The Last Sun

The Last Sun follows Rune Saint John, the last survivor of a fallen noble house in New Atlantis, a magical city built on the ruins of Nantucket. Along with his bodyguard and companion Brand, Rune works as a mercenary solving supernatural problems for the city's aristocratic Atlantean courts. When a powerful nobleman hires Rune to find his missing son, what starts as a straightforward missing person case becomes a complex investigation. The search forces Rune to confront both his traumatic past and the dangerous political undercurrents of New Atlantis society. Rune navigates a world of tarot-based magic, where noble houses draw power from arcane cards and ancient bloodlines. The novel combines elements of urban fantasy, noir detective fiction, and court intrigue while establishing the foundation for The Tarot Sequence series. The book explores themes of trauma, loyalty, and the challenge of reclaiming one's identity after devastating loss. Through its blend of magic and mystery, it examines how people rebuild themselves and find connection in the aftermath of violence.

Readers highlight the strong character dynamics, particularly the friendship between Rune and Brand. The fast pace and blend of urban fantasy with noir elements draws frequent mentions in reviews. Fans note the LGBTQ+ representation feels natural rather than forced. Likes: - Witty dialogue and banter - Complex worldbuilding around Atlantean culture - Action sequences - Character relationships and loyalty themes - Dark humor Dislikes: - Some find the magic system confusing initially - First few chapters can be disorienting for new readers - Secondary characters need more development - Romance subplot moves too quickly Ratings: Goodreads: 4.24/5 (13,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (1,900+ ratings) StoryGraph: 4.27/5 Common reader quote: "The friendship between Rune and Brand carries the story." Multiple reviews note the book reads like "Dresden Files meets Six of Crows" in tone and style.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo A band of magical criminals plans an impossible heist in a world where power and politics intersect with ancient magic.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune A case worker at the Department of Magical Youth visits an orphanage of dangerous magical children and uncovers secrets about their origins.

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews A mercenary navigates a post-apocalyptic Atlanta where magic and technology battle for dominance while investigating supernatural crimes.

The Magicians by Lev Grossman A student discovers a secret college of magic and becomes entangled in dark conspiracies that threaten both Earth and a magical realm.

The Thousand Deaths of Ardor Benn by Tyler Whitesides A master of deception uses magical weapons to execute complex heists in a world where magic derives from processed dragon excrement.

🌞 The Last Sun is the first book in The Tarot Sequence series, which reimagines Atlantis as a modern-day city called New Atlantis, located on Nantucket Island. 🎴 Author K.D. Edwards drew inspiration from traditional tarot cards, creating a complex social hierarchy where powerful families are associated with specific cards from the Major Arcana. 🏳️‍🌈 The book features prominent LGBTQ+ representation, with the main character Rune Saint John being openly gay, reflecting the author's commitment to writing authentic queer characters. 🗣️ K.D. Edwards worked as a technical writer for 25 years before publishing The Last Sun, his debut novel, in 2018. 🎭 The novel tackles serious themes of trauma and survival while maintaining elements of urban fantasy, mystery, and witty banter—a combination that earned it nominations for multiple speculative fiction awards.