The characters were interesting and the story was engaging. I will look for other books by this author.

Have you ever struggled with a review because you loved the book so much? Because in my opinion, if I could incoherently screech or keyboard smash to show everything I am feeling, I would. Even at twenty-nine years old, I still love to read Sci-fi and fantasy YA books. The author did a wonderful job creating a unique blend of technology and magic interwoven together to keep you interested and on your toes. Vanessa Le did such an incredible job creating a fleshed out and brutal world. It feels real, she reels you into her world, and once you're there you don't want to leave.

An important part of the book is the feeling out of place. What caught me is Nhika's character feels like the world she lives in is no longer her own. I think with everything going on in the world, it's important for the audience to be able to connect to a fully fleshed out character. Especially where many people feel vulnerable, attacked and isolated in their emotions. It's nice to be able to have a character to relate too. She's not a perfect character, and that is what makes her relatable.

I cannot speak on the culture in depth. I don't know enough about Vietnamese culture or folklore, but I can tell you I enjoyed reading about the struggle of a main character struggling with the loss of knowledge and cultural disconnect because that is a very real, and very common experience people are facing. I work with young adults, and many of the kids I work with struggle with this and feel alone, I am glad that there is another great book in the fantasy world that they can relate too. Especially one in which that doesn't hide from the horror's of this world. This book is focused on the struggle of learning to live with the disadvantage you face in a new area when it comes to keeping up with the traditions of your family, and struggling with the lack of access to the knowledge of your culture. I think that's something everyone should read about it.

Am I saying this book is perfect? No, it's not. But is it a fantastic debut? Absolutely. This book gave me insight on a culture, that is not my own. And I recommended it to high schoolers I work with and they loved it. It gave me a bridge to help me communicate with them and I think reading fantasy is a highly under-utilized tool to help people connect with important issues.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this one.

I was excited to read a fantasy inspired by Vietnamese culture. I also loved the idea of a medicine / science based world mixed with magic. I always love the mix of almost sci fi and fantasy. It feels very Final Fantasy VII in a good way.

As usual, I found myself listening to the audiobook and reading from the ebook at different times while enjoying the story. The audiobook narration was very engaging and was definitely my preferred option over reading. I found myself getting distracted between chapters often but the audiobook kept me in the story more.

I felt like the pacing of some elements was odd, especially the romance. It felt rushed and then the ending was a bit out of nowhere. When I read this, I didn’t know it was a duology. Even still, I felt like the ending of this book changed a lot of my expectations for the sequel.

Had this not been a debut, I would probably have rounded my rating down but since it was, I feel like four stars is appropriate. Enjoyable enough but not super memorable. I’d read the sequel.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Last Bloodcarver is just WOW!!!🤌🏻
It a gripping fantasy novel that delves into the complexities of power, sacrifice, and redemption. Set in a world where blood magic reigns supreme, the story follows the journey of Nhika, the last of the bloodcarvers, as he navigates a treacherous landscape filled with political intrigue and dark secrets.

The masterful storytelling weaves together elements of magic and mystery, which kept me the edge of the seats until the very end. The character development is particularly noteworthy, as Nhika grapples with his past while striving to forge a better future for herself and those she cares about.

The world-building is rich and immersive, transporting readers to a vividly imagined realm where danger lurks around every corner. From sprawling cities to ancient ruins, each setting is intricately described, adding depth and authenticity to the narrative.

Overall, "Last Bloodcarver" is a captivating read that will appeal to fans of epic fantasy and intricate plotlines. And may I just say that I just love the cover? Lee's evocative prose and compelling characters make this novel a standout addition to the genre, leaving readers eagerly anticipating her next literary endeavor.

Narrator VyVy Nguyen captures Le's writing by delivering exceptional tension and introspection through superb pacing and tone. Nguyen shifts easily between characters to avoid confusion for the listener. Nguyen's narration made it easy to connect with Nhika's loneliness and sense of isolation—it felt real and relatable.

Vanessa Le’s The Last Bloodcarver is a debut that sweeps readers into a world brimming with secrets, power, and slow-burning romance.

Fans of Ann Liang’s A Song to Drown Rivers will be drawn to the themes of grief and resilience, as well as identity shaped by trauma and myth. Also, readers who enjoyed Skin of the Sea will love the way Le weaves cultural elements and magical realism into an epic tale of resistance and self-discovery. I didn't love the ending, so it was a 3 star read for me.

Special thanks to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Vanessa Le’s The Last Bloodcarver is a dazzling, unflinching debut that slices straight through the heart with its high-stakes intrigue, morally gray characters, and lushly immersive world. Set in a Vietnam-inspired industrial city where fear and prejudice fester beneath glimmering opulence, this YA fantasy is as sharp and haunting as the power its heroine wields.

Nhika, the titular bloodcarver, is everything a gripping protagonist should be—fierce, conflicted, and unforgettable. Feared as a monster for her life-altering touch, Nhika walks a razor-thin line between survival and annihilation. When she's captured by the city’s most brutal crime syndicate, her world fractures in ways that challenge everything she believes about herself, her power, and what it means to be human.

Le’s medical magic system is refreshingly original—equal parts science and sorcery—and adds a visceral layer to the novel’s pulse-pounding mystery. The slow-burn tension between Nhika and Ven Kochin crackles with chemistry and suspicion, pulling readers into a dangerous game of secrets, betrayal, and unexpected vulnerability.

If Cinder and Divine Rivals had a dark, emotionally-charged lovechild, it would be The Last Bloodcarver. Le’s prose is rich and cinematic, and her exploration of monstrosity, identity, and resistance is both timely and timeless.

You’ll gasp. You’ll scream. You’ll cry. And yes—you’ll absolutely beg for book two.

I knew this was going to be a thing for me as soon as I heard about it. I’m usually not a fan of fantasy books because my imagination is too big for the book. Does that make sense? I’m usually like asking for too much backstory or too much world-building. And while this one was good, it didn’t give me all of those things and it bothered me because of it.

Now I will say, if there is some better world building in this, I might have missed it. I fell asleep A LOT in this audio. And I know it’s probably my own fault, but I did. I tried going back to make sure I didn’t miss anything, but I just could not get into this one. I don’t know what it was. Maybe the narrator? Or the writing style? Idk it just wasn’t for me.

The rest of the book was really just ok to me. I figured out who the person was, but I didn’t know about who they roped in to get it done. That one threw me for a loop. And the ending was absolutely the best part of this book. I think this is where I lost it. I don’t usually keep reading stuff when it just doesn’t hit for me, but I was reading this for work and I had to keep reading it.

Now the magical stuff was cool. I hate to say this, but I liked the way she had to find ways to overcome what she is just because people don’t approve of it. But it definitely mirrored real life society, because it was very reminiscent of racism. They’re usually just mad because its something that they don’t understand. And it’s ridiculous. They were literally scared because they didn’t know about it. They were scared for nothing. But I did love that the villain at least understood what they actually were. But the rest of the world-building was basically non-existent. I wanted more of the world to be up front and center. Idk I like to know descriptions and know how this world looks and so on and so forth.

I don’t see myself shouting about this from the rooftop, but I more than likely will read the second book. It seems that this first one was the filler one since its a duology, so I’m sure the second one will have everything that I thought was missing in this one. I can’t wait to talk about this series as a whole. I hope everything will come together cohesively!

Enemies to lovers clean romance!

Nikha is a heartsooth, a person with abilities to heal themselves and others. When she finishes healing a person as requested, the man turns her in and calls the Butchers. They cage her and take bids from buyers that visit her cage. She’s sold to a young woman who offers a huge amount of money for Nikha, Mimi Congmi. They travel to the Congmi manor where Nikha is asked to heal Hendon, the only witness to Mimi’s father’s death. Mimi and her brother believe he was murdered. When Nikha heals Hendon, the information he offers throws them all into a whirlwind of danger and deception.

Likes/dislikes: The mystery grabbed my full attention. The world building and character development brought the story to life. I enjoyed learning about Nikha’s background.
Mature content: PG for kissing.
Language: PG-13 for 17 swears, no f-words.
Violence: PG-13 for bloody violence- stabbing, gunshot wounds.
Ethnicity: Nikha has golden brown skin. Nikha’s grandmother has skin a shade darker than hers. The Congmi family has pale, rosy skin.

I didn’t get to finish this book so I DNF at around 40% … I didn’t like the MC as I find her a bit dumb and maybe if I kept reading a more smart and mature FMC I’d see .. but I just couldn’t keep reading… some of the characters also seemed a bit tedious and uncalled for ..

Love it! This is well written and such a great example of world building. I do not like the cover. It has a cartoon appearance that does not seem to fit the story. Besides the cover though it is a fabulous book!

Epic and emotionally gripping, this is a unique, fast-paced fantasy with a little bit of something for everyone. A fascinating magic system , a few twists, a dash of romance and a whole lot of heart, the character development and world building is chefs kiss! Definitely check this out for a compelling , fast-paced, satisfying fantasy.

Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group , Roaring Brook Press, Netgalley , and the author for a complimentary copy of this ebook. I am leaving a voluntary review. All thoughts and ideas expressed are my own.

Magic mystery and I absolutely love the cover. The book had its twist and turns and is an easy read!

This had an interesting and unique magic system that I think showed the author's knowledge of human biology. I looked at her bio and the amount of biology that is used in the story makes sense. It's a fast-paced story. I felt like I could connect with the main character, and at least one side character. But with the fast pace of the story, I also felt like I didn't have much of a connection with most of the side characters. Basically, when Nhika was reflecting on her connections with the people around her, it just didn't feel like they had spent too much time together to bond well; especially bonding without being at each other's throats.

Nhika has the ability to alter human biology by touch, making her a bloodcarver. Bloodcarvers are feared by most people and thought to kill for fun. When Nihka is caught using her abilities to heal someone during a fake medical job, she is captured and sold to the highest bidder. She is bought by an aristocratic family in the hopes that she will be able to heal the last witness to their father's murder.

I really enjoyed Nhika as a character, and thought she was well developed and fleshed out. She was headstrong, and guarded but had a deep empathetic side as well. The magic system was really interesting and I loved learning more about her blood carving abilities and the stigma/fear around it. liked that this had a murder mystery subplot, and thought the pacing of that was well done. The downfall for me was the romance. I didn't particularly believe the romance progression from enemies to lovers, and it felt a bit forced. I wasn't rooting for them in the slightest.

I love a good steampunk fantasy and The Last Bloodcarver doesn't disappoint! I was pulled in from the very beginning and enjoyed the world-building. It was done in such a way that it wasn't overwhelming! I think it would be great for a beginner fantasy reader!

**Spoiler**
This was on track to being a new favorite book of mine, but that ending?! I wish the epilogue was left out completely. It will be interesting to see how the author manages this conversation/situation in the next book.

It took me awhile to start this book, but once I did, I really enjoyed it. The ending was really unexpected, and I will absolutely be reading the sequel.

The opening action of the novel pulled me right in and I was fascinated by Nhika's magic. There were enough twists and turns to keep the plot moving and interesting without becoming convoluted or overly complicated. I was surprised by the ending and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it. I'm interested to see how things play out in the sequel.

I seriously can’t stop thinking about The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le. From the very first page, I was completely hooked. The world she’s built here is rich and complex, with a magic system that’s both unique and fascinating. The way Le blends magic, mystery, and danger had me invested right from the start.

What really sold me on this book, though, were the characters. The main character is someone you can’t help but root for. She’s tough and determined, but she also has her vulnerabilities, which made her feel real and relatable. Her journey, filled with self-discovery and difficult choices, is something I could really connect with. And the relationships she builds with others? So emotional and complex. It was such a treat to see these characters grow and evolve throughout the story.

The pacing was absolutely perfect, which is so difficult to do when building such a nuanced world. Le knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat—there’s always something happening to keep the tension high, but she also gives you moments to breathe and soak in the details of the world. The writing is beautiful, but also grounded, which made it really easy to get lost in the story.

This book has everything I love in a fantasy novel—an epic setting, rich magic, and characters that feel so real you can’t help but care about them. This one is a must-read. Don’t miss it!

A fantastic read for fans of Frankenstein and Shadow and Bone. Le creates a world so vivid that it felt as if I could step right inside the story with her fantastic characters.

As a B&N bookseller I was so sad this didn’t win our YA BOTY because I LOVED this. The pacing, the characters, the overall story were perfection.