The Last Huntress

Mirror Realm #1

by Lenore Borja

Alice Daniels has a problem. Her reflection keeps misbehaving when she looks in the mirror--and the longer she ignores it, the harder it tries to get her attention. On her eighteenth birthday, she learns why: she is a huntress, someone gifted with the power to enter mirrors and the magical world that exists beyond. But with this power comes immense responsibility, for in the Mirror Realm lurks an evil that has infected the human race for centuries: demons. It is up to her and her three huntress sisters--with the help of one handsome and overbearing protector--to hunt and banish this evil one demon at a time, thereby keeping the chaos in check. But when an ancient god pays Alice a visit that turns deadly, it is clear the Mirror Realm is more than it seems, and she soon finds herself in a race against time to save the life--and soul--of the one man the gods are determined to never let her have.

The Last Huntress is a story of redemption and sacrifice, the bonds of true sisterhood, and the impossible, sometimes frightening, things we'll do for love.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal, Fiction, Demons, Young Adult Fantasy

368 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2022

About the author

Lenore Borja grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. She attended Arizona State University before moving to New York City to study acting at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After a brief career as an actress, she spent several years working in executive search and human resources in New York and San Francisco. She now resides in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband and two cats. When she’s not writing, she enjoys adventure travel and anything that gets the heart racing, whether it’s hiking, running, or getting lost in a good book.

Reviews

[Lydia · Rating 2 out of 5]

A dark fantasy mix of Greek myths and Alice in Wonderland vibes.

This one has a lot of good things going for it, but the destined-soulmates/instalove romance and all-around unlikable love interest kind of killed it for me.

THE GOOD:

The main character is headstrong, brave, the practical kind of smart, quick on her feet, and kind. She’s bold without being arrogant. She stands up for herself. She’s loyal and hardy enough to make morally gray decisions when no option is black or white. But, the romance eroded my respect for her. She’s not perfect. She can also be petty, hold grudges, and has truly terrible taste in men.

The rest of the main characters are some a**kicking women, each with their own personality and flavor of awesome, that I just loved and a male love interest I just didn’t love.

It’s got great dark fantasy world-building, with a Greek-mythology-inspired magic system and plenty of fresh twists on familiar myths. The Mirror Realm is creative, strange, fun, and dangerous. It’s the kind of world beyond the looking glass that you can’t help but want to visit and be scared to step foot in. It’s full of demons and wonders and the world turning itself upside down with every turn, drop, and jump (literally).

The author rides the line between dark fantasy and horror with skill. There’s serious creepy and eerie vibes, but no excessively graphic violence. The descriptive style captured the beauty and scariness of this tale. The story has good pacing that keeps you swept up in suspense, intrigue, or action from start to finish. The plot kept my interest with mysteries of Alice’s family’s past and the present world of Greek myths and mirrors that comes to her. The plot wasn’t rushed. The story was nothing if not unpredictable.

No cliffhanger ending. The ending was clearly meant to be happy, but I didn’t love it because by the end, I was hoping for was the male love interest’s messy and permanent demise.

THE BAD (READ: THE ROMANCE):

The romance was definitely instalove. Even for a story with the magical, fated soulmates trope, this romance felt very instant, very rushed, and never successfully made up for lost development later in the book. Since the leading romantic pair trying to save each other was a central part of the book’s plot, this really held the story back.

The love interest, Colin, was the worst part of the book. Even after finishing the book, I never felt a genuine spark between Alice and Colin or a reason for Alice to even like Colin. The way Colin treated Alice alternated between him being mean, controlling, patronizing, protective (in a creepy, patronizing, or stalkerey way), guilt-tripping, and just a jerk. He would kiss her, make physical advances, call her baby, and make general declarations of love. All the while, he would withhold information, continue to treat her badly, and treat her as a subordinate instead of an equal or a team member. He didn’t act like he trusted her. He used physical advances to avoid honesty or emotional talks. But, it’s all dreamy because Colin and Alice are soul mates, they find each other to be really hot, and apparently Colin’s more willing to risk his life for Alice than treat her with respect (or treat her as an equal).

His behavior is presumably all to push her away, protect her from everything (including herself), or protect himself from his intense love for her. He’s only patronizing because he wants to protect her and obviously knows better because he’s older and she’s sooo reckless and sooo ignorant of the magical world that she only just discovered. (Never mind that she’d be a lot less ignorant if he spent more time sharing info. Or that her bold actions are calculated risks in dangerous situations where you can’t win or survive by playing it safe. Or that her strategies could be a lot more calculated and a lot less risky with more information and training.)

The romance came off as toxic and Colin came off as both creepy and unlikeable. By the end, I was rooting against the couple ending up together.

THE VERDICT:

Mixed feelings. I loved the world and the characters (with the exception of the male love interest). The plot and mysteries kept me hooked until the end. I disliked the romance and the love interest. The romance even eroded away some of my respect for the protagonist. My dislike of the romance kept me from really loving the book. But, the story’s strengths made this a memorable read.

WARNINGS: mentions of attempted suicide (not the main character), violence, death, kidnapping, drugging

I received a free eARC of this book via NetGalley. I am writing this review completely honestly and voluntarily.

[Julie - One Book More · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so pleased to receive a copy of The Last Huntress, a new YA paranormal romance by Lenore Borja. The story has a really intriguing premise, a great found family, and a unique love story. The story is inspired by and includes mythology and gods and goddesses from several different cultures, and I enjoyed the unique spin the author put on many classic characters.

The story is suspenseful and intriguing, as Alice learns she is a huntress tasked with fighting and defeating demons. Luckily, Alice has the help of three other huntresses. They’re one of the highlights of the novel. They are all so strong, smart, and incredibly brave, and I love the sisterhood they develop. Alice’s story and her journey with her fellow huntresses are filled with twists and turns, and the plot goes in a few directions I didn’t expect.

The world-building, especially the mirror realm is also super interesting, mysterious, and unique. The idea of being able to travel anywhere in the world through mirrors is so cool. I would love to be able to do that, though I wouldn’t want to experience some of the other things Alice and the others go through.

The romance is great too. Alice and Colin have this instant connection and can’t help but feel drawn to each other. Their love story emphasizes the soul-deep bond Alice and Colin share. Alice doesn’t know why she feels so connected to her new protector, but once she realizes what Colin means to her and how their souls have intertwined beyond what she can even imagine, the relationship evolves. There’s a depth to their feelings that’s wonderful.

A story about found family, fated love, mythology, and more, The Last Huntress is an entertaining book for readers who like YA paranormal romance. Special thanks to Lenore Borja and Spark Point Studio for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

[L.R. Braden · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
The Last Huntress spins a fantastic tale of found family and fated love. The story is a blend of modern and mythic, fleshed out with distinct characters, vivid details, and an original spin on the idea of what lies behind the looking glass. Fans of YA paranormal romance won't want to miss this modern day Greek myth set in a familiar yet uniquely realized world.

My favorite part of this book was definitely the depiction of the mirror world. Who wouldn't love a world where they could pop into one mirror and out another anywhere in the world? Want to sit on a beach? No problem. Have you there in two minutes. Not to mention defying the laws of physics while in the mirror realm so you can jump and fly like a super hero.

This book explored two distinct character relationship arcs. The first was the sisterly bond between the girls. This was well done, so long as you can accept the instantaneous connection they felt for each other. The bond they share is both sweet and strong, and I like that each of the girls has a distinct personality and skill set that they bring to the table. The second relationship arc is the romance between the main character and her handler/guardian/boss. I don't want to give anything away about this relationship, but I will say it's a "love at first sight" / "destined lovers" trope.

The plot is part mystery, part action/adventure, part heist novel mixed with a healthy dash of magic. It was fast and fun, well written, and well imagined.

[Double L Duff · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review) I had so much fun reading this book. Loved - and believed - the dialog, the character development, the humor... the romance. The 'place' where 'things' happen (not giving any spoilers) is so cool and imaginative and it totally comes to life through Borja's writing. There are a few gut-punches, stomach turns and story twists that made me 'mad' at the author, so I know I was 100% invested. Great story, great characters. Hope there's a book 2!

[DeAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited to pick this book up as it sounded right up my alley. The premise sounded like it was something I was really going to love. Anything with mythology is a must read for me, so I was ready to dive in.

First off, I found the world building to be done really well. I very much felt immersed in the world, I also felt like the magic system/traveling methods were really cool and a great concept.

There's a great found family in the story and I felt like the characters were vibrant and individuals. It was hard to put down and was full of intrique. It's a great start to a paranormal romance series.

[A · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn’t even make it through the first chapter of this without skimming. I wanted to make it far enough to see some of the premise unfold but the writing was just so grating to me, and it made me hate Alice almost right off the bat.
Strange vibes and stuff start happening pretty much *immediately* but there’s no sense of atmosphere so it reads like confused nonsense.
At the end of the first chapter there is some sort of bizarre Insta love and I just am not interested.

I thought about trying to give this a chance but seems like a waste of effort when I already hate it so much. I suspect this is also just not my genre, and while I can enjoy YA this one felt *very* high school.

[Robynreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alice Daniels is the feminist icon we all need, she is powerful and determined. The representation of female friendship is what young women need to see in today's society and the sprinkling of romance made this book even more magical.

[Kara Babcock · Rating 2 out of 5]

What would you do if you could make the world a better place and save the soul of someone you’re attracted to, but you would have to die in his place? A hero would jump at this chance, of course. The Last Huntress is a story about willingness to sacrifice and standing against powers far beyond our comprehension. Lenore Borja’s world is creative and intriguing, though I can’t say the same for the story she chooses to tell in it. I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Alice finds herself initiated rather abruptly into the current generation of huntresses: women throughout history who can access the Mirror Realm and track and exorcise demons. They are trained and overseen by Cithaeron, a once-mortal man now reincarnated through the lifetimes. But things are different now. Alice might be the last huntress ever called, and she seems to have more power—that comes at more of a price—than the others. She and Cithaeron are bound up, twin flames, yet Alice’s destiny is one of self-sacrifice in exchange for Cithaeron’s soul. For lurking behind the Mirror Realm, behind our world, behind it all, is the spectre of Hades and the other Olympians.

The Last Huntress starts off like so many young adult stories. Alice is the new girl in town, and she meets a cast of peers, some of whom are boorish and awful (David) and others who become her new sisters (Olivia, Hadley, Soxie). The dialogue is trite, the action a series of set pieces, the development fairly standard. Alice’s initiation into the huntresses is as confusing for the reader as it is for her, but once she is finally in the know, the book picks up.

Borja’s creative use of Greek mythology is the best thing about this book. The parts she uses are a bit more obscure to me, but I like how she characterizes Hades and the other Greek gods. I like the lore gradually revealed, especially near the climax, of why the gods have been absent and what Hades’ master plan entails. Alas, the nature of the demons and their connection to the Mirror Realm is somewhat underdeveloped (which will be a recurring complaint from me).

We never really get a chance to settle into this world or the story. We don’t get much of an understanding of what business-as-usual is for the huntresses before Alice’s arrival throws everything off its axis. Even as Alice’s destiny unspools, Borja keeps throwing twist after twist at us as the story careens further away from its initial conditions. There’s no breathing room. There’s one memorable chapter where Alice is bonding with her fellow huntresses and having fun, but that’s about it—everything else is urgency, danger, go go go.

The romance subplot is also, as far as this aromantic chick can tell, just all right? Maybe even a bit boring? It’s supposed to be hot and heavy. But we get so little time with the two characters, and most of it is spent in crisis mode. Again, I just don’t feel invested in or connected with these characters as people.

The Last Huntress is a book with a lot of potential; it just falls flat for me. It never quite comes together into something truly memorable.

Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.

[Emily Randolph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of reading this book. The way it was written made everything from the character development to the romance parts of the book feel like I was experiencing them first hand. The “realm” really comes to life in the authors writing, it makes you feel as if you’re not only along for the journey emotionally, but somehow there physically as well. Some of the plot twists made my stomach churn and had me a little angry with the author for doing that to me (lol) but that’s how I know it was a worthwhile read. It takes a very talented author to bring such strong emotions out in a reader. Well worth it. Can’t wait to see if there’s a book 2.


(I received this book through NetGalley as an ARC reader in exchange for my honest review)

[Ashley {_xamountofbooks} · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

It felt like the story jumped around a lot. Things just happened without there being anything leading up to it. Suddenly we're here, doing this! The biggest problem I had with this story was the instalove.. like within the first few chapters? Noo. that's one of the things I hate to see in a story. Characters were meh and not at all memorable. The Greek mythology felt kind of thrown in there. I think this story had the potential had things been fleshed out a bit more.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m sorry, this was just not good. The insta-love, the romance, and dialogue were all cringe. So many plot points happened at once. Felt like when one thing was resolved, a whole new plot point was brought up and the same conflict kept happening over and over. Just did not care after the 3rd time it happened.

I really wanted to like this book because the author is a NOCO local, but it really just did not hit.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received an ARC of The Last Huntress from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I hate not finishing advanced copies of the books I requested. It feels like I'm doing a disservice to the author and the book itself because I initially wanted to read it. But I got 50% of the way done with The Last Huntress, and I couldn't do it anymore.

Let me start by saying that the premise was intriguing. I believe the story was very original and well thought out, and I liked the use of Greek mythology as a basis for the magic and reasons for things happening. However, I felt that the execution was what was lacking. This book read like a middle-grade story, but its characters were 17-18 years old and graduating high school. The writing was very simple and straightforward, more tell than show. I guess I was expecting it to be more mature than it was.

Next, the characters themselves didn't feel like they had much depth. We don't know anything about most of their backgrounds; they all felt interchangeable. There were differences between them here and there, but nothing that really made them stick out from the others. It also liked to throw in a mention of Alice's parents occasionally, but the other characters just don't have parents or something because almost all other parental figures were left out of the picture. I get that it's not super fun to read about teenagers' interactions with their parents, but a passing mention would've helped the believability immensely.

My biggest issue, and it's an unfortunately common one for me, was the romance. Whoa, baby, does The Last Huntress have a severe case of insta-love. Probably thirty pages in, Alice has talked to this guy on the side of the road for half a second, and he's the greatest thing to have ever happened to her. I'm going to be honest, in the half of the book I read, Colin treated her like garbage. I did not like him, and that made it even harder for me to want to root for them to be together. I have no issue with romance, but it has to be done well and be mostly believable. This romance was neither of those things. It made me cringe.

I really wanted to like The Last Huntress because the premise was intriguing, and I love a good Greek mythology retelling. But I had more things stopping me from reading than convincing me to continue, and I had to put it down.

[Lenore Borja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am the author, and I'm thrilled to share Alice's journey with you. This book is equal parts fantasy and adventure, with strong female characters and a timeless romance. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed bringing it to life. You can follow me on Instagram @lenoreborja_author, or sign up for my newsletter at www.lenoreborja.com. I love to connect with my readers, so please don't hesitate to reach out!

[Sophia Dyer • bookishly.vintage · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Thank you Booksparks for sending me a copy of this book, all opinions are my own

Phew, this one was a wild rollercoaster. There were a few times when I was really invested in the story and wanted to know what would happen next, but more often than not I found myself incredibly confused or not knowing what was happening.

I will start with the instant love. This is not a trope that I see often in books, and I know a lot of other reviews mentioned this too. It just did not work for me. I cannot imagine being head over heels in love with someone the minute they pop into existence, falling in love from the voice alone before actually seeing him. I wanted more from their relationship, Colin kind of treated her like garbage throughout and I just could not understand her attraction past the whole "soul mates" thing. I felt like the relationship as a whole was underdeveloped.

And speaking of underdeveloped.....I felt the same way with the three girls. The author states one of the girls had "exotic features" (twice! in the first 60 pages!!) and the main character feels a kinship to them almost as quickly as she fell in love with Colin. The girls don't seem to have any present parents (despite being in high school), none of them really have a backstory or their own defining characteristics, and I just don't really feel like they are sisters. I do like the found family trope, but everything in this book is so quick that I feel like development is lacking.

I will say, though, that I liked the adventures that Alice first had when she entered the Realm. That was one of the parts where I was really invested - finding out about how the Realm worked and all they could do with it. It was definitely giving me Alice in Wonderland meets Greek Gods vibes, and I could feel the girls all getting closer. I like the idea of traveling through mirrors and trying to rid the world of demons....it just felt like the execution was lacking.

This book does have some weird time skips, and there are a few instances where the chapter starts after the action ends. There is no build up, planning, or actual action happening in most chapters. It just starts post-action and sometimes what happened is explained later in the chapter. I would have loved to see more of the planning or at least the action as it happened, not the girls in the car afterwards talking about what happened. Then mid chapter it will state "over the last two weeks" or something like that and give an overview of what happened since the beginning of the chapter.

So, in a sense, it feels like all the potentially good parts of the book were left out. If that makes any sense? There are also many parts that just did not make sense to me and I would reread whole pages wondering if I missed something somewhere but like....it just isn't there. I spent so much of this book confused and wondering what I was missing. I know others have liked this book, but for me I was left wanting so much more.

Overall, the idea of this book was cool but I really struggled to stay invested. I honestly could have put this book down and not thought about it again. There are a few scenes that stick in my head because I actually liked them, but I probably could not relay most of what happened in this book because I spent so much time confused. I felt like the romance and characters are a bit under-developed, but there is always hope for more information in book two? Ultimately this book was a roller coaster, one I didn't hate but struggle to really enjoy.
Content warnings: misogyny, bullying, suicide, suicide attempt, self harm, death, murder, animal death, body shaming, assault, torture

[BooksBooksandmoreBooks69 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading the blurb I’m thinking it’s a retelling of Alice through the looking glass. But it’s not, there are a few similarities, but maybe that was just me.

Alice can control mirrors!
Fancy a change of scenery, walk through a mirror. But it’s not that simple as we find out in the book.
Alice has never trusted a mirror, her reflection can’t be trusted, it looks back at her distorted or even oddly sometimes!
But all that becomes apparent when she discovers her hidden power (or curse!) she can move into a different world/realm just by walking through a mirror, there is also the fact you can leap incredibly high, or even fly in this realm.
But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. There is a dark force that wants the mirror realm for its self, and it will do anything to achieve this.

I really enjoyed the story. Loved the interaction with her sisters, I enjoyed the banter and almost instant attraction between her and her guardian/protector.
It’s a little confusing at times, and we are just meant to accept all the things thrown at Alice, the lack of information in some instances (the bond between sisters needed a little more information)
I don’t want to give too much away as it is a good story, a few little hiccups won’t really take away from this book.

There are a few twists I didn’t see coming. There are also moments in the book I wanted to shout at the characters (and the author) and there are times in the story I just wanted to scoop Alice up and give her a big cuddle.
Is there a HEA (happy ever after) in this book I hear you ask? Well….. nope!! Not telling you, but I will say that I wasn’t expecting it to go down the way it did 🤫

The mirror realm is fascinating. It’s full of wonderful and sometimes scary characters. The demons are the characters your going to be booing,

It’s touted as a YA (young adult) read, and it’s said it’s aimed at them.
It’s a book filled with adventure/mystery and a splash of magic. And don’t forget the romance 😉
I’m hoping this isn’t the last we see of the mirror realm.
I’m definitely adding this author to my list.


🦋

[Katy Foraker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I really loved this debut from Lenore Borja! This book was Percy Jackson meets Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants with a sprinkling of Charlie's Angels in an edge-of-your-seat YA urban fantasy ride.

Alice Daniels moves to a new town and after weeks of seeing strange things in mirrors and having an encounter with a schoolmate who appears to hear her thoughts and another whose eyes turn black, she learns that she is a huntress. Tasked to fight demons in the Mirror Realm with three other huntresses.

This book gripped me from the start and there were so many twists and turns that I thought were going to go one way, but completely went another (and I'm pretty good at anticipating those kinds of things) as Alice finds love, friendship, and purpose. There is a strong theme of Greek methodology, but in this world, the gods and goddesses of other cultures are also referenced (like Roman and Egyptian) and interact with each other which I thought was a cool creative spin.

I'm personally not a big fan of soulmate love, but I REALLY liked the love story in this and thought it was executed brilliantly and realistically. I was rooting for them the whole time!

All in all, a very entertaining read and unique world building. There's a point in the story where nothing/nobody is what/who they appear to be, and that combined with Lenore's cinematic writing created such a suspenseful tone--I was completely sucked in and the pages turned themselves!

I also really loved the ending, it was a great balance of closure, while also leaving a few mysteries/questions to be answered later in the series. I'm so excited to see where this story goes in the second book!

[Sara Lavina · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know when you have a good plot, good lore, practically perfect ingredients for a huge hit but some of them just don’t mix well together and it all falls flat? While not everything made me want to pull at my hair, some things did. Which is truly unfortunate, because I quite liked the idea itself, even more than “oh, it’s giving me Alice in Wonderland vibes”, mixing various other interesting stories.
The first thing that bothered me wasn’t the characters or the plot, no, it was the constant time jumps. I do like them from time to time, but not so common, almost in every other chapter. It felt as if it was all a rush - and in a way, it was - but the time jumps actually didn’t add to the story, they rather made me even more annoyed.
Now let’s talk about the characters: again, some of them are flat, some are more developed, have a bit more depth behind their reasoning and actions, but that doesn’t mean they don’t feel… incomplete. And of course, Alice is, how can I say… your usual YA heroine? Yeahhhh, a bit annoying at times, I-know-better-than-any-of-you… that kind of girl. I wanted to like her, I really wanted to. I found the other girls having way more spirit and character even if they weren’t much discussed, which was a huge mistake since they are awesome. Then there’s Colin, and even there, something didn’t spark.
Why did I still give it three stars even if it feels like a book I could’ve easily DNFed? A huge part is the backstory and the lore, and even the twists, though not the feelings I felt while reading this novel. It just didn’t grip me correctly, losing me with all those boring time jumps, all the while catching me back into its net with the plot twists, only to lose me again with the heroine or the confusing way everything was handled in the Realm. It’s too bad, because, as I said, it had so freaking much potential.

[thespookybooknerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where do I even begin?! This book was seriously so addicting. I couldn't put it down or stop myself from flying through the pages!
It was a bit strange in the beginning (not a bad strange though) & I was sometimes confused about what was going on, but eventually things start falling into place.
There's Gods and Goddesses, demons and badass female demon hunters who have the ability to enter a magical realm through mirrors - so cool!
I don't hate the insta love trope, it isn't my favorite, but I don't dislike it. The insta love part did have me wanting to roll my eyes a little bit, the instant obsession was just a bit much. However, I absolutely loved and adored the two of them together!
One of my absolute favorite things about this book was the beautiful sisterhood that was formed between Alice and the three other huntresses. I LOVE the found family trope, and it was just so sweetly done. I also found the mirror realm to be super fascinating and I'm so into the idea of being able to step into a mirror and transport yourself to anywhere in the world you wish! How freaking awesome would that be!?
The book took a turn I had not seen coming...and the twists, oh my gosh the twists! I don't know if I was expecting any of them!
There was one scene that totally shattered me and I wish it didn't happen. If you read the book, you'll probably know what I'm referring to.
All in all, I completely enjoyed my devouring of this book. I'm super excited to see where the series goes and I'll definitely be continuing on when the time comes!

I would recommend this book to whoever thinks it'd be something they'd enjoy or be interested in reading!

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, the author likes cats and she sprinkled cats in the book and I literally only caught on til the end, even though I see the cat videos she shares daily on Instagram 😂.

Story contains: Greek mythology, soul mates, demons, different dimensions/realms, founds family, best female friends, spook, creepiness, slow burn, and more! Great for a spooky fall read too!

Flabbergasted. The Last Huntress by Lenore Borja was a ride. I requested it on NetGalley based off the cover and a quick skim of the synopsis. And I was NOT expecting what I got. I loved it. The constant plot twists and secrets Borja sprung on had me reading for dear life. Some elements of the book made me think of *shivers* skin walkers. Or as some like to call them…flesh pedestrians.

There is one scene from earlier on in the book that will stick to me forever. All I will say is child and a mirror. When you read you’ll know.

Lenore put so much thought and research into this story to make it possible and as amazing as it is. The story contains Greek mythology, and without spoiling anything that’s all I will say. But it is obvious she has a plethora of knowledge of mythology to be able to write such an amazing book.

The book follows Alice. Her reflection in the mirror is changing. It’s scary. She doesn’t understand why. Until she finally accepts what is happening and speaks to the other her. What follows has Alice questioning what she truly knows. With her new found family (best friends), Alice must play her role in a deal made with the Gods, even if it means losing those she loves most.

[Hallie Cropp · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, the concept here was very interesting - a Mirror Realm, Fighting Demons, Greek Mythology - all sound like my cup of tea and I was so excited to read this Arc, but it was executed so poorly that I ended up disliking this book a few chapters into it, which really saddened me because the characters and plot had so much potential to be an amazing book. Alice, Soxie, Olivia, and Hadley could have been a truly badass group of found-sisters if there had been more of them building that bond instead of them immediately just calling each other sisters. This book came across as a The Craft fanfic, in my opinion.
There was very little in the aspect of a timeline. The first chapter happens in August and then a few pages later we’re in February and then again we’re somehow in May with nothing to mark the time jumps. And all the “strangeness” that happens just comes out of nowhere and left me so confused.
Honestly, I spent most of this book seriously confused. Every chapter had more questions and barely any answers to the previous ones. It was one puzzle piece on top of another and none of them fit together; even when there was an explanation, it really didn’t explain anything and just ended up making me more confused. I can honestly say I don’t have a clue what happened in this book. It was literally a fever dream. I love YA books, but this one was VERY juvenile from the instant-instant love (and I mean literally she doesn’t even see the guy’s face at first and she’s in love with him) to the way Alice behaves most of this book. This was VERY hard to read.

[Gini Rifkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lenore Borja's passionate writing voice, and her style of short chapter and scene breaks makes for a fast paced story, yet with deep point-of-view characterization. Although the female protagonist is a young adult, I think readers of all ages will find Alice relatable, and you couldn't wish for a braver or more determined heroine.

In The Last Huntress, Alice finds more than her reflection in the looking glass, but I loved that the story evoked recollections of the surprise, wild creativity, and sometimes bewilderment faced by Alice of Lewis Carroll fame. Using Greek gods and goddesses as characters was incredibly imaginative, with thought provoking with philosophical twists as their world is revealed.

The Last Huntress, is an true adventure, with a romance that spans time and space. The world building is ethereal and of a mental nature that will take your breath away. Borja's command of descriptive prose captivated me from the beginning--many of her passages are so beautiful I had to read them twice.

With all the twists and turns, recapping the story is like trying to lasso the wind, but the age old and battle of good against evil is obviously there, and the hope for love and acceptance is definitely a desire to which we can all relate. Alice's soul-sisters, Soxie, Olivia, and Hadley, are so distinctive and personable yet each has their own approach to meeting the challenges thrust upon them. Discovering if they will succeed at what destiny demands of them will keep you turning pages, and will there be and HEA?

[Mariya T (msbookworld) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Huntress is the first book in the Mirror Realm Trilogy. Alice Daniels is a regular teen until the night she sees three girls exercising a demon into a mirror dimension. Alice finds her world turned upside down and she discovers that she has been charged by an ancient goddess to destroy demons once and for all. But Alice soon finds out that playing with gods is never simple or fair.

The Last Huntress was not at all what I expected, but for the most part it was a good surprise. First of all, as the first book in a series I didn’t expect it to have such a neat ending. That has me really curious re: where the author will go with the story next. I also didn’t count on the Greek myth aspect of the story, but Greek myth fan that I am, I loved every minute of it. It was definitely an original take on the Hades and Persephone myth with the Furies and other gods being nice additions to the overall story.

I did feel that there were a few gaps in the story in terms of world building and wish that there was a bit more character development for Alice’s fellow huntresses. I thought their friendship was too quick and without a firm foundation.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and am curious to see what is in store for all the characters. I would recommend this book to fans of urban fantasy, the fated mates trope and those who are feeling nostalgic for shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer

[M Samuell]

DNF 50%

I really wanted to like this book. It had a fascinating premise and all of the teen coven tropes, in the end it felt more like Charlie's Angels meets The Craft. Or Buffy.

A group of teen outcasts discover that the new girl in school is one of their own, but of course there are unnatural circumstances surrounding the new girl's initiation into a world of magic and boogeymen that she never knew existed. (This is all from the blurb, no spoilers, don't worry.) All while trying to navigate the complexities of high school.

First of all, insta-love is a no-go for me. Fated, prophetic, spicy- not my cup of tea.

That, and the protagonist Alice Daniels has all of the personality of Bella Swan. Disillusioned, unaffected, the works. I enjoyed the Alice in Wonderland inspiration, even though that did not appear to be the author's primary intent. Ultimately I attempted to plod through for the story, but found myself getting frustrated with run-on sentences and jumbled pronouns. There were several instances where I needed to reread in an attempt to figure out who was speaking or acting, despite the fact that a lot of the teenage banter felt unnecessary.

I will keep an eye on Lenore Borja for future works in a hope that she will continue to churn out unique fantasy stories. This one, however, was just not for me.

[Thank you to NetGalley and SparkPress for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.]

[Keith Savitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was privileged to receive an advanced reader's copy of The Last Huntress, and I found this to be a thrilling and original adventure romance supported throughout by the powerfully authentic friendship between Alice and her demon-hunting sisters.

At the core of the story, the heart-aching romance that Alice and Colin share is a welcome departure from the standard "aren't they both so beautiful" cliche and instead focuses on the ancient and mystical connection of their souls. Looks don't matter with true love, and beauty is in the souls of the beholders.

The story anchors to characters that you genuinely want to befriend and spend time with. The writing is fast-paced, smart, original, and with just the right amount of clever humor. The plot keeps the audience guessing and also trusts us as the audience to partner on the journey.

Borja challenges our imaginations with creative storytelling but leaves just enough room for us to cast our own version of the characters and locations. The rhythm and pacing are artfully crafted to excite our senses and keep us guessing. Not many books in this genre can get you smiling, laughing, and yearning for the level of love Alice and Colin share.

In sum, you will LOVE this book! Borja is a born storyteller...The Last Huntress is beyond words entertaining...an absolutely incredible read!

[Alejandra Martin ~ Lexi Likes to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story, deeply entwined with the mythological meddling of the Greek gods, felt like an immortal retelling of *Romeo and Juliet*. From the very beginning, the undercurrent of forbidden love and looming tragedy was palpable. Yet, amidst the tension, there were glimmers of hope, much like the classic tragic romances that make you root for a happy ending, even when heartbreak seems inevitable. That blend of raw emotion and the manipulation of the characters' fates by divine forces made it impossible not to become invested in their journey.

The supporting characters were equally compelling, each with their own struggles and desires, adding richness and depth to the narrative. The plot twists and intricate connections wove together a complex storyline, constantly keeping me on edge, hoping for a positive outcome. But whether that resolution comes in this book or future installments is something you’ll have to discover for yourself!

From the first page, I was hooked, and now I can’t wait to dive into the next installment to see what new adventures and heartache await.

[Alison Levy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alice Daniels, a not-so-typical teenage girl, learns that she has the power to enter mirrors and travel through the world that exists behind them all. With this power comes a sisterhood of huntresses, a tight-knit group of friends that Alice is delighted to join. However, the power also comes with the responsibility of fighting and banishing demons, a horrifying job that has been passed down from one huntress to the next since ancient times. In the course of performing her duties, Alice falls hard for the group's handsome protector but comes to find that he has a fate all his own that will keep them apart.

Though not obvious from the get-go, this magical book is actually a twist on a Greek myth. Being a lover of books based on myth, it was a sweet surprise to find gods and destiny at the heart of this story. Woven through with romance and action, the mythology dances into the modern era in a way that's a delight to read. Don't miss this book!

[Penny lurkykitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Last Huntress had a lot of elements that were really appealing: Greek mythology and group of badass young women fighting demons in a mirror realm, but the execution fell flat. It was really difficult and confusing to read, with inexplicable time jumps, the main character, teenage Alice, in a squicky instalove romance with an unlikeable guy who was a two-thousand-year-old father, and a group of teenagers who didn't have to go to high school, and who had completely non-existent or uninvolved parents.
Alice, Olivia, Hadley and Soxie could have been developed as a powerful group of demon hunters, a found-family female version of Supernatural in a cool mirror realm. There was not even any need for a romance.
The premise was intriguing and there were tense moments, some great twists and a lot of creativity in terms of world building, so this author is worth watching.
Thank you to BookSparks, Sparkpress and the Lenore Borja.
@BookSparks @LenoreBorja_Author #TheLastHuntress

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Last Huntress was an intriguing YA paranormal romance adventure about demons hunter, magic mirror realm and mixed Greek mythology lore. The story following Alice and her reflection who have ability to travel through mirrors into another realms.

The main character isn't perfect but loveable. She is brave, loyal, smart, witty and ticked category as morally grey type. The other female sidecharacters are amazing but sadly overshadowed the male MC and the romance. The plotline is enjoyable and keep me intrigued with all mysteries, creepiness and enough actions. The story have enough dark horror vibes but describes in beautiful way. The writing is great and the pace is moderate. I would love get my hand on another installment from the author.

Thank you Netgalley and SparkPress for provided my copy. I enjoyed my reading time but my thoughts and opinions always my own.

[Tinatuesday · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review so here goes… Lenore’s writing paints a vivid view into a modern story in Greek mythology. I love how the story flowed . Without giving away too much, there is a world behind our mirrors that is equally frightening and magical. 4 friends have been gifted the power to enter this realm to find and kill demons that use mirrors to infect humans. On the flip side of this realm, friendships are formed and love is found. This ending definitely left me wanting more. I can’t wait to see how the story continues to unfold in the next book!!!

[Jen Braaksma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immersive. Imaginatiative. Intriguing. The Last Huntress is layered in Greek mythology, adventure and romance in a way that will touch your soul. It's overflowing with shocking twists and turns in this gripping adventure, but it's also overflowing with love, friendship and so much heart. It's a tale of romance and friendship, and a soulful look at how far we'll go for the ones we love. Lenore takes us from the highest levels of divine power to the deepest depths of our own souls and shows us the courage and strength it takes to be who we're meant to be. Read it!!