Oasis (The Last Humans Book 1)

I've enjoyed reading several Dima Zales books. His books are fast-moving and thought-provoking. He's a good story-teller and excels in world-building. His stories tend to feel a bit like a roller-coaster ride, with a very short prelude before characters are thrust immediately into dire situations. I don't find his characters as fleshed out as I would like, but his stories are very entertaining.

As a little background, the story is meant to take place after the rest of the world's end. Oasis is the last livable place on Earth and is protected from the Goo that has destroyed the rest of the planet. Oasis is meant to be a utopian civilization, free of any violence, mental illness, and any real knowledge of Earth before the Goo.

The plot is great and the author throws in an interesting twist to the idea of a post-apocalyptic world. The book has a lot of suspenseful moments, keeping me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. At many points, it was hard to put the book down!

However--and this is my reasoning for only three stars--it starts off relatively slowly with a lot of dialogue in order to explain the setting. I got the sense right away that the book was geared toward young adults because of the simple language and the technique of "telling" the story rather than "showing" the story. At some point the author decided to throw in some flowery vocabulary, that ended up becoming quickly overused throughout the next several chapters. Every once in a while the story gets clogged up with chunky sections of dialogue that aren't entirely necessary.

As I stated previously, it is a great story, the characters are believable, and the author does well to keep the reader's attention from chapter to chapter. If you're not easily hung up on writing style or choice of vocabulary and language, you'll probably love this book if you enjoy sci-fi / post-apocalyptic themes.

Disclaimer: I received this product for free in return for an honest unbiased review.

This story is so derivative of other sci-fi stories, that I was very disappointed. The endless VR/game but was done SO much better in "Ender's Game". The big ending...also been done before, much better. I felt I had read it before all through the story, and I have serious memory problems.

Any who thinks this is original hasn't been reading much Sci Fi.

Wow what a ride. So much misdirection. Even when you can guess what's real and what isn't, in a Total Recall sense, there's no telling what will actually happen next till it does. Beyond determining what's real, figuring out who's good vs evil is also a blast. Should one really trust a voice in one's head? :D

Gripped me from the start, some nice twists. Very interesting development with the main character starting out seeming to be crazy but realizing he's not.

I'm hoping that the author manages to finish this series (unlike Sorcery Code and Mind Dimensions which both seemed to stop inexplicably).

I found this story fairly entertaining if a bit predictable. I was pleased to have noticed no glaring typos, grammar errors or word misuse which is the reason for the 4 stars. It isn't my type of story. Frankly, I doubt that I will read subsequent books from this author.

Theo thinks he is going crazy. He has conversations with a voice in his head that is very much a female voice. His friend Mason disappears and nobody even remembers a person named Mason.
Then the adventure begins

Dima Zales and Anna Zaires are amazing sci/fantasy & erotica writers. Dima is more sci/fy(The Krinar Chronicles, my fav). The Last Humans is his latest. And, it's amazing. Anna, collaborated on The Krinar Chronicles but her erotica proves it in her "Capture Me" series. Haven't read it all, but my sexual preference might have something to do with that...hint, hint! I wish I had the money to help produce their work into a series. Where's HBO or Showtime? Are they blind? Nothing I've read so far disappoints. Bravo, Dima & Anna. You deserve notoriety, internationally. Ty

Gripped me from the start, some nice twists. Very interesting development with the main character starting out seeming to be crazy but realizing he's not.

I'm hoping that the author manages to finish this series (unlike Sorcery Code and Mind Dimensions which both seemed to stop inexplicably).

I found this story fairly entertaining if a bit predictable. I was pleased to have noticed no glaring typos, grammar errors or word misuse which is the reason for the 4 stars. It isn't my type of story. Frankly, I doubt that I will read subsequent books from this author.

Theo thinks he is going crazy. He has conversations with a voice in his head that is very much a female voice. His friend Mason disappears and nobody even remembers a person named Mason.
Then the adventure begins

Dima Zales and Anna Zaires are amazing sci/fantasy & erotica writers. Dima is more sci/fy(The Krinar Chronicles, my fav). The Last Humans is his latest. And, it's amazing. Anna, collaborated on The Krinar Chronicles but her erotica proves it in her "Capture Me" series. Haven't read it all, but my sexual preference might have something to do with that...hint, hint! I wish I had the money to help produce their work into a series. Where's HBO or Showtime? Are they blind? Nothing I've read so far disappoints. Bravo, Dima & Anna. You deserve notoriety, internationally. Ty

After reading The Mind Dimension series, I thought that nothing could beat that. I wanted another Mind Dimension book, but this came out. I must say that I am once more very impressed and glad for another great book written by Dima Zales. Another 5 star book. Thanks Dima!

The concept intrigued me but it was definitely not enough to get me to finish this book (I really tried!). I think the biggest problem I had were that the characters were over the top childish, gullible and naive. Overall a very dull and boring read.

I honestly really liked this book. It will probably go on my top books of 2015 list, and would definitely be a force to recon with if I read it after January first. To be honest, I’m not even sure where to start. Probably the first thing that leapt out at me, is his, mm, “imaginary-friend.”
Throughout the book, he has conversations with himself; at least, that’s what he’s been believing for quite a bit. This is interesting in the light of: A, it shows that he may be insane,--something that does not often happen with the main character especially in the first chapter of the book-- and B, this is kept up throughout the book. Instead of having a companion or lackey, we have someone who has mental conversations with him, allowing him to work things out as he goes without the knowledge of those around him. Another interesting thing about it is the setting. He finds himself on a devastated Earth; a planet that has been destroyed by a gary-goo-esque apocalypse--something where someone has created self-replicating nanobots that consume all in their path simply to make more of themselves. I can figure this hasn’t been used previously, because it wouldn’t be much of a story; simply a bunch of miniature robots sitting there, doing pretty much nothing. This Oasis has survived because of a barrier of sorts that keeps the nano-bots at bay. It is not simply the setup alone that has me loving this book, though.
The other thing that has me praising this book as possibly the best sci-fi book to be written this year, regardless of its short length, is the shear amount of twists. As a rough estimate, there was at least three plot changing occurrences that truly made sense, and actually progressed the plot. It was not a simple twist to be thrown at you as a, “Aha! I tricked you, and accomplished the practically obligated twist!” twist. No, these are twists used correctly to tie up loose ends, and be a logical conclusion. I suppose I should actually show how these apply to the characters though
The characters, even though there are very few relevant ones, are interesting enough. I will say that dima knows how to convey proper emotion. He understands how your typical non-superhero human will react to life threatening situation, not simply shrugging off gunshot after gunshot. He feels pain, which leads to a story which you can actually imagine yourself being in, an thus connecting to the character. I do have one problem in this area though: due to the nature of the first-person point of view utilized in this book, it leads to somewhat poor character development. The only two characters that you get to know, are Theo and his imaginary friend. This leads to many characters being present and important to the plot in one way or another, but never being truly fleshed out. I find the damage of this one small mistake can be easily overlooked when compared to the rest of the book though.
In final analysis of this book, I would say, even though it’s short, it is still absolutely marvelous. the few characters it does flesh out, feel lifelike and real, while the plot and sci-fi element truly make this a unique book. It takes the technology we will have in the not-so-distant future, takes it, and runs for the gold, using these elements not gimmicks, but as material to make it stand above and beyond its competition. I would give it a ten out of ten, with a must read recommendation.
I was happy to receive an advance copy of this book for my review.

Dima Zales has created wonderful futuristic so called utopia that is filled with a thrilling mystery that keeps you turning the pages. The story is so original and the ending is so surprising. I was drawn in from the first page where our main character, Theo, is chatting to a imaginary friend, or is it. The story has some twists and turns as you venture into this world where the classes are separated by age and the last remaining survivors are suppose to be living in an Utopian existence called Oasis. Then as with all things usually, it may not be what it seems. Theo has to face his fears and on top of that he has to figure out his world, life, and his beliefs, while wondering if he is just losing his mind. It was a great read and so entertaining. The story moves very well and does not have any parts that feel too drawn out. The mystery of it all keeps you on your toes as you try to puzzle everything out right along with Theo and his imaginary friend. This is going to be an exciting new series and am looking forward to what is in store for our Theo and Oasis.
The story is not a hard read and would be appropriate for young adults, but not too young as there is some violence, while still great for adults too. It is written in the first person narration from the main character. There are many new concepts in technology in this future that is very interesting and amazing to think about.
**I received this book for free or deeply discounted for a honest, unbiased review. My opinions are my own and you can trust if I find fault in a book I will say so in my review.**

Oasis will most likely be my favourite book this year!

When I first started this book, I was a bit iffy about it. I wasn't sure if I was going to like the main character, especially if he was in fact crazy. But after a few chapters I was absolutely amazing by the book and I could not put it down. It's action packed, mysterious and you just can't help but fall in love with it.

Theo thinks he's going crazy because he can hear a voice inside his head. The voice known as Phoe, can't possibly be an imaginary friend, Phoe knows things, like where his friends are at all times, and information he can't possibly make up on his own. When Theo's friend Mason disappears after confessing his love for a girl (which is strictly not allowed in society), Theo happens to be the only one to remember that Mason even existed. Theo and Phoe have to find out what happened to Mason, why only they can remember who he is, and who Phoe really is.

At first this book really reminded me of Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi, especially with them being trapped in a dome, if you go outside you die type of thing. Then it sort of turns into a Giver type of situation with the Elders and only one person being able to remember.

Even though this book resembled a few other books, it was still very original. I haven't read a book that had a virtual reality/video game twist to it, so that was very new and exciting to read about. I know it sounds weird, but it will all make sense in the end.

The character of this book are fantastic, at first you're not sure about Theo but you end up loving him in the end. He's very relatable, especially to someone with fears. A huge aspect of his character is trying to get over the fear of heights and the author nailed that perfectly! We also get to meet Theo's two friends Liam and Mason. They are both funny characters, and I wish we got to see more of them in the book. As for Phoe, I found her to be a bit confusing at times, but in the end, I absolutely loved her character, especially her intelligence.

The plot line of this book was excellent. There's tons of action to keep you interested in the book, with lots of mystery and twists. I can guarantee you that you will be surprised at one point or another, and the ending will be totally different than what you predicted.

Overall, I'm in love with this book. Everything about is absolutely fantastic from the characters to the writing. If I could change one thing about this book, it would be the ending. I felt like it kind of ended in a bit of a hurry, and I would have liked some more information before it ended, but this is also a great way to get you hyped for the next book. I definitely recommend this book to all dystopian fans, especially fans of The Giver, Hunger Games, and Under the Never Sky. I can't wait to continue this series, and read more from this author.

Happy Reading,
- Aneta

I must admit, I had low expectations when I began reading Oasis by Dima Zales. It turned out to be a very interesting novel. Part Isaac Asimov, part Aldous Huxley, this novel will keep you entertained and wanting more. While it doesn’t quite reach the pedigree of the two authors’ work listed above, the book picks up fairly quickly and doesn’t slow down. By chapter four, I was hooked and immediately jumped into the second book, Limbo, to see what would happen next.

Don’t worry, no spoilers will be given in this review.

The story opens in a typical dystopia. The main character, Theo, lives in the city of Oasis - The only remaining city on the planet. Here, everything is controlled and everyone is “normal” except for Theo. He hears a voice in his head. This voice might be him going crazy, or a friend who has somehow gotten into the wiring in his brain. Should he trust it or not, and more importantly, what would happen if anyone found out?

Needless to say, the first several chapters are learning the characters and the rules of Oasis. But a few chapters in, something goes wrong and a chain of events that can’t be stopped, begins to unfold at a relentless pace. This book is a page turner and by the end, you’ll be wanting to know what happens next. Expect my reviews of the next two novels as I complete them as well, for I will certainly be reading them!

The only problems I had with story were the author’s writing style and how familiar it felt. Dima Zales writes the story in a first-person perspective and the main character is very casual in his speech. It was hard for me to get into the story at first because I had to adjust to what felt like juvenile writing. The other drawback I mentioned was the familiarity of it. I knew what one of the big plot reveals was within the first couple chapters. There were many occasions where I thought “This scene is a lot like <insert other dystopian novel here.>” Some will see this as a bad thing while others will see it as a nice homage to works from other authors. For me, it was a drawback because, like I said, I knew some of the plot twists based on experience from other, similar stories.
Regardless of these two minor complaints, I highly recommend giving this book a try if you enjoyed novels like The Giver, Ender’s Game, City of Ember, Brave New World, and other dystopian stories.

I received The Last Humans Trilogy free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this book because the author's writing style is extremely easy to read. The book may start off a little bit different, but it only takes a short while to become immersed in this world the book creates. There is great imagery in the writing, and the whole story flows very well. If you like Dystopian fiction like Hunger Games, Divergent, or Maze Runner, you will enjoy this book a lot!

Yes, this book starts with some language, and it does continue throughout the book, but I really agree with the author that it is somewhat relevant to the storyline. There was some violence in the form of getaway chases, stun sticks, and death, and the sexual content was limited to two or three kisses throughout the book.

There were a handful of surprising plot twists in this story that were perfectly placed, and I really didn't see any of them coming! I can usually tell when something is about to happen in many of the other books that I have read, but I was captivated by this story and couldn't put it down. I finished it in just over one day. I hope this book will become a series because I look forward to seeing what happens to the characters next. I had not heard of this author before I read this book, but I am already looking into other books written by this author.

I did receive a free copy of this book to review, but I assure you, the opinions are all my own, honest views.

This is a great book that keeps you interested and it's hard to predict the end unlike some books. Once I started reading it I just couldn't put it down. Well I mean I could have but then I wouldn't have been able to think about anything but what comes next. There is some language that you might not like if you are easily offended. I love futuristic sci-fi books and this has great characters and a great plot. I really liked Theo as a character and how at 23 he's treated and considered a teenager until age 40 when he is considered an adult. I love his relationship with Phoe his "imaginary friend". She opens his mind up It's great to imagine what the world could be like in the future. If your looking for a well written book with lots of twists and turns and adventure you should definitely read this. I'm excited for the next book to come out but I think I will be waiting awhile because this one is still only available for pre-order. "I received this book as an advance copy for free or discounted in exchange for an honest and unbiased review."

Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic Novels are among some of my favorite genres of books to read, especially if it is in line with Hunger Games, Divergent, Maze Runner, and the like, so I was interested in finding out if this story would turn out to be just as entertaining.

It is written in first-person from the main character’s point of view. There is a warning: “Note: This book contains some strong language. We felt it was important for the censorship theme of the novel. If such words offend you, you might not enjoy this book.” However, I didn’t receive that notice until after I started reading. Imagine my surprise when the very first line, just three words – all “forbidden words” as the character describes them – were all curse words. As such, though this book is categorized in the Teen/Young Adult section, parents of teens who are interested in reading this should be under advisement.

I’ll try not to go too much into detail about what actually happens in the book as not to spoil it from anyone. This will be more of an round-about abstract opinion on the book.

The story starts off with Theo talking to what he believes is his imaginary friend, Phoe (pronounced Fee). In this Oasis, the last habitable place on Earth, they are under a dome that acts as a barrier, shielding them from the wasteland of “goo”. The society that he lives in, it is separated into Youths, Adults, and Elderly – they are literally separated from each other and the only Adults that the Youths see are instructors and guards. Youths ages go up to 39 and Theo is right there at that age.

In addition, similar to The Giver (at least the movie, as I never read the book), this society is free from certain things like love, marriage, romance, and death, and they have words and emotions that are forbidden to them, where consequences of doing anything taboo results in them being sent to Quietude, which is like a higher level detention.

A couple of events happen that triggers him to ask Phoe to do something and then that also triggers more events to happen that leads to the world as he knew it being changed and smoke and mirrors start to fall away.

The beginning of the book is slow and I struggled to stick with it, but did anyway and it gradually got better and more interesting and weirder as it progressed.

In the end, I liked this book, and thought it was a good read, there were twists here and there and it kind of makes you think of reality or what we perceive as reality. Though, I didn’t think it as good as Hunger Games, or Divergent, it had its own uniqueness and I’d recommend it. An advanced copy of this book was given to me complimentary in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

The Last Humans Trilogy Review

Book 1 is Oasis, Book 2 is Limbo, and Book 2 is Haven

These three books contain a real edge of your seat story that will keep you reading late into the night.

It starts out in a post-apocalyptic world where cursing, violence, and mental illness are no more. It seems like a Utopian society, but all is not as it seems. The main character is Theo, a youth, who has an “imaginary friend” named Phoe, or a delusion, he isn't sure. When Phoe knows things that it would be possible for him to know, he realizes she is neither imaginary or a delusion.

The action moves quickly from here with many plot twists and turns. Theo and Phoe help each other discover the darker side of this society. Theo faces grueling tests to help Phoe recapture what she had lost. Phoe helps Theo with all aspects of his life. Together they have an amazing adventure.

I will tell you that you should get all three books at once, because the story moves seamlessly from one book to the next, and you will want to know what happens. I didn't stop reading until my tablet had to be re-charged.

a spectacular book! Once I began reading I couldn't put my iPad down! This book is post-apocalyptic. Most of what we know as "life" is gone. Our customs and ways of living changed. For the betterment of man-kind. People no longer fall in love, get married, and reproduce the way we do today. People are segregated by age, and do not die. This story is about Theodore, a young 22 year old man in the place called Oasis. It follows his journey of self-discovery. So well written, an enchanting story about what our world could be like following the apocalypse. Violence is no more, crime, vulgarity, and mental illness. So when Theo begins hearing a voice, who requests he call her "Pheo" (pronounced FEE) he begins to question everything he has ever known. What he and Pheo together discover and experience is nothing short of incredible. This story will take you to a new world, and have you cheering for Theo and Pheo on the edge of your seat! I received an advanced copy of this book for review from Tomoson, I was not compensated, all opinions are my own.

One of the best post-apocalyptic novels I have read, I give Oasis, The Last Humans book 1 Five stars! I cannot wait for the next book in the series, and am going to read much more of Author Dima Zales' work!

I received the trilogy in ebooks of this great sci-fi series, starting with Oasis going to Limbo then Haven. There is some strong language starting off right in the beginning of the book, but as you read you see why... it's actually forbidden by rules present in this portrayal of earth far in the future after the ancient earth was becoming destroyed by advancing technology. The plot twists pretty regularly so just when you think you've figured something out you realize you don't know for sure what is going to happen next and nothing is really as it seems. The superb writing reels you in and I found myself having a hard time putting the books down. Just needing to know what was going to happen. You learn about quietude and what sends you there, your woven into dramatic situations among friends? Or perhaps could they be foes? Real, imaginary or both? I like that it keeps you guessing and as a reviewer I don't like to give away too much of a great story. I recommend this series if you like a great fantasy read that is well developed. You won't be disappointed.

*I received this series for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. *

Interesting sci-fi book with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing; it was nice the story line was not predictable. Just when you think you have a pretty good idea of what is going on, surprise, you don't. The main character is Theo, one of the last inhabitants on Earth. You are given glimpses into the area the people live but not quite enough so that you continue to want to know more. Theo is hearing a voice in his head and starts doing things she is telling him to do and she also has ways to help him. She knows things an imaginary friend would not know and can do things an imaginary friend should not be able to do, making you want to know more--is it a real person--is it his imagination--what is the source of Phoe? There is some strong language used, but honestly, not worse than middle schoolers and high schoolers hear on the school bus now days. That said, maybe the first words of the book could have been delayed, even by a sentence, and started a bit differently. It is an interesting read for all ages, but due to the language I would suggest more around junior high school age and up. It will be interesting to see where this series goes from here.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you enjoy apocalyptic type books, you are going to LOVE this one. It creatively mixes current technology and theories into a fantastic work of fiction. The ideas were unique and it definitely keeps you guessing. It has a believable concept and flows very nicely. Once I received this book I couldn't put it down and finished it as soon as my tired brain would let me... you know, because you slow down a bit by 2am :). It is a seriously good read and I am hoping to read the sequel asap. I would love to see this made into a movie. This book would be good for adults or teens and would definitely be a good fit for you if you enjoyed concepts such as the Divergent series, Enders Game, the Terminators and others. I really enjoyed how it incorporates theories and technologies such as the Singularity and nanotechnology. It made the book a much more realistic concept. I would definitely recommend this book to others and can't wait to read the next one! I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and are in no way influenced by the fact that I received this for review.

A good youth book, following much of the current literature appealing to that age group. Good story movement through the book, it does keep interest. The book takes plot lines and themes from a variety of popular and classic books and twists them together. Could be a nice introduction for hooking younger, tech oriented readers.
Author does an average job of imagery in portraying action scenes and of 1st person prose. I never felt that I was actually in the thought processes of the agonist. It lacks enough character development for me to consider following future adventures they may have.
The book has possible conversation points, but remains a grocery store paperback novel as it echos an overdone genre.

I received a copy of this book at a discounted price in return for my honest and unbiased review

The book is creative, pretty well paced, the characters keep you engaged and wanting to read more. One of the first science fiction/post apocalyptic novels I’ve read in a while. The two main characters are Theo and Phoe- the voice in Theo’s head. I don’t want to give too much away because there are a lot of twists and turns but if you are a fan of The Hunger Games or the Divergent series or just looking for a fun read, I can see this being a good one for you. There are so many comments I want to make and predictions- but I’ll hold off until I completely finish the book.

There is some vulgar language in the book but once you get past that, you are hooked. I’m really looking forward to finishing this book up and reading the rest of the books in the series. I’m going to have to add these two authors to my list of authors to check out further.

*Disclaimer: I received this item for free or at a discount in exchange for a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed above are my own regardless of how the item was acquired..**

I received an advanced copy of this book in order to provide a review before its release date. I was immediately hooked after just a few chapters into this novel. If you like Sci-Fi and action pact movies or books, you will more than likely love this one! It is full of excitement and surely makes you want to read the rest of the series.

I appreciated the imagery created with the way this book was written. I am a very visual person, so being able to form a clear picture in my mind of what the author's are trying to convey is very important to me. I cannot enjoy a book without being able to visualize the story well. There are several plot twists in this book that readers of all genres will enjoy.

I hope to get the opportunity to read the other books from this story line. I can see this being the type of novel that gets turned in a movie version. I feel it would do very well both on screen and in hand! * I received this item for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion *

I received a free copy in advance in exchange for my honest review.

I have to say that if you are a Sci-fi lover this will definitely be a winner. How do you know if you are really living or part of a fantasy? Are you experiencing life or someone's idea of what real life should be? Are you sure you aren't being censored in both your thoughts and activities?

Although there is a small amount of violent acts and "colorful" words, it is nothing more than I believe you would hear in most middle or junior high schools, so it is safe for YA readers. Once you get into the "meat" of the story I didn't want to put it down until I had finished it.

I really did enjoy the premise of the story, and believe it will make for a great series. Personally I can't wait for book 2.

If you would like to read my complete review, you can read it on my blog here ... http://katsdailyinspiration.blogspot.com/2015/12/oasis-last-humans-book-1.html

I recently finished reading the eBook, Limbo, by Dima Zales. This is the 2nd book in the series, and I just finished reading both the first and the second book in two days.

I loved how the author wrote each character. The main characters Theo, and Phoe have so much adventure and they grow to understand and love to each other. By the end of the first two chapters, I was in love with the story and the characters, especially the love of Theo and Phoe.

I can not wait to read the next installment of this series.

This of the YA genre, but was still a really good read.

Full Disclosure: I received this product for free or at a discounted price for my honest opinion. I am not under any obligation to provide a positive or 5 star review. This is my honest opinion.

I received this book for free to review. Warning there is gonna be done spoilers in this review.

There is some strong language in the book and it starts with that. (The reason for 4 star instead of 5). This for me was a turn off at first and I wasn't sure I wanted to continue reading however I wanted to be ale to give a fair and accurate review so I continued reading.

I am not usually a big Sci Fi fan especially in books but I really enjoyed this book. I didn't want to put the book down one I got past the bad language. It is very well written and keeps you wanting to know what's going to happen next and to find out who "Phoe" is. Also, when the main character is in the game you forget he's in the game and think everything happening is real and that he destroyed all of The Oasis.

I highly recommend this book if you like Sci Fi or mysteries.