ARC provided by NetGalley

A fast-paced read that dives straight into the heart of the story. Set within the backdrop of a school, it blends hidden secrets, history’s distortions, and a fresh reimagining of vampirism.

What really stood out for me was the diverse cast of characters and how their different perspectives enriched the story. The shifting dynamics of power, the rocky bonds of friendship, and the slow build of trust kept me engaged from start to finish.

Themes of betrayal, found family, and unexpected love weave together with an intriguing mystery about the past and what it means to be “the last.” The plot stayed engaging throughout—layered, surprising, and thought-provoking.

The ending delivers a mix of surprise and bittersweet emotion, leaving you with an almost happily ever after that lingers.

Overall, really enjoyed this story.

✨ARC Review✨

This book is perfect for lovers of Pride & Prejudice with a hint of Twilight!!! This book sunk its fangs into with the first chapter. There is tension and passion as the main pair works its ways through the normal dramas of high school with an added paranormal and earth shattering twist. I deeply enjoyed this story and look forward to seeing what comes next for this group of friends!

Thank you Romina Garber, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this story early!

Romina Garber has such an incredible ability to completely immerse the read. . If you love angst, and fantasy with bite, this one’s an absolute must-read.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this eARC. All opinions are my own.

This was an enjoyable reading experience.

This is a story that dares to ask: what if vampires weren't charming?
I had a fun time with this one! After a series of pretty dark reads it was nice to read something silly and romantic. She's cute and fun, he's dark and broodythe If you're looking for something with just enough depth to keep you engaged, this is a solid pick.
Thank you so much @netgalley & @wednesdaybooks for the eArc!

into this ARC read.

The pacing of this was a good speed for me and I really enjoyed the multiple POVs between our love interests. It kept it intriguing.

If you are looking for a new dark, academia read add this to your list!

This was fine, not as exciting as I was expecting for a vampire story. But more of a gothic academia vampire story. Like the kind of story you’d pass down to your children or something.

While somewhat predictable it was still an interesting world and story. But it felt like a bit of a struggle to keep me engaged and I began skimming pages around the 70% mark.

I wish we could have seen more about the school, the director, the staff and the history of it. Or even more glimpses of Lorena’s life growing up.

The Last Vampire is a captivating blend of gothic charm and supernatural intrigue, set against the backdrop of a mysterious boarding school. Lorena Navarro, an Austen enthusiast, enrolls in a secluded New Hampshire manor with hopes of finding her own Mr. Darcy. Instead, she inadvertently awakens William Pride, the world’s last vampire, leading to an unexpected alliance filled with tension and discovery.

Garber’s writing is lush and evocative, painting vivid scenes that immerse readers in Lorena and William’s story. The dynamic between the characters crackles with tension, wit, and just the right amount of gothic absurdity. The boarding school setting adds an atmospheric layer, enhancing the slow-burn unraveling of secrets and the aching pull between duty and desire.

While the pacing occasionally lingers, the unique premise and engaging characters make this novel a delightful read for fans of witty romance with a dash of the macabre.

Vampires plus dark academia equals literary perfection! The folklore in this novel is unlike any other and will leave you breathless.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc copy of The Last Vampire.

I was pretty excited to read this story as I love a good vampire novel and who doesn’t love pride and prejudice. Unfortunately I knew pretty early on that this wouldn’t be the right book for me. I don’t generally enjoy fantasy book/ modern setting. I found the world building of this book particularly lazy and it was jarring to have a love story be compared to pride and prejudice but have modern language/ technology etc. I didn’t feel particularly compelled by any of the characters and found the pacing to be questionable at points. There are elements that I feel could make a good book but overall I’m probably not the right audience for this.

The Last Vampire by Romina Garber

Book Blurb:Pride comes before the fall.
When a boarding school opens in a once-condemned Victorian manor buried in the woods of New Hampshire, Austen-loving Lorena Navarro enrolls in hopes of finding her own Mr. Darcy. Instead, she stumbles across a coffin and accidentally awakens the world’s last vampire.

Rating: ****
Feels: Intrigue, Wonder, Amusement, Satisfaction.
Style: Fantasy, Young Adult, Vampires, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult Fantasy, Romantasy
First published December 2, 2025 : 400 pages Kindle

I wasn't prepared to enjoy this book as much as I did, which was alot !!! The characters and world building pulled me in and got me invested pretty early on. Pacing was slow during certain times which suited me well as we found out what was going on in the world and then sped up during action scenes which were packed with scenes that had me on the edge of my seat. The dynamic between humans and the vampire was really interesting with humans able to be bonded to the vampires in a way as familiars. The mystery of where the vampires went and why William was left alone was intriguing and I really enjoyed that exploration. I enjoyed this all being set in an academic setting as the background and felt that really gave it an extra enjoyable structure. The reference to different works of classical fiction from the characters viewpoints was also alot of fun.

Favorite Quote: "You're prejudiced?" I ask, with a mirthless laugh. "It should be me, the human, who should not want to be friends with a vampire, not the other way around!" I feel tears burning in my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. "You're just like Darcy ! You feel superior to me and want credit just for letting me and other humans breathe your air..."

This book has:
Morally Grey MMC
Touch her and Die
Yearning
Slow Burn
Academic Setting
Found Family

Thank you to Romina Garber, St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion

thank you to netgalley for sending me this ARC. this book had so much potential but something fell a little flat for me. I loved vampires, secluded/mysterious school, the characters but in the end it was just kind of ok. 3

Get ready for your next obsession! When a small private boarding school opens inside a sprawling old mansion in New Hampshire, students from across the United States rush to apply. Among those accepted are Lorena Navarro, daughter of a notorious mommy influencer, and her best friend. It doesn’t take long for them to realize that the manor holds dangerous secrets, including the last vampire, hidden away for centuries.

When William Pride awakens, his first instinct is to seek his own kind and the truth about his existence. At first, he has no interest in the humans who discovered him—until he does. A living threat emerges, forcing William to decide where his loyalties lie.

Dark, thrilling, and impossible to put down, this is a story you will devour.

#stmartinspress #thelastvampire #rominagarber

This is a fun and quick YA read. I don't really see any Pride & Prejudice similarities. There is lots of action that does keep you reading. I like the way the author deals with the age gap between the main characters. Usually it irks me when there is a 18 year old with an immortal. William spent most of his life "sleeping" so in reality, he is just like other teens. I do wish there was more buildup between the main characters. I'm not a big fan of instant love. While fun to read, there were slow moments and times where it felt hard to connect to the characters and plot. I do appreciate NetGalley for the chance to read it.

The Last Vampire stated out a little slow for me but once it picked up I became immersed in the story. I liked the characters, they felt real and relatable and of course I loved the vampires. The story line was great, it kind of had an old world feel to it.

Once a condemned manor, Blackthorne Hall has been reborn as an elite prep school—though certain wings remain sealed off, “for the students’ safety.” Lorena, the disgraced daughter of a once-famous mommy influencer, arrives determined to keep her head down. But when her rebellious best friend Salma dares her to sneak past the locked doors, what they find in the forbidden wing will upend everything Lorena thought she knew.

Edward isn’t a hero—he’s a vampire who wakes ravenous after decades of slumber, ready to sink his teeth into the nearest human. But in this strange, modern world where his kind has vanished, he may need a human ally more than a meal.

What happened to all the vampires? Why was Edward awakened—and what role is Lorena meant to play? Blending mystery, forbidden romance, and the push-and-pull of a friendship tested by secrets, this is true dark academia.

I loved the romance between Edward and Lorena, as he struggles with whether keeping her safe means leaving her behind. I also loved the portrayal of deep teenage friendship between Lorena and Salma, tested by rebellion, stretched thin by secrets, but never quite breaking their deep love for each other. This book also gives the vampires a fascinating backstory that I can't wait to read more of.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The Last Vampire in exchange for my honest review.
The Last Vampire by Romina Garber is a fun, gothic twist on Pride and Prejudice with a supernatural edge. Lorena Navarro’s dream of finding her Mr. Darcy at her new boarding school takes an unexpected turn when she awakens William Pride, the world’s last vampire. Their uneasy alliance brings both humor and tension as William adjusts to the modern world while facing the weight of his destiny.
The premise is playful yet atmospheric, mixing romance, mystery, and paranormal intrigue. While the pacing sometimes lingers, the banter between Lorena and William and the gothic boarding school setting keep the story engaging. Fans of witty romance with a dash of the macabre will enjoy this unique blend of Austen charm and vampire lore.

3.25 stars
This is one of those that I liked the start of the book better than the rest. I was really enjoying the story, really wrapped up in the first 40ish% of this book, but somewhere around the middle, it dragged. I found myself continually checking my progress only to notice the needle hardly moved at all. Still, I pushed through and found the ending to be okay. I enjoyed the lit references and the dark academia setting, though the world building wasn't what I expected. I wanted more. Also, I felt the characters to be incredibly childish and OTT with their responses to conflict. I mean, I know they're teens and tend to be more self-centered and less self-aware, but this went to the extreme. Overall, I think YA dark academia lovers will like it well enough and it's not a whole series commitment, so that's nice.

William and Lorena have my heart. A regency-inspired vampire romance was not something I knew I needed, but I am so glad it exists. All the stars.

Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for a review!

Originally this book interested me because it was marketed as Pride and Prejudice by with a human and a vampire. I thought the concept of this book was neat, so I decided to give the book a chance. I will say that the plot was less predictable than I expected. I enjoyed some of the characters, but found others kind of annoying. There were a lot of characters in the book. I ended up finding this book average. The connection to P&P was very marginal and the plot moved so slow at the beginning, only picking up in parts 2 and 3, which was fine. I did love all of the gothic and classic novels as inspiration. Overall, I did enjoy this more than expected, but not enough that I'll be rushing to recommend it to anyone.