The Last One by Rachel Howzell Hall

Rachel Howzell Hall is a successful mystery and thriller author however, she is new to me. With The Last One, the first book in her Kai Megidrail series, she takes on the romantic fantasy genre.For me, The Last One had a very slow start. Told in first person, it’s the story of a young woman named Kai who awakens in a strange place, with no memory of who she is and someone trying to steal from her. She quickly discovers the thief’s name is Olivia, but a misunderstanding results in Olivia and her brother Jadon being ordered to be responsible for her. When the town they’re in is attacked, Kai joins Jadon in defending it. Soon Kai finds herself, along with Jadon, Olivia, and Olivia’s friend Philia, journeying to find a sage and possibly traveling to the Sea of Devour, in an attempt to uncover Kai’s identity. Along the way, they encounter otherworldly creatures set on destroying them, while at the same time trying to evade enemies.Rachel puts you in Kai’s shoes, where you as a reader learn things just as Kai does. I found that frustrating because I wanted to know everything up front, but this strategy kept me glued to the pages. So much happens within the pages of The Last One. I think Rachel leaned heavily on her mystery writing ability. There were twists upon twists upon twists. Just when you thought you had things figured out, something new happened or was revealed.I found the romance between Kai and Jadon to be lacking, at least physically. They have great banter and the scenes between them were fun, engaging, at times a little sweet and endearing. You sense their attraction, but I’m not actually sure if things went further than that. For me, I didn’t care. I don’t think the romance makes or breaks this story. I would have loved for the story to actually have been told from at least the dual POV of Kai and Jadon. There were many times when I wished I knew what he was thinking. The Last One contains a lot of action/fight scenes. These definitely made the story. The ending was surprising and has me anxiously waiting for the next book, The Cruel Dawn.~ Favorite Quotes ~“Be gracious. There’s always something to compliment.”“I’ll always listen. Know that.”“You are more cherished and respected than you think.”“Don’t trust anyone to bring you that which makes you whole. They may not want you whole.”“Stop pouring worry into your bowl. You have plenty on your plate.”“You are in charge of your destiny.”“I can’t do anything with ‘shouldn’t have.’ Only ‘should.’”**Received an advance reader’s copy from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it. Also personally purchased a deluxe hardcover copy.**

It took me some time to gather my thoughts before writing this review because my initial reaction was one of disappointment. To be honest. I felt cheated. That said, there are several positives worth highlighting.Rachel Howzell Hall’s writing is immersive and engaging, even though the first-person present tense narrative isn’t my usual preference for epic fantasy. The modern language occasionally pulled me out of the story, but the author's voice shines through with clarity and energy. The main character, Kai, is a standout. She’s a no-nonsense, take-no-prisoners kind of heroine, and I enjoyed being in her corner as she grappled with memory loss, monsters, and complicated alliances.The story starts with a strong setup: Kai’s stolen amulet, her quest to recover it, and her dynamic (if frustrating) companions—the charming yet vexing Olivia and her brother Jadon. The premise is intriguing, and the pacing keeps the reader invested. However, the repetitive battles against monsters felt like filler at times, and I found myself skimming through those sections.The plot is sprinkled with twists, though many of them were predictable. The last 20 pages deliver a rush of revelations, but they left me with more confusion than closure. The ending felt abrupt—not quite a cliffhanger, but not a satisfying conclusion either. I struggled to grasp Kai’s overarching motivations or goals for the next book, which makes it difficult to commit to continuing the series.The romantic subplot also felt underdeveloped. While some readers might enjoy the “lust at first sight” angle, I found it unconvincing and disconnected from the rest of the story. It read more like YA with angsty teenagers fumbling along.And I still don’t get “who” the last one is…Overall, The Last One offers a compelling premise and strong main female character, but the execution, particularly in the second half toward the conclusion, left me wanting more. While I’m uncertain if I’ll continue with the series, I commend the author’s talent and creativity, and I’m sure others will find more to love in this unique fantasy world.

This was great! I admit that this book first hit my radar because of the gorgeous first edition (and I can’t wait to get my hands on the copy I ordered!). Once I read the synopsis, I knew I needed to read this book! The story was just as good as I had hoped and I found it so hard to put down that I read most of the book in a single day. Kai was very likable, and I wanted to see things work out for her.As the story opens Kai is being robbed of her clothes and her amulet somewhere in the woods. She doesn’t know where she is and can’t remember who she is. As she tries to get her items back from the thief, she gets in a little trouble in town and must pay a debt before she can move on. I was curious about Kai’s past and loved the clues each ability or memory gave. The story had a lot of action and it quickly became obvious that Kai knew how to handle herself.In a quest to find answers, Kai travels with the local blacksmith, Jadon, who is also a skilled fighter, his sister, Olivia, and Philia. They face one obstacle after the next during their journey. I loved that there was a lot of action to keep the story moving at a steady pace. The story kept me guessing throughout, and there were plenty of surprises along the way. The romantic elements kept me on my toes as well.I would recommend this book to others. It did so many things well. The world-building was top-notch, and the characters were incredibly likable. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next installment!I received a review copy from Red Tower Books.