I was hooked on The Last Bloodcarver from the first look critique I did for Bookish First! Vanessa Le's debut is STRONG and I can't wait for more of her books. The Last Blood Carver has everything: strong protagonist with unique and dangerous magic, murders, mystery, action, and a slightly dark atmosphere.
Nhika is a bloodcarver (the power to heal), her magic is misunderstood, people judge her and see her as a monster that causes harm. When one of the most important men of Theumas is murdered, Nhika is hired by his daughter to heal the driver, the only witness to the crime. Nhika has never had a chance like this, her magic is taboo and the coachman has serious injuries, there is a high chance that she won't be able to save him, but if she does, she could also be in danger. Either scenario is fraught with worry.
From the beginning the style is very vivid and it's very easy to picture everything: the streets of the city, and the manor where Nhika spends most of the story. I like how we learn more about bloodcarver magic with Nhika and discover secrets along the way. While it was a bit slow in the beginning because Vanessa Le is laying the groundwork for her world, and as the story progresses it gets faster and I found it hard to put it down.
Bloodcarver magic is interesting, it’s very clinical, there are a few descriptions of anatomy, how the human body works, and how Nhika's power can transform, heal, or harm the body. It has a little vibe like Frankenstein, for YA, mixed with mystery and colonialism, part of the prejudice against bloodcarvers is classism and racism. The ending wasn't the cliff hanger I expected but it definitely left me wanting MORE.
Nhika is a bloodcarver (the power to heal), her magic is misunderstood, people judge her and see her as a monster that causes harm. When one of the most important men of Theumas is murdered, Nhika is hired by his daughter to heal the driver, the only witness to the crime. Nhika has never had a chance like this, her magic is taboo and the coachman has serious injuries, there is a high chance that she won't be able to save him, but if she does, she could also be in danger. Either scenario is fraught with worry.
From the beginning the style is very vivid and it's very easy to picture everything: the streets of the city, and the manor where Nhika spends most of the story. I like how we learn more about bloodcarver magic with Nhika and discover secrets along the way. While it was a bit slow in the beginning because Vanessa Le is laying the groundwork for her world, and as the story progresses it gets faster and I found it hard to put it down.
Bloodcarver magic is interesting, it’s very clinical, there are a few descriptions of anatomy, how the human body works, and how Nhika's power can transform, heal, or harm the body. It has a little vibe like Frankenstein, for YA, mixed with mystery and colonialism, part of the prejudice against bloodcarvers is classism and racism. The ending wasn't the cliff hanger I expected but it definitely left me wanting MORE.