The Last Vigilant

Children are disappearing, but only the loss of a lord’s son forces Holt Hawley into action. Once a proud soldier of the elite battalions, Hawley is now embittered and despised by his men. Tasked with finding a True Vigilant (mythical figures said to possess extraordinary powers), Hawley knows he’s tracking a tall tale. Yet, bound by duty, he ventures into the forest, where a brutal attack leads him to Enelda Drake. While far from the stuff of legend, the old woman might be their only hope to find the children. Latham (The Red Tower), known for his steampunk novels and Sherlock Holmes pastiches, skillfully brings his knack for plotting mysteries and investigations into an epic fantasy setting. The multilayered machinations and propulsive pacing will grip readers, but the book’s greatest strength lies in its characters. Enelda and Hawley form a unique and unusual pairing, and Hawley’s struggle captures the dedication of broken soldiers yearning for lost honor.