Thank you to NetGalley, Angry Robot, Dreamscape Media, Dreamscape Lore, Salinee Goldenberg, and David Lee Huynh (audio narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of The Last Phi Hunter in exchange for an honest review.

Ex is a member of the Phi hunter's Order. Phi are ghosts or demons that generally do harm to mortals. As a hunter, Ex has an obligation and personal quota to fill. But beyond that, he seeks a recognitional glory. He seeks Shar-Ala, a demon of nightmares who seems to elude all hunters. If Ex can bring the eye of Shar-Ala back to the Order, he will have recognition beyond compare.

Along the way, he is actually saved by a very pregnant woman (close to due). She becomes a much endeared travel companion, but given her condition, Ex has a lot of questions as he tries to avoid falling in love with Arinya. Her secrets might end up leading to a fight Ex never expected.

While mostly from the third-person perspective of Ex, there are some chapters that go into the third-person perspectives of the various ghosts and demons encountered in the story. This adds an intriguing viewpoint in seeing their thoughts and what ultimately leads to some of their actions.

This novel is excellent as a stand-alone fantasy for an adult audience, but ends with so much possibility for more. For those who enjoy fantasy adventure, demon hunting, Asian folklore, and a dash or romance, this enthralling page-turner is for you!

Netgalley Review

Star Rating: ★★★☆☆

This was a good read. Wasn't my favorite, but by far wasn't my least favorite book either. I thought it was worth my time and I'm glad that I gave it a chance.

Like always read it and decide for yourself!

a9Note for anyone whose NetGalley Shelf App also keeps crashing and is unusable: absolutely cannot use it on my phone, but it works fine on my tablet? So it was weird carting my whole tablet around to listen to this as an audiobook, but I did it. If you have a tablet, you might give it a try. I have Android (phone and tablet).)

The audiobook narrator was fantastic. I would listen to them narrate any book. Very nice voice.

I loved the characters in this book. The main character isn't actually the last phi hunter so I was a little confused as to why people call him that and why it's the title of the book, but maybe it's meant to be tongue-in-cheek? Cause he's actually a quite a clumsy lead, but that's his charm. He's kinda young and inexperienced but has lofty goals and an ego to match. This book is really funny, and some of the funniest parts are where he's getting into trouble, which is pretty often.

Now, I love a good romance. However, this time I actually didn't think this book needed one, but we got one anyway. And even though I wasn't really invested in their relationship, the love interest is probably the most important character in the story and she was a lot of fun. She does and says whatever she wants, and her backstory is that she was a professional fighter, which made her a million times more interesting to me. She always has to save the hero (from other and himself), which was super refreshing.

The plot had me in its grip from the very beginning. The worldbuilding is woven seamlessly into the story, so there was never any point where I felt I was being subjected to an info-dump. Nothing is overexplained or vague. It's just simple and beautiful. This is exactly my favorite kind of storytelling. You don't have to tab things to reference later, you don't have to take notes, you don't have to phone a friend. You always feel immersed and understand what's going on.

This story had a lot of my favorite things in it: an epic quest, an adventure through a forest, exploration of other worlds, a tour through a city, a break to enjoy a festival, and a good old-fashioned kidnapping. Did I mention there's a talking dog and because this story involves a lot of reincarnation elements, it never truly dies? Cause that's a thing and I love it.

I can't say enough good things. This one had it all. Action from the start. Great pacing. Fun characters. Intriguing plot. Superb writing. An ending that made me tear up (in a good way). I'll follow this author to the ends of the earth!

The Last Phi Hunter
by Salinee Goldenberg
Fantasy New Adult
NetGalley Audio ARC
Pub Date: Apr. 9, 2024
Dreamscape Media
Ages: 17+

Branded as a child because of his parents' deeds, orphan Ex found his way to the Phi Hunters Order and became the youngest Phi Hunter, and with the gifts of magic the order trained him to use, he is now a slayer of ghosts and demons of the Suyoram Kingdom. But he wants to become a demon slayer and spends part of his time searching for the demon, Shar-Ala.

On his way to trade with a witch, a young woman asks him to escort her through the forest for she is also going to see the same witch. Reluctantly, Ex agrees, mostly because the woman is nine months pregnant and the scent of the unborn child would draw the spirits of the forest right to her, and they would devour her and the child.

I was quickly drawn into this story. The narrator did a good job with voice changes and emotions, though there were times it was obvious of a cut to a major volume increase and voice changes. While the world was typical, the 'other world' is really interesting to the point I wish there was more to it, like a little more history and time spent in it. (And because of other happenings, I wonder if there will be another/related book, which I would be interested in.)

The characters and their struggles were relatable, though some could have used a little more backstory.

I liked the story but was a little disappointed that the cover, which grabbed my attention, really doesn't match the story. I don't remember any descriptions of a cool dragon like that.

Then there was a major slowing of the story towards the end. While I get the point of why, I didn't feel as if it related to the situation/setting. (Vague because of spoilers.) I think it was just filler for word count and I feel it was the worst part of the book.

And for the ending... eh. It was just too simple, quick, and convenient. Not a lot of action so it was a letdown. However, at the very end was a wide-eyed... OH!!

4 Stars

It’s been so long since I’ve actually sat down to write a review that I feel like I don’t know how to do it anymore. But this book has been on my radar for a while and I was very glad to receive both the eARC and the audio arc, so I am excited to have finally finished this and can’t wait to share my thoughts on it, however rustic my words might seem.

The first draw for me about this book was that gorgeous cover, with so much intricate gold detailing and then the thought of reading my first Thai folklore inspired fantasy book was very exciting. And turns out I was right to pick this up. The author creates a very vivid and lived in world full of demons and ghosts (phi in this case) who are stuck in their endless hunger due to their past sins and can’t escape the karmic cycle & the guild of phi hunters who take their job very seriously and train extensively to be able to hunt the monsters that hurt people, but are increasingly losing favor in a world which is becoming more modern and eschewing their existence as superstition. The way the phi are described in their gory detail was pretty gruesome to read about, and getting to know the details about how phi come to be and the different kinds of phi that can exist was very interesting. I was also delighted to see the crossovers between Thai folklore and Indian mythology, especially with mentions of devas and Vanaras and more. The writing is pretty easy to breeze through despite the underlying mythology being unknown to me, and despite the explicitly gory bits, the story felt much more slice of life and character exploration than a fast paced adventure.

That’s not to say the adventure isn’t present. Ex, our protagonist is the youngest phi hunter in the guild and determined to kill a true demon, which many believe is just a myth. He is young and brash and impulsive, socially awkward and pretty naive, but definitely good at his job. The author does a nice job balancing out all his characteristics, while also delving into the inherent loneliness of his vocation, and how it materializes in him really bonding with his horses and his hunting partner, the Hound.

It’s not surprising he falls for Arinya when she is beautiful and fierce in equal measure, letting him experience the kind of companionship that he never had before. Her survival instincts seem to be top notch, so it’s actually surprising why she too starts being a bit impulsive after her bonding with Ex. To be honest, their relationship was the most unconvincing part of the book because I felt we didn’t get enough time to delve into their feelings, and it was too quick to declare undying love for each other. Narissa on the other hand is a phi living while impersonating a human, hoping to achieve redemption for her sins, and it was actually so intriguing to understand her perspective in this narrative. While their interactions felt too limited, I wish we had instead gotten more time with Ex and Narissa trying to understand each other and realizing that while they are supposed to be enemies, they have too much in common as well. We only get very limited POV of the Hound but let me tell you, impressed I was.

Overall, this is an excellent fantasy book to pick up if you want to explore a new world of mythology/folklore and it will suck you in with its impressive writing and very intricate world building. While the characters may frustrate you a bit, and the payoff of the action wasn’t always worth the build up, I enjoyed my time reading this book and just wanted to know more about everything that inspired this story. I also listening to the audiobook for the most part and the narrator David Lee Huynh does a wonderful immersive job, letting me feel like a part of this world. Can’t wait to see if the author writes another story in this setting, coz I would love to know more.

This is the first story I've read based on Thai folklore and I really enjoyed it. The story was rich and diverse, the characters were fun and interesting, and I loved the perspective it shared. The story was truly excellent and had everything you could want - whimsy, dark moments, demons, epic battles - it truly had it all. This was such a fun read and delightful surprise as I wasn't sure how much I would or would not love it. Really thrilled how enjoyable it was.

Enjoyed this book immensely! Fast-paced, action-packed, and funny; this was a joy to listen to. The characters are lovable and interesting. I loved cocky Ex and Arinya. Also loved the fact that it is based on Thai folklore which gives this book a unique edge ( I forgot how scary demons and monsters from South East Asian lore can be!). The world building and magic system demonstrated in this novel are exceptional. The narrator does an excellent job of narrating the story. (The pronunciation is great and the accent is not distracting.)

All my thanks and heart felt appreciation to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

"The Last Phi Hunter" is a captivating audiobook that transports listeners to a world brimming with Thai mythology and magic. Salinee Goldenberg's debut novel intertwines folklore, sorcery, and redemption to create an enthralling narrative.

David Lee Huynh's narration adds depth to the characters and atmosphere, though occasional mispronunciations and quirky sound effects may briefly interrupt the immersion. Despite these minor flaws, Huynh's expressive delivery keeps listeners engaged as they follow Ex, Arinya, and Narissa on their journey filled with political intrigue and supernatural encounters.

With its thematic depth and imaginative worldbuilding, "The Last Phi Hunter" promises an unforgettable listening experience that will leave fantasy enthusiasts eagerly anticipating more from Goldenberg.

Inspired by Thai folklore, Salinee Goldenberg’s debut novel is a gem. This is a vibrant, visceral and brutal tangled hero’s journey that I could not put down.
“ Ex “ our main man is just getting started in his demon/ghost hunting life and he’s determined to prove himself to his guild by slaying a mythic demon of nightmares. Just that enough would be a story worth reading, but Ex is a professional - so demon slaying doesn’t require the trial and error that it would for others. As he’s stalking his prey he meets a pregnant woman who needs his help (though she does seem to do a lot of saving of him as the story progresses). He wants to say no, feels he needs to say no; what she’s asking is going to push the very boundaries of his skills and comforts. He can’t say no. As his path and the woman’s become more and more entwined, Ex continues to confront demons and ghosts in the past and present, in order to secure a hopeful future, not only for himself but for the people he cares for as well.

As far as writing, it’s well constructed, with some variation in pace but no true slow spots and I didn’t note any plot holes in this demon slaying adventure. The world building is intense but spread through the novel in a need to know fashion, rather than a dreadful info dump at the start. Characters are immensely relatable despite being not so human at times, there’s even a “dog” who I absolutely fell in love with…(ok so this is my second book of this year where I’m gushing over a dog, so maybe it’s openly a selling point to me?) There’s a touch of romance, with a very satisfying ending, but one that I didn’t expect. Oh and there’s some gnarly ghosts and demons and fighting. It was… perfection.
I am absolutely looking forward to more from this author

Update to my original review to refect the audiobook: This narrator worked well for me and this story. It was an easy to understand audiobook, even at accelerated speeds. Would recommend it.

The Last Phi Hunter, the debut novel by Salinee Goldenberg, is a fantastical journey inspired by Thai folklore and history. I most enjoyed that aspect of the story—the parts where we got to explore the Phi and this unique world Goldenberg has created. While the characters were interesting, I found I didn't care to follow their stories as much. Parts of their character arcs felt disjointed and underdeveloped. The plot was unpredictable at times, which made it hard to put the book down.

Overall, an interesting debut! I'd be interested to see what the author writes next, hoping they have a chance to grow and fix some of the weaknesses of their craft expressed in this.

From chapter 1 this audiobook had me hooked! Everything about the characters & setting came alive. This is a delightful adventure fantasy NOT based in Western European mythology.

Phi hunters hunt & kill the physical manifestations of what are essentially evil spirits of the dead. These Phi can eventually become demons if they do enough evil in this form. We follow Ex, who is the youngest of his guild as he aids a pregnant woman through a journey that would endanger both her & the unborn child.

Based on an Eastern folklore tradition this is a very refreshing and unique fantasy novel. Definitely worth the read or the listen!

Ex is happy with his simple life as a demon hunter. The youngest member of his hunting guild, he is content to spend all his time alone with his animal spirit friends, bartering with local witches and chasing his dream of capturing his world's most notorious demon. His chance at a quiet life are dashed when he comes across a pregnant woman named, Arinya, and begrudgingly agrees to escort her to safety.

This book includes:
- mysterious strangers
- witches, sorcerers, and other mystical magic wielders
- demon hunters
- instant love
- grumpy-sunshine dynamic where the girl needs to save the boy more than a few times
- connections to the spirit world and the divine "beyond"

I really enjoyed diving into the unique and spiritual world of "The Last Phi Hunter." I liked the way Ex navigated between his two worlds and how his role as a hunter instilled a deep appreciation for the natural world. Potentially, I could see the book doing well with older YA readers who are in the midst of transitioning to adult fantasy. It is very well-paced, and even the more unique elements are described in a way that makes them very easy to envision while reading. Ex is also a very likable protagonist. He can be clumsy and make silly mistakes, and that endeared him to me. I liked that he expressed his fear and was brave anyway.

I did feel that the romance lacked chemistry and kind of felt like it was built on nothing. I also wish we would have gotten a deeper look into Arinya's life at court and gotten a less cartoonish depiction of the prince. Did the prince treat her well? Did she ever love him? What about Ex was she attracted to? What is her relationship with the sorcerer and the king? Why is the "queen" evil? There were too many unanswered questions in the second half of the book. I would have thought these questions were to be answered in book 2, however, the final part of the book kind of brushes past all of these plot holes and sets up an entirely new plotline for the next book.

beyond that, I really enjoyed the audiobook narrator and the cover art is gorgeous!

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Salinee Goldenberg, and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted to GoodReads - check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863

Actual Rating: 3.5 stars

Set in a world lush with Thai mythology, Buddhist concepts, and magic, The Last Phi Hunter is an action-packed standalone fantasy book that mainly follows Ex, the youngest Phi hunter who’s determined to make a name for himself by hunting the elusive Shar-Ala, a true demon of nightmares and madness, and to a lesser extent, Narissa, a phi seeking atonement so that she may be reborn as a human again.

Ex’s story is one we’re all familiar with: he comes across a (rather capable) damsel in distress while working on his main quest of slaying Shar-Ala, gets tangled up with whatever’s going on with her and ultimately, they get together. Truthfully, despite liking the relationship between Ex and Arinya, I was also the least interested in their romance. It felt a little forced and cringe, especially since it feels more fueled by physical attraction than anything else.

Moreover, it could be just me but I felt that Ex’s part of the story was too convenient at times. Like, the parts where Shar-Ala was involved. Ex has been hunting the true demon for two years, unable to find more than its footprint but just when he and Arinya are only given one day left to live by the swamp’s guardian, Shar-Ala finally shows up? I mean, sure, I had expected something like this to happen but not so quickly and easily. Plus, the ending of the book was too neat — satisfying, but still too neat.

Narissa’s story, on the other hand, was intriguing and filled with emotion. After accidentally eating the only man she has ever loved, she sets out on a painful and difficult journey of redemption, hoping that by abstaining from eating humans and thus, starving herself for 30 years, she will be born again as human. She meets Ex and Arinya later in the story and I greatly appreciate how her character (and Astrama’s) added a different dimension to the entire human VS monsters aspect of the story.

Aside from the above, since I listened to the audiobook, I think the narrator did a good job of bringing the story to life. Although I had some trouble understanding some of the words due to the accent (I’m from Southeast Asia), the flow of the narration was steady. The distinction between the voices of different characters, particularly the females, was done well too. I was absorbed in the story and rarely realised how much time had passed while listening. However, I must admit that the sound effects the narrator did for the creatures were…I’m incredibly sorry to write this, but they had me burst out laughing. It would’ve been better for those parts to have been done with proper sound effects.

All in all, The Last Phi Hunter is a solid debut. I loved the representations here and can’t wait to read more of the author’s books!

Thanks for including me in the tour for Salinee Goldenburg's (@gosalgo) "The Last Phi Hunter" @angryrobotbooks!

Hunting spirits, ghosts and demons is a rough job. Especially when the kingdom you live in doesn't really care for the Phi (pronounced Fee) Hunters and their brand of magic. Gets even more awkward when you are the youngest member of the guild and trying to make a name for yourself. Enter Ex, tired of hunting small fry he has spent years trying to find a demon with a name, Shar-Ala. With his skills, some stubborn horses, and a hound that seems too mocking, what could go wrong? Apparently a lot, because Ex's path crosses with a heavily pregnant woman named Arinya who saves him from a beating. She just needs him to escorts her through the spirit filled forest...who all want to eat the unborn child.

Might have also snuck the audio, Narrated by David Lee Huynh because I wanted to check my pronunciation and the idea that a certain character came off the way they did in my head. Very happy.

Reasons to read:
-I didn't know the myths behind any of the creatures in the story and not knowing means I can be surprised
-All three of the protagonists are great
-Great ending
-Comeuppance, love to see it
-An organization that has plans

Cons:
-Maybe don't eat when some of the spirits are doing their thing

Thank you to Netgalley and Salinee Goldenberg for the audiobook version of "The Last Phi Hunter." Overall, I enjoyed this book, it was definitely more up my alley with it being geared towards adults as opposed to young adults, something that I greatly appreciate.

I enjoyed the Thai folklore, I've been trying to breach into different lore from other parts of the world, and I think this book offered a good introduction to that sort of thing. Learning about the Phi, and listening about the hunter, Ex, fight them was my favorite part of the book. I almost wish that this wasn't a romance book, as I'd like to learn more about the Phi themselves, as opposed to watching Ex fall in love with the prince's consort. The romance felt..forced almost like it wasn't there one moment and the next it was. It could use some more development then Ex going straight to being in love with her, but maybe that's the life and love of a hunter? Either way, I'm not sure, and I definitely enjoyed the end of the book less, especially when it became a rescue-the-consort deal instead of defeating cool ghosts that are plaguing the world and village.

Overall though, this was a great debut novel and I'd love to read more by this author!

I wasn't expecting this book to go the way that it did. In fact, I wasn't sure where I thought it would go, but this was still a story that I enjoyed. It had a different cadence to it than most fantasy stories. It also featured a strong FMC who relies on the MMC, but then she goes and shows she doesn't need the help. I wasn't expecting the entire story to focus on pregnancy or feature it heavily - it wasn't too off-putting. I would say that I would have loved this to go deeper than it did when it came to the culture, the magic, the tattoos, the phi... it felt like this was more character-driven than plot or story, though that was strong on its own. I think I want more cultures featured and more in-depth about them. Overall, this was a really good book and I really enjoyed listening to it. I definitely would suggest it to people, especially with the narrator doing an extremely good job. He made it engaging and there wasn't much of a range of voices, it made up for the emotion that could be conveyed.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Lore for this ARC Audio Copy!

This was an interesting book, interesting story and idea but I just wish there had been more of the world and the reasonings behind the Phi. There were multiple different kinds of Demons and Spirits in the world and they were all so interesting and I really just wanted to know more about them and I just wish there had been more detain in the world building.

I also understand that the character was a hunter and raised a certain way to perform his duties but I just never found a way to connect to the characters throughout the book and for that reason I don't think it was able to keep me as invested as I would have liked.

All in all it is a great story and though maybe it was not for me, it is still definitely going to be loved by many.

I went into this book fairly blind, as I just absolutely loved the cover. Also, demons and folklore are buzzwords for me, making it an easy decision to pick up.

I loved the lore and the world-building in this novel. It was so cool to encounter creatures that I've never seen in fantasy before.

I did have some issues with this book though. Mainly, the relationship that is established in this book seems to come from nowhere. Randomly, our main female character decides she wants the main character and it leads to a very awkward, spicy scene that didn't fit the narrative to this point.

I also felt like some of this book was rushed. Things happened so quickly that it made the ending feel a bit lackluster.

There were also times where the characters and the writing felt quite juvenile, yet a good majority of the book is gory. It was weird to try and reconcile the two.

Overall, I did like this book but it's not one I'd recommend.

3 out of 5 Star

It was the worst thing in the world but it could have been way better than it actually was. Also hated the the way Phi was pronounced in the audiobook.

📣📖 Pub Week Review: The Last Phi Hunter by Salinee Goldenberg 📖📣 🐲💎🐊👑

I had the fortune of combo-reading an e-ARC and an advanced copy of the audiobook via Netgalley, thanks to Angry Robot Books and Dreamscape Media. All thoughts in this review are my own.

The Last Phi Hunter is a fast-paced, action-packed fantasy novel rooted in Thai mythology. Our main character, Ex, is a hunter who can transcend to a spirit realm to pursue the phi, a sort of demon. Ex has special abilities as a hunter trained by the guild, and he is focused on tracking and taking down a legendary demon, which would elevate him to a master demon hunter. He is accompanied by The Hound, a large wolf-like creature. He encounters Arinya, the royal consort to the prince, on the run from trouble, as she hires him to escort her. The two encounter Narissa, a phi who is working to reform herself and become human. Hijinks, adventure, comraderie, magic, and even romance ensue.

💙 What I enjoyed 💛

🐲 The world-building and being immersed in Thai mythology. I have never read a fantasy novel with Thai mythology and the creatures and landscapes and imagery were captivating.
💎 The main character Ex is a fun character and his personality and motivations are well-developed.
🐲 The casual and lil bit snarky narrative style was engaging, entertaining, and worked well for the tone of the book.
💎 The ending is satisfying and I would read more if this becomes a series.
🐲 The audiobook narrator David Lee Huynh's performance is excellent! His voice is deep and clear and brings the vivid imagery to life.
💎 The cover art! TBH, it's what inspired me to request the book in the first place.

Other thoughts:
🐊 Arinya's character was not as well developed and I struggled to get a solid grasp of her personality and motivations.
🐊 I would not have minded more chapters from The Hound's perspective! He was a beloved character.
🐊 It takes a little time to build at first, but then by the last third it is hard to put down.

Highly recommend for fantasy readers looking for something fun and to explore a different realm.