The Last Musketeer Review for Christian Parents

Name: The Last Musketeer
Author: Stuart Gibbs

Concern LevelMedium

Concerning & Potentially Concerning Content

There was one item that brought us close to making this a “yellow”/Prayerfully Consider. Nearly all of this story is placed as you would expect, back 400+ years ago in France. But the way the author gets them there involves a bad guy who attains an ancient relic that is rumored to give the possessor strange abilities. Unfortunately, this relic is named “the devil stone” and it ends up giving the villain “eternal life”, which the story confirms as true. This is certainly a major outlier from the rest of the story. We should also mention that while this is set in a simpler time, much of it comes across as more of a modern view into that simpler time than a book completely set back then (the main character, who comes across as a typical modern worldly boy time travels back and we see the story through his eyes). There are a few times where the modern worldview looks down on this simpler time as well. The main character is, as we see often today, not a great example for your kids. He mentions having “to survive without the internet or cell phones”. This is made worse by him saying that he never goes 5 minutes without checking his phone. He mentions never going to bed before midnight. This is all shown in a “normal” light and never as potentially negative. He is also not very kind. The book launches with him not being nice or respectful to his parents. He calls his grandpa’s journal a “mind-numbing piece of garbage”. He calls one of the characters he meets a “good liar”. One of the musketeers, who does grow quite a bit in the story, is at first seen at a party. He is with two women who are referred to as his girlfriends and he puts his arm around their waists when walking. There are a couple comments that readers of this author will not be surprised by concerning the environment. While Christians need to be first in line for protecting the creation God has entrusted us with, there are a couple of oversimplified “shots”, such as “before people paved and polluted” the world. The terms “godforsaken”, holy cow and idiot are used. A villain is called satanic. There are threats to “slit your throat” and “hack you to pieces”. A plan is referred to as a “suicide mission”. A couple of comments are made about “the French”.

VerdictRecommended

Our Thoughts

For those of you who are familiar with this author, this one certainly has less concerning content than his typical book. A book written and set in a simpler time brings a book that is more moral and fitting to that timeframe. Interesting. The author’s research really shines through on this one as the young reader is brought to the France of 400 years ago with a surprising level of detail and insight for such a short book. Add a bit of time travel and you have the ingredients for an enjoyable story. Probably the best positive thing is that your young reader will get a really neat view into a lot of very tangible ways that our world has changed over the centuries. There are a few positives some parents will like. Some of the book takes place in churches/cathedrals. One of the main characters is actually a part of the church. There is not much focus on God as a part of the dialogue though, with the biggest exception being a remark to the main character that “to free your parents you are going to need… the grace of God”. This particular title is one you will want to make sure you are comfortable with the main concern above on, but is one most will likely green-light. If you do decide to let them read this one, your child is almost certainly going to be left wanting to read the original classic… when you decide they are ready for it, of course.

Plot SummaryNote: This information is typically from the publisher.Use with caution

The first book in the thrilling time travel adventure trilogy from New York Times bestselling Spy School author Stuart Gibbs! Before they were legends, they were friends. All for one and one for all! On a family trip to Paris, Greg Rich's parents disappear. They're not just missing from the city—they're missing from the century. So, Greg does what any other fourteen-year-old would do: He travels through time to rescue them. Greg soon finds out that his family history is tied to the legendary Three Musketeers. But when he meets them, they're his age, and they'll only live long enough to become true heroes if he can save them. To rescue his parents, Greg must assume the identity of a young Musketeer in training and unite Athos, Porthos, and Aramis—but a powerful enemy is doing everything possible to stop him.

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