Review by Booklist Review
Alternating points of view are tied to alternating points in time for steadfast Kochin and headstrong Nhika in this achingly romantic conclusion to Le's Bloodcarver duology. In one time line, Kochin briefly returns home with a secret, soon discovered by his brother Vinsen, who agrees against his better judgment to help Kochin keep Nhika's body safe and whole while Kochin looks for a way to truly revive her. Six months in the future, Nhika awakens to a war raging outside the safety of the Congmi manor where she is well cared for, though the Congmis are reluctant to answer her questions about Kochin and the events that have transpired. As the time lines converge, the force of the two powerful heartsooths' love for each other will be up against seemingly impossible odds, but they will stop at nothing to be reunited. Biological technicalities of the magic system evenly balance out the intense longing and desperation of young love as this sharp, lyrical duology wraps up its exploration of colonialism, familial obligation, grief, and more.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 7 Up--After the deadly ending of The Last Bloodcarver, this dual-POV, dual time line sequel inspired by Vietnamese folklore sees Nhika brought back to life--and the price Kochin paid to do it. Nhika wakes up in Congmi Manor with her memories just out of reach and slow to return--she remembers getting shot, but not what happened after. Six months previously, readers see Kochin sailing his houseboat upriver with a casket--with Nhika's body preserved inside and his love for her driving him forward. His plans to resurrect her may cost more than he imagined. After waking, Nhika must navigate across a war-torn Theumas to find Kochin, discover how he brought her back, and what terrible price he paid to do it. The divided time lines provide a clever balance to the plot as readers are able to stay with Nhika and solve the mystery of what happened in the time skip while Kochin pursues the mysteries of resurrection. Le's unique story structure keeps tensions high by approaching the mystery from both sides, cleaving Nhika and Kochin's character arcs to their exploration of morality and place in society. Their power as "heartsooths," pejoratively called "bloodcarvers," continues to recall themes of medical ethics and cultural heritage in diaspora as in the first book. Fast-paced, full of lush details, this novel sees Le expand upon the dangerous world introduced in The Last Bloodcarver. Characters are coded Southeast Asian, with queer supporting characters. VERDICT Sharp and satisfying, this duology belongs in all teen collections.--Emmy Neal
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
This duology closer following 2024'sThe Last Bloodcarver explores how far you would go to save what you loved most. As powerful a healing art as heartsoothing can be, it all boils down to the transfer of energy. Even a heartsooth can't bring a dead body back to life without taking another, equivalent, life in exchange. Nhika gave her life and the gift of her heartsoothing to save Kochin, the unlikely ally she grew to love. But six months later, she wakes up with no knowledge of how she lived before or why--and Kochin, whom she does remember, is nowhere to be found. Past and present converge as war descends on the land of Theumas, and Nhika works to piece together the truth of what happened. Meanwhile, Kochin finds himself at the very end of his strength and morals, torn between defiling his art--Nhika's parting gift to him--and reclaiming it. Le picks up where the previous installment left off without slacking the pace, and she immediately draws readers back into her Vietnamese-inspired fantasy world where there are neither heroes nor villains, saviors nor monsters, but only flawed and fragile people fueled by desperation and love. The characters are richly and sensitively portrayed, and Nhika and Kochin's slow-burn romance is well integrated into the plot even as they fight for the "peace, freedom, [and] love" they've never known. Engrossing, moving, and intricately detailed. (map)(Fantasy. 12-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
