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Take Them to the Stars #2
Until the Last of Me
The First Rule is the most important: "Always run, never fight."
Over 100 generations, Mia's family has shaped Earth's history to push humanity to the stars, making brutal, wrenching choices along the way.
And now Mia finds herself about to help launch the first people into space. She can't take them to the stars, not quite yet. But with her adversary almost upon her, and with the future of the planet at stake it's becoming clearer that obeying the First Rule is no longer an option.
For the first time since her line's first generation, Mia will have to choose to stand her ground, knowing that the overwhelming odds mean that she risks not only her bloodline, but also the future of the human race.
A darkly satirical thriller, as seen through the eyes of the women who sacrifice all to make progress possible and the men who are determined to stop them...
Always run, never fight.
Preserve the knowledge.
Survive at all cost.
Take them to the stars.
Over 100 generations, Mia's family has shaped Earth's history to push humanity to the stars, making brutal, wrenching choices along the way.
And now Mia finds herself about to help launch the first people into space. She can't take them to the stars, not quite yet. But with her adversary almost upon her, and with the future of the planet at stake it's becoming clearer that obeying the First Rule is no longer an option.
For the first time since her line's first generation, Mia will have to choose to stand her ground, knowing that the overwhelming odds mean that she risks not only her bloodline, but also the future of the human race.
A darkly satirical thriller, as seen through the eyes of the women who sacrifice all to make progress possible and the men who are determined to stop them...
Always run, never fight.
Preserve the knowledge.
Survive at all cost.
Take them to the stars.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 29, 2022
69 people are currently reading
5,939 people want to read
About the author
Sylvain Neuvel
22 books5,323 followersSylvain Neuvel dropped out of high school at age 15. Along the way, he has been a journalist, worked in soil decontamination, sold ice cream in California, and peddled furniture across Canada. He received a Ph.D. in linguistics from the University of Chicago. He taught linguistics in India, and worked as a software engineer in Montreal. He is also a certified translator, though he wishes he were an astronaut. He likes to tinker, dabbles in robotics and is somewhat obsessed with Halloween. He absolutely loves toys; his girlfriend would have him believe that he has too many, so he writes about aliens and giant robots as a blatant excuse to build action figures (for his son, of course).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews
July 27, 2022
Until the Last of Me was a very unpredictable read, even if the historical background in which this story is playing out has already been established.
We pick up where A History of What Comes Next left off. Mia and her daughter, Lola, are still on the run from the Trackers, their historical enemies, but of course they keep busy. They've helped send astronauts to the moon, and are now helping with the Voyager 1 & 2 probe projects at NASA.
Along the way, Mia hears from an old friend of her mother's, Xuesen, a pivotal figure in the Chinese space scene, and discovers that her mother was hiding things from her. For years, she had been pursuing a lead about their Kibsu heritage, curious to recover some knowledge of who their ancestors were, while admonishing Mia for the same curiosity.
You see, the mission to take humanity into the stars always takes precedence, according to their rules, passed on for 100 generations. At best, indulging that ancestral curiosity is a vanity project, and at worst, provides a major distraction in a deadly race to escape the Trackers (ideally, eventually, off-planet).
These threads mesh together more naturally than one might imagine. While humanity is wrestling with the conflicts of the era, where after the initial moon landing, human space-travel has taken a back seat, and while Mia and Lola are doing their best to trace their roots, Voyager 1 & 2 are visiting the outer planets.
The perspectives of the space probes are charmingly anthropomorphized, struggling like their human counterparts on Earth against forces much larger than themselves (in space, that being gravity, distance, and the debris of the solar system). I suspect that made it easier for general readers to connect with machines (perhaps like people getting to name our Mars rovers), but I think that this perspective hints at the future humanity could have in the stars and serves to highlight how our machines are an extension of humanity's curiosity and drive to explore.
But, before I keep going on that tangent, let's return to the story!
For generations, the Kibsu have been on the run, but Lola is the one that ultimately makes a gambit to stop running and make a stand against the Trackers.
Is Lola's gambit worth it, or will it doom the Kibsu, and humanity's future in the stars? Read to find out!
I can't wait for the final volume of the trilogy, which is titled For the First Time, Again, to see where the author is going to take us. Let's just say the ending of Until the Last of Me sets up an intriguing evolution of the story so far.
Happy reading!
-Cora
Find this book and other titles within our catalog.
We pick up where A History of What Comes Next left off. Mia and her daughter, Lola, are still on the run from the Trackers, their historical enemies, but of course they keep busy. They've helped send astronauts to the moon, and are now helping with the Voyager 1 & 2 probe projects at NASA.
Along the way, Mia hears from an old friend of her mother's, Xuesen, a pivotal figure in the Chinese space scene, and discovers that her mother was hiding things from her. For years, she had been pursuing a lead about their Kibsu heritage, curious to recover some knowledge of who their ancestors were, while admonishing Mia for the same curiosity.
You see, the mission to take humanity into the stars always takes precedence, according to their rules, passed on for 100 generations. At best, indulging that ancestral curiosity is a vanity project, and at worst, provides a major distraction in a deadly race to escape the Trackers (ideally, eventually, off-planet).
These threads mesh together more naturally than one might imagine. While humanity is wrestling with the conflicts of the era, where after the initial moon landing, human space-travel has taken a back seat, and while Mia and Lola are doing their best to trace their roots, Voyager 1 & 2 are visiting the outer planets.
The perspectives of the space probes are charmingly anthropomorphized, struggling like their human counterparts on Earth against forces much larger than themselves (in space, that being gravity, distance, and the debris of the solar system). I suspect that made it easier for general readers to connect with machines (perhaps like people getting to name our Mars rovers), but I think that this perspective hints at the future humanity could have in the stars and serves to highlight how our machines are an extension of humanity's curiosity and drive to explore.
But, before I keep going on that tangent, let's return to the story!
For generations, the Kibsu have been on the run, but Lola is the one that ultimately makes a gambit to stop running and make a stand against the Trackers.
Is Lola's gambit worth it, or will it doom the Kibsu, and humanity's future in the stars? Read to find out!
I can't wait for the final volume of the trilogy, which is titled For the First Time, Again, to see where the author is going to take us. Let's just say the ending of Until the Last of Me sets up an intriguing evolution of the story so far.
Happy reading!
-Cora
Find this book and other titles within our catalog.
December 15, 2021
This book was even better than the first book in the series: A History of What Comes Next.
I love the nerdy way that the author explains things, from space exploration to various civilizations. They are good explanations that add to the story, not long drawn out boring bullshit.
There was a LOT of action in this volume, and some shocking events. Most books have some predictably, but not this one. And I LOVED that about this book- the unpredictability. It takes a lot to shock and awe me these days and there was a good amount of that in these pages.
Cool Factor- Each chapter is named after a song. The playlist is on Spotify, and you can listen to the songs as you read.
If you like high quality "aliens live amongst us" stories, give this a read.
*I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I love the nerdy way that the author explains things, from space exploration to various civilizations. They are good explanations that add to the story, not long drawn out boring bullshit.
There was a LOT of action in this volume, and some shocking events. Most books have some predictably, but not this one. And I LOVED that about this book- the unpredictability. It takes a lot to shock and awe me these days and there was a good amount of that in these pages.
Cool Factor- Each chapter is named after a song. The playlist is on Spotify, and you can listen to the songs as you read.
If you like high quality "aliens live amongst us" stories, give this a read.
*I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 14, 2021
I received an advanced copy of this novel via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was so excited to read this follow up to "A History of What Comes Next" and I was far from disappointed. This was a wonderful, enjoyable book, and I devoured it. This one is based on the later years of the space race, so readers get to experience Mia's thoughts and opinions on satellites and space probes like Voyager 1. We also get to see more perspectives than just Mia - some chapters are written from the point of view of her daughter, and the Tracker. All in all, a fantastic sequel that left me wanting more.
I was so excited to read this follow up to "A History of What Comes Next" and I was far from disappointed. This was a wonderful, enjoyable book, and I devoured it. This one is based on the later years of the space race, so readers get to experience Mia's thoughts and opinions on satellites and space probes like Voyager 1. We also get to see more perspectives than just Mia - some chapters are written from the point of view of her daughter, and the Tracker. All in all, a fantastic sequel that left me wanting more.
February 17, 2025
"I ignored the smaller ones - they might have moved over time - I only looked at the balls big enough to stand the test of time."
I really enjoyed this, but I will admit that it isn’t as good as the first one, and that’s mainly down to the fact that although we move further forward in time, to the 70s 80s and 90s, we aren’t really that much further forward with the story. There's no major revelations apart from the locating of the sphere and a coming together at the end that sets up book 3.
I loved the bits with Voyager 1&2. I was at middle school when they were launched and remember making our own voyager models out of bits of cardboard, plastic straws, washing up liquid bottles, wire coat hangers and tin foal.... Happy days.
Good but lacks the magic of the first book, can't wait to see how it all ends.
I really enjoyed this, but I will admit that it isn’t as good as the first one, and that’s mainly down to the fact that although we move further forward in time, to the 70s 80s and 90s, we aren’t really that much further forward with the story. There's no major revelations apart from the locating of the sphere and a coming together at the end that sets up book 3.
I loved the bits with Voyager 1&2. I was at middle school when they were launched and remember making our own voyager models out of bits of cardboard, plastic straws, washing up liquid bottles, wire coat hangers and tin foal.... Happy days.
Good but lacks the magic of the first book, can't wait to see how it all ends.
March 9, 2022
*Huge thanks to ‘Macmillan-Tor/Forge ’ and ‘Netgalley’ for providing me with an ebook for Review*
This is the second book in Sylvain Neuvel’s ‘Take them to the Stars trilogy’. It continues with the multigenerational cast and incorporates real-world historical events to tell a unique story.
If you have read any of Sylvain Neuvel’s previous books, you will know that he has a unique writing style. This really works for me. I also think audio versions add much to the presentation of his books.
I loved the first entry in this series ‘A History of What Comes Next‘ and reread it in preparation for this book, is this better? Maybe. I say maybe as it's different to the first one in that the aims of the characters are less about the space race and more about finding an artefact. Even a character in the book references Indiana jones. I enjoyed this shift of focus for the two parties in the book and it allowed for the country hoping that I enjoyed in the first book.
This book included much more from the Trackers and I liked the inclusion of more characters whilst keeping the cast small enough to handle. I enjoy a well-defined villainous character and here we get many.
The book’s structure is the same with interludes that add depth to the backstory by rewriting events from history. I love this element of the series. Setting this series against the real-world space race makes these books fascinating and you can tell the author spends much time researching for these books.
As with all enjoyable books, this one was over too quickly, however, you also have the bonus content that explains all the history and how the author used them to tell his story. There are also many references for further reading.
I’m excited for book 3 but in the meantime, I will revisit this book when the audiobook narration is available. I’m hoping that due to the multigenerational aspect of the series, the previous narrators are used.
My review can be found on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2...
This is the second book in Sylvain Neuvel’s ‘Take them to the Stars trilogy’. It continues with the multigenerational cast and incorporates real-world historical events to tell a unique story.
If you have read any of Sylvain Neuvel’s previous books, you will know that he has a unique writing style. This really works for me. I also think audio versions add much to the presentation of his books.
I loved the first entry in this series ‘A History of What Comes Next‘ and reread it in preparation for this book, is this better? Maybe. I say maybe as it's different to the first one in that the aims of the characters are less about the space race and more about finding an artefact. Even a character in the book references Indiana jones. I enjoyed this shift of focus for the two parties in the book and it allowed for the country hoping that I enjoyed in the first book.
This book included much more from the Trackers and I liked the inclusion of more characters whilst keeping the cast small enough to handle. I enjoy a well-defined villainous character and here we get many.
The book’s structure is the same with interludes that add depth to the backstory by rewriting events from history. I love this element of the series. Setting this series against the real-world space race makes these books fascinating and you can tell the author spends much time researching for these books.
As with all enjoyable books, this one was over too quickly, however, you also have the bonus content that explains all the history and how the author used them to tell his story. There are also many references for further reading.
I’m excited for book 3 but in the meantime, I will revisit this book when the audiobook narration is available. I’m hoping that due to the multigenerational aspect of the series, the previous narrators are used.
My review can be found on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2...
April 4, 2022
UNTIL THE LAST OF ME is the second book in Sylvain Neuvel’s Take Them to the Stars series, which kicked off in 2021 with A HISTORY OF WHAT COMES NEXT. It is an extremely clever retelling of the space race and all the missions to see what is beyond. Neuvel accomplishes this while simultaneously mixing in the story of the alien race known as the Kibsu and the significant role they play in all of this.
We will begin with a little background on the Kibsu. Let us imagine that there is a family who for generations has been built on the premise that they would one day fulfill their grand purpose of taking mankind to the stars. Each generation has been referred to by a number. Therefore, after 99 generations of existence as the Kibsu, Sarah and her daughter, Mia, become “the 100” and are tasked with being the very Kibsu who will fulfill that prophecy.
A HISTORY OF WHAT COMES NEXT took us through World War II and the beginning of the Cold War era. Now, in UNTIL THE LAST OF ME, Sarah has passed on, and we are now viewing the patch of Kibsu history covered by Mia and her daughter, Lola. It will take us from 1968 through the mid-1980s. Despite all the great accomplishments that mankind will make in space travel during this time, it will not come without a lot of strife. This will include the pressure that Mia and Lola are constantly under as they are pursued by their mortal enemies, the Trackers, who want nothing more than to murder them and stop them in their chosen mission.
In fact, the Kibsu have always lived by a specific code that guides them:
Fear the Tracker. Always run, never fight.
Preserve the knowledge.
Survive at all cost.
Don’t draw attention to yourself.
Don’t leave a trace.
I found this to be a brilliant move by Neuvel as it will cause the reader to pause and wonder if the Kibsu actually exist and have always remained just out of sight.
The chapters that deal with the family of Trackers that are pursuing Mia and Lola are chilling. Samael, Uriel and Raphael live by an entirely different code, and nothing will stop them in their pursuit of the Kibsu. Even sacrificing themselves for the greater good of ending the Kibsu bloodline will be enough, because they know what the prophecies speak of should the Kibsu grow into another generation.
Sprinkled throughout the text are moments in ancient Kibsu history that show just how entwined they have always been with mankind and their mission to help us accept greater concepts from the universe. Back in modern day, we find Mia and Lola constantly moving around the globe to stay ahead of the Trackers while still doing their part in assisting mankind post-Moon landing to continue to get back to the stars. This will find them heading to Russia and even to China. There is a lot of good they can do there as both countries are actively involved in the space race with the US.
UNTIL THE LAST OF ME ends with nearly as many questions as it begins with. The third book will take us to the next chapter and reveal what the stunning results of the much-talked-about Kibsu prophecy can be. Neuvel once again has created a stimulating blend of alternate history and science fiction, but has done it so subtly that it barely changes our own reality. It merely gives us plenty of large ideas to try to comprehend, if we can. Sort of like our very own universe.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
We will begin with a little background on the Kibsu. Let us imagine that there is a family who for generations has been built on the premise that they would one day fulfill their grand purpose of taking mankind to the stars. Each generation has been referred to by a number. Therefore, after 99 generations of existence as the Kibsu, Sarah and her daughter, Mia, become “the 100” and are tasked with being the very Kibsu who will fulfill that prophecy.
A HISTORY OF WHAT COMES NEXT took us through World War II and the beginning of the Cold War era. Now, in UNTIL THE LAST OF ME, Sarah has passed on, and we are now viewing the patch of Kibsu history covered by Mia and her daughter, Lola. It will take us from 1968 through the mid-1980s. Despite all the great accomplishments that mankind will make in space travel during this time, it will not come without a lot of strife. This will include the pressure that Mia and Lola are constantly under as they are pursued by their mortal enemies, the Trackers, who want nothing more than to murder them and stop them in their chosen mission.
In fact, the Kibsu have always lived by a specific code that guides them:
Fear the Tracker. Always run, never fight.
Preserve the knowledge.
Survive at all cost.
Don’t draw attention to yourself.
Don’t leave a trace.
I found this to be a brilliant move by Neuvel as it will cause the reader to pause and wonder if the Kibsu actually exist and have always remained just out of sight.
The chapters that deal with the family of Trackers that are pursuing Mia and Lola are chilling. Samael, Uriel and Raphael live by an entirely different code, and nothing will stop them in their pursuit of the Kibsu. Even sacrificing themselves for the greater good of ending the Kibsu bloodline will be enough, because they know what the prophecies speak of should the Kibsu grow into another generation.
Sprinkled throughout the text are moments in ancient Kibsu history that show just how entwined they have always been with mankind and their mission to help us accept greater concepts from the universe. Back in modern day, we find Mia and Lola constantly moving around the globe to stay ahead of the Trackers while still doing their part in assisting mankind post-Moon landing to continue to get back to the stars. This will find them heading to Russia and even to China. There is a lot of good they can do there as both countries are actively involved in the space race with the US.
UNTIL THE LAST OF ME ends with nearly as many questions as it begins with. The third book will take us to the next chapter and reveal what the stunning results of the much-talked-about Kibsu prophecy can be. Neuvel once again has created a stimulating blend of alternate history and science fiction, but has done it so subtly that it barely changes our own reality. It merely gives us plenty of large ideas to try to comprehend, if we can. Sort of like our very own universe.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
December 10, 2021
I'm at a bit of a loss here. While I love this novel, more or less unequivocally, it really made me wonder what I enjoyed so much about the first in the series (do not read this without first reading...the first). Because the feeling, the experience of the thing, really is completely different, if sort of wonderful in either case.
May 7, 2022
The two novels published of the Take Them to the Stars series make for a well-thought-out and highly original work of science fiction. Story merges with history and milestones of humanity's space race overlap in the narrative. From the first astronomers in Mesopotamia to the fascinating story of the Voyager probes whose journey has not yet ended, all these events are revered by the author as steps towards the dream of reaching the stars. Well, everything is not as optimistic or as beautiful as it might seem, but I do not want to comment on the plot.
All this is seasoned with a good soundtrack in which each title (the chapters are very short and there are many) corresponds to a song. The complete list of each book can be heard on Spotify or Apple Music.
And there is more, at the end of each book the author offers us a justification about the sources on which his historical account is based and also about the decisions he has made in the narration, which I must add, most of which have been successful.
Now we just have to wait to read the third book, in April 2023, with the title "For the First Time, Again". Patience! as master Yoda sais.
All this is seasoned with a good soundtrack in which each title (the chapters are very short and there are many) corresponds to a song. The complete list of each book can be heard on Spotify or Apple Music.
And there is more, at the end of each book the author offers us a justification about the sources on which his historical account is based and also about the decisions he has made in the narration, which I must add, most of which have been successful.
Now we just have to wait to read the third book, in April 2023, with the title "For the First Time, Again". Patience! as master Yoda sais.
December 18, 2024
4.5 stars
When I first read A History of What Comes Next , I was drawn in by the concept: an alternate history of the space race shaped by the Kibsu — an alien lineage of mother-daughter duos quietly guiding humanity to the stars in order to save themselves. Neuvel's meticulous historical research and the fascinating premise kept me engaged, but the book itself was a mixed experience. The middle dragged under some slower character development, the dialogue punctuated by hyphens instead of quotation marks, and the constant pressure of present-tense narration, which almost never clicks for me. Still, the strong opening and closing moments managed to win me over, and when the story itself finally opened up, I was glad I stuck with it. At the time, I hoped the sequel would pick up where this one left off — more confident, more expansive, and free of the heavy setup. It really delivered.
In Until the Last of Me, Neuvel continues the Kibsu's mission as they face their greatest challenge yet. It's 1968, and Mia — now in the role of mother — is still on the run with her daughter, Lola, pursued by their unwavering enemies, the Trackers, who have hunted them for generations. Neuvel's writing in this sequel felt like he was expressing the same relief I felt in moving beyond the weight of the first book's setup. The story remains open and far more suspenseful, allowing the characters room to breathe, expand, and develop properly. The quiet current of tension just below the surface was so well done that I had trouble stepping away, and I cannot wait to see how it all concludes in the third book.
When I first read A History of What Comes Next , I was drawn in by the concept: an alternate history of the space race shaped by the Kibsu — an alien lineage of mother-daughter duos quietly guiding humanity to the stars in order to save themselves. Neuvel's meticulous historical research and the fascinating premise kept me engaged, but the book itself was a mixed experience. The middle dragged under some slower character development, the dialogue punctuated by hyphens instead of quotation marks, and the constant pressure of present-tense narration, which almost never clicks for me. Still, the strong opening and closing moments managed to win me over, and when the story itself finally opened up, I was glad I stuck with it. At the time, I hoped the sequel would pick up where this one left off — more confident, more expansive, and free of the heavy setup. It really delivered.
In Until the Last of Me, Neuvel continues the Kibsu's mission as they face their greatest challenge yet. It's 1968, and Mia — now in the role of mother — is still on the run with her daughter, Lola, pursued by their unwavering enemies, the Trackers, who have hunted them for generations. Neuvel's writing in this sequel felt like he was expressing the same relief I felt in moving beyond the weight of the first book's setup. The story remains open and far more suspenseful, allowing the characters room to breathe, expand, and develop properly. The quiet current of tension just below the surface was so well done that I had trouble stepping away, and I cannot wait to see how it all concludes in the third book.
December 27, 2022
I finished A History of What Comes Next on audiobook and found myself unable to stop thinking about it. So I downloaded Until the Last of Me and jumped right in.
Mia and her daughter Lola work to discover the origins of the Eight. Although Mia and Lola didn’t have much to do with the space program in this book, they did keep track of all that was happening, which I enjoyed.
The Trackers’ POV is included in this book and we learn about them as well.
I do want to continue on with this trilogy as I can’t imagine how it could possibly continue with that ending. Yikes!
Mia and her daughter Lola work to discover the origins of the Eight. Although Mia and Lola didn’t have much to do with the space program in this book, they did keep track of all that was happening, which I enjoyed.
The Trackers’ POV is included in this book and we learn about them as well.
I do want to continue on with this trilogy as I can’t imagine how it could possibly continue with that ending. Yikes!
June 15, 2024
*** 4.39 ***
May 10, 2022
Headlines:
Feminist stem sci-fi thriller
Ancient meets contemporary
Space programme
Okay, I jumped into this second installment hoping I'd be able to remember my place in the story and who was who with the characters. Neuvel wrote this in a way that readers will remember with ease this Kibsu race of women with a tendency for maths, space, killing and evasion.
While the whole premise of this story is about history repeating itself and how that played out with these generations of women, the story landed back with Mia and her daughter Lola. After the last book, the reader has a sense of what is coming to these women but also there was so much newness in the plot as the years went from the 1960s to the late 1980s. It was so interesting seeing the space race play out and Mia's subtle contribution but desire for more.
Lola was a whole other kind of daughter not seen in the previous story. She was rebellious, hard-headed and perhaps with less of a sense of Kibsu than her matriarchal predecessors. I winced over many of the decisions Lola made but it made for good reading; I am left wondering about Catherine...a lot.
The ancient had a place in this story, how the Kibsu women influenced their time and how they were able to communicate with Mia and Lola. I found that fascinating. The trackers were prevalent and hella messy. Violence always followed these guys but the Kibsu were not innocent by any means.
Suffice it to say, I am fascinated by this story, the historical-sci-fi-thriller pitch of the tale feels so fresh and I look forward to the conclusion.
Thank you to Michael Joseph for the review copy, I await my lovely matching Goldsboro to be delivered.
Feminist stem sci-fi thriller
Ancient meets contemporary
Space programme
Okay, I jumped into this second installment hoping I'd be able to remember my place in the story and who was who with the characters. Neuvel wrote this in a way that readers will remember with ease this Kibsu race of women with a tendency for maths, space, killing and evasion.
While the whole premise of this story is about history repeating itself and how that played out with these generations of women, the story landed back with Mia and her daughter Lola. After the last book, the reader has a sense of what is coming to these women but also there was so much newness in the plot as the years went from the 1960s to the late 1980s. It was so interesting seeing the space race play out and Mia's subtle contribution but desire for more.
Lola was a whole other kind of daughter not seen in the previous story. She was rebellious, hard-headed and perhaps with less of a sense of Kibsu than her matriarchal predecessors. I winced over many of the decisions Lola made but it made for good reading; I am left wondering about Catherine...a lot.
The ancient had a place in this story, how the Kibsu women influenced their time and how they were able to communicate with Mia and Lola. I found that fascinating. The trackers were prevalent and hella messy. Violence always followed these guys but the Kibsu were not innocent by any means.
Suffice it to say, I am fascinated by this story, the historical-sci-fi-thriller pitch of the tale feels so fresh and I look forward to the conclusion.
Thank you to Michael Joseph for the review copy, I await my lovely matching Goldsboro to be delivered.
June 18, 2022
It's not often I DNF the second book in a series.
I suppose it's because for me #2 didn't seem to be coming any closer to addressing WHY the Kibsu and the Trackers are so intent on fighting it out here, and why a thousand-year push to get us off the planet is so obviously the only answer, and why the Trackers have no plan except to prevent this.
So Neuvel adds a McGuffin, because of COURSE a critical secret is going to be carved into a bow that will be found decades later and decoded.
After I realized I was skimming at max speed, I asked myself why. It was because the book was alternating long stretches of boring introspection and explanation with sudden bursts of graphic-novel superhero violence.
As I gave up, it looked as if Samael might be the first character in the whole long process to actually do something different. But I didn't care. I didn't care about him, or Lola, or the sketchy shadows of humans. I was ready to yeet them all into the sun.
It's quite possible that #3 will bring it all together in a stunning conclusion. But I'll never know.
I suppose it's because for me #2 didn't seem to be coming any closer to addressing WHY the Kibsu and the Trackers are so intent on fighting it out here, and why a thousand-year push to get us off the planet is so obviously the only answer, and why the Trackers have no plan except to prevent this.
So Neuvel adds a McGuffin, because of COURSE a critical secret is going to be carved into a bow that will be found decades later and decoded.
After I realized I was skimming at max speed, I asked myself why. It was because the book was alternating long stretches of boring introspection and explanation with sudden bursts of graphic-novel superhero violence.
As I gave up, it looked as if Samael might be the first character in the whole long process to actually do something different. But I didn't care. I didn't care about him, or Lola, or the sketchy shadows of humans. I was ready to yeet them all into the sun.
It's quite possible that #3 will bring it all together in a stunning conclusion. But I'll never know.
June 4, 2022
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Most of the things that I loved about A History of What Comes Next, Sylvain Neuvel's first entry in his Take Them to the Stars series, is absent from Until the Last of Me. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy this sequel, but it certainly was different.
First, the similarities. Sylvain's unique writing style and storytelling techniques are still present in this book. His diary-like exposition is perfect for an audiobook experience. The events of the story continue to coincide with real-life events that happened throughout our history. And the protagonists are a mother/daughter combo who are the 100th generation of an otherworldly race known as the Kibsu.
Now, the differences. For starters, the historical Space Race is over, unfortunately. That means that, rather than sneakily working behind the scenes to take all of humanity to the stars, the Kibsu are instead on a quest to find an ancient bow that might have a message for them from one of their ancestors. And don't think we're just seeing through the eyes of Mia and her daughter, Lola, we get highlights from a variety of Kibsu throughout history. These excursions were disconnected from the primary plot, but they were interesting insights to cool historical moments (like Jack the Ripper!) and a fun look at how the Kibsu were involved. We also get a number of chapters from the perspective of the series' antagonists, the Trackers.
Until the Last of Me takes place between the years 1968 and the mid-1980s. The parts of the book I liked most were when Mia and Lola were interacting with our history. The parts I found myself disinterested in were when Mia and Lola were off doing their own thing. Nevertheless, one of the coolest fight scenes I've ever read is in this book and it involves a teenage party, drugs, and a katana. Amazing.
Fear the Tracker.
Always run, never fight.
Preserve the knowledge.
Survive at all cost.
Don’t draw attention to yourself.
Don’t leave a trace.
---
Most of the things that I loved about A History of What Comes Next, Sylvain Neuvel's first entry in his Take Them to the Stars series, is absent from Until the Last of Me. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy this sequel, but it certainly was different.
First, the similarities. Sylvain's unique writing style and storytelling techniques are still present in this book. His diary-like exposition is perfect for an audiobook experience. The events of the story continue to coincide with real-life events that happened throughout our history. And the protagonists are a mother/daughter combo who are the 100th generation of an otherworldly race known as the Kibsu.
Now, the differences. For starters, the historical Space Race is over, unfortunately. That means that, rather than sneakily working behind the scenes to take all of humanity to the stars, the Kibsu are instead on a quest to find an ancient bow that might have a message for them from one of their ancestors. And don't think we're just seeing through the eyes of Mia and her daughter, Lola, we get highlights from a variety of Kibsu throughout history. These excursions were disconnected from the primary plot, but they were interesting insights to cool historical moments (like Jack the Ripper!) and a fun look at how the Kibsu were involved. We also get a number of chapters from the perspective of the series' antagonists, the Trackers.
Until the Last of Me takes place between the years 1968 and the mid-1980s. The parts of the book I liked most were when Mia and Lola were interacting with our history. The parts I found myself disinterested in were when Mia and Lola were off doing their own thing. Nevertheless, one of the coolest fight scenes I've ever read is in this book and it involves a teenage party, drugs, and a katana. Amazing.
Fear the Tracker.
Always run, never fight.
Preserve the knowledge.
Survive at all cost.
Don’t draw attention to yourself.
Don’t leave a trace.
April 17, 2022
Once again Sylvain takes us to faraway places. His explanations of the cosmos (by research), the misadventures and mennds of a family through generations (continuation of the story).
I saved some sentences that I liked and leave them here to arouse the curiosity of future readers.
I'm curious to find more about this "Tea of Forgetfulness" and "Diyu".
I saved some sentences that I liked and leave them here to arouse the curiosity of future readers.
I'm curious to find more about this "Tea of Forgetfulness" and "Diyu".
—It looks like someone forgot to drink the tea. [I’m sorry, sir. What tea?] I was thinking about the legend of Meng Po. In Chinese mythology, Meng Po lives in Diyu, one of the many realms beneath the Earth. Diyu is the realm of the dead, and Meng Po’s task is to ensure that those that are about to be reincarnated do not remember their previous lives. For that she serves a special tea to each passing soul. We call it the Five-Flavored Tea of Forgetfulness. One sip erases all memories so that the soul can be reborn without the weight of the past. You, young Lola, forgot to drink the tea.
Space Oddity If you ask the universe how to get from point A to point B, it will inevitably answer: “What’s wrong with point A?”
—Oh, you mean this place. —Winter Palace? This is where you live? —Where we live. It’s nice; you’ll see. —Oh, I’m certain it is, but it looks expensive. —Yeah. Kind of. —What did you do, Uriel? Did you rob a bank? —No, nothing like that … —Uriel? — … Do you know Led Zeppelin? —I don’t see— —They’re a British band. I’m sure— —I know who Led Zeppelin is, Uriel. I just fail to see what this has to do with— —I took their money, some of it …. What?! You asked how we can afford this place. I robbed Led Zeppelin. That’s how.
April 14, 2022
This book, the second in a trilogy, is very much a continuation of the first, A History of What Comes Next. It picks up where we left off, with the Kibsu, women trying throughout history to facilitate humanity's desire to reach for the stars while trying to avoid having their line wiped out by the murderous Trackers. They have been trying from the beginning to not only wipe out the Kibsu, whom they refer to as "traitors", but to find an object which they believe will destroy humanity once and for all.
As much as I admire Neuvel, I admit that like the first one, I did not find this book pleasurable to read
as it is dark and often very violent. Having said that, this time I reminded myself that since history was born in violence, it makes a sad and disheartening kind of sense that the future would be too.
As much as I admire Neuvel, I admit that like the first one, I did not find this book pleasurable to read
as it is dark and often very violent. Having said that, this time I reminded myself that since history was born in violence, it makes a sad and disheartening kind of sense that the future would be too.
September 2, 2023
Until the Last of Me is much like its predecessor: intriguing premise, interesting historical tour, little plot, and a writing style that does not work. It's all stream of consciousness, which creates such a disconnect to what's actually happening that you start to feel trapped in characters' heads after a while. Still though, intriguing premise and all that.
March 2, 2022
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April 10, 2023
UNTIL THE LAST OF ME - 4 stars
This is the sequel to A HISTORY OF WHAT COMES NEXT, book 1 in the TAKE THEM TO THE STARS, which I gave 4.5 stars. I really enjoyed my time with this entry, but it wasn't perfect, and I think I liked it slightly less than book 1. Book 2 had incredible moments that I loved, but we also followed a few characters that were difficult to get into at first, but that I became more and more interested in as the book went on.
Lets's talk about why I enjoyed the book:
-I loved following Mia as a grown woman with her daughter Lola, their chapters are the clear highlights of the book for me.
-With that said, maybe my favorite moment that made me smile was how Sylvain weaved in the detail that someone stole money from Led Zeppelin (my all time favorite band!) to pay for their stuff. Just another clever way that Sylvain weaved in real life events into the book.
-I won't spoil here, but I also loved a certain scene that involved a katana (haha).
-I love the flashback chapters of the past/ancient past, seeing various women being badass and smart, very cool interludes to end every act.
-I LOVE the titles to all of the chapters and the playlist at the end of the book. The first book was cool with the 40's and 50's songs, but classic rock is my true love, and I love that the chapter titles are all 60's, 70's and 80's songs!
-the Further Reading section was interesting and insightful
Now let's talk about the things I didn't enjoy:
-While the book overall was great, fun, fast paced, I still had some slight issues with it. As I mentioned, the new characters introduced, while I did grow to enjoy them, the way they were introduced and the timing of everything, I thought could have been handled better IMO.
-Like with book 1, I felt this book could have been longer. The actual length of the novel was 268 pages...I felt like he could have easily added 30 pages or so, especially to intense scenes where we start right at the action in a very brief chapter. It does make it fast paced, but you gotta give us a little but of breathing room!
-I don't know whether or not I should count this as a negative, but I'm still not quite sure how to feel about the ending, it was intense and extremely unpredictable (I did not think he would go in that direction) but I will hold off judgement and wait and see what he does with book 3!
Overall, this is a 4 star book. I had a great time with it! Sylvain Neuvel is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors of all time (Themis Files is my all time favorite trilogy) and this trilogy is shaping up to be another all time favorite! I have ZERO CLUE what the hell book 3 will be about! Which is great! I love his books because they are so unpredictable! Let's hope he sticks the landing!
EDIT AFTER REREAD
This is now a 4.5 star book now! I think I still like book 1 more, but this was a lot of fun on reread!
This is the sequel to A HISTORY OF WHAT COMES NEXT, book 1 in the TAKE THEM TO THE STARS, which I gave 4.5 stars. I really enjoyed my time with this entry, but it wasn't perfect, and I think I liked it slightly less than book 1. Book 2 had incredible moments that I loved, but we also followed a few characters that were difficult to get into at first, but that I became more and more interested in as the book went on.
Lets's talk about why I enjoyed the book:
-I loved following Mia as a grown woman with her daughter Lola, their chapters are the clear highlights of the book for me.
-With that said, maybe my favorite moment that made me smile was how Sylvain weaved in the detail that someone stole money from Led Zeppelin (my all time favorite band!) to pay for their stuff. Just another clever way that Sylvain weaved in real life events into the book.
-I won't spoil here, but I also loved a certain scene that involved a katana (haha).
-I love the flashback chapters of the past/ancient past, seeing various women being badass and smart, very cool interludes to end every act.
-I LOVE the titles to all of the chapters and the playlist at the end of the book. The first book was cool with the 40's and 50's songs, but classic rock is my true love, and I love that the chapter titles are all 60's, 70's and 80's songs!
-the Further Reading section was interesting and insightful
Now let's talk about the things I didn't enjoy:
-While the book overall was great, fun, fast paced, I still had some slight issues with it. As I mentioned, the new characters introduced, while I did grow to enjoy them, the way they were introduced and the timing of everything, I thought could have been handled better IMO.
-Like with book 1, I felt this book could have been longer. The actual length of the novel was 268 pages...I felt like he could have easily added 30 pages or so, especially to intense scenes where we start right at the action in a very brief chapter. It does make it fast paced, but you gotta give us a little but of breathing room!
-I don't know whether or not I should count this as a negative, but I'm still not quite sure how to feel about the ending, it was intense and extremely unpredictable (I did not think he would go in that direction) but I will hold off judgement and wait and see what he does with book 3!
Overall, this is a 4 star book. I had a great time with it! Sylvain Neuvel is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors of all time (Themis Files is my all time favorite trilogy) and this trilogy is shaping up to be another all time favorite! I have ZERO CLUE what the hell book 3 will be about! Which is great! I love his books because they are so unpredictable! Let's hope he sticks the landing!
EDIT AFTER REREAD
This is now a 4.5 star book now! I think I still like book 1 more, but this was a lot of fun on reread!
April 3, 2022
I was provided an early review digital copy by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
***May Contain Spoilers for Book 1***
I fall more and more in love with Sylvain Neuvel's writing with every book he releases. A History of What Comes Next took me by surprise when I read it, because I was not at all prepared for Neuvel to rewrite human history and turn the world upside down...Now he's done it yet again.
The pulse pounding world hopping decade spanning adventure continues in book 2. Until the Last of Me continues to follow Mia, her daughter, and her ancestors into a new age as Mia must learn how to survive on her own for the first time.
This series is a strange hodgepodge of an Indiana Jones and The Americans for me. This story takes you across the globe, through time & generations, and eventually to the stars. The devastating cycle of birth and death, mother and daughter is gut-wrenching and as inevitable as humankind's constant trudge towards progress.
Until the Last of Me features a lot less espionage then book one, and alot more treasure hunting, ancient artifacts, and secret tombs. More time doing research in the library. But Neuvel has spent just as much time and energy into making that research worthwhile as he did having Mia blowing up Nazis and shooting rockets into space. His writing style is so special and unique it sucks me in every time and immerses me in the mind's of these characters and the constant state of doubt & uncertainty that comes with being a stranger in a strange land and never really knowing why.
I read this book pretty quickly because I just could not put it down. I had to keep going back for more, and to find out who these characters would decide to be.
The ending was of course a doozy, and even with book 3 in the works I know nothing will ever be the same.
Be sure to check out the Soundtrack created by the author! It really adds to the experience. The songlist is in the back of the book or you can find it online here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3nA...
***May Contain Spoilers for Book 1***
I fall more and more in love with Sylvain Neuvel's writing with every book he releases. A History of What Comes Next took me by surprise when I read it, because I was not at all prepared for Neuvel to rewrite human history and turn the world upside down...Now he's done it yet again.
The pulse pounding world hopping decade spanning adventure continues in book 2. Until the Last of Me continues to follow Mia, her daughter, and her ancestors into a new age as Mia must learn how to survive on her own for the first time.
This series is a strange hodgepodge of an Indiana Jones and The Americans for me. This story takes you across the globe, through time & generations, and eventually to the stars. The devastating cycle of birth and death, mother and daughter is gut-wrenching and as inevitable as humankind's constant trudge towards progress.
Until the Last of Me features a lot less espionage then book one, and alot more treasure hunting, ancient artifacts, and secret tombs. More time doing research in the library. But Neuvel has spent just as much time and energy into making that research worthwhile as he did having Mia blowing up Nazis and shooting rockets into space. His writing style is so special and unique it sucks me in every time and immerses me in the mind's of these characters and the constant state of doubt & uncertainty that comes with being a stranger in a strange land and never really knowing why.
I read this book pretty quickly because I just could not put it down. I had to keep going back for more, and to find out who these characters would decide to be.
The ending was of course a doozy, and even with book 3 in the works I know nothing will ever be the same.
Be sure to check out the Soundtrack created by the author! It really adds to the experience. The songlist is in the back of the book or you can find it online here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3nA...
April 5, 2022
I like to succinctly summarize the main plot of a story for these short reviews, but this one is a bit tough. Anyway, for what it's worth....
There are two hereditary lines of alien beings of the same species living on Earth. Each is represented by only one "family." They've been here for about 3,000 years. One is male and wants to bring the aliens to Earth, and the other is female and wants to prevent that in order to save humans. (I think it's actually about human nature and gender and such, but I don't want to presume or analyze. That can take all the fun out of a story.) Some chapters are from the male perspective, and focus on dark and destructive instincts. They think the female line has some kind of transmitter that will call the rest of their alien species to come here and invade the planet, and they really want to get their hands on it. The female line stresses protection and progress. The female goal is to "take them to the stars," meaning that they are subtly attempting to get humans to understand and venture out into the wider universe. How this might prevent an alien invasion wasn't clear to me, and I had other questions, but all in all, I really like this book. Mainly this is because of the underlying hope in human potential that resonates with it but also because of all the embedded history of science type stories it includes. Actually, I think my favorite chapter was the nonfiction "Further Reading" bit at the end. If you're a fan of stories about human progress and the history of science, you may really like this series.
There are two hereditary lines of alien beings of the same species living on Earth. Each is represented by only one "family." They've been here for about 3,000 years. One is male and wants to bring the aliens to Earth, and the other is female and wants to prevent that in order to save humans. (I think it's actually about human nature and gender and such, but I don't want to presume or analyze. That can take all the fun out of a story.) Some chapters are from the male perspective, and focus on dark and destructive instincts. They think the female line has some kind of transmitter that will call the rest of their alien species to come here and invade the planet, and they really want to get their hands on it. The female line stresses protection and progress. The female goal is to "take them to the stars," meaning that they are subtly attempting to get humans to understand and venture out into the wider universe. How this might prevent an alien invasion wasn't clear to me, and I had other questions, but all in all, I really like this book. Mainly this is because of the underlying hope in human potential that resonates with it but also because of all the embedded history of science type stories it includes. Actually, I think my favorite chapter was the nonfiction "Further Reading" bit at the end. If you're a fan of stories about human progress and the history of science, you may really like this series.
June 10, 2022
The 2nd book in the series really hooked me. I read it in 3 days.
March 27, 2022
I was provided an ARC via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this second installment to the series. This focuses mainly on astronomy and Mia's attempt to find what the Kibsu lost. In the fist book Mia and her mother were involved in the space program and war efforts in WWII. In this book Mia is traumatized by the loss of her mother and is doing everything she can to protect her own daughter, Lola from the Trackers. Mia does what she can to nudge the space program in the right direction, but she and Lola stay out of the limelight and instead are trying to find the knowledge their ancestors lost. Much like the first book the blend of history and science is done extremely well! We learn quite a bit about the planets as Voyager 1 & 2 roam the cosmos and we learn about archeology as Mia and Lola search for a long lost artefact and decipher a forgotten language.
We also get insight from the Tracker side, Samael is one of the trackers, whose family has been hunting the Kibsu for generations. He is not like his father or brothers. He has compassion and plans out his actions. I believe this is a trilogy and I'm looking forward to see how the rest of his story plays out if there is another book. Overall I enjoyed this and I'm looing forward to reading more from the author. I really enjoy how much time and effort he puts into researching his books and the amount of information he gives readers in a digestible way.
As with the last book I highly recommend reading the "Further Reading" section as it again gives insight into the research the author did to write the book. It gives context to the scientific and historical context of the book and what he chose to change and why or what events he kept and why. I love learning about the things that inspired an author during the creation of a book. You can tell alot of time went into the research to write this book. There are some really interesting facts in this section, I found it worth the read! It also sounds like there may be a third book in the series.
My only real issue was this was sometimes hard to follow. This switches perspectives somewhat abruptly, and in the ARC the chapters don't indicate who is telling the story. It isn't not always obvious for several paragraphs to figure out who the I is in the chapter. Sometimes it is talking about Mia and Lola, while other chapters are about Samael and his brothers. It isn't always obvious who the chapter is about. There are chapter headings about when the chapter takes place. This books comes out soon so perhaps in the final version there will be a label of who the chapter is about. The Entr'actes are all about historical figures so those are easy to understand who they are about.
Neuvel has a very unique writing style that will appeal to every reader's taste. I actually like it, but again it will be a personal preference. The writing switches from standard paragraph format to a dialogue format that almost looks like text messaging. If you like books told in epistolary format or mixed media, you likely won't mind. If you don't like a more mixed media format, it is something to consider.
I really enjoyed this second installment to the series. This focuses mainly on astronomy and Mia's attempt to find what the Kibsu lost. In the fist book Mia and her mother were involved in the space program and war efforts in WWII. In this book Mia is traumatized by the loss of her mother and is doing everything she can to protect her own daughter, Lola from the Trackers. Mia does what she can to nudge the space program in the right direction, but she and Lola stay out of the limelight and instead are trying to find the knowledge their ancestors lost. Much like the first book the blend of history and science is done extremely well! We learn quite a bit about the planets as Voyager 1 & 2 roam the cosmos and we learn about archeology as Mia and Lola search for a long lost artefact and decipher a forgotten language.
We also get insight from the Tracker side, Samael is one of the trackers, whose family has been hunting the Kibsu for generations. He is not like his father or brothers. He has compassion and plans out his actions. I believe this is a trilogy and I'm looking forward to see how the rest of his story plays out if there is another book. Overall I enjoyed this and I'm looing forward to reading more from the author. I really enjoy how much time and effort he puts into researching his books and the amount of information he gives readers in a digestible way.
As with the last book I highly recommend reading the "Further Reading" section as it again gives insight into the research the author did to write the book. It gives context to the scientific and historical context of the book and what he chose to change and why or what events he kept and why. I love learning about the things that inspired an author during the creation of a book. You can tell alot of time went into the research to write this book. There are some really interesting facts in this section, I found it worth the read! It also sounds like there may be a third book in the series.
My only real issue was this was sometimes hard to follow. This switches perspectives somewhat abruptly, and in the ARC the chapters don't indicate who is telling the story. It isn't not always obvious for several paragraphs to figure out who the I is in the chapter. Sometimes it is talking about Mia and Lola, while other chapters are about Samael and his brothers. It isn't always obvious who the chapter is about. There are chapter headings about when the chapter takes place. This books comes out soon so perhaps in the final version there will be a label of who the chapter is about. The Entr'actes are all about historical figures so those are easy to understand who they are about.
Neuvel has a very unique writing style that will appeal to every reader's taste. I actually like it, but again it will be a personal preference. The writing switches from standard paragraph format to a dialogue format that almost looks like text messaging. If you like books told in epistolary format or mixed media, you likely won't mind. If you don't like a more mixed media format, it is something to consider.
April 15, 2022
This is the second in Neuvel's Take Them to the Stars series, and while I suppose you could read it as a stand-alone, they are best read as installments of one story (with a third still to come). This is a science fiction novel, set as historical fiction, moving from country to country and spanning centuries.
The centerpiece of this second book in the series is the development of probes that can travel far enough to explore our solar system, in particular the Voyagers, beginning around 1967 to around 1989. The main characters are a mother Mia and her daughter Lola -- the One Hundred, meaning the 100th generation of mothers & daughters who are "the Kibsu." We learn much more about past generations of Kibsu whose path has always been to "Take them to the stars, before Evil comes and kills them all." We also learn much more about the three brothers -- Samael, Urial, and Raphael -- who are the Tracker.
Mia and Lola study an ancient bow recovered in China, translating the lost language of its carvings, in the belief that it might have belonged to one of their ancestors who still had so much of the knowledge that got lost along the way. At the same time, Samael and his brothers are on a scavenger hunt beginning with a woman named Mer-Neith-it-es who lived before 500 BC in first Egypt and then Persepolis, believing she might have possessed the item it is their work to recover. All of this sets the Kibsu and the Tracker on a collision course. And both are starting to wonder whether the alien people from whom they came may be the evil from which earth's people need to be saved.
As with the first book in the series, this one also has some extras from the author at the back of the book. There is a playlist of songs from 1967 to 1989, with a song for each chapter. Even more fun, there is a "Further Reading" section that contains a lot, a whole lot, of intriguing factual historical information that Neuvel learned about while writing this novel, in particular the many brilliant (if unsung) women who were geniuses of math and science throughout human history.
The centerpiece of this second book in the series is the development of probes that can travel far enough to explore our solar system, in particular the Voyagers, beginning around 1967 to around 1989. The main characters are a mother Mia and her daughter Lola -- the One Hundred, meaning the 100th generation of mothers & daughters who are "the Kibsu." We learn much more about past generations of Kibsu whose path has always been to "Take them to the stars, before Evil comes and kills them all." We also learn much more about the three brothers -- Samael, Urial, and Raphael -- who are the Tracker.
Mia and Lola study an ancient bow recovered in China, translating the lost language of its carvings, in the belief that it might have belonged to one of their ancestors who still had so much of the knowledge that got lost along the way. At the same time, Samael and his brothers are on a scavenger hunt beginning with a woman named Mer-Neith-it-es who lived before 500 BC in first Egypt and then Persepolis, believing she might have possessed the item it is their work to recover. All of this sets the Kibsu and the Tracker on a collision course. And both are starting to wonder whether the alien people from whom they came may be the evil from which earth's people need to be saved.
As with the first book in the series, this one also has some extras from the author at the back of the book. There is a playlist of songs from 1967 to 1989, with a song for each chapter. Even more fun, there is a "Further Reading" section that contains a lot, a whole lot, of intriguing factual historical information that Neuvel learned about while writing this novel, in particular the many brilliant (if unsung) women who were geniuses of math and science throughout human history.
April 27, 2022
3.5 stars, rounded down to 3.
As an audiobook, this is really excellent. It's read by the same mother-daughter team as the first book, along with some additional voices. Even though this is first person narration, Neuvel writes these almost like radio plays. The two main audiobook narrators are both also stage actors, and they bring a lot to the delivery. I'd highly recommend this as an audiobook.
Now, as to the book itself, I found myself getting frustrated here and there. Some of it was with the writing (this book takes place in the second half of the 20th century, and we get a pages long rendition of an acid trip, a thing I never enjoy), and some of it with the decisions the characters made. Our protagonists, Mia and Lola, are 101st iteration of mother and daughter pairs who look human, but come from somewhere else, and are tasked with taking humans to the stars. Both of them, but especially Lola, feel a lot of ambivalence about their task and their heritage, and sometimes it edged over into whining for me. I'm not suggesting all characters have to be likable, but I admit that a 'you can't tell me what to do!' with crossed arms ethos to a character is not particularly compelling for me.
But science and the space race is the back drop for this book, and that part I loved. There's a whole loving paean to the Voyager probes here, and I was surprised to find myself quite moved. Mia and Lola both love and excel at math, and even though I mostly just find math baffling, I was swept away by their enthusiasm.
I'll certainly read (listen to) the final book of the trilogy, but this was a bumpier ride for me than the first book. If you like speculative fiction with thriller style elements, there's a lot to enjoy here.
As an audiobook, this is really excellent. It's read by the same mother-daughter team as the first book, along with some additional voices. Even though this is first person narration, Neuvel writes these almost like radio plays. The two main audiobook narrators are both also stage actors, and they bring a lot to the delivery. I'd highly recommend this as an audiobook.
Now, as to the book itself, I found myself getting frustrated here and there. Some of it was with the writing (this book takes place in the second half of the 20th century, and we get a pages long rendition of an acid trip, a thing I never enjoy), and some of it with the decisions the characters made. Our protagonists, Mia and Lola, are 101st iteration of mother and daughter pairs who look human, but come from somewhere else, and are tasked with taking humans to the stars. Both of them, but especially Lola, feel a lot of ambivalence about their task and their heritage, and sometimes it edged over into whining for me. I'm not suggesting all characters have to be likable, but I admit that a 'you can't tell me what to do!' with crossed arms ethos to a character is not particularly compelling for me.
But science and the space race is the back drop for this book, and that part I loved. There's a whole loving paean to the Voyager probes here, and I was surprised to find myself quite moved. Mia and Lola both love and excel at math, and even though I mostly just find math baffling, I was swept away by their enthusiasm.
I'll certainly read (listen to) the final book of the trilogy, but this was a bumpier ride for me than the first book. If you like speculative fiction with thriller style elements, there's a lot to enjoy here.
March 30, 2022
Sylvain Neuvel has firmly entrenched himself as one of my absolute favorite authors. He is now an automatic pre order for any book he writes. Of course so is OSC and his last book was terrible so I went into this a little worried but I really did not need to be!
First things first, if you have not read book 1 you really need to or much of this will be confusing. If you are considering the first book and are looking at reviews of the 2nd book to make sure the story keeps being good then yep go buy them both, you will want to read this the moment you finish book 1 anyway so just get them both and save time.
This book continues the story of the Kibsu and their goal to take us to the stars, in a lot of ways its an interesting timeline of our march towards space travel while at the same time this race to find a piece of their past that has been hidden for a very very long time. The ending was shocking, I really did not see the end of this book coming at all. I have no idea where he could go from here if there is a third book. But wow do I hope there is a third book! I never do spoilers so I do not want to give anything away for those of you interested in reading this book. If you like a combination of science fiction and amazing storytelling then you owe it to yourself to give Sylvain Neuvel a try. I have absolutely loved every book he has written and I am a little depressed knowing its probably going to be at least a year before another new book by him comes out. But when it does I will have it on pre order so I can start on it the moment it comes out!
#sci-fi #alternatehistory
First things first, if you have not read book 1 you really need to or much of this will be confusing. If you are considering the first book and are looking at reviews of the 2nd book to make sure the story keeps being good then yep go buy them both, you will want to read this the moment you finish book 1 anyway so just get them both and save time.
This book continues the story of the Kibsu and their goal to take us to the stars, in a lot of ways its an interesting timeline of our march towards space travel while at the same time this race to find a piece of their past that has been hidden for a very very long time. The ending was shocking, I really did not see the end of this book coming at all. I have no idea where he could go from here if there is a third book. But wow do I hope there is a third book! I never do spoilers so I do not want to give anything away for those of you interested in reading this book. If you like a combination of science fiction and amazing storytelling then you owe it to yourself to give Sylvain Neuvel a try. I have absolutely loved every book he has written and I am a little depressed knowing its probably going to be at least a year before another new book by him comes out. But when it does I will have it on pre order so I can start on it the moment it comes out!
#sci-fi #alternatehistory
March 29, 2022
**Thank you to NetGalley, Tor, and Macmillan for the eARC of this incredible title!**
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I have loved everything I have read from Neuvel so far and this book was no exception! Until The Last Of Me continues the Take Them To The Stars series and picks right back up where the first book left off.
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Lola, daughter of Mia, is older and starting to figure things out on her own. Most importantly - following her lineages rules of preservation and helping humans with their search for knowledge. I found the beginning of the book a tiny bit confusing while I was still learning characters/points of view but after that it really ramped up.
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I think what I appreciate so much about this author is that he has a plot that is absolutely mind blowing, then he sprinkles in these great bits of science fiction throughout the entire book. I loved the action in this book and the fact that it continued the series along so nicely.
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Possibly my favorite thing about this book was seeing things from the “trackers’” point of view. I can always appreciate when an author takes a horrible villain and makes me feel sorry for them.
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Check this book out if you love SciFi, aliens, space themes, action books, history, or ancient societies!
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I have loved everything I have read from Neuvel so far and this book was no exception! Until The Last Of Me continues the Take Them To The Stars series and picks right back up where the first book left off.
.
.
Lola, daughter of Mia, is older and starting to figure things out on her own. Most importantly - following her lineages rules of preservation and helping humans with their search for knowledge. I found the beginning of the book a tiny bit confusing while I was still learning characters/points of view but after that it really ramped up.
.
.
I think what I appreciate so much about this author is that he has a plot that is absolutely mind blowing, then he sprinkles in these great bits of science fiction throughout the entire book. I loved the action in this book and the fact that it continued the series along so nicely.
.
.
Possibly my favorite thing about this book was seeing things from the “trackers’” point of view. I can always appreciate when an author takes a horrible villain and makes me feel sorry for them.
.
.
Check this book out if you love SciFi, aliens, space themes, action books, history, or ancient societies!
March 8, 2022
Holy moly I'm not even sure where to begin with this! This sequel was not like the first book in so many ways, but managed to capture so much in only so many pages. I thought a lot about what generational trauma and grief might mean to these women and how through it all they were pursuing a directive that they not only were biologically programmed for, but with the weight of knowing that the end goal was for the good of all humanity. No pressure, right? But it has been fun seeing the last 3 generations of Kibsu grapple with what it means to both fight against these things and sacrifice pieces of themselves to help further their aims.
Seeing these women make calculations and study complex math and science to bring humanity closer to the stars is such a neat take on the space race, and watching them never take credit for it underpins the real life quiet achievements and the accomplishments of the women who were not always given the recognition they deserved, but helped lay the foundation for so much of what we know about the universe and space travel.
I also really appreciate that Sylvain Neuvel took so many real life places, times and pieces of history and inserted the Kibsu in these moments. I think it makes the story feel much more grounded in reality, and provides an interesting touchstone to what may be hidden in plain sight throughout time and space.
I would have liked to love the ending more, and I can't say that I agree with how some of those final decisions were made, but I'm just glad there's going to be another book because zoo wee mama I don't think I would be okay if this was how the series ended.
Huuuuuge thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for the ebook ARC of this! I was looking forward to this book so much, and I'm happy to have gotten a chance to read it a little early.
Seeing these women make calculations and study complex math and science to bring humanity closer to the stars is such a neat take on the space race, and watching them never take credit for it underpins the real life quiet achievements and the accomplishments of the women who were not always given the recognition they deserved, but helped lay the foundation for so much of what we know about the universe and space travel.
I also really appreciate that Sylvain Neuvel took so many real life places, times and pieces of history and inserted the Kibsu in these moments. I think it makes the story feel much more grounded in reality, and provides an interesting touchstone to what may be hidden in plain sight throughout time and space.
I would have liked to love the ending more, and I can't say that I agree with how some of those final decisions were made, but I'm just glad there's going to be another book because zoo wee mama I don't think I would be okay if this was how the series ended.
Huuuuuge thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for the ebook ARC of this! I was looking forward to this book so much, and I'm happy to have gotten a chance to read it a little early.
April 1, 2022
4.5 stars
It’s very rarely that I’ll like the second book in a series and middle book of a trilogy more than the first. But Until the Last of Me is an exception to that rule.
Whatever I was missing in A History of What Comes Next comes to fruition in this book. There’s still some history missing, but to be fair, the main characters don’t know either. I just want to shake Neuvel at this point. Just tell me, I can’t take it any longer!
While A History of What Comes Next follows Sarah and Mia, Until the Last of Me follows Mia and her daughter Lola. It starts similar, where they’re still fleeing the Trackers, trying to remain hidden while also putting themselves into positions of power to help with space travel.
A once in a lifetime (literally) event comes through, and Mia knows this is her chance. She was feeling downtrodden, thinking she’d never do her part, until she learns of the planets aligning. She will do whatever it takes to take them to the stars.
This book felt less like an alternative history book and more actual science fiction. I liked both for different reasons, but I feel like we’re actually getting somewhere now. I can’t wait to see when the third one comes out. (I’ll be stalking Sylvain Neuvel on Twitter if you need me.)
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this advanced review copy!
TW: death of parent, violence, animal death
It’s very rarely that I’ll like the second book in a series and middle book of a trilogy more than the first. But Until the Last of Me is an exception to that rule.
Whatever I was missing in A History of What Comes Next comes to fruition in this book. There’s still some history missing, but to be fair, the main characters don’t know either. I just want to shake Neuvel at this point. Just tell me, I can’t take it any longer!
While A History of What Comes Next follows Sarah and Mia, Until the Last of Me follows Mia and her daughter Lola. It starts similar, where they’re still fleeing the Trackers, trying to remain hidden while also putting themselves into positions of power to help with space travel.
A once in a lifetime (literally) event comes through, and Mia knows this is her chance. She was feeling downtrodden, thinking she’d never do her part, until she learns of the planets aligning. She will do whatever it takes to take them to the stars.
This book felt less like an alternative history book and more actual science fiction. I liked both for different reasons, but I feel like we’re actually getting somewhere now. I can’t wait to see when the third one comes out. (I’ll be stalking Sylvain Neuvel on Twitter if you need me.)
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this advanced review copy!
TW: death of parent, violence, animal death
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