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.

3 stars, I honestly enjoyed this more as the book went on but the insta love at the beginning threw me a bit. It was also very predictable like I saw a lot of the plot twists coming however I did enjoy the last few chapters.

Predictable, but entertaining.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC for an honest review.

🌟3.75

- Fantasy Romance
- Forced proximity
- Vampires
- Steamy with tension & banter
- Morally grey love interest
- Predictable but in a good way
- Forbidden love

I think this was a touch and go for because the tropes... or rather, the framework for the story is one that we are all quite familiar with in this genre, so predictibility can pull some readers out of the story however I found it fun, and entertaining. I wanted to see where the story was going to go so take that with a grain of salt with what your mood is, and if you find 'predictable' as also 'comforting'.

x

As someone who loves Richelle Meads Vampire Academy, I was hooked from the start with the vibes in this book being so similar to the VA series.

The story flows seamlessly but unfortunately like others, the ending felt a bit too predictable and fell a little flat.

Overall I'd definitely recommend this book if you're a fan of Twilight &/or VA.

This book really tested my patience and sanity.

First, let’s talk about the main character. I can’t remember the last time I read about someone so spoiled, entitled, and insufferable. From page one, I hated this child (because that's what she is).

<i>"I want a different life. A human life. One where I have more choices than just what to eat, or which movie to watch, or which velvet gown to put on in the evening."</i> Boo hoo

There are so many quotes that I could slap onto my review right now, but honestly, there wasn't a singular page where I felt at peace. Every time Emelia opened her mouth, it was to whine. At one point, she compares her "golden prison bars" to a boy in a literal cage. I'm sorry? Read the room, I beg.

I couldn’t bring myself to care about Emelia or her plight because I was too busy being exasperated by her constant whining and never-ending "woe is me" energy.

And then there’s her miraculous epiphany about how the world works. I mean, she’d been to these Halloween parties before—did she just… not notice the whole “people being fed on” thing? The sudden enlightenment made no sense, but sure, let’s pretend it’s a growth arc.

Don't even get me started on the romance. Kyle’s immediate hostility, and Emelia’s instant attraction to him, despite constantly complaining about how annoying he is, made no sense. Two seconds later, she’s in love with him. Chemistry? None. Emotional buildup? Also none.

Then there’s the plot. Predictable doesn’t even begin to cover it. Just boring. Honestly, I only finished this because it was an ARC. Had it not been, I’d have DNF’d at 20% without hesitation.

If you’re thinking about picking this up, maybe give it a second thought, especially if you’re looking for a main character who doesn’t inspire unbridled rage.

This book started off really strong for me. It was fast paced, and I was enjoying it so much I didn't want to put it down. I hit a wall though, and from that point on, the pace of the plot and the relationships all felt really off.

The romance developed really fast, and it would have been nice to see more little moments between Emelia and Kyle before they were in so deep with one another. There wasn't enough time to fall for them and actually root for them as a couple. I found the betrayal predictable and a little painful to watch such a naive character trust so openly.

I found it interesting that for most of the book, it was the father who was more emotional than the mother, and I thought that switch was nice to see. However, the relationship between Emelia and her parents was frustrating and annoying to read. First, with how rocky it was, and then with how quickly it was resolved. They went back and forth so drastically and so quickly, it felt unrealistic.

Overall, I liked the first part of this book, and the general idea, but it ended up falling flat for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. Man. This was.. ok. The plot felt predictable, I didn’t have a vested interest in anyone or anything. The FMC was incredibly frustrating.

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.