Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

In The Last Dai'akan, author Jeremy D. Miller builds a world where dungeons mean power, and the owners have minions, marketplaces, and vast wealth. The storylines are numerous but interweave in a series of events. A pair of dungeon raiders arrive near the destroyed dungeon of Aatma, finding valuable items including a ruby ring. Empress Inalda learns of the dungeon's fall, seeking a solution from the mage Ma'Toli. Talia is the pregnant daughter of a Dai'akan and a prophecy of her child's potential resonates. Masima, the current Dai'akan, reflects on his position and sacrifices. Gabriel Shook pawns his ruby ring to afford imperfect minions. Kol'val receives a powerful soul dagger to defend his people from Empress Inalda's threat. Captain Ian Ryall's crew embarks on a mission to capture without violence and encounters mages with hidden intentions and potential invasion. Gabe's minions defend the dungeon and the imperfect Zet learns new skills from his master. Talia, Pa'vil's child, and Ian face various challenges and dangers. Miranda bonds with the dungeon's energy core, and Talia's powers are fully explored.

There is a lot going on but Jeremy D. Miller is an ace at making this all 100% digestible and extremely exciting in the whirlwind pacing of The Last Dai'akan. The world-building is one of the most unique I have come across, and that says a whole lot considering there is very little room left in the fantasy genre to find something that feels new but still works. Miller does not reinvent the wheel here but he certainly does reshape it. A few standout areas worth mentioning are a rich and immersive world with the island's god, Pa'vil, the role of the Dai'akan, and the integrated Haqi symbols that are central to it. The island is shrouded in depth and originality, and it immediately pulls you in. Miller injects waves of tension that result in a perpetual thread of uncertainty, like the emergence of the island for Captain Ian, and the workings of magical rituals and an explosive death. Beetle, bless him, is hilarious, so it's not all terror and anxiety. I won't get into Talia here because her journey is too huge for a few sentences [as is Gabe's]—but she's a firecracker and a half and, alongside the luckiest unlucky creature in contemporary fantasy, Zet, are my two favorites. The greatest arc of all? Miranda. If ever a woman had more highs and lows, she must be formidable and I'm not brave enough to meet her. The only thing better than a good book is knowing that the story will continue, and as this is the first in The Otai Cycle series, we are promised more to come. Very highly recommended.