Final Rating:
Date of Completion: 03/05/2024
Published by: Macmillan Audio
ISBN: B0BYBFGMGH
‘The Last Bloodcarver’ was another story with a strong premise but a simple execution that left me feeling underwhelmed.
Similar read: The Theft of Sunlight by Intisar Khanani
Cover:
This gorgeous cover art neatly portrays the genre and several aspects of the story. Still, the plain brown background fails to make the design striking.
what were words worth, if no one could understand them?
Writing:
A simple, casual writing style with good prose and details smoothly brings this story to life. I was particularly impressed by the bloodcarving ability of the main character, which was brilliantly presented and explored. However, the worldbuilding felt somewhat thin and underdeveloped, especially since some concepts, like the constabulary, were mentioned but played no role in the story.
Storyline:
The simple murder mystery at the core of this story was well-paced and given some depth through complex themes such as grief, genocide, and colonisation. However, I struggled with the repetitive internal monologues, which constantly interrupted the narrative and made it less engaging. I also wasn’t a fan of the ending, as it seemed forced and unsatisfying.
she knew that to be loved was to give love
Main character(s):
As a clever and caring protagonist with a strong passion for her heritage, Nhika was easy to root for. Her motives and thoughts were extensively detailed, making it easy to understand her decisions, even when they were frustrating. While the loneliness and loss Nhika grappled with added depth to her character, she seemed too passive, and some of her actions were clearly forced to drive aspects of the storyline.
Secondary characters:
Although the secondary characters are well-defined with distinct traits, backstories and struggles, I failed to care about them as they were shrouded in mystery and distanced from Nhika. The shifts in their dynamics could also have been developed better to make things more natural and authentic.
How long had she been looking for someone like him? Someone who knew her fears and her joys, as they truly were
Romance:
The connection Nhika forms is shaped by shared abilities and struggles, making it sweet and heartwarming. There is also a cute secondary romance that adds some additional cute moments. However, I was unconvinced by the main relationship as the progression from enemies to lovers was rushed and poorly shown. With so much of the ending relying on this relationship, it seemed more like a forced plot device and made me less invested in the story.
Narration & Audio:
The vocal inflexions and pacing generally seemed odd to me, and little of the emotions in the narrative were conveyed. This affected my enjoyment of the audiobook and made it harder for me to connect with the story.
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