The Last Hour of Gann Book Review - No Spoilers
Introduction
Last week, Marcus dragged me out on a hike in Colorado Springs during a rare break in the spring snow. We climbed until the wind whipped our faces and the clouds grayed overhead. I told him mid-hike that I needed a book that would drown out my brain after the day he threw half his snack in his backpack instead of in his mouth. That craving for escape is exactly how I reached for The Last Hour of Gann. After trudging up those icy slopes, I wanted a story that demanded I keep turning pages, even if it made me feel a little shaken.
Plot Summary
The Last Hour of Gann by R. Lee Smith follows Amber Bierce, a woman leaving behind a grim life on Earth. She and her younger sister, Nicci, take tickets aboard the first human colony-ship, hoping for a better future. But when their ship crashes on an alien world, only a handful of survivors remain. Among them is Uyane Meoraq, a lizard-like warrior and priest in his society. He meets Amber during her group’s struggle to survive. Meoraq is already bound by tradition, faith, and destiny—and his world is not built for accommodating “soft-skins.” Amber and Meoraq’s journey weaves through cultural clashes, religious belief, and dire survival. As they travel toward a sacred temple, their bond deepens, even while threats, betrayal, and moral dilemmas test them at every turn. The book is standalone (though Smith writes other works in sci-fi romance) and contains no direct sequel dependencies.
Why I Love This Book
I love how fiercely the book pushes me into moral gray areas. Amber isn’t perfect, and Meoraq is far from a typical hero—but that makes their bond all the stronger. The way their relationship grows is slow, often tentative, but real. I felt the tension in every exchange: his faith colliding with her doubts, cultural divides, and her fear that she’ll never fully belong. The world building grips me. I often picture the ruins, the storms, the wet ground, and the temple’s looming silhouette. There’s a weight to the setting that grounds the romance in peril. I also appreciate that the author doesn’t shy away from dark themes. Yes, it’s brutal in parts—but I never felt the violence was gratuitous. It always serves character or plot. The emotional impact lingers. Days after finishing it, I kept replaying scenes in my head. That’s the kind of book that haunts me in quiet moments.
Who Will Like This Book
If you enjoy dark science fiction romance with epic scope, moral complexity, and slow-burn relationships, this one is for you. If you don’t shy away from painful scenes or controversial content, you’ll find depth and rawness here. But this is not a light or cozy read.
⚠️ Trigger warning: This book contains graphic violence, sexual assault, child death, and non-consensual scenes. It is not suitable for all readers. Please check content warnings before diving in.
Tagged As
dark romance, science fiction romance, aliens, dystopian, epic love, survival, religious elements, slow burn, forbidden romance, standalone, morally complex, morally gray characters, dual pov, explicit romance, emotional, mature themes
Steam Level
The sensual tension grows slowly, but there are explicit sex scenes and non-consensual content. The focus, though, is often on emotional connection and character struggle, not purely erotic spectacle.
