Curse Your Wretched Little Heart

I recently finished reading The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le. This is book #1 in the Last Bloodcarver duology.

*POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT*

  Rating: 4/5 stars

"Nhika is a bloodcarver. A cold-hearted, ruthless being who can alter human biology with just a touch. In the industrial city of Theumas, she is seen not as a healer, but a monster that kills for pleasure.

When Nhika is caught using her bloodcarving abilities during a sham medical appointment, she's captured by underground thugs and sold to an aristocratic family to heal the last witness of their father’s murder.

But as Nhika delves deeper into their investigation amidst the glitz of Theumas’ wealthiest district, she begins to notice parallels between this job and her own dark past. And when she meets an alluring yet entitled physician's aide, Ven Kochin, she’s forced to question the true intent behind this murder. In a society that outcasts her, Kochin seems drawn to her...though he takes every chance he gets to push her out of his opulent world.

When Nhika discovers that Kochin is not who he claims to be, and that there is an evil dwelling in Theumas that runs much deeper than the murder of one man, she must decide where her heart, and her allegiance, truly lie. And -- if she's willing to become the dreaded bloodcarver Theumas fears -- to save herself and the ones she's vowed to protect."

What an absolute ride this was! Not only was this a gorgeous read in terms of the worldbuilding alone, but there was a bit of intrigue, a touch of murder, a soft exploration of class and cultural divisiveness, a magic system that was both esoteric and human, and a sharp, energetic group of characters I enjoyed reading a whole lot.

Though predictable, I still found this compulsively readable. There was a great pace to the story and a bit of feels, but for me, the ultimate hook was the ending, which I thought was pretty awesome, and all kinds of dark! So I'm very much looking forward to all the ways Book 2 will expand on it, and open up this world and magic system in the future! I personally would LOVE to see more of the mech in action, and a lot more of this Vietnam-inspired fantasy landscape, because it was a pure treat to visualize!

All in all, this was an awesome first installment of a promising duology that I can't help but be excited for because I think there's quite a bit of story left to tell and I think I'm properly hooked lol! Overall I thought this was one of the more unique offerings in YA fantasy that has successfully captured my attention because of its mature readability, propulsive narrative style, and easy plot that asks the reader to not only consider the social stigma of "other", but to engage their "empathy organ" to find ways to heal the fractured, and to open minds closed off by trauma and loss. 

Check out The Last Bloodcarver, and discover how soothing you can be whe you turn on your empathy organ.

Happy Reading :)