Stopped reading at 1%.

It sounds like this might be a great book, but there is a level of graphic description in this book that turns me off immediately.

One example is when the main character is trying to kill some gross creature and then talks about having intrusive thoughts about delicious food. It feel like gratuitous description to just gross out the reader, not something necessary to move the story along.

My stomach is turning and I just can't stand reading this.

Just when I was boasting about my experimental readings going well, this happened. I picked this up because of my interest in Thai folklore and anticipation to see a unique angle to the Phi.

The story started out well with a magical feel and urban setting, though it claims to be in a provincial one, that gradually diluted into multiple plot twists which somehow lost the essence of the story. For a very long time, this just felt like a travel adventure with conversations. Even after pushing myself through the end, I only feel I should have DNFed this book.

There is also an underlying love angle that's slowly brewing which was slightly bearable. I gave this 2 stars for the following two things that went through well in this story:
• The narration style
• Ex's character buildup

Genre: #fantasy #thai
Rating: 2/5 ⭐️

this was such a great read and i really enjoyed coming back into this as i first read an e-copy last year. i really liked the narration on this and it definitely added more to the atmosphere and i was easily immersed!

the world inspired by thai folklore was so interesting and i loved learning more and more about it. there are different kinds of magic and i found myself wanting to learn more about it, but this book is more character driven and plot driven, which isn’t at all a bad thing and i loved this book.

i really enjoyed getting to know the world and learning about the different creatures and how everything working. i loved Ex as a MC as he's fun and sarcastic and just so great to follow! i think he's quite the straightforward character and it was fun learning about him. Arinya, our other MC, was such an interesting character. i really liked her personality and getting to know about her. i really did not know what to expect when she first showed up but i loved it all!

would highly recommend if you want a good fantasy read that is thai-inspired and amazing characters!

For me, The Last Phi Hunter is the Thai version of The Witcher, but done significantly better. (I am a Witcher book hater but Witcher concept lover) The Last Phi (that's pronounced "fee") Hunter follows Ex, who is a (shocker!) hunter of Phis, which are essentially demonous monsters. He is looking to kill the lengendary Sharala when he comes across Arinya, a pregnant woman who needs his help. Their fates become tied, and he must complete her mission to complete his.

I compare this to the Witcher because (shocker) he kills monsters for money. A lot of people hype the Witcher for being funny, and this really hits that mark well. I laughed out loud quite a few times, which I don't normally do when reading. Also, because this is written by a woman, the women are not written in a gross way! I thoroughly enjoyed Arinya and when Ex began lusting over her it was written in a way that wasn't disgusting to me as a woman!!! Gotta love that.

For some reason I read this thinking it was the beginning of a series, and my biggest disappointment is learning it is a standalone. I really loved this world and the characters. I know very little about Thai mythology, but this got me so interested in it. The creatures were so interesting, and the magic felt so unique. I thoroughly enjoyed this!

The audio was really well done. The narrator did a great job of doing multiple voices without being ridiculous (as is typical with male narrators doing the voices for female characters), and his cadence was fun and interesting. I would recommend this format!

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting debut. Not perfect, 3.5 stars, but I enjoyed myself!

Before I talk about the book itself, regarding the audio, I wish I had done the hard copy instead. The narrator wasn't bad necessarily, but he didn't bring anything to the narrative, either. It was a pretty meh listening experience, and I'm pretty sure he negatively affected my enjoyment of the book, so keep that in mind as I continue the review.

<i>The Last Phi Hunter</i> is an adult fantasy debut that is set in a world based on Thai folklore and religion (Buddhist themes are prevalent). Our main character is Ex, a Phi (Thai demon) hunter, who is currently on a mission to hunt and kill a True Demon (a soul that is so entrenched in evil that it cannot be reborn to a better life) named Shar-Ala when his life is sidetracked by a heavily pregnant muay-thai fighter who needs his help. Well, first she saves him from being beaten to a pulp, then she asks him for his help. She needs someone to escort her to the witch that lives next to the lake, the same witch that Ex is on his way to see in order to sell her goods collected during his hunts.

From there, the plot goes lots of other places, and I was surprised several times by the pacing and some reveals that I've seen other books do in different places, and a couple of things that I've never seen in fantasy before! This is most likely because I've never read anything by a Thai author that features Thai folklore, customs, or mythology. I'm not sure actually that I've ever read anything by an author that has Thai ancestry at all (although, I probably have). So there's a possibility that's why this felt so fresh. It could also just be that the author has a great imagination. I'm sort of in the dark as to which it is, but either way I liked it.

I would recommend this one, but not necessarily the audio. I'm interested to see what this author does in the future.

[3.5 stars, rounding up bc it was a debut]

3.5 Stars

In the Last Phi Hunter, we follow an ambitious young demon/ghost hunter, Ex, as he journeys to kill a legendary demon Shar-Ala. His mission soon becomes all the more difficult as he is enlisted to escort a heavily pregnant woman, Arinya, through a spirit-infested forest.

I really enjoyed this - I was highly intrigued by a fantasy novel based on Thai folklore, and this certainly did not disappoint.

Truly, the worldbuilding and magic system is truly where this book shines. The world of phi was so interesting, and I loved learning about all the different spirits, and different plains of existence. I was fascinated by the idea of slipping into the "Ever Present" and by all the different rituals of the phi hunters. I adored how the magic system and world were fundamentally built around the idea of Karma and reincarnation.

My only wish is that I had felt more connected to the characters. I liked Ex well enough, but never really cared about Arinya - thus, I also wasn't the biggest fan of the romance featured in this book. The plot, which I found kind of dull at first, really picked up in the second half. I was also super glad for the audiobook to guide my pronunciation of new words and concepts. The narrator did a great job.

I would definitely read from this author again, and look forward to see more of their work in the future.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for providing me with an ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I love a book with unique (to me) mythology, and this book delivered on that front! I enjoyed the characters, they were very fun, but not exactly developed which is always a hard one for me. The action kept my attention the whole time, but the real star was the world building and the Thai folklore!

I don't know if I'll run out for the next book in the series, but I know I will read it eventually!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

In The Last Phi Hunter we follow an ambitious young demon hunter, Ex, as he tries to slay a legendary demon Shar-Ala. Even though his fellow hunters have long given up tracking Shar-Ala, believing him to be a myth, Ex is convinced he’s still out there. Along the way, to earn some extra money, Ex escort a mysterious pregnant woman, Arinya, through a spirit filled forest. The story features Thai mythology and it was interesting to learn about the various demons and spirits, but not hard to follow. I really liked the magic system and world building but this book could almost do with a prequel to get further into it. The two main characters were interesting and likeable but they both felt a little younger than they were described to be and I was kind of surprised by the romance aspect of the book. I also enjoyed the other characters but would have liked to see more of them. The story was fast paced with a few interconnecting storylines, it was bordering on too much but I think it still worked. I think on a re-read/listen I would find additional details that I didn’t catch the first time around. I liked how the book ended, it was unexpected (at least to me) and I would be interested to read more from this author

Thanks to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and Salinee Goldenberg for this ALC

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This had a ton of promise and started out really strong....but it was too long. It felt like it was several stories and plots shoved into 1 book. They were all connected, but it didn't really feel like an individual plot got the depth it should have. He's going after this legendary demon...but he's distracted by this girl and they madly fall in love...but then there is this other lesser demon that gets redemption....and then there was this super interesting other world that barely gets explored.....and then there is a necromancer and political intrigue.....it needed fewer plots and more depth.

The writing was good, just unfocused.

While I loved the idea of this book, I was left wanting with the execution.

While it’s labeled as adult fantasy, this felt much more YA aside from a few more graphic scenes, including an unnecessary addition of SA against Arinya by a demon.

Ex was also a rather petulant protagonist that would have been more understandable if this had been written for a YA audience. Rather, we have a man in his mid-twenties with an astounding level of entitlement and ego. The arguments between Ex and Arinya also felt very teenage rather than sometime between hardened warriors.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and just wish it had been executed slightly differently.

Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robot for this ARC, I DNFed @38% and will post an unrated and shortened review of the following on Goodreads. I was lured by the beautiful cover and Thai-mythology, and was enjoying the adventuring and phi spirits, but I swear this is YA despite it being widely accepted as adult and I *almost* had no issue with that. I was getting by fine enough with the simple writing, kinda surface-level characters, okay quest-plot and threats, and younger-approach to the themes, but I got to a point where the 24yo male MC and 28yo(?) female have an immature as hell spat that includes the *I’m not going to tell you the truth of the situation and everything I’m thinking/feeling and gaslight you* thing and I decided it was time. I did love the phi and another POV character (which was absolutely stronger and more interesting and I wasn’t getting enough time with her) and I can’t say it’s a bad book. Again just not for me.

70% into the book, I got anxiety.

Now, given that this book has a fair amount of gore as it has fantastical elements, it would have been understandable. I squirm during horror movies and could not finish a Last Destination movie without getting actual nightmares. But no, this time it wasn't due to its quite descriptive violent scenes. I realized just when I was about to finish through the epilogue... that it was because the book was ending. It was going to be over, finished.

I got so attached to this book without realizing it. I LOVED THIS BOOK.

Ex is a 24 year-old Phi hunter. I won't go into details about what the Phi are but know they are dark spirits that often cause grief in the mortal plane, so phi hunters exist to eradicate them. Phi hunters are "morally gray", one would say. They hunt and kill phi, yes, but only do so when the Phi actively causes strife in an area of the kingdom. They (or at least our MMC) never kill humans and are not considered murderers. They hunt efficiently by scavenging phi parts to sell to witches and apothecaries who need the phi parts.

Ex is on a journey to take our FMC, Arinya, to a well-known witch for... a ritual. It all starts there, the adventure, the romance, and Ex's journey to hunt the True Demon (greater Phi), Shar-Ala.

This book, I realized when I jumped into the audiobook at Chapter 1, is so similar to a game my significant other and I enjoy playing: Monster Hunter. The game requires you to hunt monsters and "farm" for parts for your armor. Usually, monsters that have caused trouble to the Village you belong to. Because of this connection, it was easy for me to imagine most of the fighting in the book, the appearances of the phi, and even the guild of the Phi hunters. Oh, and he has a best friend, who is a Hound, that I think is a cross between Cerberus and a Palamute.

The dash of romance was also very cute. I LOVED Ex and Arinya's dynamic, with him being a younger, more naive boy than his older counterpart (8 years apart, if I recall correctly), chaos and funny moments were likely to ensue. Though there are times when Ex would make decisions about his feelings and relationship with Arinya that would lead you to think he has 5 different layers of stupid in him, it was all understandable because he had no experience with love. All this guy thinks about is Shar-Ala, hunting Shar-Ala, and Spicy Bami noodles.

Until Arinya came.

I won't reveal more about their romance because it only gets better and better, just like their character development. Their love becomes so pure and sweet that it just makes me ache with happiness and envy. Oh, and I should add right now that this is a semi-clean romance, and I'm glad it is.

I'd like to share a quote that made me scream into my pillow, when the master asked Ex about his feelings for Arinya:

"It is a force of nature, boy. Sometimes it swells like a tsunami, and drowns you. Sometimes it grows as slow as a tree, and blooms like a flower. Which was it?"

Ex exhaled as his will faded into slush. "How the sun rises. And the stars come out."

Like??? I CANT!!! To him, their love is slow but inevitable!!!

Anyway, I digress.

A LOT happens in this book. After achieving one goal, you'd think the villain is defeated. Alas, there is not one villain, but TWO. The real one, being the second, is such a character. Think Jafar from Aladdin or Tzekel-Khan of El Dorado. THOSE VIBES.

The story touches briefly on other planes of existence, reincarnation, ambition, Karma, and all that good stuff. This is the first novel I've read with a background in Thai culture and mythology, so most of it went over my head, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I love elements of reincarnation--or an implication of such a phenomenon.

All in all, Goldenburg has weaved a new and exciting prose, not despite Thai culture and mythology, but because of it. The way each character is flawed and finds peace with those flaws is so achingly human despite half of them not being one. The political and social issues, such as the fading of magic and the declining need for phi hunters have not been resolved at the very end simply because it is inevitable. Their world, much like ours, will simply move on and progress, and myths and legends will soon cease and become superstitions until finally, they become pages in a storybook.

With how the story ended, it might be true that Ex is indeed THE LAST PHI HUNTER... it is inevitable. And that's okay.

SOLID 5 STARS.

Dear author, if you're reading this, I'm asking for HELP. What in the 5 realms was THAT ENDING?! Can we have a long, nice chat over coffee or tea while I interrogate you about it and all the other theories that have kept my mind occupied for the last 8 hours!? Please and thank you!

P.S, my boyfriend is dying to read your book. :)

P.P.S I listened to this as an audiobook but read along with my ebook in netgalley. Kudos to the narrator for making the book 10x funnier, especially with how he voiced Ex.

I was so excited to read this story as soon as I found out it follows a monster hunter hunting beasts from Thai mythology - and I'm very happy to report it did not disappoint. The worldbuilding was absolutely outstanding: it felt fresh, innovative, and so well drawn, with a world that feels atmospheric and lived in. I loved all the different monsters and creatures our characters meet, especially Narissa, a krasue hoping to overcome her curse and become human again. The two main characters, Ex and Arinya, are both so much fun, and I particularly enjoyed Ex's voice - he's cocky, stubborn, and hilarious. Absolutely loved this!

Thanks Dreamscape Media for the audiobook ARC - David Lee Huynh's narration was perfect.

Never have I wanted something so much and not known it until I got it. This pretty much sums up what was going through my head when I finished Salinee Goldenberg’s debut, The Last Phi Hunter. I don’t think I know how to capture my excitement for this book in a single review, but I sure will try.

The Last Phi Hunter is an action-packed adult fantasy that transports the reader to a world heavily inspired by Thai folklore. Even though I wasn’t familiar with the culture, I couldn’t help but feel engaged and filled with wonder as I explored this new world, rather than feeling overwhelmed or lost. This is exactly what fantasy is supposed to do. It speaks to our deep human desire to embark on an adventure in a faraway land and discover new aspects of life. That is what The Last Phi Hunter offered in such a brilliant way. It’s a reminder of why fantasy is so great.

Our guide through this adventure is Ex—the Phi Hunter—who is given the seemingly easy task of escorting the pregnant prince’s consort. A task that turns out to be not as simple as he would have expected. Our Phi Hunter navigates the human and spirit realms in the hope of fulfilling a task that is stubbornly—just like his companion—doing its best to complicate what should have been an easy job.

Ex is a great protagonist. He is endearing and funny but also so relatable in that he wants to prove to the members of his guild that he’s the best at what he does—which he is, as far as I’m concerned. However, his experience in his very spirit-related work makes him lacking in other aspects of life, namely interacting with other humans.

But despite Ex’s PoV having most of the “screen time,” he was by far not the only notable character in the story. The character that left the biggest impact on me, as she did on Ex, is Arinya, his companion. Despite being escorted by Ex, and not being familiar with the intricacies of his work or having the required training to deal with the dangers they face on the way, she never felt like she was lacking in agency. Quite the opposite. Sometimes, it felt like Ex was the one struggling to keep up with her, which always turned out to be both the most hilarious and heartbreaking moments in the story.

Overall, I really loved this story. I enjoyed the world-building, the folklore, and the characters. God, I loved Ex’s and Arinya’s banter so much. The pacing was also really well-handled, with the story speeding up to increase tension when action was required, and slowing down to explore the deeper emotions of the characters and the consequences of their actions. I very much hope to revisit this world again in future books because I simply can’t get enough of it, and that’s truly the biggest compliment I could give a novel, especially a debut.

3.75 stars

First, a huge thanks to NetGalley for an early copy of the audiobook for The Last Phi Hunter.

We start the story following Ex who’s a Phi Hunter on his journey to finding Shar-Ala, however this is interrupted when he runs into Arinya and he’s now tasked with getting her back to safety with the prince.

Ex was a great MC to follow, he was funny, sarcastic, witty but was also very awkward at times which I loved. His character arc was great but could’ve been a little bit more flushed and consistent. He made some terrible yet hilarious mistakes along the way but he’s always trying to do the right thing one way or another. He was also quite horny 😂

His relationship with Arinya starts very weird, given that she’s the princes consort and she was pregnant when they first met on this journey. I did feel like we didn’t get the full story behind Arinya, and felt like she was more difficult to get an overall read on. I wish the romance felt more natural but the flow between strangers to lovers was a bit clunky and felt incomplete.

The world building was phenomenal, the author did an excellent job with the descriptions of all creatures we encounter which makes the story easy to follow and imagine. Plot was mostly consistent, could use some work with some details about the kingdom and how the romance developed but overall a great debut novel by Salinee Goldenberg.

Salinee Goldenberg nos ofrece la mezcla perfecta de fantasía con raíces en el folklore tailandés, acción y diversión en The Last Phi Hunter, una obra muy cinematográfica y entretenida que gana bastantes enteros con la interpretación en audiolibro de David Lee Huynh.


El protagonista es Ex, un joven cazador de demonios obsesionado con cazar a Shar-Ala, un ser de leyenda al que hace tiempo que no se le ve. Ex vende los restos de sus presas para subsistir, ya que son valiosos recursos en el mundo mágico. Sin embargo, Ex no es invencible y cuando Arinya, embarazada de nueve meses, le salva de una buena tunda, no puede negarse a acompañarla y protegerla en su periplo hacia su destino.

Las principales bondades de la novela son una construcción de mundo muy atractiva con la existencia de criaturas mágicas fuera del bestiario más conocido en occidente. Aunque el desarrollo de los personajes y sus relaciones podría mejorar, sobre todo el principio de la novela es muy divertido con las constantes pullas que se lanzan. Tiene su parte de romance, pero no es un eje fundamental de la novela o al menos no me lo parece.

Aunque la trama no es excesivamente intrincada, es innegable que los tejemanejes de los poderes en las sombras sorprenden en más de una ocasión a los lectores. Sí que algunos de los elementos de la historia parecen un poco acelerados, quizá huyendo de la pérdida de ritmo que podría suponer un exceso de exposición entre escenas de combate. No le hubiera venido mal algo más de equilibrio en este aspecto.

Otro de los personajes, no mencionaré cuál, tiene un arco de redención cautivador, negándose durante décadas a saciar su hambre en pos de la salvación. Un concepto budista cuya filosofía empapa cada página del libro, sin menoscabo alguno de escenas violentas y sangrientas. Es posible que por momentos nos recuerde a Geralt de Rivia, por su tarea de acabar con monstruos por dinero, pero Ex es mucho más joven y bisoño, sin el poso de amargura del Brujo.

Aunque el libro no se presenta como parte de una saga y tiene una conclusión satisfactoria, no me extrañaría que la autora volviera a este universo con una nueva entrega, ya que tiene los elementos necesarios para continuar contándonos historias de Ex.

Where this book shines is the worldbuilding - from different tiers of magic that are viewed with varying degrees of acceptance, spirits and demons that are powerful but falling out of public acknowledgment, to religious practices rising and falling. The creatures are dark and terrifying, many based upon the cycle of karma and the sins of souls’ past lives. We also get some political maneuvering as the monarchy scrambles to follow the trends of power.

I wasn’t entirely convinced by the characters though. The will-they-won’t-they love story felt kinda forced to me and I felt that it distracted from the plot and world elements that shined so brightly.

This book wasn’t for me, but that doesn’t mean that other people won’t enjoy it. The portrayal of women felt a little immature, and I have a hard time getting past that in a book. The beginning of the book dives in with killing a phi before we even know what a phi is, so it’s hard to know whose side the reader is supposed to be on. The premise was interesting, though.

The Last Phi Hunter came onto my radar when Lezlie from The Nerdy Narrative shared the cover on Twitter. This started as a cover read, for sure. I fell in love with the arc cover (it's gray, not this one). Now that I finished it, I am glad I fell in love with the cover because this book is an absolute blast. I enjoyed it a lot.

The Last Phi Hunter takes place in a Thai-myth-inspired world and follows Ex, an ambitious, young, a little bit over his head(?) hunter. He is a lone wolf until he meets Arinya, a pregnant woman who needs his help.

Salinee Goldenberg's world is downright mesmerizing. Dark forests, eerie spirits, and ancient mysteries lurk around every corner. It's like stepping into a whole new realm of imagination. So much so, even the color of the world changes! I was hooked from the get-go.

This was a cover read, but in the end, what really grabbed me about The Last Phi Hunter is just how darn original it is. I mean, we've all read our fair share of fantasy tales, right? But this one? It's like nothing I've ever come across before. Goldenberg's story is fresh, vibrant, and rich with vivid descriptions that bring the world to life. I couldn't put it down if I tried.

Now, let's talk about the tone. You'd think a story with dark themes and gory scenes and, body horror would be pretty heavy, right? But not this one. Goldenberg manages to weave in a healthy dose of humor that keeps things light and entertaining, even when things get downright spooky. It's like watching your favorite horror flick with a side of laughter - the perfect balance.

And I also want to take a moment to appreciate the characters. Ex, our main protagonist, is a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, he's got good intentions and an ambitious spirit that's hard not to admire. But on the other hand, he is seriously flawed. Sometimes his ambition gets the best of him, leading to some pretty disastrous outcomes. And there are times when he veers dangerously close to Mary Sue territory. But hey, despite his flaws, there is something undeniably charming about him. But it's not Ex who shines - every character, from Phi to the spirits, is so likeable and complex. I am itching to learn more about their backstories and what makes them tick. I'd love to read novellas about them, tbh. I hope she writes more about this world.

While the Last Phi Hunter boasts an enchanting world inspired by Thai demon folklore and interesting characters, it's not without its flaws. Like, Salinee Goldenberg's descriptive prowess shines through, her fight scenes often leave much to be desired. Unlike the visceral intensity of authors like John Gwnne, the action in Goldenberg's novel feels somewhat lackluster, especially considering Ex's role as a demon hunter.

One more downside of the book is that, as the story progresses, things begin to feel a bit repetitive, particularly towards the end. It's as if the narrative hits a plateau, spinning its wheels without much momentum. And while the romance subplot adds a touch of sweetness to the tale, it can't quite shake off the feeling of being rushed, much like the ending itself. There's a sense that certain elements could have been given more room to breathe, allowing for a more satisfying conclusion.

By extension, the balance of the story feels a bit off. Some aspects are dragged out while others, such as the rich political background (or, more like, the life in the palace) are left underdeveloped. It's a missed opportunity to weave in deeper layers of intrigue and complexity, which could have added depth to the overall narrative.

But in the end, Salinee Goldenberg's debut, The Last Phi Hunter, is a very impressive book. It is immersive, rich, and colorful. It is dark and bloody. It is funny and heartfelt. I found myself thoroughly immersed in its pages and eagerly wait more from Salinee Goldenberg. It is a great read.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Angry Robot and Salinee Goldenberg for granting me early digital access in exchange for my honest review! The book will be out on April 9th 2024, don't miss it!

Thank you Angry Robot, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for an eARC and advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review!

Ex is a member of the Phi Hunters Order, and he is on a quest to slay a demon that has been plaguing the Order and his masters. Shar-Ala is the demon of nightmares and madness, though, and on the way Ex gets his ass kicked and is saved by Arinya, who is a muay-boran champion and nine months pregnant. In return for saving him, Arinya wants his help, and so his quest gets a little derailed.

The Last Phi Hunter was so fun and one of those books where you’re like “yeah, this is definitely a romp.” I liked Goldenberg’s writing and found her tone to be humorous in a way that works in this land of demon slaying. I really loved her worldbuilding and how Thai mythology and folklore was used to create the Suyoram Kingdom. While I do think that one of the weak points of this novel was Ex and Arinya’s characterizations, they were still fun to follow and the actual journey they went on was super entertaining. Also, the demons and spirits were wonderful. While I don’t think this particular book will live rent free in my head, it’s also one I see myself rereading and I’d definitely read anything else that Goldenberg wants to set in this world. This is such a wild ride of a debut in every positive sense you can imagine, and the world is really interesting.

David Lee Huynh did a great job with the audiobook! He did a good job differentiating the voices of each character and it was an enjoyable experience.

Definitely recommend this, and I’ll keep an eye on Goldenberg’s career.