Review Day: The Last of the Atalanteans by P.L. Stuart

There are no major spoilers in this review.

Although The Last of the Atalanteans by P.L. Stuart is the second book in The Drowned Kingdom saga, it feels more like a continuation of the story arc begun in Book 1 than a brand new adventure. The action and tension are immediate and burgeoning, with no lengthy worldbuilding interludes and little respite until this book's slower, satisfying conclusion.

With the exception of one point-of-view shift, the story continues to be told from the perspective of Othrun, the exiled leader of a fallen civilization who has gained surprising notoriety on the new continent of Acremia. Othrun begins this book in disguise, on a covert mission to save the kingship of one of his new Eltnian allies. As the band of warriors with Othrun crosses hostile territory to reach the capital city of Lynchun, shifting alliances and feudal greed threaten the fragility of their plans.

Book 2 does a much better job of mixing in worldbuilding without interrupting the momentum of the story. We learn more about the history between Lynchun and Carthlughe, the dynamics of power between female mages and the royal families in each kingdom, and gentle hints about potential allies and enemies in the 10 kingdoms to the south (hints which aren't fully explored until Book 3). There are so many political, personal, and religious motivations at play throughout the book and the author is able to convey the complicated fabric in a manner that kept me enthralled.

The Last of the Atalanteans is a strong finish to the plot that began in A Drowned Kingdom. This pair of books is an excellent duology on its own, and also made me eager to continue on with the series (Book 3 was published in May 2023).

Final Grade: B+

• Book 1: A Drowned Kingdom review
• Book 2: The Last of the Atalanteans review
• Book 3: Lord and King review
• Book 4: A Lion's Pride review