The Last One by Rachel Howzell Hall is the story of Kai, a woman who wakes up in a grassy field with no memories, as someone is robbing her. Determined to get back what the thief stole, she follows them into a small town where disease is killing off the villagers and Kai faces one harrowing obstacle after another. She is left to team up with people who say they want to help her, but how can she trust anyone when she doesn’t even know who she is?

This story took me a little longer to read than I thought it would because, while I did enjoy it over all, I had a difficult time getting through the middle of the story. I loved the beginning of the book and was hooked from page one, but the middle almost seemed like she kept getting into the same kind of situations over and over. The characters were well written and the twists and turns throughout the story were stellar! I wasn’t sure how the ending would be written because I was almost through the book and major things were still happening, but the ending came and I am happy with how it worked out. Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This book just wasn’t for me. I really really wanted to love it. The premise is dynamite. It just didn’t hit the mark for me. There was just so much dialogue that it kind of took away from the story. The writing was just not my style. The main characters were very juvenile and this was definitely more YA. I do like YA books, but this one just wasn’t for me. Huge thanks to Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

I really wanted to love this book, but I hated the relationship between Kai and Jadon. The plot is amazing. 5 stars. Kai is great, but I HATED Jadon. It wasn't until the end of the book that I realized that I think I'm supposed to hate him and that if that was her goal, the author succeeded with flying colors! I hated him to the point that I had a difficult time reading their relationship, but the ending was worth the wait. Stick it out. The truth is worth the wait.

‘The Last One’ captured my attention from the opening sentence… I couldn’t put this book down and was angry when I had to due to sleep or my work schedule. I devoured this book to find out who Kai was (in hopes her memory would return), who she could trust, is everyone in her life really looking out for her best interests? There were so many twists and turns, lots of adventure, and an unexpected ending that had me scratching my head a little bit… but I’m hopeful that there will be more books in the series. Thank you Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC.

Thank you Netgalley and Entangled for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review. Honestly, I am SO sad because I thought I was going to LOVE this book. I didn’t love it, it was okay in my opinion. Very blah, a bit confusing in some parts. It really has a lot of promise though! We follow a woman who straight from the beginning wakes up being attacked by a thief, but she can’t remember who she is, where she is, why she’s there to begin with. Eventually, bits and pieces of her memory begin coming back. Overall, I don’t think it was the pacing, or the plot. I just wish there was more cohesiveness. We were thrown straight Into the action, but I did not feel attached to the FMC at all. I’m usually a fan of the amnesia trope as well, but this was not doing it for me. I’m not sure if it was being dragged out, or if it’s just a me (reader) issue as well. Overall, I think I’d read the next book and give it another chance! There is promise.

This book is so good! I devoured it. I was hooked from the beginning and just couldn't put it down. The world is very fascinating. And I am really digging all of the lore. Kai and Jaden are great characters. They're both uniquely complex. I love their banter in this book. And the mysterious journey had me on the edge of my seat with all of the twists and turns. I'm definitely looking forward to seing what happens next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

You’re going to want to run full tilt to get this book if you like unbelievably delicious slow burn tension, quippy lines, forbidden love, strangers to lovers, otherworldly creatures and mysteries you have to unravel.

There are few places I haven’t reviewed this book. I’ve reviewed it to the stranger at Indigo Books after needing to buy the pretty sprayed edged shelf trophy version after Ereading this. I reviewed it to my sister, my husband, ANOTHER stranger at my doctors office who asked what I was reading so I suppose the last place is right here to all of you.

The pace of this kicks off immediately from the first sentence and it was easy to keep track of the different creatures and things going on.

Some fair warning, maybe don’t try to read this at a doctors office with other people listening to you try to cover up your laughter. Because not only is our FMC Kai missing basically all of her memories, but she is full of some of the funniest lines, especially around the MMC Jadon.

I am such a sucker for a good romantasy! The Last One by Rachel Howzell Hall has it all!


-Action
-Adventure

-Memory loss

-Slow burn

-Forbidden Romance

-Tension and banter

-Strangers to friends to lovers to enemies? It’s complicated but so worth it! 



This book was amazing, the cover drew me in and the synopsis had me intrigued I just had to have it! Also have you seen the sprayed edges on the first print run?! You don’t want to miss out on it. 



The story opens with our MFC Kai; dazed and confused she wakes up in an unknown woods, not knowing who she is and oh yeah she’s currently being robbed. After tracking the thief to a near by village she’s caught fighting for her belongings. She is missing her amulet, she knows she needs it but doesn’t understand why. Her fight causes a scene and a whole lot of trouble Kai starts a chain reaction of events which takes her on an rollercoaster of an adventure. 



And then there is Jadon, our MMC. Brother to the thief who stole Kai’s belongings, he says he is just a simple blacksmith but what could he really be hiding? I just love the development between Kai and Jadon, the romance was minimal to the action of this story but it was there. 



Overall I really enjoyed this book, I could not stop once I started and I am super excited for book 2!

Book Review of The Last One (The Last One #1) by Rachel Howzell Hall

Cover Story: Like A Moth
BFF Charm: Natalie Imbruglia
Talky Talk: Missing Pieces
Bonus Factor: Gods and Goddesses
Factor: Series Starter
Relationship Status: Needs Work

Cover Story: Like A Moth
This cover gives me witchy vibes, which aren’t exactly accurate for the story within. But the moth is really pretty, and the moon motifs and mushrooms go well with it, creating a cohesive image. There’s something a little “unfinished” about it, though? Maybe the background could have had a bit more color and/or texture, to really drive home the woodsy feel.

The Deal:
Kai doesn’t remember who she is or where she comes from. When she wakes up in the forest outside the city of Maford, with a thief having stolen her clothes and a moth amulet she wears around her neck, she knows that she needs to get them back. But following the thief into the closest town gets her nearly thrown in jail, and she’s tasked with earning money to pay off some “fines.” She chafes at the tasks, but she’s also very curious about Jadon Ealdrehrt, the local blacksmith.

The more Kai starts to remember, the more she’s confused about who she is, what she is, and why she woke up outside of Maford. Some answers might be better left unearthed, however.

BFF Charm: Natalie Imbruglia
Kai is powerful, both mentally and physically. She’s uniquely stunning and obviously something more than just a normal human being. She can be kind and caring, but she can also be violent and ruthless, sometimes switching between the two at a moment’s notice. I’d love to be her friend, but I’d also constantly be worried that something I did or said would set her off. Which, obvs, would make for not so great of a friendship …

Swoonworthy Scale: 6
Kai is immediately taken by Jadon, both because of his kindness and his hotness. There’s a charge between the two of them that neither of them can deny. But they both have secrets, and a lot is going in their lives that keeps them apart. Will they get together in the end? I wouldn’t be surprised, but there will be a lot of obstacles to overcome before they get there.

Talky Talk: Missing Pieces
I’m not sure if it was because of Kai’s amnesia, but I was pretty confused for a lot of the book. The world-building was interesting and got even more so as bits and pieces of the truth were revealed, but it remained a muddied story overall. Were this because solely of Kai’s amnesia, I would have been more understanding—and more impressed with Howzell’s innovation. But some situations were solved in mere pages, while others took a whole lot longer or remained unsorted by the end of the book. (Which, to my surprise, is the first in a series.) Characters swung wildly from mood to mood, and their motivations changed unexpectedly, although some are clearly telegraphed. Overall, the plot is solid, but could definitely use some tightening up.

Bonus Factor: Gods and Goddesses
As Kai begins to remember bits about herself and her past, gods of the realm come into play in the story. I’d love to know more about the mythos of this world, which is rich with unique individuals and stories. Hopefully we’ll learn more in future books.

Factor: Series Starter
Although it wasn’t clear to me until I got to the very open-ended end (and the author’s note that said there’s more to come), this is the first book in a series. I’ve already said that a few times in this review, but it’s definitely something I would have liked to know before diving in.

Relationship Status: Needs Work
We had an interesting time together, Book, but I would have loved to be less confused overall. I’m feeling a bit like Kai, not knowing exactly what’s going on, and that’s a discomfiting place to be as a reader.

This was great! I admit that this book first hit my radar because of the gorgeous first edition (and I can’t wait to get my hands on the copy I ordered!). Once I read the synopsis, I knew I needed to read this book! The story was just as good as I had hoped and I found it so hard to put down that I read most of the book in a single day. Kai was very likable, and I wanted to see things work out for her.

As the story opens Kai is being robbed of her clothes and her amulet somewhere in the woods. She doesn’t know where she is and can’t remember who she is. As she tries to get her items back from the thief, she gets in a little trouble in town and must pay a debt before she can move on. I was curious about Kai’s past and loved the clues each ability or memory gave. The story had a lot of action and it quickly became obvious that Kai knew how to handle herself.

In a quest to find answers, Kai travels with the local blacksmith, Jadon, who is also a skilled fighter, his sister, Olivia, and Philia. They face one obstacle after the next during their journey. I loved that there was a lot of action to keep the story moving at a steady pace. The story kept me guessing throughout, and there were plenty of surprises along the way. The romantic elements kept me on my toes as well.

I would recommend this book to others. It did so many things well. The world-building was top-notch, and the characters were incredibly likable. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next installment!

I received a review copy from Red Tower Books.

A sinfully sweet slow burn romantasy sprinkled with a dash of spice, lots of suspense, world building with plenty of twists and turns leaves you gasping as you turn the last page.

At times the pacing is a bit slow but the need to uncover the secrets, deception, and lies kept me going. Add in morally grey characters and a slow burn and I was excited to flip the last page. Readers, this is a series so be warned…there is more to come!

What would you do if you woke up in the woods, half dressed, and had no memory? It's a battle of survival as Kai uncovers her identity and purpose. Who can be trusted? Will our heroine uncover her identity before it’s too late?

This is the authors debut into the romantasy genre and I'm looking forward to the next book with that ending?!?!

This one was fantastic! I absolutely loved it, and I was so drawn in and felt what was going on while I read. Kai has woken up injured, all of her belongings stolen, and with no memory of who she is. Her goal is to get her belongings back and move forward. But that may not be as simple as she hopes.

Jadon is the blacksmith whose sister stole her things. And of course, now she has to deal with the thief while also avoiding bigger threats. Oh, and wishing Jadon would give in and give her what she wants already. Through danger and unknown magic, Kai does her best to survive.

If she can only get her amulet back, she will be fine. She will survive. She will thrive. And she can do what she was meant to do....but what was that again? She can't seem to remember and everyone she meets has a different idea.

I absolutely loved that we start this book out just as clueless as Kai and have learn her history along with her. It had me feeling connected to Kai right away and gave the story an air of mystery that had me excited for more.

But as the story progressed I struggled to like both the fmc and mmc, and struggled to enjoy their budding relationship. I wanted more tension and build up between them but it felt more like insta-lust and almost like there were moments between them that were missing.

Kai also never seemed to feel the high stakes around her and always was too relaxed in tense moments for me. I wanted to feel her fear and rage but she didn’t seem to have those strong emotions when they were necessary - and her dialogue and banter reflected that.

Overall, I loved the world building and the premise - and that twist at the end! I just wanted more from the main characters and their relationship.

REVIEW:

**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**

I hope with all of me that this is the first book in at least a duality, though I’d love it to be a series. The romance was slight but it was present so there’s a chance (me with my fingers crossed) that it grows in additional books. This story with a FMC named Kai and a MMC named Jadon stumbles a little with scene length but does not stumble when it comes to the well rounded character of Kai. She is flawed, she is strong, and I love how she works through all of her emotions.

Jadon, the blacksmith that comes to Kai’s rescue as she’s thrust into a town with zero memories of who she is, is a little less transparent. His character is very hot and cold and it was a little irritating but that was proven necessary by the end of this book. Still, because of all the twists and turns and secrets, his character doesn’t feel so well rounded but that isn’t a negative. I think that is something that will work itself out with more books.

I would have given this book a full 5 stars but some of the scenes felt rushed while others seemed to drag. I don’t know if any of the details come into play in further books; that remains to be seen. Instead, I give this book a solid 4 stars and it deserves every one. The budding relationship, the trauma, and trials that Kai faces gave me visceral reactions. I felt her pain. I felt her anger. I laughed and I cried while reading this book. The deep moments between Jadon and Kai made my heart ache; they were beautiful and sexy. The story goes from zero to sixty and doesn’t stop. It was shock after shock and I couldn’t keep my jaw from dropping for the last 50% of this book.

If you like High Fantasy, you will like this book. The magic system is easy to follow which is nice but the names of realms and monsters are harder to follow. A key or a map would be helpful to look back on while reading. But be warned, it does end on a cliffhanger.

I hope you take the journey into Vallendor and enjoy the adventure you’re sure to find!

This book was a refreshing change from the typical Fantasy I’ve come across lately. The story opens with Kai waking up half-naked, disoriented, and with no memory of who or where she is. As she stumbles upon the nearest village, she encounters the thief who stole her clothes—and much more than she expected.

I really enjoyed the world-building and found myself wishing for more details about the magic system, which was intriguing but left a bit unexplored.

What stood out most for me was the uniqueness of both the plot and the characters. I found myself going back and forth on how I felt about Kai, but ultimately, I think I empathized with her. Jadon, the male main character, was a bit of a mystery, which added to his appeal. The supporting characters were also fantastic and played a key role in driving the story forward.

The only thing that kept this from being a 5-star read was the way the romance was handled. While the book is marketed as Romantasy, the romantic connection between Kai and Jadon felt a bit underdeveloped. There were hints of feelings and a few moments of chemistry, but it lacked the depth I was hoping for.

Overall, this was a great read, and I’m eagerly looking forward to the next installment!

You know those books which pull you out of a slump? Which feel new and refreshing and unique and fun? That was me and The Last One. All in November I was struggling and The Last One was one of those books I woke up and consistently was excited to read. I need book two immediately. It's so hard to talk about The Last One because of the spoilers. Not only are there TONS of reveals which had me angrily typing notes into my phone OR sitting in shock, but also there are so many secrets from the main character. As she has no memories of herself, we learn more about the world and her past with her. And it's a doozy. I was instantly on her side and while I stayed there throughout the book, there were times I wasn't sure. Because that's how deeply The Last One explores heroism and saving the world.

Rated 3.5 Stars

I was very excited to read The Last One because I loved the set up but it didn't fully work for me. While I did find parts of it enjoyable I struggled with it to the point where I didn't think I'd finish reading it but I did. It was epic in ways and jam packed with action, adventure, suspense, twists and turns and angst. It did not at all read like a fantasy but I found the world and magic system interesting and intriguing. The characters were ok for me. That said I am interested in seeing where the author is taking the story next.

The Last One is a mix of fantasy and science fiction packed with action, twists, turns, and an interesting take on romance. The story centers around Kai, who is woken up in a forest by a thief stealing all her things, and she has no memory of who she is or where she comes from. Chasing this thief, she finds herself in the most depressing place I ever heard described in a book and would never want to visit. We spend the entire book trying to decipher a few clues about this town, Kai's amulet, and who Kai is. For the majority of this book, all of the characters are morally gray, and I found it very tedious that we did not get any answers until the book's last few chapters. I almost gave up at several points in this book as I wanted answers. The last one is unique as it does not include any of the main types of fantasy characters dominating the book scene in this genre. There are no fae characters or shadow daddies, but it is a different world, and the characters and the mystery behind Kai make it a stand-out start to a new series.

Review on blog on release day 2024

Imagine waking up in the woods with no idea who you are or how you got there. It is a land of sickness and beasts. All Kai knows is she must reach the Sea of Devour before this hellscape gets any worse. But first she has to retrieve her belongings from a local thief. When she sees the village blacksmith fight with an unspeakable skill, she decides to accept his help. Even though he can ignite her body like a flame as well as douse it with ice.

Rachel Howzell Hall...girl, welcome to the land of romantasy! It is a popular genre and what a treat for The Last One to feature a character of color. Finally a female main character that I rooted for. However, the middle chunk of the book seemed a tad dull and drawn out. It could have easily been 100 pages shorter. Also, the main character had an annoying habit of repeating herself, harping on the obvious. I had to keep reminding myself of her circumstances before I got too judgy. Otherwise, The Last One was a good read.

I didn't love The Last One but keep in mind that I am still fairly new to this romance/fantasy genre so the creatures and realms still make me pause. However, Hall masterfully created and built a world that I could vividly imagine through her written words. Bookhearts that enjoy fantasy stories will want to add The Last One to your collections. The deluxe limited edition will feature spray-painted edges with a stenciled design and detailed endpapers. Pre-order it now, Bookhearts!

Happy Early Pub Day, Rachel Howzell Hall! The Last One will be available Tuesday, December 3, 2024.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

I really wanted to like this book. However, I struggled. I struggled hard.

I think part of my issue was that it was incredibly slow and yet not interesting enough to want to keep reading the first third or so (maybe even half, to be honest), and then by the time we got to what was better in terms of plot ... I hadn't grown fond enough of any of the characters due to the meh-ness of the first bit.

Argh! I'm sad I didn't love it; I think it had great potential but just didn't do it for me. Thanks for the opportunity to read it, though!