This book had everything I love about a book. The magic system, the characters, the romance and the found family dynamic had me sobbing, overall it was such an amazing story. BUT HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT FOR THE SECOND BOOK, I NEED IT NOW, I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS. Anyways this was a five star read! Biggest thanks to the publisher, and netgalley for sending this my way.

Nhika is a bloodcarver. She can alter human biology with just a touch, to heal or harm. In the industrial city of Theumas, she is seen not as a healer, but a monster that kills for pleasure.

When she is caught using her bloodcarving abilities during a sham medical appointment, she's captured by underground thugs and sold to an aristocratic family to heal the last witness of their father’s murder. When she meets an alluring yet entitled physician's aide, Ven Kochin, she’s forced to question the true intent behind this murder. In a society that outcasts her, Kochin seems drawn to her while also pushing her away. He's not who he says he is. Will she have to become the dreaded bloodcarver Theumas fears to save herself and the ones she's vowed to protect?

Have you finished a book and feel you NEED to read the next one immediately? That's what happened when I read The Last Bloodcarver. I even started to feel that way while still reading. The Last Bloodcarver, coming March 19, is the first in a Vietnam inspired fantasy duology. This is a debut novel by the way.

It's so good! So different! Nhika is not your typical fantasy heroine. No one expects her to save everyone, including her. That may just be what she ends up doing though. Nothing in her life has been fair. She has only had her skills to rely on. It hasn't gained her any friends. Or love.

The magic system is unique and is more of a science, according to Nhika anyway. Descriptions of pathways through the body are detailed but lovely. There are also some gruesome, brutal scenes.

The Last Bloodcarver is also a mystery. I enjoyed watching the characters try to solve it. Speaking of the characters they are all interesting and great in their own way. Poor Hendon. I was holding my breath for the last chapters, worried at every step the characters took.

There isn't enough space here to declare all the things I loved about this. If you love fantasy or mysteries add this to your list! Thanks to @fiercereads for the giveaway win!

Thank you NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for the ARC of The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le. I never thought my few semesters of anatomy and neuroanatomy would come in handy while reading a fantasy book.

The Last Bloodcarver follows Nhika who believes she is the last of her kind. She is a bloodcarver or heartsoother and is able to heal disease and injury in individuals as well as cause them harm. This book will definitely give you an education on the different systems within the body and how the smallest change can have a large impact on one's health. Nhika as a bloodcarver lives her life on the edge of society and at risk of being arrested. After being captured by thugs and then sold to a wealthy family she seeks her freedom by helping them.

All of the characters in this book are well developed and you connect with them all. Nhika and Kochins push and pull was really well done. You spent a bit of time trying to figure out how these two could ever grow to love each other but once they do there is no question how they feel about each other.

There is an overall mystery within this book which is the death of the head of the Cogm,i family. His children have asked Nhika to help heal his driver in order to find out who murdered their father. This mystery keeps you engaged and keeps you guessing as to who could be the culprit. On top of that the process of healing the driver is really interesting to read.

The book ends on a huge cliffhanger that has me dying for the second book. Having to wait a year is pure torture. You should definitely add The Last Bloodcarver to your TBR.

This was a fabulous debut!
The Last Bloodcarver is a Vietnamese inspired fantasy that has the most unique magic system.
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Nhika had blood carving abilities. She can alter human biology by just her touch. She has the ability to heal or kill. Myth has given her the name, bloodcarver, but Hearthsooth is a name chosen by her people.
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After there is a death in the Cogmi family, Nhika is called on for her healing abilities.
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This YA fantasy has mystery, found family, a dash of romance. and an amazing magic system. I can't wait for book 2!
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Also, this cover must be mentioned. It's stunning!

Thank you to Netgalley and Roaring Book Press for the opportunity to read this book!

Nhika has a special type of magic that is almost gone from the world she lives in. With a single touch, she can alter a person’s biology to heal them or kill them. She’s known as a bloodcarver, and when she is finally captured, she is sold to the highest bidder. Nhika finds herself with a wealthy family where she spends her time attempting to heal the only witness to a murder, reading medical texts, and diving into mysteries.

I really enjoyed the world building and magic system. The way that Nhika’s heartsoothing intermixes with biology is really interesting and unique. Nhika was a strong female character and wasn’t afraid to do what she needed to in order to keep herself safe. Her character could have used a little more emotional depth, but she was definitely powerful.

The romance piece felt pretty rushed - it was almost instalove. It’s really just a subplot so it didn’t overtake the story, but the pacing of the romance felt a bit off. The ending also felt rushed. So many dramatic things happened in the last few chapters. I’m pretty sure my jaw was on the floor and I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about the ending!

Overall, this is a great YA read and I’ll definitely grab the next book in this duology to see what happens. This is Vanessa Le’s debut which is so incredibly impressive!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This book exceeded any and all expectations that I had for it. Usually, I read fantasy because of the romance in it but this book piqued my interest because of the fantasy of it. I mean someone that has the power to heal or hurt with just a single touch? It sounded super cool and I couldn't wait to read it.

I thought all of the characters were really well written. Each of them had their own personalities and it was written in a way that you could tell Vanessa Le cared about each character, they weren't just someone that she put in the book and then forgot about. Each person had their own backstory and you got to learn each one throughout the book in a thoughtful way.

Also, the world-building was amazing. I felt like I understood everything and could picture every scene in my mind because of all the descriptions that we were given. But it wasn't too much information where it felt overloaded.

The only thing that I didn't really like in this book was the love story. There was nothing written about it in the first half of the book, and then there was a little bit of "Oh I think he's cute" and then all of a sudden, they were saying "I love you". I think the romance part of it was definitely just a subplot and not supposed to be the whole book but I still think it could've been done better.

Thank you kindly to Netgalley for providing me with the eARC!

Rating 3.5 stars

The Last Bloodcarver is an emotional tale about loneliness, found family, and love, all within a world heavily inspired by Vietnam and the history of colonization the country has faced, and the story itself revolving around a young girl looking to find her own place in a world that doesn't want her,

I was intrigued by the premise immediately, being a Southeast Asian myself and a fan of murder mysteries, feeling that this book would be a fun time and would bring much needed literary representation to a population not often portrayed in popular media.

While the gift of healing is nothing new in literature, I did enjoy the author's take on the idea, mixing magic with science and including an abundance of medical terminology. Vanessa Le doesn't shy away from the gore and details, and I found it helped cement the scientific nature of heartsoothing and grounded the magic to something almost more realistic. I also found the worldbuilding to be well-done. and I felt the author's more organic exposition as opposed to info dumping to be refreshing, allowing the reader to experience the world of Theumas rather that being told of it.

While I found the book well-written with a flowery language I typically enjoy, I found myself struggling to stay engaged with the book. The pace was tad bit slow, and I felt as if the story didn't really pick up until over 2/3rds of the way through. While there are certainly events happening in the book, I didn't find the plot moving forward at all until the last 120 pages. While at times I don't mind books with slower plot developments, there will usually be other aspects such as character development or the romance to lean on to keep me captivated, which this book lacked for those earlier sections. I did like Nhika's character and her journey, but found her romance with Kochin to be sudden and underdeveloped, and I found myself wondering if she truly loved him for him or because of what he was.

I will most likely be reading the sequel, and I really do look forward to how Kochin and Nhika's story will continue.

I'll keep this short and sweet—I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The plot was creative and propulsive, the worldbuilding vivid and integral, the characters flawed but likable, and the ending made me want MORE. I don't typically read YA fantasy, but I am glad I made an exception for this one.

Read The Last Bloodcarver. It will be time well spent.

This year has been full of fantastic debuts and The last bloodcarver was no exception!! I loved this YA fantasy steeped in Vietnamese mythology and a unique medical magical healing system that sees two of the last heartsooths banding together to fight an evil doctor who wants to use their power for his own ends. Action packed with great dialogue and a killer romance, I can't wait to see how this duology ends. It was also amazing on audio narrated by VyVy Nguyen. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!!

I recently finished reading The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le, and I have to say, it was a rollercoaster of emotions. The world-building in this book is fantastic, with a unique medical magic system that kept me intrigued from start to finish. The character of Nhika is complex and intriguing, and I found myself rooting for her even as she made some morally questionable decisions. The plot is fast-paced and full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat.
However, as much as I enjoyed the world-building and the character development, I did find myself struggling to connect with some of the secondary characters. While Nhika is a well-rounded and captivating protagonist, some of the supporting cast felt a bit one-dimensional and underdeveloped. Additionally, the romance between Nhika and Ven Kochin felt a bit rushed and forced, which took away from the overall impact of the story for me.
Overall, I would give The Last Bloodcarver a solid 3.5/5 stars. While it had its flaws, I still found myself engrossed in the story and eager to see where Vanessa Le takes her characters in the next installment. Fans of YA fantasy with a dark and gritty twist will likely enjoy this debut novel, and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more from this promising new author.

I thoroughly enjoyed this unique, Vietnamese-inspired fantasy. I thought the concept of heartsoothing was super compelling and well done. I recommend The Last Bloodcarver if you want to read about a unique magic system, good worldbuilding, likeable characters, and the effects of colonialism.

This book was a very slow burn for me. There was a lot of waiting for very little pay out sadly. I lost interest multiple times. I felt like the characters started out extremely interesting, but I lost interest in them about 20% of the way through. The pacing really dies halfway throughout the book. The big romance is kind of blown over and doesn’t truly bloom till the last 25% of the book. I loved the idea of this book, but I just personally could not get into it as I hoped I could. I was able to finish the book, but even the ending didn’t redeem the book for me. Sadly, this book was just a personal miss for me. It doesn’t mean that others will not enjoy it. I just personally didn’t.
Thank you so much to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

4.5 stars

This book was BRILLIANT. The fact that this is a debut author stuns me, because the worldbuilding was immaculate, the fantasy system so unique and well developed. I loved the concept of bloodcarving/heartsoothing, it was so well described and different, and much darker to most YA fantasy worlds. And this book certainly leant into the dark aspects more than I expected, which I really, really appreciated – I will always eat up a dark fantasy, and this one was scrumptious.

“This is the core of heartsoothing. Not to harm. To heal.”

And the characters AHH the characters!! I adored our two protagonists with every fibre of my being, Nhika is my precious love and deserved the whole world. I thought she was so well-written and realistic, with a believable outlook on the world (given the crap she’d dealt with) and a hilarious personality. I ADORED that this first book was entirely from her perspective, and wouldn’t change it for anything. For once, I didn’t want dual-POV! Nhika did what was best for HER and that’s just so believable, not everyone is a martyr ready to devote themselves to saving the world and giving everything up for others!

“She hadn’t had a moment so beautiful, so colorful, since she’d first started soothing. Just when she’d thought she’d learned all there was to know about the body, another system introduced itself to her, filled in first with color and then with blood, tissue, lymph.”

I also loved reading about the differing opinions and outlooks on heartsoothing, and the way Nhika’s love for the art grew throughout the book… her growth was wondrous. I won’t say much about Kochin to avoid spoilers, but don’t give up on him! He was truly gorgeous.

“…this longing, the loneliness of two flytraps in a garden of orchids.”

Overall, this book was truly splendid. Loveable characters, MASTERFUL worldbuilding, fascinating, dark, bloody magic – this gave me everything I needed AND THEN added a gorgeous Vietnamese inspired setting just to make every twice as good. And may I just say that I adore the cover? Look at my love’s flat nose and tanned skin – we love some SEA rep. Stunning. Thank you so much to the author, publisher & Colored Pages Book Tours for the ARC copy provided!

4.5 stars!! Thank you to NetGalley, Roaring Book Press, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this advanced copy! You can pick up The Last Bloodcarver on March 19, 2024.

This book might have one of the most unique magic systems I've ever read. I loved the concept of heartsoothing (bloodcarving), and how it played such an integral role in shaping the plot and character arcs. Every time Nhika used her heartsoothing, it felt like I was in the moment with her, diving into the person's blood and bones. I appreciated Nhika's growth throughout the book, and her blossoming relationship with Kochin.

I do wish the action had been more consistent throughout the book. The pacing was a bit start and stop, so I'd find myself devouring sections of the book in one sitting and then setting it aside and not thinking about it during the lulls. While the character moments did make the emotional beats more poignant, it also slowed the book too much at times.

But the last 50 pages were absolutely killer. I couldn't stop reading, from the betrayals to the reveals to the action and consequences of the characters' actions. I can't believe I have to wait an entire year to read the sequel!

It’s been a minute since I’ve read YA fantasy, but Vanessa Le’s The Last Bloodcarver was a fun reintroduction to the genre! The book follows Nhika, a master of “heartsoothing” (a healing practice passed down from her ancestors), also known by the more derogatory name of bloodcarving. Most of the fantasy elements are built around this practice, which involves the protagonist entering the body of her patient via touch in order to heal their ailments. Nhika’s powers are either feared or taken advantage of, primarily due to racism and classism within her world. When Nhika is hired by a well renowned family to help heal a patient (and in doing so, solve a mystery), she finds herself navigating a new social world that is simultaneously intoxicating, inviting, and potentially dangerous.

What I enjoyed:
- The fantasy world that Le has built is unlike any that I’ve read before, and it was easy to get swept up in the fast-paced story.
- I appreciate that while this book is marketed for young adults, I also think the content could absolutely be appropriate for a middle grade library (pending teacher/parent judgment). I’ve already recommended the book to a few of my students whom I believe would appreciate the story and the medical/scientific aspects of the novel.
- The ending took me by surprise, and I actually really enjoyed the direction that Le chose to take the story.

What didn't quite work for me:
- The romance element was sweet, but it felt a little rushed. I wish it had been developed out a bit more.
- Le can get a little in the weeds with medical terminology; at times, it felt like she was showing off her own medical knowledge in a way that didn't seem to advance the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my advanced listener copy!

As I delved into this captivating and thrilling novel, it became abundantly clear that this debut work would resonate with enthusiasts of the steampunk genre, particularly those drawn to the fusion of Asian culture. While there are romantic elements, they do not overshadow the central mystery. The romance is understated yet undeniably tender, evoking a sense of empathy for the characters. Crucially, it does not detract from the main plot, a quality I greatly appreciated. When the romance does unfold, it enhances the depth of the main plot, emerging as a necessary and poignant development. Upon reading the novel, some may question the coherence of certain passages. However, the narrative's brilliance becomes evident as one progresses through it.

Special thanks to NetGalley and MacMillian Children’s Publishing Group for sending me this digital review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a wonderful debut! I liked the premise so I knew I had to read this. The first chapter really hooked me into the main character. I really liked that focused diaspora experience. I also liked that while it was fantasy, there was modern technology involved.

Wow. Color me impressed. I devoured this book. A technocracy? Medical fantasy? I don’t know how to define this world but this story had a lot of heart. Literally and metaphorically.

People with the insight of an MRI/CT Scanner, but actually able to heal with a touch?!?! I kept thinking they should be upheld by society, but just like real world pharmaceutical companies there is disdain for people who have the ability to heal at little to no cost. And how did this book make grief in different forms so central to the plot- but overall have such a hopeful tone. This is how Young Adult should be done!

Book Name: The Last Bloodcarver
Author: Vanessa Le

ARC
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press for an ARC of The Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le

Stars: 1 (DNF)

While the plot initially intrigued me, this book, unfortunately, failed to hold my attention. It just wasn’t that good. However, it's important to note that the fault does not lie with the author. Sometimes, personal preferences simply don't align. I wish this would have worked out it had everything to make a good story cool magic system and an interesting character but it just didn’t click.

Due to the Negative Nature of this review, I will not be posting it to Goodreads or retail sites with respect to the publisher and author.

This was such a fun and thrilling read about culture, community, and what we are willing to do to protect the ones that we love.

This story takes place in a world previous to our own and it feels almost steampunky, with machines and technology beginning to encompass every aspect of our lives and the main character, Nhika, is the last known bloodcarver, an individual who can alter your internal bodily functions with the mere touch of her hand. However, Nhika has to hide her talents because of the fears and unwarranted misinformation being spread about her kind and culture. Nhika is unfortunately found out and is taken to a black market type of warehouse where she is bought for an exorbitant amount of money by a young girl who tasks Nhika with healing the only survivor who may have witnessed her highly esteemed father. Nhika is thrown into a world very different from her own and is met with both resistance and fear of others finding out who she really is, and she must learn to harness her powers and connect with her culture in order to survive.

I really enjoyed this book and how the act of ‘soothing’ (bloodcarving, however its mentioned that her kind wishes to be known as heartsoothes) was described. It was very visceral and detailed, you can see and feel the energy flowing through the body and how it’s dispersed. The characters were a little one note, especially the family she works for, but I really enjoyed the journey Nhika took to reconnect with her culture and family history.

My one downside of this book was the romance element. It just felt unnecessary, especially if the author was trying to go for an ‘enemies-lovers’ route, it just felt rushed and very instant love. I personally wouldn’t want to shack up with someone who belittle me and my intelligence, but hey, to each their own! Also, I don’t feel like there was any rhyme or reason for Nhika to do some of the things she did, especially the ending. I guess love will really make you do bonkers things.

Thank you NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.