The Last Phi Hunter

Quit audio @ 38%. I was lured by the beautiful cover and Thai-mythology, and was enjoying the adventuring and phi spirits, but I swear this is YA despite it being widely accepted as adult and I almost had no issue with that. I was getting by okay enough, but I got to a point where the 24yo male MC and 28yo(?) female have an immature as hell spat and I decided it was time. I did love the phi and another POV character (which was absolutely stronger and more interesting and I wasn't getting enough time with her) and I can't say it's a bad book.

ARC Review - I'm very grateful to have been able to read this in advance.

The characters' internal journey of the story was amazing to follow. I got very emotionally attached to Ex that by the end of the book I was super proud of him. I did enjoy all of the characters, they felt very distinctive from one another and still created a good dynamic. I also liked the juxtaposition of the hunters and Phis, to see both sides. Though I thought that was going to create a change within the hunters, but It seemed they didn't even know about Narissa. Also, I liked that throughout the story there were important friendships that made everything much more meaningful.

Loved the magic system. It was very different from what I have read so far. Sometimes the magic system tends to feel very fairytale like which is not a bad thing but since this story had so much lore, the magic here felt very real and possible. I also liked that there was a physical change when entering the everpresent. It made everything more visual which I appreciated.
I loved the explanations of the ritual the hunters went through. I especially found it interesting that Ex didn't feel pain.

There is an uncomfortable moment where a Phi is looking for the baby. Can't find it but she smells her, so proceeds to investigate. I understand, but yikes.

I did get a lot confused with the whole soul catching thing. I assumed that while the soul was in a specific vessel, the body still existed in the physical world, but there was no body. I'm still wondering what happens.

I would've liked a map to follow the story in a better way, and to be able to see where they were while they traveled.

But all in all I loved the story, I have never read anything with inspiration of Tailand mythology, but I'll definitely look it up in the future as well as to follow this author future projects.