Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

In the sea of YA fantasy, sometimes a book stands out from the rest for all of the right reasons. The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le is a steampunk YA fantasy with a stunningly original premise. The story revolves around Nhika, a bloodcarver who can alter the bodies of anyone who she touches. She's seen as a monster or myth by society, but when she's bought by a wealthy family who wants to solve their father's murder, she has the chance to prove that she's not such a monster after all. Can she solve the murder before the murderer comes after her?

Here is an enchanting excerpt from Chapter 1, which introduces us to the main character:

"Someone like Nhika, with her fidgety smile and frayed satchel of snake oils, didn’t belong in these streets.
In the Dog Borough near the harbor, she never would’ve stood out in this attire, with her cropped sleeves and bare hands. There, residents traded silk for cotton and wool, and the cogwork of their automatons crackled with rust and crusted sea salt. Here in the Horse Borough, women wrapped themselves in tight silk dresses and men in boxy robes, concealing every inch of skin with long gloves and high collars. It was the fashion, stemming from the fear of people like her.
The myth of them, anyway."

Overall, The Last Bloodcarver is an amazing YA fantasy that will appeal to fans of The Last Airbender and Not Even Bones. One highlight of this book is how it starts off with a punch and never lets go. There is nonstop action from beginning to end. Another highlight of the world building that actually felt original and complete. This book takes place in an Asian-inspired steampunk world that I wanted to visit and never leave.

Another highlight of this book are the emotional parts that got me emotional, which is hard to do for a book. One final highlight of this book is the #ownvoices Asian representation. I am happy to support an author of Asian descent in the YA fantasy space, especially when the book is so well-written and fun to read. If I had to complain about 1 thing, I would say that some parts are gory. This book is not for the faint of heart. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA fantasy in general, you won't regret checking out this book when it comes out in March!

A rich fantasy with a great protagonist and a surprising ending. The world was a unique Southeast Asian style that I enjoyed. It was fast paced but detailed and the MC’s abilities were described in a really different but good way. I will definitely be looking forward to the next one to see what happened.

Nhika is a heartsoother - although in the terminology of the conquerors of her nation, she is a bloodcarver, a person to be feared rather than a healer to be welcomed and thanked. As far as she knows, she is the last of her kind, and, due to her grandmother's untimely death when Nhika was only 12, only partially trained. Her status as a bloodcarver could get her killed at any time; her kind is both legally prohibited and sought by those wealthy enough to ignore legal issues. Caught by the Butchers, infamous traders who will buy and sell anything, including people with gifts like Nhika who are considered subhuman, at best, Nhika has only one choice: to go with the well-dressed young woman who pays far more than any other bidder has offered her captors. But once she's been removed from the Butchers, Nhika finds that her circumstances may have disimproved even more than she thought.

A thought-provoking novel that invokes the dangers of prejudice and stereotype, The Last Bloodcarver is a fascinating look into a society that has, as a whole, decried a subsection of itself as evil because of its genetic heritage, an issue that has plagued history for at least as long as it has been recorded in print. By choosing a special ability that does not exist within humanity at this time, the author separates the issue from any existing prejudices and examines it apart from the historical issues that impact the investigation of discrimination. In addition to its thought-provoking investigation into prejudice, The Last Bloodcarver is a mystery contained within a fantasy novel, and fulfills its various roles well.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to NETGALLEY & Roaring Brook Press / Holtzbrinck Publishing / Fierce Reads for eARC

Plot: 4
Characters: 4
Writing Style: 4
Cover: 2
Enjoyment: 3.5ish

> Told in third person POV from Nhiki, an 18 year-old Heartsoothe/Bloodcarver.
> Cast includes Mimi (15ish), Andao (few years older than Nhiki), Trin ('older than her by some years'), Kochin (19), amongst other adults.
> I was *very* put off by the use of the word "Anyways" in the narrative. It's one thing to speak it aloud, but to use it otherwise is just....no.
> Also? You can't keep using eavesdropping at door as an excuse. Loses its believability, etc
> I liked the platonic chemistry between Nhiki and Trin.
> There were a few awkward conversational exchanges, albeit brief ones. But Nhiki and Kochin are just weird until they're not. Still, it's really off putting.
> Minor complaint, but if you keep the accent on "façade", why not keep it on other French words? It was also an inconsistent choice, as the author spelt it with and without it.
> I will steadfastly say that I did NOT buy the romance AT ALL. Extremely forced and lacking chemistry.
> Third act slough somehow? Even though it’s the culmination? Surprise ending, though, so. Kudos there, I guess. Still, not enough to bring me back for the next installment. Maybe I'll google what happens once it's concluded.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC.

Nikha is a heartsoother, or bloodcarver, who can use magic to heal others. Some of the parts of this were confusing to me, as it discusses parts of the anatomy. I feel like this could have been described in a way for YA to understand this better. Also, Nikha is one of the last remaining heartsoothers left in the country.

She is caught by "the Butchers" and sold to an aristocrat, Mimi. This rich family wants Nikha to cure their dying friend so that he can tell who killed their father.

The story is very well done, and the magical world is set up very well. Maybe in book 2 will the relationships between characters develop more. Just when you think relationships are developing, one of the characters changes the attitudes.

The book is left open for a book 2, which I am excited to read. Not a 5 star read, but definitely will be popular amongst fantasy readers.

Vanessa Le intrigued the readers with her magical story of Nhika with dark themes in a fantasy world of steampunk. Genocide is briefly addressed in this book and would make a great alignment to the current events for people who enjoy reading fiction.

The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le is a dark yet enchanting fantasy read that drew me in from page one.
What I loved
1. Our main character's magic is fundamentally misunderstood by much of the world around them and that allows the reader to experience learning about it not just by its nature but by how others have seen it.
2. There is a strong mystery and intrigue element to the main plot
3. The romantic subplot is well fleshed out without taking over the story.
What Didn't work as well for me
Honestly my only compliant is that I must now desperately await a sequel when book one isn't even out yet.
Who I would recommend this title for
Readers who enjoy their fantasy exploring dark themes and plots will be at home within these pages.

The Last Bloodcarver blends together fantasy and science in an interesting way to create a unique story. There was a sort of darkness to this story that was appealing and I truly enjoyed the concept.

There was a bit of romance but more as a subplot within the story. My main issue was that I found myself more interested in the side characters like Trin than the main character. I just didn’t connect to our main character here. I also found much of the story to be a bit slow for my liking, but it was still enjoyable.

vanessa le crafts a fantasy world so well described that i didn't want to leave it. i've been dying to read a fantasy with medical undertones or biology at its core, and TLB gave me that and more! the classic set-up with a unique world and magic system—by far my favourite part—is what sets this book apart for me.

Definitely an entertaining read. I recommend giving this a shot. The cover is gorgeous. I think the premise is very unique and fun. Overall I had a fun time.

I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book up until the very end (and that's fine - it's clearly setting up for the second book in a duology!). My favorite part was the inventive worldbuilding, especially the existence of heartsoothing as a cultural ability. The descriptions of heartsoothing were very cool and lent themselves easily to a range of metaphors. For a YA book, it did get pretty dark and gruesome at times (in terms of gore, mentions of genocide, and descriptions of genocidal crimes and vivisection), so that's something to be aware of. However, I think it would be fine for teens. I also appreciated how the story worked on several levels - a murder mystery, a romance, and a cultural coming of age.

Strengths:

Captivating world-building: Theumas is a vividly realized city, teeming with danger and intrigue.

Complex characters: Nhika is a compelling protagonist, wrestling with her identity and powers. Kochin is a fascinating enigma, hiding his true motives.

Gripping plot: The story is full of twists and turns, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.

Weaknesses:

Pacing: The action can be slow at times, and the plot takes some time to fully develop.

Worldbuilding: Some aspects of the world's magic system could be better explained.

Overall, The Bloodcarver is a captivating and suspenseful fantasy novel that will keep readers engaged from beginning to end.

This is a fun adventure Inez and Whit had great chemistry together, and I love the history aspect of it. This was a fun tresure hunting adventure with romace, I will putting the next one on my TBR.

The Last Bonecarver is a fun fantasy read based on Vietnamese culture with a light who dun it mystery thread that complemented the beautifully built world created by Vanessa Le. The only question for me now is when will another book in this universe be available?

"The Last Bloodcarver" by Vanessa Le is a brilliantly rendered fantasy that promises a gripping and emotionally charged narrative.

Meet Nhika, a bloodcarver with the power to alter human biology with just a touch. In the industrial city of Theumas, Nhika is perceived not as a healer, but as a ruthless monster who kills for pleasure. Caught by the infamous Butchers, she finds herself auctioned off to a mysterious buyer in white. However, this enigmatic figure has different plans for Nhika—plans that involve using her bloodcarving abilities to heal the last person who witnessed her father's killer.

As Nhika becomes embroiled in the investigation within the city's wealthiest and most powerful circles, all signs point to Ven Kochin, an alluring yet entitled physician's aide. Despite his attempts to push her away, Nhika feels an inexplicable connection to him. Unraveling the mystery, she discovers that Kochin is not who he claims to be, leading her to confront a greater and more terrifying evil.

The novel explores themes of justice, survival, and the choices one must make in the face of adversity. With a unique magic system and a richly crafted world, "The Last Bloodcarver" promises readers a thrilling journey through a city filled with danger, deception, and dark secrets. As Nhika grapples with her identity and the forces at play, the story unfolds into a compelling narrative that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

In the words of acclaimed authors Chloe Gong and Marie Lu, this book offers a smart, lush, and utterly compelling read, making it a must-read for fans of fantasy, romance, and intricate world-building.

4*

Nhika's story is one of heritage, magic, love, and loss. After being captured and sold into a wealthy family, Nhika must navigate the biggest test of her magical prowess whilst dancing through a rich tapestry of politics. Science fiction and fantasy blend seamlessly with folklore in this debut novel.

Le brought this story vividly to life, with a magic system with great potential and characters that really captured my heart. My only complaint would be that I didn't feel like the romance worked fluidly, sometimes feeling forced and clunky.

Thank you to Roaring Brook for the digital ARC!

THE LAST BLOODCARVER is set in a sci-fantasy, genre-blending powerhouse of a story. I whipped through this one and appreciated the fast pace. Even though the steampunk elements didn't quite hit for me (in general I'm just not a steampunk fan), the overall setting and feel of the story were good, and industrial fantasy is an under-tapped premise. I loved the folklore blended into this as well, and the mystery at the core--assassins and court intrigue and uncovering the truth behind a murder--was so fun to unravel from behind the MC's eyes.

Nhika is a young healer (heartsoothe/bloodcarver) with a war-torn past. She's seen as a bloodthirsty outcast due to her Yarongese heritage. Along comes Mimi, who purchases her, to heal a man who witnessed her father's death, but this healing isn't easy because Nhika's healing knowledge isn't complete.

I enjoyed the mix of science fiction and folklore of this story. Once I got to about 80%, I couldn't put it down and needed to know how it was going to end.

With a cover like The Last Bloodcarver, my interest was already piqued. After I read what it was supposed to be about, I knew I needed to read it. This debut absolutely knocked my socks off. So creative, well-written, and kept me sucked in until the last page. I loved it and will absolutely be recommending it when it comes out!

Bloodcarver is a fun, fast-paced read that submerges readers into a steampunk world. Automatons and human servants works side by side. Science fiction overlaps with folklore, giving this work an old world feel and yet a hint of sci-fi progress.
Nhika is a the daughter to a family that survived war and genocide. She is gifted with the ability to heal others, but Yarongese are maligned as blood thirsty and evil. Because of this false reputation, she and others gifted with heartsoothing are hunted, then sold to the highest bidder.
She is purchased for the purpose of healing a man who witnessed a death, but this particular man presents a challenge she's never met before. Healing him takes time and knowledge she does not have.
In comes Ven Kochin, the foil to her pursuit of knowledge. Until he is no longer her opponent but something closer to a possible romance. Together look for answers to the sick man's mysterious illness as well as to the death he witnessed.