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ALL BEGINNINGS COME AT A PRICE. ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY IT?
Lilla must recruit the biggest and most dangerous army in the Seven Galaxies, but the Teryn emperor will not comply unless Lilla earns the blessing of the Teryn Guardian Goddess Laoise.

Dealing with gods is never easy. Guardian Goddess Laoise’s condition for bestowing her blessing is for Lilla to bring her the mysterious Heart Amulet. Now Lilla is trapped in a strange place with no way out, no idea where to go or how to find the amulet.

The only way for Lilla to complete her mission is to uncover the biggest secret of all Teryns. Will she survive discovering the secret of what it means to be a True Teryn?

311 pages, Paperback

Published December 3, 2021

64 people are currently reading
11628 people want to read

About the author

S.G. Blaise

5 books1,085 followers
S.G. was born in a faraway land of castles, monarchies and fallen dictatorships. Hollywood movies were largely forbidden under the Soviet oppression during her childhood, but her dad smuggled them in anyway, risking his life so that his children could experience the magic and hope inherent in those stories. She watched rebellions unfold in real time. Journeyed across the Atlantic Ocean for love. She ended up in sunny California, where she lives her dream—writing stories and annoying family members.

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5 stars
441 (46%)
4 stars
421 (44%)
3 stars
49 (5%)
2 stars
30 (3%)
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11 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
1 review
January 5, 2022
My daughter initially recommended The Last Lumenian to me, and after reading the first book, I knew I would want to read all books connected to this book series. Lilla reminds me of my daughter because of her spunk and resilience when facing challenges. It was also interesting to see how she interacted with Callum's dad knowing dealing with in-laws is always a unique experience. One thing I love about this book series is how the love Lilla and Callum have for each other continues to grow in a way that makes them better all around. While there wasn't as much romance in this book compared to the first, I hope the next book emphasizes it more to show how compatible they are and how they push each other to become better leaders. The ending blew my mind! I can't wait to see what happens next!

Although I don't usually read sci-fi fantasy books, this series is unlike your typical series and kept me interested from the first page to the last. I can't wait to see what S.G. Blaise comes up with next! But whatever it is, count me in! I highly recommend checking out True Teryn and The Last Lumenian! 
Profile Image for ✩₊*Shelby ⋆ ☾⋆ LiteraryFaery ⁺₊✧.
372 reviews271 followers
May 1, 2022
Thank you so much to the author for sending me a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed below belong entirely to me.

This was a really awesome sequel! I read The Last Lumenian over a year ago but I had no trouble diving back into this amazing sci-fi/fantasy story. This time around, I read the audiobook and was totally captivated!

Biggest takeaway, I'm totally invested in this cast of characters and forever obsessed with the spacey-oceanic worldbuilding!
927 reviews12 followers
January 31, 2022
Just Magical....

True teryn is a century marked by the erosion of the high-low divide that once separated “literature” from genre sci -fiction, True Teryn  is the exemplary hybrid, the paragon of what each mode offers the other. It's a terrific novel that directly addresses the journey of Sybil Lilla. It also delivers her duty to protect trillion of innocent residing in the seven galaxies. She is even willing to break her heart, from callum, the unha for her duty sake.

Its an amazing novel where we have strong Teryn warriors, A fear of an Era war. There are many primary and secondary characters also that help the plot stand strong. Now here Lilla has to form her own strong army and for that she needs blessing of goddess Laoise. But here goddess has a dealing with her.

What is that?
And will Lilla be able to fulfill it for the sake of her people.

This novel also has beautiful plots apart from sci fiction, like Glenna track, Lilla and her fathers track, the lumenian power.
Do read this novel to watch Lilla's errand.
Profile Image for Ashley Reads.
33 reviews1 follower
November 29, 2021
Follow Lilla and her band of ride or die misfits on a brand new quest in this brilliant continuation of The Last Lumenian. Lilla must complete a quest assigned her by the Praelor in order to fulfill her mission and truly become the Sybil she was meant to be. Her quest? To acquire the Heart Amulet.. What Lilla finds instead teaches her what it means to not only be The Last Lumenian but also, a True Teryn. S.G. Blaise does it again!
Profile Image for Chiara | wordsbychiara.
652 reviews350 followers
April 12, 2022
It was so good to be back in the world of The Last Lumenian after over a year away! Just like its predecessor, TRUE TERYN is a story rich with action and full of twists. While the romance component isn’t too strong in the series as a whole, I really enjoyed the relationship between Callum and Lilla, and enjoyed their little drama, which ultimately launches the story as Lilla goes on a quest to prove her worth to his family. If don’t need a story heavily concentrated on romance, and that leans on the sweet side rather than the spice, this series is definitely a good option for you.

What I enjoyed the most about this sequel was the broadening of the world-building and seeing the differences between humans and Teryns. The author relies on a deeply constructed world filled with mythology, and much of it is expanded in True Teryn. In particular, I loved the introduction of a new POV character, Moira. At first I struggled to understand her link with the rest of the story, but I was very intrigued by this character from the very beginning. I wish we’d gotten more of her, and that her chapters would have been introduced a little sooner to make the twists revolving around her character even more impactful.

Overall, this was a solid sequel! I recommend this series if you’re not too romance-oriented and love a good scifi adventure and rich world-building. This series is also one I recommend if you love a good friendship dynamic. I just loved this element of the story, and the playful banter made for such a fun read!

Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Hepzibah Becca Jael.
689 reviews8 followers
February 1, 2022
True Teryn
S. G. Blaise

Rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Review

This is the sequel to THE LAST LUMENIAN and the book two -TRUE TERYN effortlessly glides into the picture where book 1 left off. Book one was so amazing which I read past year and I'm glad I got book 2 !

In book two we see the aftermath of the war with DLD where Lilla who's been given the privilege to be Sybil over the Seven Galaxies is asked by the Archgoddess of Eternal Light asks Lilla to acquire the Teryn army for her , but the Praelor is set in his ways and wants Lilla to prover herself by gaining the Guardian Goddess Laois' blessings. Lilla now has to find out a way not only to get the Teryn army but get blessings from The Guardian Goddess Laois and fulfill the quest from Caderyn and fulfill her destiny as a Sybil!

Too much pressure on a teenager right? So read to see Lilla grow into her role and become the Lumenian the Archgoddess of eternal Light wants!

The pace was fast but a total necessity to keep the readers on their toes and that's what made this book totally unforgettable! The writing style was flawless as always since it's by S. G. Blaise and the plot twists were her trade mark amazing and as usual her climax scenes are very well written and doesn't disappoint the reader!

Happy Reading!!
186 reviews1 follower
February 1, 2022
Loved this one 😍

Book: True Teryn
Author: S.G. Blaise
Rating: 5/5

How much fun would it be to take an adventurous ride to space and feel energized? True Teryn by S.G. Blaise is a work of science fiction intended for fantasy book lovers. This is the second installment of the “The last Lumenian” series.

Once again, the strong, fearless 19 years old princess Lilla builds her army. She has to complete a near to impossible mission to get help from the Teryn army. Will she be able to prove herself again? To enjoy the action, drama, and bit of humor across the seven galaxies, just grab your copy.

The author has created a detailed, science fiction story with strong characters and an intriguing plot. The narrative is perfect, making the story gripping action-filled with a tinge of romance and humor. I love including all seven galaxies’ stories in the plot.

Overall, I thoroughly loved the book, and I will recommend it to all sci-fi lovers.

#BookReview
#BookReviewer
58 reviews7 followers
April 13, 2022
Initially, I had thought the plot was going to be about Lilla traveling to planets, recruiting armies for the Era War. But I was pleasantly surprised when the actual storyline started playing out! This was a super interesting dive into the Teryn lore and history.
The story really picks up about halfway through the book, but the best part (without giving anything away) is definitely towards the ending!
Needless to say, I'm excited for the next book!
Profile Image for Thais • tata.lifepages •.
588 reviews1,006 followers
April 16, 2022
True Teryn is the sequel to The Last Lumenian, a YA fantasy scifi series with a sweet romance! I’m so glad to finally continue this series. The story follows Lilla, the Sybil of the Archgoddess of the Eternal Light and Order, who needs to recruit the Teryn army as her first mission as the new Sybil. Lilla discovers that this is much more challenging that it seems, as numerous obstacles stand in her way to obtain what she needs. The story unfolds to an adventure where Lilla and her companions search for the Heart Amulet.

“The Heart Amulet can be found: Beyond the river, over the last hill, where the two halves of the sun join”

I found that the world and character building is rich and original. It takes some time, even for a sequel, to grasp exactly what is what, but once you’re through that, it’s quite logic. In the beginning we have a thorough introduction before the search for the Heart Amulet takes place. In this first part of the story, you learn that the Teryns are very strict and harsh people with rigid traditions and not open to any changes, which funds many dynamics throughout the book.

I love the dynamics between Lilla and her new found family. Overall, a great set of characters that you end up getting strongly attached to. Especially Arrov and the twins I found most amusing. Although there is some romance between Lilla and Callum, it is not the focus of the story which is more concentrated on the friendships and on the magical, scifi adventure. The story is for the largest part quite straightforward and easy to follow!

I would recommend this book for people who like a sci-fi, magical adventure with a lush worldbuilding. This book is great for people who want some romance in the story but that it doesn’t take away the entire focus of the plot.

Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy for review!
6 reviews
January 5, 2022
My sister recommended this book to me, and I am so glad she did! I read True Teryn without knowing much about the first book but was still able to jump right in with a basic understanding of the storyline.  Lilla is trying to find her place in a universe where almost everyone underestimates her. She's learning how to control her powers while fighting to live up to the role of Sybil. Although I picked up a copy of The Last Lumenian right after finishing, these books have a way of standing on their own. I highly recommend this book to all readers. I hope S.G. expands more on the Seven Galaxies. It would be so cool to see it grow in other stories!
Profile Image for Ve (ve_xo).
637 reviews113 followers
April 17, 2022
I was so excited to jump back into the The Last Lumenian series. I read the first book a while back and I enjoyed it. True Teryn takes place right after the events of book one. I enjoyed the dynamic between Callum and Lilla, it only strengthened as time went by, although there’s not a lot of romance between them.

One of the elements that caught my attention in the book was the new found family trope. Lilla is not a Teryn and therefore she’s sometimes misjudged or even isolated by certain individuals, which made it so enjoyable to see how she finds her place in this world and gains people on her side.

The book has elements of mythology which is definitely one of my fav things about literature. It was great to see how it connected with the story. I absolutely loved the inclusion of a glossary, it’s so important to me to have these when I’m diving into a new series and at times we don’t understand even after reading the book.

I am excited to see where this story will go. I was pleased on how this book wrapped up!

Huge thanks to the author for gifting me a copy. All opinions are my own.
4 reviews
January 3, 2022
I read the first book and was instantly hooked. I had no idea where the story would go, but absolutely loved this direction! I did not see it coming, that's for sure! I was so happy to see the cast was back on a new adventure. It was fast paced (which is my favorite aspect of a book and should be a compliment not a complain IMO, especially when it comes to Sci-Fi/Fantasy) and played like a movie in my head. The humor was awesome! I kept laughing out loud!!! I read it overnight and will reread it again, savoring the story and see if I missed anything.
Profile Image for Dannii Elle.
2,284 reviews1,804 followers
January 2, 2022
Actual rating 3.5/5 stars. This is the second instalment in The Last Lumenian series.

Lilla's choices at the close of book one saw her removed from the throne and the life she had known at the open of book two. Now she is learning how to lead a new lifestyle, honing her mind and body to perform the new abilities she has access to, and attempting to manipulate the political leaders and archgods around her into uniting their causes with her own. With so much to tackle and a short time to do so in, Lilla is becoming increasingly desperate to unite the kingdoms and the people there and it is looking increasingly unlikely that all will survive the war that is still gaining on them.

The book is slightly shorter than the first series instalment yet contains the same fast-paced plot progression and high number of action scenes. This meant that the pages flew by and I tore through the book easily in one enjoyable sitting.

My thoughts concerning this book remained almost exactly the same as those for book one - I was intrigued by the world politics, I loved the constant new discoveries that Lilla and the reader were invited to make, and thought the blend of magic and fantasy with technology and sci-fi elements was very well done. I also really appreciated the insights to the new geography that was explored here, although I wish even more of an increased focus had been provided.

I was less engaged with the romantic elements and did find that it took a larger early role in this novel before, thankfully for me, tapering off and focusing again on the action and mysteries in the second half.

Again, this proved to be a solidly enjoyable read and the ending had me very eager for book three and to see how Lilla will control the new abilities and figures at her disposal.
Profile Image for Shey Saints.
Author 2 books43 followers
February 9, 2022
Summary

True Teryn: The Last Lumenian Series is a sci-fi action and fantasy adventure by S.G. Blaise, and the second book to the Lumenian series. The story is about Lilla of the ruling House of Serrain of Uhna. She has no army, only her seven friends stand as her allies. She wants to prove herself as a Sybil, Protector of the Seven Galaxies. To do that, she must recruit the Teryn armada, which is the biggest and most dangerous army. The Teryn’s emperor, who’s also the father of her beloved Callum, is not in favor of her. And to prove her worth, she must acquire the blessing of the Teryn Guardian Goddess Laoise.

Review

I love the part when a strange wind sucked Lilla and her friends into a column of air when they visited the Wise Women to petition for Laoise’s blessing. The mission to get the Heart Amulet ended with a surprising twist that had me in awe. Often times, I only get fascinated by the main lead, but this book’s characters had their own charm to fall for. I love every moment with Arrov and the twins because they are so adorable together, and I didn’t like Ivy and Rhona at first, but they grew on me when I learned of their inner motivations. Lilla, Isa, Glenna, Belthair, Ragnald, Arrov, Ivy, and Rhona as a group in a mission was very entertaining to read!

Overall, I’m giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. This was truly a page-turner! It was fast-paced, full of action and adventure, had lots of amusing moments, a bit of romance, and a plot twist that blew my mind. I highly recommend this book to young adults and up. I think readers who have read and enjoyed Victoria Aveyard and her Red Queen series would love this book and wouldn’t pass up the chance to read the first book as well. This book is a MUST-READ!


Profile Image for (old.enough.for.fairytales).
557 reviews372 followers
April 8, 2022
True Teryn picks up right where book one ends, which I appreciated. The book is a great blend of science fiction and fantasy, so I think readers of either genre would appreciate this story. The story and pacing felt right and never really lagged, so you were always interested in turning the page to see what happens next.

I love that the author again included a glossary. I wish this was common practice in science fiction and fantasy books! It makes understanding and enjoying the book so much easier.

I read another review that mentions this book/series would make a great graphic novel, and I totally agree! I think that would be such an enjoyable reading experience.

My one critique is that there was an abundance of exclamation marks…and while many people I’m sure won’t mind or notice, that just happens to be something that always stands out to me while reading. Exclamation marks rarely add to a story, and typically throw me out of what I’m reading. I think a bit refining would have eliminated some of the exclamation marks, and I’m eager to see the author’s writing style continue to grow and improve as this series continues!

Thanks to the author for gifting me a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Alex.
2 reviews
January 3, 2022
True Teryn picks up where the first book in the series left off, with Lilla meeting the emperor of the Teryn empire (and her future father-in-law). The author blends the otherworldly sci-fi adventures, magical fantasy and a little bit of humor to tell a fun and fast-paced story.

This time, Lilla accepts her role as Sybil (right hand) the Archgoddess and tries to recruit the powerful Teryn army. Further complicating matters, the person she needs to convince is the father of the man she "claimed" as her husband. Not a great way for her to get started and it sends Lilla on a series of adventures to prove her worth as both a general in the Era War and a potential daughter-in-law. Many of the characters for book one have returned but there are also new ones joining the fellowship.

A great follow-up to book one, I think this book stands well on its own too. As before, S.G. includes a glossary at the end thats a great pre-read to help with world-building and titles. Would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys epic space fantasy. Fast read, which is good because it was hard to put down.
41 reviews1 follower
February 3, 2022
Book: True Teryn
Author: S.G.Blaise
Genre: Sci-fi

“True Teryn” is a sci-fi/fantasy novel by S.G. Blaise. even if it is the second part in the series, it is plus a fantastic standalone story that hurriedly captures the reader’s awareness from the first  page.Even nevertheless S.G. Blaise is a newer author, her work continues to amaze me with her perfect fast-paced storytelling and shocking world-building. True Teryn takes the storyline from The Last Lumenian to the next level that gives a deeper look across into the politics, magic, and lore, remarkably for Teryns. The Teryn's were represented in The last  Lumenian as the on the whole precarious armed forces in the Seven Galaxies, subsequently it was appealing to get the message how S.G. built off that idea.The sign up follows Lilla, the new Sybil of the Seven Galaxies, who the Archgoddess of the Chaos asks to get the Teryn armed forces in her name. This multitude will assist in destroying the Archgoddess of Chaos and Destruction. With her loyal acquaintances by her side—Glenna, Arrov, Isa, Bella, Belthair, and Ragnald the Mage—Lilla sets off to satisfy the goddess’ wish.A profound follow-up to last one, I suppose this sign up stands great on its own  too. As before, S.G. includes a vocabulary at the purpose thats a good pre-read to refrain from with world-building and titles. Would recommend this book to everybody that enjoys epic room fantasy. swiftly read, which is moral as it was tough to put down.I would very suggest this book for any bookworm who loves sci-fi, fantasy, adventure, and chiefly quest.
90 reviews2 followers
January 20, 2022
True Teryn is the second installment in the Last Lumenian series and picks up where the first book left off. Lilla and her entourage head to Teryn with the Teryn Praelor in order to earn the blessing of the Teryn Guardian Goddess Laoise and convince the Praelor to lend his army to the fight against DLD.

If none of that makes sense to you, then you probably have not had the privilege of reading the first book in this series. S.G. Blaise's world-building is amazing and very detailed. She includes a glossary at the back of the book which is incredibly helpful but I do personally think you have to read the first book in order to fully understand this installment (which you should because the Last Lumenian is great). It's been a couple months since I read the first installment but with the glossary and a little recapping early on, I was able to jump in to True Teryn.

This book is just as fast-paced and action packed as the first installment, making it a very quick read. I loved the interactions between Lilla and the Praelor (her potential father-in-law) and the character building of all my favorites from book one. I still love Lilla as our protagonist, she remains relatable and fun to read. I also really enjoyed getting to experience more of the Seven Galaxies with Callum's homeland. Overall this was a great continuation of the series and an amazing fantasy sci-fi book!
Profile Image for Maria Elena | pagesofmaria.
735 reviews233 followers
April 11, 2022
I’m so happy to be back in the world of The Last Lumenian! I read the first book in this Sci-fi Fantasy series a couple of years ago and I remember I loved the world and the characters. Despite the fact it had been a while since reading the first book, I had no trouble jumping into the second. The author does a good job at placing little tidbits of the events of the previous book through character dialogue or the protagonist’s thoughts, enough to jog my memory.

What I loved about this sequel was the drama between lovebirds Callum and Lilla, and his father, Caderyn. Because Lilla isn’t a Teryn, Caderyn doesn’t want her at his son’s side and he doesn’t recognize her leadership as the Last Lumenian. Lilla has to prove herself, which launches the entire plot that soon turns into a sort of quest. I found it very fun to read, especially thanks to the group surrounding Lilla on this journey. There were some fun dynamics. I also loved the twist at the end, although I would have liked to see more of Callum and Lilla together. I feel like we got so little of them alone.

Excited to see where the series is going! Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Romeo.
57 reviews2 followers
October 16, 2023
This had more world(or universe because of setting) that we explore that had me on my seat throughout.
Profile Image for Reader Views.
4,027 reviews250 followers
January 28, 2022
“True Teryn” is a sci-fi/fantasy novel by S.G. Blaise. Although it is the second book in the series, it is also a fantastic standalone story that quickly captures the reader’s attention from the very first page.

The book follows Lilla, the new Sybil of the Seven Galaxies, who the Archgoddess of the Eternal asks to acquire the Teryn Army in her name. This army will assist in destroying the Archgoddess of Chaos and Destruction. With her loyal friends by her side—Glenna, Arrov, Isa, Bella, Belthair, and Ragnald the Mage—Lilla sets off to fulfill the goddess’ wish.

However, young Lilla has to convince the Teryn Emperor, who despises her, to give up his army in order for her to be successful in her quest. Cadryn, the emperor, sends her to the Guardian Goddess Laoise who makes a deal with her: if Lilla finds the Heart Amulet, she will have Laoise’s blessing. But…will Lilla succeed? Will she learn how to use her Lume magic quickly enough to destroy her enemies before they attack her?

S.G. Blaise is a deft storyteller. The sentences are neatly structured and well-detailed, drawing the reader into the setting of the story. She blends science fiction and romance with fantasy by inserting magic and magical effects with ease, making “True Teryn” a rich narrative. I particularly loved her creativity when it came to choosing names for locations, such as Mountain of Pain, Lake of Tears, and Women’s Cave—which provide clues to the next drama in this series.

Lilla, the lead protagonist, is a brave female with a fierce and honorable spirit; she���s a steadfast hero with a profound sense of love and concern for her friends. I particularly enjoyed how Blaise carefully inserted information about these numerous characters, preventing us from being overwhelmed while trying to recall their specific roles in the plot.

This literary work is a spellbinder that excels at injecting high drama into the plot, making the reading experience a guilty pleasure. Furthermore, the book has a refined ending that displays a battle of “epic” proportions. For these reasons, I give it 5-stars!

“True Teryn” will resonate well with sci-fi enthusiasts who love well-developed stories that defy quick and easy solutions.
Profile Image for Tati Alvarez.
Author 7 books194 followers
April 15, 2022
I was excited to get back into the Lumenian world after reading it last year. Without having reread book one, I jumped into book 2 with no confusion thankfully! It started where book one ended and it was fun seeing some beloved characters again.

If you are a fan of sci-fi and fantasy, specifically when it comes to YA, then you are going to enjoy reading these books. They are light and easily bingeable. Personally I'm a sucker for anything dealing with gods and you get that in True Teryn, along with tension, suspense, and adventure.

It was fun to see the author's craft develop from book one. Although the writing was strong in the first one, you can clearly see growth in pacing, character development, and all-around readability.

Profile Image for James W.
223 reviews13 followers
January 14, 2022
For most writers, penning a well-received novel is the top of the mountain. But once the proverbial ink is dry, a new challenge emerges—writing the follow-up. ‘True Teryn,’ the second installment to S. G. Blaise’s ‘The Last Lumenian,’ succeeds in adding yet another action-packed adventure to the promising intergalactic saga.

Picking up where the ‘The Last Lumenian’ left off, our bold, brash, and hopelessly headstrong protagonist (Lilla) is once again in need of an army. Unfortunately, before she can enlist the help of the fearless Teryn army, Lilla is tasked with a nearly impossible mission. What follows is an epic, intergalactic quest to find a rare relic in the hopes of appeasing a god. Along the way readers are introduced to a handful of new characters and a much deeper look at the Seven Galaxies.

In many ways, ‘True Teryn’ improves upon nearly every aspect of ‘The Last Lumenian.’ Be it the pacing, action, or even the disbursement of exposition, Blaise has clearly grown as a writer. While ‘The Last Lumenian’ laid out the framework for a seemingly massive, open-ended galaxy, the constant focus on world-building occasionally undercut the story’s momentum. With ‘True Teryn,’ however, a clear objective is established early on and a driving pace is sustained throughout. Additionally, the mix of action, drama, romance, and comedy is much more balanced this time around. It’s also worth noting that while ‘True Teryn’ builds squarely on the events of Blaise’s debut, this novel can easily be read as a stand-alone novel—an impressive feat in and of itself!

The bottom line: if you liked ‘The Last Lumenian,’ you will likely love ‘True Teryn.’ And if you have no idea who Lilla is or why anyone should care about the seven galaxies, then S. G. Blaise’s latest offering represents the perfect opportunity to jump on board this emerging sci-fi saga.
68 reviews
April 17, 2022
True Teryn is one of those stories which will either make you a big fan of the fantasy genre or if you are already one, it will remind you of the reasons why you are so.
This book has a colourful cast of characters (literally - one of them is a blue giant) and high stakes, the combination of which makes the reader want to devour the book.
As I joined Lilla and her friends on the quest to find the Heart Amulet, I found myself rooting for them. There are so many lessons that fantasy books can teach you, including this. Among other things, this book reminds the reader that you should believe in yourself but not be afraid to ask for help if you need it. And I think it really balanced the two quite well.
What I found realistic about the novel was that the protagonist was not right all the time and even made some dubious choices, and that made her all the more relatable.
I do wish the book was longer, only because I would have liked to know more about the characters and their backstories and found out more about the world they inhabit. But I'm glad this is a part of a series and that I have more books I can read to connect with this wonderful world again.
Profile Image for Alexis.
411 reviews5 followers
April 19, 2022
I absolutely loved this book. I love it so much I’m super upset the third one isn’t ready to go yet. The good news is I know it’s brilliance is just taking some time! This was such an incredible second installment that lends such character development depth and emotional connection. I love so much how deeply invested we start to get in every single character. I also love the expanded story into the land and people of Teryn. Once again we are given an ending that you couldn’t expect even if you tried! For a fantasy novel it’s really incredible to have a twist ending! If you love fantasy this is such an incredibly worthy series!
Profile Image for Candice Willman.
387 reviews66 followers
April 14, 2022
I love that this one picked up right where book one left off. Though it’s been a year since read book one, still was able to understand and keep up with book two. This one was more about self discovery and journey to find out who Lilla really was. Where her power came from. And just how strong she could be. Where I prefer more romance, it still was sweet. But more focused on the world, the character discovery and epic adventure while doing so. If you love YA sci-fi fantasy, you’ll enjoy this one.
2 reviews2 followers
February 2, 2022
As both my daughters loved this series, I had to see what the fuss was about. What a fun adventure! I loved the character development and the fantasy of far-away galaxies. Although I started with book two I found the glossary an excellent reference.
Profile Image for Aquila Goh.
Author 12 books4 followers
February 13, 2022
An interesting shift and embrace of a new purely thriller-like writing style from the first book.

I have read Blaise’s first book, The Last Lumenian, and felt that there were many changes in the styles, pacing, prose, and world-building of this book compared to the first.

1) Pacing and Plot Structure:

The first book has a more defined and planned plot that seems to me like a hybrid between a 3-arc structure and a Fichtean curve. In this current book, the author has moved almost entirely to a Fichtean curve. For those who do not know what this is, it is a kind of plot structure used by fast-paced action-driven novels. It uses incrementally more climatic crises leading to more partial resolutions, and so on until the ultimate climax is reached and resolved.

To appreciate Blaise’s second book, read it like a thriller, similar to how one would appreciate J.J Abrams’ Star Trek and Mission Impossible movies. Novel-wise, similar books include The Purple Cloud by M.P. Shiel and The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins.

The novel brings you to the edge, keeps you in suspense, through many battles, action scenes, dramas, and social interactions that continuously renew themselves and bring one forth to an even more climatic crisis until the last battle at the end.

One should note that this Blaise’s second book is more tailored towards a certain group of readers: plot-driven, high intensity, focused, action-oriented, and world-building fanatics who love to be at this constant edge of mystery and ominous suspense.

One thing to note is that, as said in my previous review of her first book, I suspect that Blaise intends to use a complex story arc like The Hunger Games, where each book has its resolutions, with a broader over-arching one. After reading this second book, I think hers is a blend between a complex story arc and a serialized one—each book is a continuation of the previous ones, but from the content, it seems Blaise may write, perhaps 5 or 6 books or more, a bit like Ian Fleming’s James Bond series. This means the series will continue for a while more, but it is just my hunch.

2) Content:

While the first book focuses more on the main character’s ambivalence towards taking up her role as the Last Lumenian, this one cements it and brings it forth to the next stage, whereby Lilla attempts to win the favor of Laoise, the Teryn Goddess. This leads to disastrous consequences for Lilla and her companions to overcome.

Overall, the conflict and tension move from the inception of romance and strong interpersonal tensions between many characters and the rebellion to greater solidarity between the main characters. However, a sense of tension and disagreement continuously occurs between them, which propels the story forward in unpredictable ways.

While the first book covers more themes, such as the conflict between individual and society, and the dilemmas of romance, certain subtle gender discourses, and Lilla’s main role as a Sibyl, the current one shifts the locale more towards the adventure itself, which includes the many villains in the process. Therefore, there is a shift from an inward focus to an outward one. Put it simply, the first book has a slightly more character-centric slant, but the second book is far more externally driven on the choices that were made towards the deliberate accomplishment of a goal rather than the relative reactivity of the first up till the latter’s climax (which seems intended for both).
The second book also delivers in terms of the interesting world-building which rivals the first book’s. The metamorphic battle forms, the luminous true spiritual natures of some characters, and certain disembodied forms of life struck me as rather unique.

I also enjoyed the addition of new pictures which were clearly professionally illustrated and adds life to the novel.

3) Prose

This is most probably a deliberate choice by the author.

I noticed that in the first book, the prose was far more florid and sensate, whereas there is a shift in the second book towards a somewhat more functionalist writing style that parallels Ernest Hemingway’s writing. It focuses more on simplicity and clarity.

This works perfectly for her audiences, I suppose, and blends well with her thriller-like plot-driven writing.

However, for me, I always preferred the first book’s florid style, as it was more evocative and shows more deliberate planning put into it. However, the second book’s new stylistic preference is most probably based on choice rather than degrees of merit, which I respect.

4) Other Comments

I believe the deliberate employment of a stream-of-consciousness style of writing by Blaise. This is the method that Stephen King seems to write with. I sensed this because of the shift in the prose to one of spontaneity.

The plot, being more “on the flow” gave me the impression that the author prefers a “seeding” style of writing, as opposed to being a “planner,” like my works. I literally plan everything. Both have their perks: the former demanding fluidity while the other requiring order and reason.
It is always interesting to see how other authors employ different methods to write.
Regardless, these two methods blend well with Blaise’s focus on elevating this work to a thriller of interesting proportions.

The only flaw which I felt could be improved, which I spotted a lot, was the over-use of “I” pronouns in many sentences, where some strings of paragraphs all started with “I”s. I am not sure if this is an effect of her suspected stream-of-consciousness writing style or something else, but it is a minor issue that can be most easily fixed.

Conclusion:

Book 2 has moved towards a more accepting embrace of a thriller-like writing style that still contains many of the complexities of the first book.

Overall, it was a splendid book to add to my collection!
5 reviews
January 4, 2022
First and foremost, I am so happy there is a sequel to The Last Lumenian! As soon as I saw True Teryn was coming out, I had to pre-ordered it to ensure I could become fully immersed in Lilla's story again as soon as it was released.

Even though S.G. Blaise is a newer author, her work continues to amaze me with her impeccable fast-paced storytelling and astonishing world-building. True Teryn takes the storyline from The Last Lumenian to the next level by giving the reader a deeper look into the politics, magic, and lore, especially for Teryns. The Teryn's were represented in The Last Lumenian as the most dangerous army in the Seven Galaxies, so it was interesting to see how S.G. built off that idea.

I found myself appreciating the interactions between Lilla and her future father-in-law and all of the other new characters in this book. I loved how this book has more of a quest feel to it. The fast-paced writing style and descriptive scene writing made me feel like I was right there with Lilla from start to end. I was happy to see that readers got to experience more planets within the Seven Galaxies to get a grasp of how big their universe truly is.

I would highly recommend this book for any reader who loves sci-fi, fantasy, adventure, and especially quest. I hope one day this book series gets developed into a tv show or movie. It would be amazing to see on screen! I can't wait to see what S.G. Blaise comes up with next!
Profile Image for Janalyn, the blind reviewer.
4,277 reviews126 followers
January 28, 2023
I like the writing style in book 2 better than the first and I loved the first one. Now having said that there’s a lot to unpack so let me just say theres magic, love, racism and one bad ass female. Layla has to find the amulet but there’s so much working against her and then it’s either going to be put up or shut up. Can Layla deliver when it seems so many or against her? Read the book and find out. There is so much to Love about this book and to give a summary is something I am not equipped to do just know if you love magic, an alternative universes,great world building and wonderful characters Then you’ll definitely love this book. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
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