The Last Lumenian series of fantasy/science-fiction/romance novels by S.G. Blaise follows the adventures of Lilla, princess of the ocean world of Uhna and the last of a powerful magical race known as Lumenians. The Lumenians were created by the Archgoddess of the Eternal Light and Order to fight the dark forces of the Archgod of Chaos and Destruction (or “DLD” for short), and Lilla is—often reluctantly—the Sybil, general, and right hand of the Archgoddess. Lilla would like nothing more than to be left in peace to enjoy life with her handsome, charming fiancé, Callum, but alas, the machinations of the DLD and his corrupted minions draw her back into the fray time and again.

PROUD PADA, the third volume in the series (The Last Lumenian and True Teryn), finds Lilla and Callum about to celebrate their long-awaited wedding. But when Callum’s older brother Sachary is found dead, the nuptials are put on hold as Lilla and her friends search for the culprit. Their investigation leads them to the monastic world of Pada, where, unfortunately for Lilla and company, the Taryn emperor (and Callum’s father) Caderyn is abducted, creating a political crisis that threatens Lilla’s role as Sybil and the fate of the Seven Galaxies themselves.

The Last Lumenian series blends space opera and galactic intrigue with fairytale romance, rooting its momentous themes of political oppression and existential survival in lighthearted, sardonic humor. PROUD PADA preserves the irreverent tone of the previous installments, but as the stakes—for Lilla’s loved ones and the growing conflict between the ruling classes and their subjugated worlds, not to mention the eternal war between the gods—grow ever higher, the mood grows more somber. Likewise, the breakneck pace of the previous novel, True Teryn, slows a bit as Blaise deepens the lore of the series, revealing more of the origins of the gods and their powers, Lilla’s exploration of her magical abilities, and the mounting unrest within Teryn society. Blaise sets a great many plot threads in motion in PROUD PADA, and manages to wrangle them all into a coherent, engaging narrative, deftly threading an enjoyably twist-laden murder mystery through a weighty tale of political intrigue on a galactic scale.

Fans of S.G. Blaise’s Lumenian books will find PROUD PADA a delightful continuation of the series, ratcheting up the dramatic stakes without losing its signature humor and sweetness.

~Edward Sung for IndieReader