I thought I would like it more than I did.
The protagonist was to childish for me even if I understood that se was sheltered all her life, even so... there were moments that she was too immature. I liked the plot, the world building and the twist I think what didn't convince me were the characters, dialogues and sometimes the writing.
But I enjoyed and liked to read the book.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for providing me with an E-ARC!

Unfortunately this wasn't the book for me. I was hoping that I would enjoy it more once I passed the halfway mark, but sadly I didn't. It did have some of my favorite tropes: enemies to lovers and forced proximity. The storyline had so much potential. I think that some more action would have done this book good!

I found The Last Raven to be a really fun read. It was definitely dark and moody and had a lot of twists and turns. It also had some really cool new ideas to add to the basic vampire genre

I had much higher hopes from this book, but the ending ruined it for me. The writing wasn’t great, and the book left a lot to be desired.

2,5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to the publisher for the earc!

First of all, somehow I completely missed the fact that it’s a vampire book! It was a nice surprise when I realized, so I’m not complaining at all. Unfortunately I did not love this book as much as I hoped for.

Emelia is the human heir of one of the biggest vampire clans, but she does not want any of it. Her parents kept her hidden and protected from the world, so she has very little knowledge of… well, basically anything that happens outside of her home.

It would be too harsh to say I liked nothing of the book, because there were 2 things I enjoyed, but overall, something felt off.

I did not like any of the characters. Emelia was a spoiled heir, she thought she knew everything. She planned to run away before her 18th birthday and live as a normal human, but when she first saw how they lived she was disappointed? Surprise, your education was short and extremely biased. I seriously don’t understand how could she think that she can live a normal life as a human in a world where vampires are the rules. She thought just because they live amongst each other they are free. Spoiler: they are not.

This book features one of my least favorite tropes, instalove. I kind of understand why Emelie had feelings for Kyle immediately upon first seeing him. Her parents kept her sheltered, she had very little interaction with people her age (well, Kyle is a vampire, so “her age” is mostly, looking like her age), but it’s still unrealistic for me and did not like it at all.

THe worldbuilding was basically nonexistent. I know it takes place in our world (somewhere in the UK to be precise), but there are a lot of questions. I mean, they have WiFi, smartphones, but petrol is scarce? How do they have electricity? More importantly, how is it possible that vampires exist? And happened that they gained power above humans all over the world? Just so many unexplained things.

Like I said there were 2 things, I did like in the book. The first one was the biggest plot twist, I knew Kyle had something to hide, but was definitely not expecting what actually happened. It was a very bold move, one we rarely see in YA books, and I’m guessing this is why I loved this move so much. The other was the ending itself, I might read the sequel after it. I know for sure, that without the last chapter, I’d never consider it.

Overall, if you want a book with vampires it’s a good story, but don’t expect too much.

Ooof okay. I found this one hard to get into.

Set in modern day England, but not written completely in a modern day style... so every time someone mentioned a car or mobile phones I was like right, okay...

The premise of the story is that the FMC (Emelia) is born 'human' to vampire parents, who also happens to be the leaders of the vampires i.e. the Ravens. And as Emelia is human, she is The Last Raven as she will eventually 💀 as she is not a vampire (Plot hole? I was not sure how this would work - assumed that her parents would take over again after??)

Her parents are prepping her to take over, but as there are some unrest with the humans that are literally farmed for their 🩸 Emelia gets her own personal guard. Enter the MMC (???) Kyle. Of course he is morally grey and seduces her. They decide to runaway together. Up until this point it was still going fine, and then the book does a complete 360. Kyle betrays her and I am not sure he is redeemable. Emelia then returns to her parents and asks to live a human life a bit before she takes over as The Last Raven.

I don't think there was enough world building at the start and then the end was a bit anti-climatic for me.

Read this if you like:
- Vampires
- Romantasy set in a modern setting
- Insta love
- Forbidden love
- Bodyguard trope

I am not sure I would pick up book 2 to be honest.

Big thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I think enemies to lovers was a bit of a stretch. I would have liked more world building and the plot was predictable. I didn’t care for the characters much.

The romance is too dull to consider it as a good one and the world building is so lacking it cannot count as a good fantasy book either. I would have probably dnfed this if it wasn't for it being an arc because it was also kinda boring. I have also received this in a book box which is disappointing

This was a good read with some interesting concepts and plot twists. However, despite the improved pacing in the second half, this was no more than a solid read for me.

This book was ok, but I found the romance element quite lacklustre. The pacing in the second half picked up and made for an interesting finish, and I liked the final reveal at the end

I really enjoyed this book. I read many variations of vampire books, and I found this one to have many original ideas.
There were a few things that were predictable, but not enough to ruin the storyline for me.
I'd rate it a 4 star overall.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollinsUK, and One More Chapter for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Few Notes Before We Begin:
•This is a condensed review. I might create a more detailed video review later and post it on my socials.
•While some have referred to this book as romantasy, I’d like to clarify that it is not a romantasy.

Initial Thoughts
I was excited to dive into The Last Raven, especially after seeing glowing early reviews on Instagram. A love story between a vampire and a human? Count me in! But once I started reading, I felt like I was experiencing an entirely different book. Checking Goodreads confirmed I wasn’t alone—many reviews echoed my feelings.

Rating this book is tough. While I understand this is an uncorrected proof, it feels far from ready for publication. The story would benefit significantly from developmental editing. While some line editing (e.g., cutting repetitive “er” and “uh” phrases) would help, the larger issue lies in its structure and world-building.

The Plot
The core idea—a human destined to rule in a vampire-dominated world—is intriguing. Unfortunately, that’s where my enthusiasm ends. The plot was predictable in the least enjoyable way: boring. Familiar tropes can be comforting and fun when executed well, but this fell flat.

The story was riddled with plot holes, and critical revelations came far too late, making them feel like afterthoughts. The pacing was paradoxically both too fast and too slow, which robbed the narrative of the tension and excitement necessary to keep readers engaged.

Worldbuilding
The world had potential, but the execution left me confused. Here are just a few examples:
•The timeline is inconsistent. It’s been over 50 years since the vampire uprising, yet canonical works like Interview with the Vampire (1976) still exist. Would this book have even been published in a world ruled by vampires?
•Vampires, some of whom are over 500 years old, only decided to take over the world 50 years ago. Why wait so long?
•Vampires celebrate Halloween. Why? Wouldn’t they celebrate a harvest festival like Samhain or invent a new holiday tied to their culture? Or simply commemorate the Rising of the vampires?
•Language inconsistency: The FMC uses modern slang despite being raised in isolation. Where did she learn it? Slang evolves with new generations and specific environments, so how is it developing in this world? Does it originate from humans? If so, how does the FMC know it? The MMC’s use of slang is somewhat believable since he frequents areas where vampires and humans coexist, but for her, it doesn’t make sense given her sheltered upbringing.

The Characters
I struggled to connect with any of the characters.
•FMC: Insufferable and contradictory. Her actions and thoughts often didn’t align, leaving me frustrated. For example: “He can do anything in this moment, and I’ll let him. How would I stop him anyway?” immediately followed by “Nothing matters except his touch.” Is she into it or not?
•MMC: Equally annoying. He asks, “Don’t you trust me?” on the same day they meet. The lack of chemistry between the two made their interactions nonsensical.

The Writing
•Pacing: The book relied heavily on chapter-ending cliffhangers, which can work in fanfiction but not in this format. The tension is lost when resolutions come immediately in the beginning of the next chapter.
•Repetition: Certain words and phrases were overused to the point of distraction. How I Met Your Mother fans: remember the episode where everyone played a drinking game based on Robin saying “but, um”? That’s exactly how I felt while reading this—it became impossible to ignore.
•Tone: The writing felt more suited for a younger audience, yet it also included sexual content. This inconsistency made it difficult to determine the target audience and detracted from the overall reading experience.

Marketing (maybe spoilers ahead)
Words matter. Marketing this book as a romance (or romantasy) sets up certain expectations, and this story does not meet them. You can call it romantic, but it doesn’t fulfill the criteria of a romance novel.
Additionally, the tagline on the cover—“Her blood is all he craves”—never plays into the plot. Misleading marketing like this sets readers up for disappointment. It might help sales initially, but disappointed reviewers may sway others not to purchase the book.

Conclusion
I wanted to like this book—I’m a sucker for vampire stories—but it didn’t work for me. The worldbuilding was shaky, the plot predictable, and the characters frustrating. I doubt I’ll read the sequel.

This review might seem overly critical, but I want to explain why this book didn’t resonate with me. I tried to turn my brain off and just enjoy the ride, but it simply wasn’t enjoyable.

Rating: ⭐✨/5

Overall was an okay read. Was left a bit disappointed by the lack of enemies to lovers and felt the relationship was insta love. Did enjoy the world building and the characters though!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This is a unique vampire tale. A human girl is the child of the vampire rulers of the land. She struggles with her life as a royal in a world where humans are livestock. The romantic relationship in the book had me questioning the MC’s judgement for the first 2/3 of the book, then it finally got better. I honestly didn’t think I’d be able to leave a great review, but the last quarter of the book really helped make up for the rest of it for me.

In a world where vampires are the ones making the rules how can the human daughter of two powerful vampires expect to survive let alone lead them. Emelia is poised to take over the realm and lead the vampires. But Emelia isn't a vampire she's breakable and in danger at every turn. Forced to wear things like a spray to deter and mask her human smell.

The humans live in service to the vampires in small communitys called "safe zones" Emelia dreams of visiting and living out the life she has idealized. But the problem is the safe zones really aren't safe for anyone let alone the humans it's supposed to protect.

Emelia seeks connection with her guard and the two of them plan to run away together.

Fantasy
Vampires
Found family

I started off really liking this but then to be honest the insta love started to bother me. I then suspected what the plot twist was gonna be and ended up being right, it was a good book dont get me wrong but I dont think i would be continuing the series

Emelia is on the brink of inheriting the esteemed vampire crown of Raven, a position that is as thrilling as it is challenging. As the child of the reigning vampire rulers, her completely human nature makes her a fascinating anomaly in a world dominated by the supernatural. While some may view her uniqueness as a monstrosity, she is truly a rare gem that adds depth to her lineage. Her parents take every measure to protect her from the outside world, keeping her safe from potential threats and prying eyes.

In contrast, we have Kyle, whose vibrant energy leaps off the page and instantly captivates readers. His character is wonderfully developed, and he quickly becomes a fan favourite, bringing humour and joy that brilliantly lightens the story’s mood. His presence balances the novel’s more serious themes, making the experience even more enjoyable.

This novel is a delightful read, effortlessly drawing you into its charming universe with a fluid narrative that keeps you engaged from the first page to the last. While the depiction of vampires may remind readers of the "Twilight" series, it skillfully weaves its own unique twists and turns. This connection only enhances its originality, crafting a mesmerizing tale full of mystery and emotion that will enchant anyone who takes the plunge into its captivating pages.

#VampireLegacy #EnchantingTale #MysteryAndEmotion #KyleTheFavorite #EmeliaTheAnomaly #SupernaturalWorld #CaptivatingRead

What I liked about this book was that vampires rule and humans are seen as the lesser beings, maybe this has been done before but it wasn't a take that I had read and I enjoyed that.

The story is a very fast paced, quick read. I wouldn't say it was a favourite but it was enjoyable enough that I'll probably pick up the sequel.

I did see the twists coming from the beginning, but that didn't put me off. The characters were a little surface level and things maybe happened a little too quickly, but on the plus side, it meant there was no unnecessary filler. I didn't really buy the chemistry between the love interests, but I'm wondering if this was the author's aim now that I've finished reading.

I'm interested to see where the plot goes, how will Emelia go about trying to bring changes to their world? I'll be reading on to see how this develops.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

The Last Raven is the first book in The Ravens duology. It was the first title to be ever featured in the Forbidden Wing book box. This romantasy is said to be a vampire romance, but what will this first book in the duology bring?

The story starts of really nice. I enjoyed the storyline and liked the characters. Emilia doesn't want her heritage. As human, she doesn't feel like she is fit to lead a vampire coven but she will come of age soon. Can she escape her future with her new bodyguard Kyle or will she be forced to live a life she doesn't want?

What did I just read? That was my initial thought after finishing The Last Raven. The storyline is okay, but not romantasy at all. Yes, it has fantasy elements but I wouldn't say there really is a romance. And that plottwist in the end? No way. It just doesn't make any sense at all. I wished I liked the ending, but it just left me stunned and I just couldn't cope with it. I really hope part two comes soon, since we need answers!

Helen Glynn Jones has a nice writing style which kept me hooked. I am really looking forward to the next part in this duology, since I feel like too much was happening in the end of this book. I enjoyed reading The Last Raven and give it a 4 star rating.

“The Last Raven,” by Helen Glynn Jones

This was a really good book. It is everything I look for in a YA vampire royalty book. I love how the princess is human despite her parents being vampires, I loved how she was torn between the two worlds of vampires and humans. The morality of their world and how humans are treated was the main focus of the entire book. The main character is such a sheltered princess, her knowledge and thoughts about it was so naïve and innocent. I liked seeing her grow into the person she became at the end. Above all, I adored the forbidden love romance aspect. Those two characters were so good together and I loved every scene. 4 out of 5 stars.

-Vampires
-Forbidden Love
-Royalty

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.