Title: The Last VampireAuthor: Romina Garber
Pages: 400
Publication Date: Dec. 2, 2025
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Fantasy / Romantasy
Synopsis:
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 truth: 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?
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I really enjoyed the author’s last book Castle of the Cursed and was excited to read this one. I love her writing style and the rich, atmospheric reads she creates, so The Last Vampire immediately caught my attention.
The story follows Lorena Navarro, an Austen-loving senior who enrolls in a new boarding school with her best friend. Lorena is hoping for a fresh start after a video of her went viral and tarnished her momfluencer’s career. With her new friends and BFF, she accidentally awakens William Pride, the last living vampire, who has been hidden away in the manor for centuries. What follows is a mix of dark academia, supernatural mystery, and a slow-building romance. With its blend of danger, school gossip, and a brooding supernatural love interest, the story reminded me of books like Crave and Twilight.
I loved the Gothic setting and that the story takes place in New England. I’ve lived in New England for my entire life, so it was fun to see the characters heading to places that I know. The isolated Victorian manor in the New Hampshire woods creates an eerie and immersive backdrop for the story, and it’s full of unfinished corridors, forbidden rooms, and secrets just waiting to be uncovered by a bunch of inquisitive new students. The lack of cell service and technology gives the entire story an isolated and closed-off vibe that definitely added to the eerie, Gothic elements.
I also loved the literary conversations sprinkled throughout the story. The discussions about Jane Eyre, Dracula, and other classics added a layer of depth and gave Lorena and William a unique way to connect. Their banter in these scenes really highlights the chemistry between Lorena and William as well as the timelessness of the literature explored. I also liked how their relationship often paralleled the literature they were reading, from Pride and Prejudice to Romeo and Juliet. This really appealed to the former English teacher in me.
The characters, however, were a mixed bag for me. Lorena is relatable, but at times, she and the people around her made choices that felt immature and unwise. It fit the YA tone, but it was frustrating, and sometimes the characters didn’t make any sense, especially how Lorena and her BFF kept so much from each other. I was also surprised at how oblivious some of the characters were about certain things. I kind of wanted to shake each one of them at different points in the novel. lol Of all the characters, I thought William’s story was really intriguing. A vampire in the deep sleep since the 1700s, William is trying to adapt to a world that has completely changed while also facing what happened in his past and what being the last vampire means for his future. It was interesting to see how he learned about the world and what he missed while still holding on to some of his traditional ways.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, though there was one plot point toward the end that did not work for me. It felt abrupt and came out of nowhere. And though I had a few eyeroll moments, the atmosphere, the worldbuilding, the vampire lore, and the intrigue kept me invested. Special thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
- slow burn romance
- dark academia
- Gothic vibes
Romina 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
