Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an advanced reader copy of this excellent graphic novel! I sadly misread the original email alerting me of it, and it got archived before I could get to it.

Thankfully, I was able to read it after its pub date through my local library and it was one of my favorite reads of last year. I've been a fan of dungeons and dragons being used as another medium to tell stories and to see more people of color in that area in this format was so heartwarming. Full of beautiful color palette's and an excellent story navigating friendships as they grow up, apart, and back together. Learning how to communicate above board and in the campaign, this is a novel I have on my wishlist now.

I can't wait for the next volume either, I need to see more Black college students in D&D

This would be a good read for late high school and older. This story fuses friendship and fantasy with a D & D session held by friends who are growing up and apart in a sense. I enjoyed the art and felt the message would be easily understood by a variety of readers. Even though the characters are finishing college, I actually feel like high schoolers would love this especially they grapple with post school plans and separation from their own friends.

"Have any of you played Dice & Deathtraps before?"

TLDR:
D&D is for The Gays, and the friends we made along the way.

So Wholesome, and made me nostalgic for my first campaign and the friends I made during it. As well as how tabletop RPGs as whole have helped me grow as person.

I had a fun time reading this graphic novel and really enjoyed the way we existed in two worlds throughout the story! The author illustrates this group of friends’ DnD campaign as if it was really happening, but provides the real life context for the complex and intertwined relationships between all of the characters. This book celebrates various gender identities and queer relationships while also highlighting all of the cool aspects of playing DnD. Would recommend this if you have an ongoing campaign with old friends, love fantasy adventures, or if you want to explore the complexities of friendships and friend group dynamics!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

A cute, fast story of friendship, life changes, and D&D!

The Last Session is a quick fun story about a group of friends in a D&D party about to graduate college. They are in the midst of finishing out an important campaign when a new player is added to the group.

This graphic novel is interesting because it focuses on an age group/life moment that doesn't often get the spotlight in books--and that is the awkward transitionary period between graduating college and joining the workforce. It was cool to see the different struggles all of these characters faced as they attempted to figure out their next steps. Rather than a typical coming-of-age story where the characters are figuring out who they are as people, these characters know more or less what they want, they just have to navigate the struggles of new adulthood. This on its own is an engaging read, but pairing it with a D&D campaign and addressing the difficulties of making new friends out of high school puts it even more over the top.

The characters are distinct and I love the representation (Cassandra is easily the best character, and she makes the best character as well! Kezz is a delight). The artwork is wonderful as well, it is consistently well done and the style fits the tone perfectly.

I do think the book moves kind of fast, especially in terms of conflict and resolution--it is a fairly short book. The consequence of this is a lot of said conflicts (though interesting) remain a bit surface level. I also think, given how immediately judgmental and exclusionary the group was, the eventual make-up scene felt lacking. But, I still like how the book addressed how cliquey and gatekeeper-y people can get and how sometimes people are just not at their best in the wake of these big life changes.

Overall, if you're a fan of D&D, friendships, lgbtqia+ characters, and fun artwork, then The Last Session will be an enjoyable read for sure!

Rating: 4.25

Themes:
LGBTQIA+ Characters
Dungeons and Dragons inspired
Friendship
Adventure

A high school game of Dice & Deathtraps, four years later about to be completed. The Last Session. After a failed high school club, Jay, Lana, Drew, Walter & Shen started their first DnD campaign - and four years later - are finally completing the original game. When a new player, Cass, joins the team, will they be able to complete their adventure without any casualties? Friendships and characters alike?

A DnD inspired graphic novel, full of adventure and queerness! I loved each character and how we delved into each of their stories and lives. I was frustrated at some points (poor Cass!) but the volume was resolved beautifully. I loved reading about the DnD campaign (I myself are an aspiring DnDer, but not a pro player) and the adventures the team went on.
The illustrations were beautiful. It was easy to follow the story and each character. I loved the character design and colouring within the story.
Definitely excited to read future volumes.

I an unable to review this title, as it was archived before I had a chance to download and read it. This feedback is only to stop this title from adversely affecting my netgalley feedback rate. If in the future I have the opportunity to read this title, I will post a proper review here.

A group of 20-something friends meets up to finally complete a DnD campaign they began in their high school GSA club.

Jay is nonbinary (they/them) and Latinx.
Lana is a fat, queer (unspecified), WOC.
Drew is a Black trans man.
Shen is an aspec WOC in a queer-platonic relationship with...
Walter, who is Asian, fat, and gay.

Cass, a Black (and queer?) woman, is Jay's partner and she's joining the adventurers for the first time. Though eager to fit in, Cass throws off the group's established dynamic and especially irks Lana, who is resistant to change in any form. It doesn't take long before the group's ill treatment of Cass ends up affecting both their gameplay and friendship. Can they work together to mend hurt feelings and defeat the evil villain?

I really liked this! Well-paced, richly diverse, and beautifully illustrated. Good balance between the real world and the in-game depictions. The conflict feels natural and resolves believably. I appreciated the flashbacks to better understand the group dynamics and individual characterization. The in-game storyline was interesting, too, and had fun dialogue.

TW: fatphobia, disordered eating, bullying

My copy of this title was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A group of people who played TTRPGs together in high school get together to play the final chapters of their campaign. I was hooked from the premise. Every character in this story was rich and three-dimensional, and they charmed me (warts and all). Even as they annoyed each other, I felt for them. Even the worst of their mistakes were comprehensible to me. And the art, switching back and forth between the characters in reality and them in the game, was so lovely, and very clear. I enjoyed every moment of this book, and can't wait for the next volume!

2.5/5 stars

I really loved this concept, but the story fell flat for me and I really didn’t enjoy the conflict. It felt very gatekeepery and I know the characters are high school age and everyone has to have a starting point to learn about not being a Toxic RPG environment, but it felt forced and toxic to me. The art style is amazing though and I did love the diversity of the cast of characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a free e-copy in exhange for an honest review!

I. Freaking. Loved. This.
I’m HOOKED! I’ve got into D&D a few years ago so this premise immediately drew me in. The characters all seem so loving and I loved how they all met in highschool at a club meeting that never even came to be and created their campaign from there. Seeing them all grown up and coming back to continue their game was so sweet. I was so invested when it said “to be continued” I immediately wanted to find the second installment and continue! Highly recommend!

I knew going into this that I would enjoy this graphic novel but I had such a great time reading it!

The cast of characters are so diverse (by this I mean in terms of ethnicity, body type, gender AND sexuality) which is so refreshing and makes for a much more interesting read.

The characters meet in high school through a gay straight alliance club and start playing D&D together. I loved seeing flashbacks to each of the characters when they first joined the game so we got to know each of them a bit better.

I wasn’t so keen on the drama that was taking place between the girlfriend of one of the characters and rest of the group. Although, I did like how it wrapped up and highlighted messages of friendship and creating safe, welcoming spaces for people. However, I thought the conflict felt a little childish.

My favourite element of the story was the game of D&D itself. The adventure was so much fun and I loved seeing each of the different characters the group had chosen and their powers. I loved that the characters within the game take on lives of their own. I personally really loved the character Kezz within the gameplay. I thought she was so much fun and so sweet.

It’s also important to mention that the art style is gorgeous. Everything about the graphic novel is so beautiful, from the characters in real life to their game play. The game especially was stunning. The various monsters and fantastical locations were incredible. I could spend all day looking through art of the world within the game.

All in all, I really enjoyed this graphic novel, it took me pleasantly by surprise and I would be eager to read more about these characters and their game.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was such a lovely story. Each chapter seemed to focus on a different person and how they met the rest of the group. This is a very inclusive story and covers the trials of friendship as they try to wrap up the final campaign they started, while working to include a newbie. Friendships will be tested. Secrets will come to light. A lovely young adult to new adult coming of age title. Highly recommend especially where RPGs are popular.

Just a whole heap of fun. You can tell the writers are players of TTRPG themselves and the story is better for it. Perfect for young adults and new adults. So glad I ordered before even knowing how good it was!

A group of friends start a Dungeons and Dragons campaign while in high school. Now, with everyone being almost done with college and departing on different paths, they get together for one last session. However, one of the members Jay brings in their girlfriend to join this last session, who is completely new to D&D. Will the group be able to cope with the new member, or will they crumble under their foes?

I felt this was a fun start to a graphic novel series! I personally really loved the art style, and when the story starts to lean more into the fantasy aspect, the designs were very well done! It really immersed me into the world that these characters were in.

When it came to the characters themselves, I felt that their introductions were very fast and I only remembered like one name as a result of it. The same thing applies for the fantasy counterparts. Introductions were beyond brief and they didn't use each other's names much in dialogue. I did like that some of their in person planning and comments leaked into their character, because that is the nature of the game.

I am not usually a fan of exclusionary parties, and I feel that this is what the story may become down the line. I might not continue the series, but I feel that if you're looking for some fun RPG inspired graphic novels, this would be a great start for you.

I received a copy of this story as an ARC from NetGalley. Any and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Last Session by Jasmine Walls is a sweet, straight-forward read about found-family and supporting friendships through the changes of life. The story was enjoyable, if a little mundane. But my biggest dislike came in the queer representation. I don't like the trend that seems to be filling up a lot of graphic novels today, where the queer family is very cis/straight passing. Those families are valid and deserve recognition, without doubt, but it would be nice to see more representation of queer couples who can't pass off their queerness and have to face a bit more public scrutiny.

'The Last Session Vol. 1: Roll for Initiative' by Jasmine Walls with illustrations by Dozerdraws is a graphic novel about a group of role-playing friends.

A group of friends starts a game of Dice and Deathtraps while they are in high school, but never complete the campaign. Now that their lives are moving apart, they decide to get together one more time to try to finish, but when one player brings a friend, there is tension.

This story made me want to hang around with the characters and play some games. They are interesting and the art is nice.

The art style is beautiful, the characters are diverse, and the story is relatable. I'm looking forward to Volume 2.

Thank you to Netgallet and the publisher for giving me this eARC to review.

I love DND and that is why I was drawn to this book. This book follows a group of friends who have played DND since they were 16 and they are coming up to their last few sessions with a new player. It shows how people need to adapt and bring people into their life even if it means changes. One of the characters isn't the nicest (for reasons) but I did end up liking all of the characters, especially Cass.

I can't wait to buy a physical copy of this because honestly, I loved it so much. Great art, great lettering and a great adventure/also slice of life (in a way) story.