The Last Drop

by Andrea Perno

Jeremy always said Space Academy was Earth's last hope. People only dream of leaving a dying planet in search of better lives. Avery never expected he would be forced to do just that. On the heels of his brother's murder, his father's disappearance and Earth's dwindling water supply now contaminated with a deadly virus, Avery and his younger brother have no choice but to leave Earth behind and join the survivors migrating to the nearest habitable planet. What they don't know is that the rarity of water extends far beyond Earth and they aren't the only ones fighting for survival.

Genres: Science Fiction

453 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 21, 2016

Reviews

[Feather Chelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need more!

I am hooked. I really hope that Book 2 has already been released because I’m going to download it now if it has. If not, I’ll be anxiously awaiting the next volume. It was one of the best post apocalyptic books I’ve read in a while. It did lead me on a cliffhanger…

[Linda Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine a world where water is so scarce that people will fight to the death to control what’s left. Author Andrea Perno has created such a world in her epic science fiction dark fantasy, The Last Drop. Her protagonist, Avery, is the son of one of the military commanders who controls the distribution of what’s left of the planet’s water resources. In a harrowing scene, the father murders Jeremy, Avery’s older brother, because he has taken something – something the military wants. But Jeremy refuses to give it back or reveal its whereabouts and the father, angry, kills his eldest son in front of a horrified Avery. War breaks out on Earth and what is left of the water supply becomes infected by a deadly virus, killing Avery’s mother and sister. The only option left is to leave the dying planet. Thus, Avery and his younger brother, Jace, are whisked away to a spaceship and along with two hundred other earthlings, fly off to the closest habitable planet, Panacea. But this planet is not the paradise it’s cracked up to be. No, Panacea and its indigent population are also dealing with water shortages and this sets up a conflict with military forces from Earth who seek to dominate and conquer. Avery is caught in the middle and must decide which side he is on. Torn, he often compares himself to his lost brother, Jeremy, and, in his mind, he often falls short.

Author Perno’s world-building in The Last Drop is phenomenal. No detail is overlooked. Narrator Austin Rising does a great job differentiating the voices of all the main characters and adds nuance when needed. The novel is also not devoid of romance, as Avery meets Clesandra, a beautiful, angry, young woman who wields a very special knife that is pivotal to the plot. Other characters include Sheol, (who becomes Avery’s friend), Zap (one of the indigenous population of Panacea), Smith (a cruel military commander), and Rustin (a psychotic soldier who enjoys killing). The Last Drop is the first novel in The Last Drop Series so it is not surprising that it ends with a bit of a cliff-hanger!

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to The Last Drop. A fan of Perno’s since reading her debut novel, Remotely Unplugged, I can recommend The Last Drop most highly for fans of post-apocalyptic tales, science fiction, and dark fantasy. Perno is a gifted author and I look forward to reading or listening to more of The Last Drop Series.

[Tabatha Shipley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I Did Like:
+Excellent opening chapter. You meet the main character in what feels like a natural way but you learn everything you need to know about the world you’re in. It’s seamless and natural world building.
+Dystopian at its best is the type that feels entirely possible in the world we know. When it’s set in a future you completely understand and can see us ending up in. This is that kind of terrifyingly realistic dystopian.
+This Scifi stays mostly rooted in science, which I love, but it also takes fantastical liberties. Those liberties add tension and stakes, making the story into something that moves at a perfect pace and sets up for an excellent series.

Who Should Read This One:
-YA Sci Fi fans. This one makes good use of modern struggles (drought) gone too far and offers extravagant solutions gone wrong.
-Fantasy fans who want some science, some political conversations, and some big themes.

My Rating: 4 Stars
Overall, well written and packed with deep themes!

For Full Review: https://alltherightreads.com/2024/03/...

[RK Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timely

at a moment in history when the entire world, again, seems to be at war, this gem reads almost presciently. Earth is pretty much a memory and a water shortage and the maniacal murderous greed of our main character, Avery’s, father has caused him and his only remaining kin, brother Jace, to flee the planet. and it’s on a new planet where issues of colonialism and war against the natives for survival seem mixed with perspectives that dominate our current news cycle. add to that the fact that Clesanda, Avery’s erstwhile love interest, may have actually been in love with our hero’s late brothers and you’ve got A LOT of issues that make this work of “fiction” hit close to home!

[Abdul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reflections on Our Fragile Existence

Last Drop by Andera Perno is a breathtaking science fiction read where the stakes couldn't be higher. Set in a dystopian future where the earth is on the brink of collapse, the story follows Avery as he embarks on a desperate quest for survival.

In an era marked by global conflict and uncertainty, this narrative hits close to home, making the story not just a science fiction adventure but a profound commentary on our times.

I believe that the brilliance of Perno's writing lies in her ability to create a universe that feels simultaneously familiar and utterly alien.

[K.Z Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

SCIFI ACTION PACKED!

The author's mind state was exciting to the last drips. Very suspenseful drama; art of imagination meets an interesting fantasy- science fiction with magical powers beyond its finest. A love story hides from anther love quest; of darkness! To many super heroes that's the only thing didn't sit well; yet it held my attention to wanna read the sequel!

[Venus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great cover

Fantastic series and very well written. Excited to see where the next book goes. Not gonna lie, I got this book specifically because the cover was so amazing. The story inside didn’t disappoint either.

[Aaron Eichler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Earth is out of water, and the military are finding more. The leader is a dictator, and will kill whomever gets in his way. I can not recall how the Earth was losing its water.

[Beverley Turnquest · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read

I enjoyed this. The protagonist was well-fleshed out and memorable. Great story line. This would make a great movie, I would love to see it visually.

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 5 out of 5]

The water on Earth has been used up and the few amounts left that are not polluted are fiercely guarded. Avery lives on one of these bases and although home life is rough, being outside the base means death. After the loss of his father and brother, Avery and his brother Jace find themselves in space on their way to Panacea. Panacea is an Earthlike planet, except it is already inhabited and water is scarce there too.

As Avery trains he makes friends with another fierce fighter, Clesandra. After an incident where a native, Zap, saved them, they find themselves trying to fight against Commander Smith’s plans to eliminate any competition and to horde the remaining water.

I really enjoyed this story. Avery is filled with doubt and not wanting to become his father. Clesandra is quick and mean, just the exact opposite of Avery. The story is almost scary in the face that it could really happen with today’s events. But I loved all the detail that goes into the science part of this story.

I don’t know if this is going to be a series but I do get the feeling that there is going to be more to this book. It’s a great story and one that I recommend people checking out.

I received The Last Drop from Candid Book Reviews for free. This is in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

[Liza O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complex, dark story with cliff hanger.
This is a dark story, where a father kills his eldest son, where people are deceptive, and where humans become their worst. The protagonist, Avery, is only sixteen when the story begins. He has a younger brother Jace who is 10.
As his mother and sister are dying of a virus created by his father, Avery & Jace are captured and taken to a ship, then travel with many others to a new world. When he awakens he is 18 and Jace is 12.
Only the new world, Panacea, is far more dangerous than Earth and just like Earth, there is a water shortage for the humans. The leader of the humans, Smith, distorts the truth to justify why they must kill the human-like natives.
Avery and his deadly female friend, Clesandra, discover they’ve been lied to about a great deal. They are tested for their loyalty and the neither will act upon their task putting them at war with their fellow humans.
This is a dense tale, complex and, dark. Words spoken are often lies. And reality is cloaked in secrets. I had to read some sections several times to grasp the situations.
It’s also a cliff hanger as someone dear has been taken.
I give it four stars.