Darcey's Reviews > The Last Bloodcarver

ARC copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

This book was BRILLIANT. The fact that this is a debut author stuns me, because the worldbuilding was immaculate, the fantasy system so unique and well developed. I loved the concept of bloodcarving/heartsoothing, it was so well described and different, and much darker to most YA fantasy worlds. And this book certainly leant into the dark aspects more than I expected, which I really, really appreciated – I will always eat up a dark fantasy, and this one was scrumptious.

“This is the core of heartsoothing. Not to harm. To heal.”

And the characters AHH the characters!! I adored our two protagonists with every fibre of my being, Nhika is my precious love and deserved the whole world. I thought she was so well-written and realistic, with a believable outlook on the world (given the crap she’d dealt with) and a hilarious personality. I ADORED that this first book was entirely from her perspective, and wouldn’t change it for anything. For once, I didn’t want dual-POV! Nhika did what was best for HER and that’s just so believable, not everyone is a martyr ready to devote themselves to saving the world and giving everything up for others!

“She hadn’t had a moment so beautiful, so colorful, since she’d first started soothing. Just when she’d thought she’d learned all there was to know about the body, another system introduced itself to her, filled in first with color and then with blood, tissue, lymph.”

I also loved reading about the differing opinions and outlooks on heartsoothing, and the way Nhika’s love for the art grew throughout the book… her growth was wondrous. I won’t say much about Kochin to avoid spoilers, but don’t give up on him! He was truly gorgeous.

“…this longing, the loneliness of two flytraps in a garden of orchids.”

Overall, this book was truly splendid. Loveable characters, MASTERFUL worldbuilding, fascinating, dark, bloody magic – this gave me everything I needed AND THEN added a gorgeous Vietnamese inspired setting just to make every twice as good. And may I just say that I adore the cover? Look at my love’s flat nose and tanned skin – we love some SEA rep. Stunning. Thank you so much to the author, publisher & Colored Pages Book Tours for the ARC copy provided!