This was a very enjoyable read! I haven't read dark academia in a while and I did enjoy the world building with the curse and the intermingling of vampires, witches, and werewolves. The interactions between the main characters- Andi, Blythe, Lexa, and of course the unforgettable Bertram- were lovely, and evolved over the book. Of course, I also loved the romance between two of the characters and was happy they were able to have a happy ending.

If you love a good enchanted/haunted library and want to see a different take on solving a curse, you'll want to check this book out!

This book is everything I enjoy about witches, vampires, and werewolves in one place! I love the queerness and the disability representation. Blythe is completely swoon-worthy, hottest vampire I've ever encountered for sure! Best novel I've read in 2024 so far!

I loved every second of this book from the characters to all the twists and turns, not to mention a cool talking frog. 100% recommend to Sapphic fantasy readers

For the magic dying in the kingdom, there is no shortage of magical moments here! Whether it’s the highly creative world building, a touching moment between the romantic leads, or the actual brief and gorgeous magic of Andi’s archive.

I think the world building is genuinely some of my favorite I’ve ever read. The characters all feel interesting and multi-dimensional, even those who are only briefly in the narrative. The villains feel both terrifying but real with their power and motives. The descriptive writing is also really well done, I felt like I was in every moment with Andi. Beautiful wording about the scenery, creatures, and the characters through her eyes. Especially when it comes to Blythe!

The one downside was that the ending felt a little abrupt for me. I would have loved reading more regarding the final resolution to the overarching plot, as it was such a brilliant and fascinating concept. I think a bit more explanation or discussion about it would be really fun and satisfying.

Still a great read, especially if you are looking for a fantasy with some mild spooks but vulnerable, sweet moments throughout!

The plot follows the structure of a dungeon crawl, as if in a video game or a DnD session, as the characters start in the root system of the library tree and pass through various rooms in the library climbing towards the crown, where they can access the core crystal. In each room there are various environmental hazards, cool archeological items to investigate, random encounters with minor enemies, and some have mini-bosses in the form of elder vampires recruited by the head librarian, Silas, trying to prevent them from reaching their goal, each with a unique ability. The story is fast paced as the characters are forced to keep moving forward, to outrun the things that are after them, and to beat the clock before the vampiric curse heralds the end the world.

The scorched-earth blackened-sky apocalyptic world reminds me of the Castlevania series, the layout of the library reminds me of Castle in the Sky, and the archive witch magic reminds me of the Dream Sand from Rise of the Guardians, which is to say this book has an INCREDIBLE combination of vibes and it's easy to fall into this immersive world. These characters have been given the opportunity to save the Library of Alexandria crossed with a Natural History Museum. Of course you're rooting for them!!!

The characters are charming as well. They're all quite witty and quip at each other with quick banter throughout the book, which keeps the tone of this otherwise dark book somewhat humorous. Despite the teasing, it never undercuts the emotional moments and the characters are allowed to be sincere when it counts. The dynamic between the four main characters: Andi, Blythe, Lexa, and Bertrand, seemed somewhat skewed at times depending on who was out of commission or if they split the party, but when they're all working together, Lawrence does a good job of balancing the tensions and motives in the group dynamic.

This book has a subplot romance between which is pretty slow burn and sweet. At one point I was worried it would turn into a love triangle but it did not. It resolves with a kiss so there's nothing graphic, and the softer scenes were a nice break from all the imminent death. All that being said. I must confess my favorite character was Bertrand, who's a side character they pick up in the library. No spoilers, but what a weird little dude. I love him. He does deserve his Very Important Little Hat.

I had so much fun with this book and I can highly recommend it to anyone who likes dungeon crawl adventures, nerdy tangents about taxonomy, and the wish fulfillment of being able to store a magical archive in your brain.

I was immediately intrigued by this world of magic with witches, werewolves, and vampires running around it. Add in the mystery and the struggle for the characters to figure out a solution, and I was hooked. The descriptions of magic and the environments really brought everything to life.

I really enjoyed Last Light; it was an excellent mix of witty banter and dark scares. The main trio (and Bertie!) are such loveable characters that you can't help but root for them. Andi is such a relatable dork and I love her. This was a fun read and I devoured it over a holiday weekend.

The world-building and lore are so impressive- I'm really excited to see more of the future of the library and the continent!