The Last Bloodcarver (The Last Bloodcarver, #1)

by Vanessa Le

A pulse-pounding new YA fantasy in which "you'll gasp, you'll scream, you'll cry, and you'll be begging for the next book." (Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of These Violent Delights)

Nhika is a bloodcarver. A coldhearted, ruthless being who can alter human biology with just a touch.

In the industrial city of Theumas, Nhika is seen not as a healer, but a monster that kills for pleasure. And in the city's criminal underbelly, the rarest of monsters are traded for gold. When Nhika is finally caught by the infamous Butchers, she's forced to heal the last witness to a high-profile murder.

As Nhika delves into the investigation, all signs point to Ven Kochin, an alluring yet entitled physician's aide. Despite his relentless attempts to push her out of his opulent world, something inexplicable draws Nhika to him. But when she discovers Kochin is not who he claims to be, Nhika will be faced with a greater, more terrifying evil lurking in the city's center...

Her only chance to survive lies in a terrible choice-become the dreaded monster the city fears, or risk jeopardizing the future of her kind.

Cinder meets Divine Rivals in Vanessa Le's The Last Bloodcarver, the first in a two-book debut - with a riveting medical magic system and lush Vietnam-inspired fantasy world.

"Smart, lush, and utterly compelling." - Marie Lu, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Legend

More Praise for The Last Bloodcarver:

*Four starred reviews*
*Amazon Best Book of the Month*

? "An entrancingly well-written debut." - Kirkus Reviews, starred review

? "Visceral and exquisitely rendered prose, intertwining a murder investigation with themes of unresolved grief, medical ethics, and lost heritage." - Publishers Weekly, starred review

? "Deeply romantic, and darkly biological." - Booklist, starred review

? "All collections will benefit from this unequivocal first purchase." - School Library Journal, starred review

"The perfect blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and romance." - Axie Oh, New York Times-bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

"Obsession-worthy characters." - Joan He, New York Times-bestselling author of The Ones We're Meant to Find

"Absolutely captivating. This is one to be savored." - Grace D. Li, New York Times-bestselling author of Portrait of a Thief

• ISBN10: 1250881528
• ISBN13: 9781250881526
• Publish Date: 19 March 2024
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: St Martin's Press
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Nhika is a bloodcarver—a dark term for somebody with the innate gift of healing. Society views her kind as heartless monsters who will happily tear apart a person, leaving them dead or inhuman. Hence, Nhika has been hiding her whole life, and that is why she believes herself to be the last of the bloodcarvers.

Unfortunately, Nhika has to make a living somehow. Pretending to be a low-level medical expert seemed as good a role as any. Sure, she occasionally was a little too good at her job. It was fine—right up until it wasn’t; now, she’s in danger like never before.

My Review:

You could give me a million books about magical healers, and I’d still beg for more. So, obviously, I adored The Last Bloodcarver. Even going beyond the healing abilities, this was a complex tale that immediately stole my imagination.

The Last Bloodcarver does a lot right. It merges technology and magic, giving us a unique and compelling tale. It also pits magic against politics and lore against control. All the classic tropes that you love to see in a magical world.

The romantic subplot less enchanted me - the world and story were strong enough without needing it. That said, their connection was so hungry and human, so I loved that part of it.

If you haven’t read The Last Bloodcarver yet but love everything I’ve described, be sure to check it out!

Highlights:
YA Fantasy
Magical Healing
Buckets of Lore
Romantic Fantasy

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