This duology strongly echoes The Lunar Chronicles, particularly the character of Cinder, which immediately drew me in. What truly impressed me was how this second book diverged from the first, offering a refreshing shift. It leans heavily into a captivating romance, expertly delivered through dual points of view, all while maintaining a thrilling, action-packed plot. The world-building is rich, and I could easily envision numerous future stories set within it.

If you're a fan of young adult fantasy that seamlessly blends romance and science fiction, this duology is a must-add to your TBR! Mark your calendars for its release on March 18, 2025.

Thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Le is an artful writer who manages to skate purple prose without drowning in it. I liked that this was Kochin's story to complement Nhika's from the first book. This was a satisfying conclusion to the duology.

This was a great conclusion to the series. I ended up enjoying it even more than the first book. It somehow took a few main things that I wouldn’t usually like about a second or third book in a series (main characters spending time apart, flashing back and forth). But, the author turned them over and inside out, and made me absolutely love this book.

It was an interesting balance, as for almost the whole book, it flipped between the perspective of Kochin and Nhika, flashing back starting 6 months before for Kochin. It was definitely more romance heavy than the last book, even as they do not see each other. However, the author continued with the theme of colonialism, suspense and mystery that initially drew me into the first book.

My only complaint is that I wish there was more of an ending for the rest of this world and not just for Nhika and Kochin (although I was satisfied with their ending).

Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Title: His Mortal Demise
Author: Vanessa Le      
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Kochin is a heartsooth -- a rare being with the ability to heal any wound. Any wound, that is, except death.

Intent on defying nature and bringing Nhika back to life, Kochin keeps her body in a life-preserving casket and waits for a miracle. Stricken with grief and descending into madness, Kochin realizes the answer to his desperate quest can only lie in one place: Yarong, the lush yet battle-ridden island the first heartsooths called home.

Months later, Nhika wakes in a familiar manor-house, with Kochin nowhere to be found. As she traces his footsteps across Theumas, she discovers the haunting path he walked to bring her back, and a world changed by war.

When Kochin discovers the true and grisly way to resurrect a person from the grave, he must decide exactly how much he is willing to sacrifice, in order to reunite with the woman he loves...

I really enjoyed this read! I liked the first book in this duology, and I think this book did a fantastic job of wrapping up all the storylines from the first book while on an entirely new adventure. The dual-POV really worked for me, along with the dual timeline, allowing the reader to see all aspects of the story. I liked both Nhika and Kochin’s stories, and seeing the familiar secondary characters from the first book added another layer of comfort to the story. This would make an excellent weekend read!

Vanessa Le is from the Pacific Northwest. His Mortal Demise is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 3/25.)

His Mortal Demise was almost more of an ending to book one with some really intense moments and a lot of suspense. I was on the edge of my seat with nerves, wanting to find out what would happen next! I loved this series, and the wrap-up worked splendidly. The first book set such an awesome plot, and I loved the murder mystery thrown in. The second book has a subplot of war, but it was still interesting and a great story. It's labeled YA, and while there's no spice and not heavy on the romance, it has a very romantic theme and some darker themes around death. The series is definitely a 5 star, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a little murder mystery mixed into their fantasy books. I loved the cast of characters. The storytelling was brilliant and had an interesting plot. I loved the magic used and the science parts of the books that twisted with the magic.

Plus, these titles and covers are fantastic too!

I strongly advise you to read the first book to understand this book better.

I'm impressed with the style of writing as it is descriptive and gives you a lot to think about. My only fault, which is my own, is not to have read *The Last Bloodcarver,* as this is the conclusion of the duology.

This will be a spoiler free review. Onto the review!

I can’t say much about the plot of this book without spoilers, but what I will say is this. This book centers around two characters from the first book, one who is dead and the other who is trying to use necromancy to bring that person back to life. Both characters get a perspective. How? Because the necromancer’s perspective is from before the act of necromancy has happened, and the other perspective is after.

The character who has been revived doesn’t know what has happened, so that person is trying to put the missing pieces together. Meanwhile, we’re catching up to speed as we see the necromancer going on a long journey to figure out how to do necromancy. In addition to these two plot threads, we’re also watching their country gradually end up at war. The necromancer goes to war part way through the book, because the information they need to perform revive the other character is on the island where the war is taking place.

This war becomes one of the main themes of the book. The island where the battle takes place was once the home of the people who had been conquered by the country that our main characters live in. This theme popped up a little bit in the first book, but now it’s really prevalent. Who really owns the land? Is it right to be fighting on land that once belonged to a different people? Should the land be given back to its people, even though most of the people who grew up there have died? Would their children and grandchildren even want to live there if the land was theirs?

Although it’s impossible to answer every question, this book does its best to show you a variety of different perspectives that might hint at some semblance of an answer. I liked that the author didn’t try and take one stance over another, but rather provided you with the questions and then let you answer it for yourself. I can definitely see teens who are a part of marginalized groups using this as a springboard to start thinking about their heritage. I’m really glad that this duology exists for teens in that way.

If the premise of the first book or any of these themes sound interesting to you, I’d definitely recommend giving this duology a try. I loved these two books a lot. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy.

His Mortal Demise follows the events from The Last Bloodcarver with Nhika having just used her life to save Kochin's. Kochin embarks on a journey, haunted by Nhika's ghost and desperate to bring her back.
The magic system is still fascinating, in built on anatomy. I enjoyed the format of this book with chapters in the present and in the past and it was satisfying when the two timelines conjoined.
This book is more war heavy than the first but still brings over the themes of colonization and value of life from the first one. I appreciated the book when I got to end because of the vastly different journeys Nhika and Kochin go through to go "home".

Book 2 in the series picked up right where book 1 ended. I really liked the first book, but I juts could not get into this one.

After that ending of THE LAST BLOODCARVER, I was impatiently waiting for the sequel. I just loved the mystery behind everything. The two timelines kept me flipping pages to see WHAT HAPPENED. And I love the darker themes in this young adult novel. And especially adore Kochin and Nhika.

Here's how good this book was - I read it, and didn't realize until halfway through that I'd accidentally requested the second book in the duology off of Netgalley without having read the first.

I was immediately sucked into this world, with such atmospheric, historical-inspired fantasy true love. My heart ached for the main character trying to find a way to resurrect their love. Even with so much power, it was even more intense trying to find out what would happen.

The writing is gorgeous, and the characterization is deep. I immediately felt pulled into this world, and I didn't want to leave. I'll now need to read the first - but I'm not mad that this somehow worked on its own as well, it's such a testament to Vanessa Le's writing.

“His Mortal Demise” by Vanessa Le is a thrilling, heart-pounding masterpiece that completely captivates from start to finish. This dark, immersive novel blends elements of mystery, supernatural intrigue, and deep emotional tension into a spellbinding story that will leave you breathless.

Le’s writing is masterful, with every sentence carefully crafted to pull the reader deeper into the gripping world she’s built. The pacing is perfect—each twist and turn feels carefully timed to heighten suspense while providing just enough emotional depth to make every revelation truly impactful. The characters are complex and multifaceted, with motivations that feel raw and real. The main female character Nhika, in particular, is someone you can’t help but root for, as she navigates a world of danger, betrayal, and personal struggle. You also can’t help but pull for Nhika & Kochin as their complicated relationship continues to evolve.

What truly stands out in “His Mortal Demise” is the way Le weaves together the supernatural elements with very human themes of loss, love, and vengeance. The supernatural intrigue isn’t just there for spectacle; it adds layers to the story that elevate it beyond typical genre fare. There’s a deep, almost poetic quality to the way the plot unfolds, with each twist revealing something not just about the world, but about the characters' very souls.

With its unpredictable plot, richly developed world, and haunting emotional depth, “His Mortal Demise” is a tour de force. Le has delivered a novel that is not only a thrilling ride but also an exploration of the complexities of the human spirit. It’s a dark, beautiful, and utterly unforgettable read that will linger in your mind long after you turn the last page. Le has given us such a beautiful end to this duology. Highly recommended for fans of supernatural thrillers, mysteries, and powerful character-driven stories!

What a fantastic ending to this duology! I really enjoyed the journey that the author took us on.

This world is so unique, I love the magic system in this duology. I think that I probably should have reread the first book and that would’ve made the experience even better. That being said I really enjoyed this and would absolutely recommend.

A fast paced sequel and finale! The alternating timelines for the majority of the novel was very clever helped unravel the mystery of how Nhika wakes up at the Congmi’s home after the events of the first book! This book seriously had me on the edge of my seat with its twists and turns! So much suspense!! Such a great duology! Will highly recommend!

A lovely ending to this duology! As a Bloodcarver, magic that can alter human biology, it is clear Kochin is desperate to succeed as he explores what costs he is willing to pay.

I think of these books as bringing romantasy together with science fiction, especially in the way they build on the author’s medical training. Overall, a unique take on fantasy.

The set-up in this book was really well done. You quickly learn that Kochin succeeds in his goal following the first book but the flashbacks help fill in the details and his character development.

Nhika continues to inspire and refuses to give up on anyone as her and Kochin pursue freedom and love.

With the way The Last Bloodcarver ended, I had no idea what to expect (other than Kochin trying to bring Nhika back to life). His Mortal Demise grapples with many topics like war, the price one is willing to pay to get what one wants, and love. This book goes back and forth between the present and the past in order to fully tell Kochin’s story. I thought it was a great way to tell the story. There weren’t any loose ends in the end of this duology, even though there was no promise of things working out throughout the book (Kochin and Nhika have been through more than any one person should). I think anyone who loves The Last Bloodcarver will love this as well. For people who have never entered this world, it is full of lush imagery of a Vietnam-like country and a magical system that is very unique and close to being extinct.

This sequel dives deeper into a beautifully complex world, balancing heavy themes like colonization and grief with strong character growth and a cinematic, action-packed climax. While the dual POVs and flashbacks were a bit confusing at first, everything clicked in the final chapters, making the payoff worth it. If you’re into YA fantasy with mystery, romance, and rich world-building, this series is definitely worth checking out!

The Last Bloodcarver was a beautiful, fantastical thriller filled with Vietnamese culture and history, but having to wait for the conclusion of the duology and the fates of Kochin and Nhika put me in a slight post read sad fog. Not to worry, His Mortal Demise was worth the wait. Vanessa Le wrote a novel that stands on its own and not merely a completion of earlier plot strings. The beautiful prose remains as does the suspense and thriller elements. Although it does take a different narration approach, a duo plotline: Kochin’s story in different increments of time leading up yo the present, while Nhika’s story in the present trying to figure out exactly what happened since the end of the previous novel. The struggle was each of the chapter cliffhangers, but the excitement to see where the other character was headed. A couple of new characters add to the complexity of the plot and bring new light to each of the old favorites.

His Mortal Demise has an intriguing premise and strong atmospheric writing, but uneven pacing and underdeveloped characters hold it back. While the twists are compelling, the emotional depth falls short, leaving it an enjoyable yet forgettable read.

This duology was so good! It’s such a unique premise and it features characters that you can’t help but love. I highly recommend this series to anyone, whether you normally read YA or not. I think it has something that can appeal to a wide variety of readers.