I looooooooooove a bodyguard romance, especially a romantasy. Their banter was really great. I liked that this is like a urban fantasy (modern times) style story. I cant wait to get to the next one with where the plot went with this book!

Bodyguard fantasy romance? Yep. Sign me all the way up! Definitely loved the twists and turns that kept me reading long into the night!

I absolutely loved this book. Perfect read for anyone vampire obsessed and who enjoys a fast paced, gripping page turner. Can't wait for the sequel.

The Last Raven is a darkly captivating tale of forbidden love and rebellion in a world where vampires rule and humans are caught in their shadow.

A unique premise utilising vampire mythology with a bodyguard romance twist and an eye-opening character journey for the main character, Emelia Raven. She grows a lot from her privileged, sheltered existence at the start of the book, which drives her to make rash choices but exposes her to the discrepancies in the lies spun to her and makes her question where she belongs, her core beliefs, and what she can do with her power.

I reccomend you give this one a shot if you like romance, vampires, distopian, forced proximity, coming of age

Thank you to the publisher and Net galley for the ARC!

DNF the book was hard to get into at all! I really wanted to like it but couldn’t finish it. I made it about 33% through the book before I put it down. I won’t be reviewing it on my social media because I do not like posting negative reviews for authors who did their best.

I had a hard time getting into this one, and I ended up having to DNF it halfway through. I can't for sure say it's the books fault since I was struggling with things while reading, so I couldn't really focus.
I might give it another try some day

The Last Raven
1⭐️3🌶️

New Adult Romantasy
17 yo FMC
Coming of age
Paranormal
Vampires
Self discovery
Bodyguard romance
Distopian
Forced proximity
Rebellion

TW: 18+content with underage characters

It’s important to mention upfront that I don’t think I’m the target audience for this book. That said, I’m honestly not sure who the intended audience is. The themes, language, sexual content, and the age of the main character all seem to suggest different age groups, which made it hard for me to feel comfortable while reading.

The central premise is that humans are essentially livestock for vampires. The main character, Amelia, is a 17-year-old recluse and the human heir to a vampire empire. What’s strange, though, is how her existence is viewed. Usually, a human born to vampires is seen as something weird and even a little “broken” by the vampire community. But in this world, humans are just livestock, so I found it odd that Amelia’s parents didn’t turn her into a vampire. It’s one of those things that just doesn’t make sense.

Then there’s the issue of Amelia taking over the empire at 18. You’d expect someone in line to rule half the world to have serious political training, but she has none. The fact that someone so young and unprepared would take over from rulers who’ve been in power for centuries feels like a big stretch. It made me wonder if the book is trying to appeal to a younger audience, but then it includes so much adult content and language that I was left confused about who this book is really meant for.

Even within the first 10% of the book, there are so many things that just don’t add up. For instance, Amelia’s bodyguard doesn’t seem to treat her like the heir to a massive empire. Instead of being her protector, he acts more like a babysitter. There’s no respect for her position, or even an attempt to pretend like it matters.

The dystopian setting also feels weird. On one hand, you’ve got humans being farmed for food for vampires, but on the other hand, characters are still wearing skinny jeans, using phones and laptops. It doesn’t add up, especially when the ruling vampires are over 500 years old. You’d think the world would have moved on from those outdated cultural markers by now.

Overall, the world-building is weak, there’s barely any context for the plot, and the execution just didn’t land. The book follows a lot of popular tropes and should have worked, but it just didn’t hit the mark for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK and One More Chapter for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Book Name: The Last Raven
Author: Helen Glynn Jones

ARC
Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter ****for an ARC

Stars: 4
Spice: 0 (YA)

Standalone
Open to more books
Fast Paced
FMC POV
Contemporary Vampire Dystopian Fantasy

Pros

- YA version of the Serpent and the Wing of Night
- World is intriguing

Cons

- Predictable
- Ending was TOO tidy
- I feel like I read this book 1000 times.

This is a good version of a basic story and very YA suitable it isn't as high stakes violent or scary as it's more older YA and adult predecessors. Overall an intriguing read but id skip it if you already like this genre

The Last Raven is a darkly captivating tale of forbidden love and rebellion in a world where vampires rule and humans are caught in their shadow. AHH!! I screamed a few times while reading it, it was just THAT good!!
Emelia, heir to a powerful vampire dynasty, finds herself irresistibly drawn to her bodyguard, Kyle, sparking a swoony romance filled with danger, passion, and betrayal. Forced proximity is golden, am I right?
With unexpected twists and a simmering tension between duty and desire, this story is perfect for fans of dark fantasy and forbidden love that sets your heart racing and leaves you wanting more!!

this book was simply rushed, with a seen-before plot and characters and I wasn't particularly interested in anything happening. The writing wasn't the best which obviously didn't help.

This book surprised me, I thought it was going to be a vampire/human romance, but it wasn't quite what I imagined. There was betrayal, lots of action, and a few twists. I did enjoy this book a lot, and I thought Emelia was a great character even if she didn't believe in herself much. I did like Kyle's character and the banter he had with Emelia, but then I didn't like him.. 😂 Overall, it's a good read!

I honestly was really disappointed with it. I wanted to DNF this but I pushed through. The ending was also very anticlimactic.

Thank you to Harper Collins UK- One More Chapter and Helen Glynn Jones for approving my request for a Netgalley eARC of The Last Raven in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Last Raven has vibes of Daybreakers (2009) meets In Time (2011) movies, having a dystopian book baby with a twist that vampires can have genetically mutated children born as humans. The premise behind The Last Raven is intriguing, full of suspense, dark secrets, and twists exploring how worldviews can be distorted through seclusion, secrets, and misinformation.
Helen Glynn Jones writes an easy-to-read style that brings to life a gothic-styled dystopian vampire world and crafts vampires who are powerful, deadly, and creepy. The pacing is a whirlwind cycle of events and plot twists that are foreshadowed, and it is easy to create theories to predict the ending. The political sphere of the vampiric royal class and the cause of the human rebellion were highlights of the plot. I would have loved to have seen more woven through the storytelling.

The romance is insta-love and has jarring chemistry, leading to a very passionate physical relationship. It didn’t allow for much of a real connection to develop between Emelia and Kyle. The swift establishment of the crush and physical intimacy drives a vital plot twist and showcases Emelia’s naivety. I am not sure all spicy scenes were actually necessary. It adds more anguish and twists the knife into Emelia’s heart at the darkest hour of her character journey.

A unique premise utilising vampire mythology with a bodyguard romance twist and an eye-opening character journey for the main character, Emelia Raven. She grows a lot from her privileged, sheltered existence at the start of the book, which drives her to make rash choices but exposes her to the discrepancies in the lies spun to her and makes her question where she belongs, her core beliefs, and what she can do with her power. I’m intrigued by the mysterious cliffhanger that The Last Raven ends upon. I’ll be keeping an eye out for the chance to request book 2 as a Netgalley ARC.

I started this book with all the best intentions but honestly after about 40% I found myself without any real reasons to continue reading (and life is short to read boring books). I found the protagonists flat and childish, the motivations of the female protagonist really puerile and superficial. Also from the cover I thought it was a romance with a medieval setting, instead hearing about DNA and televisions completely threw me off course. I don't think it's the right book for me.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

The Last Raven by Helen Glynn Jones had all the ingredients for a gripping, gothic fantasy: a world ruled by vampires, an unwilling heir torn between duty and desire, and a mysterious stranger who could change everything. But despite its intriguing premise, the book ultimately feels underwhelming, leaving more questions than answers and a sense of potential left untapped.

The story’s protagonist, Emelia, is relatable in her resistance to the life she’s been thrust into. As the heir to the House of Raven in a vampiric society, her reluctance to embrace her lineage—and her very human nature in a world where humanity is a liability—sets up an engaging internal struggle. However, her characterization feels inconsistent at times, making it difficult to fully invest in her journey. She’s brave in moments but indecisive and passive in others, which dulls the impact of her choices.

Kyle, the enigmatic newcomer, brings a touch of rebellion and intrigue, but his character feels underdeveloped. While he plays a pivotal role in Emelia’s story, their relationship lacks the depth and chemistry needed to make it truly compelling. The stakes of their connection—both romantic and narrative—never quite land, which is disappointing given the potential for tension and conflict.

The world-building is another mixed bag. The idea of a vampire-ruled society where humans are second-class citizens or worse is fascinating, but it’s only partially explored. Key details about the political dynamics, the rebellion, and even the vampires themselves remain frustratingly vague. The House of Raven and its influence should feel grand and oppressive, but instead, it’s a shadow of what it could be, leaving the setting feeling shallow.

Favorite moments? The underlying theme of choice—whether to embrace destiny or forge one’s own path—is a powerful one. Emelia’s interactions with her family and the fleeting glimpses of her grappling with loyalty, identity, and freedom are some of the book’s strongest points. The darker, more atmospheric scenes, particularly those set against the backdrop of the rebellion, hint at the gothic potential this story could have achieved with more polish.

Where the book falters most is in its pacing and payoff. The rebellion, hinted at early on, takes too long to come into focus, and when it does, it feels rushed and underwhelming. The climax, while action-packed, lacks the emotional resonance needed to leave a lasting impression. By the end, I was left with more questions than satisfaction—a rushed resolution that doesn’t deliver on the tension built throughout the narrative.

Final verdict? The Last Raven is a decent read with an interesting premise and moments of promise, but it struggles to rise above mediocrity. Fans of vampire lore and gothic undertones might find something to enjoy here, but those seeking richly developed characters, world-building, and emotional stakes may come away disappointed. A solid concept that doesn’t quite soar.

Mixed feelings on this one! I didn't hate it but I also didn't love it. Started off jarring but then massively improved. I do think I enjoyed it enough to read the next one

Reading this book was an interesting experience. It has a bit of a jarring start and some of the twists were very predictable. However, there was something about the writing that reminded me of the early 2000s and so had a fun nostalgic element to it. The setting of a post apocalyptic vampire run world may have also helped with establishing that vibe.

I did not love any of the characters but the book read fast and was an oddly enjoyable experience. There was also one twist I did not see coming and I appreciated it.

There is a set up for a second book but I would not call the ending a cliffhanger.

Fair warning to those who may think that this would be a long read. It certainly was not. Whilst The Last Raven delivers the many tropes seen recently with many new YA Fantasy authors (such as forbidden love, forced proximity, human and vampire etc…), I think this book could do with more expansion on those tropes, and to the worldbuilding in general.

We follow our main female character, Emelia Raven who is born from vampires. She is also entirely human and heir to the Raven throne. Like many heirs in the fantasy books before, Emelia is quite a sheltered heir, naïve to the world of vampires and the evil plotting of enemies. Her bodyguard – Kyle – becomes her informant of the world she must rule and a forbidden love ensures.

Without getting into too many spoilers, The Last Raven does its best to integrate many elements needed to help convey the story of Emelia without delving too much into the history of vampires or the world in general. It is certainly confusing as to why Emelia needs to be rushed to her coronation despite the long lives of her vampire parents. I also wished there was more development between Emelia and Kyle as it was rushed in some parts, not as emotional in some (especially if it's for the first time), and it would most likely have packed a bigger punch for the ending.

Overall, not a bad read for those who need a quick read.

Words cannot describe how much I loved this book. This is a fantasy romance, human X vampire, forbidden romance.

I really want to describe this book as Divergent, Hunger Games and Twilight all mixed into one.

One thing I cannot prepare you for is the twist at the end. It was honestly a drop the mic moment for me! I love this book so much and highly recommend you pick up this soon!!

Ok so I'm 50/50 on this book.
I thought I was going to go the same way or flesh and fire but it doesn't. It's compared to other books but I don't really see it. Also why does the main romance guy have to be named Kyle.