I recently finished reading The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le, and I have to say, it was a rollercoaster of emotions. The world-building in this book is fantastic, with a unique medical magic system that kept me intrigued from start to finish. The character of Nhika is complex and intriguing, and I found myself rooting for her even as she made some morally questionable decisions. The plot is fast-paced and full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat.
However, as much as I enjoyed the world-building and the character development, I did find myself struggling to connect with some of the secondary characters. While Nhika is a well-rounded and captivating protagonist, some of the supporting cast felt a bit one-dimensional and underdeveloped. Additionally, the romance between Nhika and Ven Kochin felt a bit rushed and forced, which took away from the overall impact of the story for me.
Overall, I would give The Last Bloodcarver a solid 3.5/5 stars. While it had its flaws, I still found myself engrossed in the story and eager to see where Vanessa Le takes her characters in the next installment. Fans of YA fantasy with a dark and gritty twist will likely enjoy this debut novel, and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more from this promising new author.

I thoroughly enjoyed this unique, Vietnamese-inspired fantasy. I thought the concept of heartsoothing was super compelling and well done. I recommend The Last Bloodcarver if you want to read about a unique magic system, good worldbuilding, likeable characters, and the effects of colonialism.

This book was a very slow burn for me. There was a lot of waiting for very little pay out sadly. I lost interest multiple times. I felt like the characters started out extremely interesting, but I lost interest in them about 20% of the way through. The pacing really dies halfway throughout the book. The big romance is kind of blown over and doesn’t truly bloom till the last 25% of the book. I loved the idea of this book, but I just personally could not get into it as I hoped I could. I was able to finish the book, but even the ending didn’t redeem the book for me. Sadly, this book was just a personal miss for me. It doesn’t mean that others will not enjoy it. I just personally didn’t.
Thank you so much to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

4.5 stars

This book was BRILLIANT. The fact that this is a debut author stuns me, because the worldbuilding was immaculate, the fantasy system so unique and well developed. I loved the concept of bloodcarving/heartsoothing, it was so well described and different, and much darker to most YA fantasy worlds. And this book certainly leant into the dark aspects more than I expected, which I really, really appreciated – I will always eat up a dark fantasy, and this one was scrumptious.

“This is the core of heartsoothing. Not to harm. To heal.”

And the characters AHH the characters!! I adored our two protagonists with every fibre of my being, Nhika is my precious love and deserved the whole world. I thought she was so well-written and realistic, with a believable outlook on the world (given the crap she’d dealt with) and a hilarious personality. I ADORED that this first book was entirely from her perspective, and wouldn’t change it for anything. For once, I didn’t want dual-POV! Nhika did what was best for HER and that’s just so believable, not everyone is a martyr ready to devote themselves to saving the world and giving everything up for others!

“She hadn’t had a moment so beautiful, so colorful, since she’d first started soothing. Just when she’d thought she’d learned all there was to know about the body, another system introduced itself to her, filled in first with color and then with blood, tissue, lymph.”

I also loved reading about the differing opinions and outlooks on heartsoothing, and the way Nhika’s love for the art grew throughout the book… her growth was wondrous. I won’t say much about Kochin to avoid spoilers, but don’t give up on him! He was truly gorgeous.

“…this longing, the loneliness of two flytraps in a garden of orchids.”

Overall, this book was truly splendid. Loveable characters, MASTERFUL worldbuilding, fascinating, dark, bloody magic – this gave me everything I needed AND THEN added a gorgeous Vietnamese inspired setting just to make every twice as good. And may I just say that I adore the cover? Look at my love’s flat nose and tanned skin – we love some SEA rep. Stunning. Thank you so much to the author, publisher & Colored Pages Book Tours for the ARC copy provided!

4.5 stars!! Thank you to NetGalley, Roaring Book Press, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this advanced copy! You can pick up The Last Bloodcarver on March 19, 2024.

This book might have one of the most unique magic systems I've ever read. I loved the concept of heartsoothing (bloodcarving), and how it played such an integral role in shaping the plot and character arcs. Every time Nhika used her heartsoothing, it felt like I was in the moment with her, diving into the person's blood and bones. I appreciated Nhika's growth throughout the book, and her blossoming relationship with Kochin.

I do wish the action had been more consistent throughout the book. The pacing was a bit start and stop, so I'd find myself devouring sections of the book in one sitting and then setting it aside and not thinking about it during the lulls. While the character moments did make the emotional beats more poignant, it also slowed the book too much at times.

But the last 50 pages were absolutely killer. I couldn't stop reading, from the betrayals to the reveals to the action and consequences of the characters' actions. I can't believe I have to wait an entire year to read the sequel!

It’s been a minute since I’ve read YA fantasy, but Vanessa Le’s The Last Bloodcarver was a fun reintroduction to the genre! The book follows Nhika, a master of “heartsoothing” (a healing practice passed down from her ancestors), also known by the more derogatory name of bloodcarving. Most of the fantasy elements are built around this practice, which involves the protagonist entering the body of her patient via touch in order to heal their ailments. Nhika’s powers are either feared or taken advantage of, primarily due to racism and classism within her world. When Nhika is hired by a well renowned family to help heal a patient (and in doing so, solve a mystery), she finds herself navigating a new social world that is simultaneously intoxicating, inviting, and potentially dangerous.

What I enjoyed:
- The fantasy world that Le has built is unlike any that I’ve read before, and it was easy to get swept up in the fast-paced story.
- I appreciate that while this book is marketed for young adults, I also think the content could absolutely be appropriate for a middle grade library (pending teacher/parent judgment). I’ve already recommended the book to a few of my students whom I believe would appreciate the story and the medical/scientific aspects of the novel.
- The ending took me by surprise, and I actually really enjoyed the direction that Le chose to take the story.

What didn't quite work for me:
- The romance element was sweet, but it felt a little rushed. I wish it had been developed out a bit more.
- Le can get a little in the weeds with medical terminology; at times, it felt like she was showing off her own medical knowledge in a way that didn't seem to advance the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my advanced listener copy!

As I delved into this captivating and thrilling novel, it became abundantly clear that this debut work would resonate with enthusiasts of the steampunk genre, particularly those drawn to the fusion of Asian culture. While there are romantic elements, they do not overshadow the central mystery. The romance is understated yet undeniably tender, evoking a sense of empathy for the characters. Crucially, it does not detract from the main plot, a quality I greatly appreciated. When the romance does unfold, it enhances the depth of the main plot, emerging as a necessary and poignant development. Upon reading the novel, some may question the coherence of certain passages. However, the narrative's brilliance becomes evident as one progresses through it.

Special thanks to NetGalley and MacMillian Children’s Publishing Group for sending me this digital review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a wonderful debut! I liked the premise so I knew I had to read this. The first chapter really hooked me into the main character. I really liked that focused diaspora experience. I also liked that while it was fantasy, there was modern technology involved.

Wow. Color me impressed. I devoured this book. A technocracy? Medical fantasy? I don’t know how to define this world but this story had a lot of heart. Literally and metaphorically.

People with the insight of an MRI/CT Scanner, but actually able to heal with a touch?!?! I kept thinking they should be upheld by society, but just like real world pharmaceutical companies there is disdain for people who have the ability to heal at little to no cost. And how did this book make grief in different forms so central to the plot- but overall have such a hopeful tone. This is how Young Adult should be done!

Book Name: The Last Bloodcarver
Author: Vanessa Le

ARC
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press for an ARC of The Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le

Stars: 1 (DNF)

While the plot initially intrigued me, this book, unfortunately, failed to hold my attention. It just wasn’t that good. However, it's important to note that the fault does not lie with the author. Sometimes, personal preferences simply don't align. I wish this would have worked out it had everything to make a good story cool magic system and an interesting character but it just didn’t click.

Due to the Negative Nature of this review, I will not be posting it to Goodreads or retail sites with respect to the publisher and author.

This was such a fun and thrilling read about culture, community, and what we are willing to do to protect the ones that we love.

This story takes place in a world previous to our own and it feels almost steampunky, with machines and technology beginning to encompass every aspect of our lives and the main character, Nhika, is the last known bloodcarver, an individual who can alter your internal bodily functions with the mere touch of her hand. However, Nhika has to hide her talents because of the fears and unwarranted misinformation being spread about her kind and culture. Nhika is unfortunately found out and is taken to a black market type of warehouse where she is bought for an exorbitant amount of money by a young girl who tasks Nhika with healing the only survivor who may have witnessed her highly esteemed father. Nhika is thrown into a world very different from her own and is met with both resistance and fear of others finding out who she really is, and she must learn to harness her powers and connect with her culture in order to survive.

I really enjoyed this book and how the act of ‘soothing’ (bloodcarving, however its mentioned that her kind wishes to be known as heartsoothes) was described. It was very visceral and detailed, you can see and feel the energy flowing through the body and how it’s dispersed. The characters were a little one note, especially the family she works for, but I really enjoyed the journey Nhika took to reconnect with her culture and family history.

My one downside of this book was the romance element. It just felt unnecessary, especially if the author was trying to go for an ‘enemies-lovers’ route, it just felt rushed and very instant love. I personally wouldn’t want to shack up with someone who belittle me and my intelligence, but hey, to each their own! Also, I don’t feel like there was any rhyme or reason for Nhika to do some of the things she did, especially the ending. I guess love will really make you do bonkers things.

Thank you NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A girl with the ability the forbidden ability to heal, to control, and know the body and control it with a single touch finds herself in over her head when she begins working for a wealthy family to heal their relative... who is the only witness to the murder of their father... and not to mention the strangely antagonistic boy who hides behind a fox masks that knows her secret. Nhika is what some would call a bloodcarver, someone who can alter human biology with just a touch... but what she truly is is a heartsoother, she heals. Yet her healing is illegal and so many people fear people gifted with her abilities. Yet when her latest client outs her and she is kidnapped by the city's criminal underbelly... she is sold to a wealthy girl who asks her to heal her uncle who was in an accident with her father... her father whom she believes was murdered. Nhika is foisted into a world of wealthy society with a complicated family that needs her to solve their murder mystery. It doesn't help that she has to keep her abilities as much of a secret as possible and somebody knows who and what she truly is, and he just happens to be the assistant to the family friend's doctor... and he also happens to be the boy in the fox masked that had initially tried to help her. Nhika can't make out what Kochin wants and what his goals are... he keeps trying to push her out yet he knows more than he is letting on about who she truly is. Nhika will have to find a way to save herself and solve the mystery... but once the killer is revealed... she might be in danger too. Romance, magic, and a murder mystery! This was a really fun world to get immersed in and I really enjoyed the magic system that the author created. This is the first book in a duology and I am so so excited to see where the next book goes ( especially with how this one ends). I always enjoy a fun murder mystery and I love the little bit of romance and the unique magic system that was put there.This is definitely a fantastic read and I would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a murder mystery with unique magic and an overall really good time!

<spoiler> Nhika and Kochin first met when he was in a fox mask and had tried to get the criminals chasing her off her trail but she was captured. Nhika and Kochin meet again and he keeps trying to warn her away but he fails, it is revealed that the family friend and the person who Kochin works for, Dr. Santo was the real killer who forced Kochin to kill Mimi and Andoin's dad. Dr. Santo found out that Kochin was also a heartsoother (not as strong as Nhika) and threatened to kill his family if he didn't do what he wanted. Kochin saved Hedon (mimi's uncle who was the witness in the accident). Nhika and Kochin work together to try and reveal Dr. Santo as the killer. Dr. Santo wanted Kochin and Nhika's abilities to resurrect his son. He shots both Kochin and Nhika and planned on harvesting Kochin's heart but Nhika stopped him. Kochin is mortally wounded and Nhika uses her abilities to save him, transferring her gift in him (she dies). Before she does they both have confessed their love together. Before facing Dr. Santo they had planned to return to Kochin's family together and find peace and family together. Dr. Santo is sentenced to life and Mimi and her family get justice. While visiting Nhika's grave Kochin decides that he is going to do everything in his powers to find a way to bring back Nhika. </spoiler>

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

✨The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le✨

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Spice: 0/5

This is a solid start to a new young adult fantasy series! This book definitely feels different than the typical books out there. The magic system (blood carving) is really interesting and different. I do wish the world was built a little more but since it’s YA I won’t let that lessen my rating.

This book follows Nhika, who is one of the last remaining blood carvers in the world. She has no family and struggling to survive. Her magic allows her to heal, or hurt, people by touch. Nhika takes a job to heal someone and ultimately is captured as blood carving is forbidden. Nhika gets wrapped up with some very wealthy people and this is where her bigger adventure begins. Nhika has to face her destiny, powers, and prejudice of the world she lives in order to save others and herself.

One of the strongest parts of this books is the healing. The healing is explained in detail which was a breath of fresh air. Typically when stories have a healer the person just heals miraculously and it’s not explored. This book takes you through the healing process and it was super interesting.

Also this book is extremely readable and has very engaging writing and great pacing. The issues I had which took me away from the story was the romance and reasons why.

The romance felt insta-lovey. I didn’t understand how/when feelings started and it just wasn’t very believable. Also I feel like Nhika didn’t have a reason to do the things she was doing. If I was in her place I would’ve ran but i guess it could probably be explained by her empathy.

All in all this was a very enjoyable read and I recommend it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

***ARC review***

Freedom, peace....

Nhika is lost in a world that only wants to use her. As the last of her family, her culture, her people, all she is trying is find a way to survive.

The beauty of finding a safe space in a world that has only harmed you is like nothing else. Vanessa Le touches on the beauty of finding those who understand you through shared cultural lines and practices. As someone who is often a singular person of my race in my community, I really related to yhe healing you can feel when sharing the love of traditions passed down to you. The connect between Nhika and Kochin is so sweet and genuine. I enjoyed reading the development of their relationship as they find trust, love, and safety in one other. Although, I do wish the development of the relationship was slowed down a bit to really show how much they come together after being jaded for so long.

The Last Bloodcarver also shows what grief can drive someone to do. It can either drive us inward, destroying everything else, or outward in acts of love and empathy.
It was a great narrative on love, loss, grief, and hope.

Overall. I thought this was a very enjoyable read. I would reccomend it to anyone who loves fast paced books.

Healing magic wasn’t something new, but healing magic with a solid anatomy base that looks cool & smart without making the reader confused? That was something else. And this book nailed it.

Nhika was a heartsooth, who might be the last ever to exist. Not only did she have to make a living alone in the middle of the city, she had to conceal her ability because people like her were believed to be dangerous. They even have another name for it: bloodcarver.

Long story short her healing gig went wrong, she was chased, treated as an animal, and auctioned to the highest bidder. She was taken by a famous family who hoped that she could heal a comatose person. And the next thing, she tangled up in a murder mystery.

Just after reading a few pages, there’s already detailed anatomy stuff going on and I immediately thought, wow this author really knows what she wrote. And she did!! I love the anatomy details. It made the opening scene already gripping. Also I’ve never read Vietnamese-inspired fantasy before so it was insightful and fresh.

I admired Nhika’s bold personality who seems to refuse to bend over anything even though literally she’s in the lowest hierarchy possible everywhere. Tho the romance wasn’t really my fav, like it felt too shallow? But anyway. Overall it’s good and I’ll be seated for the sequel!

This absolutely gripped me from the first chapter all the way through the epilogue in a way that YA books often don’t. It was fast-pasted, filled with action and emotion, unique and heartbreaking. Absolutely loved it.

The Last Bloodcarver follows Nhika, the child of refugees who fled their native land after colonizers took it over and began slaughtering their bloodcarvers, experimenting on them. Nhika is, as far as she knows, the last bloodcarver—heartsoother, her people call it—and must hide her gift lest she be killed or forced to use her gift to kill. She gets drawn into a mystery, learning more about not only her own heartsoothing but also of the mechanisms of the city she’s been barely surviving in, all the while figuring out who to trust (and who can trust her). As she gets closer to the truth, she gets further away from what meager safety she’s known.

I would categorize this as upper YA. it’s not inappropriate and doesn’t have spice, but it also doesn’t hold the reader’s hand through major plot developments. The worldbuilding tells you only what you need to know, and the characters are complex with more than one motivation. Pacing is fairly consistent and the prose is easy to read and not overly clunky. The anatomical descriptions, in particular, were enjoyable and unique. A top new release for me so far this year.

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press and NetGalley for an electronic advanced readers copy of this novel.

Nhika has the ability to heal people with just her touch, one of the last of her kind. Haunted by her past when she didn't have enough heartsoothing ability to save her ailing mother, she hides who she is because her talent, called Bloodcarving by her society, is sought after by people who want to study the ability or use it for their own gains.

When Nhika is caught by the brutal Butchers, who a black marker sell everything for a price, she is bought by a wealthy family who wants her to use her ability to heal one of their workers, who is the only witness to their father's death. All Nhika wants to do is to earn enough money to support herself and start a new life, so she agrees. But she is soon caught up in a web of politics and deceit.

The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le, is an intriguing and well written tale. You really care about the main characters and hope that it will turn out well for them. I liked that she wove in the Signs of the Chinese Zodiac for the districts. It sounds like this is the first book of two - I can't wait to read what happens next!

I loved this book and am excited to but it for my high school library. The cover was really what grabbed me, so it will be prominently faced out when we get it! A great mystery, lush world-building, and a fascinating medical magic system sets this book apart from the rest, not to mention the Vietnamese inspiration and background.

Content Warning: death of animals, violence, death of parents, medical horror

I went into this book with no expectations and once I started reading, I could not stop. Nhika posses a gift to heal people, but with that same gift she could hurt and kill them as well. She is what is knowm as a bloodcarver and it’s generally a bad thing to be. But in her upbringing she was called a heartsooth, and someone who took pride in her abilities. Nhika finds herself alone now, and bought to help a family who is grieving the lost of their father who they think was murdered. They need Nhika’s help to confirm this though and she agrees, only to find herself in a dire situation.

I like Nhika even though she doesn’t seem like someone anyone can easily connect to. She’s not warm or kind, she’s had to survive on her own for years – she’s been alone. Nhika lost her whole family and she’s trying to stay alive in a heartless world who looks down upon bloodcarvers. I like that she isn’t polished and I especially love that her heart always wants to do the right thing, even when people don’t seem to deserve her help. I connected with her through her love of the family she has lost. I love her memories about her mother and her grandmother teaching her the craft of heartsoothing. It reminded me of my own grandmother and so my heart ached for Nhika even if she didn’t have time to dwell on her feelings about grief.

There is also a found family trope in this story although at times I felt not so happy about it because Nhika was on the outside looking in and at one point they didn’t trust her.

The world building is interesting because it mentions Theumas being a technocracy and yet they used rotary phones. I did read that this was Vienamese-inspired and the politics going on in the story shows that. The magic system is great because it blended science and magic! I love all the medical stuff and anatomy and everything about the healing craft that Nhika learned through her grandmother. Also this story is part murder mystery but I felt like it never really slowed down, which I appreciate it, since mysteries always move too slow for me. The story moves quickly and I liked the actions scenes we do get, even if the last one is a bit gory!

There is even an enemies to lovers romance happening with Nhika and Ven, a doctor’s assistant. For the most part of the book Nhika is trying to figure him out and what his motives are. But when more information in reveal it’s a big twist in the story and makes them see one another with different eyes. I didn’t mind the romance, for me I think it works – may seem to fast for some people but I totally get how Nhika was so lonely and finally she finds someone who she doesn’t have to hide from. I love them together and it made me tear up at the end because everything happening was unexpected and I just wanted the best for Nhika who really deserved some happiness in her life after everything has been taken away from her.

I didn’t even realize it’s a duology but I can’t wait to see what happens in book two!

My Thoughts:

There was so much to love about this book – the world-building, magic system with magic/science/healing, the romance, the murder mystery and a good plot twist. The ending was unexpected, especially with how intense it was and it left me heartbroken. I can’t wait for book two!

I really liked the premise of this book, and the magic system was so fascinating to me. Where the story lost me was in some of the characters. I felt that the romance was under baked, and I just wasn't convinced by their interactions that this relationship made sense--it felt very forced at times. I think that had the characters been a bit more fleshed out, I would have enjoyed this story a lot more. As it stands, I enjoyed this and I would like to read more in this world, but I found myself searching for depth that this story just lacked.