Book Review for The Last Valentine by Felix Alexander
The Last Valentine, by Felix Alexander, is an enchanting tale that shows the true depths of forbidden love, all of which began with a mysterious murderer who sought to extinguish it.
Olivia and her best friend, Isaac, discover a love letter that was stolen from a corpse found on the streets. After determining that the letter belongs in the Labyrinth of Love, a secret, mythical place where only true lovers meet, the two decide to seek out the entrance. As the story continues, it is revealed that Isaac is in love with Olivia. However, through Armando’s insistence, the Keeper of the entrance of the Labyrinth, he decides to only write his feelings for Olivia down in letters, all the while supporting her and her relationship. Meanwhile, the adults continue to weave through elaborate love triangles from a bloody massacre of weapons and words. The battlefield leaves their victims little more than an empty husk of themselves, domineered by the deception of what could have been.
I loved how Alexander showed how intricate the characters’ views on love were. Whether it be unrequited, forbidden, or otherwise, Alexander illustrates just how enticing the emotion could be. It was almost painful, seeing how Isaac supported his best friend’s relationship, just as it was when I read about the countless number of lives affected by similar emotions, if only to preserve the illusion of a perfect society. Though the ending was a bit bittersweet, it was beguiling nonetheless.
The way love was portrayed in the book was also incredibly unique. The Labyrinth of Love reminded me of all of history’s most beautiful romances, from Mark Antony and Cleopatra, to Lancelot and Guinevere. Why Eros decided to keep that library though, I would never know. Maybe it was just on a whim, or perhaps he was truly fascinated with how complex human relationships could be, but either way it was masterfully done. What’s more, I liked seeing Eros allowed Isaac to foster the growth of his feelings, rather than allow him to do anything brash. Although love itself can be confusing, that growth is what kept him from stumbling in the dark.
Overall, I liked the book. Alexander showed that despite a countless number of humanity’s faults, somehow its love remains innocent. The fact that Alexander also includes Eros in the story helps us not stray too far from the path. Thus, I give this book a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to fans of Shakespeare and Charlotte Brontë.
