The Last Bloodcarver
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,
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.
- Macmillan Audio
- Audio
- March 2024
- 10 hours 33 minutes
- 9781250326102
Buy the Book
$28.34
About Vanessa Le
Vanessa Le graduated from Brown University with a degree in Health and Human Biology and now resides in the Pacific Northwest. Her writing is an expression of her love for medicine and her Vietnamese heritage. When not writing, she’s wishing she was writing, studying medicine, and/or spoiling her two Shiba Inus.
Praise
“An entrancingly well-written debut.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“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.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Medically based magic, a world full of mechanistic creations, and incredibly lovable side characters are icing on the cake of this slow burn, deeply romantic, and darkly biological fantasy with a Vietnamese foundation…An engrossing, emotionally intense debut.” — Booklist, starred review
“Brilliantly rendered. The Last Bloodcarver unfolds in gripping detail, following a mystery colored by its beautiful, destructive city. 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
“The Last Bloodcarver is the perfect blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and romance, with a world that feels lived in and characters that come alive on the page. A unique and beautifully written novel—Le is a talent to watch!” — Axie Oh, New York Times-bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
Discussion Questions
- The story takes place in the meritocratic city of Theumas, where hard work begets success. What do you think this is meant to represent? Is Theumas all it claims to be?
- It’s revealed that the current fashion of long sleeves and gloves stems from the fear of touching bloodcarvers. How do you think this has shaped Nhika’s character?
- Nhika spends weeks learning from the Congmis’ libraries with no success. She finally heals Hendon using heartsooth books. Why is that? What might that represent?
- Trin and Nhika share a similar background. However, when he offers her a place in the Congmi household, she hesitates. What might be holding her back? How do she and Trin differ?
- In chapter sixteen, Hendon has a dream that casts suspicion on Nhika. What does it say about the Congmis and their relationship with Nhika that they could distrust her again after so much time together?
- At one point, Nhika is given the choice between following the Congmis or following Kochin. What do you think these two choices represent, and why do you think she decided as she did?
- Nhika and Kochin practice different schools of heartsoothing and have differing perspectives on their art. How do they compare and contrast?
- The story starts and ends with a funeral. Similarly, Nhika has experienced loss her entire life. What does it mean for the characters to mourn a person? What about a culture?
- Throughout the novel, Nhika is searching for belonging. What might that look like for a character like her? Despite what she says, do you think she found it?
- How did listening to The Last Bloodcarver on audio change your reading experience? Did it impact your perception of the characters or setting?