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booknerdery's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Violence, Colonisation, Child death, Body horror, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Death, Gore, and Gun violence
Moderate: Animal death and Cancer
betweentheshelves's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This one actually surprised me! I thought it was going to be darker than it was. There are darker elements, but it wasn't nearly as bloody or graphic as the cover makes it seem. The magic system was actually really interesting; I like how it sort of tied to science and anatomy.
The characters were also really well done. Nhika is such a complicated main character, as are the Congmis and Kochin. Just when you think you might have the plot figured out, Le throws a wrench into things. It hooked me until the end, and I can't wait to read the next one!
The characters were also really well done. Nhika is such a complicated main character, as are the Congmis and Kochin. Just when you think you might have the plot figured out, Le throws a wrench into things. It hooked me until the end, and I can't wait to read the next one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, and Medical content
Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, and Colonisation
Minor: Animal death, Child death, and Cannibalism
linhsreadinghour's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Finally a fantasy book inspired by Vietnamese culture and written by a Vietnamese author.
I loved this, the representation and worldbuilding was so easy to understand. It was great to see my culture represented in a fantasy world, I loved it. Very apt homage to Vietnamese culture in so many ways.
Inspired by Vietnamese culture, this book has such a unique medical/biological magic system, murder mystery, tension and small romance subplot. It’s underpinned by themes of continuing one’s family legacy and identity.
I enjoyed this so much, a great YA fantasy novel. I was gripped and intrigued throughout the story. Need the second book soon because cliffhanger is HANGING 😫
Check TW warnings though, lots of medical content - if you’re squeamish, take care reading this!
I loved this, the representation and worldbuilding was so easy to understand. It was great to see my culture represented in a fantasy world, I loved it. Very apt homage to Vietnamese culture in so many ways.
Inspired by Vietnamese culture, this book has such a unique medical/biological magic system, murder mystery, tension and small romance subplot. It’s underpinned by themes of continuing one’s family legacy and identity.
I enjoyed this so much, a great YA fantasy novel. I was gripped and intrigued throughout the story. Need the second book soon because cliffhanger is HANGING 😫
Check TW warnings though, lots of medical content - if you’re squeamish, take care reading this!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Medical content, Child death, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Murder, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Car accident, Colonisation, and Grief
mikasana's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Pretty solid for a debut novel and I love how unique it is.
This originally felt like a fantasy novel but it soon quickly became more of a murder mystery with elements of fantasy set in an old timey city where horses were still occasionally used to pull carriages.
My only main grievances were the romance and the engagement towards the end. The beginning sucks you in so well and you lose a lot of steam in the middle and end. It’s still great, but it could have been so much more if that same momentum kept going or even built up. The romance was very underwhelming. Yes there were some hints that something was blooming but when it did happen it felt like it came out of left field. It felt off.
The story as a whole was as wonderful as it felt it was a dedication. A love letter written not only to culture and family but to the healers of the world and to the commitment they vow to life itself.
And that ending??? Ohhh man. There’s that momentum again. I look forward to the final installment.
This originally felt like a fantasy novel but it soon quickly became more of a murder mystery with elements of fantasy set in an old timey city where horses were still occasionally used to pull carriages.
My only main grievances were the romance and the engagement towards the end. The beginning sucks you in so well and you lose a lot of steam in the middle and end. It’s still great, but it could have been so much more if that same momentum kept going or even built up. The romance was very underwhelming. Yes there were some hints that something was blooming but when it did happen it felt like it came out of left field. It felt off.
The story as a whole was as wonderful as it felt it was a dedication. A love letter written not only to culture and family but to the healers of the world and to the commitment they vow to life itself.
And that ending??? Ohhh man. There’s that momentum again. I look forward to the final installment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Trafficking, Blood, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Murder, Slavery, and Violence
Minor: Torture, Death of parent, Grief, and Drug abuse
roseleebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I really liked this book. Nhika is my favorite type of MC, someone doing what they have to to survive, but still holding to certain ideals. Her POV was really great to read.
The plot is part mystery/thriller, part medical drama in a fantasy setting and I am impressed by how well it all worked in this book. Kochin also was a great counter to Nhika. Their relationship does seem to develop and change very quickly, I was wishing there were more interactions between the two of them.
I would love to read another book in this world. The ending was phenomenal and the characters well developed. A great read!
The plot is part mystery/thriller, part medical drama in a fantasy setting and I am impressed by how well it all worked in this book. Kochin also was a great counter to Nhika. Their relationship does seem to develop and change very quickly, I was wishing there were more interactions between the two of them.
I would love to read another book in this world. The ending was phenomenal and the characters well developed. A great read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Trafficking, Murder, Gore, Medical content, Medical trauma, Xenophobia, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Genocide, and Gun violence
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Murder, Racism, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child death, Animal death, and War
allapaz's review
4.5
The Last Bloodcarver is a special kind of YA fantasy. As the first in a duology, you expect something sprawling, something intricate and expositional in preparing you for a continuation of the plot into a second novel.
The best way I can describe the feel of this fantasy is that it's like orange juice concentrate. We don't have a sprawling landscape here--we have a city-state with diverse burroughs, but no epic journey. Instead, the growth and development here comes from within the characters themselves. Nhika as a main character is introspective, reflective, and also irrational at times. She's a young adult written for young adults. As a foil/partner, Kochin is also deeply multi-faceted. The supporting characters are also deep and real, and the way that their interactions and internal struggles play out on pace makes this YA fantasy feel different than many I've read before.
That's not to say the setting and magic system don't have the makings of an epic YA fantasy--the steampunk-inspired mechanical elements contribute to a sense of atmosphere that inspires awe as much as trepidation. There aren't huge twisty-turns in this one I don't think, but the underlying complexity of the politics, the segregated city-state setting, and the disparities of wealth and privilege highlight the uncertainty that anything in society is what it seems.
This is a refugee story, a story of a place ravaged by colonialism and the diaspora scrabbling for identity where it was violently ripped away. The characters grapple with generational trauma, with finding kinship, with honoring their ancestors while staying true to themselves. And all the while, we're following a compelling plotline with an ending that truly left me impressed and in shock.
All that being said, what makes this a 4.5 for me is some issues of contrivance. There was a point where the plot was moving along almost solely due to overheard or eavesdropped conversations. Some themes were emphasized so heavily it felt a bit repetitive at times. If I put myself in the target audience's shoes, though, I'm not sure 15-year-old me would have noticed these technical issues amidst the outstanding character work.
To whoever is reading my reviews on my silly little Goodreads/StoryGraph/wherever I decided to post this---this is a good one. I hope so many people find themselves in this book. And you best believe I'll be counting down the days until Book #2 comes out.
Thank you to BookishFirst for the ARC; all opinions are my own!
The best way I can describe the feel of this fantasy is that it's like orange juice concentrate. We don't have a sprawling landscape here--we have a city-state with diverse burroughs, but no epic journey. Instead, the growth and development here comes from within the characters themselves. Nhika as a main character is introspective, reflective, and also irrational at times. She's a young adult written for young adults. As a foil/partner, Kochin is also deeply multi-faceted. The supporting characters are also deep and real, and the way that their interactions and internal struggles play out on pace makes this YA fantasy feel different than many I've read before.
That's not to say the setting and magic system don't have the makings of an epic YA fantasy--the steampunk-inspired mechanical elements contribute to a sense of atmosphere that inspires awe as much as trepidation. There aren't huge twisty-turns in this one I don't think, but the underlying complexity of the politics, the segregated city-state setting, and the disparities of wealth and privilege highlight the uncertainty that anything in society is what it seems.
This is a refugee story, a story of a place ravaged by colonialism and the diaspora scrabbling for identity where it was violently ripped away. The characters grapple with generational trauma, with finding kinship, with honoring their ancestors while staying true to themselves. And all the while, we're following a compelling plotline with an ending that truly left me impressed and in shock.
All that being said, what makes this a 4.5 for me is some issues of contrivance. There was a point where the plot was moving along almost solely due to overheard or eavesdropped conversations. Some themes were emphasized so heavily it felt a bit repetitive at times. If I put myself in the target audience's shoes, though, I'm not sure 15-year-old me would have noticed these technical issues amidst the outstanding character work.
To whoever is reading my reviews on my silly little Goodreads/StoryGraph/wherever I decided to post this---this is a good one. I hope so many people find themselves in this book. And you best believe I'll be counting down the days until Book #2 comes out.
Thank you to BookishFirst for the ARC; all opinions are my own!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Colonisation and Murder
lexihworth's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I want to thank Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a free arc of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings: Graphic depictions of violence, blood, injury, gore, medical trauma, the use of weapons, and kidnapping.
This book had a ton of the trappings of what I love in a dark fantasy novel. It was well written without being overly flowery in language. It was easy to follow. The characters were interesting. I found the premise intriguing and the fast-paced plot kept me entertained. What set this book apart for me was the setting and atmosphere of the world in which the story took place. I was captivated by this city with its old-world high society classism, and polite smiles hiding mistrust, treachery, and unwarranted fears of the “foreign” or “unknown,” all of which were juxtaposed with futuristic automatons and medical advancements. The influence of Vietnamese mythology on this book kept it from falling too far into the cliches of steampunk but still managed to capture the duality of future tech and antiquated society that most punk-type genres aim for. Along with the protagonist’s modern sense of justice, a mystery plot to solve, and the beautiful lore-rich magic system, this was almost a 5-star read for me.
My only critiques are with some of the interpersonal relationships between the characters. I liked the characters themselves, but some of the dynamics that the heroine had with them just didn’t feel grounded enough for me. The main romance had a great “rivals to lovers” style build-up in the first half, but it felt very rushed after the characters made their first major turning point. The payoff was lessened for me by the way it kind of felt underdeveloped. That being said, this is the first in a duology, so the second may alleviate some of that tension for readers.
Our protagonist’s relationships with her employers also felt underdeveloped. There was a lot of tension about whether or not they were ever going to give her their trust, but I had hoped that tension would feel a little bit more resolved. Their reticence was believable and even sometimes understandable, but I grew more frustrated as the narrative went on that the tension there was neither escalating nor dispersing. It plateaued the plot momentum a bit for me.
The narration of the audiobook was well done. I tend to prefer audiobooks because I sometimes struggle to sit still without anything to occupy my hands. Listening to an audiobook while playing an idle game or doing a craft project is my ideal. Sometimes if a narrator's voice is too monotone or they don’t pause for punctuation. I can struggle to keep focused on the story. I didn’t have that problem at all with this text. However, I did listen to it on 1.5x speed, as the regular narration speed was just a little too slow for me (but I almost always have to speed up narrations, so that’s not really a complaint). I thought the narrator’s voice was a perfect fit for the characters and I never had any trouble discerning which character was speaking.
I rated this book 4.5 stars on Storygraph, and 4 stars on Goodreads. In the system that I use for my reading statistics, I rated “The Last Bonecarver” as 8.9 out of 10.
With that rating, I would recommend this book to readers who love fantasy stories with fast-paced mystery plots, magical adventures, and dark themes.
If that sounds like you, “The Last Bonecarver” by Vanessa Le will be officially published in just a few days– March 19, 2024– so add it to your TBR or order it now.
Content Warnings: Graphic depictions of violence, blood, injury, gore, medical trauma, the use of weapons, and kidnapping.
This book had a ton of the trappings of what I love in a dark fantasy novel. It was well written without being overly flowery in language. It was easy to follow. The characters were interesting. I found the premise intriguing and the fast-paced plot kept me entertained. What set this book apart for me was the setting and atmosphere of the world in which the story took place. I was captivated by this city with its old-world high society classism, and polite smiles hiding mistrust, treachery, and unwarranted fears of the “foreign” or “unknown,” all of which were juxtaposed with futuristic automatons and medical advancements. The influence of Vietnamese mythology on this book kept it from falling too far into the cliches of steampunk but still managed to capture the duality of future tech and antiquated society that most punk-type genres aim for. Along with the protagonist’s modern sense of justice, a mystery plot to solve, and the beautiful lore-rich magic system, this was almost a 5-star read for me.
My only critiques are with some of the interpersonal relationships between the characters. I liked the characters themselves, but some of the dynamics that the heroine had with them just didn’t feel grounded enough for me. The main romance had a great “rivals to lovers” style build-up in the first half, but it felt very rushed after the characters made their first major turning point. The payoff was lessened for me by the way it kind of felt underdeveloped. That being said, this is the first in a duology, so the second may alleviate some of that tension for readers.
Our protagonist’s relationships with her employers also felt underdeveloped. There was a lot of tension about whether or not they were ever going to give her their trust, but I had hoped that tension would feel a little bit more resolved. Their reticence was believable and even sometimes understandable, but I grew more frustrated as the narrative went on that the tension there was neither escalating nor dispersing. It plateaued the plot momentum a bit for me.
The narration of the audiobook was well done. I tend to prefer audiobooks because I sometimes struggle to sit still without anything to occupy my hands. Listening to an audiobook while playing an idle game or doing a craft project is my ideal. Sometimes if a narrator's voice is too monotone or they don’t pause for punctuation. I can struggle to keep focused on the story. I didn’t have that problem at all with this text. However, I did listen to it on 1.5x speed, as the regular narration speed was just a little too slow for me (but I almost always have to speed up narrations, so that’s not really a complaint). I thought the narrator’s voice was a perfect fit for the characters and I never had any trouble discerning which character was speaking.
I rated this book 4.5 stars on Storygraph, and 4 stars on Goodreads. In the system that I use for my reading statistics, I rated “The Last Bonecarver” as 8.9 out of 10.
With that rating, I would recommend this book to readers who love fantasy stories with fast-paced mystery plots, magical adventures, and dark themes.
If that sounds like you, “The Last Bonecarver” by Vanessa Le will be officially published in just a few days– March 19, 2024– so add it to your TBR or order it now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Gore, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Classism, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Animal death
bibliomich's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It’s been a minute since I’ve read YA fantasy, but Vanessa Le’s The Last Bloodcarver was a fun reintroduction to the genre! The book follows Nhika, a master of “heartsoothing” (a healing practice passed down from her ancestors), also known by the more derogatory name of bloodcarving. Most of the fantasy elements are built around this practice, which involves the protagonist entering the body of her patient via touch in order to heal their ailments. Nhika’s powers are either feared or taken advantage of, primarily due to racism and classism within her world. When Nhika is hired by a well renowned family to help heal a patient (and in doing so, solve a mystery), she finds herself navigating a new social world that is simultaneously intoxicating, inviting, and potentially dangerous.
What I enjoyed:
- The fantasy world that Le has built is unlike any that I’ve read before, and it was easy to get swept up in the fast-paced story.
- I appreciate that while this book is marketed for young adults, I also think the content could absolutely be appropriate for a middle grade library (pending teacher/parent judgment). I’ve already recommended the book to a few of my students whom I believe would appreciate the story and the medical/scientific aspects of the novel.
- The ending took me by surprise, and I actually really enjoyed the direction that Le chose to take the story.
What didn't quite work for me:
- The romance element was sweet, but it felt a little rushed. I wish it had been developed out a bit more.
- Le can get a little in the weeds with medical terminology; at times, it felt like she was showing off her own medical knowledge in a way that didn't seem to advance the story.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my advanced listener copy.
What I enjoyed:
- The fantasy world that Le has built is unlike any that I’ve read before, and it was easy to get swept up in the fast-paced story.
- I appreciate that while this book is marketed for young adults, I also think the content could absolutely be appropriate for a middle grade library (pending teacher/parent judgment). I’ve already recommended the book to a few of my students whom I believe would appreciate the story and the medical/scientific aspects of the novel.
- The ending took me by surprise, and I actually really enjoyed the direction that Le chose to take the story.
What didn't quite work for me:
- The romance element was sweet, but it felt a little rushed. I wish it had been developed out a bit more.
- Le can get a little in the weeds with medical terminology; at times, it felt like she was showing off her own medical knowledge in a way that didn't seem to advance the story.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my advanced listener copy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Medical content, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Racism
themoonphoenix's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Last Bloodcarver is an amazing debut that has everything: A strong protagonist with unique and dangerous magic, murders, mystery, action, and a slightly dark atmosphere.
Nhika is a bloodcarver, her magic is misunderstood, instead of healing people judge her and see her as a monster that causes harm, she is in trouble when one of the most important men of Theumas is murdered and she is hired by her daughter to heal the driver, the only witnessr. Nhika has never had a chance like this, her magic is taboo and the coachman has serious injuries, there is a high chance that she won't be able to save him, but if she does, she could be in danger.
From the beginning it hooks you, the style is very vivid and you can imagine everything, the streets of the city, and the manor where Nhika will spend half of the story. The pacing at the beginning is slow, making you go deeper into the story, (as a bibliophile, I love the scenes in the library). I like how together with Nhika we are learning more about its magic and discovering secrets. But as the story progresses it gets faster and I can't stop from reading, so many things happen.
Bloodcarver magic is interesting, it’s very clinical, there are a few descriptions of anatomy, how the human body works, and how Nhika's power can transform, heal, or harm the body. It has a little vibe like Frankenstein, for YA, mixed with mystery and colonialism, part of the prejudice against bloodcarvers is classism and racism.
The end! The ending is not exactly a cliffhanger but it does leave you with a lot of thoughts about the sequel and what is going to happen. It was a rollercoaster of emotions, it was epic and I need the sequel now. About Bloodcarver powers, there is still a lot to discover, even among them, there are many myths, the second book will surely bring more mystery, answers, and plot twists
Read it if you want:
- A little of Steampunk
- Interesting Magic System
- Vietnam-inspired fantasy world.
- Action, twist and secrets
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder and Blood