Review: The Last Bastion of the Living

(from Goodreads)
A walled city surrounded by lush land, protected by high mountain summits, and fortified by a massive gate to secure the only pass into the valley, The Bastion remained humanity’s last hope against the fearsome undead creatures known as the Inferi Scourge. On one fateful day, the valley gate failed and the Inferi Scourge overran and destroyed the human settlements outside the walls, trapping the remaining survivors inside the city. Now, decades later, the last remaining humans are struggling to survive in a dying city of dwindling resources…and dwindling hope.

Vanguard Maria Martinez has lived her entire life within the towering walls of steel. She yearns for a life away from the overcrowded streets, rolling blackouts, and food shortages, but there is no hope for anyone as long as the Inferi Scourge howl outside the high walls. Her only refuge from the daily grind is in the arms of Dwayne Reichardt, an officer in the Bastion Constabulary. Both are highly-decorated veterans of the last disastrous push against the Inferi Scourge. Their secret affair is her only happiness.

Then one day Maria is summoned to meet with a mysterious representative from the Science Warfare Division and is offered the opportunity to finally destroy the Inferi Scourge in the valley and close the gate, reclaiming the lost lands and energizing the populace with renewed hope for the future. The rewards of success are great, but she will have to sacrifice everything, possibly even her life, to accomplish the ultimate goal of securing the future of humanity and saving it from extinction.

My Thoughts:
I was very VERY very excited when I was offered a chance to review this book. I loved Rhiannon Frater's  As the World Dies series, so of course I wanted to read more of her work! First things first, this is NOT like AtWD. There are zombies, but they aren't the same. This is an entirely different species of zombie books. Okay? Got that? :) Good.

Now onto the good stuffs! I thought the concept of this book was fresh and interesting. The Inferi (zombies) are the main driving force behind most of the actions of the characters, but it's the HUMAN DRAMA that makes this book tick. As in AtWD, Rhiannon Frater has an amazing way with her characters. You can tell she worries at them til they are perfect! Maria and Dwayne are flawed, smart, and real. Their relationship isn't all fluffy and snuggly, but they care for each other and trust each other fully.

Their commitment to each other is another factor in this story. Maria wants a life beyond the walls, so she signs up for what could potentially be the most dangerous mission ever. She is to become an Inferi Boon. She'll be able to walk among them and potentially destroy them from within. Then the gates can be opened and humanity can thrive again. What they don't tell her will change her life forever!


Maria is a fabulous character. She's flawed, tough, and capable. I do have a fondness for how RF writes her female characters. She definitely has a knack for that! The story from start to finish is a wonderful addition to zombie lore, and I highly recommend it!

*i received a eARC from the writer