Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Synopsis
A battle-worn corporate samurai undertakes one last mission on a merciless planet where death is always a mere breath away, in this standalone dystopian epic from the author of the modern fantasy classic Jade City. LIVE BY THE CODE. DIE BY THE KNIFE. Isako is a legendary swordswoman, but every legend must come to an end. When her long-time client unexpectedly retires, she plans to follow—to walk out into the frozen wasteland of their planet with her head held high and her family enriched by her death. But when she's offered a final mission, she can't refuse, especially when she realizes who lies at the center of it all: Martim, her last—and worst—apprentice, who's somehow made his way to the top. As she's thrust into a world of corporate espionage and shadowy secrets, what she uncovers could forever change humanity's existence among the stars. The Last Contract of Isako is epic science fiction like only Fonda Lee can write it—set in a world where money trumps loyalty, the elite have the power to extend life or end it, and one woman in the twilight of her calling must decide what's ultimately worth living—or dying—for.
Tags
The Last Contract of Isako: content & age rating
Intended for adult readers (18+).
This adult sci-fi novel contains significant violence involving a professional swordswoman and assassin, themes of suicide as cultural practice, corporate exploitation, and morally complex characters navigating a brutal dystopian society.
What to know going in
This book has strong violence, no sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include suicide, death, and violence (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Adult readers will be drawn to the legendary warrior's final mission and the exploration of loyalty, honor, and survival in a merciless corporate-controlled world.