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The Last Vampire
Pride & Prejudice meets Crave when Austen-loving Lorena Navarro attends a new boarding school expecting to find her own Mr. Darcy, but accidentally finds 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?
Audible Audio
First published December 2, 2025
82 people are currently reading
16690 people want to read
About the author
Romina Garber
14 books844 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 429 reviews
January 10, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of The Last Vampire by Romina Garber!
When it comes to a lot of the genres I read, I have a certain criteria I look for a book to hit. And if it does reach those it's guaranteed to boost my rating.
When it comes to YA vampire books I am almost always looking for a Twilight vibe/feel.. Now, PLEASE ✋🏼✋🏼✋🏼✋🏼✋🏼..before I get banned by every publishing company on Netgalley let me explain 🫠😅.. it has absolutely nothing to do with Twilight LITERALLY.. but rather the feeling/excitement Twilight brought to readers everywhere.. I remember when Twilight first came out. At the time it had people in a chokehold who didn't even read.
I suppose it can best be described as a magnet pull. And when you're writing YA that "pull" is very important!.. your "job" as a YA author is making the youth want to actually read..with that in mind feel it's an arguably point that in some ways YA is "harder" to write.. To be honest, that is one of the main reasons I read YA as an adult. It's like a constant treasure hunt. Not every YA book might be great, but the ones that are great, are absolutely AMAZING!
This definitely has that pull! Where you find yourself just totally enveloped in the story. The setting is beautiful, the characters relatable & real, the storyline takes your emotions on all the rides.
Safe to say this is a vampire lovers must read!
Until next time,
Hades
🩵
When it comes to a lot of the genres I read, I have a certain criteria I look for a book to hit. And if it does reach those it's guaranteed to boost my rating.
When it comes to YA vampire books I am almost always looking for a Twilight vibe/feel.. Now, PLEASE ✋🏼✋🏼✋🏼✋🏼✋🏼..before I get banned by every publishing company on Netgalley let me explain 🫠😅.. it has absolutely nothing to do with Twilight LITERALLY.. but rather the feeling/excitement Twilight brought to readers everywhere.. I remember when Twilight first came out. At the time it had people in a chokehold who didn't even read.
I suppose it can best be described as a magnet pull. And when you're writing YA that "pull" is very important!.. your "job" as a YA author is making the youth want to actually read..with that in mind feel it's an arguably point that in some ways YA is "harder" to write.. To be honest, that is one of the main reasons I read YA as an adult. It's like a constant treasure hunt. Not every YA book might be great, but the ones that are great, are absolutely AMAZING!
This definitely has that pull! Where you find yourself just totally enveloped in the story. The setting is beautiful, the characters relatable & real, the storyline takes your emotions on all the rides.
Safe to say this is a vampire lovers must read!
Until next time,
Hades
🩵
January 5, 2026
Really loved the premise, but the execution was just too slow and it dragged on.
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!
December 8, 2025
જ⁀➴ 1 star
Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books, Romina Garber, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. The Last Vampire is out now.
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚
No. Guys, this book was NOT it. This book was SO NOT it to the point where I couldn't even find a single quote I liked, which says a lot because broken clocks can still be right twice in a day, you know? Even if a book overall sucked, I could still try to find at least one quote I liked, but not with this one.
Let's start with the characters and their personalities, because I feel like this totally ruined the book for me:
⋆.˚ ☾ Lorena: Nothing she did made sense to me. At all. She's our leading lady in this story, and yet I have no idea why she was so damn indecisive about everything and anything under the sun. She wants to get rid of William, but also wants him at the same time? They literally had ZERO chemistry with each other the entire story because I swear all they did was fight. Like, seriously, they blackmail each other and yet they allegedly fall in love at some point? They were so hot and cold the entire time, and I just couldn't understand where their attraction started.
⋆.˚ ☾ Salma: I don't understand anything she did either. She was so confusing, and I didn't understand what her motives were the entire time. She got mad at Lorena for defending her and protecting her prior to them arriving at their new boarding school due to an incident that happened prior to the events of the book, and while I'm not going to go into details for spoiler reasons, I had the biggest gripe with her because Lorena had EVERY. SINGLE. REASON to be concerned and protect Salma in that situation. It was constantly alluded to throughout the story, and it takes too damn long, in my opinion, to figure out what exactly happened. I know she was going through her own issues and battles in the storyline, and while I will concede that Lorena could've been more present for her during this time, I also believe that Salma was trying way too hard to be this edgy, cool girl that wears all black and tries to have this emo/goth personality and put herself in dangerous situations to feel that way.
⋆.˚ ☾ Tiffany: I swear she was just here so we could have a bitchy, "popular" character. If Salma was Wednesday, Tiffany was literally there to be her Enid, but not as nice.
⋆.˚ ☾ Zach: I'm sorry, but Zach just felt like dead weight the entire time. There were maybe like, 2 instances where he actually did something that contributed to the plot, but other than that, he was completely irrelevant.
⋆.˚ ☾ Trevor: He was actually the most interesting character in the story, and if there's a sequel to this book, I think he'll get a lot of focus in the plot. His backstory was so interesting and if there IS a sequel, I'd only pick it up just to read about Trevor's plot and where his story leads.
⋆.˚ ☾ William: Literally the most BORING vampire I've ever read about. He literally has the personality of unseasoned chicken. His entire personality was literally "where are the other vampires?" and trying to feed off of Lorena every few days. (He gave me the BIGGEST ick when he said he was attracted to Lorena because he smelled her period blood🫠)
Oh, and speaking of that...I DID NOT CARE THAT ALL THESE GIRLS WERE ON THEIR PERIOD. I have ZERO clue why we needed to know when they changed their pads, them asking each other for pads, when they were on their period, them going to the bathroom, etc. I DO NOT CARE. It contributed NOTHING to the story, and this happened like, every other chapter for the first half of the book!
In terms of the overall plot...I feel like we were just going off of vibes. It was as if the author wanted to throw a bunch of random tropes into the story and random bits and pieces of plot points that sounded like it could all work together without actually considering if it would work and make a coherent plot in the first place. Yes, the plot was very fast-paced, which I liked, but it also felt like it was too rushed at times. I also don't really understand where the whole Pride and Prejudice angle comes from for this story. The most we get from this is Lorena being a fan of classic books and her talking—and debating with her classmates—about the books they read in their English class, which includes Pride and Prejudice among a couple of others. I also don't think that Lorena went to the school to "find her Mr. Darcy" as the synopsis states, and she didn't even enroll there because she wanted to! I can't go into much more detail than that, but the entire first bit of the synopsis was kind of misleading.
The writing style itself felt like it leaned towards the younger side of YA but with swear words and a few semi-spicy scenes thrown in there (well, in the context of a YA book, the scenes were spicy). It just felt....so out of place considering the characters are all about to graduate high school and are all legally adults. The writing style didn't fully reflect that upper YA/NA vibe that would've better reflected the characters' ages a bit more. Considering there's also some violence and fighting scenes in the book on top of everything already mentioned, I don't think I'd recommmend this book to like, a 12 or 13-year old, but perhaps an older or a more mature YA audience.
Overall, don't waste your time. I could go on about this book, but this wasn't for me. I'm hoping this book finds the right audience it's looking for.
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚
Trigger/content warnings (beware that these may contain minor spoilers, so I'll leave some psace in between here and the full content warning list):
blood, gore, violence, deaths of family members, sexual content (fade to black, but there are some somewhat descriptive scenes of foreplay, well, at least to me, they're descriptive in the context of a YA story), grooming, kidnapping, murder, blackmail
⋆˙⟡ 𝑅𝑒𝒶𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓊𝓅𝒹𝒶𝓉𝑒 (12/2/2025, 8:15 AM): um...I can see why the book has such a low rating now🫣😬 I'm about 60% of the way through the book, and I'm cringing and confused at some of the decisions these MCs are making. A rant review is on its way once I finish!
⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: Alright, so I looked at the rating and saw that it's currently sitting at 3.44 stars and I usually give books the major side eye if the pre-release ratings are less than a 3.5...let's see how this one goes😅🤞🏼
Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books, Romina Garber, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. The Last Vampire is out now.
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚
No. Guys, this book was NOT it. This book was SO NOT it to the point where I couldn't even find a single quote I liked, which says a lot because broken clocks can still be right twice in a day, you know? Even if a book overall sucked, I could still try to find at least one quote I liked, but not with this one.
Let's start with the characters and their personalities, because I feel like this totally ruined the book for me:
⋆.˚ ☾ Lorena: Nothing she did made sense to me. At all. She's our leading lady in this story, and yet I have no idea why she was so damn indecisive about everything and anything under the sun. She wants to get rid of William, but also wants him at the same time? They literally had ZERO chemistry with each other the entire story because I swear all they did was fight. Like, seriously, they blackmail each other and yet they allegedly fall in love at some point? They were so hot and cold the entire time, and I just couldn't understand where their attraction started.
⋆.˚ ☾ Salma: I don't understand anything she did either. She was so confusing, and I didn't understand what her motives were the entire time. She got mad at Lorena for defending her and protecting her prior to them arriving at their new boarding school due to an incident that happened prior to the events of the book, and while I'm not going to go into details for spoiler reasons, I had the biggest gripe with her because Lorena had EVERY. SINGLE. REASON to be concerned and protect Salma in that situation. It was constantly alluded to throughout the story, and it takes too damn long, in my opinion, to figure out what exactly happened. I know she was going through her own issues and battles in the storyline, and while I will concede that Lorena could've been more present for her during this time, I also believe that Salma was trying way too hard to be this edgy, cool girl that wears all black and tries to have this emo/goth personality and put herself in dangerous situations to feel that way.
⋆.˚ ☾ Tiffany: I swear she was just here so we could have a bitchy, "popular" character. If Salma was Wednesday, Tiffany was literally there to be her Enid, but not as nice.
⋆.˚ ☾ Zach: I'm sorry, but Zach just felt like dead weight the entire time. There were maybe like, 2 instances where he actually did something that contributed to the plot, but other than that, he was completely irrelevant.
⋆.˚ ☾ Trevor: He was actually the most interesting character in the story, and if there's a sequel to this book, I think he'll get a lot of focus in the plot. His backstory was so interesting and if there IS a sequel, I'd only pick it up just to read about Trevor's plot and where his story leads.
⋆.˚ ☾ William: Literally the most BORING vampire I've ever read about. He literally has the personality of unseasoned chicken. His entire personality was literally "where are the other vampires?" and trying to feed off of Lorena every few days. (He gave me the BIGGEST ick when he said he was attracted to Lorena because he smelled her period blood🫠)
Oh, and speaking of that...I DID NOT CARE THAT ALL THESE GIRLS WERE ON THEIR PERIOD. I have ZERO clue why we needed to know when they changed their pads, them asking each other for pads, when they were on their period, them going to the bathroom, etc. I DO NOT CARE. It contributed NOTHING to the story, and this happened like, every other chapter for the first half of the book!
In terms of the overall plot...I feel like we were just going off of vibes. It was as if the author wanted to throw a bunch of random tropes into the story and random bits and pieces of plot points that sounded like it could all work together without actually considering if it would work and make a coherent plot in the first place. Yes, the plot was very fast-paced, which I liked, but it also felt like it was too rushed at times. I also don't really understand where the whole Pride and Prejudice angle comes from for this story. The most we get from this is Lorena being a fan of classic books and her talking—and debating with her classmates—about the books they read in their English class, which includes Pride and Prejudice among a couple of others. I also don't think that Lorena went to the school to "find her Mr. Darcy" as the synopsis states, and she didn't even enroll there because she wanted to! I can't go into much more detail than that, but the entire first bit of the synopsis was kind of misleading.
The writing style itself felt like it leaned towards the younger side of YA but with swear words and a few semi-spicy scenes thrown in there (well, in the context of a YA book, the scenes were spicy). It just felt....so out of place considering the characters are all about to graduate high school and are all legally adults. The writing style didn't fully reflect that upper YA/NA vibe that would've better reflected the characters' ages a bit more. Considering there's also some violence and fighting scenes in the book on top of everything already mentioned, I don't think I'd recommmend this book to like, a 12 or 13-year old, but perhaps an older or a more mature YA audience.
Overall, don't waste your time. I could go on about this book, but this wasn't for me. I'm hoping this book finds the right audience it's looking for.
⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚
Trigger/content warnings (beware that these may contain minor spoilers, so I'll leave some psace in between here and the full content warning list):
blood, gore, violence, deaths of family members, sexual content (fade to black, but there are some somewhat descriptive scenes of foreplay, well, at least to me, they're descriptive in the context of a YA story), grooming, kidnapping, murder, blackmail
⋆˙⟡ 𝑅𝑒𝒶𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓊𝓅𝒹𝒶𝓉𝑒 (12/2/2025, 8:15 AM): um...I can see why the book has such a low rating now🫣😬 I'm about 60% of the way through the book, and I'm cringing and confused at some of the decisions these MCs are making. A rant review is on its way once I finish!
⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: Alright, so I looked at the rating and saw that it's currently sitting at 3.44 stars and I usually give books the major side eye if the pre-release ratings are less than a 3.5...let's see how this one goes😅🤞🏼
December 1, 2025
3.5 ★— Starting at a new boarding school is meant to give Lorena Navarro a fresh start after some chaotic months, but that plan unravels the moment she discovers a coffin and accidentally wakes the 18th-century vampire inside.
As a classics lover and someone who read every vampire book I could get my hands on as a kid, I suspect this story would have absolutely spoken to younger me, as The Last Vampire references many of literature’s most famous titles, while telling its teen vampire love story.
The book does a solid job of establishing its setting and then slowly easing the idea of vampires into the narrative. The vampire lore itself was interesting enough and I liked that some old-school vampiric traits here were entwined with real historical context.
The romance subplot was also quite cute and takes its time to develop. Will and Lorena move from her being terrified of him and him being mostly annoyed, irritated, and a little murderous toward her, to eventually becoming reluctant allies. Their progression worked for me, and when they finally opened up to each other, it felt natural and earned.
Now, what I didn’t love: the later developments that almost felt like they came out of nowhere. The book focuses a fair bit on the FMC’s best friend and her backstory early on, but she gets pushed so far to the side for large swaths of the story that a late-book plot point involving her just felt awkwardly executed. It didn’t work for me because I felt like she hadn’t been given enough weight throughout.
In general, I really think this book would have benefited from being shorter. The audiobook is 14 hours and 50 minutes long, and by the 7-hour mark I couldn’t believe I was only halfway through. The story did not need to be that long, and if some of the later story elements involving Will had been cut or streamlined, I think the pacing would have been stronger, the emotional beats would have hit harder, and I wouldn’t have felt so worn out so quickly.
For readers who want a lighthearted vampiric throwback to the YA vampire era that was huge a decade ago, this could be fun. Though honestly, I do think there are better entries in the genre.
🎧 Audiobook Note
🎙️ Narration Style: Dual
The two narrators fit the characters very well! I enjoyed listening to their voices and loved how they enhanced the story.
______________
Thank you to RBmedia for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
As a classics lover and someone who read every vampire book I could get my hands on as a kid, I suspect this story would have absolutely spoken to younger me, as The Last Vampire references many of literature’s most famous titles, while telling its teen vampire love story.
The book does a solid job of establishing its setting and then slowly easing the idea of vampires into the narrative. The vampire lore itself was interesting enough and I liked that some old-school vampiric traits here were entwined with real historical context.
The romance subplot was also quite cute and takes its time to develop. Will and Lorena move from her being terrified of him and him being mostly annoyed, irritated, and a little murderous toward her, to eventually becoming reluctant allies. Their progression worked for me, and when they finally opened up to each other, it felt natural and earned.
Now, what I didn’t love: the later developments that almost felt like they came out of nowhere. The book focuses a fair bit on the FMC’s best friend and her backstory early on, but she gets pushed so far to the side for large swaths of the story that a late-book plot point involving her just felt awkwardly executed. It didn’t work for me because I felt like she hadn’t been given enough weight throughout.
In general, I really think this book would have benefited from being shorter. The audiobook is 14 hours and 50 minutes long, and by the 7-hour mark I couldn’t believe I was only halfway through. The story did not need to be that long, and if some of the later story elements involving Will had been cut or streamlined, I think the pacing would have been stronger, the emotional beats would have hit harder, and I wouldn’t have felt so worn out so quickly.
For readers who want a lighthearted vampiric throwback to the YA vampire era that was huge a decade ago, this could be fun. Though honestly, I do think there are better entries in the genre.
🎧 Audiobook Note
🎙️ Narration Style: Dual
The two narrators fit the characters very well! I enjoyed listening to their voices and loved how they enhanced the story.
______________
Thank you to RBmedia for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
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
December 4, 2025
I honestly was having a lot of fun with the first half of this book, but then things started to get really messy, and not in a good way. RTC
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
January 22, 2026
This was a really cute vampire romance. I loved the spooky academy with a decent friend group. Tiffany did aggravate me so much, but there is always that one character. I thought the vampire lore was interesting and very entertaining. The romance was a slower burn with no explicit spice. I was also satisfied with the ending which is always a plus.
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.
December 21, 2025
This was delightful!
William & Lorena develop this weird friendship over time and I love all the awkward bits that came along with it.
This paranormal YA romance is extremely intriguing, the history of the vampires and how they fit into modern society was especially fascinating.
Much love to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for my ebook.
William & Lorena develop this weird friendship over time and I love all the awkward bits that came along with it.
This paranormal YA romance is extremely intriguing, the history of the vampires and how they fit into modern society was especially fascinating.
Much love to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for my ebook.
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.
December 10, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
The book follows Lorena, who has just started attending a new boarding school in New Hampshire with her best friend. Almost immediately after they arrive, they notice that certain parts of the school are mysteriously blocked off. Lorena knows she shouldn’t explore these forbidden areas, but when her new friends venture in, she follows only to discover a vampire! Not just any vampire, but the last vampire in existence. William, the vampire, has been in a deathlife sleep for three centuries. All he wants now is to find his family, so he enrolls at the school and attempts to blend in as a regular student while he investigates. Before long, he learns the truth: he is the final surviving vampire, and the only one who can restore his people’s power. But as he grows closer to Lorena, despite constantly denying his feelings, he’s forced to choose between the humans and the legacy of his own kind.
I loved the characters and the world Romina Garber created; it drew me in from the very first chapter. The story is packed with plot twists that keep you flipping pages well into the night. I especially enjoyed discovering the vampire lore right alongside Lorena. Lorena quickly became one of my favorite characters. She’s such a badass and is fierce and loyal. Her protectiveness toward her best friend was one of the things that made her feel so real and easy to connect with.
I love a good paranormal romance, and this one checked all my boxes. The relationship between William and Lorena was adorable, even if William frustrated me every time he insisted, “We’re not togetherness, I’d never date her.” He was obviously lying the whole time and just wouldn’t admit his feelings. My heart broke for Lorena when he said it in front of her friends. But, no matter how much he tried, he couldn’t stay away from Lorena.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and highly recommend!
The book follows Lorena, who has just started attending a new boarding school in New Hampshire with her best friend. Almost immediately after they arrive, they notice that certain parts of the school are mysteriously blocked off. Lorena knows she shouldn’t explore these forbidden areas, but when her new friends venture in, she follows only to discover a vampire! Not just any vampire, but the last vampire in existence. William, the vampire, has been in a deathlife sleep for three centuries. All he wants now is to find his family, so he enrolls at the school and attempts to blend in as a regular student while he investigates. Before long, he learns the truth: he is the final surviving vampire, and the only one who can restore his people’s power. But as he grows closer to Lorena, despite constantly denying his feelings, he’s forced to choose between the humans and the legacy of his own kind.
I loved the characters and the world Romina Garber created; it drew me in from the very first chapter. The story is packed with plot twists that keep you flipping pages well into the night. I especially enjoyed discovering the vampire lore right alongside Lorena. Lorena quickly became one of my favorite characters. She’s such a badass and is fierce and loyal. Her protectiveness toward her best friend was one of the things that made her feel so real and easy to connect with.
I love a good paranormal romance, and this one checked all my boxes. The relationship between William and Lorena was adorable, even if William frustrated me every time he insisted, “We’re not togetherness, I’d never date her.” He was obviously lying the whole time and just wouldn’t admit his feelings. My heart broke for Lorena when he said it in front of her friends. But, no matter how much he tried, he couldn’t stay away from Lorena.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and highly recommend!
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.
December 5, 2025
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This story follows the female main character, Lorena, a human and the male main character, William, a vampire, through trying to find answers to William’s past and fate and the ever lasting stages of high school drama. William has been alive, but asleep, for three centuries until he is awoken by Lorena and her friends. As time went on, Lorena and William’s bond grows into something more. What will William do with his fate while protecting Lorena?
Things I liked about the book: I liked the character dynamic between William and Lorena. I did like how William gave Lorena every possibility to think and make decisions for herself without William pressuring her.
Things I disliked about the book: This felt somehow cringier than Twilight. Now I LOVE Twilight and how awkward it is, but this just made it worse..? It had a fixation on periods for 60% of the book, the side characters (mostly Lorena’s friends) kept annoying me, SPECIFICALLY Tiffany, Lord I wanted to honk her so many times. This book could’ve ended about 60% of the way through because it felt like the plot felt a little rushed and last minute planned? The ending was left on a cliff hanger so I’m not sure if there’s going to be a book two or not, but it’s interesting to see what will happen with the state of humanity with the existence of vampires.
Thank you to NetGalley, Romina Garber and RBmedia for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader’s Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest opinion.
This story follows the female main character, Lorena, a human and the male main character, William, a vampire, through trying to find answers to William’s past and fate and the ever lasting stages of high school drama. William has been alive, but asleep, for three centuries until he is awoken by Lorena and her friends. As time went on, Lorena and William’s bond grows into something more. What will William do with his fate while protecting Lorena?
Things I liked about the book: I liked the character dynamic between William and Lorena. I did like how William gave Lorena every possibility to think and make decisions for herself without William pressuring her.
Things I disliked about the book: This felt somehow cringier than Twilight. Now I LOVE Twilight and how awkward it is, but this just made it worse..? It had a fixation on periods for 60% of the book, the side characters (mostly Lorena’s friends) kept annoying me, SPECIFICALLY Tiffany, Lord I wanted to honk her so many times. This book could’ve ended about 60% of the way through because it felt like the plot felt a little rushed and last minute planned? The ending was left on a cliff hanger so I’m not sure if there’s going to be a book two or not, but it’s interesting to see what will happen with the state of humanity with the existence of vampires.
Thank you to NetGalley, Romina Garber and RBmedia for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader’s Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest opinion.
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.
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December 11, 2025Read: December 5th - December 11th
Format: E-book
Rating: No rating, DNF @ 40%
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this ALC in exchange for an honest review!
Another instance of a book I technically could finish, but I have no desire to. It's an easy listen, but it's 14 hours long. And if at nearly half way through I already know it's going to be a 2 star, why even continue??
First off, a pretty big thing. Our MMC, William, the vampire, actively tries to kill Lorena, the FMC, TWICE. Like, literally nearly does, and only moments of luck keep him from doing so. And I think that's a huge part of the dynamic that the blurb should mention, because it feels like an extremely important detail to sway people's desire to read. Because if I'd known, I likely wouldn't have picked it up. And if it had said it and I picked it up anyway, then the fault would be on me for not taking the blurb seriously on how much William sees humans as inferior beings that are there for food.
Honestly, this could all be decently interesting (watching a vampire who has descended into monsterhood regaining their humanity from exposure to humans where he actually has to get to know them rather than kill them), BUT the book does not have the technique to pull it off. But no, William continues to suck, but suddenly he has feelings growing toward Lorena. And Lorena keeps wanting him??? It's been less than two months, guys. He TRIED TO MURDER YOU. TWICE. AND KEEPS YOINKING PEOPLE'S AUTONOMY TO GET WHAT HE WANTS!
I could excuse it for her being a teenage girl and hormones and still developing frontal lobe and all that. But pretty or not... MURDER. And her fear just seems to vanish way too quickly. It bothers me. It bothers me so much.
Also, most of the characters are pretty flat. Especially Tiffany, who is just there to be a typical mean girl to the FMC.
So, interesting concept, and it does have a potentially fun mystery to watch unravel, but I am far too frustrated by the William and Lorena nonsense. Time to move on!
Format: E-book
Rating: No rating, DNF @ 40%
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this ALC in exchange for an honest review!
Another instance of a book I technically could finish, but I have no desire to. It's an easy listen, but it's 14 hours long. And if at nearly half way through I already know it's going to be a 2 star, why even continue??
First off, a pretty big thing. Our MMC, William, the vampire, actively tries to kill Lorena, the FMC, TWICE. Like, literally nearly does, and only moments of luck keep him from doing so. And I think that's a huge part of the dynamic that the blurb should mention, because it feels like an extremely important detail to sway people's desire to read. Because if I'd known, I likely wouldn't have picked it up. And if it had said it and I picked it up anyway, then the fault would be on me for not taking the blurb seriously on how much William sees humans as inferior beings that are there for food.
Honestly, this could all be decently interesting (watching a vampire who has descended into monsterhood regaining their humanity from exposure to humans where he actually has to get to know them rather than kill them), BUT the book does not have the technique to pull it off. But no, William continues to suck, but suddenly he has feelings growing toward Lorena. And Lorena keeps wanting him??? It's been less than two months, guys. He TRIED TO MURDER YOU. TWICE. AND KEEPS YOINKING PEOPLE'S AUTONOMY TO GET WHAT HE WANTS!
I could excuse it for her being a teenage girl and hormones and still developing frontal lobe and all that. But pretty or not... MURDER. And her fear just seems to vanish way too quickly. It bothers me. It bothers me so much.
Also, most of the characters are pretty flat. Especially Tiffany, who is just there to be a typical mean girl to the FMC.
So, interesting concept, and it does have a potentially fun mystery to watch unravel, but I am far too frustrated by the William and Lorena nonsense. Time to move on!
December 9, 2025
Thank you Wednesday Books for the free gift!
This story blends Pride & Prejudice–style gothic romance with a modern paranormal twist, following a girl who enrolls at a secluded boarding school dreaming of finding her own Mr. Darcy, only to awaken the world’s last vampire instead. Once William steps onto the page, the book moves quickly into mystery, lore, and a connection that reshapes everything Lorena expected.
It did take me a moment to settle into the story, but when William was introduced, the momentum really picked up and stayed strong. I especially enjoyed the gothic touches and the Pride and Prejudice–inspired tone woven throughout. The vampire mythology was such a highlight; fresh, clever, and distinct in a genre where it’s genuinely hard to find something new. I also liked the bond between William and Lorena, and the layers of secrets surrounding both the school and William’s past kept the story engaging.
The one drawback for me was the pacing in the final quarter. Some of the time jumps made the story move a little too fast, and I felt the wrap-up came quickly, though I understand the need to close things out cleanly since it’s a standalone.
Overall, this was a fun, gothic-romantic vampire tale with a unique twist on familiar lore. Fans of atmospheric boarding-school settings, fresh vampire mythology, and Austen-inspired vibes will likely find a lot to enjoy here.
This story blends Pride & Prejudice–style gothic romance with a modern paranormal twist, following a girl who enrolls at a secluded boarding school dreaming of finding her own Mr. Darcy, only to awaken the world’s last vampire instead. Once William steps onto the page, the book moves quickly into mystery, lore, and a connection that reshapes everything Lorena expected.
It did take me a moment to settle into the story, but when William was introduced, the momentum really picked up and stayed strong. I especially enjoyed the gothic touches and the Pride and Prejudice–inspired tone woven throughout. The vampire mythology was such a highlight; fresh, clever, and distinct in a genre where it’s genuinely hard to find something new. I also liked the bond between William and Lorena, and the layers of secrets surrounding both the school and William’s past kept the story engaging.
The one drawback for me was the pacing in the final quarter. Some of the time jumps made the story move a little too fast, and I felt the wrap-up came quickly, though I understand the need to close things out cleanly since it’s a standalone.
Overall, this was a fun, gothic-romantic vampire tale with a unique twist on familiar lore. Fans of atmospheric boarding-school settings, fresh vampire mythology, and Austen-inspired vibes will likely find a lot to enjoy here.
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.
December 2, 2025
2 Stars. 2 Very Confused Stars
I'm not sure what book other people have been reading, but it is definitely not the one that I received a copy of. What was this book? A whole lot of nonsense. It was... not good. There was a boarding school and a vampire and a romance (?) and a spell (??) and a vampire battle (???), and altogether it was... weird. And flat. And not well developed.
I've got more to say. So much more to say. But that's for my full review, available at Gateway Reviews on December 19, 2025. Stop by if you're looking for a wild ride of a plot breakdown.
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
I'm not sure what book other people have been reading, but it is definitely not the one that I received a copy of. What was this book? A whole lot of nonsense. It was... not good. There was a boarding school and a vampire and a romance (?) and a spell (??) and a vampire battle (???), and altogether it was... weird. And flat. And not well developed.
I've got more to say. So much more to say. But that's for my full review, available at Gateway Reviews on December 19, 2025. Stop by if you're looking for a wild ride of a plot breakdown.
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
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.
December 2, 2025
The Last Vampire gave me everything I was wanting in a vampiric modern YA novel. It paid homage to the YA vampire novels of the past, while feeling fresh and new.
After a mysterious event, Lorena and Selma head of to a prestigious boarding school. There--along with some newfound friends--they set out to explore the old house against rules. One night, they stumble upon a room where the release a vampire! Except only Lorena knows....and said vampire is surly, as I assume most vampires are. The next day, said vampire shows up as a 'new student!' What happens next is bigger and more adventurous that I'd expected! I was pleasantly surprised.
I loved guessing how Lorena was going to hide who he was, who knew what, and how the vampire got there in the first place! Side note: this book is full of fun literary references. If you're a fan of gothic romance, Jane Austen, and Dracula himself, you'll find yourself giggling all over the place.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, fast read. If you love brooding heroes, fun heroines, and crazy antics, you'll love this. Technically, I'd rate this 4.5 stars. The beginning was a bit slow and there was one bit that slowed the pacing down towards the middle. But overall, this was enjoyable and perfect for the darker time of the year.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy. All thoughts are my own. (I will be buying my own copy!)
After a mysterious event, Lorena and Selma head of to a prestigious boarding school. There--along with some newfound friends--they set out to explore the old house against rules. One night, they stumble upon a room where the release a vampire! Except only Lorena knows....and said vampire is surly, as I assume most vampires are. The next day, said vampire shows up as a 'new student!' What happens next is bigger and more adventurous that I'd expected! I was pleasantly surprised.
I loved guessing how Lorena was going to hide who he was, who knew what, and how the vampire got there in the first place! Side note: this book is full of fun literary references. If you're a fan of gothic romance, Jane Austen, and Dracula himself, you'll find yourself giggling all over the place.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, fast read. If you love brooding heroes, fun heroines, and crazy antics, you'll love this. Technically, I'd rate this 4.5 stars. The beginning was a bit slow and there was one bit that slowed the pacing down towards the middle. But overall, this was enjoyable and perfect for the darker time of the year.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy. All thoughts are my own. (I will be buying my own copy!)
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