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.

Emilia Raven, the central figure of this tale, is born from pure vampire lineage, yet she doesn’t possess the typical traits of her kind. Unlike her vampiric ancestors, she has no aversion to sunlight, consumes regular food, and lacks the iconic fangs that define vampires. Essentially, she’s a human—though one with a royal status in vampire society. Emilia is the sole successor of the Raven family, one of the most influential vampire clans in a world both modern and ravaged by conflict.

Throughout her childhood, Emilia often felt alienated and helpless within the vast Raven estate. Despite being groomed to lead her powerful family, her lack of vampire abilities leaves her doubting her ability to command their vampiric underlings. At the same time, Emilia harbors a deep loathing for the brutal ways of the vampires, especially their merciless treatment of humans—a sentiment fueled by her moral convictions. Though her vampire parents adore her in their own way, they are also the source of the cruelty she despises, which eventually pushes Emilia to defy their expectations.

As the story unfolded, I found myself steadily intrigued. The author, Jones, skillfully unveiled the complexities of the world without stalling the narrative. The setting is one of grim despair, where humanity, once dominant, is now preyed upon by vampires who view them as mere cattle. While I felt empathy for the human plight, I struggled to connect with Emilia. Her character grated on me—she came across as spoiled, overly emotional, impulsive, and strangely ignorant for someone of her age and position. I understand that she grapples with feelings of inadequacy, but I couldn’t muster much sympathy for her. Her intense disdain for the vampires’ behavior felt exaggerated, given that she was raised by them. It seemed unlikely that she would reject their ways so completely without some personal, life-altering event driving her epiphany. Instead, her moral stance felt unearned, as if she simply decided to adopt a holier-than-thou attitude after observing her parents' everyday actions.

Despite my issues with Emilia, The Last Raven managed to stay true to its core. The story moved at a steady pace, with well-timed twists that kept me engaged, even making me gasp on occasion. The world was richly gothic, and I found myself oddly fond of Emilia’s parents. Their attempts to love and protect Emilia, despite their savage nature, gave the story an emotional depth. It was this complex family dynamic that made the novel a worthwhile read, even with its flaws.

I really was on edge about how I felt about the main character of Emilia Raven, some times I cheered for her and other times I wanted to shake her. Honestly I have to say though for the age range of the character, I feel these feeling fit. I don't really know what else to say that won't give things away, but the ENDING!!! Oh my gosh!!! I flipping tossed my kindle across the room and yelled!!