This book was such a blast to read! I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I picked it up, but it completely won me over with its mix of gothic vibes, snappy dialogue, and emotional depth.

Lorena was such a relatable and fun narrator — a bit awkward, smart, and absolutely passionate about classic literature (her Jane Austen references had me smiling). And then there’s William, the last vampire, who manages to be dramatic, mysterious, and unintentionally hilarious. Their interactions had the perfect balance of tension, banter, and genuine warmth.

What I really loved was how the story leaned into the weirdness and made it work. It didn’t take itself too seriously, but it still managed to explore grief, loneliness, and identity in a way that felt real. Plus, the writing was sharp and witty without being too over the top — I flew through it!

If you're into paranormal with a bit of heart, humor, and a unique voice, this is definitely one to check out. It feels like a cozy goth novel that hugs you and bites you at the same time.

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC

Oof I am DNF'ing this at 53%. Something about the writing is not my cup of tea. I know it's YA but it feels far more juvenile. Also the differeing point-of-view switches made it very confusing. Why is Lorena first person and William third? That felt sloppy.

Thank you to Net Gallley for the advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for reading and reviewing.

This one was not for me, y’all. The writing felt weirdly stuck between middle grade and YA, which I can let slide. Maybe it’s just on the younger side of YA, ya know? But labelling this dark academia was a stretch. The characters felt like caricatures of high school freshman stereotypes (blue haired weird girl, the jock, preppy mean girl, the goth best friend, etc.), which ended up robbing them of any actual depth. The way the supposed authority figures acted throughout the story also felt like they existed through the lense of a 15 year old getting dress coded. The backstory for Lorena and Salma felt wildly over dramatized, which definitely had me leaning toward middle grade. I also have no idea at all where the “Pride and Prejudice fans will love this!” comes in. Overall, it was a big miss for me.

I had way too much fun with this one. It’s cheeky, dramatic, brimming with vampire flair, and somehow still manages to capture the quiet yearning of a classic slow-burn romance. The writing has that perfect blend of wit and sincerity. It never takes itself too seriously, but when the emotions hit, they really hit. The romance builds slowly and deliciously, full of tension and stolen moments, all wrapped up in this gothic, eerie school setting that feels like something out of an old, haunted fairytale. There’s just enough mystery and danger to make your heart race, but what really pulled me in was the emotional weight behind William’s dilemma and the way Lorena anchors him to his own humanity. It’s funny and swoony and has such a strong voice. I’m honestly obsessed.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! I gave this a chance as the premise was interesting but perhaps should have considered reviews first—if just does not work.

The concept was captivating, mixing supernatural themes with a modern edge. There were definitely moments of strong atmosphere and exciting action that drew me in, and the world-building introduced some creative and intriguing ideas.

However, the pacing felt uneven — certain scenes rushed by too quickly while others lingered too long. While the main character showed promise, I found it hard to fully connect with them, and some of the emotional moments didn’t quite resonate. A few of the plot twists were easy to see coming, and the supporting characters could have been fleshed out more.

All in all, it was an enjoyable read with some original elements, but it didn’t completely deliver on its potential. It might appeal to paranormal fans, but for me, it didn’t leave a lasting impression.

Thank you for the ARC NetGalley!!

I loved the concept of The Last Vampire, but the pacing of this really killed me enjoyment. It was just a bit too slow for my tastes, and didn't really hold my attention because of that.

The Last Vampire follows Lorena as she and her best friend attend a new boarding school in an old Victorian manor. While exploring the out of bounds areas of the building, they stumble across a coffin and Lorena wakes a vampire. William has been hibernating for three centuries and relies on Lorena for blood and information. As they grow closer, William discovers he is the last for the vampire’s return to power. William must decide what is more important: his people or his growing feelings for Lorena?

I really wanted to love this one more than I did. I think the idea is great and it does have some things I like, but overall, I found it a bit too slow for my taste and the pacing to be a bit off. I did really enjoy the concept of William being the last vampire. It made for a really intriguing premise. I also loved the setting—very atmospheric and dark academia-ish.

I enjoyed that we got to see both Lorena and William’s perspectives. Both characters were interesting and had a lot of internal conflict to deal with. I enjoyed their grow and did really like where the book ended. The romance was cute and I think a lot of people will really enjoy it, especially if they like classic literature and that academic rivals to lovers vibe. I wasn’t too fond of the friends although some of them had their moments.

Overall, while this wasn’t my favourite, I do think a lot of others will love it, especially if you love vampires and dark academia.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the arc!

I really enjoyed this story and thought it was pretty cute. Lorena and her best friend Salma are attending school at a grand manor after humiliating Lore’s mom by being rebellious. Regardless, her mom is still able to secure their spots.

It being an old manor, parts of the building are under construction and remodeling. Lore, Salma, and their new friends (roommate Tiffany, stablemates Zach and Trevor) decide to explore their very first night at one of the sectioned off spaces, despite knowing there’s a curfew. They find what looks to be an old library with 3 portraits, and… a coffin… which moves. All of them trying to run, Lore gets caught and discovers that there was a boy in that coffin and it’s William. Our 200+ years, nineteen year old, vampire. Of course, having clearly been starved for hundreds of years he tries to drink her blood; to which she attacks back and gets away. Learning that he’s now out of his element and doesn’t know the world today, he tries to kill Lore, now that she knows what he is, and discover why history has been rewritten- no vampires.

Tiffany I have not really been a fan of the whole time. She started off not that great, then you think she might improve, but no. She continues to make Lou a target regardless of what Lore or Salma says.

Lore’s mom does seem to be nice in a way, but I know some of what Lore is going through there. The relationship between kids and their parents will always seem to be a tough one to navigate and each one will be a little different, because we’re all different people with different beliefs, thoughts, wants, and needs. I’m glad that Lore started to voice more of her opinion to herself, her mom, and Salma.

Also, an important note- social media and people online in general can be absolutely ruthless. They’ll say things they would never have the audacity to say to your face because they get to hide behind a screen and fake accounts. Her mom being an influencer, fine. But, not giving a teenager grace, even if things are true, people need to reevaluate their lives. Especially, since things online of course are not always true. I’m happy this book actually addresses things like this so maybe people can talk about it. However, I don’t agree using children for gain like her mom did. I’m glad she listened to her wishes when it came time, but horrible what Lore had to do in the end.

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

TBH Human/Vampire romances are not a fave of mine. There is a lot of arrogance in humans presuming vampire will fall for them, want them for eternity, etc. I get the romance and fantasy angle, but…

The book is okay. Some of the pacing is fine, but it also gets slogged down trying to get through scenes with dialogue instead of action.

Apparently William led the vampire back to hibernation and has his eye on mating with a human. This would be a betrayal and William would not be long for this world. Interestingly, I once knew a William who was married to a Felina so that felt similar to Fabiana.

Vampire in the book feel very 2-D. There is a part where one mentions being bled out. The scene left me wondering if the author knows what that means? Spoiler—the vampire would die.

In the end, the main character says the vampire are back.

That was a good and factual ending.

The premise was really intriguing, blending supernatural elements with a fresh, modern twist. There were moments of strong atmosphere and action that pulled me in, and the world had a lot of interesting ideas.

That said, the pacing felt off — some parts moved too quickly, while others dragged. The main character had potential, but I struggled to connect with them at times, and some of the emotional beats didn’t fully land. A few plot twists were predictable, and the supporting cast could’ve used more development.

Overall, it had its entertaining moments and a unique vibe, but it didn’t quite live up to its full potential. A decent read for fans of paranormal stories, just not one that stood out for me.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

THE LAST VAMPIRE by Romina Garber

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the earc (Dec 2)

When an old boarding school opens, Lorena Navarro enrolls. She hopes to find her own Mr. Darcy. She find William instead. William Pride had been in hibernation for three centuries after being put into death's sleep. The vampire, clueless about how the world works, enrolls at the school. When he learns that he is the last hope, he must choose what to do: fulfill his fate or protect the humans. Embrace who he is or let love control all.
THE LAST VAMPIRE is a YA fantasy-romance book that pulls from a multitude of vampire books and ideations to create a thrilling read. I haven't read many vampire books (really the closest I've come is watching Twilight) so I didn't know what to expect. What was delivered, however, was interesting and well-written. I was intrigued by what the author was portraying, I loved the debates between Lorena and William in the scenes where they discussed books. Despite this, the characters weren't as likeable as I would have liked---but as the story plays out we learn the reason, which makes them...not likeable per se but not unlikeable.
Despite the length of THE LAST VAMPIRE, this book is pretty fast-paced and it seemed like everything moved rather quick---especially between Lorena and [Redacted]. All the information was also delivered really fast, and there were times where it felt to be too much at once. I don't know how to explain it without spoiling things.
While THE LAST VAMPIRE is an intriguing read, with an somewhat satisfying ending, the book left things unfinished. Hopefully, a sequel is in the works to help tie up things.

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions! I have posted the following review to my Goodreads page today, 06/04/2025 at the link provided below. I will also post to Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

This one was a miss for me, although it wasn't poorly written by any stretch. The setting is an old mansion/castle/estate that is being cleaned up and repurposed as a boarding school. I think it would probably fall under the "dark academia" subclass, although if I were defining it myself I would say "dark academia with a lot of creamer".

There's a bit of a Scooby Doo mystery happening at the school and the main group of characters is trying to work out what exactly it is. My big issue is that the progression of this mystery being worked out is extremely drawn out and slow. At the 50% mark the most basic premise of the mystery was barely being explored past the initial introduction of it. It was taking so long even the main characters were wanting to abandon it!

I also thought the MMC, William, and FMC, Lorena, didn't have much chemistry. Their interactions were clearly set up to be a bit of a classic literature themed academic rivalry, but it fell flat for me. In addition to that, while you could definitely still understand their arguments without reading the classics they're arguing over (Shakespeare, Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice) it would be much easier if you had. The arguments seem to be insight into their actual feelings about each other, but if you're not familiar with those particular books then it could leave you in the dark.

It wasn't until partway into the book that I noticed the two POVs, Lorena and William, are first person and switch to third person, respectively. That's an interesting choice that I'm not sure I've seen before. My theory is this was done to make William seem more opaque and emotionally distant, although I can't say for sure. Still nice to see something different being tried.

Overall I think for YA readers that love that spooky dark academia setting, and like to see a mystery unraveled no matter how patient they have to be, this would be a good read.

For all the hype this book gives Pride and Prejudice I walked away asking 'why not hype Dracula'.

This book had a good start but lost itself in the middle and fell flat by the end. You have a girl who enters a college with her friend. Her mother and her friend's mother were close friends and did everything together. Her friend's mother passed recently, and her mother isn't really on good terms with her due to a video that circulated with our main female lead getting wild at a party.

They are sharing a room with a girl who is super rich (actually everyone in this college are rich) and our female lead isn't. Somehow eventually this girl becomes friends with them, along with a couple of guys.

Oh. Our vampire. Apparently he has been chilling in a wing of the school that has been off bounds. And, the group goes and finds the coffin. Vampire wakes up, threatens our female lead, bites her and makes her his familiar. He is pretty ass-y for a vampire, and threatens her a lot. Yet she finds it hot and by mid book she has feelings even though he hasn't really treated her well.

I was confused on where the Pride and Prejudice angle comes from. There is a throw-away comment that the female lead is looking for a guy that is like Darcy. Also, they read three books in this school - Jane Eyre, P&P, Dracula. This is where it gets odd because instead of having the story have themes of P&P, the author uses the literary class meetings to give her insights about various takes from these books. When the vampire ends up pretending to be a student to catch up on everything, he starts flexing his insight on these books too.

There is a group of vampires (apparently he isn't technically the last one) who is looking for someone of a certain line to kickstart their dominance in the world again. Who is it you ask? Well, it's Mr. Stoker, the guy who wrote Dracula. If they don't get their way, all the students including the girl will die.

I found the change from him disliking her to liking her / loving her to be jarring because it just literally happened in one paragraph. There was really no lead into it. It was like "well, I guess I can't bring back my kind, lets date". There are a lot of name drops to current books and films, which work but also sound like name dropping just for the sake of being cool.

The end of this book so many things happen and it makes you wonder if there will be a part two. It could also be a stand alone novel. BUT... that doesn't really wrap up the monster hunters and what not.

I felt like the female character annoyed me and while the author wanted you to feel for her as she was lying for her friend, there was just something ick about her feeling for a vampire that could snap her neck and threatens her and he isn't showing any sort of feelings for her.

A bizarre book, and if there is a sequel I ain't sitting around for it.

This book was everything I didn’t know I was craving. It’s witty, dramatic, romantic, and has just the right touch of gothic charm. The writing hits that sweet spot between playful and sincere, blending classic Austen vibes with a deliciously moody paranormal twist. I loved how the story plays with the tension between fate and choice, and how the romance never loses its emotional pull. It’s not just about yearning and chemistry, though there’s plenty of that. It’s also about identity, power, and how love can feel like both salvation and temptation. The whole setup feels fresh and fun, but there’s depth behind the charm. I fell hard for the slow unraveling of trust and the way it keeps asking what we owe to our past versus what we want for ourselves. It completely swept me away.

Journeys end in lovers meeting but with this tale a whole new world opens up and not everyone will make it out alive.

“The Last Vampire” is Lorena’s second chance after a video threatens her family’s lifestyle sending her to an exclusive academy where she and her new classmates stumble upon a hidden coffin and what’s inside changes her life forever.

This was an interesting read but one that that felt very long despite being close to the average of my reads at around 400 pages. I’m not sure if that is a good or bad thing because at a character standpoint I think there was a benefit to really getting to know some of the characters but others it felt like we were dragging the plot out too long without going far at all.

For characters I really enjoyed Lorna and I felt she did best with her friends and really understanding those dynamics between her childhood best friend and new roommate created an interesting dynamic and that push pull energy that felt very relatable and for me anchored the story. Her relationship with William was interesting and some parts, especially their fights under the guise of literary analysis, were some of my favorites however for the most part it seemed as though they were platonic until the plot needed them to be more and then it was all gas no breaks. That’s not necessarily a bad thing I just didn’t feel as connected to them and their romance as I wish I would have been.

I love the ideas here and the mythology of vampires and relationships with humans and what this great sleep means for the former and there is so much room for more and I really hope they dig into that and make it a solid story. With something so unique as its foundation I would love to see just how far you can take it if you’re brave enough to continue taking those risks.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

Lorena enrolled in a boarding school but woke up the last vampire by accident. William tried to revive his species and protect humans at the same time...

Love the pride and prejudice vibes... The characters are great. The dialogue is terrific.. An enjoyable read. Love this retelling of Dracula.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

The last vampire is another love story that will steal your heartbeat. It was like a modern day dracula with enemies-to-lovers vibes. Lorena was the Lucy to his vampire heart as his kiss was the winter to her summer. Their love will be told to hundreds and continue as we read it.

I enjoyed the plot and storyline and found that i couldn't put it down once i dove in. Being a fan of dracula and just vampires , i knew i would enjoy it. It was a different take all together that kept me entertained......who doesn't love a vampire and human love story.

This was deliciously dramatic in all the best ways. Their dynamic crackles with tension, wit, and just the right amount of gothic absurdity. I loved the boarding school setting, the slow-burn unraveling of secrets, and the aching pull between duty and desire. It’s funny, wildly romantic, a little bloody, and completely addictive. Austen would be proud, and maybe just a little horrified.

I thought this book was ridiculous. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

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