The Last Bloodcarver
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4.0 • 1 Rating
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
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
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In the dark underbelly of the fantasy city-state of Theumas, 18-year-old Nhika ekes out a living peddling homeopathic remedies to upper-class clients desperate enough to fall for her scam. After a home visit goes awry, Nhika is outed as a bloodcarver—people with the feared ability to access and manipulate biological processes with a single touch—and kidnapped and sold on the black market. Though she expects to be forced into using her abilities for nefarious deeds, Nhika is instead bought by the scions of the Congmi, one of the wealthiest industrialist families in the city, who seek her bloodcarving to heal the comatose last witness to their patriarch's suspicious death. Reluctant to get involved in such high-stakes political drama but eager for the opportunity to use her gift to heal, Nhika steps into a world of glamour, intrigue, and hidden agendas. But her already impossible task is further complicated by Ven Kochin, a mysterious and infuriating doctor's assistant who keeps inserting himself into her investigation. Le expertly crafts a Vietnamese-inspired dark fantasy debut via visceral and exquisitely rendered prose, intertwining a murder investigation with themes of unresolved grief, medical ethics, and lost heritage. Ages 12–up.
Customer Reviews
Loved this debut
I loved this book! The plot got started right away, and the pacing stayed consistent throughout. Le seamlessly blends fantasy, mystery , and romance. I will say, some readers might find the mystery element a little underwhelming. I liked the way the mystery and fantasy blended together, so I didn't mind. I also appreciated the fact that the magic system required some medical knowledge, and the author was able to explain everything clearly and without causing me to loose interest.
I also loved the character work. While all the characters had their own imperfections at the start of the book, almost all of them were able to grow throughout the course of the plot in a way that felt earned. For this reason, I feel that the slow-burn romance was well-done, and didn't feel shoehorned in at the last minute.
I'm very impressed with this debut! My only complaint is that I have to wait so long for the sequel.