I am quite disappointed that I had to DNF this book after reading about 50 % of it. At the beginning it definitely had a hook on me. The concept of this book if executed correctly it would have definitely been a new favorite vampire story but unfortunately that wasn’t the case.
The romance came out of nowhere. Characters had no chemistry and don’t get me started on the forced forbidden relationship trope but honestly just didn’t land.

I gave this book my best shot—truly. As a proud Twilight fan (yes, still flying that sparkly flag), I was excited when I saw it marketed as a must-read for fans. But by the halfway point, I just wasn’t feeling it and had to DNF. Sometimes a book just isn’t your flavor, and that’s totally okay. That said, the concept has potential, and I can see how it could work for someone else—especially if you’re looking for a fresh twist on the familiar vibes we all loved back in our Forks-obsessed days. So if it sounds like your thing, give it a go! Your next book crush might be waiting between those pages.

This book was sold as, "The hottest forced proximity x forbidden romance vampire story to sink your fangs into this autumn!" Unfortunately, it did not even come close to living up to that promise. The writing was bad and the characters were intolerable. I will not be recommending this one.

DNF @ 15%

I usually do not DNF a book. I usually can get myself through the story so I can give a fully formed and well rounded opinion on a book. But I simply could not force myself to care about this book, and it had reached the point where even thinking about opening this story again had me wanting to go doom scroll on my phone instead, and I really wanted to be reading.

I admit that I’m intrigued by a lot of books labeled as romantasy, and I’ve read a number of vampire stories (and for the most part enjoyed them). And The Last Raven piqued my interest enough that I was willing to check it out.

But Emelia acted more like a 12 or 13 year old than a nearly 18 year old, and in a book aimed towards YA, I expect a certain amount of “immaturity” from the characters. This story definitely had that feeling….but even more than that, the writing itself felt extremely immature.

Neither Emelia nor her bodyguard Kyle seemed like anything more than brats or jerks. Emelia whined a lot and Kyle (the new bodyguard who is described as hot but a jerk) was extremely aggravating. For being the princess of the House of Raven and expected to rule, Emelia was practically clueless about anything outside the castle walls.

She also made so many comments about how she wasn’t like the others around her because she was a human born to vampires, which made her a target and different.

I really wanted to be able to read more of this book, and I really had hoped that it would be something I would like at least a little bit, but that first 15%, I really felt like I was pulling teeth to even get that far into the story. I didn’t care about Emelia, her family, her land, her people, her bodyguard, her insta-love setup…..none of it was even remotely holding my interest.

This had all the makings of a fun read for me, but unfortunately, it didn’t deliver. The story felt rushed and underdeveloped, and the overall tone came off as bland. I also struggled to connect with the FMC. She just wasn’t very likable, which made it difficult for me to finish the book. :(

Couldn't finish. Confusing fantasy with real-world elements, whiny characters, and instant love just didn't work for me.
3.5

Tropes:
Forced proximity
Forbidden romance
Vampires
Hidden identity
Bodyguard to lover
Hate to love
Witty banter

Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this doesn’t influence my review. The book didn’t pull me in, unfortunately. I had to DNF

DNF 30% in

I’ve had this book on my NetGalley account for months, but I haven’t really wanted to read it after skimming a few of the reviews. I decided to give it a try anyways, and I’m sad to say that I really didn’t like it.

Based on the cover, I 1,000,000% thought that we were going into a Romantasy book, like not in a world with TV… when I tell you that the mention of the FMC turning on the TV was in an actual jump scare for me, I was so confused. Also, I get that her parents are like 500 years old, but it was so odd to have them act like they were in the 1500’s in both dialog and dress, and then the FMC is over here going to clubs and her bodyguard’s name is Kyle (really??? KYLE?? I can’t), it just felt like a hodgepodge of so many different tropes and timelines and plots that it felt really messy.

I think this is supposed to be a YA book, and the dialogue definitely portraits that, but it still felt really immature. Also enemies to lovers WHERE? Because they were attracted to each other the second that they laid eyes on each other. He was kind of mean, so kind of enemies? But the attraction and kissing happened wayyyyy too soon.

Unfortunately, not for me. But thank you to NetGalley for a free copy and exchange for an honest review!

I would give it a 3.5-4 star. ⭐️

Tropes:
Human x vampire
Forbidden love
Forced proximity
Royalty x bodyguard
Betrayal
Political intrigue
Surprise ending

This books surprised me with how much I enjoyed it at the end. The ending I partially expected but the last bit was a really nice surprise and the author definitely left some Easter eggs about it in the book, so if you pay attention you get it.


Emelia Raven, is the heir to the Raven throne, the vampire. Only problem is she’s a human the daughter of two vampires! She has been sheltered her whole life as a result and her parents begin to slowly push her into society because it is almost time for her to rule. Therefore they assign her a handsome young vampire bodyguard, Kyle. Along the way, Emelia learns some horrifying truths about the world around her both human and vampire and sets herself up to change the world somehow.

The author gives us limited amounts of information about the world purposely to reflect Emelia’s view point or lack thereof of the world she lives in. As the story continues we learn alongside her, allowing us to connect to her character and feel her reactions alongside her.

The relationship between Emelia and Kyle was definitely based on a lusty physical attraction and partially to her being shut out all her life. Not many available bachelors to meet. She gives him her trust early on in the book without him having to really earn it.

In the end Emelia really grows from a privileged human blood borne heir to a soon to be ruler. She gains strength through learning secrets, feeling betrayal, and through some heartbreak. But she’s a badass intellectual at the end!
Kyle kept you guessing truthfully. Michael was a nice little morsel of surprise towards the end. Very weird and sudden meeting towards the end of the book but he becomes a major player at that point.

Overall the pacing of the book was great and was an easy read because the chapters weren’t too long. I am looking forward to book 2 :)

Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book.

"The Last Raven" was a good read. The characters are interesting, but the world building lacked just a little bit for me. Overall, a decent read!

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book!
I did DNF it at 25%. I couldn't get into a fantasy book with real world elements. It didn't mesh quite well for me. I also didn't really like the MCs, with FMC whining about almost everything and I never really connected with the MMC. The world building was a little confusing for me as well. Also, the insta love that was portrayed in this book really made it not fun. It wasn't the book for me, and that is my opinion. I think others will really enjoy this book.

thanks to netgalley for providing me an e-arc of this book!

if this hadn't been an arc i had received, this may have been a book i did not finish. this was very much more YA than the description might lead you to believe, and it was almost the absence of a detailed plot. it was predictable, had a few good moments, but i saw all of those moments coming. Emelia's choices are infuriating and seem to lack basic reasoning. i'd attribute it to Emelia growing up sheltered and unaware of the world around her, but the author doesn't really seem to think that is the case, so i'm going with it for myself. pacing was awkward, ending was anticlimactic, wish i liked this more :(

Ehh. I just didn't connect very well to this book.

I feel like the characters were a little unstable and floppy in their actions vs their thoughts and words, and sometimes, they even felt a bit bipolar in their meh actions one moment and their explosion of emotion reactions the next. (Specifically Kyle and the main girl's dad.)

The main character was a bit whiny and a lot of her narrative was done in a teenage "let me tell you rather than show you" way that got on my nerves and was a little too pick-me girl. I get this is a YA novel, but I don't feel like many young adults love the stereotypical teenage view portrayed in books like this.

I think that the concept could be really cool with some more development and more stable characters but as is, it felt a lot like "my parents don't get me because I'm a human and they're powerful vampire leaders" instead of "I'm in danger because of of a choice my parents made, but I'm strong, I'll get through this, and maybe this guard could help me out...and maybe kiss me." Slight difference, yet with confidence and personality instead of stereotypical teenage melodrama.

The Last Raven
3.5 stars

The Last Raven had everything i like in a YA romantasy. The plot was well thought out. The inner dialogue was entertaining. I never once got bored. Loved the concept ! I always enjoy a good guard/princess romance. I also love a good vampire story, there isnt enough good ones out there ! The world building was easy to digest and the politics were just yummy! Can't wait to read more!

The majority of the plot was predicable but it was a really fun easy read. There was however one plot point I did not see coming and It got me excited to see her character progress and grow a back bone.

I unfortunately DNF this book at 43%. The world building wasn’t as clear for me to picture. This is an urban fantasy which I didn’t realize until elements of technology were randomly thrown into the story. The FMC was not my favorite. She came across as constantly whining about her predicaments and she couldn’t stand on her own. Even with her internal monologue she wouldn’t note that she wanted to stand up for herself. This was also advertised as an enemies to lovers and these two characters did not start off as enemies it falls more under the insta love trope. This book falls between YA and NA category.

I appreciate the author allowing me the chance to read this piece but it just wasn’t for me. Thank you NetGalley for sending me the EARC.

Emelia, the sole heir to the House of Raven in a world dominated by vampires. Despite her human nature, Emelia is destined to inherit the crown due to her lineage, setting the stage for a compelling exploration of identity and destiny. The novel delves into themes of forced proximity and forbidden love, presenting a modern twist on traditional vampire engaging drama and unexpected plot. Overall, the novel offers a fresh perspective on vampire narratives, delving in young adult and new adult romance genres. 

Imagine you’re in a fantasy world with vampires and your love interest is named Kyle.

I am not a fan of insta love, and this is being marketed as enemies to lovers when it is absolutely not the case. It’s also a forced proximity/forbidden romance, and I felt as if the author could’ve taken that and made it more compelling and appealing. Unfortunately, it fell super flat on its face and did not deliver. This felt very tropes — like it was trying to tick off popular trope boxes on an imaginary list to make it seem appealing to readers.

Emelia’s character was flat, boring, and didn’t line up with what I could tell the author wanted her to be — headstrong and fierce. Being the unwilling heir to the House of Raven, a family comprised of vampires, you would expect the stakes to be a lot higher and to be delivered that way as well. It wasn’t, and nothing really saved it or made it enjoyable.

Unfortunately, the plot was incredibly predictable and there was absolutely no chemistry between Emelia and Kyle — just banter passed off as an enemy to lovers trope.

I still can’t get over the name Kyle in a fantasy romance novel.

I really really tried to read this one. I just had such a hard time with the bland and corny plot line. I felt there was just no connection to the characters, the writing was stiff and awkward, and I just couldn’t find myself enjoying it.

Emelia Raven is set to take the crown as the ruler of Raven, one of the top families in the vampire kingdom. Both of her parents are vampires, yet she was born human and has spent her entire life in isolation in the family castle, with little to no contact with actual humans—except for those employed by her family as servants or as food. Emelia's eyes are finally opened to the disparities between humans and vampires when an uprising begins, forcing her to confront what has been happening right under her nose her entire life. Aided by her bodyguard, Kyle, who encourages her schemes, she eventually learns that you can’t trust everyone, no matter how convincing they might seem.