Rachel Howzell Hall has a fascination for women stepping into spaces where they're seen as outsiders, disrupting the dynamics of those spaces. That was one of the reasons how she came up with "The Last One."
What was your inspiration behind your most recent book?
The inspiration for “The Last One” began the same way all my books do — with my fascination for women stepping into spaces where they’re seen as outsiders, places where they’re considered not to belong. When they enter, they inevitably disrupt the dynamics of those spaces, often being perceived as intrusive or even dangerous. I’ve often said my characters remind me of Tippi Hedren’s role in “The Birds,” where she arrives in a picturesque town and suddenly, strange and unsettling things start happening.
Similarly, that’s how my mysteries typically begin, and I wanted my romantasy to do that, too. In this story, my heroine wakes up in an unfamiliar place, and the moment she steps into her new world, she’s labeled a criminal, someone dangerous and unwelcome. This idea of disrupting the existing world plays a big role in my storytelling.
What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?
Reading Rainbow means embracing whatever you love to read without shame or apology. Whether it’s romance, mysteries, literary fiction, or anything else — that’s your business. Especially in times like these, it’s dangerous to dictate what people should or shouldn’t read, or to label certain genres as “worthy” while dismissing others. Every story has value, and your reading choices are yours to celebrate.
Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books?
Books are one of the few places where we can escape and learn something new with relatively little effort. Books should reflect a world where readers can see how things are, acknowledge what’s broken, and imagine how they can get better. In my opinion, all types of people are part of that story — the awful, the great, and the hopeful. If you don’t agree, then you’re probably not paying close enough attention to the world around you.
Stories become boring when they only represent one type of person. I believe we should approach books the way developers design food courts in malls. As much as I love Auntie Anne's Pretzels, it would be awful if every restaurant only served pretzels. Life is more interesting when you can choose — whether it’s salted or cinnamon pretzels, orange chicken, pizza, or fresh-squeezed lemonade. Books should be like food courts: diverse, flavorful, and full of options to satisfy everyone.
Tell us a little more about the book and why you decided to write it.
I decided to write “The Last One” because the opportunity presented itself. I hadn’t considered writing a romantasy before, nor did I know I’d be interested in it — it simply wasn’t on my radar. But when Liz Pelletier, the publisher of Entangled Publishing and Red Tower, approached me with the idea, I said, “Yes!” Together, we crafted the story of a woman in a world that doesn’t want her there, yet she finds herself responsible for its fate.
So a little bit more: my heroine wakes up outside a town, and she doesn't know who she is, where she is, how she got there, and what she's supposed to do. She is met with resistance by people in the town, who either try to jail her or kill her. She eventually learns that she must reach Mount Devour, but she doesn't know why. So this is a story about her journey across the realm of Vallendor. Dangerous otherworldly creatures and dangerous folks, both mortal and immortal, abound.
What can fans expect from your book?
As a crime-mystery writer, fans can expect fast-paced scenes, red herrings, reveals, and plenty of secrets — lots of secrets! They can also anticipate thoughtful explorations of identity, religion, politics, and culture, delving into the ways others try to define us and the personal journey required to discover who we truly are.
What's up next for you in the bookish world?
“The Last One” releases on Dec. 3, and then in May 2025, I’m launching a new procedural mystery series. The first book, “Fog and Fury,” follows a disgraced LAPD homicide detective who joins her godfather’s private investigation agency. Her first case? Finding a lost Goldendoodle. But if you know my stories, you already know it’s going to spiral into something absolutely wild.
The next in the romantasy series is set to be published in August. You may find me at www.rachelhowzell.com or on Instagram at @rhowzellhall.
