"The Last Bloodcarver" by Vanessa Le is a captivating fantasy that intricately weaves themes of power and redemption. Its rich world-building and complex characters offer a gripping and immersive experience.

Nhika is a heartsooth, someone who can use magic to affect the body. She is an amazing character, proud of who she is in a land in which she is an outsider. She is an amazingly fleshed out character. She’s a survivor, but she’s flawed and sometimes naive. Through her, we’re introduced to a world where magic is being pushed out in favor of science, and pulled into a murder mystery. I absolutely love how magic and science blends together in this story, creating a beautiful world that I can’t wait to go back to in the sequel.

I really wanted to enjoy this book. Unfortunately, this book read like a paint-by-numbers version of a YA fantasy novel. Everything that Le included in her novel I have seen before. It read so much like someone made a list of the most common tropes, characters, magic systems, and events and Le put them all together in a decently written novel. Le has skill with her writing which is why I did not rate this lower than 3 stars. She did nothing stellar with the book though which left me disappointed.

This one had an intriguing plot and kept me riveted throughout. The main character was definitely relatable

This wasn’t my favorite book ever, but after several failed attempts to navigate some of the lackluster Asian fantasy that’s been pouring out of publishers lately, this was definitely an improvement. I liked most of our characters, although the Congmi siblings were a bit like cardboard cutouts. Nhika and Ven were both delightfully complex and weren’t necessarily good people, which I can always get behind in a character. The villain could have used more development, but maybe more mustache tweedling would have made their reveal more obvious? The world building was done well, not perfectly, but well. I do wish a time period had been established, bc there were robots but not organ transplants? It felt weirdly selective about what this society knew or didn’t know. I also felt the ending was not what I was expecting, nor was it particularly satisfying. There is a second book though, so maybe that will flesh some things out. All in all, this was a creative and unique read with some boundary pushing characters and a love story that felt a bit shoehorned but not inauthentic. I liked it.

Nhika is the last of her kind a blood carver and being murdered is the kindest fate that awaits her if she is discovered. She has the ability to heal with touch but the invading people saw that as a threat to their power and had them hunted.
Living on her wits until she is caught and sold to the highest bidder. She is lucky enough to be bought by a family desperate enough to help hide her in order to help solve a murder. Along the way Nhika discovers secrets she never thought possible.

Nhika usually makes her living by peddling fake homeopathic remedies, but the desperation of her latest mark, whose wife is dying after a medical misdiagnosis, causes her to throw caution to the wind and draw upon her Yarongese gift as a heartsoother to heal the woman. Unfortunately, her generous act brings her to the attention of the Butchers, who capture her, exhibit her as one of the dreaded and illegal “bloodcarvers” and market her to the highest bidder. A wealthy young woman purchases her and brings her to the lavish Congmi estate, where Nhika is asked to heal a loyal family retainer in a coma who is the only living witness to the death – and possible murder – of the head of the Congmi family. In accepting the job, Nhika is drawn into a world full of hidden agendas and dangerous secrets. To survive, she may need to become the monster she is accused of being. The first in a planned duology, The Last Bloodcarver features a fierce protagonist and an intricate magic system and will appeal to readers of These Violent Delights and That Self-same Metal.

Between the cover and description I had high hopes for this book and thought I would love it. At this time I have been unable to finish it. I will update once I finish with a better, proper review.

I really loved the concept of this book, especially because it had this really perfect combination of magic and science plus the whole murder mystery aspect of it! Nikha was such an interesting character, and I liked reading in her POV, especially as things started to unravel and make more sense. Although I didn't feel like the romance aspect really hooked me, I do think I could be more invested maybe in the sequel, but we'll have to see! The last part of the book really sucked me in and I was FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story and would definitely recommend this!

I loved this book!! The Heartsooth magic was incredibly written, and the dynamics between our heroine and everyone else were gripping and emotional. The end felt a little bit rushed, but the whole murder mystery of it all was quite good.

This YA debut is a super compelling read from a new author! I read an early version and absolutely loved it. The worldbuilding is such a good mix of fantasy and scifi, there's a strong mystery at the heart of the story, and the Asian inspired influences and references to colonialism are some of the book's strongest elements. I can't wait for the sequel and for more books from Vanessa Le!

Combining mythology with fantasy is a common experience in fiction, but The Last Bloodcarver feels quite fresh and I'm excited to continue the journey! It was heartwrenching in perfect ways.

honestly picked this book for the viet vibes & wasnt disappointed at all! no spoilers but this was so good i cannot wait for the second book! hope im chosen for the sequel arc!

The worldbuilding in this completely drew me in! The plot stalls in places, but overall it's exciting--and the abrupt cliffhanger (while mean) makes me eager for the next installment. The themes of found family, belonging, and trauma brought about by Othering makes this stand out in a sea of mediocre/whitewashed YA fantasy debuts.

Beautiful written Vietnam inspired fantasy that tells the story of Nhika who is a blood carver. She is ostracized by her ability and risks her life to be a healer when she’s thought to be a monster. I adore Nhika as a character, she is witty and compassionate even when she’s given reasons not to be. The plot revolves around a murder mystery and simultaneously explores themes such as genocide, trauma and grief.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

The opening of this book had me instantly hooked. The main character, Nhika, is a Bloocarver, possessing the rare ability to heal others with magic. But when she is captured and forced to use her powers to save herself from grave injuries, she realizes just how dangerous her gift can be. Sold to a wealthy family, Nhika becomes entangled in a murder mystery that goes beyond anything she could have imagined. However, as the story progressed, my interest began to wane.

While the world-building was intriguing and the pacing remained steady throughout, I found myself yearning for more excitement and depth. The characters, including Nhika herself, lacked the depth and connection I craved. As a reader, I wanted more magic, more romance, and definitely more action.

Overall, this book was enjoyable but not enough to keep me invested in the series.

This book was captivating very early on. The main character energy is very positive and the action is fast paced. The plot is driven pretty consistently, but bogs down about 60% in . The ending redeems the lag in action in that section. The magic system is interesting and not developed, but this works because it is a dying art in this world.

A captivating read from start to finish! The author's storytelling is masterful, weaving intricate plotlines with deep, well-developed characters. Every page is filled with suspense, emotion, and thought-provoking themes. This book is a must-read for anyone who appreciates a finely crafted narrative. Highly recommend!

4.5/5 ⭐️
is a heartsooth, able to heal and alter bodies by touch. However, in the city she lives in, she is seen as a monster - a blood carver. When she is captured and then bought by a wealthy family, she finds herself trying to help find a murderer. Among the people she meets is Ven Kochin, a mysterious physician’s assistant.

I really liked this debut! I do think the whodunit part was a little obvious (at least to me), but I enjoyed the lore a lot! I am curious to see where the second book goes. I’m not sure about the main idea (don’t want to spoil anything), but I definitely will read it because I enjoyed this one a lot!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

As the last of her family and of her kind, Nhika's story is a compelling one. To ensure her survival, she has to be somewhat selfish with her abilities, but it is complicated because those same abilities also make her a bleeding heart. This struggle is apparent at the beginning, and I was immediately hooked. Despite an interesting start, the story slows down once Nhika is purchased by the wealthy family. The murder mystery and healing the witness become the focus, which lead to a somewhat underwhelming reveal. Throughout this, Nhika does eventually form connections, but the depth of the bonds are questionable even though the story tries to say otherwise. A romance also eventually appears, but does not feel organic to the story, appearing more instalove than anything else.

The highlights of the book are the geopolitics and the magic system. The world is Vietnam-inspired. It delves deep into creating a detailed history of Yarong and its occupation. I liked learning the backstory of Nhika's people and look forward to more about this. The magic system is an interesting one. Rather than opposing forces, magic and science complement each other. Along with the good both can do, it also explores the dark side of each with heartbreaking accounts.

While The Last Bloodcarver did not quite meet all my expectations, the last sentence of the book had me scrambling to find out when the sequel would be released and what exactly was going. Yes, I am eagerly waiting to get my hands on it because I need to know what happens next. (3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars)