First of all, the narrators did a great job bringing the two main characters to life. After the events that took place in the first book, we now find Kochin alone, completely devastated. He is willing to do anything to bring Nhika back, even if it means losing parts of himself. I liked that they were given dual POVs and were able to tell their memories of past events and what they were feeling at the time. We were able to follow Kochin on this journey and experience his state of mind as he fought to bring back Nhika. We also got to see Nhika's journey and how, after being disregarded for so long by others, she finally found a group of people who cared for her.

Thank you to Fierce Reads for the e-arc and Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

What an ending!
This sequel picks up several months after the end of the first one when Nhika wakes up. Kochin is nowhere to be found. No one has seen him. But then we switch to right after the end of the first book. So we have a dual timeline, now and then. Kochin steals and keeps Nhika in a life preserving casket while he tries to figure out how to bring her back from death. I'm not going to lie, having 2 POVs and having 2 timelines was a little hard to keep track of. It was really necessary though because Kochin went through so much to save Nhika and his story was so interesting.
Nhika was so determined to figure out what had happened to Kochin through this whole book. Her loneliness at being the only Bloodcarver/Heartsooth was so prominent in the first book and you could really tell she wanted to believe that connection between her and Kochin was still there and he was ok. I loved her connection she kept with the Conmi family (I don't know how to spell it since I listened to the audiobook). They really cared about her despite having purchased her for their own means in the first book. Kochin had such a rough go of it in this book, but he learned so much about his heartsoothing and himself and really gained confidence and an amazing outlook on things.
Despite the format being a little muddled, I loved following each character and watching them come together in the "now." The ending was so well done and exciting and also thought provoking. I think it turned out perfectly and well wrapped up.
There were 2 audiobook narrators - one for Nhika and one for Kochin. They both were fantastic. Nhika's narrator was bright and really pulled you into the story and Kochin's narrator felt a little brooding, but that's how his character was in this book. They both really fit their parts and kept the intrigue alive.
I really hope this series gains more fans with the release of this one, because I don't see it around social media a lot, and it's so unique!

The narration on the audiobook was great! I didn’t listen for the first book so I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Loved seeing where the duology went, especially after the cliffhanger from the first book!

This is such an excellent YA fantasy duology with such a unique magic system of bloodcarvers/heartsooths, who can manipulate peoples bodies, usually to heal but also to harm.

This book picked right up where that massive cliffhanger left off. There was a lot of jumping between Kochin and his 6 months ago to present journey and Nhika in the present to slowly reveal what happened to get to present day, so I was on the edge of my seat the whole time waiting to find out what happened!

I enjoyed Kochin’s story through the war and felt that this had more of a focus on him in this book vs Nhika, who more of the focus in the first book. I enjoyed getting to see his POV and his journey!

The romance was light be so sweet and I really enjoyed it.

I loved this duology and definitely recommend!

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for this audiobook ARC of His Mortal Demise.

I want to preface this review by stating I did not read the first book in this series and honestly didn’t know this was a sequel. I would DEFINITELY recommend reading the first one first. I was super confused until I realized that this was a sequel.

Overall this book was super interesting and has a very unique magic system! That was probably the best part about this book.

The characters are definitely intriguing. It was interesting to watch Kochin pretty much go dark in his quest for love.

Again, I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read the first one, but it definitely seems like a series that’s worth reading!

I loved the first book in this series and was so excited for this one. I wanted to love it more than I did, but I enjoyed it a lot. I liked that so much of this book as told from Kochin, that really rounded out the story. I listened to the audiobook and I really enjoyed the narrators, they really brought the characters to life. Kochin starts this book determined to find a way to use his heart soothing abilities to bring Nokia back to life. He is determined to find a way because he doesn’t know what his life is without her and he can’t life with her sacrifice of her life to save his. When Nhika awakens she is surprised to find the world at war and is frustrated to not be able to find Kochin. This book is beautiful and it will definitely stick with me for a long time. I’m good with this series being over, but I wouldn’t mind another story told in this same world.

His Mortal Demise is the stunning conclusion to The Last Bloodcarver series, packed with secrets, mystery and an ever sweet romance.

I absolutely loved the first book and this one just as much! I enjoyed seeing Kochin's POV of the happenings after book one and the dynamics of his character evolving throughout the book. Nhika, the FMC, is back and seeking the answer to a question that haunts her. How is she here?

Jumping back into this action packed, fast paced series was an invigorating adventure as we get a more in depth view of the science and magic of heartsoothing/bloodcarving.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for providing the eALC.

I had such an amazing time reading this book! I loved the first book, and with the way things ended, I was looking forward to seeing how they were going to back from that. Though I didn't remember if it ended with Nhika's death, or with her waking up.

How this story was told, alternating between Kochin's perspective, starting from 6 months ago and slowly progressing to the point where Nhika's story starts when she wakes up alive, was fantastic. The mystery was how he figured out how to bring her back, and where he was, if he'd survived it. Loved it!

This was more his story then hers, which was great, since she did go through a lot there. That he's working through his grief and his hope to bring her back, and his family and the guilt he feels having been duped, it was fantastic.

I loved that last 3rd of the book, where answers were had, and it was just a matter of dealing with the bad guy. I really enjoyed how that worked, we don't see it playing out like that very often, and I'm glad that things were resolved like that.

Loved reading this book and I can't wait to read more by Vanessa Le!

4.25/5
This was a great duology.
I am such a sucker for dual POV and with how book 1 ended I loved the way it was portrayed. There is more about their world and I enjoyed learning about the magic and the island. It builds on the found family. I absolutely loved this ending and happy that I got to read this interesting story.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Young Listeners
For the opportunity to listen to the story!

4.5 stars

I really liked this sequel and conclusion to The Last Bloodcarver. The magic system is so different from other fantasy systems popular now; it is a healing, health based ability and we really get to see it in action in this book. The story combines science and inventions with fantasy and magic.

Duology series are becoming my favorite because you don’t get that lag that can happen in the middle book of a trilogy. This sequel is told alternately from Nhika and Kochin’s POV after the events of the first book and on two different time lines. We discover along with Nhika what happened to get to the present day. These two are smart and determined plus I love the character growth they go through.

The narrators for each POV were well cast and I think added to the experience.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

I have followed and loved the whole series and this absolutely did not disappoint! The narrator was perfection in giving voice to this series! Thank you so much for allowing me to review!!

An excellent conclusion to this duology! The author has created such a strong setting and culture(s), and you can also see her medical background showing up in the details. The alternating timelines drive a fast paced plot without being frustrating. The weakest part for me is that I didn't really care for any of the characters, but as I'm mostly a plot based reader, this didn't bother me too much.

The audiobook has dual narration which is always nice, and both narrators were good if not particularly memorable. They didn't take me out of the story, which is really all I need.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.

In a lot of ways, this was way better than book one. And WARNING there will be spoilers for book 1 in here, though I will try my best and keep this as spoiler free for book 2.

Following the events at the end of the Last Bloodcarver, Nhika has given her life in exchange for healing Kochin. But Kochin doesn't want to live in a world without Nhika. As a heartsooth, Kochin can heal anything, but it is to defy nature to try and bring back the dead. Despite this, Kochin keeps Nhika's lifeless body in a life-preserving casket as he waits to discover the way to bring her back, using his magic to keep her body as alive as possible. Months later, with Kochin missing, Nhika wakes. As she follows the steps that Kochin took in order to resurrect her, she discovers that the path he took to find his answer left him deep into the heart of a war. Will they find each other and be reunited? Or is it too late?

Told through dual POV, His Mortal Demise follows Kochin (from six months ago through the present) and Nhika who is just waking up to discover she's lost months of her life. Exploring the concept of what someone is willing to sacrifice to bring back the one they love, Vanessa Le waves a story of magic and pain and hope, keeping the reader at the edge of their seat, especially once we discover what it actually costs to revive the dead. The inhumane way people are treated for being of a different race or for having magic is still front and center in this, but what makes it worse here is not only the exploitation of them, but also the glimpse into the experiments that were being run on them. This was beautiful and heartbreaking and haunting, but also full of hope and what it means to be absolutely determined to do the impossible.

Thanks to NetGalley for the Audio ARC!

Fantastic narration and production quality!

After how much I loved and enjoyed The Last Bloodcarver, I don't quite want to say this was a disappointment...but it definitely wasn't as enjoyable for me. I think it was mostly how broody and self-sabotaging and self-deprecating Ven was. I'm not saying he shouldn't have been upset and broody, but it was so much and so strong the entire time that it just because obnoxious. That said, I did really enjoy the structure - Ven's POV being 6 months previous (at the end of The Last Bloodcarver) to current, and the other picking up 6 months after The Last Bloodcarver was over, with the two coming together for the last part of the book as their timelines collide.

I highly recommend this duology overall - it's a shining example of what YA can be, with an amazing magic system and fascinating worldbuilding and lore and complex/flawed/broken characters that will have you cheering them on as well as scolding them for their stupidity. The writing is super solid and the story compelling - a great read for any fantasy lover.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5

His Mortal Demise is the twisty, tender, and immersive sequel to The Last Bloodcarver that hooked me from the first page.

After Vanessa presented a surprising, fascinating, and intricate magic system in The Last Bloodcarver, I knew I should prepare for a riveting, surprising sequel. I’m so glad I did because Vanessa delivered a pulse-pounding, heart-wrenching sequel that shimmered with creativity, power, and love. Vanessa’s prose was beautiful, and I adored how she seamlessly explored multiple landscapes and settings, as well as diving into different timelines and expanding upon the intriguing magic from book one. The romance was aching and stunning, and I admired how it not only propelled the story but encompassed it. The character development was wonderful, and I was thrilled to experience more of Kochin’s story and return to Nhika’s addictive wit and personality. The pacing was fast and addictive, and the ending was lovely. I highly recommend this brilliant duology!

Jason Vu was the perfect narrator for Kochin. His voice, accents, and depth complimented the story perfectly and presented a fantastic listening experience. I also enjoyed VyVy Nguyen’s performance as Nhika’s narrator, although her voice occasionally felt flat. Overall, I would recommend the audiobook.

Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC!

Alternative timelines and points of view are some of my favorite books to read. So having this book to a book I thoroughly enjoyed was honestly the best feeling in the world. This was such a satisfying conclusion.

First off, I must say that I adored the narration by both performers. I found Vu's performance to be more emotional and closer to what I imagined Kochin's voice to be (I read the last book, not listened). It was hard to get used to Nguyen's voice for Nhika, but it was still a clear and concise performance. In the end, both narrators worked well together in their respective chapters.

I didn't have time to reread The Last Bloodcarver before diving into the duology's finale, so I went into the story with vague memories. I was able to catch up enough, but I still somewhat struggled. I can only hope this changes when I reread the series back the back sometime in the future.

This book is very different from the first. Not only because of the dual POV between Nhika and Kochin, but because themes such as war, colonialism, and how both work to separate people from their cultures. I normally all for that, but the first book had mazing character dialogue and interactions that were missed in this book because everyone is separated for the majority of the narrative looking (and attempting to revive) each other. I did like how action-packed it got, especially at the climax, but I still wish there was more time spent with all the characters I've come to love together.

I think it's safe to say that this is very much a Kochin book, as he's going through the most throughout the story and has the most character growth, whereas in Nhika's POV she's mostly following after Kochin's footsteps. It's because of this Kochin was the most interesting of the protagonists, which saddened me a little because I adored Nhika.

All in all, this was a satisfying follow-up/conclusion to his duology, and the narration was quite a treat to listen to!

4.25/5 Stars

His Mortal Demise is an amazing sequel that concludes The Last Bloodcarver duology.

Told from alternative timelines and points of view we follow Kochin as he begins his quest to bring Nhika back to life and Nhika freshly awakened after six months and her search for Kochin. We follow them through different timelines into the future where life has changed significantly in the six months since we've last seen them. With several guest appearances from past characters and ineriguinging new characters this story keeping you in engaged from first minute to last.

The dual narration in this story was so well done! Jason Vu and VyVy Nguyen do an amazing job portraying our main characters and bringing their feelings and the feelings in the book alive. Vanessa Le does an amazing job creating tension and complex characters. I loved this one!

I would recommend you pick it up if you love fantasy and unique magical systems and characters that tug at your heartstrings! Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Big thanks to Vanessa Le and Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this ALC!

This book is the finale of a duopoly and picks up where The Bloodcarver ended. It is dual POV with alternating timelines. Narrated by Jason Vu and VyVy Nguyen who done an amazing job bringing Nhika and Kochin to life.
They get you feeling all the feels!

The story takes place in a Vietnamese inspired world filled with high stakes, war, a medical magic system and necromancy. A story of Grief, hope, friendships and two main characters that love each other with all they have to give.

His Mortal Demise is a beautifully written sci-fi, fantasy romance and is the perfect ending for this duology. A step outside my typical reads being YA but, I found the story and charachters unique and refreshing. The alternating timelines kept me engaged and wanting to know how it would all unfold in the end.

His Mortal Demise
- The Last Bloodcarver Part 2
By Vanessa Le
Narrated by Jason Vu; VyVy Nguyen
4 ⭐️

I found this duology to be a page turner with a unique magic system. I think this a great YA duology worth checking out - I think these would read best as back to back reads.

The second half of this duology shifts the reader’s focus to the war as characters try to find their way back to each other after tragedy and war does what they do and scatters people. I don’t want to give too much of the plot away by going into details. I missed the character to character interactions book 1 did a magical job at; I did like book 1 a bit more than book 2.

I combo read this via ebook and audiobook. The audiobook was good with dual narrators - I did find some intonation choices to be odd here and there from Nguyen. I found I preferred eyeball vs audio in various parts; I was thankful to have both format options to flip back and forth with.

Thank you to NetGalley, Vanessa Le, Macmillan audio, Macmillan’s Children’s Publishing group for audiobook ARC and eARC copies of this book.