The Last One

November 1, 2023

Hall (What Never Happened) turns from crime fiction to fantasy with this series launch that the publisher describes as "The Witcher meets N.K. Jemisin." It features a young woman who awakens with missing memories and seeks answers as her magic grows. With a 500K-copy first printing. Prepub Alert.

Copyright 2023 Library Journal

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

A woman without memories teams up with new friends to rediscover her past in Hall's fantasy novel. Kai wakes up in the forest with a woman on top of her busily removing Kai's amulet and outerwear. Barely awake, unable to move much, and utterly confused about where--and who--she is, Kai can't do much more than follow the thief as she runs away. Dressed only in a bandeau top and breeches (not to mention her strange eyes and bright hair), Kai is a shocking sight to the town she comes upon, and the citizens quickly consider her to be some sort of evil creature. Kai doesn't exactly help her case by launching herself at the thief and throttling her in hopes of getting her amulet and clothes back. The townsfolk rally against her, demanding money in return for items broken during the scuffle. Of all people, the thief, called Olivia, comes to Kai's rescue and offers her a place to stay while Kai works off her sudden debt. It doesn't hurt that Olivia's brother Jadon, the town blacksmith, is incredibly handsome. As if Kai's luck wasn't bad enough, soldiers attack the town, and a strange woman with magical abilities comes looking for Kai, bringing fire and vicious creatures ("another blast from the sky, this one bursting with flame. A fireball strikes the steeple of the chapel"). Kai knows she needs to get away fast to find out who she is--and where the wind powers she's suddenly gained came from. Olivia and her very handsome brother decide to join her on her quest. In this romantic fantasy novel, the author throws readers into a new world, making it very easy to empathize with Kai, as she also has no idea where or who she is. Readers may feel a disconnect between Kai, Jadon, Olivia, and the rest of their world, as the crew feels more modern than the setting they inhabit. Still, readers who love a good fantasy adventure with plenty of action and a love story in the mix are sure to find something to enjoy here. A whirlwind fantasy that will keep readers on their toes--much like the hero.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. (Online Review)

October 1, 2024
Crime writer Hall (What Fire Brings, 2024) tries her hand at romantasy in this first entry in a planned series. Kai wakes outside the drab, illness-stricken town of Maford with no memories. Met with suspicion bordering on hostility due to her physical appearance, her only bright spot is town smith Jadon, who takes her in despite his reluctance to act on their strong mutual attraction. As Kai's journey of self-discovery takes her and Jadon across the kingdom, cryptic messengers and attacks from otherworldly creatures slowly unlock memories about Kai's true identity. But Kai's past is troubled, and she isn't the only member of her party with ties to the otherworldly. With the fate of Vallendor at stake, Kai must choose whether to continue on the destructive path she tread before losing her memory or to change course and risk losing her hold on the kingdom. Intriguing themes of redefining monstrousness and owning past mistakes are marred by opaque character motivations and slipshod world building. Even so, ardent romantasy fans will devour it.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Hall's reputation, a large print run, and a trendy romantasy story will mean lots of demand for this one.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 9, 2024
Hall (What Never Happened) launches a new series with this thrilling romantasy. Kai awakens in a forest near Maford in the kingdom of Vinevridth with no memory of who she is or where she came from. After her pendant and clothes are stolen by a thief named Olivia, she tracks the woman into town, where the pair brawl, causing a commotion and destroying property. Kai is forced to pay damages with manual labor before she’s allowed to leave. Until then, she must stay with Olivia and her enigmatic brother, Jadon. As she settles into her new home, hazy memories of magic return to her and her attraction to Jadon grows. But when the angry goddess Elyn swoops into town hunting for Kai, she and her new friends are forced to flee—and hope to finally discover who Kai is and what the goddess wants from her. The mystery of Kai’s identity propels the plot forward (though readers will have to wait for future installments for answers), while electrifying fight scenes, otherworldly creatures, and sizzling forbidden romance add fun. Romantasy readers won’t be able to turn the pages fast enough.