How much would you sacrifice for the one you love?

When Nhika gives all of her strength and health to save Kochin from a fatal gunshot wound, she is on the verge of death. Unknown to Nhika because she’s unconscious, Kochin takes her to her friends to keep her safe while he searches for a cure to bring her back. When Nhika wakes, Kochin is nowhere and the last she remembers is him dying after being shot. While Kochin searches for a way to heal Nhika, she searches for Kochin, retracing his steps. They both realize how much love they have for each other and will do anything to bring their relationship back together, if only war and danger doesn’t get in the way.

Likes/dislikes: The alternating narratives of Nikha in the present and Kochin six months prior create suspense, especially since the last time they saw each other was when Nikha sacrificed her life to save his. Kochin is searching for a way to bring Nikha back and Nikha is trying to find Kochin and this makes a sweet love story. Wonderful character development.
Mature content: PG for kissing.
Language: PG for 9 swears, no f-words.
Violence: PG-13 for bloody gunshot wound.
Ethnicity: brown, honey and tanned skin tones, Vietnamese-inspired.

His Mortal Demise was such a fun and interesting continuation from The Last Bloodcarver. I was on the edge of my seat the whole book and excited to see what would happen. The use of time was spectacular and I will definitely reread this book in the future.

Thank you to MacMillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

His Mortal Demise by Vanessa Le is the second and final book in the duology that started with The Last Bloodcarver. The story revolves around the main characters, Kochin and Nhika, again, similar to the first book. Now, however, after the explosive ending of the first book, Kochin and Nhika are separated across a vast distance, and it seems like they will never find their ways back to each other. In a war-torn landscape, the pair must make new allies, gain control over their heart-soothing powers, and fight new battles. Is a happy ending on the horizon?

Overall, His Mortal Demise is an amazing YA fantasy that is like Avatar: The Last Airbender meets These Violent Delights. One highlight of this book was the Asian representation. As a reader of Asian descent, I am so happy to support this book. I loved the first book in this duology, and I was recommending it to all of my friends. Unfortunately, it's hard to write this review, but I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did the first book. I took off 1 star because the main characters were separated across time and space for much of the book, which made it not as exciting in my eyes. Nevertheless, if you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA fantasy in general, you can check out this book, which is available now!

I absolutely love how this sequel was written. We continue with Nhika as she journeys to find out what happened to Kochin, her ally and love interest from book one, and how she is still breathing, knowing she should be dead. Her story is alternated with Kochin's as he tells his story in the past, slowly revealing what happened to her and to him. I loved reading their respective journeys as the timeline creeps closer and closer to a potential reunion. Le continues to beautifully combine medicine and magic for heartsoothing in a wonderfully fleshed out world for a satisfying conclusion to a great duology.

Once again I didn’t get to read this in time
Before it was archived. Over shot I guess anyway it won’t come off my shelf without a review. So I’m excited for when I finally read it

His Mortal Demise was a gripping and immersive read that kept me intrigued from start to finish. I really appreciated the depth of the characters and the way their struggles felt real and nuanced, though at times the pacing slowed in parts. The blend of romance and darker elements worked well for me, creating tension and emotional stakes that stayed with me long after I finished. Overall, it was a compelling story that I genuinely enjoyed.

I really thought this was going to be a slam dunk 5 star read...unfortunately the way this particular story is told didn't work for me. It's not easy to have a dual timeline, especially if there is a present timeline knowing the results and a past timeline to explain the 'why', Some of my favorite parts of the first book were being with Nhika and seeing her find family with the Congmis, solving the mystery together. Kochin was nice to get to know better, but I think I would've been fine without his perspective, which would totally ruin the way this story is told but I never fell in love with him. I didn't connect to the characters the same way, my interest in their lives couldn't push me through this story of a war I didn't care about and characters who rarely interact. At least I could swoon in the first book, and maybe it's just my mood this year has been craving more romantic, feet-kick-worthy stories. I am so thankful to get an ARC for an anticipated release, but I was stuck at 25% for 5 months before just pushing through to finish this and get it off my current reads, and that breaks my heart! I cannot wait for the next release from this author, a dark academia that I know is going to blow this debut duology out of the water.

I loved this sequel! The angst the love it was so good! I loved being in this world again with its unique magic. I can't wait to read more from Le!

Thanks netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!!!

“Freedom, peace, love.”

my review of His Mortal Demise, the second & last book in The Last Bloodcarver duology.

I actually received this book as an ARC but didn’t get to it in time, alas. so I’m very late but… better late than never, right?

I absolutely loved the first book. it had a really fun magic system, and I loved the descriptions of Nhika healing. this one was definitely slower than the first, not necessarily in a bad way. but the first was pretty quick & this one takes it time a lot more, each chapter unveiling something new & not rushing itself.

this is a book about redemption, healing, guilt, and a boy going to war to save the girl he loves. it was gritty at times, & like the first one I really enjoyed the dive into the culture and world building. this will remain one of my favorite magic systems ever.

🦴YA high fantasy romance
🖤Vietnam-inspired steampunk fantasy world
🦴really fascinating magic system
🖤the descriptions of when they heal is so fascinating
🦴healer MCs
🖤I really love the writing style
🦴time jumps
🖤redemption & grief

After falling in love with the first book, I dove into His Mortal Demise with high expectations—and it delivered. Vanessa Le masterfully deepens the world and characters, bringing even more emotional tension, slow-burn romance, and high-stakes danger. The chemistry crackles, the plot twists hit hard, and the writing remains sharp and immersive.

This sequel doesn’t just continue the story—it elevates it. Every chapter left me craving more, and the character development made it impossible to put down. If you loved the first, you’ll be obsessed with the second.

Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Roaring Brook Press and NetGalley, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

TW: death, blood

After the ending of The last bloodcarver, I was over the moon when I got the chance to read His mortal demise and I loved, LOVED this duology so much I can't even explain!
Told by two POVs, Nhika and Kochin, alternating past and present, the reader finally gets to know what happened to these wonderful characters and what brought them into another complex and impossible situation. From one side, we have Kochin, destroyed by Nhika's death and determined to bring her back, to whatever cost. And from the other, Nhika, who woke in the Congmi's manor, months later, without any news from Kochin. What exactly happened to them and to the world, now at war?

With a lovely and smart magical system, based on medicine, it was such a pleasure reading Kochin's POV and getting to know more about his thoughts, fears and desires, how he thought about his own powers, Nhika, his guilt and shame, his need of his own family and to make things right.
Like in the first book, we get to see again the Congmi family, with Mimi, Andao and Trin and I loved their pure and important relationship with Nhika, how they are protective of her. I loved reading this book, it's a story about love and morals, about death and life, about what are you ready to sacrifice to protect who you love and if that means losing yourself, too. Vanessa Le wrote a brilliant duology, set in a world at war, filled with amazing and well rounded characters, found family, family, love and death and a marvellous magic system, medicine inspired, that I loved so much.
One of my favourite duology and this sequel is even more complex and brilliant that you could expect! So good!

Thank you very much for allowing me to read this book. However, I had to unfollow it after a few chapters. The plot made me uncomfortable and I had to stop reading it. I have not posted a review online for this reason. It might be a good reading for some people but it wasn't for me.

His Mortal Demise is the conclusion to Vanessa Le’s The Last Bloodcarver. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one because of how the first book ended.

There are different themes throughout the duology, but the heart of the story has always been about belonging. Despite being dual points of view, the focus is on Kochin and the lengths he is willing to go to resurrect the heartsoother he loves. It is more than just love that propels him forward. It is the fact that Nhika was the one individual who not only believed he was enough but made him feel it. There is longing and regret throughout Kochin’s chapters, and these were the feelings I connected with best. It is slower-paced than the first book with a melancholic tone that resonated with me.

His Mortal Demise is the love story I wish had been present in the first book. Feelings are fleshed out while Kochin’s fate is unraveled. Unfortunately, my feelings about how quickly love unfolded in The Last Bloodcarver was always in the back of mind and marred how much I wanted Kochin and Nhika to have a happy ending. However, I'm still glad I got to read this one. It exceeded my initial expectations.

His Mortal Demise by Vanessa Le is the sequel to The Last Bloodcarver, which was one of my favorite books from last year. The end of the duology definitely lived up to my expectations. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing, characters, and world-building of this book and will definitely be recommending it.

Nhika, our FMC, waking up into a shattered world had me hooked from the first moment, and Kochin, our MMC, spending months risking everything with his heartsooth magic kept me rooting for him the whole time. The dual timelines jump between his desperate quest and her fight to piece together what happened, and those twists had my heart racing. Watching their paths collide felt epic and emotional, with just the right blend of pain, hope, and reunion to make it all pay off.

I didn’t find this sequel particularly remarkable. I think I read it since the first one left off on such a cliffhanger that I felt obliged to find out what happened next. I think it did tie up loose ends and it did give closure. But… I don’t know if this duo-logy was meant for me; I don’t do blood and bloody things. But if you’re into medical stuff and healing… this is for you!

After the cliffhanger of the last book, I was eagerly awaiting the sequel. This story is told from two points of view, and on different timelines. It was interesting to catch up on where familiar characters have landed, and finally learning what happened after the last chapter of The Last Bloodcarver. I love the detail that is put into the descriptions in these stories! The story is set in the middle of a war, making it an important time for people with the gift. The navigation of the politics, and events that unfolded kept my attention to the end.

Beautiful companion to the first book. I loved the first book so much and I was so incredibly happy to hear more about Kochin in this book. My favorite thing about this duology is Vanessa Le's stunning ability to have two characters with such incredibly similar experiences be so deeply different in a way that makes complete sense for each character. This is so deeply true of diaspora experience and it's so comforting to have the ability to read a story like this in fiction, where the characters are also explicitly diasporic. Overall, incredible read as expected. I can't wait for more from Vanessa Le!!

Solid end to Nhika's story! Definitely worth reading for fans who loved the Last Bloodcarver but were gutted by the ending.

The sequel and ending for "The Last Bloodcarver", Vanessa Le brings us back to the SFF city of Theumas to continue the story of Nhika and Kochi after the heartstopping finale of the first book.

I'm incredibly happy to have read this duology and the ending did not disappoint!

Returning to the SFF world of Theumas was a delight, especially with the big changes that transpired during the timeskip. Unlike the first book, here we have a dual narration and because of the ending of TLB, the stakes were high no only for plot reasons, but for the author herself. The dual narration is between two timelines for the majority of the book, so I was very impressed on how Vanessa Le was able to jump through the hoops of having the present events while keeping the mystery of how we arrived there with the past events. Since this is a debut duology for her, I applaud her!

The worldbuilding was expanded here, not to ridiculous extents, but enough to continue the story, make believable events within it, and saciating my curiosity. I had many questions after the ending of TLB and I'm happy with the answers I got. Known characters, aside from Kochi and Nhika, received more development and even some less known or new got some unexpected love and I was loving it! One worldbuilding aspect that was kept kind of in the background during TLB was reintroduced in full force and it surprised me how much it affected the story, since usually when we deal with romantasies, they tend to stay as a setting.

Vanessa Le's writing is great and I'm excited to read her words in whatever new story she'll present us in the future. There are full passages that feel very lyrical without becoming a lot of nonsense to just be pretty, and I commend her for that.

I think this is one great YA duology that I can safely recommend to anyone who loves diverse SFF.