Fun Reads Friday: The Last Archer

How does one overcome the shame of your family?

In The Last Archer: Green Ember Archers, Book 1, by S.D. Smith, Jo Shanks has a lot to make up for. His father died in debt and shame, and now Jo is afraid that he will be a failure and die in ruin like this father. To prove himself, Jo has joined the military and strives to be the best archer in the land. But there is a war coming. When he attempts to win the Archer’s Cup Finals, he’s hoping he will beat the best archer, Nate Flynn, and prove that he is worth something. During the last round of the cup, the final three archers are made to shoot arrows in a near-war simulation. Jo freezes and fails, much to his shame.

Now called to war by the need for rabbits to fight, Jo does his best to prove he has the focus, stamina, and bravery to stand and do what must be done. When it counts the most, will he be able to overcome his fear and become the rabbit he was always meant to be?

I enjoyed this book by S.D. Smith. I just started his Green Ember series which so far is fantastic, but this spin-off series caught my eye and is proving to be just as delightful. (Okay, I probably should have finished Green Ember before I dove into this, but I couldn’t help it. Look how awesome Jo looks on the cover flying through the air with a bow. Oh, the problems of book people!) Jo is definitely a rabbit you can cheer for, and his world is exciting, dangerous, and full of intrigue as he tries to figure out who to trust and how to navigate the dangers of war. He is full of spunk yet is respectful and obedient to the authorities around him, which is a hard balance for many to find and a good example for kids to follow. The secondary characters are well drawn and varied, with some being funny, others being mysterious, and some being adversaries for Jo that try to stop him from getting what he wants. All around, a fantastic read for kids and adults, and it would make a great read aloud for the whole family.

If you’re interested in more of S.D. Smith’s books, I just got his latest newsletter in my inbox and he gave us two ways to read his books. In order of publication, or in each series. I’ll add both of the orders here in case you’re interested.

In order of publication:

1. The Green Ember
2. The Black Star of Kingston (Tales of Old Natalia 1)
3. Ember Falls: The Green Ember Book II
4. The Last Archer: Green Ember Archer I
5. Ember Rising: The Green Ember Book III
6. The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner (Tales of Old Natalia II)
7. The First Fowler: Green Ember Archer II
8. Ember’s End: The Green Ember Book IV
9. The Archer’s Cup: Green Ember Archer III
10. Prince Lander and the Dragon War (Tales of Old Natalia III)

In series:

Green Ember Main Series:

1. The Green Ember
2. Ember Falls
3. Ember Rising
4. Ember’s End

Green Ember Archer:

1. The Last Archer
2. The First Fowler
3. The Archer’s Cup

Green Ember: Old Natalia:

1. The Black Star of Kingston
2. The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner
3. Prince Lander and the Dragon War