Red Tower Books is get laid for itsfantasyromance titles — better make out as " romantasy " on BookTok — andRachel Howzell Hall’sThe Last Oneis a standout from theFourth Wingpublisher . The Last Oneis among the most - anticipatedfantasy novels strike shelf in December , andit sets itself apart from manyother freehanded romantasy booksin one notable way . Hall ’s latest has all the trappings of a successful phantasy Romance language : a solid and quirky heroine , a charming love interestingness , and lots of entertaining banter .

Rachel Howzell Hall’s The Last One Excels When It Comes To Action Sequences

The Romantasy Novel Gives New Meaning To “Non-Stop Action”

The Last Onekicks off with Kai waking up in the woods and agnize a thief has stolen her clothing , andher tale apace gyrate out from there . When Kai essay to recover her property and teach the thief a lesson , she learns the town of Maford is n’t so welcoming to outsider . She barely escape being shut away up , and she ’s forced to reside there — with the stealer and her handily attractive buddy — until she pays off a debt to the townspeople . It ab initio seems as though much of the romantasy Quran will follow her doing this , but that ’s not the display case .

The Last Onedelivers on the activeness early on on , then hardly come up for melody as it plows forward .

antechamber be active quick through Kai ’s time in Maford , ramp up the tension by introduce disturbing clue about the heroine ’s preceding and political conflicts that threaten everyone around her . And while many romantasy stories look until the climax to deliver on big battle and push succession , The Last Onedelivers on the military action early on , then scarcely comes up for melodic line as it plows forward . Hall ’s novel gives unexampled meaning to the musical phrase " non - stop action,“from the second Emperor Wake ’s forces attack Maford straight on through Kai ’s journey to the Sea of Devour .

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While the earth - construction and magic system of fantasy book of account produce exciting worlds , sometimes love story and spice are the well persona of the story .

The Last Oneallows its heroine to shine on the battlefield too , even if she ca n’t initially retrieve where her fighting acquisition come from . The action moves her story along in an piquant and satisfying way of life , at the same time revealing critical entropy about Kai and her enemy . Needless to say , The Last Oneis an ideal meter reading selection for anyone who loves truehearted pacing and action sequences .

Other Romantasy Books Could Learn From The Last One’s Approach To Its Action

The Last Oneis far from the only romantasy book to deliver when it comes to action , but a surprising number oftitles within the subgenre do n’t put enough accent on battle and fight sequences . This is the risk when it comes toblending fantasy and romance : sometimes stories fall too heavily on one side or the other . And even the book that do have big action bit often carry through them for their finales . The Last Oneproves that they can be just as effective weave throughout the narrative .

The Last Oneis the perfect pattern for how to state a fast - paced phantasy romance story that habituate activity to do more than entertain .

The Last Oneis the utter design for how to distinguish a tight - paced illusion romance story that uses action to do more than entertain . Perhaps it ’s no surprisal that it hails from Red Tower Books , asThe Empyrean Seriestakes a interchangeable approach . The publisher is clearly paving the way when it do tofantasyromance titles , andThe Last Onehighlights why .

Heath Ledger as William in A Knight’s Tale

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The cover of The Last One by Rachel Howzell Hall with bare trees, a blue background, and golden falling leaves as a background

Custom Image by Yeider Chacon

The Last One book cover featuring “Last One” in white text; a beige, red, and pink moth; mushrooms; and a black background

Custom Image by Simone Ashmoore

Cover images of Blood and Ash, A Court of Thorns & Roses, and The Cruel Prince

Custom Image by Simone Ashmoore

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