1.4⭐️

This story had promise, but unfortunately was executed poorly. I only skim read the second half as there were a number of issues that I struggled with, as well as things that didn’t make sense which kept taking me out of the story.

1. I couldn’t connect with the characters at all. Kyle is so bland and boring, and Emilia is so whiny, entitled and annoying. She really took the “not like the other girls” trope to a whole new level tbh.
2. The Wattpad style writing is just not my preference.
3. The world building was not good. Assuming humans in this world have “normal” human lifespans while vampires live for centuries, why on earth would Emilia be heir?
4. Also, she’s supposed to become leader “soon”, but they’ve kept her completely sheltered, and not educated her at all (except in propaganda).
5. The instalove made no sense. Emilia and Kyle hated each other on sight, but then pretty much immediately started hooking up?
6. If she’s so precious, why did they replace her experienced bodyguard with someone barely older than her, and without any other checks aside from Mistral’s “just trust me bro”?
7. How did she keep getting away so easily with Kyle? Even taking into account the antifeed, why didn’t the guards stop them?

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m sorry but this book just wasn’t for me. I didn’t like it from the very beginning. I wanted to but it wasn’t my thing.

This book was a hit and miss for me. I liked the plot and concept and I LOVE anything with vampires in it, but I found it hard to get through the second half of the book. Honestly not a big deal but I couldn’t handle the MMCs name being Kyle 😂 I didn’t really like Emelia and Kyle’s chemistry, it all felt way too fast with the whole instant love vibe but if you can look past that then this book is for you! Personally not for me

Addictive and adventurous! A world of vampires in charge and humans who are not, court intrigue, secrets, betrayals, insurgence, and ultimately coming of age - leaving the protected tower to see the truth and maybe where you fit in. An engaging and imaginative fantasy tale.

The premise of this book was fun! I love when a FMC is the unlikely lead. The one you’re not really expecting because she doesn’t “fit” the world around her. And in this case, Emilia was a human living in a world where vampires rule. It is an interesting concept! I think this book reminded me a lot of how it felt to read dystopian books for the first time, and it was fun getting to experience that again.

I was truly excited for this book, but sadly it was not it. It’s marketed as a twilight and true blood series but I honestly didn’t see that in this book. I felt that there could have been a lot of potential to this book. The world building was lacking. There was so much missing that it made it hard to understand the world. The vampires and humans are on earth with modern stuff but for some reason they don’t have the basics like news or cameras? I also didn’t like the dialogue much. The pacing was mainly fast but I felt that a lot of it was repetitive. There were conflicts that weren’t truly being solved. This book is told from Emelia’s pov.

Emelia is the FMC and I wish I liked her but she’s annoying, spoiled, and naive. I didn’t see any growth to get character. Then we have Kyle who is the new guard, protecting Emelia. We learn his love for Emelia. There are many side characters but the main ones were the parents. I felt that the parents overshadowed the MC often to the fact it felt like their books. Also I didn’t understand the point of them wanting Emelia to be the next heir when she will die. The romance is instant love with no chemistry between the couple. This book is a bit spicy for a YA novel.

The ending does end with a minor cliffhanger but there is a certain scene where it would have been a better cliffhanger for the books. If I am being honest I dont see where this series is going.

*this book was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*

I loved the sound of this book, and I've wanted to get more into romantasy after loving it growing up but sadly this book wasn't for me and I couldn't get into it

Listen I love YA but my god this was ridiculously juvenile. Why was her experienced bodyguard replaced with a barely adult bodyguard? Why do they hate each other the very first time they interact for no reason but it's very clearly insta love in denial? The FMC is incredibly self absorbed, the world building is almost non-existent when it could have been incredible given the premise, the ending was anti-climactic and disappointing so I really have no interest in the next book

*DNF 40%* - A disappointing and, frankly, anticlimactic romantasy that is intended to be a duology. Bland and predictable plot, characters lacking chemistry, and frustrating fmc and mmc who I very much struggled to connect to. Plot was also rushed and I tried my best to give it a fair shot to see if it got better but it did not... it just got worse. Writing style also did not suit my personal preference, which is something I can usually overlook and not DNF a book over, but mixed with the other issues, it was just a no-go for me.

Most of this i would have rated 3.5 stars however i felt the last quarter or so of the book redeemed itself a bit and so i rated ot 4.5 overall.
The main character frustrated me alot, i felt she was very indecisive, which yes, helped her at points but i was frustrated with her changing her mind about what she wanted to do all the time. Will be interesting to see what happens in the next book

If you’re looking for a fantasy that feels reminiscent of the Twilight/dystopian era, this could be the book for you!

Great characters good storyline. Hooked from the first chapter. Thanks for letting me review. Would continue the series

I enjoyed this read. It was a quick easy read. But it was filled with a lot of action and betrayal.

Emelia is born human in a world of vampires and is a little lost in who she is. You can see the insecurity’s and a little self doubt within herself. She does grow with the book as it goes along and she finds out truths that have been hidden to her.

Kyle helps her a lot within finding who she is. But can we trust him? I felt uneasy through the whole book watching him and her fall in love.

Overall a good book!

The Last Raven delivers an intriguing mix of mystery, mythology, and atmospheric storytelling. The writing is immersive, and the world-building is rich, pulling readers into its eerie and suspenseful tale. While the premise is compelling, the pacing occasionally lags, and some character arcs feel underdeveloped. Still, it’s an enjoyable read with a haunting quality that lingers. A solid book with moments of brilliance, but not quite a standout.

Helen captivated me from the beginning, and unexpectedly, I found myself utterly engrossed. This enchanting fantasy novel unfolds like a poetic, gothic romance aimed at young adults. The final quarter is particularly thrilling, featuring a shocking plot twist that left me speechless. I rated this book five stars because it stands out from my previous reads this year, so if you’re looking for a relaxing yet exhilarating read filled with heart-stopping surprises, I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

The narrator did an incredible job!

4.5 Stars

A different take on the whole romantasy and vampire world, and one that I truly enjoyed. I saw the twist coming a mile away, but I’m glad I did because it made the set up for the final book that much more exciting! Set in a modern world, ruled by vampires, the heir to the Raven throne is actually a human born to vampires. Her world is on the brink of a revolution and she is desperately trying to decide her fate and role in the future of the House of Raven.

**Review of *The Last Raven* by Helen Glynn Jones**

*The Last Raven* by Helen Glynn Jones is a gripping and atmospheric historical fiction novel that expertly blends mystery, suspense, and rich storytelling. Set in a hauntingly vivid world, the story follows a compelling protagonist who is caught in a web of secrets and unraveling truths. Jones' writing is evocative, creating a tense and immersive atmosphere that draws readers in. The plot is well-paced, with enough twists and emotional depth to keep readers hooked. The characters are complex, and the relationships feel real, adding depth to the unfolding drama. Overall, *The Last Raven* is a thought-provoking, page-turning novel that will appeal to fans of historical mysteries and character-driven narratives.

This book was………okay. It wasn’t the worst thing I’ve read but also not the best. The ending was completely anticlimactic.

I was excited for this one, but unfortunately as much as I hate to say it......this one fell flat.

This story is fast passed, but in a way too rushed way. So much is happening, with little building or background and no time to process any of it. The romance is instant, and we all know that in fantasy books that just is a big no! We crave world building, character development, adventure, hardships.....and this doesn't check any of those boxes.

World building was not rich, lacked a lot to it. The characters weren’t compelling enough for me to be able to focus or even enjoy reading about them. Overall, this wasn’t for me.