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A review by teastarsandbooks
The Last Phi Hunter by Salinee Goldenberg
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
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? No
5.0
Thank you Angry Robot for the #gifted physical ARC of THE LAST PHI HUNTER. This review is entirely my own thoughts and opinions based on the early copy I received.
*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
THE LAST PHI HUNTER is a vibrant fantasy based on Thai-folklore that follows the story of a hunter who slays <i> phi </i> who attack humans. After one such hunt, he winds up escorting a pregnant woman through dangerous spirit-infested woods and winds up deep into secrets that could endanger not just his life, but the life of his passenger and her unborn child.
*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
My Thoughts:
I know the stars rating says 5 but I wish I could give it twice that amount. This book was GOOD. It was incredibly hard to put down! It is rich with unique Thai-influenced world building and boasts an intricate magic system that feels spectacular to experience. The demons are terrifying to envision and the battles are epic and nail-biting. The spirit realm (The Everpresent) is something phenomenal that I wish I could dip into. Every aspect of this action-packed story is brimming with the fantastical. Its so rich and well thought out, that I could easily see this being adapted to a video game or animated series.
Our hero, Ex, is a lone hunter who prefers to company of animals and spirits over other humans. (honestly, same). While bumbling and awkward, he was endearing to read and fun to root for. An underdog with giant ambitions. While his choices often come back to bite him in the ass, he takes it all in stride and learns from the harsh lessons the world teaches him, which leads to him continually growing and becoming a force to be reckoned with at the end. I really loved watching his relationship with Aryina grow, even through all his foot-in-his-mouth moments.
Salinee Goldenberg really did a phenomenal job plotting out this story. For the most part, it was fast-paced as we moved through the tale. Salinee also did a fantastic job of balancing out plot/story vs world-building. For a world as jam-packed with unique lore, magic, and landscaping as this one is, the worldbuilding was intriguing and gave excellent back up to the plot, but never at any point, felt overwhelming. The world-building and plot worked hand in hand to create this rich and vibrant action packed story that absolutely blew me away.
I will 100% be returning to read any books that Salinee Goldenberg writes in the future. THE LAST PHI HUNTER has sold me as a fan of hers and I'm excited to see what else comes from her incredible mind!
*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
THE LAST PHI HUNTER is a vibrant fantasy based on Thai-folklore that follows the story of a hunter who slays <i> phi </i> who attack humans. After one such hunt, he winds up escorting a pregnant woman through dangerous spirit-infested woods and winds up deep into secrets that could endanger not just his life, but the life of his passenger and her unborn child.
*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
My Thoughts:
I know the stars rating says 5 but I wish I could give it twice that amount. This book was GOOD. It was incredibly hard to put down! It is rich with unique Thai-influenced world building and boasts an intricate magic system that feels spectacular to experience. The demons are terrifying to envision and the battles are epic and nail-biting. The spirit realm (The Everpresent) is something phenomenal that I wish I could dip into. Every aspect of this action-packed story is brimming with the fantastical. Its so rich and well thought out, that I could easily see this being adapted to a video game or animated series.
Our hero, Ex, is a lone hunter who prefers to company of animals and spirits over other humans. (honestly, same). While bumbling and awkward, he was endearing to read and fun to root for. An underdog with giant ambitions. While his choices often come back to bite him in the ass, he takes it all in stride and learns from the harsh lessons the world teaches him, which leads to him continually growing and becoming a force to be reckoned with at the end. I really loved watching his relationship with Aryina grow, even through all his foot-in-his-mouth moments.
Salinee Goldenberg really did a phenomenal job plotting out this story. For the most part, it was fast-paced as we moved through the tale. Salinee also did a fantastic job of balancing out plot/story vs world-building. For a world as jam-packed with unique lore, magic, and landscaping as this one is, the worldbuilding was intriguing and gave excellent back up to the plot, but never at any point, felt overwhelming. The world-building and plot worked hand in hand to create this rich and vibrant action packed story that absolutely blew me away.
I will 100% be returning to read any books that Salinee Goldenberg writes in the future. THE LAST PHI HUNTER has sold me as a fan of hers and I'm excited to see what else comes from her incredible mind!