Scan barcode
bbarnes's review
adventurous
dark
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
booknotes_athina's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
The Last Phi Hunter by Salinee Goldenberg (@gosalgo), is a mythic dark fantasy, equal parts smart, exhilarating, and delightfully fun. It examines identity, loneliness and forbidden love, in a stunning world with Thai demon folklore.
I really liked reading this book. I loved the Thai & Southeast Asia inspired world building and the lore. The writing was really vibrant and the characters were both dark and funny. I really liked our MC Ex, who is very loveable.
If I had one complain it would be that towards the end I was a little bit confused but thankfully the ending was satisfying.
In The Last Phi Hunter we follow Ex, an ambitious young Phi hunter on his way to slay a legendary demon when he meets Arinya, a pregnant runaway, who hires him for escort through the spirit-filled forest. But she has dangerous secrets, and now he’s fighting not only monsters, but assassins, necromancers and even worse, falling in love.
I really liked reading this book. I loved the Thai & Southeast Asia inspired world building and the lore. The writing was really vibrant and the characters were both dark and funny. I really liked our MC Ex, who is very loveable.
If I had one complain it would be that towards the end I was a little bit confused but thankfully the ending was satisfying.
In The Last Phi Hunter we follow Ex, an ambitious young Phi hunter on his way to slay a legendary demon when he meets Arinya, a pregnant runaway, who hires him for escort through the spirit-filled forest. But she has dangerous secrets, and now he’s fighting not only monsters, but assassins, necromancers and even worse, falling in love.
epsyphus's review
Just not feeling, might pick it up again some other time. Felt too much like The Witcher, which is originally why I was interested in it, but I'm thinking maybe that's why it's not working right now.
piddle's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
Thank you to netgalley for giving me an Arc of this for an honest review!
3.5 but added .5 for it being a debut. If you're a fan of Witcher I think this would be right up your alley, I thought it was really well paced until the last 20% which felt so rushed with many built up moments condensed into 2-3 sentences. An extra 100 pages flushed out the rushed-ness coulda made this a solid 4 to 5 star.
I felt like the author managed to perfectly capture making an expansive world but writing a self contained story within that world, which I thought was perfect! I would love to learn more about this world and it's systems in another book, not necessarily following Ex and Arinya but would love to see them team up again for sure!
Overall very solid debut though!
3.5 but added .5 for it being a debut. If you're a fan of Witcher I think this would be right up your alley, I thought it was really well paced until the last 20% which felt so rushed with many built up moments condensed into 2-3 sentences. An extra 100 pages flushed out the rushed-ness coulda made this a solid 4 to 5 star.
I felt like the author managed to perfectly capture making an expansive world but writing a self contained story within that world, which I thought was perfect! I would love to learn more about this world and it's systems in another book, not necessarily following Ex and Arinya but would love to see them team up again for sure!
Overall very solid debut though!
jinxei's review
5.0
When it comes to dark fantasy, ‘The Last Phi Hunter’ set itself apart with compelling narrative that delves deep into the themes of identity, loneliness, and forbidden love, all while navigating the shadowy realms populated by Thai demons and spirits. The protagonist, Ex, embarks on a journey that is as much about slaying ghosts and seeking glory as it is about confronting his own sense of self and isolation. His quest for fame takes an unexpected detour with the encounter of Arinya, a muay-boran champion with secrets of her own, and a belly full of life, demanding his protection through a ghost-ridden forest. The tender yet forbidden romance was wonderful and only emphasized the flawless ability of Goldenberg to inject humor and warmth into a world that otherwise is ensconced in darkness, offering some levity amidst peril.
However, beyond the thrilling encounters and mystical allure, I was enraptured by the exploration of Thai demon folklore. While the book may wobble slightly in the development of its characters—Ex’s arc feeling somewhat disjointed and Arinya’s depth not fully explored—the overall world building, lore, and character interactions far outshined any trivial complaints I might have had.
‘The Last Phi Hunter’ is an exquisite ode to Thai heritage, a testament to the strength found in companionship, and a celebration of the light that humor can bring to the darkest of places.
Thank you so much to Angry Robot for the ARC!
However, beyond the thrilling encounters and mystical allure, I was enraptured by the exploration of Thai demon folklore. While the book may wobble slightly in the development of its characters—Ex’s arc feeling somewhat disjointed and Arinya’s depth not fully explored—the overall world building, lore, and character interactions far outshined any trivial complaints I might have had.
‘The Last Phi Hunter’ is an exquisite ode to Thai heritage, a testament to the strength found in companionship, and a celebration of the light that humor can bring to the darkest of places.
Thank you so much to Angry Robot for the ARC!
eviebooks's review
adventurous
dark
funny
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
5.0
lauraslittlebooknook's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Goldenberg has created an incredibly vivid and intricate world with a unique and wonderful magic system. I could quite easily let myself get lost in the imagery of this story, from the delicious descriptions of food, to the stunning scenery and the layers of magical worlds. This was phenomenally well developed, especially for a debut author!
The story itself follows Ex, an ambitious demon hunter, who unexpectedly finds himself escorting Arinya, favoured consort of the crown prince, through a forest full of monsters and spirit gods.
There is so much chemistry between these two, I loved their back and forth banter (and Ex’s clumsy attempts at flirting!). Arinya is a strong, take no shit, FMC and I would have loved to have had something from her POV (as I’m a sucker for a kick ass, grown woman in my fantasy fiction).
The side characters are honestly fantastic; The Hound, being my favourite.
This story is full of humour and action and adventure, and I couldn’t put it down!
I mixed this one up between the physical read and the audio, and would honestly recommend both!
azhangia's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
3.25
kittenmittons's review
3.25
First off, this cover? Absolutely incredible. I know, I know, "don't judge a book by its cover," but that's hard to do when you have a cover this good.
Was I letdown after putting so much stock into the cover? Well, no. While I didn't love this book, there is a lot of very cool stuff to it and a lot to appreciate, so let's get into that.
Based on Thai mythology, the worldbuilding and the folklore of this book were absolute standouts. The setting was immersive and vibrant, and I loved all of the demons and lore.
And the plot of the story itself was a lot of fun too! It's an adventure novel, a road novel, and there are twists and danger and - it's just a fun ride, I don't know how I can put it better than that.
Where the book fell down a bit for me was in its characters. I get their arcs, but I never felt particularly connected to the characters. I don't know if it was the writing, but I just felt that I could never get a good grasp on their characterizations and motivations beyond the surface level stuff.
Overall, a fun and creative read, and sometimes, that's all you need.
Thank you to the publisher, Angry Robot, and to NetGalley for the ARC.
Was I letdown after putting so much stock into the cover? Well, no. While I didn't love this book, there is a lot of very cool stuff to it and a lot to appreciate, so let's get into that.
Based on Thai mythology, the worldbuilding and the folklore of this book were absolute standouts. The setting was immersive and vibrant, and I loved all of the demons and lore.
And the plot of the story itself was a lot of fun too! It's an adventure novel, a road novel, and there are twists and danger and - it's just a fun ride, I don't know how I can put it better than that.
Where the book fell down a bit for me was in its characters. I get their arcs, but I never felt particularly connected to the characters. I don't know if it was the writing, but I just felt that I could never get a good grasp on their characterizations and motivations beyond the surface level stuff.
Overall, a fun and creative read, and sometimes, that's all you need.
Thank you to the publisher, Angry Robot, and to NetGalley for the ARC.
yourlocalbookreader's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
"Phi were different. They could be sadistic, but only because they were once human."
The Last Phi Hunter follows Ex, who hopes to in fact NOT be the last Phi Hunter. He's on the hunt to slay a "True Demon", Shar-Ala, a demon of nightmares, of madness to earn his place in the guild. With the country leaning further and further from magic, he worries that the old ways are dying out, but the dangerous Phi are not.
On one such excursion he meets Arinya, a pregnant woman on the run, and after she saves his life, she asks him to escort her to a witch in the woods, needing his protection from the Phi and ghosts that hunger over her unborn child.
Not all is as it seems though, and suddenly these two find themselves on a much bigger adventure, fighting not only the Phi but the world of royalty as well. Ex is balancing a fine line between his own goals of bringing honor and respect to the Hunter guild and fighting his attraction to Arinya.
The first half of this book had me in a chokehold and I was so hooked from the fights, the demons and the magic. Ex's descriptions of the ever present and "hunter's trance" were so engaging, along with Arinya's life in court. We see the two of them bond with a few slice of life moments mixed in with beautiful folklore about the wild lands surrounding them. Their life experiences diverged tremendously, but you can see her starting to believe in the goodness of magic in the wilderness.
The second half IMO took a drastically different turn and we were introduced to so many new characters suddenly which I struggled to keep straight. With their return to the city, I feel like the book lost some of the charm that initially drew me in. On top of that there were two major "arcs" and pivotal moments that I think the book built up just to wrap up entirely too quickly. I felt like I was waiting with baited breath the entire time for some climax that came and left too fast.
The folklore and setting is where this book REALLY shines. There's little that could ever compare to how raw and wild the setting of this book jumped off the pages and I hold that precious to my heart. This is a great debut novel and I hope to read more from this author!
rep// Thai MC
cw// blood, gore, death, murder, explicit abuse
Thank you to the publisher for sending me this ARC!
The Last Phi Hunter follows Ex, who hopes to in fact NOT be the last Phi Hunter. He's on the hunt to slay a "True Demon", Shar-Ala, a demon of nightmares, of madness to earn his place in the guild. With the country leaning further and further from magic, he worries that the old ways are dying out, but the dangerous Phi are not.
On one such excursion he meets Arinya, a pregnant woman on the run, and after she saves his life, she asks him to escort her to a witch in the woods, needing his protection from the Phi and ghosts that hunger over her unborn child.
Not all is as it seems though, and suddenly these two find themselves on a much bigger adventure, fighting not only the Phi but the world of royalty as well. Ex is balancing a fine line between his own goals of bringing honor and respect to the Hunter guild and fighting his attraction to Arinya.
The first half of this book had me in a chokehold and I was so hooked from the fights, the demons and the magic. Ex's descriptions of the ever present and "hunter's trance" were so engaging, along with Arinya's life in court. We see the two of them bond with a few slice of life moments mixed in with beautiful folklore about the wild lands surrounding them. Their life experiences diverged tremendously, but you can see her starting to believe in the goodness of magic in the wilderness.
The second half IMO took a drastically different turn and we were introduced to so many new characters suddenly which I struggled to keep straight. With their return to the city, I feel like the book lost some of the charm that initially drew me in. On top of that there were two major "arcs" and pivotal moments that I think the book built up just to wrap up entirely too quickly. I felt like I was waiting with baited breath the entire time for some climax that came and left too fast.
The folklore and setting is where this book REALLY shines. There's little that could ever compare to how raw and wild the setting of this book jumped off the pages and I hold that precious to my heart. This is a great debut novel and I hope to read more from this author!
rep// Thai MC
cw// blood, gore, death, murder, explicit abuse
Thank you to the publisher for sending me this ARC!