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elee2013's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
And the ending was oddly drawn out… and then everything all at once! And then the book is over! Artificial suspense with no falling action. For all the explaining the book does (I do think it came across a bit heavy handed) we get to the end and there’s no reflection whatsoever.
It’s disappointing because so much of the rest of the book is so good!! The “magic”, the steampunk, the colonialism, the hints at the upcoming conflict with Nazi-ish standins (don’t think I didn’t notice the Mengele reference), the medical mystery Nhika is working to solve in the first half. Awesome start! But it lost me in the final act. I won’t be continuing with the series.
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Gun violence, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Colonisation
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Racism, Death of parent, Murder, and Colonisation
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, and War
allapaz's review
4.5
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!
Graphic: Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Murder and Colonisation
paracosim's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Moderate: Medical content, Trafficking, and Colonisation
thebookkeepers's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I always enjoy a magic system that comes with a cost to the user like this one did and is one of the many reasons I loved the magic & world building. A few plot reveals I was able to predict but not in an overly apparent way. The ending was wild and definitely increased my overall rating. I don’t necessarily love what the epilogue suggested…but I’ll still read book 2 to see what comes next.
This book does contain blood - think surgery, medical, and gun violence scenes.
LGBTQ + rep: male/male relationship with side characters
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Moderate: Animal death and Child death
Minor: Cannibalism
devynreadsnovels's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, and Alcohol
ddnreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
As a debut, this book is well researched and neatly written. The character is strong and I can feel her, emphtize with her. However, none of the other characters elicit the same excitement. It's not that they're not solid, I just happened to not be able really connect with anyone aside from Nikha. The fact that this book is told from her pov might influence how I saw other characters.
Now, what happened with the rest 50%? It's still enjoyable. However, it rellied heavily on the romance which I'm not a fan of in this story. It's not insalove but it sure felt like one. The way Nikha suddenly a lovey dovey girl is so out of character. As she said it to herself "Rationality be damned". I can't feel the chemistry of the people falling in love here. Idk. I think it could be told in a better smoother way.
The ending left me speechless like really 🥺🥺🥺 now you're playing with my heart (figuratively). Before the end END, I think it could be better written at how they deal with the culprit.
It was less atmospheric from my liking. But it's a me problem. It can probably work for you 🫶🏽
Maps is always a + 😻
Overall, give this book a go. I finished it in only 2 days. It's page turning ❤️❤️❤️
If science fiction fantasy with the combination of traditionald and modern world building (a Bloodcarver practice in a automaton and robotic world), magic system dealing with medical condition is your time, pick up this book now.
Thank you so much for the arc netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing group for the unproofed advance reader copy. I had so much fun reading!!! 🧚
Graphic: Chronic illness, Drug use, Gun violence, Death of parent, and Colonisation
allisonisabel's review
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
A sweeping debut that blends magic, science, and familial ancestry in a Vietnam inspired fantasy world, The Last Bloodcarver is definitely worth the read.
By far, my favorite part of this book was the magic system. The way in which medicine is blended with magic is so fascinating and truly so so creative in a way I haven’t seen in a long time. I may be biased as I’m a pre-med student but it was still so cool. The pages long descriptions of Heartsoothing and the intimate connection with the body were gripping and engaging to read. I also enjoyed the hints at a larger society, with mentions of a technocracy, automatons, and a looming war based around colonization. The line level writing was quite beautiful at times and I truly felt that Nhika’s character development was both realistic and well handled.
The plot provided a solid anchoring to carry you through the book, and I felt that in many parts, tension was adequately maintained, although I did guess what I’ll call one of two twists that are revealed about 60% through. That’s nothing against the author, however.
I think my only complaint lies in the development of the romantic relationship. I won’t spoil much, but the ending for me fell a bit flat as I did not fully believe in the relationship in relied on. I wish we could’ve seen more establishment of that. However, I did enjoy the development of platonic relationships although I also would’ve wished for a bit more set up from those. I also slightly wish we could’ve seen more about the world and the greater issues going on that I mentioned above.
All that is to say, this was a very good book. If you’re looking for a diverse fantasy that blends magic, medicine, and murder mystery in a technocratic society, then this book is perfect for you. I enjoyed it, and I hope you will too.
Thank you again to Netgalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Car accident, and Colonisation
Minor: Animal death
literarycavy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Blood, Medical content, and Colonisation
Moderate: Trafficking and Murder
Minor: Child death
shimmeringice's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Body horror, Medical content, Trafficking, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Cannibalism