*finished preview and immediately gets online to get the book*
Oh man, just reading a preview is not fun when you are already hooked in 6 chapters in! It took me a chapter or two to get my mind wrapped around the setting and world they are in, but I was intrigued by the characters very early on. I love a good memory loss trope and this fit the bill. Who is Kai and how did she end up in this dank and sickly town looking so different than anyone else? I’m eager to find out! Can’t wait to read more!!
Thanks NetGalley for this preview of The Last One!

I would like to thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read this book, albeit a short one.

There isn't much to say since the entire content was a preview, however, I really liked the writing and the plot, so I believe the book has a lot of potential. I also really liked the character, but I'm just sorry it was so short that I couldn't create a genuine connection with her.

Interesting preview. I really enjoyed the author's writing style and will definitely check out the finished novel.

I was so sad this was only a preview, because the story seemed so promising! Nice suspense of who-is-she and what-has-happened, and I would have loved to read the whole book!

Great preview, I'm eagerly awaiting publication to read more!
I think this would be a great pick for our in store book club.

I liked the preview of this book, I read it super fast and found myself wanting more! The descriptions of the setting and characters was very engaging and I feel like this book would be a must read!

I think this is an odd choice to provide a preview for this book as I didn’t have enough time to connect to the main character. I found her internal dialogue a tad grating and I’m not rooting for her yet which is importance to me as a reader. The pacing is excellent though and I loved that you’re straight into the action from the first sentence.

I’m undecided if I will pick up the book to read in full yet, I think I will wait for reviews to come out.

While it's hard to write a full review on just a few pages I will say that the story has potential. With a pacing that had me turning every page, an exciting new world to explore, and fresh characters that feel fun - I can't wait to read the rest of their journey.

this was a good opportunity to look in the story and I really enjoyed the beginning but obviously couldn't really get in the story because the moment you were starting to get in the world the review ended.

The Last One by Rachel Howzell Hall is an action-packed and thrilling ride from start to finish. The story follows Kai, a skilled warrior with a mysterious past and a fierce determination to uncover the truth about herself. Along her journey, she faces intense battles, strange creatures, and unexpected allies that keep the pages turning.

Hall’s writing pulls you into a world of vivid landscapes and high-stakes adventure, with a pace that never slows down. The dynamic between Kai and her companions adds emotional depth, balancing the action with moments of self-reflection. The book is full of twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

While the first-person perspective might not be for everyone, it does offer a unique and immersive look at Kai's inner world. If you’re a fan of fantasy filled with mystery, suspense, and strong characters, The Last One is definitely worth picking up.

It was amazing to receive a preview, but it only left me wanting more! I can’t wait to read the full book.

This book hooked me ! once I got to the end of this preview I ran to the store and snagged a copy! I am about 1/2 way in! I have convinced my friend to even buddy read it with me! I’m excited to get my questions answered and find out who or what Kai is!

Falling star? Goddess? or boring human? Who is Kai! All she knows is that she needs to move and get her pendant back! But before she can she has a debt to pay! With memories fluttering in here of there giving her nothing but more questions will she find out who she is before it’s to late? Or will fate collect and take what little she has gained.

This was a moderately paced read, until about the middle of the book. It picked up and got intense, quickly. There were unforzeen plot twists at every turn, with every character. The author wrote this with mystery and intrigue. Such great word building. My trust in each of the characters was always teetering and suspicious. My main suspicions took a left turn and left me just stunned and needing more. This book was a great lead up to the next part of the story. The ending has you on the edge of your seat with even more curiosity and questions. It ends on a DASH - not even completed. 😳😱 the epilogue was like here we go again, hold on and let’s go for another ride- - - - oh wait, we’re left on a dash and no news of book 2!!!! 😭

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

For those concerned there was no 🌶️, minimal, but interesting romance. But the plot was amazing!!

I honestly went into this book with zero expectations. This probably made it a little harder to connect with the main character Kai however, I did enjoy the morally grey side of her. It’s nice to have female characters be morally grey but especially when it’s in tandem with the male main character. I did find some of the plot points to be predictable which left me wanting more in an empty sort of way. I’d like to see where this series goes.

3.5 ⭐️
I can appreciate the effort the author put forth into crafting and writing this story. Overall, it was of a different caliber from the usual fantasy books I read. I do see potential though. Strengths: world building and memory loss trope.

WOW WOW WOW!!! I've read everything by Rachel Howzell Hall and she's among my favorite authors. One thing I love is that no two books of hers are alike. But this?!? I need more of it. Not just a sequel- a full series, merch, and a movie deal. The world-building is *chef's kiss*, the plot is fresh, and the slow burn is impeccably done.

PROS:
- Kai and everything about her. Absolute Black girl magic.
- 'Morally grey' done RIGHT. Everyone has secrets, and the way they move to hide them is executed perfectly.
- Action from JUMP. From the moment Kai sets out to reclaim her amulet ish pops off, and nothing stops or slows down until the last page. (DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THE LAST PAGE.)
- Representation. I know some feel that the 'modern dialogue' (AAVE if we're being honest) can take you out of the world-building, but to hear how *I* would sound in a fantasy realm is truly invaluable. Please don't stop.

CONS:
- Cliffhanger. I know we have a love/hate relationship with them but this one hurt a little extra. Borderline cruelty.
- Honestly, my only *real* critique is that sometimes Jadon reads as inconsistent. We have this firm idea of who he is but sometimes his actions and words don't align- not morally, but in the way he's written. It could just be me but it was the only thing I could focus on during my second read-through.

All said and done this is a near-perfect standalone, despite being Hall's romantasy debut. GIVE US MORE.

DNF at 14%
I really wanted to love this. The premise was so good, the cover is so beautiful. It held such potential for my interests.
I loved how sassy the FMC is, even through her overzealous-diary-entry-like-thoughts. But the line "I feel like we came from the same cabbage patch" is what did me in. I think middle school me would have ate this up, but unfortunately I could not get past the cringe. Big sigh.

This preview definitely sucked me in and left me wanting more. I want to know who and whay Kai is, I want to know her story, where she is from. I will definitely be getting the full book.

Shame on me for not realizing preview meant just a short snippet when I thought it meant just a rough, unedited version of the book. It is hard to really give this a review when I only got about 67 pages or less of the novel.

The book starts out as a female wakes up confused as to where she is and realizes that she has had some of her things stolen. She goes into the town to try to find the thief that has taken her amulet and cloak when she stumbles on the girl discussing the items with a merchant. The town appears to be on starvation mode as everyone looks sickly thin. Our main character then chases down the thief and starts to choke her when a man then tries to arrest her. Luckily, the thief we learn is Olivia, comes to this confused female (who can read minds), and helps her get out of going to jail. The unfortunate news is that she has to stay in town to earn 12 geld to pay the jailers. Olivia and her brother take her in. She realizes her name is Kai.

That was about all the preview contained. I'm not sure if I would continue on with this book. The writing at times felt very childish and I have a feeling the book is coming to come across as cheesy. Also authors need to get more slowburn into their characters - you can instantly predict that there is insta-love and attraction between Kai and Jadon. As I said this preview gives more child/YA rather than adult fantasy.

Love, love, love this book! The wit and humor of the author is really top notch and brings a whole new enjoyment for this fantasy reader! Definitely gonna be one of my top reads of 2025!