The Last Shield by Cameron Johnston

Book Review

Christine Downie

The Last Shield is one of those rare books that is utterly satisfying and, when finished, leaves a slight feeling of regret. Cameron Johnston has achieved a perfect formula for the fantasy novel that is an absolute page-turner. This is no epic saga running into many volumes, but a stand-alone novel packed with pace, humour, violence (lots of), treachery, sorcery, unrequited love and a feisty kickass female lead character. Briar is our heroine, Commander of the Shields, who is the guard to Alaric Summerson, Regent of Sunweald and the young King, Kester, who is not yet crowned.

Sunweald is a neutral country precariously situated between two larger, wealthier and more belligerent countries. Alaric spends his time walking a tightrope of diplomacy and politics, trying to keep his neighbours onside whilst also trying to improve the lives of the less wealthy population of Sunweald. However, a plot has been hatched to remove Alaric and the young King and empty the vault of Sunweald Palace, which is rumoured to house fabulous ancient artefacts and weapons of war. An attempt on the lives of the Regent and the King leaves Briar desperately wounded and many of her most trusted and senior Shields dead. And the story is just beginning! It falls to Briar to find a way to recover her strength and untangle the plot against Sunweald.

Johnston has a sharp wit, producing many moments of great humour (a lot of it black). But he excels in the action scenes, which are very dynamic and fast-paced. Fight scenes are graphic without excessive description and realistic in the grimness of injury and recovery. One of the things I liked most was the recognition that soldiers don’t always recover from their injuries and that their lives are never the same again. These are not superheroes, but men and women guarding their country and who suffer in their duty. The end of Chapter 8 is deeply moving and beautifully written.

The characters are all fleshed out well throughout the book, right down to the servants and junior soldiers. The bravery of the fearful kitchen maid was particularly touching. Kester’s journey from shallow and annoying adolescence to growing into manhood and kingship is well-written and believable.

Johnston has a very visual style of writing, and I found myself picturing every scene quite vividly. If you like The Princess Bride, if you like Die Hard, if you like Willow (the film, not the TV series), you will find lots to love in this book. It has everything you need to lose yourself for a few hours in another world, and Briar is the most amazing heroine. She fights ferociously to save her country, her Regent and her King. She is one of the best female protagonists I have encountered in a very long time. I hope this book is eventually made into a movie because, as a female role model, Briar is outstanding. What else can I say? Read it and enjoy!