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The Last Vampire
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Expected 2 Dec 25Pride & Prejudice meets Crave when Austen-loving Lorena Navarro attends a new boarding school expecting to find her own Mr. Darcy, but accidentally awakens the world’s last vampire instead!
Pride comes before the fall.
When a boarding school opens in a once-condemned Victorian manor buried in the woods of New Hampshire, Austen-loving Lorena Navarro enrolls in hopes of finding her own Mr. Darcy. Instead, she stumbles across a coffin and accidentally awakens the world’s last vampire.
After hibernating for nearly three centuries, William Pride is desperate to find his family—and clueless about the modern world. Relying on Lorena for more than just blood, he enrolls at the school to catch up on all he’s missed.
Soon, William uncovers a chilling He is the last hope for his kind’s return to power. Torn between protecting the humans around him and fulfilling his fate, William must make a choice that could change everything. Will he sacrifice his species for love . . . or will he embrace his dark destiny at last?
Pride comes before the fall.
When a boarding school opens in a once-condemned Victorian manor buried in the woods of New Hampshire, Austen-loving Lorena Navarro enrolls in hopes of finding her own Mr. Darcy. Instead, she stumbles across a coffin and accidentally awakens the world’s last vampire.
After hibernating for nearly three centuries, William Pride is desperate to find his family—and clueless about the modern world. Relying on Lorena for more than just blood, he enrolls at the school to catch up on all he’s missed.
Soon, William uncovers a chilling He is the last hope for his kind’s return to power. Torn between protecting the humans around him and fulfilling his fate, William must make a choice that could change everything. Will he sacrifice his species for love . . . or will he embrace his dark destiny at last?
389 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication December 2, 2025
54 people are currently reading
15884 people want to read
About the author
Romina Garber
14 books833 followersRomina Garber is a NYT/International Bestselling YA author who also writes under pen name Romina Russell. Born in Buenos Aires and raised in Miami, Romina landed her first writing gig as a teen—“College She Wrote,” a weekly Sunday column for the Miami Herald that was later picked up for national syndication—and she hasn’t stopped writing since. She is a graduate of Harvard College and a Virgo to the core. For more information about her books, visit www.rominagarber.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews
September 25, 2025
Sink your teeth into a revolutionary, razor-sharp rebellion. The Last Vampire is a fierce, defiant, queer scream into the night. Garber gives vampires their bite back in this blood-soaked, emotionally charged story about finding your people, your power, and your purpose — even when the world insists on calling you a monster.
Think Castlevania meets The Last of Us! I love it!
Think Castlevania meets The Last of Us! I love it!
June 4, 2025
For all the hype this book gives Pride and Prejudice I walked away asking 'why not hype Dracula'.
This book had a good start but lost itself in the middle and fell flat by the end. You have a girl who enters a college with her friend. Her mother and her friend's mother were close friends and did everything together. Her friend's mother passed recently, and her mother isn't really on good terms with her due to a video that circulated with our main female lead getting wild at a party.
They are sharing a room with a girl who is super rich (actually everyone in this college are rich) and our female lead isn't. Somehow eventually this girl becomes friends with them, along with a couple of guys.
Oh. Our vampire. Apparently he has been chilling in a wing of the school that has been off bounds. And, the group goes and finds the coffin. Vampire wakes up, threatens our female lead, bites her and makes her his familiar. He is pretty ass-y for a vampire, and threatens her a lot. Yet she finds it hot and by mid book she has feelings even though he hasn't really treated her well.
I was confused on where the Pride and Prejudice angle comes from. There is a throw-away comment that the female lead is looking for a guy that is like Darcy. Also, they read three books in this school - Jane Eyre, P&P, Dracula. This is where it gets odd because instead of having the story have themes of P&P, the author uses the literary class meetings to give her insights about various takes from these books. When the vampire ends up pretending to be a student to catch up on everything, he starts flexing his insight on these books too.
There is a group of vampires (apparently he isn't technically the last one) who is looking for someone of a certain line to kickstart their dominance in the world again. Who is it you ask? Well, it's Mr. Stoker, the guy who wrote Dracula. If they don't get their way, all the students including the girl will die.
I found the change from him disliking her to liking her / loving her to be jarring because it just literally happened in one paragraph. There was really no lead into it. It was like "well, I guess I can't bring back my kind, lets date". There are a lot of name drops to current books and films, which work but also sound like name dropping just for the sake of being cool.
The end of this book so many things happen and it makes you wonder if there will be a part two. It could also be a stand alone novel. BUT... that doesn't really wrap up the monster hunters and what not.
I felt like the female character annoyed me and while the author wanted you to feel for her as she was lying for her friend, there was just something ick about her feeling for a vampire that could snap her neck and threatens her and he isn't showing any sort of feelings for her.
A bizarre book, and if there is a sequel I ain't sitting around for it.
This book had a good start but lost itself in the middle and fell flat by the end. You have a girl who enters a college with her friend. Her mother and her friend's mother were close friends and did everything together. Her friend's mother passed recently, and her mother isn't really on good terms with her due to a video that circulated with our main female lead getting wild at a party.
They are sharing a room with a girl who is super rich (actually everyone in this college are rich) and our female lead isn't. Somehow eventually this girl becomes friends with them, along with a couple of guys.
Oh. Our vampire. Apparently he has been chilling in a wing of the school that has been off bounds. And, the group goes and finds the coffin. Vampire wakes up, threatens our female lead, bites her and makes her his familiar. He is pretty ass-y for a vampire, and threatens her a lot. Yet she finds it hot and by mid book she has feelings even though he hasn't really treated her well.
I was confused on where the Pride and Prejudice angle comes from. There is a throw-away comment that the female lead is looking for a guy that is like Darcy. Also, they read three books in this school - Jane Eyre, P&P, Dracula. This is where it gets odd because instead of having the story have themes of P&P, the author uses the literary class meetings to give her insights about various takes from these books. When the vampire ends up pretending to be a student to catch up on everything, he starts flexing his insight on these books too.
There is a group of vampires (apparently he isn't technically the last one) who is looking for someone of a certain line to kickstart their dominance in the world again. Who is it you ask? Well, it's Mr. Stoker, the guy who wrote Dracula. If they don't get their way, all the students including the girl will die.
I found the change from him disliking her to liking her / loving her to be jarring because it just literally happened in one paragraph. There was really no lead into it. It was like "well, I guess I can't bring back my kind, lets date". There are a lot of name drops to current books and films, which work but also sound like name dropping just for the sake of being cool.
The end of this book so many things happen and it makes you wonder if there will be a part two. It could also be a stand alone novel. BUT... that doesn't really wrap up the monster hunters and what not.
I felt like the female character annoyed me and while the author wanted you to feel for her as she was lying for her friend, there was just something ick about her feeling for a vampire that could snap her neck and threatens her and he isn't showing any sort of feelings for her.
A bizarre book, and if there is a sequel I ain't sitting around for it.
August 14, 2025
The Last Vampire by Romina Garber
Book Blurb:Pride comes before the fall.
When a boarding school opens in a once-condemned Victorian manor buried in the woods of New Hampshire, Austen-loving Lorena Navarro enrolls in hopes of finding her own Mr. Darcy. Instead, she stumbles across a coffin and accidentally awakens the world’s last vampire.
Rating: ****
Feels: Intrigue, Wonder, Amusement, Satisfaction.
Style: Fantasy, Young Adult, Vampires, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult Fantasy, Romantasy
First published December 2, 2025 : 400 pages Kindle
I wasn't prepared to enjoy this book as much as I did, which was alot !!! The characters and world building pulled me in and got me invested pretty early on. Pacing was slow during certain times which suited me well as we found out what was going on in the world and then sped up during action scenes which were packed with scenes that had me on the edge of my seat. The dynamic between humans and the vampire was really interesting with humans able to be bonded to the vampires in a way as familiars. The mystery of where the vampires went and why William was left alone was intriguing and I really enjoyed that exploration. I enjoyed this all being set in an academic setting as the background and felt that really gave it an extra enjoyable structure. The reference to different works of classical fiction from the characters viewpoints was also alot of fun.
Favorite Quote: "You're prejudiced?" I ask, with a mirthless laugh. "It should be me, the human, who should not want to be friends with a vampire, not the other way around!" I feel tears burning in my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. "You're just like Darcy ! You feel superior to me and want credit just for letting me and other humans breathe your air..."
This book has:
Morally Grey MMC
Touch her and Die
Yearning
Slow Burn
Academic Setting
Found Family
Thank you to Romina Garber, St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion
Book Blurb:Pride comes before the fall.
When a boarding school opens in a once-condemned Victorian manor buried in the woods of New Hampshire, Austen-loving Lorena Navarro enrolls in hopes of finding her own Mr. Darcy. Instead, she stumbles across a coffin and accidentally awakens the world’s last vampire.
Rating: ****
Feels: Intrigue, Wonder, Amusement, Satisfaction.
Style: Fantasy, Young Adult, Vampires, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult Fantasy, Romantasy
First published December 2, 2025 : 400 pages Kindle
I wasn't prepared to enjoy this book as much as I did, which was alot !!! The characters and world building pulled me in and got me invested pretty early on. Pacing was slow during certain times which suited me well as we found out what was going on in the world and then sped up during action scenes which were packed with scenes that had me on the edge of my seat. The dynamic between humans and the vampire was really interesting with humans able to be bonded to the vampires in a way as familiars. The mystery of where the vampires went and why William was left alone was intriguing and I really enjoyed that exploration. I enjoyed this all being set in an academic setting as the background and felt that really gave it an extra enjoyable structure. The reference to different works of classical fiction from the characters viewpoints was also alot of fun.
Favorite Quote: "You're prejudiced?" I ask, with a mirthless laugh. "It should be me, the human, who should not want to be friends with a vampire, not the other way around!" I feel tears burning in my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. "You're just like Darcy ! You feel superior to me and want credit just for letting me and other humans breathe your air..."
This book has:
Morally Grey MMC
Touch her and Die
Yearning
Slow Burn
Academic Setting
Found Family
Thank you to Romina Garber, St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion
September 29, 2025
The morally grey vampires are winning.
I really do just love a paranormal romance, and this one started out extremelty strong.
I mean really, I was totally hooked and really wasn’t able to put it down for a while.
The first thing that stuck out to me was how morally grey the MMC Willam was.
I love, love, love this in a vampire character.
Don’t get me wrong, the whole good, self-hating vampire who doesn’t feed on humans and “isn’t like other vampires” is a fun trope- but I think it is overdone!
This story however, took a step in the opposite direction, which was exactly what I was hoping for.
Sometimes, i want the aggression, with the bloodlust and lack of self restraint. (I promise I am not crazy)
And while William wasn’t super out of control or anything, he didn’t come with a bit of these qualities. So for me, thats a win.
I also have to comment on the dark academia vibes.
I don’t usually care for this theme (I don’t dislike it. It’s just also never a selling point for me), but I thought it was so good and so necessary for this book.
It truly set the mood for that classic vampire lore.
The romance? It was cute.
Not your typical romance though. It isn’t super sweet and lovey, which I really didn’t mind here.
My heart broke around the 70/80% mark of this book, when things started to feel like they were dragging a bit.
It started to feel a lot longer than it actually was.
William and Lorena spent a long time not in the same vicinity as one another, and were both living separate (and kind of lame) lives.
It did pick back up nearing the very end though. So I was pleased with that.
I also think the side characters should have been written to be a bit more mature.
They are meant to be all around 18/19 I think, but they feel more… 15?
I know even 18/19 year olds aren't super mature adults or anything, but I would like to think they are more mature than some of these characters.
Especially Tiffany. Oh god, Tiffany.
To end on a positive note:
I liked the writing style! Simple and engaging, while also feeling a bit dark.
Overall, I did enjoy this quite a bit!
Sure, I had a few small critiques, but It was still worth the read for me.
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martins Press | Wednesday Books and author Romina Garber for providing me with the eARC of “The Last Vampire”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: December 02, 2025
I really do just love a paranormal romance, and this one started out extremelty strong.
I mean really, I was totally hooked and really wasn’t able to put it down for a while.
The first thing that stuck out to me was how morally grey the MMC Willam was.
I love, love, love this in a vampire character.
Don’t get me wrong, the whole good, self-hating vampire who doesn’t feed on humans and “isn’t like other vampires” is a fun trope- but I think it is overdone!
This story however, took a step in the opposite direction, which was exactly what I was hoping for.
Sometimes, i want the aggression, with the bloodlust and lack of self restraint. (I promise I am not crazy)
And while William wasn’t super out of control or anything, he didn’t come with a bit of these qualities. So for me, thats a win.
I also have to comment on the dark academia vibes.
I don’t usually care for this theme (I don’t dislike it. It’s just also never a selling point for me), but I thought it was so good and so necessary for this book.
It truly set the mood for that classic vampire lore.
The romance? It was cute.
Not your typical romance though. It isn’t super sweet and lovey, which I really didn’t mind here.
My heart broke around the 70/80% mark of this book, when things started to feel like they were dragging a bit.
It started to feel a lot longer than it actually was.
William and Lorena spent a long time not in the same vicinity as one another, and were both living separate (and kind of lame) lives.
It did pick back up nearing the very end though. So I was pleased with that.
I also think the side characters should have been written to be a bit more mature.
They are meant to be all around 18/19 I think, but they feel more… 15?
I know even 18/19 year olds aren't super mature adults or anything, but I would like to think they are more mature than some of these characters.
Especially Tiffany. Oh god, Tiffany.
To end on a positive note:
I liked the writing style! Simple and engaging, while also feeling a bit dark.
Overall, I did enjoy this quite a bit!
Sure, I had a few small critiques, but It was still worth the read for me.
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martins Press | Wednesday Books and author Romina Garber for providing me with the eARC of “The Last Vampire”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: December 02, 2025
Want to read
April 22, 2025We love a New England themed book
July 17, 2025
˗ˏˋ 5 stars ⟡ ݁₊ .
did i request this book solely because of the cover? yes
do i regret it? absolutely not
this book was such a fast read. i genuinely didn't want the book to end. a lot of the plot twists kept me on my toes and had me flipping through the pages quickly. i really enjoyed the magic system as well. i loved lorena and found her kinda relatable to me.
the ending kinda leaves for potential squeals, so finger crossed that it's happening cuz id be so down to read it.
⤷ thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
did i request this book solely because of the cover? yes
do i regret it? absolutely not
this book was such a fast read. i genuinely didn't want the book to end. a lot of the plot twists kept me on my toes and had me flipping through the pages quickly. i really enjoyed the magic system as well. i loved lorena and found her kinda relatable to me.
the ending kinda leaves for potential squeals, so finger crossed that it's happening cuz id be so down to read it.
⤷ thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 25, 2025
This was clunky and ill conceived. Romance was forced and I found myself bored for most of the book. It just wasn’t for me but at least cover is cute.
July 30, 2025
The premise of this book—Pride and Prejudice meets Dark Academia meets vampirism—immediately caught my attention. It sounded like such a fun and intriguing combination, so I didn’t hesitate to request a copy when I saw it available on NetGalley.
While the concept remained compelling, the writing style wasn’t quite what I typically gravitate toward. I had hoped it would grow on me as I got further into the story, but I found it difficult to fully connect with the tone and pacing. I also struggled to see how the various themes—romantic tension, academic intrigue, and supernatural lore—blended cohesively.
That said, this book may be a great fit for readers who enjoy a more stylized, genre-blending narrative. If you're a fan of the writing style and pacing found in books like Zodiac Academy, you may find The Last Vampire right up your alley.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | Wednesday Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
While the concept remained compelling, the writing style wasn’t quite what I typically gravitate toward. I had hoped it would grow on me as I got further into the story, but I found it difficult to fully connect with the tone and pacing. I also struggled to see how the various themes—romantic tension, academic intrigue, and supernatural lore—blended cohesively.
That said, this book may be a great fit for readers who enjoy a more stylized, genre-blending narrative. If you're a fan of the writing style and pacing found in books like Zodiac Academy, you may find The Last Vampire right up your alley.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | Wednesday Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 23, 2025
Unfortunately, The Last Vampire just didn’t work for me. I went in really excited because the concept sounded right up my alley: vampires, mystery, and a potentially rich paranormal world. But in the end, it felt like the story never quite found its footing.
The pacing dragged in some places and then jumped ahead in others, which made it hard to stay grounded. I had a tough time connecting with the main character. Their decisions often felt inconsistent or emotionally flat. The dialogue also didn’t feel natural at times, which pulled me out of the story.
I really wanted to love this, but it just didn’t click for me. That said, I do think it will appeal to readers who enjoy more introspective or philosophical takes on vampire lore.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
The pacing dragged in some places and then jumped ahead in others, which made it hard to stay grounded. I had a tough time connecting with the main character. Their decisions often felt inconsistent or emotionally flat. The dialogue also didn’t feel natural at times, which pulled me out of the story.
I really wanted to love this, but it just didn’t click for me. That said, I do think it will appeal to readers who enjoy more introspective or philosophical takes on vampire lore.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
June 16, 2025
The problem with most vampire romances set in high schools is the age gap factor. The human is a teen, and the vampire is hundreds of years old, going to high school, dating a teen girl. Just icky. Here, though, (yes, those details are still true) Lenore is in her senior year and is 18. William is 19 and was in death-sleep for hundreds of years, almost the entire time he was a vampire. Also, unlike some of the shows, he doesn't enroll in the school to stalk the girl. He needs to catch up on all the human history he missed.
I don't know that I would compare the book to Pride and Prejudice. What I do know, though, is that it is so much better than Twilight. Light years better. Truly hope there is a sequel!!!
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book! My opinions are my own and are freely given.
I don't know that I would compare the book to Pride and Prejudice. What I do know, though, is that it is so much better than Twilight. Light years better. Truly hope there is a sequel!!!
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book! My opinions are my own and are freely given.
July 27, 2025
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The Last Vampire is a haunting, lyrical take on vampire mythology that feels both ancient and fiercely modern. Ilana is a compelling narrator—raw, angry, and aching for truth—and her journey is as emotional as it is powerful. Romina Garber weaves folklore, grief, and identity into a darkly beautiful narrative that lingers long after the final page.
This isn’t just a story about vampires—it’s about legacy, survival, and the quiet rage of girlhood. Highly recommended for fans of atmospheric YA with bite.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC!
The Last Vampire is a haunting, lyrical take on vampire mythology that feels both ancient and fiercely modern. Ilana is a compelling narrator—raw, angry, and aching for truth—and her journey is as emotional as it is powerful. Romina Garber weaves folklore, grief, and identity into a darkly beautiful narrative that lingers long after the final page.
This isn’t just a story about vampires—it’s about legacy, survival, and the quiet rage of girlhood. Highly recommended for fans of atmospheric YA with bite.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC!
November 4, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 The Last Vampire is a YA fantasy that takes place in a gothic academy. The story leans more into mystery, past secrets, and friendships, more than romance.
William, the last vampire is trying to uncover the truth about his past. He wakes up from a long sleep at the academy. With help from his new familiar, Lorena, she introduces him to the modern world.
The beginning is a bit slow, and the emotions were a little flat, but once the plot picks up, and a spark of first love 75% in, make it worth the slow slow burn. I am excited to see where the story goes in the next book.
Thank you NetGalley, St Martins Press
William, the last vampire is trying to uncover the truth about his past. He wakes up from a long sleep at the academy. With help from his new familiar, Lorena, she introduces him to the modern world.
The beginning is a bit slow, and the emotions were a little flat, but once the plot picks up, and a spark of first love 75% in, make it worth the slow slow burn. I am excited to see where the story goes in the next book.
Thank you NetGalley, St Martins Press
August 13, 2025
The description of this book had me SO intrigued! I was incredibly excited when I got notified that I was approved for an ARC.
While this book is a very quick read, I had some issues.
The pacing is all over the place, and some of the chacracterizations are not solidly buit.
I would like to point out the fact that the majority of this book takes place over MAYBE 6 months, and the beginning sequence where the main character gets attacked by a vampire, becomes his familiar, is told that the entirety of human history was rewritten without the vampire contributions and history, and starts FALLING FOR said vampire, ALL HAPPEN IN THE FIRST WEEK. Then after this we get random time jumps. None of this feels like it could legitimately take place in this amount of time.
The romance could have been cute, but I think that with a little bit more build up and time spent getting to know the characters, this facet of the book would have been fantastic
Had this been published during the height of the 2010s vampire/Twilight craze, it may have found it's right audience in me. I think that if the author had just let this one cook a little bit longer and really fleshed out parts of this book, this would have made for a fantastic YA duology! As it stands with how it was actually written, it feels like the author wanted to rush through parts of the story to get to the bits that they ACTUALLY wanted to write. It may be YA, but that doesn't mean you need to have scenes last the equivalent of a TikTok to keep young adults attention.
AND THE ENDING?! After the emotional goobyes and 9 months, William just pops back up and the other vampires come back and we get to see no ramifications of that?? I realize that this could possibly leave the door open for a sequel, but imma be honest dawg, I don't want it.
The premise and the idea WERE THERE, and had me so excited, but I was really let down but the execution. Maybe this author just isn't for me, or it maybe would do better on a reread later down the road. And do not in any way let my silly little opinion keep you from trying this book! I realize that I am not the target demographic for a YA novel! I just wish that I had liked it more than I did
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book!
These opinions are my own
While this book is a very quick read, I had some issues.
The pacing is all over the place, and some of the chacracterizations are not solidly buit.
I would like to point out the fact that the majority of this book takes place over MAYBE 6 months, and the beginning sequence where the main character gets attacked by a vampire, becomes his familiar, is told that the entirety of human history was rewritten without the vampire contributions and history, and starts FALLING FOR said vampire, ALL HAPPEN IN THE FIRST WEEK. Then after this we get random time jumps. None of this feels like it could legitimately take place in this amount of time.
The romance could have been cute, but I think that with a little bit more build up and time spent getting to know the characters, this facet of the book would have been fantastic
Had this been published during the height of the 2010s vampire/Twilight craze, it may have found it's right audience in me. I think that if the author had just let this one cook a little bit longer and really fleshed out parts of this book, this would have made for a fantastic YA duology! As it stands with how it was actually written, it feels like the author wanted to rush through parts of the story to get to the bits that they ACTUALLY wanted to write. It may be YA, but that doesn't mean you need to have scenes last the equivalent of a TikTok to keep young adults attention.
AND THE ENDING?! After the emotional goobyes and 9 months, William just pops back up and the other vampires come back and we get to see no ramifications of that?? I realize that this could possibly leave the door open for a sequel, but imma be honest dawg, I don't want it.
The premise and the idea WERE THERE, and had me so excited, but I was really let down but the execution. Maybe this author just isn't for me, or it maybe would do better on a reread later down the road. And do not in any way let my silly little opinion keep you from trying this book! I realize that I am not the target demographic for a YA novel! I just wish that I had liked it more than I did
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book!
These opinions are my own
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2025
3⭐️’s Honestly, I really struggled with this book. The premise itself was unique and interesting, a vampire is awakened from his slumber after centuries when students at a boarding school stumble upon his hidden coffin. From there, he begins searching for answers about why he was put into this slumber and whether any other vampires remain in the world. That part hooked me right away!
However, I struggled with the characters. They often felt whiny and frustrating, which made it hard for me to connect with them. Since the story leans into the YA side of fantasy, maybe that’s why but personally, I just couldn’t get past how annoying they came across at times.
The ending was another part that didn’t quite work for me. It felt rushed and I was left wishing for more depth and development, especially with some storylines that had so much potential but were brushed over too quickly.
Overall, it was a solid read with a creative premise but it didn’t fully hit the mark for me. That said, if you’re into academia, vampires, and YA fantasy, it might still be worth picking up.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
However, I struggled with the characters. They often felt whiny and frustrating, which made it hard for me to connect with them. Since the story leans into the YA side of fantasy, maybe that’s why but personally, I just couldn’t get past how annoying they came across at times.
The ending was another part that didn’t quite work for me. It felt rushed and I was left wishing for more depth and development, especially with some storylines that had so much potential but were brushed over too quickly.
Overall, it was a solid read with a creative premise but it didn’t fully hit the mark for me. That said, if you’re into academia, vampires, and YA fantasy, it might still be worth picking up.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2025
I loved Castle of the Cursed.
So I was super excited to read The Last Vampire by Romina Garber.
I totally binged it and I could not put it down! From start to finish I just wanted more!
The Last Vampire is easily one of my new favorite books I’ve read this year. It’s beautifully written, with intriguing characters and a unique storyline.
I enjoyed this spine-tingling, twisty journey!
This book is a spellbinding gothic romance that enthralls readers from the very beginning.
The setting and plot were very immersive, the characters were easy to root for, and the conclusion was fantastic.
Garber’s writing is lush and evocative, painting vivid scenes that immerse readers in Lorena and Williams story.
A gripping vampire/human romance story that I devoured.
I downloaded this book yesterday and finished it the next day!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the ARC of this book!!
So I was super excited to read The Last Vampire by Romina Garber.
I totally binged it and I could not put it down! From start to finish I just wanted more!
The Last Vampire is easily one of my new favorite books I’ve read this year. It’s beautifully written, with intriguing characters and a unique storyline.
I enjoyed this spine-tingling, twisty journey!
This book is a spellbinding gothic romance that enthralls readers from the very beginning.
The setting and plot were very immersive, the characters were easy to root for, and the conclusion was fantastic.
Garber’s writing is lush and evocative, painting vivid scenes that immerse readers in Lorena and Williams story.
A gripping vampire/human romance story that I devoured.
I downloaded this book yesterday and finished it the next day!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the ARC of this book!!
November 25, 2025
The premise immediately caught my attention especially the mystery surrounding the vampire. Even when the pacing slowed down, that lingering question kept me turning pages because I needed to know what happened.
I really enjoyed the world-building and thought the atmosphere was strong. There’s a moody, gothic vibe that worked well, and I liked the direction of the setting. That said, the school itself fell a bit flat for me and didn’t feel as fully developed or believable as I was hoping.
The characters were interesting overall, though I struggled with the portrayal of the female friendships. At times, the dynamics felt more frustrating than supportive, which made it harder to connect.
Despite a few pacing issues and some elements that didn’t quite land, this was still an enjoyable read. The intrigue and world kept me invested, and I’m glad I saw it through.thanks to Wednesday books for the gifted ARC.
I really enjoyed the world-building and thought the atmosphere was strong. There’s a moody, gothic vibe that worked well, and I liked the direction of the setting. That said, the school itself fell a bit flat for me and didn’t feel as fully developed or believable as I was hoping.
The characters were interesting overall, though I struggled with the portrayal of the female friendships. At times, the dynamics felt more frustrating than supportive, which made it harder to connect.
Despite a few pacing issues and some elements that didn’t quite land, this was still an enjoyable read. The intrigue and world kept me invested, and I’m glad I saw it through.thanks to Wednesday books for the gifted ARC.
August 5, 2025
What a charming YA vampire read. There are definitely several references to Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, and a bit for Dracula.
The characters act as expected for their age. A little reckless and still trying to figure out where they fit in the world. Especially as select students to Huntington University. Of course they're going to test every boundary.
And that will of course lead them to their own personal vampire.
The beginning of this story starts out quite interesting. It slows down towards to middle, but picks back up in the end. I'm curious to see where this will lead next.
The characters act as expected for their age. A little reckless and still trying to figure out where they fit in the world. Especially as select students to Huntington University. Of course they're going to test every boundary.
And that will of course lead them to their own personal vampire.
The beginning of this story starts out quite interesting. It slows down towards to middle, but picks back up in the end. I'm curious to see where this will lead next.
June 7, 2025
The Last Vampire follows Lorena as she and her best friend attend a new boarding school in an old Victorian manor. While exploring the out of bounds areas of the building, they stumble across a coffin and Lorena wakes a vampire. William has been hibernating for three centuries and relies on Lorena for blood and information. As they grow closer, William discovers he is the last for the vampire’s return to power. William must decide what is more important: his people or his growing feelings for Lorena?
I really wanted to love this one more than I did. I think the idea is great and it does have some things I like, but overall, I found it a bit too slow for my taste and the pacing to be a bit off. I did really enjoy the concept of William being the last vampire. It made for a really intriguing premise. I also loved the setting—very atmospheric and dark academia-ish.
I enjoyed that we got to see both Lorena and William’s perspectives. Both characters were interesting and had a lot of internal conflict to deal with. I enjoyed their grow and did really like where the book ended. The romance was cute and I think a lot of people will really enjoy it, especially if they like classic literature and that academic rivals to lovers vibe. I wasn’t too fond of the friends although some of them had their moments.
Overall, while this wasn’t my favourite, I do think a lot of others will love it, especially if you love vampires and dark academia.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the arc!
I really wanted to love this one more than I did. I think the idea is great and it does have some things I like, but overall, I found it a bit too slow for my taste and the pacing to be a bit off. I did really enjoy the concept of William being the last vampire. It made for a really intriguing premise. I also loved the setting—very atmospheric and dark academia-ish.
I enjoyed that we got to see both Lorena and William’s perspectives. Both characters were interesting and had a lot of internal conflict to deal with. I enjoyed their grow and did really like where the book ended. The romance was cute and I think a lot of people will really enjoy it, especially if they like classic literature and that academic rivals to lovers vibe. I wasn’t too fond of the friends although some of them had their moments.
Overall, while this wasn’t my favourite, I do think a lot of others will love it, especially if you love vampires and dark academia.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the arc!
August 4, 2025
I tried really hard to like this book. It took me over a month to finish this one and I wanted to give up multiple times.
I love books with changing perspectives, but the changing from first to third person narration didn't work for me at all. There were so many points in this book where the story was contradictory even when the vampire was compelling characters and they were performing the actions. The lulls in the story dragged so slowly that I had a terrible time staying interested and caring what was going to happen next.
I don't like to leave negative reviews, but I truly hope this book received additional edits before the final version.
I love books with changing perspectives, but the changing from first to third person narration didn't work for me at all. There were so many points in this book where the story was contradictory even when the vampire was compelling characters and they were performing the actions. The lulls in the story dragged so slowly that I had a terrible time staying interested and caring what was going to happen next.
I don't like to leave negative reviews, but I truly hope this book received additional edits before the final version.
June 19, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Romina Garber for the ARC of The Last Vampire in exchange for my honest opinion!
I definitely had my Twilight phase as a young teen (I mean, didn’t we all?). So going into this academy-setting vampire book, I was expecting something very Twilight-esque. I was pleasantly surprised by how much better this was.
Let’s be real—I read romantasy for three reasons:
1. I want to feel for the characters.
Whether I’m laughing or crying, I need to be emotionally invested. And I definitely got attached to Lorena and William as they fought against their feelings. I was almost brought to tears by the decision Lorena makes at the end—and then actually brought to tears by what William does with it.
2. I want to be immersed in a fantasy world.
Even though this book takes place in the human world, the deep vampire history added a rich, otherworldly layer. I appreciated how the story explored themes like how history can be rewritten or erased. The depth of the vampire community gave me the fantasy element I craved, even outside a traditional fantasy setting.
3. I need a swoon-worthy romance.
I want a couple that makes me believe they’ll last beyond the final page (because let’s be honest, not all of them do). Lorena and William were so cute, and I loved how their personalities balanced each other. Their Shakespeare club and literature class debates? Absolute gold.
The plot itself was solid, though I’ll admit it got a little too twisty at times. There was a lot going on, and it could be hard to keep track of everything. But overall, it didn’t take away too much from my enjoyment.
This book had everything I want in a romantasy: emotional tension, unique worldbuilding, a compelling romance, and bonus—dual POVs (my favorite!). 4/5 stars to The Last Vampire—and I’ll definitely be picking up whatever Romina Garber writes next.
I definitely had my Twilight phase as a young teen (I mean, didn’t we all?). So going into this academy-setting vampire book, I was expecting something very Twilight-esque. I was pleasantly surprised by how much better this was.
Let’s be real—I read romantasy for three reasons:
1. I want to feel for the characters.
Whether I’m laughing or crying, I need to be emotionally invested. And I definitely got attached to Lorena and William as they fought against their feelings. I was almost brought to tears by the decision Lorena makes at the end—and then actually brought to tears by what William does with it.
2. I want to be immersed in a fantasy world.
Even though this book takes place in the human world, the deep vampire history added a rich, otherworldly layer. I appreciated how the story explored themes like how history can be rewritten or erased. The depth of the vampire community gave me the fantasy element I craved, even outside a traditional fantasy setting.
3. I need a swoon-worthy romance.
I want a couple that makes me believe they’ll last beyond the final page (because let’s be honest, not all of them do). Lorena and William were so cute, and I loved how their personalities balanced each other. Their Shakespeare club and literature class debates? Absolute gold.
The plot itself was solid, though I’ll admit it got a little too twisty at times. There was a lot going on, and it could be hard to keep track of everything. But overall, it didn’t take away too much from my enjoyment.
This book had everything I want in a romantasy: emotional tension, unique worldbuilding, a compelling romance, and bonus—dual POVs (my favorite!). 4/5 stars to The Last Vampire—and I’ll definitely be picking up whatever Romina Garber writes next.
September 7, 2025
3.75*
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for the chance to ARC read The Last Vampire. This was a fun story, and exactly what I needed to get my groove back right now.
The story is a bit cheesy and predictable at times, but I don’t mind that one bit - in fact, I liked not having to really put much thought into my reading and just turn my brain off. There was enough action to keep me entertained, and mysteries that were answered in the end.
All of the main characters were interesting and I enjoyed seeing different sides of all of them. Of course, William is supposed to be Mr. Darcy and Lorena is Elizabeth, which was portrayed well. Lorena’s friend group was interesting as well, especially Salma.
I have no complaints to lodge against this book, it met my expectations and I am glad to have had the opportunity to read this. I hope there will be a sequel!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for the chance to ARC read The Last Vampire. This was a fun story, and exactly what I needed to get my groove back right now.
The story is a bit cheesy and predictable at times, but I don’t mind that one bit - in fact, I liked not having to really put much thought into my reading and just turn my brain off. There was enough action to keep me entertained, and mysteries that were answered in the end.
All of the main characters were interesting and I enjoyed seeing different sides of all of them. Of course, William is supposed to be Mr. Darcy and Lorena is Elizabeth, which was portrayed well. Lorena’s friend group was interesting as well, especially Salma.
I have no complaints to lodge against this book, it met my expectations and I am glad to have had the opportunity to read this. I hope there will be a sequel!
June 12, 2025
This one was not for me, y’all. The writing felt weirdly stuck between middle grade and YA, which I can let slide. Maybe it’s just on the younger side of YA, ya know? But labelling this dark academia was a stretch. The characters felt like caricatures of high school freshman stereotypes (blue haired weird girl, the jock, preppy mean girl, the goth best friend, etc.), which ended up robbing them of any actual depth. The way the supposed authority figures acted throughout the story also felt like they existed through the lense of a 15 year old getting dress coded. The backstory for Lorena and Salma felt wildly over dramatized, which definitely had me leaning toward middle grade. I also have no idea at all where the “Pride and Prejudice fans will love this!” comes in. Overall, it was a big miss for me.
August 11, 2025
The Last Vampire started out kind of slow for me but then it picked up and I became immersed in the story. I liked the characters, they felt real and relatable and of course I love vampires!
Thank you to Netgalley, Romina Garber and the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Thank you to Netgalley, Romina Garber and the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review
October 3, 2025
After slogging through a couple of less than wonderful books, this was a pleasant surprise. The Last Vampire is probably more of a YA book but still held my attention.
Lorena and Salma have been best friends since the day they were both born, because their mothers were best friends first. And now after a bumpy year, they are headed to a new boarding school for their senior year. Lorena had no interest in such things but due to a messy photo on the internet, it was deemed best for everyone if she got away from the city for a bit, so when Salma insisted that she just had to go to this school in the middle of nowhere, Lorena agreed to go with her.
17- and 18-year-olds away from home with no internet and no phones, naturally get into mischief. Lorena, Salma, 3rd roommate Tiffany and fellow dining room partners Trevor and Zach, meet up after curfew to explore some of the off limits parts of the school. (The students are told that due to continued construction work, internet hook up hasn't been established yet, and parts of the school are still in mid construction and therefore unsafe).
Of course, they immediately find a hidden room and a coffin which they of course attempt to open. It springs open and they all run unsure of what has happened, except for Lorena who trips and is caught by a handsome looking guy with amethyst-colored eyes who suddenly shows fangs.
The author has made the weird choice of really doubling down on girls having their periods. William our "Last Vampire" is awaken not just by their fiddling with the coffin but because he can smell blood, her blood so clearly. Later Tiffany and Salma are teased for having their periods or not and the three regularly ask each other if they need a spare pad. And as a woman, I'm all for normalizing basic biological functions that affect half the world's population but in a book about Vampires it sort of gave me the ick.
William was turned at 19 and within a year or so was put into hibernation - death sleep for over 200 years, so while he's old, he sort of isn't. And the world has moved on in ways that he couldn't imagine, including the fact that now people no longer "believe" in Vampires the way they did in his time. He nearly drains Lorena of all her blood but then accepts that he will need her to navigate this new world until he is stronger and better acclimated. Plus, she uses her phone to film him feeding on her and threatens to expose him to the world and to any surviving members of a Vampire slaying organization.
Since Dracula became a literary favorite, new Vampire book authors have to decide what is and isn't cannon to the Vampire lore. Everyone agrees they drink blood, in this case, William can eat food but throws it up when no one is looking and only eats a small amount in front of the humans. He can roam about freely in daylight, has a super sense of smell, and is magically fast and strong. He needs to sleep less because technically he just spent 230 years asleep, but others may sleep for a few hours each night. He is cold to the touch and can compel humans to forget or to do his bidding, except once he has had their blood, he can no longer compel them which is why in his time humans were fully consumed. (Lorena uses the threat of the video and medical fact to limit him to drinking her blood only every 8 weeks, so that she doesn't become too weak.)
William is not technically the last vampire, but he IS the last vampire that has the ability to create new vampires. In this world only one bloodline has the ability to produce humans that once turned into vampires, can turn other humans into vampires. These are the Stokers, as in Bram Stoker, the author of the book, Dracula. If William were to turn a random human into a vampire, that new vampire would not be able to create other vampires.
William is desperate to find out what happened to his family and to the other vampires and eventually leaves the school.
There are plenty of classroom scenes and school dances and yet William and Lorena's love story doesn't feel genuine. She feels more like a beloved pet of his (that he eventually does have sex with) and he feels like Lorena's chance to rebel against her mother and forget that her best friend is likely going to die young. Zack and Tiffany are cartoonishly zealous reporters on the school paper, even when faced with what is really going on and possible death to the entire student population, they 'can't' give up the story. Trevor is naturally a descendant of the vampire hunters, though he doesn't know it.
This book is not perfect by any stretch but kept me curious enough to keep reading until the end. Also it was nice that the book actually ended in a way that felt complete. It's annoying to read books that are just set ups to a series.
Lorena and Salma have been best friends since the day they were both born, because their mothers were best friends first. And now after a bumpy year, they are headed to a new boarding school for their senior year. Lorena had no interest in such things but due to a messy photo on the internet, it was deemed best for everyone if she got away from the city for a bit, so when Salma insisted that she just had to go to this school in the middle of nowhere, Lorena agreed to go with her.
17- and 18-year-olds away from home with no internet and no phones, naturally get into mischief. Lorena, Salma, 3rd roommate Tiffany and fellow dining room partners Trevor and Zach, meet up after curfew to explore some of the off limits parts of the school. (The students are told that due to continued construction work, internet hook up hasn't been established yet, and parts of the school are still in mid construction and therefore unsafe).
Of course, they immediately find a hidden room and a coffin which they of course attempt to open. It springs open and they all run unsure of what has happened, except for Lorena who trips and is caught by a handsome looking guy with amethyst-colored eyes who suddenly shows fangs.
The author has made the weird choice of really doubling down on girls having their periods. William our "Last Vampire" is awaken not just by their fiddling with the coffin but because he can smell blood, her blood so clearly. Later Tiffany and Salma are teased for having their periods or not and the three regularly ask each other if they need a spare pad. And as a woman, I'm all for normalizing basic biological functions that affect half the world's population but in a book about Vampires it sort of gave me the ick.
William was turned at 19 and within a year or so was put into hibernation - death sleep for over 200 years, so while he's old, he sort of isn't. And the world has moved on in ways that he couldn't imagine, including the fact that now people no longer "believe" in Vampires the way they did in his time. He nearly drains Lorena of all her blood but then accepts that he will need her to navigate this new world until he is stronger and better acclimated. Plus, she uses her phone to film him feeding on her and threatens to expose him to the world and to any surviving members of a Vampire slaying organization.
Since Dracula became a literary favorite, new Vampire book authors have to decide what is and isn't cannon to the Vampire lore. Everyone agrees they drink blood, in this case, William can eat food but throws it up when no one is looking and only eats a small amount in front of the humans. He can roam about freely in daylight, has a super sense of smell, and is magically fast and strong. He needs to sleep less because technically he just spent 230 years asleep, but others may sleep for a few hours each night. He is cold to the touch and can compel humans to forget or to do his bidding, except once he has had their blood, he can no longer compel them which is why in his time humans were fully consumed. (Lorena uses the threat of the video and medical fact to limit him to drinking her blood only every 8 weeks, so that she doesn't become too weak.)
William is not technically the last vampire, but he IS the last vampire that has the ability to create new vampires. In this world only one bloodline has the ability to produce humans that once turned into vampires, can turn other humans into vampires. These are the Stokers, as in Bram Stoker, the author of the book, Dracula. If William were to turn a random human into a vampire, that new vampire would not be able to create other vampires.
William is desperate to find out what happened to his family and to the other vampires and eventually leaves the school.
There are plenty of classroom scenes and school dances and yet William and Lorena's love story doesn't feel genuine. She feels more like a beloved pet of his (that he eventually does have sex with) and he feels like Lorena's chance to rebel against her mother and forget that her best friend is likely going to die young. Zack and Tiffany are cartoonishly zealous reporters on the school paper, even when faced with what is really going on and possible death to the entire student population, they 'can't' give up the story. Trevor is naturally a descendant of the vampire hunters, though he doesn't know it.
This book is not perfect by any stretch but kept me curious enough to keep reading until the end. Also it was nice that the book actually ended in a way that felt complete. It's annoying to read books that are just set ups to a series.
November 9, 2025
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
It's been a while since I've read a paranormal vampire book. I will admit, my expectations for such books are high considering what I've read in the past. And given my penchant for loving dark academia, I had a certain picture of how things would play out in my mind. I was excited to jump into this one and see what the author had to offer.
The book had a fairly strong start. The writing was a bit more juvenile than I would have expected. But the book is YA so I know that writing for that age group can fluctuate. However, this book definitely comes off more middle grade than YA for me. I believe older teens or teens who have a larger vocabulary will not enjoy this title because of how simple the writing is. For this reason it's hard to really pinpoint who exactly should be reading this book.
But the story started off fairly quickly. I will admit I would have liked to have seen more character development to begin with but I figured I could get that later on in the book. Unfortunately, that never happened. The characters lacked depth. I didn't believe in any of the relationships be they friendships or romantic. There was nothing that had me believing how quickly all these kids became friends and decided to do bad things together. And there was nothing that made me believe in the romance, other than being told it was there. Not a lick of chemistry between the FMC and MMC which made it terribly hard for me to buy into their connection and romance.
Unfortunately, the book did not take off as I expected. It devolved into kids I didn't know (poor character development) and kids jumping into breaking the rules right away without any real background (see poor character development). The plot kind of slogs along with reveals that just make no sense considering the genre. So many of the ideas we know associated with vampires are challenged in this book. And, while I appreciate the idea of this, I just could not suspend my disbelief enough to believe in those changes.
I've seen other reviewers say if you like Twighlight you'll enjoy this. I do not agree with that assessment at all. For me, this story was a Twighlight wannabe. Add to this the pacing (SLOW) and the plot inconsistencies (many, even from one chapter to the next) and this book just did not hit me right. The plot definitely has potential and perhaps a bit more editing would have done this book wonders since most of the dialogue and plot felt choppy and underdeveloped. Overall the story was just not well executed. I'm sure someone will enjoy it but that someone just was not me. The ending seems like there may be more to the story in the future but I will be passing on reading it if it does happen.
It's been a while since I've read a paranormal vampire book. I will admit, my expectations for such books are high considering what I've read in the past. And given my penchant for loving dark academia, I had a certain picture of how things would play out in my mind. I was excited to jump into this one and see what the author had to offer.
The book had a fairly strong start. The writing was a bit more juvenile than I would have expected. But the book is YA so I know that writing for that age group can fluctuate. However, this book definitely comes off more middle grade than YA for me. I believe older teens or teens who have a larger vocabulary will not enjoy this title because of how simple the writing is. For this reason it's hard to really pinpoint who exactly should be reading this book.
But the story started off fairly quickly. I will admit I would have liked to have seen more character development to begin with but I figured I could get that later on in the book. Unfortunately, that never happened. The characters lacked depth. I didn't believe in any of the relationships be they friendships or romantic. There was nothing that had me believing how quickly all these kids became friends and decided to do bad things together. And there was nothing that made me believe in the romance, other than being told it was there. Not a lick of chemistry between the FMC and MMC which made it terribly hard for me to buy into their connection and romance.
Unfortunately, the book did not take off as I expected. It devolved into kids I didn't know (poor character development) and kids jumping into breaking the rules right away without any real background (see poor character development). The plot kind of slogs along with reveals that just make no sense considering the genre. So many of the ideas we know associated with vampires are challenged in this book. And, while I appreciate the idea of this, I just could not suspend my disbelief enough to believe in those changes.
I've seen other reviewers say if you like Twighlight you'll enjoy this. I do not agree with that assessment at all. For me, this story was a Twighlight wannabe. Add to this the pacing (SLOW) and the plot inconsistencies (many, even from one chapter to the next) and this book just did not hit me right. The plot definitely has potential and perhaps a bit more editing would have done this book wonders since most of the dialogue and plot felt choppy and underdeveloped. Overall the story was just not well executed. I'm sure someone will enjoy it but that someone just was not me. The ending seems like there may be more to the story in the future but I will be passing on reading it if it does happen.
November 6, 2025
3.25⭐️
I think this book had a really strong start! I don’t think it needed to be as long as it was— it’s hard to describe without spoiling anything and that’s the last thing I’d like to do!
This book is marketed as Pride and Prejudice meets Dark Academia and while Pride and Prejudice is mentioned, so is Jane Eyre, Dracula, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and so many more literary stories. I almost see more of a connection with Dracula being that it’s referenced the most out of them all! But not as a retelling! Overall, I enjoyed the literary references and Lorena and William’s love story was enjoyable to read but something about the second half felt very rushed and there was so much information being thrown at us within the last 50-80 pages.
A reveal was made about 60-65% of the way through the book and then something else was revealed a chapter or two later that completely contradicted what was previously said. Certain things didn’t make sense and took me out of the story completely. And this is still talking about the second half. The first half was super enjoyable and the pacing felt just right and then something switched sadly.
Being that this story wrapped up nicely, it’s unclear to me whether this is a standalone which would explain the length or is meant to be the start of a series! If it’s a standalone, the length makes more sense but still there’s plot holes that weren’t fulfilled and if it’s a series, I’d be curious to see how it progresses and builds off of what’s been written already.
Thank you Wednesday Books for the Netgalley ARC access in exchange for an honest review!
I think this book had a really strong start! I don’t think it needed to be as long as it was— it’s hard to describe without spoiling anything and that’s the last thing I’d like to do!
This book is marketed as Pride and Prejudice meets Dark Academia and while Pride and Prejudice is mentioned, so is Jane Eyre, Dracula, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and so many more literary stories. I almost see more of a connection with Dracula being that it’s referenced the most out of them all! But not as a retelling! Overall, I enjoyed the literary references and Lorena and William’s love story was enjoyable to read but something about the second half felt very rushed and there was so much information being thrown at us within the last 50-80 pages.
A reveal was made about 60-65% of the way through the book and then something else was revealed a chapter or two later that completely contradicted what was previously said. Certain things didn’t make sense and took me out of the story completely. And this is still talking about the second half. The first half was super enjoyable and the pacing felt just right and then something switched sadly.
Being that this story wrapped up nicely, it’s unclear to me whether this is a standalone which would explain the length or is meant to be the start of a series! If it’s a standalone, the length makes more sense but still there’s plot holes that weren’t fulfilled and if it’s a series, I’d be curious to see how it progresses and builds off of what’s been written already.
Thank you Wednesday Books for the Netgalley ARC access in exchange for an honest review!
September 18, 2025
𐦍༘⋆⋆·˚ ༘ *: ̗̀➛ the last vampire
author˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ romina garber
overall rating ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ 3.5
publication date ⋆·˚ ༘ * december 2, 2025
── .✦ the reader follows ⋆˚࿔ lorena 𝜗𝜚˚⋆ as she enters her senior year of high school at a victorian manor called huntingsworth. her best friend salma, whom she has been attached to the hip since they were born on the same day, also joins lorena at huntingsworth. the director of the school has many rules, including one that states do NOT go into any roped off areas that are waiting for maintenance. they quickly find themselves in a group of friends with their phone flashlights past curfew, navigating into an area they are not allowed to be in. what they find will change the trajectory of both salma and lorena's life.
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ vampires, academia, gothic, legends
🃜🃚🃖🃁🂭🂺
thank you netgalley & romina garber for graciously allowing me to be an arc reader. this book is a good fall read as you are transported into huntingsworth's setting and absorbed into it's depths. around the 50% mark i found it a little hard to keep pushing through, but i found it easier and more interesting after about 65%! all the clues begin to add up and you witness an interesting turn of events. one thing i also thoroughly enjoyed in this book was the ode to classics such as jane eyre, dracula, and pride & prejudice. the references made my heart swell, all while furthering the story and connecting certain points of similarities between characters.
author˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ romina garber
overall rating ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ 3.5
publication date ⋆·˚ ༘ * december 2, 2025
── .✦ the reader follows ⋆˚࿔ lorena 𝜗𝜚˚⋆ as she enters her senior year of high school at a victorian manor called huntingsworth. her best friend salma, whom she has been attached to the hip since they were born on the same day, also joins lorena at huntingsworth. the director of the school has many rules, including one that states do NOT go into any roped off areas that are waiting for maintenance. they quickly find themselves in a group of friends with their phone flashlights past curfew, navigating into an area they are not allowed to be in. what they find will change the trajectory of both salma and lorena's life.
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ vampires, academia, gothic, legends
🃜🃚🃖🃁🂭🂺
thank you netgalley & romina garber for graciously allowing me to be an arc reader. this book is a good fall read as you are transported into huntingsworth's setting and absorbed into it's depths. around the 50% mark i found it a little hard to keep pushing through, but i found it easier and more interesting after about 65%! all the clues begin to add up and you witness an interesting turn of events. one thing i also thoroughly enjoyed in this book was the ode to classics such as jane eyre, dracula, and pride & prejudice. the references made my heart swell, all while furthering the story and connecting certain points of similarities between characters.
November 19, 2025
2.5 rounded up (honestly might change)
The premise of this book and the fact that it was about vampires is what drew me to it. It started off so strong and immediately grasped my attention. I loved the FMC and her best friend, Salma. But not even 25% in and I was already beginning to lose interest. I hoped that it would draw me back in, but the more I read, the more I found myself rolling my eyes and the more I found myself just wanting to get through the book just to get through it. It did not give me pride and prejudice vibes, there were plot holes, I was not invested in the romance, and it just felt like the author through ideas in there to see what would stick instead of keeping the story going in one direction.
However, if you’re into
🩸vampire stories
🩸dark academia
🩸paranormal romance
🩸ya reads
Then definitely give this one a try.
Thank you Wednesday Books, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the gifted eARC.
The premise of this book and the fact that it was about vampires is what drew me to it. It started off so strong and immediately grasped my attention. I loved the FMC and her best friend, Salma. But not even 25% in and I was already beginning to lose interest. I hoped that it would draw me back in, but the more I read, the more I found myself rolling my eyes and the more I found myself just wanting to get through the book just to get through it. It did not give me pride and prejudice vibes, there were plot holes, I was not invested in the romance, and it just felt like the author through ideas in there to see what would stick instead of keeping the story going in one direction.
However, if you’re into
🩸vampire stories
🩸dark academia
🩸paranormal romance
🩸ya reads
Then definitely give this one a try.
Thank you Wednesday Books, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the gifted eARC.
September 16, 2025
The last vampire is not who you’d think the last vampire really is!! 👀 plot twist!
But THIS last vampire gives Pride & Prejudice meets Dracula vibes. It also references both books and movies quite a lot, which is cool.
Lenora meets William after his coffin explodes, and it’s the beginning of their love story, even if they don’t know it yet. Throughout the story, we watch their relationship get tested as they navigate Williams return from a death-sleep. He learns the entire vampire race depends on him, and together Will and Lore try to find answers.
Eventually Will goes back into a death-sleep to finally end the spell that put vampires to sleep. Him and Lenora are under the impression they’ll never see each other again.
9 months later ——— another plot twist!
———
Plot 4/5 ⭐️
Spice 2/5 🌶️
But THIS last vampire gives Pride & Prejudice meets Dracula vibes. It also references both books and movies quite a lot, which is cool.
Lenora meets William after his coffin explodes, and it’s the beginning of their love story, even if they don’t know it yet. Throughout the story, we watch their relationship get tested as they navigate Williams return from a death-sleep. He learns the entire vampire race depends on him, and together Will and Lore try to find answers.
Eventually Will goes back into a death-sleep to finally end the spell that put vampires to sleep. Him and Lenora are under the impression they’ll never see each other again.
9 months later ——— another plot twist!
———
Plot 4/5 ⭐️
Spice 2/5 🌶️
September 18, 2025
A vampire twist on Jane Austen's books. The book tells a story of Lorena as her and her best friend enter a new boarding school in New England; with some hidden vampires. When she wakes William, a forever 19 year old who has been sleeping for centuries, they explore the true meaning behind the boarding school - and why he is the last of his kind. This book is a perfect read for fans of the supernatural and all things mystery. I loved this book. I felt this book had the romance as a subplot instead of the major aspect of the storyline.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
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