I had to DNF this book about 40% in. The whole vibe just isn't for me and I feel like the book needs a lot of editing done before release. I just couldn't handle the writing style and the instalove. I think the fmc is very childish as well and I just couldn't read more about her character. The plot is very lacking and the romance feels very childish for a new adult book. The plot made no sense to me at all also It is not a romantasy at all! I'm very thankful that I received an eARC for this book from Harper 360 and netgalley but I just couldn't finish it.

Book Fort Rating: 2.5 Stars
Is it building the Book Fort? It's a nice neighbor, but... It's not coming in the house.

This review will be short and sweet, because this was a short read. This is very much one of those "junk food reads" - it's not the sort of book you read to shatter your worldview or really make you think, but it is a fun romp through an alternate vampire-ruled universe.

However, content warning: This book features an explicit underage sex scene, which is concerning.

Here's what I liked:
- Emilia is written as a very true to form 17-year-old. So often books with teenage protagonists do not have their characters thinking in stereotypically teenage ways. Emilia's greatest flaws in the book are in fact her naivete and her lack of a fully developed prefrontal cortex, so the book was fun to read because it was appropriate for her age.
- The character development of Emilia's parents throughout the book was heartwarming to read. There's one particular scene with her father that I found especially poignant.
- I overall liked the "vibe" of the book - it's lightly spooky/gothic, which is fun.

Now here are my concerns:
- Again, we have an underage sex scene in this book. This book is being marketed as "hottest forced proximity x forbidden romance vampire story to sink your fangs into," which is really just frankly inappropriate when you have a protagonist who's characterized throughout the book as being a child. Is she over the age of consent? Yes, but her partner is an arguably 50+ year old vampire, and she's infantilized throughout most of the book. If this was a fade-to-black or closed door scenario, it wouldn't be a big deal. Also, even if she were actually over 18 - why is there only one sex scene for a book being marketed as an adult smut novel?
- Instalove. Not my favorite trope. There's not a lot of "forced proximity" here - only about a chapter's worth.
- The major plot twist was predictable for me; I didn't hate it, but I do think people who don't see it coming/are expecting something else from the book would.
- Overall, not a lot of worldbuilding. There was enough to get by, but I would have liked more worldbuilding for a book set in such an alternate version of the world.

My general feedback is that I think the main ideas of the book are good, and it could be a really fun romp through the vampire woods, but the execution needs a little help. Or, if it were to have the one explicit scene removed, it would make a GREAT YA vampire book.

Thank you to Harper 360, Netgalley, and Helen Glynn Jones for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, Harper 360 and Netgalley, for providing me an eARC, in return for me providing an honest review.

3/5 🌟

This book had so much potential, with the FMC being born to vampires, but it fell so short, especially with it being an insta-love. I would've loved more lore of the vampires and more information on how the FMC was born human.

Kind of a frustrating read! The pace was too slow; it felt like it was setting up a series, but the main problem took a long time to be clear. The lore of the vampires didn't make a lot of sense; I would have liked more info about how a human could have been born into it.

This book completely sucked me in! Emilia Raven is a human born into a family of vampires, and her life is a mess of pressure and discrimination. She’s supposed to take over as the head of her family, but being human in a world of vampires isn’t exactly easy. The dynamic between Emilia and her bodyguard, Kyle, is everything! they can’t stand each other at first, but the tension is off the charts, and their back-and-forth is so entertaining.
What I didn’t expect was how much the story would expand. It starts off feeling like a typical vampire romance, but then it explodes into something way deeper and more intense. The twists? I didn’t see them coming at all! I was hooked right until the jaw-dropping ending.
If I had to nitpick, the world-building could’ve used more depth. I was a bit confused about the setting, but honestly, the characters and plot kept me so engaged that I didn’t mind too much. If you’re looking for a vampire story that brings the heat and has a killer plot, this one’s a must-read!

3.5 stars
This is marketed as an adult fantasy novel, which I greatly disagree with. This is a YA fantasy novel. The tone of voice, the age and immaturity of the characters, everything about it is straight up YA.
So I’m having a little bit of a hard time deciding how to rate this book because I was told I was getting an adult level novel and I ended up with something my 13 year old cousins would love instead. It was very teenage angst, run away with absolutely no plan and no idea how the outside world works, but I love him, and I don’t want to be an adult. So as an adult reader, I am NOT the target market for the writing, but I was the target market for the marketing of this book. You see where it gets confusing there?

Emilia is a 17 year old naive and sheltered girl, who happens to be born human from powerful vampire parents and is going to be crowned to rule when she turns 18. There’s a lot of teenage angst and rebellion and she falls in love with her randomly assigned new guard that appears close to her age (even though he’s a vampire and actually much older), Kyle is hot headed and a complete asshole and has absolutely no reason to be in a high guard position with how unprofessional he acts. He’s mean and snarky and bullies Emilia, who he’s supposed to be personally guarding.
Somehow the two are in teenage lust together though, so we have a little Romeo and Juliet thing going on because humans and vampires are not allowed to love each other. Humans are just meat after all.
Emilia decides to run away from all her responsibilities and orders Kyle to run away with her so they can live happily ever after, but being a human in a vampire world means death and abuse, but she doesn’t know that. She discovers humans are kept like cattle and doesn’t want to run away anymore but ends up caught in a rebellion against her family.
Will she take on her responsibilities and make changes to appease the rebellion or will she continue to hide in the safety of the darkness under her parents rule?

*an advanced digital copy was received from NetGalley in return for an honest review*

I think this was an interesting book overall. It starts off like many other romantasy novels involving vampires, but I was definitely hooked on the storyline as it progressed towards the end.

This book is the story about a human girl, Emilia Raven, who was born into a family of vampires. Although she's destined to take over their empire, Emilia has never felt like she truly belongs, given that she's the only human in a world of supernatural beings.

What I think was really interesting about this book was how it was set in an urban post-apocalyptic setting. Most vampire romantasy books I've read take place in a completely different fantasy world. This setting made the story feel refreshingly different.. That said, I found myself wanting to know more about how the vampires came into power and exactly when and where this story is set. The Safe Zones and the technology used to protect humans from vampires were fascinating elements that I want to know more about! I'm quite curious to see how Jones is going to continue to develop this world in any upcoming books. Especially surrounding what regular humans might be going through.

Moving on to the characters, Emilia and Kyle, their dynamic was engaging. Emilia's growth throughout the book, as she becomes more confident in herself, reminded me of a classic teenage coming-of-age story. This is a classic Bodyguard to Lovers story, and their banter at the beginning was very entertaining. Kyle is a mysterious character but shows that he really cares about Emilia. At times, their relationship did lean toward familiar romantasy clichés, but the ending made the buildup worthwhile.

Overall, I think this is a great read for lovers of vampires, romance, and fantasy! The cliffhanger at the end was one of my favorites this year—unexpected and leaving me eager to read more. I am very excited to see what comes out of this series.

Thank you again NetGalley for the ARC!

I was invested from cover and description and was so glad I was able to read this. It had that romance element that I was looking for and thought it worked as a realistic tale in this universe. I thought the characters worked with the vampire element going on. I was never bored when reading this and am excited for more from Helen Glynn Jones. Helen Glynn Jones always does a great job in writing this type of book and can’t wait for more.

Wow, the plot twist really threw me! Amazingly done! Definitely adding a star for that alone.
I loved the idea that Halloween was like Christmas for the vampires, perfect read for October!
No cliffhanger, the book is written as a stand alone but there's some room for more to be written possibly. I really liked the ending :)
Now the critique, Emelia is too young imo. She's 17 and imo is too childish and a bit bratty. The book feels more like a young adult novel than an adult novel, except for a bit of spice. I'd give it 🌶️🌶️/5.

Amazing! I loved the characters and world building. The tension between the characters was paced well and I loved how the two of them slowly grow together as well as handling all the challenges thrown their way.

Thank you to One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this ARC!

This was such a fun read!! I read it so quickly. We follow Emilia Raven, a human born to an elite family of vampires. She's seventeen years old and dreads that she has to become the ruler of the Raven House when she turns eighteen.

Being a human born to vampires is extremely rare, and she faces endless discrimination because of it and is seldom allowed anywhere without guards to protect her. This changes when her parents decide that she has to start going out and establishing herself as the Raven heir among the other vampire families. They assign her one personal guard, Kyle.

Emilia is the epitome of feminine rage. She resents/despises the world and role she was born into, yet also feels a lot of fear for being human. I loved her character and Kyle's. He's dark and brooding and so protective over her! They initially loathe each other, but their tension could cut glass and their banter is top notch.

When I first started reading the book, I could never in a million years have predicted how much the plot would expand and evolve, the book is fast-paced and the story gets so much deeper than it initially seems to be on the surface. The ending literally shocked me - at no point did I see it coming, which I feel like I should've, but props to the author because she got me!

My one complaint is the lack of world building -- there's not much context into where and when the book takes place nor the background of the vampires. There are cars, phones, etc., but the social hierarchy feels very archaic and the lack of information can be disorienting.

This book is compared to Twilight, but Emilia and Kyle are far more emotionally complex and mercurial than Bella and Edward. I recommend this book for anyone looking to satisfy a craving for vampire romance with a good plot - this book definitely delivers.

3.75 stars for me! I read this book very quickly, and I enjoyed the ride!

I liked the FMC and the basis of the story, but I thought the world building could’ve been a little more fleshed out. There were mentions of our world/countries but then it wasn’t clear what the relation was to those places or what might be going on there vs where the story takes place.

The plot went at a good pace for me, and had plenty of twists and events that kept me interested. Some of it was a little predictable (ugh, Kyle!) but I still think it was engaging and well executed.

I really enjoyed the way the book ended and set us up for the sequel, which I will definitely be reading!

Thank you to the author, Harper360 and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This one was interesting. It does feel more like YA than adult— and that’s something I rarely say. I’m not sure if it’s the protagonist, the writing style, both, or something else, but it feels… immature in a way that YA often does. That aside, I enjoyed this once I treated it as a YA novel. Is it something groundbreaking? No! But it’s a fun little story, a quick read, and enough to settle that vampire ache we all occasionally get. The ending was interesting, though, and definitely a highlight for me. All in all, a decent book.

This was not what I expected and I loved that! I knew I was going to enjoy this but I really really loved this. It’s a little different than other paranormal romance type books I’ve read but I am definitely eagerly awaiting the next!

Started with an absolute jaw dropping beginning. The matter of the blood in this story is like a Stephanie Garber book where blood is the key to all. It was a good story, not the MOST captivating but still good

I have mixed feelings about The Last Raven. The cover is gorgeous, and the premise is really interesting, but the main character and some of the plot points didn't work for me. Though there are adult themes and sexual content, the majority of the story reads as a YA fantasy, which I found a little confusing. I think I would label this a NA read, and I would say it's more fantasy than romantasy.

Emilia, the main character, is a human in a world of vampires. Her parents are king and queen, and she's about to take over ruling the kingdom. I didn't love Emilia or her parents. She is very naive and gullible, and she also doesn't listen AT ALL - to her detriment. She continually puts herself in dangerous situations and never thinks through her plans before acting on them. It became really frustrating. However, I like how she changes and grows as she is exposed to some of the harsher realities of human life, and the relationships she forges are great too.

Emilia also trusts certain people way too easily. There are elements of this love story that went really dark, and I actually thought some of it was really messed up and tough to read. I found the main romantic relationship to be a bit cringe and thought the FMC fell way too fast. I think because she's been sheltered so much and feels so lonely, she latches on to the interest shown her, but she went from dislike to love way too fast.

There are also plot points that I just couldn't get behind. They seemed unrealistic even when suspending disbelief. Like, why would her parents, who are centuries-old vampires, make their human child an heir when she's 18, especially when they've sheltered her completely from the world? They aren't honest with her and haven't really trained her or educated her to be the leader. It makes no sense. However, there were other elements I loved, like the exploration of this unique world and the juxtaposition of the desolate and bleak lives of the humans in comparison to the opulent greed of the vampires.

Overall, this was just an ok read for me. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

*The Last Raven* by Helen Glynn Jones is an exciting and heart-racing vampire romance that’s perfect for fall! Emelia’s journey as a human heir in a world dominated by vampires pulls you in from the start, and the chemistry between her and the mysterious Kyle is irresistible. Their forced proximity only makes the slow-burn romance even more delicious, and the forbidden aspect adds just the right amount of tension. The world-building is rich, and Emelia’s struggles with her destiny make her a relatable and strong heroine.

The plot is engaging, with rebellion simmering in the background and high stakes at every turn. Fans of *Twilight* will love the blend of romance and supernatural intrigue. It's the kind of book that keeps you hooked, rooting for Emelia and Kyle as they navigate a world full of danger and dark secrets. A must-read for those looking to sink their teeth into a forbidden romance!

The Last Raven is about Emelia, the human daughter of two vampire leaders. She has been isolated for most of her life to keep her safe, but when she is able to venture out into the world with her new bodyguard, she starts to learn that her world isn't what she always thought it was and rebellion is brewing.

Holy guacamole, I was not expecting most of what happened from the 3rd act until the end. It was so painful and then so satisfying. Got to love fast acting karma. I am curious about where this is headed.

Thanks to Harper 360 and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

Marketing this book as perfect for fans of twilight really does it a disservice. Emelias dynamic with her parents, global politics, treatment of humans, vampires' powers/weaknesses, general tone/stakes, none of this felt like twilight. Also, I found myself confused if this was a ya or adult novel


Thank you to One More Chapter for the advance review copy.

This book seems to be being marketed as an adult romantasy, which I definitely disagree with. It does have one spice scene, which is maybe why it's not being marketed as YA? The story is very much a YA coming of age fantasy that is told in first person with us being stuck in a 17 year-old girl's head for the entire book and the relationship between the protagonist (Emelia) and her parents is far more of a focus than the insta-love, teenage infatuation romance.

That being said, I think it is an excellent YA book and I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading it. The plot was fast paced and full of fun twists. Emelia is an extremely naive and sheltered teenager who has basically been shut away for her safety her entire life and we get to join her on her journey to discover what the world is really like for humans in a world controlled by vampires and then see her try to reconcile her relationship with her parents and figure out her purpose.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA fantasy and vampires.

Thank you to Harper 360 and Netgalley for providing me with an early copy to read and review.