Can Love Defy Fate? A Dive into One Last Wish!
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What if you only had one last wish? Would you spend it on love, redemption, or something entirely unexpected? BL Wilde’s One Last Wish isn’t just another romance. It’s the book that burrows into your soul, grips your heart with both hands and refuses to let go. A story of love, loss, and all the peculiar things that make life worth living, this novel introduces us to a guy called Darce. Attractive, complicated, and carries more baggage than an overbooked February flight. If you’re looking for a book that will break you in the best way (and have you stalking Wilde’s Goodreads page for more), keep reading because this isn’t just a review. It’s your next obsession.
Title: One Last Wish (The Elder World series, 1)
Author: B.L. Wilde
Publisher: Independent Publishing
Genre: Fantasy, Fantasy Romance
Release: February 07, 2025
Pages: 292
Star Rating: 4.5 stars
Spice Rating: 2 chili peppers
Some stories are whispers in the dark, soft and fleeting. But One Last Wish? It grips your soul with ghostly fingers, carves its character’s names upon the walls of your heart, and lingers long after the final page, an echo you can’t entirely be rid of.
It has been nearly two weeks since I turned the last page of One Last Wish. Yet, Alora, Dacre, and that cliffhanger of an ending still lingers in the shadows of my mind, slipping in and out of random thoughts like a half-remembered dream.
Oftentimes, people refer to Fate as a fickle thing, something they can’t quite make sense of or even control. But in One Last Wish, it isn’t just an invisible force. It’s a living, breathing entity, twisting lives with unseen hands.
“I’d use my last wish for you to feel what I feel.”
In a world where Alora has worked hard to remain invisible, something—or someone—is watching her. Shadows stretch where they shouldn’t, peculiar things happen without explanation, and reality itself seems to shift beneath her feet. But the most considerable disruption of all? A guy called Darce.
He’s attractive, infuriating, and now her new coworker at Bookends—the last place she expected fate to intervene. There’s a strange familiarity between them, a connection that defies logic. He won’t let her get too close, won’t let her touch him, as if he’s holding back a secret that could change everything.
But when magic, destiny, and the weight of a last wish come into play, Alora is forced to ask herself: What’s more terrifying—losing her mind or losing her heart?
As the first installment in the Elder World series, One Last Wish keeps its world-building close to home, at least at first. Set against the backdrop of a bustling modern-day New York, the story unfolds within the walls of Bookends. A charming local bookstore recently bought out by a corporation. With the scene set, the story feels grounded and familiar, like it is a place you can easily visit without a second thought. But within the walls, there is an undercurrent of something… off—the air hums with whispering tension as if the city itself is holding a breath. While the grander, more fantastical elements of Elder World remain shrouded in mystery (for now), there’s a sense of something resplendent waiting just beyond. Something ready to grab hold and pull Alora (and the reader) into the unknown.
“You desire me that much?” “Yes! You’re all I can think about. When I’m awake, all I want is to be around you, and my dreams…are only of you.”
While we’re on the subject of Alora… let’s be real—that girl can be a bit of a bitch. At first, she’s all one note—‘rah-rah, no friends, rah-rah, people are the worst and don’t even think about getting close to me’—you know, the usual. And sure, I get it—her backstory gives it all context. But even so, it’s hard not to feel a little frustrated by her attitude. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but it’s part of the journey. You can’t help but wonder when she’ll finally drop the walls and show a little more… vulnerability. And eventually, she does. Her character development is among some of the best. By the end of the book, you aren’t just rooting for her; you’re feeling with her every moment of her messy, complex journey toward understanding and what’s yet to come.
One Last Wish is a story that starts off slow, easing you in with smooth, luxurious prose and a writing style that hooks you without you even realizing it. Wilde’s writing feels like poetry laced with prophecy. Every word is deliberate, every sentence soaked in longing and fantastical elements. The world isn’t just vivid; it’s a beat pulsing beneath the surface. Beyond frustration with Alora, it is a story you can’t help but keep turning pages. The immersive world that Wilde crafts pulls you in. It’s subtle at first. Slowly building each chapter (romance and spice included), unveiling layers of mystery and tension. Your mind bubbles with questions as each piece extends. But as the plot thickens and the pieces begin to fall into place, you realize just how captivating it’s become. What starts as a gentle build eventually becomes something you can’t tear yourself away from.
“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the taste of you on my tongue.”
And as things begin to unravel, the pace picks up. The tension, the stakes, and the peculiar things that were once just whispered in the shadows become undeniable truths, dragging Alora and the reader deeper into the heart of the mystery. It’s definitely a slow burn, but oh, is it worth it!
Now, let’s talk about the story’s heart—the forbidden romance between Alora and Dacre. From the moment they officially meet (there’s some lurking going on), there’s an undeniable chemistry. A magnetic pull that neither can resist, no matter how hard they try (and boy do they try). The tension is thick, charged with a delicious mix of attraction and restraint, and every interaction leaves you craving for more.
This isn’t just a romance. Their love is forbidden (for reasons I can’t explain, of course), and that’s where the real magic lies. As they both fight against their feelings, the stakes grow, and every stolen moment and lingering glance feels like an act of rebellion against fate itself.
But it isn’t only about the emotional tug of war; there is spice woven in, too. Wilde doesn’t shy away from creating moments of heat. Moments that make your heart ramp up a notch and leave you breathless and wanting more. The way their relationship unfolds is slow, simmering, and filled with tension, but when it finally erupts, it’s everything you were waiting for. It’s the kind of romance that stays with you (I still think about it).
“Please do not compare me to your books, Alora! I’m the original shadow daddy! And please, never use that term again!”
While the romance and world-building were captivating, I’ll admit I was hoping for more from the book’s namesake—One Last Wish. Wishes are mentioned here and there, but I found myself wanting more context and depth around what they genuinely mean within this world. There’s a lingering sense of mystery, but it left me feeling like the concept of ‘wishes’ wasn’t fully explored, especially given how central they seem to the plot. It felt like an idea that was introduced but never fully unpacked, leaving me wanting just a bit more clarity to connect the dots and understand the true significance behind it all.
Ultimately, One Last Wish isn’t just a story about magic, destiny, or forbidden love—it’s about finding yourself when everything you thought you knew is turned upside down. Wilde crafts a world full of mystery and heartache with characters who are impossible to forget.
If you’re looking for a book that slowly pulls you in, leaves you questioning everything, and takes you on a ride you won’t see coming, then this is it. The Elder World series is one to watch—One Last Wish is just the beginning, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for Dacre and Alora.
If you love:
- Slow-burn romance with tension you can feel
- Bookstore settings (yes, please)
- Magic and mystery lurking beneath the surface
- Forbidden love that keeps you on edge
…then, One Last Wish needs to be on your TBR.
When you pick up One Last Wish, please consider shopping in an indie bookstore. Don’t forget to come back and let me know what you think!
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