The Last Bloodcarver

The Last Bloodcarver #1

by Vanessa Le, VyVy Nguyen (Narrator)

"You’ll gasp, you’ll scream, you’ll cry, and you’ll be begging for the next book."—Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times- bestselling author of These Violent Delights

"Smart, lush, and utterly compelling."—Marie Lu, #1 New York Times- bestselling author of Legend

Nhika is a bloodcarver. A coldhearted, ruthless being who can alter human biology with just a touch.

In the industrial city of Theumas, Nhika is seen not as a healer, but a monster that kills for pleasure. And in the city's criminal underbelly, the rarest of monsters are traded for gold. When Nhika is finally caught by the infamous Butchers, she's forced to heal the last witness to a high-profile murder.

As Nhika delves into the investigation, all signs point to Ven Kochin, an alluring yet entitled physician's aide. Despite his relentless attempts to push her out of his opulent world, something inexplicable draws Nhika to him. But when she discovers Kochin is not who he claims to be, Nhika will be faced with a greater, more terrifying evil lurking in the city's center...

Her only chance to survive lies in a terrible choice—become the dreaded monster the city fears, or risk jeopardizing the future of her kind.

Praise for The Last Bloodcarver

*Three starred reviews*

★ "An entrancingly well-written debut."— Kirkus Reviews , starred review

★ "Visceral and exquisitely rendered prose, intertwining a murder investigation with themes of unresolved grief, medical ethics, and lost heritage."— Publishers Weekly , starred review

★ "Deeply romantic, and darkly biological."— Booklist , starred review

"The perfect blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and romance."—Axie Oh, New York Times- bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

"Obsession-worthy characters."—Joan He, New York Times- bestselling author of The Ones We're Meant to Find

"Absolutely captivating. This is one to be savored."—Grace D. Li, New York Times -bestselling author of Portrait of a Thief

A Macmillan Audio production from Roaring Brook Press.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Young Adult Fantasy

Audible Audio

First published March 19, 2024

Reviews

[Mai H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a sea of extremely mediocre YA Asian fantasy debuts, THE LAST BLOODCARVER does the impossible and draws me in. As often is the case, Nhika falls into the trap of being naïve and cliché. She is hoodwinked by multiple people, before coming into her own.

As the wave of Vietnamese diaspora fiction continues to hit the shelves, I have been eagerly waiting for more Southeast Asian lore to make its way into my hands. Since I grew up in the West, inundated with Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology, and am slowly but surely educating myself on East Asian lore, I find myself searching for the myths of my homeland. This is a start. (Make sure you pick up THE CROSSBOW OF DESTINY.)

Where so many of the Asian fantasies seem to go wrong is the glorification of colonization. I will be the first to admit that I was worried about how this would turn out. Fear not, Nhika is very proud to be Yarongese. As she was born in Theumas, she has never even seen her oft dreamt about homeland. She barely speaks the language. She feels unconnected to her mother and grandmother's land and healing practices. This obviously hit me in the feels.

Nhika's gift deals with healing. She is from a land of magic. The place she lives deals more with science, and these people see her as other. Deep in this underworld of training and secrets, she meets a dark haired mysterious stranger. Again, fret not. I'm eager to see how the author will continue this story.

🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Young Listeners

[kimberly ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡. (semi-ia) · Rating 3 out of 5]

❝ for a moment, she wondered what that must feel like, a love that weathered the threat of death.

❞

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ i've read the reviews for to gaze upon wicked gods by molly x. chang and i watched so many analytical youtube videos on that book and its glorification of colonization that i was hesitant to pick up another ya asian fantasy debut. it hurts my heart as a vietnamese-american because I want to support bipoc authors, especially asian authors, but ya books have been so mediocre to me lately. however, i couldn't handle not supporting a fellow vietnamese-american author, but regardless, the last bloodcarver did intrigue me on its own, and i'm glad i had a chance to pick it up.


₊˚꒰ 𖧷 ꒱ ⊹ i. plot. ₊˚⊹ ꒱
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ suonyasan nhika is a heartsooth, a being who can alter human biology with a mere touch. when nhika is discovered for using her forbidden abilities, she is captured and auctioned to the highest bidder: a young girl desperate to find someone to heal the last witness to her father's murder.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ after years of surviving on the fringes of society, nhika soon finds herself immersed in the gilded world of theumas's aristocracy, where she meets ven kochin, a physician's aide too intent in ensuring she doesn't belong in this opulent world. despite everything, she finds herself drawn to him and discovers that there's more to kochin than his arrogance, something dangerous that turns nhika's quest for justice into a battle for her own life.


₊˚꒰ 𖧷 ꒱ ⊹ ii. storyline. ₊˚⊹ ꒱
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ packed with lush prose and vivid details, you could perfectly imagine the artistry of hearthsoothing that le tries to convey. the connection that nhika has with her talent and le's exploration of themes such as grief and colonization is beautifully rendered and doesn't get lost amid the mystery that essentially becomes the backbone of the plot. additionally, the mystery is fleshed out, adapting a pace that doesn't feel too slow or too rushed, allowing the readers to feel immersed and captivated by nhika's investigation. in the sea of ya asian fantasy, the last bloodcarver isolates itself as a solid and unique story.


₊˚꒰ 𖧷 ꒱ ⊹ iii. characters. ₊˚⊹ ꒱
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ nhika is a character you can't help but cheer for. le does a wonderful job crafting such a realistic main character that readers can easily understand and sympathize with as she grapples with her loss and loneliness. nhika's inner conflict makes her a complex character that comes alive on the pages, adding depth to the plot and the drive needed for her actions. (as for kochin, my heart completely breaks for him.)

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ side characters like mimi, andao, and trin lack any true substance that would make readers stay interested in their fates. they were tremendously distant from nhika, which i would assume is purposeful to establish that atmosphere of loneliness that she experiences throughout the book, but i wish we had something to make the side characters more dynamic and not simply pieces to drive the plot forward.


₊˚꒰ 𖧷 ꒱ ⊹ iv. romance. ₊˚⊹ ꒱
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ the ending of this book is heavily dependent on nhika's relationship with kochin, very much so that i felt the growth of their relationship was unnatural and rushed. while there were moments that made my heart ache for them, i felt primarily unconvinced by the progression of their feelings. but again, i do understand the importance of having them come together for that ending.


₊˚꒰ 𖧷 ꒱ ⊹ v. conclusion. ₊˚⊹ ꒱
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ despite it all, i will read the sequel. it simply cannot end like that.

— 3 stars. ⋆˚☆˖°.ᐟ


.° ༘🎧⋆ favourite quotes 🖇₊˚ෆ
“how long had she been looking for someone like him? someone who knew her fears and her joys, as they truly were.”

“she knew that to be loved was to give love.”

“they were eclipsing planets, lining up in orbit for just a breath before the death of their star, two whales crossing paths in the desolate vastness of the ocean.”


⌗ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎started: 06.20.24 ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎⌝
‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎⌞ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎finished: 06.26.24 ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✦


₊˚꒰ 𖧷 ꒱ ⊹ pre-review: the ending did in fact wreck me.

₊˚⊹ ᰔ pre-read: these violent delights meets cinder in a vietnamese-inspired sci-fi fantasy? oh, my heart is on the verge of exploding.

[JustJJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blog | Instagram

Rating: 3.5 stars

'The Last Bloodcarver' was another story with a strong premise but a simple execution that left me feeling underwhelmed.
Similar read: The Theft of Sunlight by Intisar Khanani
 
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This gorgeous cover art neatly portrays the genre and several aspects of the story. Still, the plain brown background fails to make the design striking.
 
"what were words worth, if no one could understand them?"

Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
A simple, casual writing style with good prose and details smoothly brings this story to life. I was particularly impressed by the bloodcarving ability of the main character, which was brilliantly presented and explored. However, the worldbuilding felt somewhat thin and underdeveloped, especially since some concepts, like the constabulary, were mentioned but played no role in the story.
 
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟
The simple murder mystery at the core of this story was well-paced and given some depth through complex themes such as grief, genocide, and colonisation. However, I struggled with the repetitive internal monologues, which constantly interrupted the narrative and made it less engaging. I also wasn't a fan of the ending, as it seemed forced and unsatisfying.

"she knew that to be loved was to give love"

Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟🌟
As a clever and caring protagonist with a strong passion for her heritage, Nhika was easy to root for. Her motives and thoughts were extensively detailed, making it easy to understand her decisions, even when they were frustrating. While the loneliness and loss Nhika grappled with added depth to her character, she seemed too passive, and some of her actions were clearly forced to drive aspects of the storyline.
 
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟
Although the secondary characters are well-defined with distinct traits, backstories and struggles, I failed to care about them as they were shrouded in mystery and distanced from Nhika. The shifts in their dynamics could also have been developed better to make things more natural and authentic.
 
"How long had she been looking for someone like him? Someone who knew her fears and her joys, as they truly were"

Romance: 🌟🌟🌟
The connection Nhika forms is shaped by shared abilities and struggles, making it sweet and heartwarming. There is also a cute secondary romance that adds some additional cute moments. However, I was unconvinced by the main relationship as the progression from enemies to lovers was rushed and poorly shown. With so much of the ending relying on this relationship, it seemed more like a forced plot device and made me less invested in the story.
 
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟
The vocal inflexions and pacing generally seemed odd to me, and little of the emotions in the narrative were conveyed. This affected my enjoyment of the audiobook and made it harder for me to connect with the story.

[Maeghan 🦋 HIATUS on & off · Rating 4 out of 5]

« For a moment, she almost wondered what that must feel like, a love that weathered the threat of death »

I kept thinking the author was going to say : HA- got you!!! And make it all ok but no. I’m shocked and heartbroken 😭💔 why would she wreck me with that heartbreak of an ending 😭😭

🫀 Healing magic
🫀 Depiction of racism (check the TW)
🫀 Found family/friends
🫀 Murder mystery
🫀 Found romance (they both think they’re among the only heartsooths left)
🫀 Fierce FMC who gets things done (she has made it on my favourite FMCs list)

I randomly bought this book on Owlcrate because the sprayed edges were gorgeous. I had no idea what this book was about. I read this in one sitting.

While I did guess who was the killer from very early on - I never saw that ending coming. I do respect the author’s decision for not going back and changing it. But I’m still super heartbroken because why😭

This book follows Nhika, a heartsooth, whose from a country who suffered a genocide - and she faces a lot of racism. She gets kidnapped and sold to the highest bidder. The person who bought her gets her all tangled up in a murder case.

This was a very unique story and it was very bingeable! I highly recommend it.

[Darcey · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

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!

[ivanareadsalot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Edelweiss and Roaring Brook Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

🦊What an absolute ride this was! Not only was this a gorgeous read in terms of the worldbuilding alone, but there was a bit of intrigue, a touch of murder, a soft exploration on class and cultural divisiveness, a magic system that was both esoteric and human, and a sharp, energetic group of characters i enjoyed reading a whole lot. The romance reads YA but it is what it is and i can accept that that piece is just NOT for me lol!🦊

🦾Though predictable (lbr what isn't?) i still found this compulsively readable. There was great pace to the story and a bit of feels, but for me the ultimate hook was the ending, which i thought was pretty awesome, and all kinds of dark! So i'm very much looking forward to all the ways Book 2 will expand on it, and open up this world and magic system in the future! I personally would LOVE to see more of the mech in action, and a lot more of this Vietnam-inspired fantasy landscape, because it was a pure treat to visualize!🦿

🫀All in all this was an awesome first installment of a promising duology that i can't help but be excited for, because i think there's quite a bit of story left to tell and i think i'm proper hooked lol! overall i thought this was one of the more unique offerings in YA fantasy that has successfully captured my attention because of its mature readability, propulsive narrative style, and an easy plot that asks the reader to not only consider the social stigma of "other", but to engage their "empathy organ" to find ways to heal the fractured, and to open minds closed off by trauma and loss. Fabulous debut with a whole lot more exciting storytelling from Vanessa Le still to come!🫀

[Zana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fits The Diverse Baseline February Prompt C: A book by a BIPOC author with found family.

4.5 stars rounded up!

My friend, Ren, said she really liked this arc, so I was pretty excited to read it.

And let me tell you, it didn't disappoint! While the reveals were pretty obvious (nothing really surprised me, but YMMV), this was still a fun read.

One caveat though, it's been a few days since I've finished the arc, and I'm still not sure how I feel about the ending, which is why this isn't a perfect 5 stars.

I love how Nhika feels like a real, fully-fleshed out character instead of the typical strong female YA Chosen One trope. (I mean, she's technically a Chosen One, but it isn't in-your-face or mentioned all of the time to the point of exhaustion.) She's a very young adult, and she reads like one too. The choices she makes are reasonable for someone who grew up as part of a minority group whose family sought refuge in a neutral country when their homeland was ravaged by a colonizing nation.

For a YA novel, I think it does a really great job touching on issues such as classism (Nhika's life in poverty before the Congmis employ her), Othering (Nhika's Yarongese features, which separates her from the people of Theumas), and the diaspora experience (Nhika vs. Kochin's experiences as a mixed Yarongese person, plus their different schools of heartsoothing).

I hope we get to explore more of the world's geopolitics in the second book. We get enough to understand the situation with Nhika's people and the countries at large, but nothing more.

The novel does a really great job when it comes to Nhika's generational trauma. While she was born in Theumas, her mother and grandmother were originally from Yarong, which was colonized by Daltanny.

Her generational trauma and Yarongese diaspora experiences are clearly expressed in her yearning for a homeland she's never seen before or been to, and her desire to learn heartsoothing from a proper teacher. Her grandmother only had old textbooks to teach her with, and when Nhika is exposed to Theuman medicine and research, she realizes that her knowledge is sorely lacking. And since her people were murdered in a genocide, this knowledge is lost forever.

Here's a quote that really spoke to me:

"Surely, he didn't see heartsoothing the same way she did, because how could he? How could he understand that it was her connection to her lost family, a culture she’d never had the privilege of truly knowing? How could he know how it felt to soothe, to connect to someone so intimately, not a mere substitute for empathy but a step above it? How could he see that it was not some magic she could switch on and off at whim, but a permanent fixture of her identity?"

(Quote taken from the arc and might be subject to change.)

While I appreciate the similarities and contrasts between Nhika and Kochin, and their romance wasn't the worst thing I've ever read lol, I'm still not entirely sold on the ending. No spoilers, but since this is a duology, I'm hoping for more Nhika in the second book. Kochin's all right, I guess.

Anyway, Vanessa Le is a new author that I'm excited to read more of! I'm very eager to read the second book and anything else that she writes.

Thank you to Roaring Brook Press and NetGalley for this arc.

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This young adult fantasy was a unique story. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a great job. My only struggle with the audiobook was that I needed to know what happens next and audio is my slowest modality for finishing a book. I liked the world building quite a bit. I love when there is a new slant to a fantasy world and this one had it. In a world of blossoming technology there once was an island of people called Heart Soothes who could heal with a touch. But their enemies grew afraid of them and called them Bloodcaver. Those people were murdered in an attempt to steal their abilities. Nhika’s family escaped but since her grandmother and parents died she has been the only Heart Soother she knows. After using her forbidden abilities to save one of her sham holistic medicine clients who would have died without her help she is repaid by being hunted by black marker traders who grab her and put her up for auction. Terrified of what would happen, since it is believed eating the heart of one of her people grants the eater the abilities, she is determined to escape. She is purchased by a teenage girl who she finds to be from of one of the richest families in the land. The girl and her family ask for her help healing a man who is in a coma after an accident that killed their father. But this family has secret motivations and the upper class world she’s now exploring is full or secrets, lies, and pitfalls. I didn’t love the ending (or the cliffhanger I am assuming will result in another book) but it was well written and a fun and wild ride.

[Natasha Leighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

A thoroughly insatiable, dark YA fantasy that merges science, magic and Vietnamese culture in such a unique way! The tone is a little macabre (which is to be expected with a blood-based magic system.) But, thanks to the pacing and unputdownable plot twists, Vanessa Le’s remarkable prose is almost guaranteed to leave you breathless, if not a little emotionally scarred.

In a world where a rare, blood based magic allows its practitioners to alter the human body, (and the fear of such power leading to colonisation, oppression and the mass genocide of those who wield this unique ability.) We follow the orphaned Nhika, who has lived in hiding her whole life; unable to get close to anyone for fear of ending up on a mortuary slab.

After a job leads to her capture by black market dealers (known as The Butchers) Nhika is sold to the highest bidder, (the heirs of one of the wealthiest families in Theumas) and finds herself set an impossible task— to help solve a murder, by saving the life of it’s only witness.

I absolutely loved reading this was soo impressed by the ease and skill with which Le tackles some of the plot’s heavier themes (identity, grief, generational trauma, medical ethics and colonialism.) And building a vivid, compelling and character driven narrative that I was fully invested in.

The characters were exceptionally well written and full of depth which had me eager to see where their journeys would take them. Especially Nhika whose initial, morally grey demeanour (and badass take no prisoners outlook) slowly reveals a compassionate and tender-hearted young woman determined to honour her family’s legacy.

Her experiences as part of the Yarongese diaspora was explored with such incredible nuance and emotion that really tugged on my heartstrings. Given what’s currently happening right now in the world, it’s hard not to resonate with Nhika’s story and her yearning to recapture the heritage lost through violent occupation (and the destruction of her ancestral homeland and it’s people.)

It may be a tough read for some (and will most certainly emotionally devastate you) but it’s an absolute must read that fantasy lovers and fans of anti-colonialism and stories that overcome adversity should definitely consider to checking out — just be sure to check TWs and prepare to SOB an unprecedented amount.

We do also get a delicious, but fairly swift, enemies to lovers-style relationship between Nhika and love interest, Kochin (which I loved) that does break up some of the more emotionally intense scenes.

Overall, a beautifully thrilling new YA fantasy from a phenomenal new voice that has me eager to get my hands on the sequel immediately!

Also, a huge thank you to Rock the Boat for the gorgeous proof.

[Esme · Rating 4 out of 5]

really solid fantasy! I really loved the writing style! The atmosphere of the book was great, it's a a more gruesome book with some gore in it so be sure to check out any triggers before reading this one!


Thank you Netgalley for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

[nela.reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Współpraca reklamowa z wydawnictwem Uroboros] Do książek, które zawierają zagadnienia z dziedziny medycyny podchodzę bardzo ostrożnie, bo nie jestem fanką tej tematyki i zupełnie nie potrafię się w niej odnaleźć. Coś jednak postanowiło przyciągnąć mnie do "Rzeźbiarki krwi" i stwierdziłam, że w tym przypadku zaryzykuję. Zupełnie teraz nie żałuję, bo książka okazała się być dla mnie olbrzymim powiewem świeżości, a moje wszelkie uprzedzenia zniknęły.

Wszystko sprowadza się tak naprawdę do mocy głównej bohaterki, którą ta musi ukrywać przed innymi ludźmi oraz tajemniczego morderstwa. Nhika, dziewczyna o niezwykłych zdolnościach przeprowadza czytelnika przez świat magii medycznej, pokazuje na czym polega jej dar, jak go widzi i jakie niesie za sobą konsekwencje korzystanie z niego. Opisy skupiają się przede wszystkim na anatomii człowieka oraz funkcjonowaniu poszczególnych ludzkich narządów, ale przysięgam, że wszystko zostało wyjaśnione przez Autorkę tak prosto i klarownie, że nie ma trudności w zrozumieniu czegokolwiek. Ciekawostka? Vanessa Le ukończyła medycynę na uniwersytecie Browna. Myślę więc, że ze spokojem mogę stwierdzić, że wiedza medyczna pochodzi z dobrego źródła.

Autorka świetnie połączyła ze sobą naukę z magią, a do stworzenia świata zainspirowała się Wietnamem - dzięki temu przedstawiła czytelnikom historię intrygującą, nieco niepokojącą, ale i taką, od której nie sposób się oderwać. Zwłaszcza, że ważny wątek stanowi w "Rzeźbiarce krwi" tajemnicze morderstwo, które w zasadzie nie wiadomo czy faktycznie miało miejsce i kto mógłby być za nie odpowiedzialny. Będąc świadkiem całego dochodzenia byłam niesamowicie podekscytowana, czułam ten specyficzny dreszczyk emocji, a chwilami pojawiało się nawet uczucie strachu. Miejcie na uwadze jedynie, że bardzo łatwo jest mnie przestraszyć, więc kwestia odczuwania strachu jest tutaj bardzo subiektywna. W każdym razie, bardzo podobało mi się jaki kierunek obrała Autorka i nie sądziłam, że aż tak przypadnie mi do gustu jej decyzja.

Dla fanów wątków romantycznych również coś się znajdzie. Nie będę tu zdradzać zbyt wiele, ale relacja bohaterów była bardzo przyjemna w odbiorze, chociaż miałam poczucie, że wszystko dzieje się zbyt szybko. Myślę, że w przypadku tej historii byłabym większą fanką slow burn, ale rozumiem też, że akcja już nie mogłaby być przez to tak dynamiczna. Jeśli jednak lubicie motywy takie jak rivals to lovers i on zakochuje się pierwszy, powinniście być usatysfakcjonowani.

Myślę, że będzie to ciekawa propozycja fantastyki, która zgra się idealnie z jesienną aurą za oknem, taką bardziej listopadową. Naprawdę warto dać szansę "Rzeźbiarce krwi" i zapisać sobie ten tytuł.




ale to było super!!!! obawiałam się zakończenia, że będzie takie meh, jednak ostatnie zdanie sprawiło, że chcę jak najszybciej przeczytać drugi tom😫 książka idealna na jesień

[Toya (thereadingchemist) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Bloodcarver is a lush Vietnamese inspired fantasy that follows Nhika, a bloodcarver aka a person who can alter human biology. After Nhika was caught using her abilities, she’s captured and sold to an aristocratic family to heal the witness to their father’s murder.

I LOVE when magic systems incorporate science, human physiology in this case, and really dives into the limitations and consequences of both. Not sure if medical fantasy is a thing, but that’s exactly what this is.

Nhika is an incredible FMC. She embodies female rage (especially as the last of her kind) and feralness, but her magic means that she’s always called to heal even when she knows it puts her life at risk. Nhika is so incredibly strong and determined, but she never forgets her family’s heritage.

There is a romance plot that does take place. I was a bit apprehensive at first since it’s described as assholes to lovers, but not only is this trope accurate, this romance makes sense for Nhika and fuels her even more.

My only gripe is that this one ends on one heck of a cliffhanger, and I NEED book two.

Thank you Fierce Reads and Macmillan Audio for providing a review copy.

[Zoë · Rating 4 out of 5]

the way I stopped breathing towards the end damn

[Esmay Rosalyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I knew absolutely nothing about The Last Bloodcarver before jumping in, but Vanessa Le really surprised me in the best way possible. I mean, a mature, dark and slightly macabre YA fantasy with a dash of (murder?) mystery and romance that seamlessly blends science, magic and Vietnamese culture into one hell of a unique adventure? Say less!

Despite the action-packed start, The Last Bloodcarver quickly proved to be a very intimate and character-driven narrative, and that is exactly why I enjoyed it so much. Nhika was such a rootable and loveable character for me, and I was really moved by the way that Le depicted her believable inner conflict. Themes of racism, colonisation, classism, (cultural) genocide, and the diaspora experience are explored with so much nuance and brutal honesty through her lived experiences, which added layers of depth and emotional impact to this YA adventure that I wasn't expecting, but welcomed with open arms.

Moreover, I really enjoyed the exceptionally rich world building, especially with the clash between the steampunkish tech/science and the mystical/anatomical magic. It was both beautiful and tragic to see Nhika trying to find her own way to embrace her magic, even if there was no one left to teach it to her. Her grief and loneliness is captured so well, and all the moments of reminiscing about her mother and grandmother added a really melancholic and tragically beautiful vibe to this story. Nhika might face a lot of undeserved bigotry and hate, but I loved that she never let that stop her from being defiantly proud of her Yarongese heritage and powerful heartsooth magic.

Now, I think the side characters were all interesting and added some nice dynamics to the story, but they simply paled in comparison to Nhika for me. The aristocratic siblings Mimi and Andao, and the mysterious physician's aid Kochin are the only ones that really stood out to me, and I really enjoyed the unexpected found family vibes and heartfelt romance with its slight enemies to lovers vibes. All the other characters felt a bit one-dimensional to me, and I can't say I was really surprised by any of the twists and turns as the core mystery of this story unravelled.

Still, I was totally along for the wild ride, and the boldly gutwrenching ending has me very eager to dive into the sequel and see how this dark story is going to conclude. If you have been looking for a diverse and unique YA fantasy and don't mind a bit of predictability in your stories, then I would highly recommend The Last Bloodcarver.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last BloodCarver was not exactly what I was expecting, but it proved to be captivating. I do see this is a YA romance though it is a bit dark still a book I would Recommend.
Hope you enjoy this exciting read.

[Helen ⊹₊⟡⋆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“They were eclipsing planets, lining up in orbit for just a breath before the death of their star, two whales crossing paths in the desolate vastness of the ocean”

This was such a lush fantasy with vietnamese inspiration book. I really enjoyed reading from the eyes of Nhika how the Theumas view her and her heartsoothing abilities. (This book actually dabble into themes such as classism, generational trauma, genocide, and passing down of culture and storytelling). And because thr story is from Nhika’s POV i trusted NO ONE, i was terrified any of them could turn against her at any point, making this very good and intense read.

spoiler ish:
THE ENDING OMG, I HAD A SPLIT SEC THOUGHT OF “WHAT IF” BUT THEN I WAS LIKE NAHHHH NO WAY ABSOLUTELY NO WAYYY. I NEED THE SECOND BOOK IMMEDIATELY (kochin its all you now)

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to receive this book in my owlcrate subscription a little bit back; the title immediately piqued my interest, and I loved the artwork associated with it.

Going into this book without much prior knowledge, I was pleasantly surprised. For a debut novel, the author's storytelling prowess completely blew me away. The world the author created and the interesting magic system immediately drew me in, and I adored the fusion of ancestry and cultures. The characters were likable and intriguing, and they left just the right amount of suspense for us as readers to uncover.

While I could foresee most of the plot twists, one scene in the last chapter took me by surprise. While it left me slightly disappointed (and heartbroken), after reading the epilogue, I see how it sets the stage for the sequel.

With another round of edits, this book had the potential to become a five-star read. I'm honestly a little angry that the execution fell a little short because, wow, this book had ALL of the pieces to be perfect. The rich storytelling and the fascinating magic within the story make me eager to read the second book in this series.

Four stars✨and I would recommend it to any of my YA Fantasy book-loving friends.

[Pradha · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Hers was not a touch that held, or caressed, or kissed; hers had always been the touch that carved.

But he was the marble that weathered.”


First off, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH WHAT ?!?!?!?!?!

Second, this book is severely underrated and I need everyone to pick it up and read it right now. Unless, of course, you don’t prefer to read an uncompleted series because with the way this one ended, I need the next one immediately.

Third, this book feels written for me. It had everything that I love in a book. A heart-pounding mystery, complex and morally questionable characters, a medical magic system, found family, and a dash of murder.

This was beautiful and absolutely stunning. I’m pretty sure it fundamentally changed something in my brain chemistry and my stomach still hurts from the anticipation and/or grueling suspense. What was that ending??? It should be a crime to end a book that way.

To say that I adored the characters in this book, especially Nhika, Trin, and Kochin, would be an understatement. Their dynamics and flaws were heart-warming while also being heart-wrenching, and their character developments were top-tier. I need more of them. Please. And the slow-burn romance was literally butterflies.

The very conflict and moral dilemma that divide the titles of heartsoothe and bloodcarver were everything. While I expected a deeper introspective into the history of this world and some of the themes to be explored more, it honestly surprised me with how intense and dark it got. More than that, the magic system was so creative and complex, and I loved how the writing immersed you in the process of soothing another’s or one’s own body.

Highly, highly recommend this read! I’m still reeling from how much of an adrenaline rush it has given me.

[akacya ❦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

2025 reads: 20/300

2025 tbr: 10/111

in the industrial city of theumas, “bloodcarvers” are seen as ruthless killers. nhika, the last of her kind, knows this isn’t the truth. as a heartsooth, she feels compelled to heal, rather than hurt, people. in fact, it’s in the act of healing that she’s caught by the butchers and sold to a wealthy family who want her to heal a family friend. nhika thinks this will be easy enough, but is quickly humbled when she realizes whatever’s wrong with this family friend goes beyond what her grandmother taught her. during her time with this family, she begins to understand some of the deadly secrets the city holds.

i received this as an owlcrate monthly pick last year, and i have no idea why it took me so long to get around to this! i love science-based magic systems, so the fact that nhika had to be so knowledgable in anatomy and physiology was very interesting. in fact, her lack of knowledge was a big conflict in this book: since she cannot heal what she doesn’t understand, and neuroanatomy is something still being researched, she was understandably having trouble trying to wake someone from a coma. i really enjoyed reading about how she worked through this.

there was also some romance in this book, which i enjoyed! i would say it gets deeper in the later parts of the book, but was still really enjoyable.

i can’t wait for the sequel!

[Chelsea 🥀🗡🖤 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
I enjoyed this one. The story was really good & it was well written.
However I felt the ending was rushed and felt a little forced.

[Wayward Skyril · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me get this out of the way: the ending was STUPID. It could have easily wrapped up a variety of ways and been sent off into this green earth, but the author or publisher or someone must have wanted a sequel, because the author made Nhika a freaking imbecile in order to create a plot for the second book of her duology, and that frustrates me. If you're going to write a duology, fine. Don't make your previously intelligent characters IDIOTS in order to do that.

If you ignore the last few pages, this book was quite good. So good, in fact, that I had already started jotting down praising notes and commendations for a glowing 4*-star review that I would have recommended to everyone who enjoys the genre. I think my exact words were: "Is it perfect? No. Is it excellent? YES." In fact, aside from a few minor inconsistencies (and the idiotic ending) there was very little wrong with this book and whole lot good about it.

The world that's spun in The Last Bloodcarver is somewhere between fantasy and steampunk and brings to mind Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles, though where that series seems futuristic, this one seems historical. It's an interesting, clever world with prejudices and politics that you don't often see so well-crafted in a YA.

The plot is a bit of a shifting thing that keeps developing as the story progresses, which makes it seem alive and breathing along with the characters and generally kept me hooked, though it did slow down a bit at one point before picking up again and never letting go. Still, even this slow point moved along steadily with pages quick to flip one after another, and when I picked it up, I truly didn't want to put it down.

While, as aforementioned, Nhika was necessarily stupid in the finale for the way the author wrote the ending in order to create a plot for the sequel, the rest of the time she was quite sharp. She had depth and obvious motivation, longing for a family like the one she lost when she was too young, her heart softer than she pretends it to be. I appreciated her as a character (except in the finale) because it's somewhat uncommon to find female characters with whole personalities who seem like real people, especially in YA, but this book excelled at it.
For a while, I didn't understand how the romance and love interest would make sense, but finally things clicked into place, and I grew to like Ven Kochin so much more. There was more to him than I realized, and everything he was made sense for his character arc. I really enjoyed him and his bond with Nhika.
Alongside these two were a handful of other characters that all played reasonably significant roles in the story. They each had character traits that set them apart, and I was intrigued in all of them any time they were on the page.

Overall, the uniqueness of this world and the richness of the characters in it, developed through the skilled writing of its author made this a good book that I was invested in. It was almost a great book, but that ending left me with a bitter feeling of frustration that it took me a while to overcome even to write this review, and I'm not sure whether I will push past that to read the sequel. Do be aware that these characters' stories do not get a HFN, and the sequel will be a necessary read if you want to get their full story. If you're okay with that, then this is a solid YA read that shines in its genre, and you'd be hard-pressed to not enjoy it.



The Last Bloodcarver ***TRIGGER WARNINGS***:

~Caged animals for sale in an underground market
~Killing of a monkey and another small animal
~Guns/knives
~Blood, corpses, mild gore, mild anatomical horror
~Blackmail/threats

[zaczytana_julcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,75⭐️
powiedzieć, że czekam na 2 tom z niecierpliwością to jak nic nie powiedzieć

[gia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

thank you to Colored Pages Book Tour and Fierce Reads for the arc!!

this book shocked me speechless wow. it was so interesting and i sped through this book so fast. the writing is exceptional, and the descriptions were beautiful but not over the top, which often distracts me. the plot was paced out perfectly, i'm someone who often struggles with the first 25% of a book so this was super engaging and i didn't even put the book down until i was around 60% in???

nhika was such a great main character to follow, she has depth and i can understand her line of thinking and decisions most times. the side characters are also very interesting to read about and i kept finding myself wanting more of nhika's interactions with them! the worldbuilding of this book was done very well, i could picture the setting of everything happening. also, the bloodcarving/heartsoothing system was super intriguing to read about!

the ending of this book was SHOCKING. i was wondering how the book was going to end when i reached around the 85% mark and i was very very surprised by the direction it took. the mystery aspect of this book was captivating and i liked that it wasn't so complex because i was able to guess a bit of it (which i'm very proud of). although the ending is kinda cliffhangery, i like that i don't want to completely sob until the next book releases for answers but instead, i will be counting down the days.

overall, i highly recommend this book if anyone is looking for a fun fantasy read!!

[Patty (IheartYA311) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book more than expected. At first, the blurb seemed confusing. This book was on again, off again on my TBR. I'm glad I gave in and finally read it! The writing style was great, and the story was pretty good. Unfortunately, I probably won't remember it, though.

[paigesofsmut · Rating 5 out of 5]

extremely unique magic in this one. I reall loved this book so much. If you liked Cinder then you’ll probably enjoy this.

[Weronika · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,75/5 ⭐️

🩸Współpraca reklamowa z wydawnictwem Uroboros🩸

Chociaż nie jestem wielką fanką tematyki medycznej, to właśnie on zainteresował mnie, aby sięgnąć po ,,Rzeźbiarkę krwi". Czułam, że może być to powiew świeżości i nie pomyliłam się. 😁 Magia głównej bohaterki, Nhiki opierająca się na dotknięciu drugiej osoby, aby "wejść" do jej ciała i uśmierzyć lub wywołać ból była czymś ciekawym. Autorka ukończyła kierunek medyczny na uniwersytecie, co było widoczne w opisach wnętrza ciała człowieka, jednak wszystko było przedstawione w bardzo prosty i zrozumiany sposób. Także nie trzeba się obawiać, że znajdziecie tutaj jakąś trudną terminologię. 😉

Innym wątkiem, który bardzo mi się spodobał była tęsknota za domem i utrzymanie pamięci o utraconej kulturze uśmierzających, którą dziewczyna znała głównie z opowiadań babci, ponieważ ze względu na inwazję wroga wychowywała się w innym miejscu - Theumas. 👵🏻 Lubiłam fragmenty, gdy bohaterka o tym myślała lub komuś opowiadała, ponieważ sama bardzo chętnie słucham historii rodzinnych, nawet i tysięczny raz, a potem też dzielę się nimi ze znajomymi. 🫶🏻

Co do Nhiki to chyba nie zaskoczę już Was, że bardzo ją polubiłam. Poza wyżej wspomnianymi rzeczami dziewczyna była odważna oraz empatyczna pomimo, że wszyscy dookoła polują na takie jak ona i nie może liczyć na zaufanie i bezpieczeństwo w życiu. 🗡 Rozpisałabym się jeszcze o jednej postaci, ale musiałabym mocno spojlerować, dlatego tylko napiszę, że była ciekawym przeciwieństwem Nhiki w postrzeganiu świata, fajnie uzupełniania całą historię. 😊 Natomiast, jeśli jesteście fanami motywu rivals to lovers czy on zakochuje się pierwszy to też coś tutaj się dla Was znajdzie. 🤭

Jedynym małym minusem była dla mnie kreacja świata. Pomimo, że jest wspomniane, że Theumas przechodzi industrialną rewolucję to powszechne automatony kłóciły mi się z wyglądem budynków czy wiedzy, która w jednej dziedzinie była szeroka, a w drugiej raczkowała. 🤔 Niemniej jednak nie przeszkadzało mi to aż tak w odbiorze historii. A końcówka była niespodziewana i zabolała. 💔 Dlatego nie mogę doczekać się jej kontynuacji!

[laurel [the suspected bibliophile] · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nhika is a bloodcarver, a ferocious near-mythical being that can kill with a touch. At least, that's what the rumors claim. When she's caught by the Butchers, Nhika thinks it's over for her—until she's bought by a two siblings searching for answers to their father's death. And Nhika finds there's a lot to lose...

I loved the world-building in this, and it was cruising toward a four to five star read, until the romance happened. I mean, I knew who the guy was going to be, but it felt so hamfisted and sudden, and then the ending happened (one of my absolute least favorite YA fantasy tropes) and any and all enjoyment went out the window.

The world-building. A Vietnam-inspired fantasy world with heavy steampunk elements. Absolutely my jam. I loved the world-building. I loved the medical aspects and the glimpses of the political world Andao suddenly inherited upon his father's death.

I enjoyed Nhika, although the blurb is totally different than who she actually is. She's a caring person, a healer at heart, and someone with generational scars and lots of trauma from colonization and poverty. She's very much a teenager, and I loved that.

But it was still the romance aspect I wasn't fond of. As soon as the boy explains himself, the other characters do a 180 in their characterizations and become cardboard cutouts of who they had been.

And the ending. I know it'll be reversed (probably) in the next installment, but I won't be sticking around for that.

There's still a lot to love! It just wasn't really for me. However, if you enjoyed The Gilded Wolves I think you'd like this one, too.

[Freya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and OneWorld Publications, for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was a nice YA fantasy debut. Imperfect but I enjoyed reading it despite its flaws.

I have to mention the amazing cover, title and map!!

This all starts with the death of an important businessman, the founder of Cogmi Industries. Is his death an accident or an assassination?

Nhika is a girl with special powers, she can use them to heal or kill. She’s one of the only people left with these special abilities as most of the others were killed. She hides her abilities because people fear her kind.

Most of and the strength of this book is about her feeling different and lonely and guilty about not being able to save her mother and not being able to live up to her legacy. Her development throughout this story is great.

When someone she helped betrays her, she is soon caught, caged and sold as a rare good at the black market. She ends up at the Cogmi family who ask her to do something under false pretences. Unfortunately, not long after she finds out the truth and that making me expect exciting/interesting developments, the story starts dragging and repeating itself. I was so relieved when it picked up again about halfway. It was worth it to keep reading because the rest of the book had a nice flow and the ending was incredible.

There’s a nice budding romance in the second half and a fragile but important found family trope which I always love.

[Anju · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vietnam-inspired fantasy with murder mystery steampunk vibes… need I say more? (No but I will anyways)

TLB captures various aspects of diaspora experiences so beautifully - how it feels to hold your heritage so close yet at the same time feel separation from it, the loneliness of being away from your community, the ways in which we adapt but remember and pass on what was taught to us.

The world building is done so well and the magic system was unique. It was incredible how the author wove her medical knowledge into the story while having it still be easily understood by those outside the medical field. The imagery crafted from this was so vivid and beautiful; I truly felt like I could see what Nhika could see when soothing.

That ending!!!!! I don’t know how I thought things would end but it wasn’t like THAT. Wow. Desperately awaiting the next book

[Nicholas Perez]

Not particularly a fan of romance, but other things in the synopsis have intrigued me.