Thank you to Roaring Brook for the digital ARC!

THE LAST BLOODCARVER is set in a sci-fantasy, genre-blending powerhouse of a story. I whipped through this one and appreciated the fast pace. Even though the steampunk elements didn't quite hit for me (in general I'm just not a steampunk fan), the overall setting and feel of the story were good, and industrial fantasy is an under-tapped premise. I loved the folklore blended into this as well, and the mystery at the core--assassins and court intrigue and uncovering the truth behind a murder--was so fun to unravel from behind the MC's eyes.

Nhika is a young healer (heartsoothe/bloodcarver) with a war-torn past. She's seen as a bloodthirsty outcast due to her Yarongese heritage. Along comes Mimi, who purchases her, to heal a man who witnessed her father's death, but this healing isn't easy because Nhika's healing knowledge isn't complete.

I enjoyed the mix of science fiction and folklore of this story. Once I got to about 80%, I couldn't put it down and needed to know how it was going to end.

With a cover like The Last Bloodcarver, my interest was already piqued. After I read what it was supposed to be about, I knew I needed to read it. This debut absolutely knocked my socks off. So creative, well-written, and kept me sucked in until the last page. I loved it and will absolutely be recommending it when it comes out!

Bloodcarver is a fun, fast-paced read that submerges readers into a steampunk world. Automatons and human servants works side by side. Science fiction overlaps with folklore, giving this work an old world feel and yet a hint of sci-fi progress.
Nhika is a the daughter to a family that survived war and genocide. She is gifted with the ability to heal others, but Yarongese are maligned as blood thirsty and evil. Because of this false reputation, she and others gifted with heartsoothing are hunted, then sold to the highest bidder.
She is purchased for the purpose of healing a man who witnessed a death, but this particular man presents a challenge she's never met before. Healing him takes time and knowledge she does not have.
In comes Ven Kochin, the foil to her pursuit of knowledge. Until he is no longer her opponent but something closer to a possible romance. Together look for answers to the sick man's mysterious illness as well as to the death he witnessed.

"The Last Bloodcarver" by Vanessa Le offers a compelling and refreshing fantasy experience set in the harsh city of Theumas. The story follows Nhika, a bloodcarver with a unique gift, who is perceived as a monster in a society where her abilities are outlawed. When she's captured and auctioned off to an aristocratic family, Nhika becomes entangled in a complex web of intrigue, mystery, and a forbidden romance. The worldbuilding is exceptional, with a captivating blend of magic and science that sets it apart. While the characters and their development may have some inconsistencies, the exploration of diaspora experiences is a standout feature, offering a rare and authentic perspective in a second world fantasy setting. "The Last Bloodcarver" is a promising debut that hints at Vanessa Le's potential to excel in the genre, offering a glimpse of home for those who understand the diaspora experience.

#netgalley
#thelastbloodcarver

Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. Sadly, I DNF'ed at 20% of the way through.

I don't know, I think the writing just wasn't hooking me. The story was interesting but the writing was just so much purple prose. It also felt...weirdly edgy. Maybe I'll try reading this later but for now, I couldn't get into it at all.

Overall I really enjoyed this and think it's a strong debut! The worldbuilding, especially the magic system, is so fresh. I absolutely loved the use of medical terminology to describe heartsooth magic, I just never get tired of that blend of magic and science. The trajectory of the plot was also really engaging, clear, with just enough mystery to keep you guessing.

My one gripe was that the characters felt a little flimsy, especially toward the last third of the book, when Nhika's personality and goals sort of take a backseat after she and Kochin find each other. I get that he's what she's been looking for all this time, but the build-up just wasn't there for me. However, I tend to be overly picky about romance. I also thought Mimi, Andao, and Trin would get more fleshed out or be more involved, but they just didn't carry that much weight in the story, which gave parts of the book a paint-by-numbers feel. But again, overall this was definitely a win for me!

The aggressiveness with which I was stalking this book’s GoodReads page before I got this ARC cannot be undersold. The Last Bloodcarver is Vanessa Le’s debut novel, set in a world of Vietnam-inspired fantasy that’s been drenched in a steampunk kind of grit. Nhika is our leading lady and believes herself to be the last Heartsoothe left after the country of her ancestors was conquered and their descendants hunted down for experiments. 

(I’ll be saying Hearthsoothe since Bloodcarver is thrown around like a slur, and my name may as well be Valentina. ALLY!)

After being caught and sold on the black market, Nhika is dragged into an aristocratic family’s sphere when she’s tasked with healing the only witness to their patriarch’s suspicious death. She’s left not only to deal with the most challenging medical case she’s yet to face, but also a social circle that likely contains the murderer so it’s a good thing she can soothe her own ulcer.

He regarded her as she'd regarded the ocean: with equal parts awe and fascination. Like she was both the tempest that sank junks and the gentle lap of water at the side of his houseboat.

I think Vanessa Le is going to be an absolute powerhouse, that said I will say that there were parts of this book that I’d still categorize as potential. I found the magic system to be interesting and the narrative descriptions of the magic in action to be vivid in a way that made me think of prose, albeit for bio majors. While a lot of the banter was enjoyable, some of the character development decisions didn’t totally make sense to me. I felt like the characters’ attitudes toward each other changed a few times throughout, but I didn’t really see the foundations for those shifts throughout. This can be said for the dynamics between both Nhika and the Cogmi family and Nhika and her love interest. 

"You two are involved? I wasn't aware he was capable of emotion." A soft look came over Andao's eyes. "It's not about what he says, but what he does." "Isn't that what you hire him for? To do things?" That elicited a laugh from him. "He's hired only to keep me alive. Yet, I wouldn't want to live without him."

The romantic subplot in particular took me out of the story. The relationship was so deep in the enemies category for so much of the book that despite the synopsis I completely forgot that a love interest was promised in the synopsis. It shifted then to something that felt a little too close to instalove for my comfort. I just wish the main couple had gotten a little more time to develop because the secondary couple, Trin and Andao (my two sons), were so sweet I wanted nothing but them. I’d be willing to kill off other characters in exchange for a look into these two just puttering about their lives. 

The Last Bloodcarver was imperfect but still a fun read. It feels safe to assume that Vanessa Le is going to be absolutely killin’ it in the near future!

This was INCREDIBLE. Just the right amount of gore, plus a delightful enemies-to-lovers romance, plus a Viet-inspired setting! I don't know what I'm going to do until book two arrives, especially since book one won't be officially out for another four months!

What is it like when an integral piece of who you are becomes outlawed? With knowledge passed down from her grandmother and her grandmother before that, Nhika is the only one left to carry on the knowledge of her people. In secret, she is forced to practice her bloodcarving abilities, using it to heal people for just enough money to survive. But when a sham medical appointment gets her caught by underground thugs and then bought by an aristocratic family, Nhika is given the chance to learn the knowledge that was stolen from her and her people.

One thing that fantasy as a genre is lacking much of is explicitly diaspora main characters. It’s so strange to me how many people I know who yearn for a place that is no longer theirs and yet I see it so rarely in fantasy. But I feel a special kind of kinship to Nhika for the things that she has been cut off from. The way that she is desperate to learn more about herself and her heritage is a specific kind of solemnity that I know very dearly, and her apprehension to trust anyone in a world that always sees her as *the other* makes me homesick for a place that doesn't even exist.

I’m especially fond of how this book highlights two entirely different diaspora experiences in one story. Nhika and Kochin come from the same place but have vastly different experiences and understandings of themselves and their relationship to home, and I think it’s beautiful how Le is able to emphasize how each of them came to their own conclusions. With so few explicitly diaspora stories in second world fantasy stories, it’s refreshing to be so blatantly clear that the diaspora experience is not a linear one and everyone has a different experience. The diaspora experience is not a monolith.

On a smaller note, I really appreciated the emphasis on how propagandized language is used. It parallels the way that states use specific language to encourage the masses to draw conclusions on different peoples. It’s a subtle violence that can radicalize people without them even realizing it and I love the call out here. Nhika is known as a bloodcarver, a name that instills fear because of what she can do to the inside of people’s bodies. But her people, who can no longer speak for themselves, called people like her a heartsoothe, because their purpose is to heal. The difference between the two is so stark, and such a strong example of how language can change the opinions of the masses.

I thoroughly appreciate all the ways that diaspora experience shows up in this story, especially for a second world fantasy. It’s honest and sincere in the details that remind you that the author understands. It’s in the details, in the comments, in the insecurities, in the yearning. This story is told through a lens of diaspora, and in the same way that Nhika finds home in her magic and knowledge, to me, The Last Bloodcarver feels like a glimpse of home.

This book was so fun to read. The plot was exciting and fast paced. The characters were well written people you wanted to root for (or hate). My students will eat this book up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this material!!!! The book is a mix of steampunk, fantasy, and mystery. There is a lot to love in this. The characters are loveable and the ways automatons and fantasy blend together feel very separate, but they live in the same building. A very fun book with the air of mystery.

"The Last Bloodcarver" by Vanessa Le is a mesmerizing tale of sacrifice, legacy, and the enduring power of determination. Le's masterful storytelling weaves a captivating narrative that seamlessly melds fantasy and reality. The characters are vibrant and multifaceted, their struggles and triumphs leaping off the pages, making it impossible for readers not to be profoundly affected by their journeys. Le's evocative prose paints a vivid picture of a world on the brink of change, and the last bloodcarver's quest becomes a symbolic representation of the eternal battle between light and darkness. The novel's exploration of identity, destiny, and the importance of preserving heritage adds layers of depth, making it a compelling read for anyone in search of a gripping and thought-provoking fantasy epic. "The Last Bloodcarver" is a testament to Le's literary prowess, leaving readers eagerly awaiting more from this talented storyteller.

This was an interesting book. The name is slightly deceptive on a few levels but I appreciate that. This was def a set up story and there is so much to be explored, particularly around the lore in the book. The book lags a bit in the middle but picks up again until the high stakes ending. As a debut it's got so much potential and it truly is different than most books in this genre, with a unique premise.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

The premise is lit. The book is extremely easy to read, and the writing style is extremely comfortable. The science brought in is fascinating. This is going to go over well with the target audience. I stopped after chapter 1 (5%) but it does have some crossover potential. Easy three stars, and high chance for four to five from the target audience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the ARC

I was excited to see a Vietnamese-inspired YA fantasy and enjoyed reading this book. I liked the characters and the worldbuilding, although I found the pacing a little slow. I would recommend it to readers who love fantasy, especially fantasy combined with other genres-- in this case, historical fiction and mystery.

i got access to this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I loved this book! The mystery involved with the amazing world building and magic system was so unique and i really enjoyed the characters.
Rhika is a “blood carver”, or someone who can connect to another person’s anatomy by touching their skin. when she is accidentally is caught and sold to a rich family, she plans on how to make the best of her situation. then she starts meeting people and caring more for them than she thought she would. I loved the plot, the characters? and the setting was pretty interesting! I can’t wait for this book to come out so I can get a copy!

Bloodcarvers have the ability to link themselves to others' physical form and alter it. They can close wounds to save a life, or constrict blood vessels all along the body until they explode, all with a touch. This ability has been accessible only to a select number of Yarongese, who instead given this power the name “heartsoothing.” But their homeland Yarong has been ravaged by colonizers from Daltanny. The Yarongese have been decimated, and the knowledge of bloodcarving has nearly been lost. Now those that remain are hunted by the Butcher’s Row, who seek to use fabled abilities of the Bloodcarvers to sate their morbid curiosities.
Nhika is possibly the last of her kind, but she is more concerned with getting food on the table. Scraping by in the neutral city of Theumas, she is working as a quack-doctor selling snake-oils and likewise. Yet despite wanting to lay low, she feels obligated to utilize her heartsoothing and to not forget what her mothers had taught her. However she is thrown into a situation far larger than she could have ever imagined, as the dark underbelly of Theumas is revealed to her.

I absolutely adore this novel: it’s a historical fantasy sci-fi with mystery, drama, and a touch of romance. I’m a huge fan of worldbuilding, and this novel allows you to truly enter the world, picturing its many facets and moving parts. It explores the repercussions of colonization and the destruction of a people and their way of life. I’m fascinated by how intricately detailed bloodcarving is described within the novel, as it draws from the author’s personal experience in the medical field. The story moves at a grounded pace, not too fast nor too slow, with the main mystery entering the story as simply another question for our main character, but soon turning into the driving force of the plot. There are some cliches here and there, and some aspects may seem a tad clunky, but it quickly smooths itself out, resulting in an enrapturing read.

I rate it 4.2⭐️

Nihka is a bloodcarver, she has the ability to heal a person from within, with the knowledge passed down to her by her grandmother and her ancestors. The author had a poetic way of describing just how her magic worked and the vivid descriptions of her ability were extremely helpful in understanding it.

Nihka was captured by some black market traders and she was sold to Mimi, the daughter of the most famous inventor, who just recently died. Mimi, her brother Andao, and their bodyguard Trin believe that he was murdered and they enlist the help of Nihka to heal the only person that witnessed his death. I really enjoyed all the characters and I found myself rooting for them. I was on the edge of my seat with every twist that I saw coming right as it unfolded. (I’m usually good with guessing plots but with this book I was not able to guess it!)

The only reason this wasn’t higher is that I felt like the map and country was confusing. I saw that there were different cities but then new names for what I’m guessing are districts were used and I just got confused. This might have been my fault but a simple explanation would have made this easier to understand since the names weren’t listed on the map🤷🏻‍♀️.

But overall I would genuinely recommend this to anyone looking for a thrilling ya fantasy. But I am so mad I have to wait a year for this to be published and then (maybe?) another year for the sequel 😭😭🥹