Proud Pada

The Last Lumenian Book 3

Fiction - Fantasy - General
250 Pages
Reviewed on 01/10/2023
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

S.G. was born in a faraway land of castles, monarchies and fallen dictatorships aka Hungary. Hollywood movies were largely forbidden under Soviet oppression during her childhood, but her dad smuggled them anyway, risking his life so that his children could experience the magic and hope inherent in those stories. These stories were the reason she fell in love with the Sci-Fi and Fantasy genres. She watched rebellions unfold in real time. Journeyed across the Atlantic Ocean for love. She ended up in sunny California, where she is living her dream—writing stories and annoying family members.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Proud Pada is the third book of The Last Lumenian series by S.G. Blaise. After invoking the Bride's Choice on Callum, Sybil Lilla's perfect wedding day turns upside down when Callum's older brother Sachary is found murdered. Callum's father, Caderyn, ruler of the Teryn Praelium, reluctantly takes Lilla, Callum, and their friends to the monastic Pada world in search of the killer, following the traces of Acerbus-infused technology. However, upon their arrival, they soon discover a brewing animosity between the Tier One factions that could spell danger. When Caderyn goes missing, Lilla is left with no choice but to take it upon herself to identify the culprits and bring them to justice before the entire Praelium descends into civil war. But with multiple factions as suspects, will Lilla be able to stop the one pulling the strings?

Proud Pada is a seamless blend of high fantasy, sci-fi, and mystery. Author S.G. Blaise takes little time in getting things moving and puts the reader into the midst of the action from the get-go. There are several surprising turns of events in the plot to immerse readers in the pages, and you will find yourself hard-pressed to put the book down before finishing it. Lilla has a diverse circle of friends, and their banter and quick back-and-forth add a sprinkling of humor to the narrative. Lilla is immensely likable as the main protagonist, which makes her relatable to readers. All in all, a stellar entry into an epic fantasy saga that I will recommend to all fantasy lovers.

Maria Victoria Beltran

Proud Pada: The Last Lumenian: Book 3 by S. G. Blaise is an adventure of epic proportions featuring a heroine, Lilla, on her next mission as a Sybil. The story begins with Lilla, who is in Cathal with the other Teryns as ordered by the archgoddess. However, due to certain circumstances, Lilla and Callum, her lover, must go to Pada to follow the trail of a ruthless murderer. On Pada, they encounter various obstacles, foes, and friends. The Teryn Emperor then goes missing. With an impending civil war on the horizon, Lilla must find out who is behind all the political and galactic conflicts occurring around The Seven Galaxies.

S. G. Blaise's Proud Pada keeps you immersed in the action from the moment it begins. Blaise crafts a narrative that blends high-tension, action-packed scenes with slow-paced story-telling. With layers of mystery revealed by every turn of the page, we have a perfect balance of a plot-driven story and characters that immerse us more in the world of The Seven Galaxies. Despite the world-building present in the first two installments of the series, Proud Pada introduces us to new worlds and characters that help build up the lore and expand it even more. Proud Pada is a beautifully written and amazingly presented space epic about the importance of culture, identity, courage, morals, and love. I highly recommend this read.

Cecelia Hopkins

Proud Pada by S. G. Blaise starts on the morning of Callum and Lilla’s intended wedding; they are disappointed when Caderyn does not arrive to officiate. After entering the Teryn spaceship, they learn Callum’s brother, Sachary, has been murdered. The killer’s trail is marked with traces of forbidden magic known as Acerbus. Suspecting the culprit was employed by someone of high standing, they go to Prada where a summit is underway. On Prada, Sawney is attacked, Caderyn is kidnapped, and Lilla persists with the investigation despite several attempts upon her life. Who is the mastermind behind this conspiracy and will Lilla be able to prevent civil war?

Proud Pada by S. G. Blaise is set in a universe full of fascinating cultures and factions. I was amused by the barbarism of the Marauders who employed poison as a matter of course. I was also fascinated by the Devotees of Prada and their mysticism. The Teryns were complicated, with damaging inequalities in their social system, but I appreciated the form of peace they had achieved; this dilemma seemed to parallel some of the class conflicts in human society. I was eager to identify the mastermind behind the murder and highly suspicious of the supernatural beings involved. After that, what I most wanted was to see Callum and Lilla’s wedding ceremony resume. The wedding framework gave the plot character, interest, and an overall sense of symmetry. I also enjoyed the horse and the way it sensed the truth. I can recommend Proud Pada to fans of galactic science fiction.

K.C. Finn

Proud Pada by S. G. Blaise is a tale in the sci-fi, fantasy, drama, and mystery subgenres. It is the third book in the Last Lumenian series, following the adventures of Lilla. Her intergalactic travels continue as she goes to the Pada world, seeking clues left behind by a vicious murderer. But when Lilla lands in a dark place filled with cutthroat politics and dangerous civil unrest, catching a single killer is the least of her problems. A missing emperor and a world on the brink of war force Lilla to utilize her best diplomatic and investigative skills.

S. G. Blaise works a lot of content into these concise reads, which are always wonderfully paced and rich in details, characters, intrigue, and worldbuilding. I was fascinated by the Pada people and the immersive, realistic details Blaise builds into their culture and people, making it much more compelling as you learn the complex attitudes and tensions in play. The political and dramatic elements of the story are balanced, containing mystery, tenseness, and exposition. There is always something to keep readers on the edge of their seats, feeling confident that Lilla will find the strength and smarts to overcome any problem. I would recommend Proud Pada to fans of the existing series and sci-fi and fantasy fans looking for rich, in-depth fiction.

Grace Ruhara

S.G. Blaise's Proud Pada is a fun and exciting fantasy novel that combines magic, romance, and a little drama. The wedding of Lilla and Callum has been postponed because of the death of Callum's brother, Sachary. While searching for the killer, Lilla discovers a minuscule purple rock that leads them to Pada. Upon arriving in Pada, they are warmly welcomed, and everything is going according to plan until Sawney, Callum's brother, is attacked and injured with Acerbus, and their father, Caderyn, is kidnapped. Are these incidents linked? With only five days, will they find Sachary’s killer? How many more characters will risk their lives in pursuit of the truth?

What I liked about Proud Pada by S.G. Blaise was the intriguing storyline and the suspense throughout the novel. This made the whole reading experience thrilling as I kept guessing what direction the next plot stage would take. The story is set in a world similar to ours, but with one crucial difference: the active existence of magic as an everyday element in the characters’ lives. This makes it interesting, as you have to try to imagine what such a society would look like. The author also developed the characters’ personalities, enabling me to resonate with their feelings, thoughts, and emotions. I also appreciated the plot's steady pace, which was neither hurried nor slowed. Every scene is well executed, and details are vividly described. I recommend this book to people who like to read both dramatic stories and those with some magic.

mwine

S.G. continues to amaze me with the Last Lumenian series. Proud Pada was a fun, intergalactic, mystery adventure that kept me on my toes! I’m pretty sure I read the entire book in two sittings because I didn’t want to put it down. I absolutely love the relationship S.G. has created between Lilla and Callum. Their dynamic was so intriguing to read and the mix with Moria just added to it even more. But it was great to see more of the worlds within the Seven Galaxies to understand the vastness of the universe S.G. is creating. I hope we get to see more galaxies in future books.

Read this series!!! I highly recommend for any reader who loves sci-fi, fantasy, and adventure; especially quest. I’m so excited to see what S.G. does next!