“The Last Soldier of Nava” is a sapphic romantasy based on Korean mythology. I am, and always have been, a massive fan of fantasy based on mythology. I particularly enjoy stories that draw upon mythologies that I am unfamiliar with and that is the case here, as believe it or not, I am not too clued up on Korean mythology!

The soldier wreaked destruction under her father’s control but after many years of slumber she awakens as Shadow and finds herself free from his clutches. Shadow (still under her hidden guise) is taken back to the Stronghold under the watchful eye of Scarlet. Scarlet, believes that Shadow holds the key to solving the murder of her sister, which she does, as she happens to be the one responsible for it!

Shadow magic, bone warriors, underhand plots, treachery, deception, and a relatively slow burn sapphic enemies to lovers romance. A lot happens on the path to overcoming her past as the soldier as Shadow comes to realise she has a key role to play in the future survival, or destruction of her world.

It’s a fun read. The world building is good, I was particularly interested in the shadow magic system and the concept of the dead zones. The twist and turns keep you on your toes as you don’t quite know who knows what and who can trust who. I really liked the mid book quasi “friendship” triangle between Shadow, Scarlet, and Aspis and was hoping it would focus more on that fresh idea as opposed to a romance angle, but maybe that is my cynical anti romance bias showing haha

I feel the book slightly tapered off towards the end and I was personally struggling to keep track with what was going on. This negatively impacted my level of investment in the characters a little.

Ultimately though it was an enjoyable read. The good far outweighs the bad and it is a book I would recommend to those mythological fantasy retelling lovers like myself. Maybe if you are more of a romantasy lover you will find yourself even more invested than me too!

Thank you Rachel Quin marketing for reaching out and offering this ARC to me to read. I really appreciate the opportunity to read it prior to release date!

A mesmerising read that drew me in from page 1. Beautiful author craft, a captivating story and some really great characters.

This story started off really strong with excellent world building and enough intrigue to get me hooked. However, things got a bit complicated further in and I began to feel less and less like I cared about the characters. Could just be me, but by the end I wasn't feeling the book as much as I had been at the start. Definitely worth giving it a go though as I'm sure plenty of people will feel differently!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review.

I really loved the fact that this is inspired by Korean mythology.

The worldbuilding in this book was amazing! Not only do we get an insight into the world, the powers and who rules, we also get the history behind certain characters and the world. I would have liked more info on the dead zones and remades as o felt like they did contribute a bit to the plot and development. All the characters were well written.

Some of the sentences were very confusing (especially with the timeline of shadow and her awakening a year ago), we also would jump a few locations with no explanation.

The plot was really fleshed out and I didn’t feel like there was much filler as it was fast paced.

The romance between the two fmc’s was so well done, both of their personalities went together so well and I really loved the precious moments they had.

There was some character development mainly with the side characters, I would have liked some sort of development from both fmc’s as Scarlet never really changed and Shadow only really changed from regaining some memories.

I loved the vague open ending as it leaves readers to decide on what happens next, whilst also potentially allowing a sequel.

3.5* rounded up.

Thank you to the publishers for the arc.

Okay, so I enjoyed the read, I really did. I loved Scarlett and Shadow's interactions and the slow burn romance that they shared, but what was with that ending? I was so confused and had no idea what the heck was going on. Did they all decide to change their names?? Zero ideas on what was going on.

Other than that, it was a great read with some unexpected twists and turns. I'll very likely read another of Yejin's books.

Asian mythology inspired fantasy novels tend to be a hit with me so when I was offered a chance to read ’The Last Soldier Of Nava’ early I leapt at it. It was set within an intriguing world and had a plot arc that interested me but as you can probably tell from my rating it didn’t wholly work for me although it may fair better within its target young adult audience.

As stated previously the world that this book was set within was an intriguing one. It had a mythology inspired history that sparked my interest and a realm that I’d happily have explored further. Yet it didn’t truly get a chance to shine. What was there was interesting but it lacked the depth necessary to reach its true potential. The history is only really skimmed over, telling enough to lay the bare origins of the worlds past. Which is what I struggled most with when it comes to this novel – a lack of depth and explanation. The world that’s there promises to be a fascinating one but its potential is never truly mined.

My experience with the characters was similarly floundered. There are a few individuals who have the bone work of being fascinating people but they lacked finesse and depth at times. Shadow, for instance, had a highly intriguing backstory but I don’t feel like I understand her origins clearly at all. How the soldier came to be, sure, but not how she differs from that side of herself. Not how she survived, and laid dormant, for so long. Not even how she shifted between the two sides of herself in one direction. Crow felt rather disjointed in his attitude towards her and the Moonbearer didn’t really work for me at all. The idea of him, again, was compelling but the execution of him faltered. And I don’t truly understand how he seemed to be trusted by so many given his history. It just didn’t truly add up. Sae was probably the individual who managed to pull me into the story most but even there the answers, when they come, could truly have used more depth.

Then the plot had an interesting arc to it overall but given this lack of depth and clarity in places, was hard to get involved within or take too seriously. It had a good direction to travel in but it missed out on so much of the groundwork and body that it didn’t truly work.

That being said I do think its possible for people to enjoy this still, if they’re happy enough to simply accept the story at face value and not go digging around for answers. If you’re new to fantasy or not looking at this through too critical of a lens you may well be able to get swept up by the story. But if you read a lot of fantasy or think you’re likely to find yourself questioning why and how certain things came to be then I think you’ll come away feeling similarly disappointed.

So ultimately I can’t really say that I recommend ’The Last Soldier Of Nava’ although it may work for you if you can approach it without expecting everything to be entirely clear. Rating it is hard as it felt stronger in some ways than some other disappoints of mine but what it was missing made it incredibly hard for me to invest. It just didn’t truly seem to make sense in places and that’s a pretty major flaw in my eyes and yet with a bit more padding I think it probably could have worked.

So good. The writing was gorgeous, and the story was pretty unique. A tender, introspective fantasy that manages to create a lot of atmosphere and history in not that many pages. I hope the author expands on this universe in future books because there is so much more that could be explored, but this book was completely satisfying to me in and of itself.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC!

3-Star Review: The Last Soldier of Nava by Yejin Suh

Yejin Suh’s The Last Soldier of Nava introduces readers to a richly imagined world inspired by Korean mythology, weaving a tale of shadow magic, political intrigue, and a sapphic romance. The story follows Shadow, a young woman awakened after a thousand years, grappling with her past and the fate of her nation.  

The novel shines in its atmospheric world-building and the emotional depth of its protagonist. Shadow’s journey is compelling, and the slow-burn romance adds a tender layer to the narrative.

However, the pacing can be uneven at times, and the complexity of the plot may leave some readers seeking clearer direction. While the lush prose is evocative, it occasionally slows the momentum of the story.

Overall, The Last Soldier of Nava is a promising debut that offers a unique blend of mythology and fantasy. Readers who appreciate intricate world-building and character-driven stories will find much to enjoy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I couldn't put this book down – absolutely loved it.

This is a beautifully sad and heartwarming story about Shadow, a made soldier who can be ‘awakened’ at the mercy of her handler, the moonbarer. Her handler makes her bend to his will and kill who he wants. We meet Shadow on her journey to kill the moonbarer. This story is a sapphic fantasy that explores grief, love, regret and vengeance in a unique way. The world building was beautiful and the pacing was good. The back story of The Soldier was explored well and I wasn’t confused at any point. I wish there had been more of an obvious love story going, as Shadow and Scarlet sort of just happened with little tension. I was still rooting for them anyway! The end was a total cliff hanger and I am already gagging for the next book!

ᨳ᭬ ⭑ ⭑ ࿐ྂ

❝ She was tired of the fight, to be truthful. She didn’t want to die. But she was prepared to. She was no pawn. Not anymore. ❞

I have to admit i liked the whole fantasy aspect but i wasn’t a big fan of the love story. At one point so much was happening that i got confused and lost interest because it was so confusing. Also, at some point it was so rushed which really ruined everything. I wish we had seen more of Scarlet and her sister, let alone more information, because the information we were given was clearly not enough.

The first half was ok, a little slow but not bad, then it finally got interesting and then unfortunately all the confusing and rushed stuff happened.

- thank you netgalley & HarperVoyager for giving me this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. -

The last soldier of Nava was proposed to me because of my other readings. The summary was very promising, with lots of tropes that I love.
I enjoyed the beginning of the story, but unfortunately, things did not go the good way : I get confused a lot of times, and I struggled to understand some major parts of the plot. And the characters had a real potential, but I would appreciate them to be more developped.
I would have loved to appreciate it, but it did not work for me.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. - Freya, arc & monthly book box pick reviewer (athenafreyag on Instagram)

I am a queer reviewer who is obsessed with Korean mythology, culture, and language, so this book felt like it was made for me. It was one of my most highly anticipated releases, but unfortunately, it wasn't for me, and no one is sadder than I am.

The gist of the problem was uncertainty for me. Multiple worldbuilding elements were unclear for me. How and why are some characters "remade"? What does it include? If they keep their memories, what are they remade into? The mc's timeline is also unclear. She was the last soldier of Nava, but she woke up as Shadow, and a year ago, she woke up in a room with blood and a body? I'm not even sure if this is the case. Lastly, the sentence structure made it hard for me to immerse myself.

I did like the romance!! Their personalities complement each other so well. The pull and push was delightful!!!

I will read the final copy after release and give this another chance because the book may have been edited a lot from its earc stage.

Other than that, please publish more sapphic Asian fantasy, we desperately need it!

This book is the June monthly pick for a certain monthly book box, and I will sadly skip.

I promise I tried so hard to love this book but I really struggled with this one in the end. I was drawn to this one for two reasons: a mythology retelling accompanied by an absolutely STUNNING cover.

This book had a really intriguing premise but I found it immediately difficult to connect with the world as I didn’t find enough time was dedicated to the overall world-building as is dedicated to the lore. Characters I found well-written but again, there was just no connection there for me.

Thank you as always to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy!

The Last Soldier of Nava started off strong. However, I felt that it lost its way in the middle and end and became muddled.

It's an ambitious story with a twisty plot and interesting concepts. However, I desperately wanted more development of the characters and their objectives/motivations, especially the villains; the book's themes and messages; and the mythology. My overall takeaway from the book was that it was confusing. I'm sure the author knew why everyone was doing what they were doing, but I didn't. (And not in an intriguing let's-solve-this-mystery way.)

I do want to stress that the beginning of this book is fantastic. It's clear that the author can produce amazing writing; I thought I was settling into a 4.5-5 star read. The descriptions, tension, atmosphere, setting up of stakes, initial introductions to the characters: I was hooked.

But, I would not consider the beginning to be representative of the entire book (so bear that in mind if you're checking out an ebook free sample).

Anyway, this book fell flat for me, but since reading is subjective:

***You might like this book if you enjoy:***
Stylised/mystical fight scenes, fantasy set outside of Europe, intriguing fantasy/mythological creatures, protagonists living a double life/hiding who they are, romance that's technically enemies-to-lovers but feels more like school-rivals-to-friends-to-lovers. (While the love interest annoyed me in her mean-girl stage, it ended up being a very sweet YA romance.)

***I would avoid this book if any of the following is a deal-breaker:***
Endings that don't resolve everything, undeveloped antagonists, confusing messages, confusing plots, or unclear magic systems/mythology.

I picked up The Last Soldier of Nava with excitement, drawn in by its promise of Korean mythology and dark magic. However, my experience turned out to be a bit of a rollercoaster that left me conflicted. From the very beginning, I couldn’t quite vibe with the writing style. It felt off, and I wasn’t sure if the prose genuinely improved as the story progressed or if I eventually just got used to it. That rocky start made it hard for me to fully immerse myself in the tale.

The magic system, too, was something I struggled with. The author definitaly takes a soft approach to it. Magic flows without clear boundaries, rules, or consequences. For someone who loves a hard magic system where every spell exacts a true cost, this freewheeling magic left me feeling like the stakes were a bit too low. It never seemed to demand anything from its wielders, which made the world feel less grounded and, frankly, less engaging to me.

Then there are the characters. I really wanted to connect with Shadow, the main character who, in theory, should carry the weight of the narrative. Unfortunately, she drifted through the story without a clear purpose, as if she were simply being swept along by events triggered by others. It wasn’t until nearly the end that there was a hint of her “why,” and by then, my investment had already waned. In contrast, Scarlet immediately resonated with me. Her goals were clear, and her determination felt tangible, making her a character I could truly root for amid the chaos.

I also found some of the plot twists to be disorienting. They often arrived without sufficient buildup, leaving me puzzled about where they were coming from rather than fully surprising me. It sometimes felt like I was jumping from one twist to another without a solid emotional foundation to hold onto.

Overall, while The Last Soldier of Nava brims with ambitious ideas and a unique blend of myth and magic, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing, especially when it came to connecting with its central characters and their journeys. The book left me with a bittersweet sense of curiosity: I appreciated its raw themes and potential within the politics of the world, yet I couldn’t fully let go because it never quite wrapped itself around me.

This book might definitely be intriguing for those who enjoy the losse flow of magic, but for me it sadly didn't hit the spot.

I tried very hard to like this novel, but it was such a struggle to get through. This book has some very interesting ideas and world building but it is in desperate need of editing. The prose is unfocused and confusing. The characters are very flat and we are usually 'told' the very few things we learn about any of them (eg. X and Y become friends) rather than seeing things develop on the page. The romance came out of nowhere, from chapters and chapters of hatred to suddenly kissing. I have no idea how old anyone is - Shadow calls Crow “a boy”, but admits they are the same age, and when Scarlet appears she is said to be the same age as Crow but also calls him “boy”. So all three are the same age, but no indication of what that age is. But Shadow is supposedly also a thousand years old? Maybe?

I’m not sure that blurb is correct about this novel, either. It says this is a novel about two figures in a rebirth cycle, destined to love each other but still kill one another. By there is no indication of rebirth at all (that I noticed), only that Shadow was once “remade” into a super-powered weapon, who then killed the sister of the girl who’s clearly the enemy-love-interest. Similar other characters given super powers are considered to have been "reborn" but given that everyone apart from Shadow keeps their memories and personality, only changing their name, I would not classify this as a rebirth novel AT ALL.

The politics of the world seem interesting, as does the magic/power system, but when the prose is so confusing and the characters are flat, I simply can't focus enough to care.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for a fair review.

Rating: 1 star - In desperate need of editing & a clarified plot

1.5 stars

I wanted to enjoy "The Last Soldier of Nava" but I really didn't.
The characters didn't really feel all that well developed, the magic system wasn't really explained, I have no idea where the "romance" came from, and the ending didn't make any sense.

Thank you to HarperCollins for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinion are my own.

This book is inspired by Korean mythology, I really enjoy books on mythology so after reading about this book I was very keen to read it. A young woman with shadow magic is awakened after a thousand years, after the Dawnbringer used the light of Nava to put the Moonbringer’s weapon The Soldier to sleep. The Soldier was a young girl forced to horrible things, a year after she awakens she remains hidden and has taken a new name Shadow and is enjoying her new found freedom. Shadow is captured by Scarlet, the Moonbriger’s new prodigy who is determined to find the truth of her sisters death. As the threat of war looms Shadow and Scarlet find themselves relying on each as they attempt to restore the balance of their world.

I loved this book, it was mesmerising and magical, the characters were really well written and fleshed out, the plot was really well thought out and it was easy to follow was going on. I didn’t like Scarlet at first but she grew on me and I was really routing for her and Shadow. That ending though, I really want to read what comes next as I was hooked. I would recommend this book as it’s magical, contains lots of action, well thought back stories for all of the characters and it will appeal to those who love mythology. I hope to read more from this author.

Yejin Suh's writing is beautiful, and matches our main character, Shadow's, personality well. While we are in third person, Shadow has recently been awakened and has very few memories of her past. The whimsical, flowery writing matches that well. I will say, I don't think the romance was very compelling in this book. I was much more intrigued by the plot than drawn in by Scarlet and Shadow. The plot is also a lot more complex and big picture than I anticipated. That's not a bad thing, but it kind of made this book feel a bit like a fever dream. It was also slightly jarring whenever we got a lot of details about past events over a time skip or honestly anything because most of it is a bit more vague and atmospheric. I really wasn't sure where the story was taking me until the very end.

Getting into this book was very easy because the writing style really drew me in, but then it slowed towards the middle before picking up again in the last 150 pages or so. I'm not sure exactly what Korean myth inspired this story, but to me it seems a story about how balance is necessary, and how prioritizing nature and protecting our world is essential to our survival and happiness. I'm not sure if I've interpreted the story correctly, as it was a very winding plot, but it is the sort of book that's having me just sit back and think that I haven't read anything like this before.