This one had an intriguing plot and kept me riveted throughout. The main character was definitely relatable

This wasn’t my favorite book ever, but after several failed attempts to navigate some of the lackluster Asian fantasy that’s been pouring out of publishers lately, this was definitely an improvement. I liked most of our characters, although the Congmi siblings were a bit like cardboard cutouts. Nhika and Ven were both delightfully complex and weren’t necessarily good people, which I can always get behind in a character. The villain could have used more development, but maybe more mustache tweedling would have made their reveal more obvious? The world building was done well, not perfectly, but well. I do wish a time period had been established, bc there were robots but not organ transplants? It felt weirdly selective about what this society knew or didn’t know. I also felt the ending was not what I was expecting, nor was it particularly satisfying. There is a second book though, so maybe that will flesh some things out. All in all, this was a creative and unique read with some boundary pushing characters and a love story that felt a bit shoehorned but not inauthentic. I liked it.

Nhika is the last of her kind a blood carver and being murdered is the kindest fate that awaits her if she is discovered. She has the ability to heal with touch but the invading people saw that as a threat to their power and had them hunted.
Living on her wits until she is caught and sold to the highest bidder. She is lucky enough to be bought by a family desperate enough to help hide her in order to help solve a murder. Along the way Nhika discovers secrets she never thought possible.

Nhika usually makes her living by peddling fake homeopathic remedies, but the desperation of her latest mark, whose wife is dying after a medical misdiagnosis, causes her to throw caution to the wind and draw upon her Yarongese gift as a heartsoother to heal the woman. Unfortunately, her generous act brings her to the attention of the Butchers, who capture her, exhibit her as one of the dreaded and illegal “bloodcarvers” and market her to the highest bidder. A wealthy young woman purchases her and brings her to the lavish Congmi estate, where Nhika is asked to heal a loyal family retainer in a coma who is the only living witness to the death – and possible murder – of the head of the Congmi family. In accepting the job, Nhika is drawn into a world full of hidden agendas and dangerous secrets. To survive, she may need to become the monster she is accused of being. The first in a planned duology, The Last Bloodcarver features a fierce protagonist and an intricate magic system and will appeal to readers of These Violent Delights and That Self-same Metal.

Between the cover and description I had high hopes for this book and thought I would love it. At this time I have been unable to finish it. I will update once I finish with a better, proper review.

I really loved the concept of this book, especially because it had this really perfect combination of magic and science plus the whole murder mystery aspect of it! Nikha was such an interesting character, and I liked reading in her POV, especially as things started to unravel and make more sense. Although I didn't feel like the romance aspect really hooked me, I do think I could be more invested maybe in the sequel, but we'll have to see! The last part of the book really sucked me in and I was FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story and would definitely recommend this!

I loved this book!! The Heartsooth magic was incredibly written, and the dynamics between our heroine and everyone else were gripping and emotional. The end felt a little bit rushed, but the whole murder mystery of it all was quite good.

This YA debut is a super compelling read from a new author! I read an early version and absolutely loved it. The worldbuilding is such a good mix of fantasy and scifi, there's a strong mystery at the heart of the story, and the Asian inspired influences and references to colonialism are some of the book's strongest elements. I can't wait for the sequel and for more books from Vanessa Le!

Combining mythology with fantasy is a common experience in fiction, but The Last Bloodcarver feels quite fresh and I'm excited to continue the journey! It was heartwrenching in perfect ways.

honestly picked this book for the viet vibes & wasnt disappointed at all! no spoilers but this was so good i cannot wait for the second book! hope im chosen for the sequel arc!

The worldbuilding in this completely drew me in! The plot stalls in places, but overall it's exciting--and the abrupt cliffhanger (while mean) makes me eager for the next installment. The themes of found family, belonging, and trauma brought about by Othering makes this stand out in a sea of mediocre/whitewashed YA fantasy debuts.

Beautiful written Vietnam inspired fantasy that tells the story of Nhika who is a blood carver. She is ostracized by her ability and risks her life to be a healer when she’s thought to be a monster. I adore Nhika as a character, she is witty and compassionate even when she’s given reasons not to be. The plot revolves around a murder mystery and simultaneously explores themes such as genocide, trauma and grief.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

The opening of this book had me instantly hooked. The main character, Nhika, is a Bloocarver, possessing the rare ability to heal others with magic. But when she is captured and forced to use her powers to save herself from grave injuries, she realizes just how dangerous her gift can be. Sold to a wealthy family, Nhika becomes entangled in a murder mystery that goes beyond anything she could have imagined. However, as the story progressed, my interest began to wane.

While the world-building was intriguing and the pacing remained steady throughout, I found myself yearning for more excitement and depth. The characters, including Nhika herself, lacked the depth and connection I craved. As a reader, I wanted more magic, more romance, and definitely more action.

Overall, this book was enjoyable but not enough to keep me invested in the series.

This book was captivating very early on. The main character energy is very positive and the action is fast paced. The plot is driven pretty consistently, but bogs down about 60% in . The ending redeems the lag in action in that section. The magic system is interesting and not developed, but this works because it is a dying art in this world.

A captivating read from start to finish! The author's storytelling is masterful, weaving intricate plotlines with deep, well-developed characters. Every page is filled with suspense, emotion, and thought-provoking themes. This book is a must-read for anyone who appreciates a finely crafted narrative. Highly recommend!

4.5/5 ⭐️
is a heartsooth, able to heal and alter bodies by touch. However, in the city she lives in, she is seen as a monster - a blood carver. When she is captured and then bought by a wealthy family, she finds herself trying to help find a murderer. Among the people she meets is Ven Kochin, a mysterious physician’s assistant.

I really liked this debut! I do think the whodunit part was a little obvious (at least to me), but I enjoyed the lore a lot! I am curious to see where the second book goes. I’m not sure about the main idea (don’t want to spoil anything), but I definitely will read it because I enjoyed this one a lot!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

As the last of her family and of her kind, Nhika's story is a compelling one. To ensure her survival, she has to be somewhat selfish with her abilities, but it is complicated because those same abilities also make her a bleeding heart. This struggle is apparent at the beginning, and I was immediately hooked. Despite an interesting start, the story slows down once Nhika is purchased by the wealthy family. The murder mystery and healing the witness become the focus, which lead to a somewhat underwhelming reveal. Throughout this, Nhika does eventually form connections, but the depth of the bonds are questionable even though the story tries to say otherwise. A romance also eventually appears, but does not feel organic to the story, appearing more instalove than anything else.

The highlights of the book are the geopolitics and the magic system. The world is Vietnam-inspired. It delves deep into creating a detailed history of Yarong and its occupation. I liked learning the backstory of Nhika's people and look forward to more about this. The magic system is an interesting one. Rather than opposing forces, magic and science complement each other. Along with the good both can do, it also explores the dark side of each with heartbreaking accounts.

While The Last Bloodcarver did not quite meet all my expectations, the last sentence of the book had me scrambling to find out when the sequel would be released and what exactly was going. Yes, I am eagerly waiting to get my hands on it because I need to know what happens next. (3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars)

Nhika likes to think of herself as a healer or heartsoother; one who can alter a person’s biology with nothing but a touch. Unfortunately most don’t see her as a healer, preferring to see her as a Bloodcarver, one who hurts and kills others simply for pleasure. When Nhika tries to use her skills to heal someone she is caught and imprisoned and later sold to a wealthy family, a family hanging on to hope that she can heal the witness to their father’s murder. As Nhika starts her work she finds that she has many questions, such as why the murder occurred in the first place, and what is motivating Ven Kochin, a young physician’s aide, to help her, a question made more important when she discovers that he may not be exactly who he claims to be.

The Last Bloodcarver has a little bit of everything: mystery, magic, intrigue, and a great group of characters. I found myself greatly interested in their lives and their struggles. They contain honest emotions and reactions and were well developed. I especially enjoyed seeing Nhika’s strength throughout, as well as her overall growth. I also really liked the concept of heartsoothing–the power and wonder of it–and felt that the instances in which the reader is exposed to it were well written and descriptive. The worldbuilding is phenomenal as well. I can’t wait to see what is in store for these characters in the next novel of this duology.

A solid debut! I really liked the bloodcarver magic that the main character had. The world was also an interesting mix of old-world fantasy and steampunk-esque machines. I liked the commentary on colonialism, but the romance did nothing for me. The main character was the strongest part of the book.

4.5 rounded up

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book: it gave me shades of ATLA, Belladonna and How to Shape a Dragon's Breath.

First, the world itself was fascinating and really highlighted the contrast between people who have wealth and people who do not. Nhika is a very likeable main character and watching her growth with her relationship with her heritage, her grief and the new people in her lives was fascinating. It was just the right amount of gory for me and the art of heart soothing was so interesting especially compared with science.

The plot itself was interesting and I'm interested to see where book 2 goes, especially with the ending which I didn't love, but I think could be redeemed depending on the pacing of book 2.