The Last Bloodcarver Book Review
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (4.25 out of 5)
When searching the shelves of a library for a book to read, I gravitate towards books with captivating covers and titles that make me want to know more. With beautiful cover art and an ominous title, The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le immediately captured my interest. The book is an immersive and magical story inspired by Vietnamese culture. Coincidentally, the plot is very similar to my last book review of Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, taking place in a time where magic is believed to be an extinct craft and those who show signs of harnessing the power face persecution.
The book follows a murder mystery weaving in elements like magic, with descriptive writing and complex characters, making it an engaging read. Nhika, the main protagonist, is a heartsooth and her magic stems from her Yarongese heritage. I really enjoyed reading about Nhika because her character was very well-developed. She had a tangible motive behind many of her actions, even those that resulted in negative consequences. As she solves the mysterious death of a powerful industrial figure, she also faces challenges like feeling disappointment in her disconnect from her culture. These components made her read as a strong, likable, and realistic character.
The book uses many typical young adult tropes, such as the grumpy character who is revealed to be softhearted and the protagonist and their romantic interest being enemies. I disliked the romantic relationship between Nhika and Kochin due to the rushed and forced nature. Despite having the potential to develop into a relationship, many of their exchanges were shallow and only a few interactions hinted at a deeper chemistry. During the second half of the book, their romantic relationship moved very quickly because it was important to the ending.
Nhika, the last surviving heartsooth, can alter the human body with just a touch. In Theumas, a futuristic city with a wealthy population, she survives by using her powers to perform medical miracles. However, in a society where she is seen as a monster with great value, she risks putting herself in great danger and eventually is caught by the infamous Butchers and sold to the aristocratic family of a huge industrial company. Nhika is tasked to heal the last and only witness of their father’s mysterious death.
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