What do you think?
Rate this book
The Last Sanctuary: An Apocalyptic Survival Thriller
At the end of the world, the only refuge is the one you fight for.
Isolated at her family's wildlife refuge in northern Georgia, Raven longs to escape the monotonous days spent shoveling manure, hauling feed, and hosing down enclosures for bears, wolves, and a tiger. Then her father contracts the mysterious, lethal sickness spreading across the country like wildfire.
Desperate to help him, Raven journeys into town to get medicine, only to discover the outside world is swiftly collapsing into chaos. There are no more police, no more laws, and no hospitals. No one is coming to help.
The wildlife refuge she once resented now offers plenty of food, shelter, and the safety of electrified fences. Using the skills her father taught her, Raven knows how to survive.
But the threat is just beginning, for a dangerous gang tracks Raven back to the refuge, and they'll stop at nothing to take what she has.
Raven can run to save her life. Or she can stand her ground, risking everything to defend the animals—and her home.
*This novel is the expanded, significantly revised version of a novella originally titled No Safe Haven.*
Kyla Stone is the USA Today bestselling author of over 25 novels with more than two million copies sold worldwide in several languages. The Last Sanctuary is a companion novel to the Last Sanctuary series, which can be read with the series or as a stand-alone. Featuring a fierce, tough heroine readers won't soon forget, this haunting story of loneliness, loss, and courage is perfect for fans of A Boy and his Dog at the End of the World, The Last of Us, and Hunger Games.
Isolated at her family's wildlife refuge in northern Georgia, Raven longs to escape the monotonous days spent shoveling manure, hauling feed, and hosing down enclosures for bears, wolves, and a tiger. Then her father contracts the mysterious, lethal sickness spreading across the country like wildfire.
Desperate to help him, Raven journeys into town to get medicine, only to discover the outside world is swiftly collapsing into chaos. There are no more police, no more laws, and no hospitals. No one is coming to help.
The wildlife refuge she once resented now offers plenty of food, shelter, and the safety of electrified fences. Using the skills her father taught her, Raven knows how to survive.
But the threat is just beginning, for a dangerous gang tracks Raven back to the refuge, and they'll stop at nothing to take what she has.
Raven can run to save her life. Or she can stand her ground, risking everything to defend the animals—and her home.
*This novel is the expanded, significantly revised version of a novella originally titled No Safe Haven.*
Kyla Stone is the USA Today bestselling author of over 25 novels with more than two million copies sold worldwide in several languages. The Last Sanctuary is a companion novel to the Last Sanctuary series, which can be read with the series or as a stand-alone. Featuring a fierce, tough heroine readers won't soon forget, this haunting story of loneliness, loss, and courage is perfect for fans of A Boy and his Dog at the End of the World, The Last of Us, and Hunger Games.
- GenresPost Apocalyptic
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2025
371 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 11, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ SHADOW STARS.... 📚'𝙼𝚈 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝚂'📚 can also be found on my blog:
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*THE LAST SANCTUARY°❀⋆.ೃ࿔* Is a full length stand-alone story within (The Last Sanctuary World) by author Kyla Stone. This is Raven's story (she's 18 years old) Her real name is Emiko but no one has called her that in many years.
This cover is gorgeous! And would probably have to be one of my favourites of this authors. This was originally called 'No Safe Haven which I'd only just recently read, this is a newly revised version, this time I was more prepared with what was to face me, so even though I'd purchased this apon release day I had to get up my nerve to read it..
Being a huge animal lover it was hard for me to jump back into this world. Because I knew what was going to come at me..People you can kill them off, shoot them, throw all kinds of crap at them, I don't blink an eye, but animals are my biggest and only triggers.
As everyone around them succumbed to the deadly Hydra virus, (an engineered virus released by terrorists) Raven and her father were the last two standing at her family's wildlife refuge 'Haven Wildlife Sanctuary' in Northern Georgia. Until her father also succumbs to the virus. With hopes of saving him Raven risks everything to go to Forsyth the nearest township for much needed medicine to help ease his pain. The pharmacy owner speaks highly of her father and willingly hands over some oxycodone pills. As Raven is on the verge of leaving some bikers enter, she has the foresight to hide behind some shelving and witnesses a heinous act. These men make up part of (The Headhunters) a deadly motorcycle gang.
Before leaving town she has an altercation with one of the men outside the pharmacy and drives down many roads and side streets before heading home. Thinking this was the last time she would ever set eyes on them..
Sadly not long after, her father also dies like many others before him, leaving Raven completely alone in the world.
But danger in the form of The Headhunters do indeed find her and they are right on her doorstep. Within the blink of an eye that night as they infiltrate her only home she's ever known things turn deadly quickly. One girl against an army of bikers. One girl who will risk everything within herself to save the animals relying on her, setting them free in the hopes that they escape the sanctuary before terror reigns down on them.
Within this deadly biker gang a boy (Damien) befriends her, he sees her strength and resilience and even though it goes against everything he knows, he tries to help her anyway he can.
I loved Raven and Shadow, the loyal hybrid wolf which had claimed her as part of his new family, and I hope the author gives us book#2 of her story as she finds her own safe haven and the boy in his own way who had helped her. I know she appears briefly in a few books but I hope we get the whole version. Any way fingers 🤞..
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*THE LAST SANCTUARY°❀⋆.ೃ࿔* Is a full length stand-alone story within (The Last Sanctuary World) by author Kyla Stone. This is Raven's story (she's 18 years old) Her real name is Emiko but no one has called her that in many years.
This cover is gorgeous! And would probably have to be one of my favourites of this authors. This was originally called 'No Safe Haven which I'd only just recently read, this is a newly revised version, this time I was more prepared with what was to face me, so even though I'd purchased this apon release day I had to get up my nerve to read it..
Being a huge animal lover it was hard for me to jump back into this world. Because I knew what was going to come at me..People you can kill them off, shoot them, throw all kinds of crap at them, I don't blink an eye, but animals are my biggest and only triggers.
As everyone around them succumbed to the deadly Hydra virus, (an engineered virus released by terrorists) Raven and her father were the last two standing at her family's wildlife refuge 'Haven Wildlife Sanctuary' in Northern Georgia. Until her father also succumbs to the virus. With hopes of saving him Raven risks everything to go to Forsyth the nearest township for much needed medicine to help ease his pain. The pharmacy owner speaks highly of her father and willingly hands over some oxycodone pills. As Raven is on the verge of leaving some bikers enter, she has the foresight to hide behind some shelving and witnesses a heinous act. These men make up part of (The Headhunters) a deadly motorcycle gang.
Before leaving town she has an altercation with one of the men outside the pharmacy and drives down many roads and side streets before heading home. Thinking this was the last time she would ever set eyes on them..
Sadly not long after, her father also dies like many others before him, leaving Raven completely alone in the world.
But danger in the form of The Headhunters do indeed find her and they are right on her doorstep. Within the blink of an eye that night as they infiltrate her only home she's ever known things turn deadly quickly. One girl against an army of bikers. One girl who will risk everything within herself to save the animals relying on her, setting them free in the hopes that they escape the sanctuary before terror reigns down on them.
Within this deadly biker gang a boy (Damien) befriends her, he sees her strength and resilience and even though it goes against everything he knows, he tries to help her anyway he can.
I loved Raven and Shadow, the loyal hybrid wolf which had claimed her as part of his new family, and I hope the author gives us book#2 of her story as she finds her own safe haven and the boy in his own way who had helped her. I know she appears briefly in a few books but I hope we get the whole version. Any way fingers 🤞..
October 23, 2025
A re-release although altered for the better, this is a riveting book which I found very hard to put down!
I loved the characters, particularly some of the animals, and it was cleverly written so that the surroundings could be easily imagined. The writing was atmospheric, and the characters believable.
There were plenty of twists and turns, and a good deal of action - all of which I love.
When this book was first released, as No Safe Haven, it was 2018 and the idea of a worldwide pandemic was in the realms of dystopian science fiction. Now it is not, and so this book is all the more believable.
However, even if recent events have put you off reading about pandemics, I urge you to give this book a try, as the virus is mere background to a really great story.
I loved the characters, particularly some of the animals, and it was cleverly written so that the surroundings could be easily imagined. The writing was atmospheric, and the characters believable.
There were plenty of twists and turns, and a good deal of action - all of which I love.
When this book was first released, as No Safe Haven, it was 2018 and the idea of a worldwide pandemic was in the realms of dystopian science fiction. Now it is not, and so this book is all the more believable.
However, even if recent events have put you off reading about pandemics, I urge you to give this book a try, as the virus is mere background to a really great story.
October 31, 2025
First of all, I have to say I love the book cover. It depicts the feel of human loneliness yet being part of a hybrid wolf pack that the main character, Raven feels throughout the book at different stages. The cover also provide imagery to fit the scenes within the book too.
The “normal” world has ended. There’s a hydra virus rampaging through humans and animals alike. Theres no internet or services, no police to come to the rescue when marauding gangs take it upon themselves to steal whatever few supplies and possessions you may have from you.
Raven Nakamura lives at the Haven Wildlife Sanctuary, she has grown up there, first with both her parents and then with just her rather detached, brusque father, after her mother left him. Raven’s mother had asked Raven to go with her but she had stubbornly refused choosing the life she knew and the animals she loved instead. Raven has grown up working hard, helping her father, Kioka Nakamura with all the different animals at the sanctuary. Initially her father is quite blasé about the hydra virus simply thinking his workers not turning up for work have flu and are being lazy, but that changes when the head zookeeper contracts the virus. Kioka’s first reaction is to order the zookeeper to get off the property as he now realises the hydra virus does exist, however Zacharia is more like family, having worked there for years and Raven begs her father to allow him to stay. The deal struck with Zacharia is he must isolate away from them until the disease has run its course. Unfortunately, the disease clouds the Zacharia’s judgement and one day when Raven is feeding the animals he attacks her. His saliva being spat all over her face meaning now she is at a high risk of contracting hydra virus. Raven now face the wait to see if she will succumb to the deadly virus. Its in the following days Raven notices her own father, Kioka is ill with the hydra virus. After much debate and Kioka trying to forbid his daughter from going into town, she ventures into nearby Forsyth for some medication to ease her father’s illness. In the pharmacy the owner Phil Maxwell speaks highly of her father and willingly hands over some oxycodone pills to Raven saying he owes him a debt from many years ago. Phils son Carl is angry about his father just giving away what he considers vital supplies they could sell or use themselves. Raven is leaving the pharmacy when some bikers enter, so she hides behind some shelving and watches in horror as the biker’s demand everything the pharmacy has left. Phil attempts to reason with the bikers but they have guns and when Carl puts up a fight one of them shoots him!
Later as Raven returns to the Toyota Camry truck she has, she has an altercation with the bikers. Raven’s last words before she left had warned her to take the tranquiliser gun with her and this is what she uses to ward off the bikers as she leaves Forsyth at high speed.
Raven gives her father some of the pills which ease his pain, but nothing can cure the hydra virus and eventually Raven has to do the unthinkable and bury her own father. Raven may not have had a lot of demonstrative love from her father but he has given her survival skills and the backbone to make difficult decisions. Both skills Raven will come to rely on in the coming days. Even during her grief Raven doesn’t forget the animals, feeding them all in turn. Giving the extra jerky treats to Vlad the tiger, and the meat carcasses to the hybrid wolves Shadow & Luna along with tending the rest of the animals in the sanctuary.
It’s not long until the bikers arrive at Haven, having seen a leaflet for the Sanctuary listing the amenities there along with the animals, the bikers think they have hit the jackpot for food.
Raven has to think rapidly, be light on her feet and try to stay one step ahead of the bikers. One night she risks sneaking into her bedroom for her backpack packed with survival equipment. The very same backpack she had prepared to sneak off with before her father contracted the hydra virus. Whilst in the process of taking her belonging someone comes into the room, Damien Vaughn. It turns out he doesn’t mean her any harm and reveals to her that she needs to leave and get as far away as possible as she really doesn’t want the other bikers to catch her as they trade women and worse. Raven ends up being chased and mistakenly ends up in the hybrid wolf enclosure rather than the timber wolf enclosure she was going to. Following all the advice and instruction she can ever remember her father giving her, she makes herself small and unthreatening. Surprisingly the hybrid wolves, Luna the beautiful ghost like white alpha female and Shadow the black alpha male that lives up to his name end up accepting Raven into their pack!
Raven is still wondering if she has the hydra virus herself and decides of she may be going to die anyway she will take a few risks. She doesn’t want to leave the animals that she has cared for and loves at the hands of the bikers who wish to kill them to eat and for their pelts. It’s the last straw when she hears the timber wolves being shot at. Under the cover of darkness Raven slowly moves around the sanctuary and opens the animal cages and enclosures, the bonobos, the zebra, the remaining timber wolves, the leopard, bobcat, red foxes etc and the very last she frees Vlad the tiger.
I loved the character of Raven, the selfless, sometimes reckless acts she undertakes. Kioka Nakamura has raised a stubborn young woman with a strong sense of what is right and what is wrong. Raven has some really difficult decisions to make throughout the book. Raven could have taken her backpack and just left the animals. Raven did ponder if she was doing the right thing as these animals may have been caged for most of their lives but they are still predators. There are many times in the book where Raven definitely looks out for, and protects the sanctuary animals, even returning to Haven to rescue a captured one. There are also many occasions where the animals of sanctuary actually help or save Raven. Though Raven never forgets these are predatory animals she is dealing with, she trusts them more than the humans around her.
I really liked the character of Damien, he was part of the biker gang more by circumstances than choice and does attempt to help Raven more than once. It’s a shame he isn’t brave or confident enough to leave the biker gang behind him.
I also adored all the different animals and learning their characters and quirks. The way Vlad loved his jerky that Raven would take him and would chuff at her in such a way it was as if he was laughing.
The different character of the bonobos, the youngest one being cheeky Gizmo who had his own form of showing Raven his displeasure and then would be playful with her too.
Of course, my favourites of the animals were Shadow and Luna, who slowly accepted Raven into their pack as one of them, ending up with the three of them being that closely bonded none of them would hesitate to fight for the other if needed.
I felt the book was quite fast paced, I read it within a few of reading sessions. I thought the animals of the Haven Sanctuary were described in such a way that you felt you knew them as well as Raven. The world building was interesting and I certainly want to read more set in this world. The detailed descriptions of both the surrounding and events help you easily visualise them. Allowing the book to almost play like a movie in your head as you are reading it.
My first thoughts upon finishing the book were that I loved it and wanted more! This book, The Last Sanctuary is an expanded version of a novella which was called No Safe Haven. It is also set in the same world as The Last Sanctuary series which is firmly on my to read list after learning that Raven and Shadow appear in book two of the series!
Summing up, I’d have to say Raven is one tough young woman, she’d already been through a lot before the hydra virus hit but she certainly puts everything her father has taught her into practice and good use. It really is a case of survival of the fittest. Having said that Raven chooses to survive without hurting others or taking from them, unlike the bikers who see what they want and just take it without a second thought to the consequences. The brilliant irony within the book is that when Raven freed the caged animals because they were slowly being picked off and shot by the bikers, the bike predators became the prey of the animal predators.
The “normal” world has ended. There’s a hydra virus rampaging through humans and animals alike. Theres no internet or services, no police to come to the rescue when marauding gangs take it upon themselves to steal whatever few supplies and possessions you may have from you.
Raven Nakamura lives at the Haven Wildlife Sanctuary, she has grown up there, first with both her parents and then with just her rather detached, brusque father, after her mother left him. Raven’s mother had asked Raven to go with her but she had stubbornly refused choosing the life she knew and the animals she loved instead. Raven has grown up working hard, helping her father, Kioka Nakamura with all the different animals at the sanctuary. Initially her father is quite blasé about the hydra virus simply thinking his workers not turning up for work have flu and are being lazy, but that changes when the head zookeeper contracts the virus. Kioka’s first reaction is to order the zookeeper to get off the property as he now realises the hydra virus does exist, however Zacharia is more like family, having worked there for years and Raven begs her father to allow him to stay. The deal struck with Zacharia is he must isolate away from them until the disease has run its course. Unfortunately, the disease clouds the Zacharia’s judgement and one day when Raven is feeding the animals he attacks her. His saliva being spat all over her face meaning now she is at a high risk of contracting hydra virus. Raven now face the wait to see if she will succumb to the deadly virus. Its in the following days Raven notices her own father, Kioka is ill with the hydra virus. After much debate and Kioka trying to forbid his daughter from going into town, she ventures into nearby Forsyth for some medication to ease her father’s illness. In the pharmacy the owner Phil Maxwell speaks highly of her father and willingly hands over some oxycodone pills to Raven saying he owes him a debt from many years ago. Phils son Carl is angry about his father just giving away what he considers vital supplies they could sell or use themselves. Raven is leaving the pharmacy when some bikers enter, so she hides behind some shelving and watches in horror as the biker’s demand everything the pharmacy has left. Phil attempts to reason with the bikers but they have guns and when Carl puts up a fight one of them shoots him!
Later as Raven returns to the Toyota Camry truck she has, she has an altercation with the bikers. Raven’s last words before she left had warned her to take the tranquiliser gun with her and this is what she uses to ward off the bikers as she leaves Forsyth at high speed.
Raven gives her father some of the pills which ease his pain, but nothing can cure the hydra virus and eventually Raven has to do the unthinkable and bury her own father. Raven may not have had a lot of demonstrative love from her father but he has given her survival skills and the backbone to make difficult decisions. Both skills Raven will come to rely on in the coming days. Even during her grief Raven doesn’t forget the animals, feeding them all in turn. Giving the extra jerky treats to Vlad the tiger, and the meat carcasses to the hybrid wolves Shadow & Luna along with tending the rest of the animals in the sanctuary.
It’s not long until the bikers arrive at Haven, having seen a leaflet for the Sanctuary listing the amenities there along with the animals, the bikers think they have hit the jackpot for food.
Raven has to think rapidly, be light on her feet and try to stay one step ahead of the bikers. One night she risks sneaking into her bedroom for her backpack packed with survival equipment. The very same backpack she had prepared to sneak off with before her father contracted the hydra virus. Whilst in the process of taking her belonging someone comes into the room, Damien Vaughn. It turns out he doesn’t mean her any harm and reveals to her that she needs to leave and get as far away as possible as she really doesn’t want the other bikers to catch her as they trade women and worse. Raven ends up being chased and mistakenly ends up in the hybrid wolf enclosure rather than the timber wolf enclosure she was going to. Following all the advice and instruction she can ever remember her father giving her, she makes herself small and unthreatening. Surprisingly the hybrid wolves, Luna the beautiful ghost like white alpha female and Shadow the black alpha male that lives up to his name end up accepting Raven into their pack!
Raven is still wondering if she has the hydra virus herself and decides of she may be going to die anyway she will take a few risks. She doesn’t want to leave the animals that she has cared for and loves at the hands of the bikers who wish to kill them to eat and for their pelts. It’s the last straw when she hears the timber wolves being shot at. Under the cover of darkness Raven slowly moves around the sanctuary and opens the animal cages and enclosures, the bonobos, the zebra, the remaining timber wolves, the leopard, bobcat, red foxes etc and the very last she frees Vlad the tiger.
I loved the character of Raven, the selfless, sometimes reckless acts she undertakes. Kioka Nakamura has raised a stubborn young woman with a strong sense of what is right and what is wrong. Raven has some really difficult decisions to make throughout the book. Raven could have taken her backpack and just left the animals. Raven did ponder if she was doing the right thing as these animals may have been caged for most of their lives but they are still predators. There are many times in the book where Raven definitely looks out for, and protects the sanctuary animals, even returning to Haven to rescue a captured one. There are also many occasions where the animals of sanctuary actually help or save Raven. Though Raven never forgets these are predatory animals she is dealing with, she trusts them more than the humans around her.
I really liked the character of Damien, he was part of the biker gang more by circumstances than choice and does attempt to help Raven more than once. It’s a shame he isn’t brave or confident enough to leave the biker gang behind him.
I also adored all the different animals and learning their characters and quirks. The way Vlad loved his jerky that Raven would take him and would chuff at her in such a way it was as if he was laughing.
The different character of the bonobos, the youngest one being cheeky Gizmo who had his own form of showing Raven his displeasure and then would be playful with her too.
Of course, my favourites of the animals were Shadow and Luna, who slowly accepted Raven into their pack as one of them, ending up with the three of them being that closely bonded none of them would hesitate to fight for the other if needed.
I felt the book was quite fast paced, I read it within a few of reading sessions. I thought the animals of the Haven Sanctuary were described in such a way that you felt you knew them as well as Raven. The world building was interesting and I certainly want to read more set in this world. The detailed descriptions of both the surrounding and events help you easily visualise them. Allowing the book to almost play like a movie in your head as you are reading it.
My first thoughts upon finishing the book were that I loved it and wanted more! This book, The Last Sanctuary is an expanded version of a novella which was called No Safe Haven. It is also set in the same world as The Last Sanctuary series which is firmly on my to read list after learning that Raven and Shadow appear in book two of the series!
Summing up, I’d have to say Raven is one tough young woman, she’d already been through a lot before the hydra virus hit but she certainly puts everything her father has taught her into practice and good use. It really is a case of survival of the fittest. Having said that Raven chooses to survive without hurting others or taking from them, unlike the bikers who see what they want and just take it without a second thought to the consequences. The brilliant irony within the book is that when Raven freed the caged animals because they were slowly being picked off and shot by the bikers, the bike predators became the prey of the animal predators.
October 31, 2025
Nobody writes dystopian quite like Kyla stone and I am a massive fan of her writing and this book is no exception!
In a world that is ravaged by a pandemic, most of the World population have succumbed to this deadly disease. This story follows the life of Raven Who lives with her father in a wildlife sanctuary which houses animals such as bears, wolves and a Siberian tiger. Raven and her father are living in isolation with the animals trying to survive. Unfortunately, the downfall of the world has caused the remaining human population to do whatever is necessary to survive and Raven witnesses first hand the brutality of this in the form of a murderous group of men who call themselves the headhunters and when this leads them to the sanctuary Raven finds herself fighting for her own survival and trying to protect the animals in her care.
From the onset I became emotionally invested in Raven and her animals that i felt that I was right there alongside Raven willing her on. If you have read any Kyla Stone books before you will know that she does not sugarcoat her stories and this one is no exception, It’s brutal and heart-rending and Raven is a strong female lead fighting for her life, her connection with the animals is beautiful and added a whole other level of nail biting drama. I was reeling with so many emotions,I couldn’t put this book down and I devoured it in a day.
In a world that is ravaged by a pandemic, most of the World population have succumbed to this deadly disease. This story follows the life of Raven Who lives with her father in a wildlife sanctuary which houses animals such as bears, wolves and a Siberian tiger. Raven and her father are living in isolation with the animals trying to survive. Unfortunately, the downfall of the world has caused the remaining human population to do whatever is necessary to survive and Raven witnesses first hand the brutality of this in the form of a murderous group of men who call themselves the headhunters and when this leads them to the sanctuary Raven finds herself fighting for her own survival and trying to protect the animals in her care.
From the onset I became emotionally invested in Raven and her animals that i felt that I was right there alongside Raven willing her on. If you have read any Kyla Stone books before you will know that she does not sugarcoat her stories and this one is no exception, It’s brutal and heart-rending and Raven is a strong female lead fighting for her life, her connection with the animals is beautiful and added a whole other level of nail biting drama. I was reeling with so many emotions,I couldn’t put this book down and I devoured it in a day.
November 8, 2025
A great apocalyptic survival thriller!
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2025
Format: Kindle
The Last Sanctuary, A standalone book in the Last Sanctuary series, is the story of Raven, isolated at a wildlife reserve, survives the brutal world brought about by the devastating Hydra virus. On a trip into town to get medicine for a dying friend, she witnesses a murder by a biker and, accidentally attracts them to the refuge. Raven, the remarkable protagonist, is forced to seek shelter with the mostly wild animals and do the unthinkable. She is a standout character in everything I've read this year and I can't wait to see more of her and Shadow! 5/5 stars, highly, highly recommended for fans of apocalyptic survival fiction. If you're a fan of Stone, why aren't you reading The Last Sanctuary instead of reading my review? Read it, you won't be disappointed!!!
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2025
Format: Kindle
The Last Sanctuary, A standalone book in the Last Sanctuary series, is the story of Raven, isolated at a wildlife reserve, survives the brutal world brought about by the devastating Hydra virus. On a trip into town to get medicine for a dying friend, she witnesses a murder by a biker and, accidentally attracts them to the refuge. Raven, the remarkable protagonist, is forced to seek shelter with the mostly wild animals and do the unthinkable. She is a standout character in everything I've read this year and I can't wait to see more of her and Shadow! 5/5 stars, highly, highly recommended for fans of apocalyptic survival fiction. If you're a fan of Stone, why aren't you reading The Last Sanctuary instead of reading my review? Read it, you won't be disappointed!!!
November 10, 2025
Lawlessness
The disease has hit, it eats you from the inside out, makes you go crazy with pain, N95 don't help, the animals can get it too. If you're lucky you might have an immunity. Raven's 18th birthday she watches an employee/friend go crazy from the disease. Her father "handles" it. Then she sees her father is sick also. Raven risks driving into town for medication, only the pharmacy is open. The Headhunters rob and kill the owner of the pharmacy. Raven tries to sneak out of town and ends up in a confrontation with one of the members. Then the dangerous battle begins when the Headhunters show up at the Rescue Sanctuary. Great job. Thank you. I hope there's a follow up book, would love to find out if Raven and Shadow were able to reach the cabin and live.
The disease has hit, it eats you from the inside out, makes you go crazy with pain, N95 don't help, the animals can get it too. If you're lucky you might have an immunity. Raven's 18th birthday she watches an employee/friend go crazy from the disease. Her father "handles" it. Then she sees her father is sick also. Raven risks driving into town for medication, only the pharmacy is open. The Headhunters rob and kill the owner of the pharmacy. Raven tries to sneak out of town and ends up in a confrontation with one of the members. Then the dangerous battle begins when the Headhunters show up at the Rescue Sanctuary. Great job. Thank you. I hope there's a follow up book, would love to find out if Raven and Shadow were able to reach the cabin and live.
October 31, 2025
Set in a vibrant and bustling wildlife sanctuary, Kyla brings a diverse cast of animal characters into our story, each possessing a unique personality and spirit. It feels authentic and heartbreaking as Raven faces excruciating decisions in a world that has fallen apart and the worst of humanity arrives at the gates. The suspense is palpable, making it difficult to put it down or out of mind. This book has everything that we love from Kyla's series: captivating characters, realistic setting and plots, well built worlds.
Short note: this novel may not be suitable for readers who are sensitive to depictions of animal cruelty in fiction.
Short note: this novel may not be suitable for readers who are sensitive to depictions of animal cruelty in fiction.
November 5, 2025
I love Kyla stone’s writing, and I am a massive fan. This is a re-write of a book I previously read but it’s SO much better. More detail…more action & suspense. I couldn’t put it down. You are going to love the main character, Raven, and root for her from the start. What she goes through for her animals and for survival is extremely thrilling and intense. I highly recommend this book (and her Collapse series).
December 3, 2025
The last Sanctuary
Absolutely beautiful book. I enjoyed reading every page. I couldn’t put it down. I felt so terrible for the animals that I even cried when Luna died. What a wonderful story of compassion for the animals in contrast with the brutality of the bikers. Great story. I felt so bad for shadow crying for his mate. The author brings so many different feelings into this story with such fluency that you love the good characters and ended up hating the bad ones.
Absolutely beautiful book. I enjoyed reading every page. I couldn’t put it down. I felt so terrible for the animals that I even cried when Luna died. What a wonderful story of compassion for the animals in contrast with the brutality of the bikers. Great story. I felt so bad for shadow crying for his mate. The author brings so many different feelings into this story with such fluency that you love the good characters and ended up hating the bad ones.
November 4, 2025
Kyla Stone is an auto buy author for me. This book sealed the deal.
Stone had a way of hooking you from the beginning. There is nothing slow about her story telling skills.
I immediately downloaded The Last Sanctuary Series box set!
This book follows Raven. A teen living in a world plagued with a virus, while living on his father's wild animal haven. Caring for these predatory animals, a new predator enters the picture.
Stone had a way of hooking you from the beginning. There is nothing slow about her story telling skills.
I immediately downloaded The Last Sanctuary Series box set!
This book follows Raven. A teen living in a world plagued with a virus, while living on his father's wild animal haven. Caring for these predatory animals, a new predator enters the picture.
November 8, 2025
A new twist on an apocalyptic tale
When/if the apocalypse happens I never considered what would become of animals in zoos. This story is one possibility. I love Raven, she has guts and smarts, I loved the animal characters as well. Great story telling. Kyla Stone is becoming a favorite of mine.
When/if the apocalypse happens I never considered what would become of animals in zoos. This story is one possibility. I love Raven, she has guts and smarts, I loved the animal characters as well. Great story telling. Kyla Stone is becoming a favorite of mine.
November 11, 2025
I have only read The Edge of Collapse series by this author but when she offered advance copies in her newsletter, I jumped at the chance. I am a sucker for animals so I absolutely loved the relationship between Raven and the wolves in this story. All in all a great read and very satisfying from a story perspective.
November 14, 2025
Action packed
This rivals my childhood favorite, The Beasts of Tarzan. No lions or elephants, but it does have a tiger. Mowgli from the jungle book talked to the wild things but neither had been chased by a motorcycle gang. That cliche seems to be the spine of too many dystopian tales. But Raven has prevailed and hopefully she will find some other villains to avoid and overcome.
This rivals my childhood favorite, The Beasts of Tarzan. No lions or elephants, but it does have a tiger. Mowgli from the jungle book talked to the wild things but neither had been chased by a motorcycle gang. That cliche seems to be the spine of too many dystopian tales. But Raven has prevailed and hopefully she will find some other villains to avoid and overcome.
January 20, 2026
4.5/5 ⭐️ I loved this book, especially all the animals. Raven was an amazing female lead, she is very strong and brave! I wish it was a series or the book was longer. The world building was amazing and it has so much more potentail to explore!!
Edit: just found out this is a prequel LETS GO!! Automatically moved it up to 5/5 stars because this world is about to be crazyyyy.
Edit: just found out this is a prequel LETS GO!! Automatically moved it up to 5/5 stars because this world is about to be crazyyyy.
November 3, 2025
excellent just as I expected
I was expecting a good read and she didn’t disappoint! The humanity of the characters, good and evil, strong and weak, was masterfully crafted and drawn out for us in this story. I look forward to reading more of this author.
I was expecting a good read and she didn’t disappoint! The humanity of the characters, good and evil, strong and weak, was masterfully crafted and drawn out for us in this story. I look forward to reading more of this author.
November 6, 2025
THE LAST SANCTUARY
Good reading. I am an animal lover and it’s sad to think things like this would happen in an apocalypse. Looking forward to reading more about Ravin in other books.
Good reading. I am an animal lover and it’s sad to think things like this would happen in an apocalypse. Looking forward to reading more about Ravin in other books.
December 3, 2025
This is a great book!! It’s a fast and easy read. I was cheering for Raven the whole time!! This book makes you think about what would you do if/or when this happens. Can’t wait to read the others. Would definitely recommend!!
January 19, 2026
She knocked it out of the park as always. At first, I thought it was going to be a series, then found out it was a standalone, but a part of a series. Very cool and enjoyed thoroughly! She does an amazing job at bringing the characters to life. Love her work.
January 23, 2026
You know a book's good when you're truly rooting for the main character!
Every time I put the book down, I hoped the next time I picked it up, the Raven would be in a better place.
Every time I put the book down, I hoped the next time I picked it up, the Raven would be in a better place.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews