Emilia's story has an intriguing premise: she’s a human born to vampire parents and heir to half the nation. Having been sheltered her whole life, Emilia starts the book at 17, preparing to take over as Raven Heir. Her new bodyguard, Kyle, introduces some tension, especially with hints he might side with the brewing rebellion.

While the concept held a lot of promise, the execution didn’t quite land for me. The writing and dialogue are straightforward—though there were times it pulled me out of the story. This is very much an insta-love situation, but I struggled to feel any real chemistry between Emilia and Kyle. Their relationship felt rushed and uneven, with Kyle coming off as condescending at times. I also found myself wishing Emilia was a bit stronger and more self-assured. Her emotional reactions—while understandable—leaned too heavily into the damsel-in-distress trope for my taste.

The world-building felt a bit inconsistent as well. The mix of modern elements (laptops, jeans) with castles and velvet gowns was interesting but left me a little confused about the setting’s tone and rules.

I went into this book excited for a vampire story, but unfortunately, it just didn’t click for me. Maybe I wasn’t the right audience for it, or perhaps I was hoping for something with more depth or edge. It’s worth noting that while this reads like a YA/NA novel, there are explicit scenes, which some readers may want to be aware of going in.

I made it to the halfway point before deciding to set it aside. The plot may pick up in the latter half, but I didn’t feel invested enough to stick around and find out. That said, everyone’s reading preferences are different, so this might still resonate with someone looking for a lighter vampire romance.

⭐⭐
🌶️

I’m calling it at 48%
I wanted to like this book so much but I’m finding every character is completely intolerable.
From stubborn to the point of being evil- mom
Spoiled, idealistic, whiny and delusional-face
A awkward and yet creepy instant love interest with noooo chemistry-mmc
A Humbert Humbert advisor with the hots for her mom and by extension her I guess-moms bestie
And a dad who wanted to kill her when she was born, loves her now I guess, but doesn’t really seem to do much for the plot….

Basically, there’s nobody to empathize or sympathize with this entire book for me.

Blurb on NetGalley to sign up, had me hitting my request and I just feel let down.

The writing is ok, the world building isn’t great. It’s set in our world but changed to have vampires in charge.
If you’re expecting romantasy, this is gonna let you down.

It’s more like murdery twilight smashed with days of our lives.

However, if you like political fantasy and you like urban fantasy where those two things take center stage, then this book might be for you. Those were the two themes that really jumped out for me. So I think part of the problem is this book is marketed towards romance, and that didn’t shine enough for me to even finish the book.


********Editing to add********
I just went and read the last five chapters
And I standby everything I said, but would definitely implore those who like urban and political fantasy books to read this.
If you loved, the following, the last raven will be your kinda book!
the poppy war, the queen’s thief series, the folding knife, reign and ruin, lightbringer, red rising, etc

DNF at 21% because I felt nothing. There’s like insta-hate-love between the MCs and it doesn’t make sense. There’s basically no world building. We get told a few things, but certain details are just repeated over and over again.

It felt like it was trying to do too many things at one time and instead it was achieving absolutely nothing.

The premise sounded really interesting, but it felt like it didn’t match what I was reading. I gave 2 stars because I don’t think 1 is fair for something I didn’t finish. This was not for me, but it might be just what someone else is looking for.

Also, I know this is an urban setting, but I can’t take a MMC named Kyle seriously 🙃 (that’s a me thing though, so do with that what you want)

First I would like to thank NetGalley and One More Chapter for the chance to read the ARC!

I wanted to love this book I read the summary and I really really wanted this to be a five star read. Now don’t get me wrong I throughly enjoyed The Last Raven but the entire time I wished we could have some more world building.

Super quick read and if this turns into a series will definitely be getting the sequel.

I liked the premise of the book, but I unfortunately did not like the writing style. The book is advertised as new adult but it reads as very young adult. It also claims to be the “hottest forced proximity x vampire romance” but the FMC is only 17…. Which to me is a hard no. All of the above made this one a DNF for me.

Rating: 2.5 🌟

I read this book in one day and while I definitely didn’t hate it I don’t have many positive things to say unfortunately :/

I was very excited to get into this because the premise reminded me of The Serpent & The Wings of Night (which I LOVED) but honestly this book disappointed me. The world-building is pretty much nonexistent and I feel like I was deceived in the synopsis after going into the book expecting the thrilling ‘rebellion and dark forces’ that it describes when really it’s just a couple rebel threats here and there and little detail into everything behind the supposed main storyline of The Last Raven.

The romance was also not it because it was insta-love. The author tried to have some semblance of a hate-to-love romance but if I remember correctly by the 60th page they were both already good with each other :/ I wasn’t a huge fan of Emilia, our main character, either. There wasn’t anything especially bad about her but I felt that her character lacked personality - there wasn’t anything to her other than her inner debate of whether she should stay in her royal house or flee.

The plot twist at the end was also predictable and I feel like instead of blowing my mind at how crazy-good it was, it just spoiled the book and everything we had read up until that point, in my opinion. 😕

But I’m also giving this book 2.5 stars because I don’t give lower than that to books I didn’t feel a strong wave of dislike towards. And also this isn’t horrible just…missing some things. It is a very bingeable book though :)

Regardless of my thoughts on this though, thank you so much to NetGalley, One More Chapter/HarperCollins UK and to Helen Glynn Jones for an e-ARC copy of this in exchange for my honest opinion 🫶

Well I have to say this book is not what I was expecting. It is even better.

I jumped straight into the world of vampires and humans where the Raven vampires rule. I didn’t need the back story because it was explained very quickly as to what happened in the world.

You could just immerse yourself in the storyline and feel sorry for Emelia, a human born to the reigning vampire family and protected from all the nasties that go along with vampires and staying alive. The intrigue and power play drew me in. There was always a feeling of something bad about to happen but I wasn't sure from which direction. And it was such a surprise when it did.

The romance between Kyle and Emelia started slowly. An attraction that grew into more. Yes Emelia is young but she certainly grew up fast and wanted to make changes. She started as a frightened and naive teenager wanting to know more of the world beyond the walls of her safe vampire world.

I really enjoyed reading the Last Raven. I like a book that is not just insta love and fall into bed. There has to be a great story to go with it. This book delivered it.

The story centers on Emelia, the sole heir to the House of Raven. Caught in the relentless expectations of her lineage, Emelia is forced to confront her unique position in a society that values power and bloodline above all else. The reader instantly connects with her internal struggle—torn between the lavish life and responsibilities inherent in her title and her own yearning for authenticity and freedom. Jones's portrayal of Emelia is both relatable and poignant, as she grapples with feelings of confinement while navigating the treacherous waters of being human in a vampire world.
The arrival of Kyle is a game-changer for Emelia, serving as more than just a romantic interest; he becomes her beacon of hope and rebellion. Their chemistry crackles with intensity, fueled by the tension of their different worlds. Jones does an exceptional job of weaving the “forced proximity” trope into the narrative, as Kyle’s mysterious demeanor and hidden agendas draw Emelia into a whirlwind of passion and peril. Their relationship is both thrilling and delicately layered, as Emelia must not only confront the potential of love but also the danger it brings.
One of the most enthralling aspects of "The Last Raven" is how it challenges the norm of vampire literature by placing a human heroine at its core. Emelia’s perspective offers a refreshing departure from the traditional vampire narrative, and as she uncovers her own strength, the reader is taken on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. The themes of choice and sacrifice resonate deeply, especially as Emelia grapples with the idea of leaving behind those she loves for a chance at true freedom.
Overall, this book is a hauntingly beautiful tale, perfect for anyone seeking a fresh take on vampire romance.

I was lucky enough to receive this book as an ARC through Net-Galley prior to publication, so I would like to say thank you for that.

This book, initially, gave me similar vibes to Vampire Academy and the Disney Channel film Z.O.M.B.I.E.S in terms of the overall vampiric vibe and the world-building surrounding it. It felt more on the YA side of things, though it definitely had its adult moments with heavier material than you would find in some YA books.

I would say I enjoyed this book, but there were more moments where I found myself annoyed with the characters in it and aware of where the plot was leading us. Our main character Emelia is very sheltered, almost in a way that hinders her, by her parents but is simultaneously thrust into Vampiric society by them with no idea how to work that circuit. Her parents have sheltered her for her humanity in fear of how she would be treated and then, in the same breath, sent her off into society expecting those very same people to treat her right because she is their heir.

Her parents also fail to understand Emelia every time she voices her disgust and upset over how humans are treated, because to them the treatment of every other human is nothing to bat an eyelash at but Emelia is /different/. It's no wonder that the first man to show her kindness and understanding is who she falls deeply and alarmingly quickly in love with. So obviously this man is going to betray her.

I feel that it was obvious from the start that Kyle was never going to be good, I mean his name was Kyle. But I think Emelia was so desperate to run away from the title she had hanging over her head like a death sentence she ignored every single warning sign he showed her, which only stressed me out more. But I don't think it was Kyle's betrayal that made me angry for Emelia more, it was the humans in the safe zone that they stayed with. Emelia explored the village with the woman for the entire day, away from Kyle and where he could hear and yet they did nothing to save Emelia from her fate. The Author did a very good job at showing us that literally everyone fails her, every character even unintentionally finds a way to let her down.

I am curious to see where the second book, should there be one, could take us as I did enjoy the world building and the lore behind the vampires, the humans and the reality behind the safe-zones. I would love to see how Emelia is able to change things as she steps into her role as Raven, to see if she is accepted and if her changes stick.

I recently finished "The Last Raven" by Helen Glynn Jones, and it was a good, interesting take on vampire fantasy/romance. The novel follows Emelia, a human born into a powerful vampire family, destined to rule over a world of immortals who would eat her in a heartbeat. This book is solidly in the YA/NA category. Some people would categorise this under romantasy, but I would categorise it as a fantasy with heavy romantic elements.

Jones does an excellent job of building tension throughout the story. The plot moves pretty fast with a couple of unexpected twists. I was impressed by the ending, which was genuinely surprising and well-executed. I found myself wanting more details about the vampire society and its history. However, the fast-paced plot largely made up for this little shortcoming.

The relationship between Emelia and Kyle, her new human empathiser guard, adds an interesting dynamic to the story. Their interactions are charged with tension, providing a nice balance to the more serious political elements of the plot. While Emelia's character can be frustrating at times due to her childishness, it's understandable given her sheltered upbringing. Her struggle to reconcile her human nature with her vampire destiny is well-portrayed and adds depth to her character.

Overall, "The Last Raven" offers a new angle on vampire lore, blending elements of political intrigue, a coming-of-age drama, and romance. It did give me some "Twilight" vibes (but without some of the more problematic aspects), making it an enjoyable read for both young adult and new adult audiences. I'm looking forward to seeing how the series develops in future!

Thank you for the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book has so much great potential. The writing style fits well for YA, but I believe the author was envisioning adult fantasy/romance. The plot itself was very rushed and not fully conhereant to how the world works. I do wish there was more world-building in the hierarchy and politics of the humans/vampire.

As I mentioned previously regarding that it probably be YA, the FMC felt very young especially with her interaction with her male love interest. Due to a lack of world building, the characters and their relationships also fell flat. I did not feel the chemistry between the leads and felt like "love at first sight" did not work for the desired world.

I truly wanted to enjoy the book for what it is now, but there is a lot of potential for it to be an amazing YA coming of age fantasy novel instead.

For me this story had a lot of potential - the bare bones are there but ultimately it fell short in terms of bringing it all together. I loved the world this was set in and the premise for our FMC and her life. I thought it was a cool spin on a modern world ruled by vampires. I think there needed to be some fine tuning around our FMC's thoughts and feeling, i.e. how she reached certain thoughts/feelings/reactions. I wanted to feel those emotions growing with her, but often I didn't understand how the narrative had arrived at a certain point. I think if there was more build-up to those feelings and descriptive text it would add a lot to the story and allowing us as readers to form more of a connection.
Emilie's revenge was a particular highlight!
I must say, I did really enjoy the way it ended and I would like to see where this story goes.

Thank you so much to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the arc and for allowing me to share my thoughts on this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’d give this book about a 3 star rating. It had some good ideas, it just wasn’t executed well. I believe it’s supposed to be New Adult but both the writing and characters felt very juvenile. The main female character was insufferable and I couldn’t stand her. If you have high expectations, this book may fall flat for you.

Fans of the genre will find Helen Glynn Jones's The Last Raven to be an engrossing vampire romance that deftly blends elements of forced proximity and forbidden love. This story, which takes place in a vampire-dominated world, offers a novel interpretation on the traditional vampire myth while capturing the difficulties of identity, rebellion, and the weight of fate.

The protagonist of the tale is Emelia, the lone descendant of the House of Raven, who is set to inherit a society from which she feels wholly cut off. She struggles with her identity and the expectations of her heritage as a human living among vampires. Emelia is a sympathetic heroine because of her unwillingness to accept her fate, and her mental turmoil creates the perfect environment for an engaging story. Emelia saw Kyle, an enigmatic character, as a chance for rebellion and a way out of the oppressive expectations that have been placed on her.

Emelia and Kyle's relationship is expertly developed by Jones, who also creates a tangible tension that drives the plot. The stakes of their relationship rise as their bond grows stronger in the face of society pressures and sinister forces in motion. The story does a great job of examining issues of sacrifice and choice as Emelia is forced to choose between doing what her family expects of her and following her own intuition.

The Last Raven is distinguished not only by its gripping love story but also by its intricately designed setting. Emelia finds it difficult to feel like she belongs in the mysterious and dangerous vampire society that Jones depicts. There are many of twists and turns and a fast pace to keep readers interested all the way to the finish.

All things considered, The Last Raven is a compelling addition to the vampire romance genre, ideal for readers looking for a blend of romance, adventure, and emotional depth. As readers immerse themselves in Emelia's turbulent journey, this book is guaranteed to leave them wanting more because of its captivating characters and surprising plot.

This is a good YA book and if it had been advertised as such would have been a 4star for me. However, as a NA book it just doesn't hit the spot I was expecting more from it.

The premise of the book sounded intriguing but I feel like more could have been done with it. The world building is partially there but the way the story appears to sit in the modern day is questionable and does not always make sense.

The characters 'relationship' development is odd especially in its beginning.

The ending also felt very rushed and came out of no where (but not in a good way).

This was my first book by helen glynn jones. With that interesting blurb and even a more interesting cover, i had my hopes up. The story was captivating, but nothing we haven't seen before. I just hoped the protagonist to behave like she is in adult genre rather than acting like any ya heroine ever.

thankyou netgalley for the arc.

Although the premise of this book sounded so good, it did not work for me.
While it’s supposed to be “new adult”, it felt like I was reading a poorly written YA novel.
Extremely cliche and predictable.
The female protagonist pretty much annoyed me the entire time, and the romance was instalove.
Overall, an interesting concept but poorly executed.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

If this book had been marketed as YA, I would have given it 4 stars, because the main character's behavior and thought processes are more in line with a YA protagonist. Because it's marketed as NA, I'm giving it 3 stars, as I think it's less likely to appeal to an NA audience.

The overall arc of the story leans more paranormal fantasy than romantasy. Yes, there's a romance, but the overall story doesn't meet the genre expectations for a romance. The genre categorization of this book feels misleading.

I am a general lover of vampire stories and human/vampire romances, and this book does a good job of setting itself up as one in the beginning.

The plot moves very quickly and there's immediate chemistry and connection between the main characters. There's a forbidden element to their romance as he works for her family. All of the pieces are there, but the book falls flat for me the closer you get to the end.

If I wanted a book filled with plot twists like this, I'd pick up a thriller. I pick up a standalone romantasy expecting a HEA, and this book delivers more of a "happy for now" ending after a lot of drama.

Know what you're getting into. If you're a fan of insta-love, YA protagonists, and fast paced plots with somewhat predictable twists, then The Last Raven is for you.

This was a well written book. I’d say it leans more towards the romance side of the romantasy genre however the fantasy aspects of the book were interesting, I liked the idea that not all vampire offspring are vampires. The writing was easy to follow and the FMC was annoying at the beginning but she did grow on me throughout the book!

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.