Red Tower Books is known for itsfantasyromance titles — better known as “romantasy” on BookTok — andRachel Howzell Hall’sThe Last Oneis a standout from theFourth Wingpublisher.The Last Oneis among the most-anticipatedfantasy novels hitting shelves in December, andit sets itself apart from manyother big romantasy booksin one notable way. Hall’s latest has all the trappings of a successful fantasy romance: a strong and quirky heroine, a charming love interest, and lots of entertaining banter.
The Last Onealso boasts a strong central mystery, as its female main character wakes up in a strange and dangerous land with no recollection of how she got there. Alongside the romance elements, this sets the book’s narrative up for success by ensuring readers keep flipping the pages. Mysteries, twists, and romantic tensions are all par for the course when it comes to romantasy books likeThe Last One,however.The most exciting aspect of Hall’s book is actually its approach to action, which other stories in the subgenre could learn a thing or two from.
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 realizing a thief has stolen her clothing, andher story rapidly spirals out from there. When Kai attempts to retrieve her belongings and teach the thief a lesson, she learns the town of Maford isn’t so welcoming to outsiders. She barely escapes being locked up, and she’s forced to reside there — with the thief and her conveniently attractive brother — until she pays off a debt to the townspeople. It initially seems as though much of the romantasy book will follow her doing this, but that’s not the case.
The Last Onedelivers on the action early on, then hardly comes up for air as it plows forward.
Hall moves quickly through Kai’s time in Maford, ramping up the tensions by introducing worrisome clues about the heroine’s past and political conflicts that threaten everyone around her. And while many romantasy stories wait until the climax to deliver on big battles and fight sequences,The Last Onedelivers on the action early on, then hardly comes up for air as it plows forward.Hall’s novel gives new meaning to the phrase “non-stop action,“from the moment Emperor Wake’s forces attack Maford straight on through Kai’s journey to the Sea of Devour.
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The Last Oneallows its heroine to shine on the battlefield too, even if she can’t initially remember where her fighting skills come from. The action moves her story along in an engaging and satisfying way, simultaneously revealing critical information about Kai and her enemies. Needless to say,The Last Oneis an ideal reading choice for anyone who loves fast 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 don’t put enough emphasis 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 books that do have big action moments often save them for their finales.The Last Oneproves that they can be just as effective weaved throughout the narrative.
The Last Oneis the perfect blueprint for how to tell a fast-paced fantasy romance story that uses action to do more than entertain.
The Last Oneis the perfect blueprint for how to tell a fast-paced fantasy romance story that uses action to do more than entertain. Perhaps it’s no surprise that it hails from Red Tower Books, asThe Empyrean Seriestakes a similar approach. The publisher is clearly paving the way when it comes tofantasyromance titles, andThe Last Onehighlights why.
