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The Last Bloodcarver #2
His Mortal Demise
These Violent Delights meets Divine Rivals in the explosive finale to The Last Bloodcarver duology -- with a riveting medical magic system and lush Vietnam-inspired romantasy world.
Kochin is a heartsooth -- a rare being with the ability to heal any wound. Any wound, that is, except death.
Intent on defying nature and bringing Nhika back to life, Kochin keeps her body in a life-preserving casket and waits for a miracle. Stricken with grief and descending into madness, Kochin realizes the answer to his desperate quest can only lie in one place: Yarong, the lush yet battle-ridden island the first heartsooths called home.
Months later, Nhika wakes in a familiar manor-house, with Kochin nowhere to be found. As she traces his footsteps across Theumas, she discovers the haunting path he walked to bring her back, and a world changed by war.
When Kochin discovers the true and grisly way to resurrect a person from the grave, he must decide exactly how much he is willing to sacrifice, in order to reunite with the woman he loves...
Don't miss this stunning dual-POV follow up to THE LAST BLOODCARVER, where morals will be tested, hearts pushed to the limit, and fates determined once and for all. Vanessa Le's jaw-dropping sequel is a bloody and luscious spectacle to be devoured in one sitting.
Kochin is a heartsooth -- a rare being with the ability to heal any wound. Any wound, that is, except death.
Intent on defying nature and bringing Nhika back to life, Kochin keeps her body in a life-preserving casket and waits for a miracle. Stricken with grief and descending into madness, Kochin realizes the answer to his desperate quest can only lie in one place: Yarong, the lush yet battle-ridden island the first heartsooths called home.
Months later, Nhika wakes in a familiar manor-house, with Kochin nowhere to be found. As she traces his footsteps across Theumas, she discovers the haunting path he walked to bring her back, and a world changed by war.
When Kochin discovers the true and grisly way to resurrect a person from the grave, he must decide exactly how much he is willing to sacrifice, in order to reunite with the woman he loves...
Don't miss this stunning dual-POV follow up to THE LAST BLOODCARVER, where morals will be tested, hearts pushed to the limit, and fates determined once and for all. Vanessa Le's jaw-dropping sequel is a bloody and luscious spectacle to be devoured in one sitting.
406 pages, Hardcover
First published March 18, 2025
89 people are currently reading
18054 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews
March 10, 2025
arc provided in exchange for an honest review.
this was so, so good!! this duology absolutely needs more hype, because it's one of the most well-written, unique, fascinating series to be released in recent years. honestly everything about this is revolutionary - the magical system is a beautiful combo of dark and miraculous, the (vietnam inspired !!) worldbuilding is gorgeous and captivating, and i'm insanely obsessed with the characters. i bow down to this author - vanessa le, please keep writing more books!! also the covers?? stunning.
his mortal demise did not disappoint. a good portion of the book had us flipping back and forth between the two protagonists perspectives on different timelines, which frustrated me slightly because i just wanted them reunited, but it did really draw out the suspense and let me have access to both of their stunning povs. and i'm truly obsessed with all the heartsoothing - words cannot emphasise my adoration for the slightly macabre, slightly scientific, fully magical craft that vanessa le has created!
nhika was persistent, determined, and strong as always - i loved her constant headstrong attitude and deep loyalty for her loved ones, and i'm never not on nhika's side. kochin is my precious mixed boy - he learnt more about himself in this book, and i loved being alongside him while he came to terms with who he is. he had such a deep seated love for nhika that i truly adored - this may be YA, but they were so perfect together, and their relationship growth was immaculate.
the only reason this didn't get 5 stars is because i wanted a little more of our heroes together - book #1 truly did set the bar sky high in terms of relationship bonding + action + fascinating magic!! but this was still such a marvelous book, and i'm so thankful to the author and publisher for the arc copy.
~~~
pre-read review: I GOT AN ARC I GOT AN ARC YESSSSS !!!!!!!!!!!
crazy creepy blood and bone magic, vietnam inspired, mmc so in love he’s bringing her back to life… oh i’m ready 😌
this was so, so good!! this duology absolutely needs more hype, because it's one of the most well-written, unique, fascinating series to be released in recent years. honestly everything about this is revolutionary - the magical system is a beautiful combo of dark and miraculous, the (vietnam inspired !!) worldbuilding is gorgeous and captivating, and i'm insanely obsessed with the characters. i bow down to this author - vanessa le, please keep writing more books!! also the covers?? stunning.
his mortal demise did not disappoint. a good portion of the book had us flipping back and forth between the two protagonists perspectives on different timelines, which frustrated me slightly because i just wanted them reunited, but it did really draw out the suspense and let me have access to both of their stunning povs. and i'm truly obsessed with all the heartsoothing - words cannot emphasise my adoration for the slightly macabre, slightly scientific, fully magical craft that vanessa le has created!
nhika was persistent, determined, and strong as always - i loved her constant headstrong attitude and deep loyalty for her loved ones, and i'm never not on nhika's side. kochin is my precious mixed boy - he learnt more about himself in this book, and i loved being alongside him while he came to terms with who he is. he had such a deep seated love for nhika that i truly adored - this may be YA, but they were so perfect together, and their relationship growth was immaculate.
the only reason this didn't get 5 stars is because i wanted a little more of our heroes together - book #1 truly did set the bar sky high in terms of relationship bonding + action + fascinating magic!! but this was still such a marvelous book, and i'm so thankful to the author and publisher for the arc copy.
~~~
pre-read review: I GOT AN ARC I GOT AN ARC YESSSSS !!!!!!!!!!!
crazy creepy blood and bone magic, vietnam inspired, mmc so in love he’s bringing her back to life… oh i’m ready 😌
April 10, 2025
Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day 2025 #2
I need a new type. Mine isn't serving. Kochin is as broody and emotionally unavailable as our boy Azriel, and probably every other book boyfriend we all like. Why is that? Why do we do this to ourselves?
Going to the book launch always helps clarify things, and I loved listening to Vanessa explain how she took her medical degree and applied it to fantasy. I also love how she clarified that this isn't enemies to lovers, and that she didn't want those girlies to come after her. Dahlia's questions were chef's kiss.
This book is told in two POVs. What makes it even more interesting is the separate timelines. Not the historical fiction way of two timelines, but in a way where the near past and very present timelines end up meeting. We talk death, and we also talk life. We obviously talk love.
I found the debut a little stronger, but I'm here to support other Vietnamese American women. Vanessa is currently in grad school and her next book will be dark academia, and I will also be here for that. Stay tuned.
Note: The correct pronunciation of Le is LAY and not LEE.
🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Young Listeners
I need a new type. Mine isn't serving. Kochin is as broody and emotionally unavailable as our boy Azriel, and probably every other book boyfriend we all like. Why is that? Why do we do this to ourselves?
Going to the book launch always helps clarify things, and I loved listening to Vanessa explain how she took her medical degree and applied it to fantasy. I also love how she clarified that this isn't enemies to lovers, and that she didn't want those girlies to come after her. Dahlia's questions were chef's kiss.
This book is told in two POVs. What makes it even more interesting is the separate timelines. Not the historical fiction way of two timelines, but in a way where the near past and very present timelines end up meeting. We talk death, and we also talk life. We obviously talk love.
I found the debut a little stronger, but I'm here to support other Vietnamese American women. Vanessa is currently in grad school and her next book will be dark academia, and I will also be here for that. Stay tuned.
Note: The correct pronunciation of Le is LAY and not LEE.
🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Young Listeners
December 30, 2024
What a thrilling conclusion!
I'm so glad that I found this new series. It's such a great intro to heavy themes (such as colonization and othering) for the YA set. I would've loved something like this as a teen, specifically because I can relate to Nhika, who's a brown Asian girl in a society with a majority population of light-skinned Asians.
Admittedly, I wasn't really into Kochin's story, but I really liked how the author wove in his story with Nhika's. I think this book would be better to read right after finishing the first book. Honestly, I forgot a lot of the plot points from the first book and I was a little lost coming in.
While I think the mystery aspect in the first half of this book worked well for the most part, it was slightly confusing to follow the back-and-forth narrative, especially since the POV switches from Kochin to Nhika and vice versa. There were a lot of flashbacks too, which added to my confusion. But it all made sense when everything came together in the last 25-30%, so the narrative choice worked out in the end.
While the Nhika/Kochin love story was a little too lovey dovey for my tastes, I think those who are more romance-inclined would like that aspect of the story.
The climax was great and read like an action movie. I'd love to see this story play out as a limited series, like something similar to season one of Netflix's Shadow and Bone.
All in all, I really hope that Vanessa Le writes more stories set in this universe. There's a lot of potential to explore, especially with the worldbuilding and world politics. There was a new character introduced and maybe she'll have her own spinoff.
Thank you to Roaring Brook Press and NetGalley for this arc.
I'm so glad that I found this new series. It's such a great intro to heavy themes (such as colonization and othering) for the YA set. I would've loved something like this as a teen, specifically because I can relate to Nhika, who's a brown Asian girl in a society with a majority population of light-skinned Asians.
Admittedly, I wasn't really into Kochin's story, but I really liked how the author wove in his story with Nhika's. I think this book would be better to read right after finishing the first book. Honestly, I forgot a lot of the plot points from the first book and I was a little lost coming in.
While I think the mystery aspect in the first half of this book worked well for the most part, it was slightly confusing to follow the back-and-forth narrative, especially since the POV switches from Kochin to Nhika and vice versa. There were a lot of flashbacks too, which added to my confusion. But it all made sense when everything came together in the last 25-30%, so the narrative choice worked out in the end.
While the Nhika/Kochin love story was a little too lovey dovey for my tastes, I think those who are more romance-inclined would like that aspect of the story.
The climax was great and read like an action movie. I'd love to see this story play out as a limited series, like something similar to season one of Netflix's Shadow and Bone.
All in all, I really hope that Vanessa Le writes more stories set in this universe. There's a lot of potential to explore, especially with the worldbuilding and world politics. There was a new character introduced and maybe she'll have her own spinoff.
Thank you to Roaring Brook Press and NetGalley for this arc.
March 13, 2025
I loved the first book in this series and was so excited for this one. I wanted to love it more than I did, but I enjoyed it a lot. I liked that so much of this book as told from Kochin, that really rounded out the story. I listened to the audiobook and I really enjoyed the narrators, they really brought the characters to life. Kochin starts this book determined to find a way to use his heart soothing abilities to bring Nokia back to life. He is determined to find a way because he doesn’t know what his life is without her and he can’t life with her sacrifice of her life to save his. When Nhika awakens she is surprised to find the world at war and is frustrated to not be able to find Kochin. This book is beautiful and it will definitely stick with me for a long time. I’m good with this series being over, but I wouldn’t mind another story told in this same world.
May 17, 2025
Oh how I love a good, satisfying duology! His Mortal Demise takes everything that was good about The Last Bloodcarver, and then just takes it up a few notches. The stakes are high, the tension even higher, and the emotional turmoil is just to die for.
Whereas book 1 was only told from Nhika's POV, this sequel becomes dual POV as we finally get an insight into Ven Kochin's troubled mind, and I was SO here for it. But more than that, we get a split timeline, with Kochin's story continuing on right where book 1 left off and Nhika's story picking up 6 months later, which created just the most addictive level of tension and mystery.
Now, I think your enjoyment of this sequel completely hinges on how much you believed in the dynamic between Nhika and Kochin at the end of book 1. Their actions are often driven by their emotions, and their feelings for each other become a large part of their personal motivations here. That said, I personally don't think it's accurate to describe this story as a fantasy romance, because this is so much more than that.
The inner journeys that we go on with these characters, and specifically with Kochin here in this sequel, were tragically beautiful, and I loved how authentically Le was able to capture their messy emotions. Even though Nhika and Kochin struggle with similar issues, the way that they process, cope and try to heal is completely different, which I really appreciated seeing. Also, we get some completely new views on the heartsooth magic through Kochin's complicated relationship with his powers, which added so much depth and nuance to the world building.
It's honestly beyond impressive to me how organically Le was able to interweave the authentic character journeys with all the other aspects of this story, especially in such a limited pagecount. We get to dive deeper into the tense political conflicts that are tearing this world and these characters apart, and I loved the painfully realistic exploration of themes of war, the veteran experience, cultural identity, colonisation, discrimination, (found) family, loss, redemption, sacrifice, the clash between science and magic, and the cost of progress.
Sure, I had to just turn off my critical brain at times and suspend my disbelief for a bit, but overall I was honestly quite surprised by how well Le was able to trick me into forgetting that this was 'just' a YA story that would probably get a happy ending; the stakes really felt so dangerously high all the time! Moreover, the side characters feel way more well developed in this sequel than they did in book 1, which also really heightened my personal investment. Spending more time with Kochin's family was just an absolute joy (even if it was bittersweet at times), and I loved seeing Mimi, Andao, and Trin getting their own time to shine.
Never knew I needed a dark, steampunk YA fantasy romance inspired by Vietnam culture in my life, but here we are. This duology was one hell of a wild ride, and I definitely recommend it if you are looking for a refreshing and diverse story that strikes the perfect balance between the hurt and the heart.
Whereas book 1 was only told from Nhika's POV, this sequel becomes dual POV as we finally get an insight into Ven Kochin's troubled mind, and I was SO here for it. But more than that, we get a split timeline, with Kochin's story continuing on right where book 1 left off and Nhika's story picking up 6 months later, which created just the most addictive level of tension and mystery.
Now, I think your enjoyment of this sequel completely hinges on how much you believed in the dynamic between Nhika and Kochin at the end of book 1. Their actions are often driven by their emotions, and their feelings for each other become a large part of their personal motivations here. That said, I personally don't think it's accurate to describe this story as a fantasy romance, because this is so much more than that.
The inner journeys that we go on with these characters, and specifically with Kochin here in this sequel, were tragically beautiful, and I loved how authentically Le was able to capture their messy emotions. Even though Nhika and Kochin struggle with similar issues, the way that they process, cope and try to heal is completely different, which I really appreciated seeing. Also, we get some completely new views on the heartsooth magic through Kochin's complicated relationship with his powers, which added so much depth and nuance to the world building.
It's honestly beyond impressive to me how organically Le was able to interweave the authentic character journeys with all the other aspects of this story, especially in such a limited pagecount. We get to dive deeper into the tense political conflicts that are tearing this world and these characters apart, and I loved the painfully realistic exploration of themes of war, the veteran experience, cultural identity, colonisation, discrimination, (found) family, loss, redemption, sacrifice, the clash between science and magic, and the cost of progress.
Sure, I had to just turn off my critical brain at times and suspend my disbelief for a bit, but overall I was honestly quite surprised by how well Le was able to trick me into forgetting that this was 'just' a YA story that would probably get a happy ending; the stakes really felt so dangerously high all the time! Moreover, the side characters feel way more well developed in this sequel than they did in book 1, which also really heightened my personal investment. Spending more time with Kochin's family was just an absolute joy (even if it was bittersweet at times), and I loved seeing Mimi, Andao, and Trin getting their own time to shine.
Never knew I needed a dark, steampunk YA fantasy romance inspired by Vietnam culture in my life, but here we are. This duology was one hell of a wild ride, and I definitely recommend it if you are looking for a refreshing and diverse story that strikes the perfect balance between the hurt and the heart.
October 29, 2024
I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to like this one considering I loved the first book. I truly did. But I could not for the life of me get invested in this second book. It felt flat to me like something was missing. The structure, worldbuilding, and atmosphere were all good. However, I didn't really care for the dialogue between characters or feel much chemistry. I didn't get the mysterious vibes that the first book gave. It doesn't have the same zest. Part of the reason is that this book is quite different from the first in terms of the plot and I found the first book aligned with my taste better. It was nice to learn more about Kochin and understand his struggles better, and the ending will leave readers satisfied. I genuinely think this author is a talented writer, I just did not feel a connection to this book.
I really wanted to like this one considering I loved the first book. I truly did. But I could not for the life of me get invested in this second book. It felt flat to me like something was missing. The structure, worldbuilding, and atmosphere were all good. However, I didn't really care for the dialogue between characters or feel much chemistry. I didn't get the mysterious vibes that the first book gave. It doesn't have the same zest. Part of the reason is that this book is quite different from the first in terms of the plot and I found the first book aligned with my taste better. It was nice to learn more about Kochin and understand his struggles better, and the ending will leave readers satisfied. I genuinely think this author is a talented writer, I just did not feel a connection to this book.
October 21, 2024
A beautiful conclusion to this duology! I loved The Last Bloodcarver (I'm actually obsessed with it), so I was dying to read this sequel asap.
I don't want to spoil anything, but the mystery of what happened to Kochin and Nhika kept me alert and addicted. I really liked the dual POV, as it allowed Kochin's backstory to be explored more. What he went through in this book was insane.
Overall, this was very poignant, compelling, and full of gorgeous prose. One of my favorite YA duologies! I'm definitely keeping an eye on Vanessa Le's future work.
I don't want to spoil anything, but the mystery of what happened to Kochin and Nhika kept me alert and addicted. I really liked the dual POV, as it allowed Kochin's backstory to be explored more. What he went through in this book was insane.
Overall, this was very poignant, compelling, and full of gorgeous prose. One of my favorite YA duologies! I'm definitely keeping an eye on Vanessa Le's future work.
November 4, 2024
A fantastic sequel and finale! Le’s choice of alternating timelines for the majority of the novel was very clever, as the reader doesn’t have to spend 2/3 of the novel separate from our beloved Nhika, but instead gets to unravel the mystery of how she wakes up at the Congmi’s home after the events of The Last Bloodcarver! I enjoyed spending more time with Kochin and understanding him better as a character. This book seriously had me on the edge of my seat with its twists and suspense! Such a great duology!
April 23, 2025
i feel so complete and i would die for any of these characters a thousand times over
Want to read
September 6, 2024I NEED this book.
I'm hoping I can get an ARC because March 2025 seems way too far away.
Roaring Brook Press—PLEASE PICK ME. 🤞🏻🥹
I'm hoping I can get an ARC because March 2025 seems way too far away.
Roaring Brook Press—PLEASE PICK ME. 🤞🏻🥹
September 1, 2025
Did I just devoured this sequel in like 3 days?!! Yes once I was able to have a "free day" today I was able to sit and read the last 200 pages in one sitting and omg it was so good. The only bad thing about this sequel is I didn't remember a lot about the first one since I read it last year. So I needed a little referesher but once I did I was in it and couldn't put it down!!
So hard for me to a book review for a sequel without spoiling it for u guys but if authors are going to do a dual pov please put the characters name at the beginning of the chapters so I know who's who??
The ending of this duology wrapped up so nicely I had so many "oh shit" moment happened and some I didn't see coming at all. Overall happy with this series and wouldn't mind re-reading it next year unless Vanessa Le has something new to come soon?? Four out five star rating!(:
So hard for me to a book review for a sequel without spoiling it for u guys but if authors are going to do a dual pov please put the characters name at the beginning of the chapters so I know who's who??
The ending of this duology wrapped up so nicely I had so many "oh shit" moment happened and some I didn't see coming at all. Overall happy with this series and wouldn't mind re-reading it next year unless Vanessa Le has something new to come soon?? Four out five star rating!(:
March 24, 2025
3.5 stars
Reading YA, you reach a certain age where you stop inserting yourself into the story and start wanting to give these kids a hug and a juice box (it might also just be this book, I feel like a parent to these sad diaspora babies. I am five years older than them)
Reading YA, you reach a certain age where you stop inserting yourself into the story and start wanting to give these kids a hug and a juice box (it might also just be this book, I feel like a parent to these sad diaspora babies. I am five years older than them)
June 27, 2025
kocham kocham kocham. ta dylogia to życie❤️🩹
ps to mój patronat🥹
ps to mój patronat🥹
May 1, 2025
Z pierwszym tomem miałam pewien problem, ale tutaj całkowicie wsiąknęłam w historię. Akcja była dynamiczna, a motywacje bohaterów (dla mnie) absolutnie zrozumiałe. Fajnie przedstawiono też głównego villana. Nie wepchnięto go w stereotypowe ubranie, ale pokazano od trochę innej strony, co dodatkowo podbudowało moją sympatię z książki. Są oczywiście pewne sceny i dialogi, które odrobinkę mnie krindżowały, ale stosunkowo ich niewiele. Polubiłam Kochina i Nikhe. Nawet te turbo romantyczne momenty z nimi. Zakończenie okazało się iście filmowe, jednak nie narzekam. Przynajmniej do samego końca czułam zainteresowanie. Nie jestem tylko pewna, czy czekać na trzeci tom, czy ten był już ostatnim. ^^'
March 9, 2025
His Mortal Demise is the follow up to The Last Bloodcarver. The story begins six months after the events in the first book. Nhika has awakened and the circumstances around how that came to be are a mystery. There are alternating chapters, with the reader going back in time to see events from Kochin's point of view.
This is a great conclusion to the story of The Last Bloodcarver. This time we spend most of the time Kochin and get to know him better. Everything he goes through to get Nhika back is portrayed really well. His determination, his inner turmoil as he has to make some decisions, his thoughts and emotions are all so easily felt. The writing is fantastic and the descriptions of heartsoothing are lovely and interesting to read about.
I feel the introduction of a new character could have been explored more. The climax was good but I also wanted a little more from it. Despite those couple nitpicks I loved this book. There is a scene near the end that reminded me of a favorite movie. I don't know if it is intentional but I loved it. There is another scene at a critical moment that is fantastic. His Mortal Demise is a great story and the two books together make a great duology not to be missed.
4.75 stars
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read!
This is a great conclusion to the story of The Last Bloodcarver. This time we spend most of the time Kochin and get to know him better. Everything he goes through to get Nhika back is portrayed really well. His determination, his inner turmoil as he has to make some decisions, his thoughts and emotions are all so easily felt. The writing is fantastic and the descriptions of heartsoothing are lovely and interesting to read about.
I feel the introduction of a new character could have been explored more. The climax was good but I also wanted a little more from it. Despite those couple nitpicks I loved this book. There is a scene near the end that reminded me of a favorite movie. I don't know if it is intentional but I loved it. There is another scene at a critical moment that is fantastic. His Mortal Demise is a great story and the two books together make a great duology not to be missed.
4.75 stars
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read!
March 8, 2025
2.5
I went into His Mortal Demise with high expectations, but unfortunately, it didn’t fully meet them. While there were some strong moments, overall, the story felt repetitive and lacked the depth I was hoping for.
Let’s start with what worked. I appreciated how the book summarized key events from the first installment, making it easy to jump back in. I didn’t have to work too hard to remember what happened, and I think that’s very important for a series.
The last 30% of the book is where the story finally picked up. There was action, and I found myself leaning into the story. I just wanted more of it, and that’s where His Mortal Demise fell flat.
The pacing throughout the rest of the book felt sluggish, and the plot didn’t have enough momentum to carry the story forward. Conversations between characters lacked depth, and some scenes felt unnecessary because they didn’t add much. The writing often felt rushed, moving from one action to the next in quick succession. Rather than being immersed in the story through vivid descriptions—sound, feeling, taste—I felt like I was being told what was happening rather than experiencing it.
The writing style also didn’t quite match the promise of the first book. While I understand this was an ARC, the overuse of certain words stood out—“breath” (this word stood out aggressively), “Mother” (as a god figure, not a parent), and repetitive references to loss (“she died, I love her”) made the prose feel unpolished, as if words were being used just to fill space.
I also found myself losing the emotional connection between Nhika and Kochin, which made the stakes feel lower. As the main characters, I wanted to love them easily, but something was missing to make them feel fully three-dimensional.
Overall, the plot leaned on the weaker side, and while the ending was decent, it didn’t deliver the level of thrill I had hoped for.
I went into His Mortal Demise with high expectations, but unfortunately, it didn’t fully meet them. While there were some strong moments, overall, the story felt repetitive and lacked the depth I was hoping for.
Let’s start with what worked. I appreciated how the book summarized key events from the first installment, making it easy to jump back in. I didn’t have to work too hard to remember what happened, and I think that’s very important for a series.
The last 30% of the book is where the story finally picked up. There was action, and I found myself leaning into the story. I just wanted more of it, and that’s where His Mortal Demise fell flat.
The pacing throughout the rest of the book felt sluggish, and the plot didn’t have enough momentum to carry the story forward. Conversations between characters lacked depth, and some scenes felt unnecessary because they didn’t add much. The writing often felt rushed, moving from one action to the next in quick succession. Rather than being immersed in the story through vivid descriptions—sound, feeling, taste—I felt like I was being told what was happening rather than experiencing it.
The writing style also didn’t quite match the promise of the first book. While I understand this was an ARC, the overuse of certain words stood out—“breath” (this word stood out aggressively), “Mother” (as a god figure, not a parent), and repetitive references to loss (“she died, I love her”) made the prose feel unpolished, as if words were being used just to fill space.
I also found myself losing the emotional connection between Nhika and Kochin, which made the stakes feel lower. As the main characters, I wanted to love them easily, but something was missing to make them feel fully three-dimensional.
Overall, the plot leaned on the weaker side, and while the ending was decent, it didn’t deliver the level of thrill I had hoped for.
November 5, 2025
So looking forward to it!
March 17, 2025
This duology deserves way more hype! It doesn’t rely on the recycled tropes that are currently saturating the genre - it’s fresh, engaging, and impossible to put down.
The romance? Amazing. The dual POVs between Kochin and Nhika add so much suspense, and I completely get the Divine Rivals comparison in this book (though I’d argue it’s more similar to Ruthless Vows!).
Kochin’s profound grief was the focus of this book, and it was so well-written. His longing, his guilt, his loneliness. He would do anything for Nhika, and you feel it on every page. Their banter is top-tier, and I adored how fiercely protective he is of her.
Beyond the romance, the found family and platonic relationships were arguably one of the best parts of this book. I especially loved Trin and Nhika’s friendship. Their dynamic was hilarious, and I loved seeing their slow shift from distrust to grudging respect to family. 🥹 Her sass and their banter was hilarious.
The magic system is also insanely cool and unique. Bloodcarvers (or heartsooths) can alter bodies with just a touch - mostly to heal, but also to harm. It’s biology-centric yet magical, which I think you’ll enjoy if you’re also a biology nerd!
Plot-wise, we hit the ground running after that book 1 cliffhanger. I won’t spoil, but it’s pretty fast-paced! I can totally see this being adapted into a TV series.
What also made this book shine was the moral complexity. There are no clear heroes or villains, just flawed people making choices. The author doesn’t spoon-feed you a stance, just lays out the questions and lets you wrestle with them yourself.
If you’re looking for a new duology to binge read, I highly recommend this! Looking forward to reading more from this author <3
The romance? Amazing. The dual POVs between Kochin and Nhika add so much suspense, and I completely get the Divine Rivals comparison in this book (though I’d argue it’s more similar to Ruthless Vows!).
Kochin’s profound grief was the focus of this book, and it was so well-written. His longing, his guilt, his loneliness. He would do anything for Nhika, and you feel it on every page. Their banter is top-tier, and I adored how fiercely protective he is of her.
Beyond the romance, the found family and platonic relationships were arguably one of the best parts of this book. I especially loved Trin and Nhika’s friendship. Their dynamic was hilarious, and I loved seeing their slow shift from distrust to grudging respect to family. 🥹 Her sass and their banter was hilarious.
The magic system is also insanely cool and unique. Bloodcarvers (or heartsooths) can alter bodies with just a touch - mostly to heal, but also to harm. It’s biology-centric yet magical, which I think you’ll enjoy if you’re also a biology nerd!
Plot-wise, we hit the ground running after that book 1 cliffhanger. I won’t spoil, but it’s pretty fast-paced! I can totally see this being adapted into a TV series.
What also made this book shine was the moral complexity. There are no clear heroes or villains, just flawed people making choices. The author doesn’t spoon-feed you a stance, just lays out the questions and lets you wrestle with them yourself.
If you’re looking for a new duology to binge read, I highly recommend this! Looking forward to reading more from this author <3
March 16, 2025
4.5 stars
I absolutely loved this duology from start to finish. Even in the midst of a reading slump, the first book was so fast paced that I read it in one sitting. I couldn’t get enough of the unique world, the incredible magic system, or the romance that really tugged on my heart strings in both books. I’m still confused how I don’t see The Last Bloodcarver talked about everywhere because this is exactly the kind of YA fantasy I’m always searching for. This Vietnam inspired world has a medical magic system with blood and heart magic and I was glued to the page every time the main character used her powers. It was such a cool concept for magic and I always appreciate something fresh and new with how much fantasy I read. This series also deals with grief in such a profound way and I just wanted to hug the main characters for all that they’ve went through. The romance was amazing, I was rooting for this couple so hard. I won’t give anything away but the cliffhanger at the end of the first book is absolutely brutal and I’m secretly glad I waited to read it until I had the second book in my hands so I could immediately find out what happens next. I really loved that there was dual narrative in this one to jump between timelines and events. His Mortal Demise was a great conclusion to this duology and I will be eagerly waiting to read whatever Vanessa Le writes next.
I absolutely loved this duology from start to finish. Even in the midst of a reading slump, the first book was so fast paced that I read it in one sitting. I couldn’t get enough of the unique world, the incredible magic system, or the romance that really tugged on my heart strings in both books. I’m still confused how I don’t see The Last Bloodcarver talked about everywhere because this is exactly the kind of YA fantasy I’m always searching for. This Vietnam inspired world has a medical magic system with blood and heart magic and I was glued to the page every time the main character used her powers. It was such a cool concept for magic and I always appreciate something fresh and new with how much fantasy I read. This series also deals with grief in such a profound way and I just wanted to hug the main characters for all that they’ve went through. The romance was amazing, I was rooting for this couple so hard. I won’t give anything away but the cliffhanger at the end of the first book is absolutely brutal and I’m secretly glad I waited to read it until I had the second book in my hands so I could immediately find out what happens next. I really loved that there was dual narrative in this one to jump between timelines and events. His Mortal Demise was a great conclusion to this duology and I will be eagerly waiting to read whatever Vanessa Le writes next.
December 31, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! I was obsessed with The Last Bloodcarver and I'm obsessed with His Mortal Demise. I love how this book alternated between Kochin in the past and Nhika in the present and eventually came together into one plot. I feel like the first book really focused on Nhika and her journey, whereas this book focused on Kochin. I love his character development and I'm happy with the ending. I would love to read more books by this author because I feel like there was a good balance between the plot and character development, so it felt like it was paced well.
March 4, 2025
I am OBSESSED with the way Vanessa had decided to tell books 2. While book one was single pov of Nhika very linear timeline. “His Mortal Demise” is dual pov with Kochin and Nhika except it NOT linear, Nhika pov is her waking up 3 month later after end of book one and Kochin pov starts from the end of books 1. So the readers slowly piece together everything that happens through the povs. I also really liked how deeper in themes Vanessa got with the questioning of morality with heartsoothing, and the ongoing war. Something about the way she separates the characters makes their love even more tragic and deeper.
thank you Netgalley and Roaring Brook Press for the E-Arc
thank you Netgalley and Roaring Brook Press for the E-Arc
January 31, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ A stunning conclusion to this amazing duology! I cannot stress enough just how *fascinating* this world is.
This dark, gritty, and atmospheric Vietnamese inspired YA Fantasy features an intricate magic system with characters who have the power to manipulate the human body through control over blood. Coupled with themes of anti-colonization, classism, diaspora, and grief this whole duology had me hooked from the start.
His Mortal Demise does has a heavier focus on the romance than the first book, although the plot was well rounded, and the action scenes were really immersive. I did read an ARC copy so I’m hoping the finished version ends up a little more polished but I highly recommend!
This dark, gritty, and atmospheric Vietnamese inspired YA Fantasy features an intricate magic system with characters who have the power to manipulate the human body through control over blood. Coupled with themes of anti-colonization, classism, diaspora, and grief this whole duology had me hooked from the start.
His Mortal Demise does has a heavier focus on the romance than the first book, although the plot was well rounded, and the action scenes were really immersive. I did read an ARC copy so I’m hoping the finished version ends up a little more polished but I highly recommend!
April 2, 2025
I love the dual timeline—it gives such a deep insight into Kochin’s character. His relentless determination to bring Nhika back is so well written; you can feel his pain and desperation.
The war storyline raises the stakes even higher, making the tension unbearable at times. The exploration of war and its aftermath is gripping and deeply impactful.
But what I love most about this series is how it examines cultural heritage—what it means to be the last of your kind in a world that fears, exploits, or rejects you. It’s haunting, powerful, and beautifully done.
The war storyline raises the stakes even higher, making the tension unbearable at times. The exploration of war and its aftermath is gripping and deeply impactful.
But what I love most about this series is how it examines cultural heritage—what it means to be the last of your kind in a world that fears, exploits, or rejects you. It’s haunting, powerful, and beautifully done.
July 24, 2025
There's a great ending, but the story unfortunately continues
His Mortal Demise is the second novel of Vanessa Le's Last Bloodcarver duology. If you've read the first novel, The Last Bloodcarver, then you'll recognize the dude on this cover
: it's Ven Kochin, who appeared likely, at the end of The Last Bloodcarver, to be the last Heartsooth, which is the proper word for what Kochin and Nhika (the heroine of The Last Bloodcarver) are. "Bloodcarver" is a slur.
His Mortal Demise has a clever structure. The first chapter is titled "NOW" and begins with Nhika, who is supposed to be dead, having sacrificed herself to save Kochin at the end of The Last Bloodcarver. The second chapter is titled "SIX MONTHS AGO", and is about Kochin, who is trying to figure out how to bring Nhika back to life. The chapters continue thus, in rough alteration between "NOW" and "SIX MONTHS AGO," except that time creeps on in the past chapters -- before long it's "FIVE MONTHS AGO," and so on. Thus we know that Kochin will succeed in reviving Nhika. We don't know how, or if he will survive. Meanwhile we have Nhika trying to figure out what Kochin did and what happened to him.
It's a clever structure, well executed. I was intrigued by the mystery and satisfied when it all came together and the two time-lines merged. That occurs, I think, at about 80%
The merging of the timelines is followed by a big, action-packed, cinematic finale. One piece of advice short story writers often hear is, "Delete the last two sentences of your story. Is the ending better now?" I feel that Le would have been well advised to delete the last 20% of her novel, or to replace it with a brief epilog. Of course, tastes differ and some people may find the action-packed finale satisfying.
His Mortal Demise is the same sort of intriguing high-tech fantasy as The Last Bloodcarver. The book contains an excellent novel in its first 80%. That excellent novel is, in my opinion, marred by what follows. But it's still there!
Blog review.
His Mortal Demise is the second novel of Vanessa Le's Last Bloodcarver duology. If you've read the first novel, The Last Bloodcarver, then you'll recognize the dude on this cover
: it's Ven Kochin, who appeared likely, at the end of The Last Bloodcarver, to be the last Heartsooth, which is the proper word for what Kochin and Nhika (the heroine of The Last Bloodcarver) are. "Bloodcarver" is a slur. His Mortal Demise has a clever structure. The first chapter is titled "NOW" and begins with Nhika, who is supposed to be dead, having sacrificed herself to save Kochin at the end of The Last Bloodcarver. The second chapter is titled "SIX MONTHS AGO", and is about Kochin, who is trying to figure out how to bring Nhika back to life. The chapters continue thus, in rough alteration between "NOW" and "SIX MONTHS AGO," except that time creeps on in the past chapters -- before long it's "FIVE MONTHS AGO," and so on. Thus we know that Kochin will succeed in reviving Nhika. We don't know how, or if he will survive. Meanwhile we have Nhika trying to figure out what Kochin did and what happened to him.
It's a clever structure, well executed. I was intrigued by the mystery and satisfied when it all came together and the two time-lines merged. That occurs, I think, at about 80%
The merging of the timelines is followed by a big, action-packed, cinematic finale. One piece of advice short story writers often hear is, "Delete the last two sentences of your story. Is the ending better now?" I feel that Le would have been well advised to delete the last 20% of her novel, or to replace it with a brief epilog. Of course, tastes differ and some people may find the action-packed finale satisfying.
His Mortal Demise is the same sort of intriguing high-tech fantasy as The Last Bloodcarver. The book contains an excellent novel in its first 80%. That excellent novel is, in my opinion, marred by what follows. But it's still there!
Blog review.
April 4, 2025
I read The Last Bloodcarver last year and was in love with the story, so I knew I had to read His Mortal Demise to see how everything wrapped up! I love how it built on the first book and added so much more for a satisfying end!
Most of this book details the events following the mind-blowing ending of The Last Bloodcarver before an intense finale that had me at the edge of my seat! I enjoyed that this book introduced a dual-POV, dual timeline mechanic and Kochin’s been through so much. I’m not saying more about the plot as it might spoil some of the fun.
The characters were greatly fleshed out and had their characters expanded, especially our protagonists. Like before, the prose was just immersive and descriptive and beautiful! The world building of this Vietnamese inspired setting was expanded greatly and I loved the magical surgeries and how it worked. The themes from book 1 are reinforced and some elements come in full force, and added a darkness to the story that fit the story. With the romantic focus heavier than in book 1, I did like that the plot wasn’t “protagonists must save the world plot”, despite the high stakes presented. It’s mostly about the protagonists trying to discover who they are and their place in the world, which I appreciate.
Side note, there is some medical details, so this book might not be for everyone. There’s also some war stuff, a bit more than book 1 had, as well as talking about elimination of a culture and its people.
The narrators, VyVy Nguyen and JaSon Vu were excellent, and made the story come more alive with their performances and range. I loved the contrast in their pitch as well with VyVy having a more upbeat tone, and JaSon having a more moody, reflective voice.
If you haven’t read these books, please read them ASAP! I’ll be keeping an eye on Vannesa Le in the future!
*I received an ARC from Netgalley and Macmillan Audio. All opinions are my own.*
Most of this book details the events following the mind-blowing ending of The Last Bloodcarver before an intense finale that had me at the edge of my seat! I enjoyed that this book introduced a dual-POV, dual timeline mechanic and Kochin’s been through so much. I’m not saying more about the plot as it might spoil some of the fun.
The characters were greatly fleshed out and had their characters expanded, especially our protagonists. Like before, the prose was just immersive and descriptive and beautiful! The world building of this Vietnamese inspired setting was expanded greatly and I loved the magical surgeries and how it worked. The themes from book 1 are reinforced and some elements come in full force, and added a darkness to the story that fit the story. With the romantic focus heavier than in book 1, I did like that the plot wasn’t “protagonists must save the world plot”, despite the high stakes presented. It’s mostly about the protagonists trying to discover who they are and their place in the world, which I appreciate.
Side note, there is some medical details, so this book might not be for everyone. There’s also some war stuff, a bit more than book 1 had, as well as talking about elimination of a culture and its people.
The narrators, VyVy Nguyen and JaSon Vu were excellent, and made the story come more alive with their performances and range. I loved the contrast in their pitch as well with VyVy having a more upbeat tone, and JaSon having a more moody, reflective voice.
If you haven’t read these books, please read them ASAP! I’ll be keeping an eye on Vannesa Le in the future!
*I received an ARC from Netgalley and Macmillan Audio. All opinions are my own.*
March 20, 2025
It's the gift of healing passed through my culture—our culture. My grandmother was a heartsooth. When the Daltans came, they destroyed the gift and anyone who might pass it on. They invented a new word for it, bloodcarving—that's the name Theumas uses too, isn't it? They pillaged graves because they believed our corpses might give them the same gift they despised about us. They've tainted the very memory of heartsoothing. It's your history, too. Don't you care to preserve it?
thank you netgalley and the publisher for the eArc!
brief spoiler right off the bat -
anyway... lmao.
His Mortal Demise opens up with two timelines: one that immediately follows Nhika’s passing and how Kochin decides to react afterwards, and then one that occurs six months later that follows Nhika waking up, with no idea how she got there or what happened in the time she was “dead”.
we quickly learn that shortly after Nhika died, war broke out and is still on-going in the present.
we then follow Nhika as she navigates a new war-torn world, while trying to understand what happened to Kochin, and we follow Kochin as he struggles to accept Nhika’s passing and goes on a journey to try and find a way to bring her back.
obviously by page 1 (so this isn’t a spoiler) we know he was successful in someway, but we don’t know HOW he managed to do it. I loved this aspect a lot, especially while working through the dual timelines as the book progressed. I had several theories on how Kochin did it (none of my theories were correct, which kind of made it more fun) and I think just being able to theorize and try to guess where the story is going can make it more enjoyable to read. it definitely adds an element of being immersed in the story and kind of feeling like you have a personal stake in what happens.
I thought this was a great ending to the duology, but do feel like the world building could have been more clear (I never managed to get a clear handle on what kind of time frame this world exists in, like in the sense of how much modern technology/medicine/etc do we have here). and the history of the war and the colonization of Yarong felt like it had the potential to be amazing to read about, so I was a little disappointed that we didn’t get to explore that history more, or even what became of Yarong after Kochin and Nhika’s story ends. the introduction of Lanalay made this even more disappointing because she had such a STRONG connection to what happened to Yarong. that said, I think if I take a step back and just appreciate the duology for what it is, I think I can picture Lanalay as a symbol of Yarong - she fought for her family and was able to take control of their history and (hopefully) prevent people from trying to abuse them in similar ways in the future. I’d like to imagine that by Kochin taking a stand as well, Yarong will make a comeback in the future of this world.
I also liked that the villain in this book wasn’t a stereotypical black-and-white villain. there were more layers to him and Kochin saw that, even though he had every right to refuse to see it.
plot: ★★★★★
I really enjoyed the dual timeline aspect of the plot. the story opens simulaneously immediately following The Last Bloodcarver and six months after those events. I loved the mystery of trying to understand what happened alongside Nhika in the “present” time, while also getting to see how Kochin made plans to try and bring Nhika back. seeing the chapters progress in the timeline closer and closer to merging together was probably what kept me reading past my bedtime. every time I got to a new chapter and saw we were a little closer, I felt like I had to keep reading because I wanted to know what happened soooo bad.
writing: ★★★☆☆
I mentioned this in my review of The Last Bloodcarver, but I noticed it more in His Mortal Demise: WHAT kind of world are we existing in here??? the visuals and the description of SOME of the technology make me picture a much older, more rural, area. but now we have Iron Man style robots to send to war??????? what is happening lmao
don’t get me wrong, it’s cool and all, but it’s jarring to have a picture in mind, and then feel like I need to turn it on its head to try and rework it to fit the story. idk, I guess I just wish we would have gotten a few paragraphs at any point that explained what technological advances we’ve seen to paint a better picture of how advanced the world might be and/or if it’s a matter of equity/disparity like it IS super high-tech society, but those in lower classes never get to see it? kind of like a Star Wars type of universe?
but the way the author portrays war time and the more gruesome side of medicine was REALLY well done. I am not a squeamish person, but I was grimacing a couple times.
pacing: ★★★★★
the dual timelines make the story go by very quickly. the beginning is a bit quieter, but it doesn’t feel like it’s slow, because you’re dropped right in the middle of the mystery. Nhika wondering how she got here, and Kochin wondering what to do after Nhika’s death.
romance: ★★★★☆ (3.5 rounded up)
Nhika and Kochin worked out soooo much better together in this book than they did in the first one. I just think they weren’t given enough time in The Last Bloodcarver to really connect and get to know each other beyond their shared history. this did make it a little weird in His Mortal Demise because it made it seem like we shifted into “insta-love” territory, but it didn’t feel like that for very long (partially because Kochin would talk to Nhika in his head, which feels like cheating in terms of relationship building, but whatever).
Nhika and Kochin’s romance had a major “tragic love affair” mood to it. I felt like I was constantly waiting for something to go wrong. while it makes for a bit of a tense reading experience, it also made me root for them harder than I would have if I hadn’t been scared for them.
characters: ★★★★☆
I loved Kochin’s interactions with the fake Nhika he imagined, but it made me sad that it was imaginary. it made me wish we got more banter between them during The Last Bloodcarver. I think if we had had those moments before, these reminiscing moments would feel more heartfelt/impactful.
I really liked the Congmi family’s interactions with Nhika as well. they took more of a backseat in this book, but you could still see them caring for her and wanting what’s best for her. especially Trin. I felt this way when I read the first book as well, but I desperately wished we got more time with Nhika and Trin interacting. they have such a fun brother/sister relationship. I would have loved to see more of them, especially seeing them get to lean on each other more and be more vulnerable together. even without all that, we still got some cute moments of them teasing each other and looking out for each other, so I am thankful for that at least.
and I mentioned this already, but the introduction of Lanalay felt... oddly placed. I’m choosing to see her as a metaphor for the country of Yarong as a whole. she felt almost like a ghost or a spirit rather than an actual character. like her entire purpose in the book (to put it vaguely) was to get the papers about her grandmother. when you look at it like that, she didn’t mean much directly for the plot, but if you pull back and look at the reason why she’s stealing the papers and what that means for the Yarongese and all heartsoothes, the existence of her character makes a lot more sense.
over-all: ★★★★☆
I thought this was a great ending to the duology. part of me wants to say I wish it had been a trilogy so that we could have gotten more character interactions and more of the world building/history of the world, but I worry that a trilogy would have started to feel too drawn out, so I’m happy with the two books.
May 7, 2025
His Mortal Demise by Vanessa Le
(Macmillan Audio)
🎧 Format: Audiobook
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars)
Whew. This book dragged my heart through the mud and then gave it a little kiss on the forehead. His Mortal Demise is the kind of sequel that actually feels like a sequel in the best way. We’re not rehashing the first book or dropping random lore bombs, we’re dealing with the fallout of everything Nhika and Ven went through in The Last Bloodcarver, and yeah, it hurts. But also? Worth it.
I knew Ven wouldn’t let us down. He said, “Not on my watch,” and then spent the whole book proving it. I don’t always love dual POVs, but this one worked for me, jumping between past and present gave so much depth to both characters. Watching Ven spiral and fight for Nhika, while she pieces together what he sacrificed for her? Gut-wrenching. Tender. Messy. Perfect.
The audiobook was solid, emotionally grounded narration, clear pacing, and really strong at capturing those quiet, heavy moments between the chaos. I especially liked how well the back-and-forth in time translated to audio. I was never confused about where or when we were.
If I had one tiny wish, it’s that we could’ve stayed in Yarong a bit longer. I wanted more of the creepy heartsooth history, more of the shady experimentation, and definitely more of that one mysterious character we barely scratched the surface of. But overall? I was locked in.
I believed in Ven the whole time. He’s got our girl Nhika. They made it through hell together! And while they didn’t come out the same, but they came out together. That’s what mattered most to me.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio via NetGalley for this audiobook!
(Macmillan Audio)
🎧 Format: Audiobook
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars)
Whew. This book dragged my heart through the mud and then gave it a little kiss on the forehead. His Mortal Demise is the kind of sequel that actually feels like a sequel in the best way. We’re not rehashing the first book or dropping random lore bombs, we’re dealing with the fallout of everything Nhika and Ven went through in The Last Bloodcarver, and yeah, it hurts. But also? Worth it.
I knew Ven wouldn’t let us down. He said, “Not on my watch,” and then spent the whole book proving it. I don’t always love dual POVs, but this one worked for me, jumping between past and present gave so much depth to both characters. Watching Ven spiral and fight for Nhika, while she pieces together what he sacrificed for her? Gut-wrenching. Tender. Messy. Perfect.
The audiobook was solid, emotionally grounded narration, clear pacing, and really strong at capturing those quiet, heavy moments between the chaos. I especially liked how well the back-and-forth in time translated to audio. I was never confused about where or when we were.
If I had one tiny wish, it’s that we could’ve stayed in Yarong a bit longer. I wanted more of the creepy heartsooth history, more of the shady experimentation, and definitely more of that one mysterious character we barely scratched the surface of. But overall? I was locked in.
I believed in Ven the whole time. He’s got our girl Nhika. They made it through hell together! And while they didn’t come out the same, but they came out together. That’s what mattered most to me.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio via NetGalley for this audiobook!
January 11, 2025
His Mortal Demise is the 2nd book in The Last Bloodcarver duology, and you definitely want to read these books in order. I'll apologize in advance that my review will be a bit on the vague side, but I want to avoid spoilers for those who haven't read the first book yet.
This book follows the perspectives of two different characters in different points in time. From the start we know that something miraculous has happened, and while one character tries to figure out what happened, we follow the other character through the months leading up to it. This all gave the story a mysterious feel, and it sometimes took directions that I wasn't expecting at all. I'm not going to lie, there could be a very dark feel to this story at times, with grief, war, sacrifice, and questioning morals along the way. But there was also substantial character growth that was beautiful to watch. I'm glad that we were able to see many of the characters from the first book again and explore even more of this interesting fictional world. The last chunk of the book was especially packed with action and almost had a cinematic feel to it. And let's not forget the absolute rollercoaster of emotions I experienced along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed both books in this duology, and I look forward to seeing more from author Vanessa Le in the future.
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press, and NetGalley for the advance review copy of His Mortal Demise! All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.
This book follows the perspectives of two different characters in different points in time. From the start we know that something miraculous has happened, and while one character tries to figure out what happened, we follow the other character through the months leading up to it. This all gave the story a mysterious feel, and it sometimes took directions that I wasn't expecting at all. I'm not going to lie, there could be a very dark feel to this story at times, with grief, war, sacrifice, and questioning morals along the way. But there was also substantial character growth that was beautiful to watch. I'm glad that we were able to see many of the characters from the first book again and explore even more of this interesting fictional world. The last chunk of the book was especially packed with action and almost had a cinematic feel to it. And let's not forget the absolute rollercoaster of emotions I experienced along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed both books in this duology, and I look forward to seeing more from author Vanessa Le in the future.
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press, and NetGalley for the advance review copy of His Mortal Demise! All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.
August 13, 2025
i loved the first book, the last bloodcarver, so dearly even if it felt like a debut and wasn't a perfect story. the characters, found family, high energy mystery all had me so captivated but this sequel...i was not able to get invested! i was such 25% in for months which is such a shame. sequels, especially with duologies, have been so disappointing for me this year. they're all missing something from the first book that leave me feeling uninterested in the characters and therefore events. it doesn't feel like anything really happened in this, i didn't care about the war, i wanted more tender moments with the found family or relationship, the side characters really shined in the first book but it just didn't work in the sequel. i'm glad i finally finished this but truly if i had dnf'ed and moved on i wouldn't have lost any sleep wondering what was going to happen. it's likely due to the way this story is told, with knowing the present timeline and figuring out the 'why' of the past timeline that didn't work for me. this just lacks intrigue in any mystery and disappointment in the slog to the end. i loved the first book so much i certainly will keep up with this author's future releases but i'm bummed this didn't hit.
March 22, 2025
4.5/5
This was such an amazing conclusion to The Last Bloodcarver Duology. Much like my last review of the first book, I am absolutely in awe of the writing style and magic system. The writing style so easy to get lost in and not hard to follow, there's a lot of descriptions to really paint the picture and let you marinate in the emotions of the characters. The magic system, while complex as it blends magic and science, isn't hard to understand. I loved the characters and reading from Kochin and Nhika's perspectives, it was so satisfying to see them come together after spending the majority of the book apart. The themes of like self and culture and survival really came through and felt all aspects to be pretty heartbreaking.
Got dinged the .5 because I felt like there were so many red herrings as to what happened to Kochin and it kind of bogged down the pacing. I was about 73% of the way through and thought, "uh-oh... we're almost to the end and we still haven't found out what's going on..." While the ending wasn't THAT rushed, it shortened the payoff for me. The payoff being finding out what happens to Kochin and the couple's reunion. But I understand it, since it's a duology, you don't have the luxury of another book to wrap up loose ends in a satisfying way, hence the half deduction instead of the full star.
Still love the book though. Think it's a good ending to a duology. Had to round rating down to a 4 due not allowing me to do half stars
This was such an amazing conclusion to The Last Bloodcarver Duology. Much like my last review of the first book, I am absolutely in awe of the writing style and magic system. The writing style so easy to get lost in and not hard to follow, there's a lot of descriptions to really paint the picture and let you marinate in the emotions of the characters. The magic system, while complex as it blends magic and science, isn't hard to understand. I loved the characters and reading from Kochin and Nhika's perspectives, it was so satisfying to see them come together after spending the majority of the book apart. The themes of like self and culture and survival really came through and felt all aspects to be pretty heartbreaking.
Got dinged the .5 because I felt like there were so many red herrings as to what happened to Kochin and it kind of bogged down the pacing. I was about 73% of the way through and thought, "uh-oh... we're almost to the end and we still haven't found out what's going on..." While the ending wasn't THAT rushed, it shortened the payoff for me. The payoff being finding out what happens to Kochin and the couple's reunion. But I understand it, since it's a duology, you don't have the luxury of another book to wrap up loose ends in a satisfying way, hence the half deduction instead of the full star.
Still love the book though. Think it's a good ending to a duology. Had to round rating down to a 4 due not allowing me to do half stars
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