What a stunning and unique debut novel from author Vanessa Le – full of healing magic, a caste country heavily influenced by Vietnam and the East, and a mystery that captivates the reader until the last pages.
Nhika – who inherited the magical healing properties of heartsoothing or bloodcarving – is orphaned in the country her family fled to. Left to fend for herself, she works as a healer – but during an appointment gone wrong, she’s captured and sold on the black market to a wealthy family desperate for answers.
The story follows Nhika’s search for their answers, while she continues to grow in her understanding of her own gifts. There’s also a smidge of enemies to lovers, in a perfectly written YA way, in which Nhika is forced to make the ultimate choice.
The characters are complex, the world is rich in detail, and the slightly horrific plot isn’t predictable. Win, win, win.
384 pages
Published by Roaring Book Press
Characters 5
Story 5
World-Building 5
Spice N/A
Diversity 4
Would I buy this book for myself or a friend? Yes
Will I recommend this book to readers? Yes
