Dark, gritty and filled with relentless tension, The Last King of California is the rare book that violently assaults all five senses. You don’t just hold the book and read it. You hear, smell and taste it. A complete sensory experience you won’t soon forget. Providing another proof point that Jordan Harper is at the top of his game and one of the best authors in the business.
Luke Crosswhite comes to the realization that he’s not cut out for college and returns home, a place he has complicated feelings about. It’s the location of The Combine, a gang his father founded and manages from prison through Luke’s uncle on the outside. Luke tried to run away from The Combine, but as he reengages with the crew, he realizes this is his family and exactly where he needs to be. When another brutal gang demands they join up or be destroyed, Luke embraces his destiny and leads the fight to save The Combine and the people he cares about. Resulting in a violent encounter where everything and everyone could be destroyed. But there’s no stopping the inevitable. And Luke will fight to the end for his family. Blood is love.
This is a book you feel with your entire being. A barrage of body shots that leave you weak in the knees. No gimmicks, no major twists, just a straight descent into hell where hope and dreams go to die, and pain is all that’s left. It’s also a brilliant study in human behavior – how people evolve (or don’t) over time, how their sense of loyalty will drive their decision making even if it might be self-destructive, and how the environment you’re living in can significantly impact and drive your conduct. It also explores group versus self, asking great questions about the power of the collective versus the will of the individual.
And yes, there’s tons of violence. Guns, drugs, explosions, knives, fire, torture and death. Nothing and no one will be left unscathed. Leaving you sweaty and completely spent like you’ve just gone 12 rounds with a heavyweight boxer. Feeling the effects of this literary tour de force for days and weeks afterwards. Intriguing, contemplative and haunting. That’s the powerful gift The Last King of California will leave you with.
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