I had to FORCE myself through this messy, juvenile, choppy writing to get to an unnecessary and confusing cliffhanger. I completely understand the low rating on Goodreads and I wish I had DNFd this like most people did. Zero interest in the sequel. Time and money should have been spent in fixing this convoluted mess of a book into a stand-alone.
It is a shame though because once we get the full explanation at the end (which by the way was in the most ridiculous and long-winded "confrontation" ever), I could see how this plot COULD have been great if executed properly....
Unfortunately it was not. The writing was choppy and juvenile. The characters felt flat and the chemistry seemed forced. For 80% of the book there seemed to be no clear plot, just a series of random attacks that did not contribute to the story, The final big reveal was too convoluted and really should have been fleshed out throughout the book a bit better.

This was a good book! I loved the story and how fast paced it was. The writing did feel a little bit flowery at times but I enjoyed it!

I thought this fantasy book was interesting and overall pretty solid. The worldbuilding could use a bit more development, but it wasn’t hard to feel immersed in the story. It stood out from the other fantasy books I’ve read this year, in a good way, and I really appreciated that.

The writing worked well for me. I especially enjoy when fantasy stories blend modern and fantastical language, and this book did that nicely, even if I wasn’t always sure what time or setting it was aiming for.

This first book leans heavily into the fantasy side, with just a touch of romance as a subplot.

I absolutely loved the FMC, her banter and wit were a highlight, especially in the first half of the book when she wakes up with no memory and no idea where she is. The world itself, along with the cities, moths, and the amulet storyline, was intriguing and held my attention.

Tropes/Elements:
Fantasy romance
Slow burn
Memory loss / amnesia

3.75/5

This book was enjoyable but i think it could have been shorter. Thank you to Riki Cleveland and the Entangled Publishing team for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book was an engaging and enjoyable read from start to finish. The writing style was clear and easy to follow, making it accessible while still drawing you into the story. The characters were well-developed and had enough depth to keep me invested in their journeys. The pacing was steady, balancing slower, thoughtful moments with more exciting, action-driven scenes. While there were a few predictable parts, the overall storyline was still compelling and kept me turning the pages. Whether you’re new to this genre or a longtime fan, this book is definitely worth picking up.

Okay where to start? This book takes a minute to get into. It starts off slow but only because its world building with a character that is missing information. (hint hint amnesia). The characters have chemistry but the were oddly placed or the build up to them wasn't there so it felt a bit jarring to switch from a regular conversation to flirting. Some of the explanations of events happened were also sudden so the ride was definitely bumpy. I enjoyed the read though as once I got used to the sudden changes I was able to fully immerse myself into the story and enjoy all that it had to offer. The story has an interesting premise and it is worth exploring. So take a chance and enjoy this book.

Kept me entertained the whole time, but felt very YA. Not sure if it is enough to have me continue the series

I, unfortunately, had to DNF this book. I really wanted to like it but the writing was choppy and a bit cringe and ultimately I couldn't keep reading it.
It felt like the author was trying way to hard to add funny moments that were not needed in particular scenes, it also felt like we were in the minds of teenagers and not adults..

The Last One by Rachel Howzell Hall was an exciting and very complex Fantasy quest with adventures in every page. It starts with Kai waking up in middle of an unknown forest and someone running away with her clothes and her amulet She chases the girl to reach a morose town and everything just explodes from there. She doesn't remember anything. Not her identity, not where she came from, not about her magical powers. The girl's brother Jadon gives her shelter and after a series of action packed events, they embark on a journey to find who Kai is.


I loved Kai from the beginning. She is witty and sassy and fearless. Her situation was less than ideal but she faced them bravely. She is a bit reckless but it fits. I just love her spicy personality. Jadon is shown as this brave protector from the beginning. It's a whole fantasy world with kings and religions and the power plays and the mind games. You might get a bit lost. Their chemistry was instant but the challenges kept them from acting on it. A lot of things happen with some new creature or some new magical battle or some secret coming out and overall it was a lot to take on. I like my romantasy to come with a bit more of romance and building of emotional connection. But this is great for you if you just love the fantasy part.


I reviewed a complimentary copy voluntarily

This book was just okay for me. I was really hoping to enjoy it and that it would get me, but unfortunately it was hard to get through.

Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for the opportunity to review this ARC.

This book wasn’t quite what I was expecting. Overall, it was a decent read and I finished off more or less satisfied.
The plot, characters, magic, and world building were good; however, at times, I did find the writing hard to follow. It didn’t flow very nicely, it was rather stilted. There were elements that I found confusing and there was a certain amount of repetitiveness. There was one instance of a mention of something happening that I could not find having happened - it could be me, but I did really look. That being said, the writing style is different, but it is does suit the main character and the fact that her memory is wonky and slowly coming back.
As for the romance element in the book, there were moments I could feel a connection - I liked the banter at the beginning - however, there were moments where it fell flat.
This is definitely the kind of book, with its particular writing style, that will be a hit for some, but fall for others. I enjoyed the story enough to continue the series. I am eager to find out how things will resolve.
Many thanks to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for a digital copy of the book. The opinions expressed are given freely and are honestly and my own.

A delightfully mysterious fantasy! Touches of romance, friendship & self discovery.

Really enjoyed Kai's story. The ending left me ready to jump straight into book 2!

*I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is my honest feedback about the book as an avid reader.*

Huge thank you to the author & NetGalley for letting me read & review this book. 💜

Eh. Mixed feelings. The beginning hooked me right away, Kai waking up with no memory had a strong impact and the world around her felt gritty and full of tension. I liked the dark atmosphere and the sense of mystery, and Veril quickly became my favorite character, bringing small moments of warmth. At the same time, the pacing felt uneven. Some chapters dragged with too much action and little emotional depth, and then important reveals came too late, crammed into the last pages. Jadon was frustrating. Overall, it was an ambitious start with strong visuals and plenty of morally grey characters, but the execution left me confused and not fully satisfied. Still, Kai’s journey had enough intrigue that I might continue with the series, hoping the next book finds it's way. Thank you so much to the author, Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving a honest review

The blurb for The Last One sounding very intriguing so I was hoping I'd find it to be another great romantasy read. However, with romantasy being such a hit or miss genre for me, unfortunately this book fell into the miss category. While I think that there were ultimately some unique ideas and plotlines with potential, the overall execution of them felt unfinished and a bit immature.

The beginning of the story did pull me in right away because the FMC, Kai, doesn't know where or who she is. It's definitely an interesting way to get the reader to connect with the main character since Kai basically knew as much as the reader and was asking a lot of the same questions. There was quite of lot of mystery and intrigue at the beginning that I thought was fun and attention-grabbing. However, after awhile (~25% through the book) the intrigue started to wear off because it seemed as though nothing was truly being explained. I never really got a good sense of who Kai was or the true urgency behind the motives of those around her. It began to read more like the reader was being told that there was some sort of danger and grave importance to the character's actions, but the characters never seemed to behave in a way that matched that sense of urgency. I found myself becoming quite bored and having to push through to finish the story. The storytelling itself was very slow which, though that can sometimes work and add to the complexity of the story, that wasn't what happened in The Last One.

In terms of the fantasy and magic elements in this story, they definitely seemed unique but I mostly found myself too confused by them. That definitely could just be a me thing though, as high fantasy magic systems aren't always my thing, so that should be taken with a grain of salt as I'm sure other readers would be able to understand it. However for me, the confusion regarding the magic system just made me even more bored as I was reading, since I couldn't seem to get a full understanding of what was happening.

Character-wise, I did actually really like Kai as an FMC and think that she generally carried this book. I think without her, the book would've been a lot worse since there would've been no one to root or care for. She seemed very strong and witty and watching her navigate her reality of having no idea what was going on was very interesting. I didn't really like any of the other characters though. Some of them, especially the side characters were fine, but they felt very boring and lacked an aspect of having their own personalities and being their own people. The MMC was bland as best and very aggravating at worst. I never really found myself interested in him or at all rooting for the romance between him and Kai. It felt very "telling but not showing" to me so I never became convinced in their emotions for each other. I found that to be sad and disappointing because this book was being heavily marketed as romantasy and, of course, you need to have a good romance to have a good romantasy, which The Last One did not, in my opinion.

All in all, The Last One has an interesting and unique premise and a beautiful cover, but I didn't feel as though it lived up to any of the marketing hype. If it were sent back to the drawing board and reedited and rewritten, I think it has the potential to be an amazing book, but as it stands now it was unfortunately a let down.

Wow it’s been a minute since I’ve read a book with such an unreliable narrator but I loved the melding of fantasy with thriller elements! Excellent world building, unique creatures and constant twists and turns. Can’t wait for the next book!

The book throws you right into a world crawling with sickness and terrifying beasts, and watching Kai slowly piece together who she is — and what she’s meant to do — was completely gripping.

Kai is the kind of protagonist you can’t help but root for. She’s tough and determined, but there’s also a vulnerability there that makes her feel real. I especially loved the dynamic with the blacksmith — their banter has bite, their chemistry crackles, and every scene they share has that “are they going to kill each other or kiss?” energy that keeps you leaning in.

The setting of Vinevridth is so atmospheric — bleak and eerie, full of secrets just waiting to be uncovered. The story strikes a great balance between romance, action, and mystery, and I found myself saying “just one more chapter” until it was suddenly way past midnight.

By the time I reached the end, I wasn’t ready to leave this world. I’m already excited to see where the series goes from here. Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC — I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for book two!

Holy tension! What did I just read!?

When Kai awakens in a strange forest, with no memory and someone over her stripping her of all her belongings (clothes included), what happens next is beyond anything she could have imagined.

This story is so incredibly dynamic. There's so much tension at different capacities and with multiple characters. There was even a fun little throwback pop culture statement for those who have seen a certain gum commercial.

The dialogue in this story is amazing, 10/10. The double entendres when our main characters are conversing is so good. I even outwardly laughed at a few things they said to each other. There is a wide range of characters and creatures in this world, yet the book does not require extensive world building. It all happens very organically. I found this refreshing as the story didn't drag at all. It was incredibly fast-paced paced and mostly easy to follow. Following dialogue where one character was telling a story to another was a but difficult to follow, but all clicks once the story proceeds.

If you like realms, gods/goddesses, fantasy creatures, and strong female figures, seriously check this book out.

Thank you, Entangled Publishing, for the gifted copy of this book. This honest review has been left voluntarily.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this incredible book!!

I absolutely loved this book!

I read it cover to cover in less than 24 hours nonstop!

I highly, highly recommend!

Five stars!

I was barely able to finish this. The idea was good, but it just wasn’t done well. The middle dragged forever, and by the time the big reveals showed up at the end, I’d already lost interest. The pacing felt messy, and the back-and-forth between Kai and Jadon was repetitive instead of building any real tension. I needed more depth and much more smooth storytelling to stay hooked, but alas, it never got there.

Not quite a full NA and not quite YA, but it was a really interesting magic system, and I overall found it to be enjoyable, if predictable and tropey read. 3.5/5 stars!