problem—of humans’ destructive nature. Their greed for money, power, control, to demonstrate their superiority has led them to destroy everything around them, and then hypocritically mourning their loss after the damage is done. It is a characteristic of the humans in this fantasy world, as it is in our real world. [The fact that the book opens with a quote from Silent Spring pretty much conveys the message the book is trying to deliver.]

But coming back to the fantasy element, I enjoyed the world the author has created—fraught with danger though it may be—there are several interesting beings and places, all of which I thought very imaginative (there is even some language that she’s created for the different species). I would have preferred a map of the world to help me picture it better, but one was not included in the ARC. The main characters themselves are from different species who find themselves thrown together by circumstances, and who must learn to overcome their mistrust and understand each other for who they are. As a result, they develop some unlikely but strong friendships which was nice to see. The characters themselves are all very likeable, though I particularly found Byx, Tobble, and Gambler the felivet endearing, and liked the relationship that develops between them. The illustration of Byx and Tobble on the cover is pretty perfect, and is really cute too.

I liked that the author wrapped up the adventure (unlike some books which stop somewhat abruptly) although it is clear that the main quest will continue with more adventures and dangers along the way. Though this is classed as a children’s book, I think adults too would enjoy this read. Looking forward to the next instalment.

The author Katherine Applegate has previously won a Newberry Medal in 203 for her book The One and Only Ivan.

This book, The Last released on 1st November 2018.

This is a beautifully told story about friendship and persecution, the cost of human domination and our obsession with power. It’s set in a fantasy world with six ruling sentient species, of which humans make up just one. Byx is one of the dairne, a dog-like species who can talk and walk upright, but whose plush fur has seen them hunted. There’s also a fierce feline species, carnivorous giant insects, enormous raptor birds and a mercenary water species, all of whom are supposed to share in ruling the world, but are really just clinging on as humans take over with war and persecution and cruelty.

It’s this world that Byx is ruthlessly thrust into after her family are slaughtered and her species declared extinct. Despite her dog-like appearance, Byx is a smart, engaging heroine who doesn’t know what to do as she gathers friends and dreams of finding more of her own kind. Yet despite everything that has happened to her, she’s trusting too and kind and has the ability to see the good in everyone regardless of species.

You can’t help but like Byx, but she’s also surrounded by a cast of excellent characters from all different species, proving that outward appearance is not everything. I particularly liked little Tobble, who has big dreams and an even bigger heart. I also really liked Gambler, the cynical felivet, who is nevertheless brave and cunning and just what Byx needs. There are humans too, showing that we’re not all bad, but neither are we perfect, and they frequently cause Byx almost as much trouble as they save her from.

Full of engaging characters and set in a wondrous world, I will admit that at times the plot wasn’t quite as good as everything else, and there is a lot of wandering here and there in a slightly aimless fashion while everything gets set up. On the whole, though, this is a great read full of thought-provoking content neatly disguised beneath cute talking animal characters, and there’s clearly plenty more yet to come.

I loved the front cover on this book, I thought it was beautiful and for me, the depiction of the characters fitted in exactly with the characters in this book.

Byx (a name which I also think fits perfectly to his character), is the runt of the litter of dairnes, a species under threat of extinction. Just when the the pack is getting ready to leave on a quest in search of other rumoured daines, tragedy strikes, and Byx becomes the Endling - the last of his species - and therefore extremely valuable....

Byx - through her natural curiosity - which managed to save her life, meets Tobble the Wobbyk, and then, on her quest to find the other daines, is joined by Khara, Renzo, Gambler, and a few others....

This story twists and turns, we're never quite sure how is a friend and who is a foe, is everyone who they say they are? There are certainly no boring bits in this book! It truly is action packed, well written, highly descriptive, and a whole lot of fun. I can't wait for part 2......will we find out what on earth is really going on?!!

My thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House UK Children's