Unfortunately, The Last Vampire just didn’t work for me. I went in really excited because the concept sounded right up my alley: vampires, mystery, and a potentially rich paranormal world. But in the end, it felt like the story never quite found its footing.

The pacing dragged in some places and then jumped ahead in others, which made it hard to stay grounded. I had a tough time connecting with the main character. Their decisions often felt inconsistent or emotionally flat. The dialogue also didn’t feel natural at times, which pulled me out of the story.

I really wanted to love this, but it just didn’t click for me. That said, I do think it will appeal to readers who enjoy more introspective or philosophical takes on vampire lore.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Last Vampire by Romina Garber is a thrilling, high-stakes, gothic romance, and I absolutely adored it!

The story follows Lorena Navarro as she enters a newly opened victorian-mansion-turned-boarding-school. While exploring with her friends, she finds an old coffin, and accidentally awakens the world's last vampire, William Pride.

After waking up from centuries of sleep, William wants to find out if there are any other vampires left, but he is clueless about the modern world. He blackmails Lorena into giving him blood, and teaching him how to fit in and navigate the new world he's found himself in.

Soon, they unravel a terrible secret---William is the last hope for his species, and will have to choose between fulfilling his destiny or saving the humans around him.

Lorena and William both felt like interesting characters, although I would have liked to hear a bit more about William's life before he was turned. Lorena, on the other hand, was exactly what I want my main characters to be like---fun, likable, and complex.

There were a few issues with the pacing and the writing style of this book. The entire first half felt unbelievably slow, whereas the second half absolutely FLEW by. The change in pace was so dramatic that I almost got whiplash. When I picked the book back up, it felt like a whole new story.
In addition to this, the friendships in this novel, specifically the ones between Lorena, Salma, and Tiffany, were unhealthy and unlikable. I feel like a lot of the pacing issues could have been solved by removing all this drama. I also have to mention the fact that the school itself felt two-dimensional and flaky, like it was only there so that all the characters could all be in the same place.

Don't think that these issues took anything away from the book! It is a testament to how good the story is that I found myself not caring about the pacing or the unrealistic school. If you've had a Twilight phase, chances are this book will be right up your alley.

This book was ok it gave me twilight vibes. I didn't realize it was YA which I don't really read. I would recommend this for vampire lovers

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for an ARC of this book, I do love a good Vampire story and am of the Twilight era, so was super excited to read this. I do think it’s aimed at a slightly younger audience, but I still enjoyed it. The start of the book is a little slower, picks up pace around the middle of the book and overall, has a good premise that will keep you entertained. I personally enjoyed the gothic, paranormal and humor of this book and found it to be a quick read.

If I read The Last Vampire at the same age I became fixated on Twilight, I would’ve read this one even more times than that iconic series. It really captures a nice twist on classic vampire stories while also bringing a captivating romance. It delivers exactly what I’d expect for this subgenre and for that reason I loved it. The writing was good, plot intriguing, and it kept me so interested I finished it in one sitting.

Deducting a few points for the friendships in this one. The relationships between Lorena, Salma, and Tiffany felt immature and at times volatile. It didn’t feel healthy and it distracted a lot from the overall story.

I like like this story. It was an interesting vampire romance. A group go into the place that they can't and find a secret place with a coffin. I like that the human girl and vampire do not fall in love quickly. He keeps trying to kill her and she is scared with a real reaction. They fall in love and it was nice to see it happen slow. It's a nice story.

I definitely had my Twilight phase as a young teen (I mean, didn’t we all?). So going into this academy-setting vampire book, I was expecting something very Twilight-esque. I was pleasantly surprised by how much better this was.

Let’s be real—I read romantasy for three reasons:
1. I want to feel for the characters.
Whether I’m laughing or crying, I need to be emotionally invested. And I definitely got attached to Lorena and William as they fought against their feelings. I was almost brought to tears by the decision Lorena makes at the end—and then actually brought to tears by what William does with it.

2. I want to be immersed in a fantasy world.
Even though this book takes place in the human world, the deep vampire history added a rich, otherworldly layer. I appreciated how the story explored themes like how history can be rewritten or erased. The depth of the vampire community gave me the fantasy element I craved, even outside a traditional fantasy setting.

3. I need a swoon-worthy romance.
I want a couple that makes me believe they’ll last beyond the final page (because let’s be honest, not all of them do). Lorena and William were so cute, and I loved how their personalities balanced each other. Their Shakespeare club and literature class debates? Absolute gold.
The plot itself was solid, though I’ll admit it got a little too twisty at times. There was a lot going on, and it could be hard to keep track of everything. But overall, it didn’t take away too much from my enjoyment.


This book had everything I want in a romantasy: emotional tension, unique worldbuilding, a compelling romance, and bonus—dual POVs (my favorite!). 4/5 stars to The Last Vampire—and I’ll definitely be picking up whatever Romina Garber writes next.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this one! There were times when the pacing felt a little off but overall, it was a nice read. I loved the concept of William missing out on things and needing to learn all that had happened since he was last awake and the vampire x human girl definitely took me back to my beloved teen days where we were all obsessed with TVD and twilight. I also think the intertwining of teen issues and just real life ones was well done in this story and authentic. I’m not sure if this is supposed to be a standalone or series but I’m really hoping the latter, as I’d love to have more.

What a fun gothic read! I love all things vampire, gothic, and academia. Thank you netgalley for this unique e-arc!

This was a pretty good. I read it found it was different and fun and also unique. I enjoyed the vampire human aspect of the book. Thanks for letting me read this book.

The Last Vampire takes place in a boarding school that feels more like an eerie, brooding manor—steeped in gothic romance and mystery. Only a select few students are invited to attend, and the school operates under strict rules, isolation, and an abundance of forbidden places. Our main character, Lorena, arrives with her best friend, who’s basically Wednesday Addams reincarnated. They’re roomed with a snarky, Barbie-like classmate, and the three quickly form a friend group with two boys—five teens who clearly aren’t going to follow the rules. But Lorena soon finds herself singled out, and what she uncovers is far more than she expected.

We also follow William, the male lead, who wakes up in a world he doesn't understand with a burning need for blood. He’s confused, alone, and completely unprepared for what the world he's suddenly found himself in.

I was really excited for this book—I grew up loving vampire stories and feel like there just aren’t enough quality ones out there anymore. At first, I was really enjoying it. It was fun, a bit cute, and I found myself eager to see what would unfold between the main characters. The tone did feel a little immature at times, but I reminded myself it’s targeted at a younger audience. I think younger me would’ve enjoyed this more.

That said, the pacing eventually started to lose its grip. What began as a compelling premise started to feel diluted with unexpected plot turns that didn’t always feel necessary. I think if the story had slowed down a bit and focused more on the romance, it really could have shined.

Also worth noting: it gets a bit spicy. As much as I’d love to recommend this to middle school readers, I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing so. A version without the spice would’ve made it a much stronger fit for that age group.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

*Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book*

It's definitely a modern-day Gothic read. Lorena comes across as an average 18 year old for the most part, but some parts of the book feel a bit Mary Sue. I absolutely loved the book as a whole, I could not stop reading until the end, but I feel like her Castle of the Cursed comes off as a stronger read

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book early!

I loved the premise of this book, (Pride and prejudice meets Crave) but I have some mixed feelings about it. I didn't get a lot of the Pride and Prejudice vibes. I really thought the world was interesting- the idea that vampires were a known part of our world that were pretty much erased from history. I thought the school/academy setting was very cool with the gothic vibes. The characters were pretty well developed, and I was interested in Lorena and her relationships.

A lot of the storytelling veered on cringe to me (dialog especially). The romantic scenes didn't work for me but overall, I did enjoy reading and I was interested in the overall story arc.

As for the Crave aspect I did get those vibes and Twilight vibes, but this one was nearly as fast paced to me as those other reads. It did have the fun high school vibes.

I would read more in this world, and I was interested in the story just some of the aspects didn't work for me (but I do think a younger audience would like it more?)

Fast paced and had strong themes of self discovery, usually vampire stories set in high school can be over done (I love anything vampire so I don't mind) but this was great, authentic characters you root for and rich worldbuiling, propulsive plot, really enjoyed!

The problem with most vampire romances set in high schools is the age gap factor. The human is a teen, and the vampire is hundreds of years old, going to high school, dating a teen girl. Just icky. Here, though, (yes, those details are still true) Lenore is in her senior year and is 18. William is 19 and was in death-sleep for hundreds of years, almost the entire time he was a vampire. Also, unlike some of the shows, he doesn't enroll in the school to stalk the girl. He needs to catch up on all the human history he missed.

I don't know that I would compare the book to Pride and Prejudice. What I do know, though, is that it is so much better than Twilight. Light years better. Truly hope there is a sequel!!!

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book! My opinions are my own and are freely given.

The Last Vampire by Romina Garber is an absolute triumph—a richly imagined, fast-paced fantasy that grips you from the first page and refuses to let go. Garber blends myth, folklore, and emotional depth into a story that is as fierce as it is heartfelt.

At the center of the novel is a protagonist you can't help but root for—resilient, haunted, and complex. As she unravels the mystery of her past and confronts the truth about her identity, readers are taken on a ride filled with action, betrayal, ancient secrets, and beautifully crafted relationships. Garber’s prose is both lyrical and accessible, and her world-building is as immersive as ever, drawing on a rich tapestry of vampire lore while reinventing it in fresh, surprising ways.

But what sets this novel apart is its emotional resonance. It’s not just a vampire story—it’s about survival, self-discovery, and reclaiming one's power in the face of darkness. Fans of Garber’s Lobizona series will recognize her signature blend of magic and meaning, but The Last Vampire carves out its own unique space in the genre.

It started out so slow and seemed to pause in part that didn’t need extra details, yet the middle end it sped up where the author really needed to add more details and build the storyline. Really could have been a duology to help with building the storyline. Twilight v crave vibes.

This is a fun young adult book. I like the references to Twilight (a bit meta!) I also like how the author incorporated other literary elements and texts into the story. I hope there is a sequel.

I loved the setting and vibes of this book and the banter with the characters was fun. I think there is a lot of potential here but there's quite a bit that gets in the way like with one POV being in first person and another being in third. It made it a very strange and oftentimes confusing reading experience.

This book was just what I needed. I really enjoyed the time spent between its pages. It was like a #TBT to 2010' fantasy books.