The Last Shield

What is Fantasy if it is not epic battles against elves and orcs? Fans of the genre know that it can be a lot of other things than just that. Some of the best modern fantasy that I have read have been smaller stories set in fantasy worlds. How about a Die Hard-like experience set in a castle where an injured guard must work their way through a horde of warriors and a sadistic warlock? That sounds almost perfect, and Cameron Johnston tells such a tale almost flawlessly in The Last Shield. 

Briar is the Commander of The Shields, whose sacred duty is to protect the ruling family of Sunweald. Her direct role is the protection of the Lord Regent, and she has done so for years, developing a relationship that has gone beyond that of a protecter and a protected. When Briar is shot in the leg by a poisoned arrow meant for the Regent, she does not yet realise that this is only the first attack. With a weakened body Briar must protect the Palace from an incursion from within. She will require all her experience and dogged determination to succeed. 

I read for pleasure and must admit that 800-page fantasy epics are not always the most enjoyable experience. Therefore, the recent trend in stonking action fantasy is really appealing to me. Shield is an excellent fantasy novel because it is so entertaining. The genre of fantasy is so well established that you can strip down the world building and focus on a few important characters. We follow Briar for most of this book, occasionally popping over to another character to explain what is happening elsewhere, but this book is not a multi-character arc set over several cities and timeframes. It is a clean, sharp novel that takes a whetstone to the sword and gets to the point. 

The clever thing is that there is some world building and character development, particularly of Briar and the young King to be. This is all done in the opening act that becomes a prolonged prelude to the main action. We get a clear sense of who Briar is and start to understand the real relationship she has with the Lord Regent. Why is this important? Because it informs the action later in the book. We understand Briar’s sense of duty, but also her deep love. She will do anything for her Regent. 

I loved the fact there is a simple romance that threads Shield because it balances so well against what is classic Low Fantasy. Briar dispatches her enemies without impunity, often going that extra mile to inflict pain and suffering. It is a gory book but has that sense of justice that you can from a great revenge thriller. Briar has more experience and knowledge than her enemies put together and she makes sure that she uses it all to enact a bloody vengeance. 

Shield is not a book for the faint of heart. To describe it as a fantasy Die Hard would be fair, but with more violence and a Palace full of secret tunnels, rather than Nakatomi Tower. With a hero you can support and a villain you can hate, it is a classic thriller, just set in a fantasy livery. One of the most enjoyable reading experiences I have had in months.