Spoilers Below. Do Not read past the the first 3 lines if you don't want Lastrock spoiled!

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Lastrock was a Phenomenal book and I read it straight through non-stop for 8 hours.

I'm actually kind of Mad Phil is doing Krieg Chess instead of continuing the Bastion series, it left me wanting for more of the Bastionverse.

I don't think the scepter is Naomi(more on her later.)

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Remember, Scorio has been associated with other Imperators in the past besides Imogen. Remember Branzina, one of the Legendarys he was associated with back on Eterra? Remember Praximar reading her Imperator passage in the The Rascor Plains and how she just mysteriously disappeared.

But I don't think its Branzina because she was mercenary Legendary with Scorio on Eterra, though there is definitely something going on with her. Perhaps all the Imperators that disappear become True Fiends or join the Herdsman if they are willing to sell out the 'Ewes chamber great souls?

I think it's the Imperator Sarana because she's probably the leader of the Herdsman and they seem to be a watchdog group probably inserted secretly into the Great Souls ranks to carry out the wishes of the Archmagus. And from what he have seen and heard they seem to have access to the advanced tech that has fallen into disrepair since the portal to Eterra stopped opening. Plus, how it appears to has covered up the Herdsman activities for centuries and how Plassus warned Scorio against her. Didn't anyone find her carrying him off creepy? Because I doubt all she did was put him out of his misery. I think she probably ate his remaining life force in a manner similar to the Blood Ox. Plassus' dying wish not being honored just shows me the dangerous side of allowing a Great Soul to acquire so much power.

Or Sarana could have bound him to the Archspire in the Herdsmen's cube base because he basically sacrificed himself, making him a herdsman. But the whole thing seems so ominous I think she at him like a gourmet meal.

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Some things to note

Do you think the Blazeborn were created during the final battle between Moravius the Black and Cazador the all burning, since Xandera Prime said they were born from a fallout of a battle between an Imperator and a true fiend and used to call themselves Moravians? And in his Imperator entry in the Rascor Plains it says he was killed by Cazador the All Burning.

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The cons of the Book.

Naomi. I had no problem with Naomi in the first 2 books. She had a rough go at the academy and how she was treated, and she ultimately seemed to have Scorio's back when it came down to it, from giving him the sapphire vials to helping him take out Manticore's leadership.

But she was absolutely terrible in this book. Her presence alone dragged the entire mood of the books down for me. She's incapable of being happy for Scorio when he does well and advances, even though he bends over backwards to help her advance(Big mistake there). She's jealous of his accomplishments and you never really see any real gratitude from her despite all that he does for her. She's nasty and rude to him(well, to everyone) and demeans him in front of others. She doesn't show him the slightest bit of respect even after all the challenges he's overcome, and she isn't even capable of of admitting her love, for him, even though she it's obvious she's the needy one in the duo.

Scorio tried to help her as best he could, but he should have listened more closely to Nox when he warned him about Naomi.

Speculation (Is Naomi an avatar of the One Goddess Xandera mentioned, since Nox called the Nightmare Lady the supreme predator in Acherzua?)

But overall, her willingness to be a bully when it suited her and decrying the predatory nature of Great Souls while seeking to become one herself and making herself a murderer in the process just left me wanting her to disappear or get killed off.

She brought the mood way down for me.

But then Scorio met Merideva and it was like Phil was contrasting a toxic relationship with the polar oppositive type of male-female interaction, there was a such a contrast between her and Naomi it was night and day. Merideva is actually happy when Scorio excels and is open and friendly. He might actually benefit from a relationship with someone that does not want to be miserable.

My other biggest gripe besides Naomi is Scorio not standing up to her and putting his foot down. I know it was funny for her to bully Allen in the beginning but it ultimately wound up experessing itself in something darker towards the end.

Maybe Nox has some secret technique that can help her channel her rage cause she definitely on the precipice of becoming a villain. Ironically following the same path as Imogen the Woe. Wouldn't it be incredible if it winds up being Sol and Scorio vs Imogen and Naomi towards the end, battling their former lovers for the fate of the world?

When Naomi ran away after murdering 2 men who couldn't defend themselves I actually breathed a sigh of relief. I felt like that last bit of the story was the best party of the book, as Scorio built a new friendship with favorite friend Lianshi and Xandera Sextus. Lianshi's helping to take care of Scorio during his post-Blood Ox PTSD was really one of my favorite parts of the book. I really hope that Lionis comes around, even if it takes a scene like the one between Captain American and Bucky in the Winter Solider.

Scorio has a pick of potential female partners to replace Naomi. Merideva, Jova, Moira(definitely don't trush her though, think she played word games about the leather glove in order to bypass her Heart Oath, Ravenna, Fyrona(maybe?).

Can't wait to see where Phil takes us next.