"The Last Bloodcarver" by Vanessa Le is a mesmerizing tale of sacrifice, legacy, and the enduring power of determination. Le's masterful storytelling weaves a captivating narrative that seamlessly melds fantasy and reality. The characters are vibrant and multifaceted, their struggles and triumphs leaping off the pages, making it impossible for readers not to be profoundly affected by their journeys. Le's evocative prose paints a vivid picture of a world on the brink of change, and the last bloodcarver's quest becomes a symbolic representation of the eternal battle between light and darkness. The novel's exploration of identity, destiny, and the importance of preserving heritage adds layers of depth, making it a compelling read for anyone in search of a gripping and thought-provoking fantasy epic. "The Last Bloodcarver" is a testament to Le's literary prowess, leaving readers eagerly awaiting more from this talented storyteller.

This was an interesting book. The name is slightly deceptive on a few levels but I appreciate that. This was def a set up story and there is so much to be explored, particularly around the lore in the book. The book lags a bit in the middle but picks up again until the high stakes ending. As a debut it's got so much potential and it truly is different than most books in this genre, with a unique premise.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

The premise is lit. The book is extremely easy to read, and the writing style is extremely comfortable. The science brought in is fascinating. This is going to go over well with the target audience. I stopped after chapter 1 (5%) but it does have some crossover potential. Easy three stars, and high chance for four to five from the target audience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the ARC

I was excited to see a Vietnamese-inspired YA fantasy and enjoyed reading this book. I liked the characters and the worldbuilding, although I found the pacing a little slow. I would recommend it to readers who love fantasy, especially fantasy combined with other genres-- in this case, historical fiction and mystery.

i got access to this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I loved this book! The mystery involved with the amazing world building and magic system was so unique and i really enjoyed the characters.
Rhika is a “blood carver”, or someone who can connect to another person’s anatomy by touching their skin. when she is accidentally is caught and sold to a rich family, she plans on how to make the best of her situation. then she starts meeting people and caring more for them than she thought she would. I loved the plot, the characters? and the setting was pretty interesting! I can’t wait for this book to come out so I can get a copy!

Bloodcarvers have the ability to link themselves to others' physical form and alter it. They can close wounds to save a life, or constrict blood vessels all along the body until they explode, all with a touch. This ability has been accessible only to a select number of Yarongese, who instead given this power the name “heartsoothing.” But their homeland Yarong has been ravaged by colonizers from Daltanny. The Yarongese have been decimated, and the knowledge of bloodcarving has nearly been lost. Now those that remain are hunted by the Butcher’s Row, who seek to use fabled abilities of the Bloodcarvers to sate their morbid curiosities.
Nhika is possibly the last of her kind, but she is more concerned with getting food on the table. Scraping by in the neutral city of Theumas, she is working as a quack-doctor selling snake-oils and likewise. Yet despite wanting to lay low, she feels obligated to utilize her heartsoothing and to not forget what her mothers had taught her. However she is thrown into a situation far larger than she could have ever imagined, as the dark underbelly of Theumas is revealed to her.

I absolutely adore this novel: it’s a historical fantasy sci-fi with mystery, drama, and a touch of romance. I’m a huge fan of worldbuilding, and this novel allows you to truly enter the world, picturing its many facets and moving parts. It explores the repercussions of colonization and the destruction of a people and their way of life. I’m fascinated by how intricately detailed bloodcarving is described within the novel, as it draws from the author’s personal experience in the medical field. The story moves at a grounded pace, not too fast nor too slow, with the main mystery entering the story as simply another question for our main character, but soon turning into the driving force of the plot. There are some cliches here and there, and some aspects may seem a tad clunky, but it quickly smooths itself out, resulting in an enrapturing read.

I rate it 4.2⭐️

Nihka is a bloodcarver, she has the ability to heal a person from within, with the knowledge passed down to her by her grandmother and her ancestors. The author had a poetic way of describing just how her magic worked and the vivid descriptions of her ability were extremely helpful in understanding it.

Nihka was captured by some black market traders and she was sold to Mimi, the daughter of the most famous inventor, who just recently died. Mimi, her brother Andao, and their bodyguard Trin believe that he was murdered and they enlist the help of Nihka to heal the only person that witnessed his death. I really enjoyed all the characters and I found myself rooting for them. I was on the edge of my seat with every twist that I saw coming right as it unfolded. (I’m usually good with guessing plots but with this book I was not able to guess it!)

The only reason this wasn’t higher is that I felt like the map and country was confusing. I saw that there were different cities but then new names for what I’m guessing are districts were used and I just got confused. This might have been my fault but a simple explanation would have made this easier to understand since the names weren’t listed on the map🤷🏻‍♀️.

But overall I would genuinely recommend this to anyone looking for a thrilling ya fantasy. But I am so mad I have to wait a year for this to be published and then (maybe?) another year for the sequel 😭😭🥹