kimberly ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡.'s Reviews > The Last Bloodcarver

“for a moment, she wondered what that must feel like, a love that weathered the threat of death.”

i've read the reviews for to gaze upon wicked gods by molly x. chang and i watched so many analytical youtube videos on that book and its glorification of colonization that i was hesitant to pick up another ya asian fantasy debut. it hurts my heart as a vietnamese-american because I want to support bipoc authors, especially asian authors, but ya books have been so mediocre to me lately. however, i couldn't handle not supporting a fellow vietnamese-american author, but regardless, the last bloodcarver did intrigue me on its own, and i'm glad i had a chance to pick it up.


₊˚꒰ 🪷 ꒱ ⊹ i. plot. ₊˚⊹ ꒱
suonyasan nhika is a heartsooth, a being who can alter human biology with a mere touch. when nhika is discovered for using her forbidden abilities, she is captured and auctioned to the highest bidder: a young girl desperate to find someone to heal the last witness to her father's murder.

after years of surviving on the fringes of society, nhika soon finds herself immersed in the gilded world of theumas's aristocracy, where she meets ven kochin, a physician's aide too intent in ensuring she doesn't belong in this opulent world. despite everything, she finds herself drawn to him and discovers that there's more to kochin than his arrogance, something dangerous that turns nhika's quest for justice into a battle for her own life.


₊˚꒰ 🎀 ꒱ ⊹ ii. storyline. ₊˚⊹ ꒱
packed with lush prose and vivid details, you could perfectly imagine the artistry of hearthsoothing that le tries to convey. the connection that nhika has with her talent and le's exploration of themes such as grief and colonization is beautifully rendered and doesn't get lost amid the mystery that essentially becomes the backbone of the plot. additionally, the mystery is fleshed out, adapting a pace that doesn't feel too slow or too rushed, allowing the readers to feel immersed and captivated by nhika's investigation. in the sea of ya asian fantasy, the last bloodcarver isolates itself as a solid and unique story.


₊˚꒰ 🌸 ꒱ ⊹ iii. characters. ₊˚⊹ ꒱
nhika is a character you can't help but cheer for. le does a wonderful job crafting such a realistic main character that readers can easily understand and sympathize with as she grapples with her loss and loneliness. nhika's inner conflict makes her a complex character that comes alive on the pages, adding depth to the plot and the drive needed for her actions. (as for kochin, my heart completely breaks for him.)

side characters like mimi, andao, and trin lack any true substance that would make readers stay interested in their fates. they were tremendously distant from nhika, which i would assume is purposeful to establish that atmosphere of loneliness that she experiences throughout the book, but i wish we had something to make the side characters more dynamic and not simply pieces to drive the plot forward.


₊˚꒰ 🌺 ꒱ ⊹ iv. romance. ₊˚⊹ ꒱
the ending of this book is heavily dependent on nhika's relationship with kochin, very much so that i felt the growth of their relationship was unnatural and rushed. while there were moments that made my heart ache for them, i felt primarily unconvinced by the progression of their feelings. but again, i do understand the importance of having them come together for that ending.


₊˚꒰ 🌷 ꒱ ⊹ v. conclusion. ₊˚⊹ ꒱
despite it all, i will read the sequel. it simply cannot end like that.

— 3 stars. ⋆˚☆˖°


.° ༘🎧⋆ favourite quotes 🖇₊˚ෆ
“how long had she been looking for someone like him? someone who knew her fears and her joys, as they truly were.”

“she knew that to be loved was to give love.”

“they were eclipsing planets, lining up in orbit for just a breath before the death of their star, two whales crossing paths in the desolate vastness of the ocean.”


☾⋆⁺₊🎧 ✧ ₊˚ʚ 🌱 ₊˚✧ ﾟ.


₊˚꒰ 🌷 ꒱ ⊹ pre-review: the ending did in fact wreck me.

₊˚⊹ ᰔ pre-read: these violent delights meets cinder in a vietnamese-inspired sci-fi fantasy? oh, my heart is on the verge of exploding.