3 stars!
Goodreads friends. I wanted to love it, but I struggled with this one and I hate that I did!
I think the story has a great set up.
Kai - wakes up in the woods with no memory. She is magical/powerful (or so it foreshadows). She also has a moth amulet with unknown importance.
Jardon - a blacksmith, a bit mysterious, and I just could NOT like him.
The way that the book starts and Kai is introduced, drew me in very quickly.
The characters and creatures were diverse! I loved that about the storytelling.
One thing that made the book feel a bit disjointed for me was the language/verbiage. There were times that it felt like a long ago tale, and then other times as if we were set in current times - it just made it feel a little.. off.
I am also not a big fan of the miscommunication trope, so that probably impacts my ability to really stay as engaged as I would have liked.
There are lots of reveals, a couple of moments that shocked me, but most of all, a lot of secrets throughout. I will not reveal here, so I don't spoil the book if you haven't read it.
The characters are very complex and developed. What I didn't like is I had to wait until very late in the book to really understand the chemistry between Kai and Jardon. I found Jardon just awful, he is such a gaslighting character.
The plot was not as strong as I would like to have seen for a book with SO MANY THINGS happening. I think the structure needs a little work and the pace was entirely too slow in a lot of areas. The book could have been much short if the pace was increased. I think the pace of the book is why I had trouble staying engaged. I also had trouble with the conclusion of the book. It felt like we were on a long-distance run and then immediately just dropped off a cliff. It was so quick and abrupt. I felt like I needed a little more to close the book.
Overall, not a bad book, just struggled with it. I don't think it was what I expected going into reading it. Again, not a bad book.
If you love fantasy, worth a read.
Let me know if you've read it and what you think!
Thank you to NetGalley and Red Tower for the opportunity read and review this book!
Happy Reading!

A visually stunning collector’s edition adds flair to an action‑packed romantasy debut. Kai an amnesiac heroine with grit drives the plot forward, encountering magic, monsters, and betrayals at every turn. The worldbuilding feels expansive, though occasionally muddled in the midsection. Romance sparks with Jadon’s playful banter, but the sword‑and‑innuendo exchanges may strike some as immature. Overall, it’s a compelling start: emotional enough to care, mysterious enough to keep turning pages, and beautifully packaged for fans of lush fantasy.

👍 Who’ll love it: readers craving fast‑paced magic, strong-willed heroines, and lavish collectibles

⚠️ Who might pause: those seeking tightly structured worldbuilding or emotionally deep romantic arcs

The way that the story unfolded was really interesting and kept me hooked even when I could only read a bit at a time. The writing style was very easy to read and the twist at the end was unexpected but not unplanned, as looking back there were hints throughout that were set up really nicely. Will definitely be checking out the rest of this series!

I loved the premise of the book and the FMC. I found the love story to be lacking. I just needed more. Tank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

This was such a solid thriller, sharp, tense, and full of that slow-building dread that keeps you flipping pages late at night. The setup feels familiar (a group of strangers, a remote location, secrets bubbling under the surface), but it’s done really well. The main character had that perfect mix of guarded and vulnerable, and I loved how the story peeled back layers at just the right pace. There were a few moments where I wished the side characters had more depth, some blended together but the suspense and atmosphere totally carried it. If you love twisty survival thrillers with a strong female lead and a touch of “trust no one” energy, this one delivers.

This is an ARC review. I want to thank Rachel Howzell Hall and Entangled Publishing for allowing me the chance to read this book ahead of release day!

Kai is such an interesting character and as the book progresses you understand more and more why she is different among the mortals she lives with. Granted she didn’t exactly choose to live in the village that smelled like death but small details.

Kai and Jadon meet under circumstances that aren’t ideal. But as they grow to trust each other more the ones they have come to like/love become a larger part of the story as well.

Overall I did like the storyline. I didn’t connect with the characters as much as I’d like and even though there is extensive world building I didn’t find myself immersed it in.

There’s soooooo many revelations in the last 10% of this book it does set up for a good start for book 2. Based on book 1, I am just not sure I’ll be reading it.

This is the first book in a new series. It was a tad slow due to introducing to the new world and new world it was! I liked the main character Kai but everyone is horrible. They only look out for themselves and don't care about anyone else. I am eager to read the next book in the series. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

I want to start by saying a huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this ARC, it means a lot to get the chance to read it early, and of course, that doesn’t change how I feel about the book.

When I picked up The Last One, I was really excited. The pitch sounded amazing, this whole idea of a girl waking up on a strange island with no memories, in the middle of a deadly game... it gave me strong dystopian thriller vibes, and I love that. Honestly, the beginning had me hooked. You’re thrown into the action with no time to breathe, and I actually liked how disoriented I felt, just like Kai. It made everything feel intense and a little unsettling, which I think was exactly the point.

I also appreciated Kai’s personality, she’s smart, sarcastic, kind of a mess but in a way that makes her feel real. She’s not the perfect heroine, and that’s what makes her interesting. The survival aspects kept me curious, and there’s definitely a dark atmosphere that I enjoyed.

But if I’m honest, I also struggled a bit along the way. The pacing felt really uneven for me. There were moments when I couldn’t stop reading, and others where it just dragged and I found myself waiting for something to happen. The romance didn’t really click either. I get the attraction, I get the banter, but I wasn’t invested in it, it felt more like a subplot that didn’t bring much to the story. And sometimes, I felt a bit disconnected from the characters, like their emotions didn’t always hit the way they were supposed to.

Still, I don’t regret reading it. I liked the original concept and the mix between thriller and fantasy, even though it wasn’t perfect for me. If you’re in the mood for a dark survival story with a bit of mystery and a heroine who’s far from flawless, this could be worth a try.

And again, I’m really grateful to NetGalley for giving me the chance to discover this one.

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook arc. I really wanted to love this book the synopsis of the book sounded great, the way the book played out was not. I also didn’t really care for the characters and kept drifting when I was reading.

I really wanted to like this book. I like the concept, the characters. My biggest problem was halfway through. I just didn’t care. I put the book down read something else came back and I still didn’t care. I don’t know if it was the writing style, but I didn’t click with, but I just ended up DNFing it. I would hope that people would like this and couldn’t get into it however, I just couldn’t.

The premise of this book is so fascinating, a mysterious girl wakes up and can’t remember how she got there, who she is, or where she came from. From the start we got hints that she was magical of some sort but not sure exactly how it plays out.
It started off strong and I was super invested and couldn’t put it down but as I got to the 60% mark it started to drag and I found myself bored and starting to skim a bit. By 78% I lost all interest.
I initially liked the FMC and found her intriguing and really enjoyed her character and the MMC seemed really cool and like he was going to be an amazing character.
I wanted to love this and was so excited to get the ARC of the beautiful deluxe edition of this book and atleast it’ll look pretty on my shelf.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book. My review is solely of my own.

The Last One by new to me author Rachel Howzell Hall, published by Entangled Publishing, is the first installment in the Vallendor Series.
This is not a stand alone and the book ends in a cliffie.
This first book is the introduction into the fantastic world, the storyline and characters aka Kai, the fmc.
An action packed, twisty and fast paced read.
The next installment is Cruel Dawn, coming 8/25.

This book was not for me. While the overall concept and plot was good, it seems to be written in present tense. While some people would enjoy this style of writing, it is not for everyone.

I unfortunately couldn’t get into it, so it’s a soft dnf for me. The writing kinda threw me off at first, but I wouldn’t say it’s badly written. I just don’t think this is a book for me. I only read about 8 procent, but that’s usually enough for me to see if I’ll like it. If I’m unsure I usually read a hundred pages, but I was sure this time so I didn’t need to read more.

Thank you for letting me read this in advance, I really appreciate it! This book just didn’t fit my reader preferences unfortunately.

Arrojada a una tierra desolada de enfermedades y bestias sobrenaturales, Kai despierta en el bosque sin tener idea de quién es ni cómo llegó allí. Lo único que sabe es que si no puede llegar al Mar de Devorar, incluso este infierno empeorará. Pero cuando ve al herrero de la aldea luchar contra los invasores con una destreza indescriptible, decide aceptar su ayuda.

Lástima que sea tan hábil para molestarla como para pelear.

Mientras busca respuestas, Kai solo encuentra más preguntas, especialmente sobre el herrero que puede prenderle fuego al cuerpo como una llama y luego apagarlo con hielo en el siguiente aliento.

Y nadie es lo que —ni quién— aparenta ser en el reino de Vinevridth, incluido el hombre cuyos secretos podrían ser tan letales como la tierra misma.


--


necesito daber que pasa, no puedo no la intriga.


Gracias Netgalley por el ARC.

I thought I was going to like this after reading the premise because I really did think it had so much potential, but I just could not get into it. I did not feel like there was any chemistry between Jadon and Kai, and the middle kinda dragged. The romantic subplot between Kai and Jadon also feels underdeveloped, and the ending doesn't provide a satisfying conclusion to their relationship. On top of that, the big reveal did not happen until the last 20 pages of the book, and I just think it could have been spread out more over the last 100-70 pages. I think there was not much character development because we spent so much time on what felt like a quest all over this fantasy world. Honestly at times it felt more like a mystery than a romantasy book.

I wish I liked this book more because I do think it had some fresh ideas in it, without being so similar to other books being released right now. I am not totally sure if I will read book 2 yet.

The Last One is a haunting, sharp-edged fantasy that pulls you in with a mysterious beginning and never loosens its grip. From the first page, readers are thrown alongside Kai into a hostile, decaying world—a place where memory is a luxury, beasts stalk the shadows, and even the ground seems poisoned by secrets.

Kai’s journey is visceral and urgent. She wakes with no memory, stranded in the eerie forests of Vinevridth, a kingdom teetering on the edge of ruin. Her only compass: a whispered instinct to reach the ominous Sea of Devour. But survival here is no simple feat, especially when trust is a rare and risky currency.

Enter the blacksmith. He’s gruff, maddening, and skilled with a blade—exactly the kind of reluctant ally Kai needs, and the exact kind of man whose presence stirs far more than just irritation. Their dynamic is a standout feature of the novel: tense, emotionally charged, and laced with genuine chemistry that doesn’t fall into predictable tropes. The romance smolders rather than burns, creating space for slow-blooming trust and vulnerability.

What truly sets The Last One apart is its atmosphere. Rachel Howzell Hall crafts a world that feels sick from the inside out. There’s a heavy sense of dread and decay—Vinevridth is a kingdom rotting under its own secrets. The more Kai uncovers, the more unsettling things become, both in the world and within herself. The twists are as clever as they are devastating, peeling back layers of identity, loyalty, and betrayal with each step toward the Sea.

If there’s one critique, it’s that the lore can occasionally overwhelm—Vinevridth’s mysteries are so densely packed that a second read might be necessary to catch every breadcrumb. But for readers who love rich worldbuilding and layered character arcs, this only adds to the appeal.

The Last One is part mystery, part survival story, and part slow-burn romance wrapped in an eerie, dying fantasy world. It asks: What happens when the person you rely on most might be the one hiding the final truth? And what if that truth is the most dangerous thing of all?

I DNF'ed this book at 10%. There was too much info dumping in the first few chapters, and I did not connect with the main character at all. The narrative voice felt too dramatic and young adult. I think this book could be a good fit for the New Adult genre instead.

I was definitely excited to check this one out when the publicist reached out with a copy! From the looks of things, it seemed like it was going to be the sort of romantasy that leaned more heavily into the action than the romance, something that I typically prefer when it comes to balancing the two. However, while this proved to be correct, other factors involved left this one slipping as my reading continued.

But let’s start with some pros! And first and foremost that comes down to the action! This is a very fast-moving book, chock full of adventure and fight scenes. Right out of the gate, the plot takes off and never really stops. Now, whether the actual story is being advanced with all of this action is another question, but if you’re looking for a fast read, this one should come through for you! I’ll also say that I enjoyed the romance. There wasn’t tons of it, and I think this worked better for the conceit of this book. The MMC knows her past, but she doesn’t, which could lead to a really unfortunate power dynamic. Instead, the love story plays a definite second fiddle and only really moved towards the end of the book. The writing also has a very casual and approachable style of storytelling. Again, this was a specific problem point for me, but it could also be a feature for others, particularly readers who enjoy the very casual voice that you often find in urban fantasy style books.

And look, I enjoy urban fantasy, so once I understood the style of the narration, it was easier to go with it. At the same time, I really have almost zero tolerance for books that have inner monologues where the author actually types out the words “ugh” or “yuck.” It’s a massive pet peeve of mine and immediately throws me out of a book. I can’t seem to ever take a heroine seriously who is written in this style. However, I’m aware that this is an incredibly subjective point, so take from that what you will. That said, I also feel like this mixing of modern language into what feels like a high fantasy book left me feeling very unmoored as to what type of world and setting I was supposed to be picturing. As a fantasy reader who really enjoys worldbuilding, to lose a sense of place in service of quippy modern language is a huge net negative.

From there, while there is a lot of action involved in the book, the pacing was fairly poor. The middle of the book lagged, with very little actually happening of any worth. You’d feel like things should be happening, but then, looking back on the last 50 pages, you’d see that nothing really had. This wasn’t helped by the way the main character’s past was dealt with. She is a character without knowledge of her past and the majority of the book is taken up by this point. Indeed, it began to feel as if the author was intentionally dragging things out in the middle just to prolong this reveal. Which then came at the verrrrry end of the book. And then, by the end, I was left wondering why I had to bother with this book at all? It felt as if I could have read the first few chapters, skipped to the end with the reveal, and then been all set with my prequel chapters out of the way for the next book, the real beginning of the series.

I know this author is quite beloved, so I’m sure there are readers who will gobble this up. Indeed, if you’re a big urban fantasy fan this might work better for you than it will for those who prefer high fantasy. However, I think some of the language decisions and the way the primary conflict regarding her memory was handled ultimately harmed the book.

Rating 6: I can’t get over “ugh” being written out in the first few pages. Sorry, not sorry.

This debut fantasy romance had an intriguing premise and a unique spin that sets it apart from the typical Romantasy reads out there. The amnesia trope worked well in some ways, especially in the first half where the main character Kai wakes up with no memory, creating a strong sense of mystery and urgency, but it also led to some confusion that mirrored her own. That said, everything mostly came together by the end.

Kai herself was a standout. Her inner monologue was full of witty, occasionally juvenile humor, and she brought a lot of personality to the story. The diversity and complexity in her character were definite strengths. However, she was also the only character who felt fully developed. Others, including the romantic interest, came across flat or lacking chemistry, and the romance felt off throughout most of the book.

The worldbuilding, with its cities, moths, and amulets, was imaginative, though the pacing suffered. The early interactions between Kai and Jadon were hard to get through, and the plot dragged in places while also feeling rushed at the end. Some key revelations came far too late to have the emotional weight they needed. While the story had plenty of twists and "who can I trust" tension, it lacked balance overall.

The writing itself could be choppy and overly staged at times, with forced punchlines that distracted from the story rather than added to it. Still, for a first foray into fantasy, especially from an author known for mystery, it wasn't a bad effort. It leaned much more into fantasy mystery than romance and should probably be framed that way.

Despite its flaws, there’s enough potential here and enough unanswered questions that I will be picking up the next installment. Just don’t go in expecting a smooth, sweeping romance. This one is trying to do its own thing.