The Last Phi Hunter

3 stars ⭐️

Publication date : April 8th, 2024

The main character, Ex, the youngest Phi hunter, sets out on an adventure filled with twists and turns. With Thai culture and Buddhism, the story brings to life a fantastical realm where ghosts and demons roam freely.

Ex's mission? To hunt down the terrifying nightmare demon, Shar-Ala, and put an end to its reign of terror. But as he delves deeper into his quest, he uncovers a web of secrets and mysteries that could change everything.

With Thai demon folklore, the story is teeming with spirits, demons, and the constant struggle between truth and falsehood. Through multiple perspectives, readers are drawn into a world where characters grapple with their own destinies and the choices that shape them.

Ex, is a well-defined character who clings to his childhood memories as he navigates his journey. Author, Salinee Goldenberg, beautifully includes elements of Thai heritage and Buddhism into the narrative, exploring themes of identity, race, and forbidden love with seamless grace.

As a debut book, I found it to be a captivating and refreshingly unique story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc!

Ambitious Phi Hunter and perpetual lone wolf, Ex, finds his road to glory interrupted when a heavily pregnant runaway enlists his help to escape through the ghost-infected forest…

Ex, the youngest member of the Phi Hunters Order, has spent his life slaying the ghosts and demons of Suyoram Kingdom. While he takes great pride in his mystical trade, collecting dwindling bounties and peddling butchered spirit organs lacks the glory he craves. He’s determined to hunt down Shar-Ala, a demon of nightmares, of madness – who has eluded even Ex’s masters.

In a provincial village along the way, Arinya, a charming muay-boran champion, saves him from an ass-kicking, despite being nine months pregnant. In return, she asks him to escort her through the dangerous, spirit-filled forest, where ghosts salivate over the scent of the unborn.

But as more of Arinya’s secrets emerge, and the elusive demon nears, Ex must face dangers from both men and monsters, or lose not only the respect of the Phi Hunters, but the Hunters themselves, along with the woman he’s trying not to fall in love with.

I originally requested this based solely on the amazing cover art. I was however pleasantly surprised with the story. While I do not usually get into anything with romance, I found the Last Phi Hunter to have plenty of other amazing content and I had a real great time reading this. I will probably have to go out and buy the physical version on release date! Looking forward to book two now!

I so enjoyed this book. Thai fantasy with plenty of monsters and inventive twists and turns. A great read… I hope there is a sequel! Thank you to #netgalley and the publishers for an ARC.

"The Last Phi Hunter" is a delightful and violent surprise that will keep you engaged from start to finish. Snarky, quick-witted, and brimming with Thai mythology, this release is one to anticipate.

The story centers around our Phi hunter protagonist, the young and high-hoped "Ex," who hunts the vengeful and restless spirits called Phi. It's a dying profession losing respect day by day, thanks to a religiously radical monarchy responsible for the murder of his family. Ex spends his days hunting in the spirit world for Phi that terrorize villages through the Everpresent spirit realm. He hacks up his kills to sell to local hedge witches, hoping to one day sink his blade into the monster he's been hunting since his initiation into the Hunters. Hot on its trail, he meets Arinya, the very pregnant prince's consort, who saves him in a local dive with one request: "Save me and this unborn child before the queen's minions get us both." With a demon to catch and a woman Ex is resisting falling in love with, he must decide between the respect of his clan or a future brighter than he could have imagined.

"The Last Phi Hunter" achieves incredible feats in its writing. The injection of Thai mythology is a delight, with maidens and monsters clashing in epic battles filled with magic and great dialogue. Goldenberg excels at making readers laugh, cringe, and devour the pages through epic battle scenes. The side plots are well-executed, and the chapters with side character POVs are engaging without feeling like one is "missing" the main storyline. The Narissa/Arinya's cabin chapter, shiver, grossed me to my core. Overall, it reminded me of the vitality and enjoyment of standalone fantasy novels.

However, much of the book revolves around the relationship between Ex and Arinya developing, which, at times, felt a little lackluster. The romantic plot didn't resonate with me, and I believe that having them develop a friendship would have sufficed. The attempt to build a blossoming relationship under fire lost some marks for me as I found it hard to buy into.

In conclusion, "The Last Phi Hunter" is a fun book that pulled me out of a slump. I would rate it 4/5 stars!

I was lucky enough to receive this as an ARC and was drawn in by the beautiful cover. (I tend to skim read blurbs at best as I like going in completely blind).

Whilst I enjoyed this story I felt like I was reading along side it rather than fully immersed, the ideas, location, characters and mythology / magic system were all really interesting but I feel it was on on fast forward. I didn’t have enough time to sit with what was happening or worry for the characters. I struggled to imagine the creatures and surroundings but they could be a me thing!

I think it could have benefited from being a bit slower and going a bit deeper into the motivations and history of the lore and people involved.

I would definitely read the next one (I presume it’s going to be a series!)

Ex is a hunter. A Phi Hunter; slaying ghosts and demons of the Suyoram Kingdom is all what he did for the last 12 years. Dreaming of becoming a true Demon Slayer by hunting down Shar-Ala, a demon of nightmares. Meeting a heavily pregnant woman in a backwater village asking for his help to reach the local hedgewitch is not part of his plans. Yet, as the bounties for slaying monsters, and peddling their body parts, decrease each time, he has no other way than to accept it as the woman pays well. While they reach the witch, the story of Ex and Arinya does not end there.


A fast-paced, action-ridden fantasy novel set in a Thai-inspired world. The book is jammed with Thai folklore, lots of ghosts and monsters, demon hunters, and quite bloody action. (If you are squeezy when blood, innards & Co are mentioned, you might want to skip The Last Phi Hunter or consider the warning when ordering the book.) While there is romance in the story, it is subtle and in the background. So, please don't expect some romantasy! It is a dark fantasy novel after all.

Aside from ghosts and monsters, the author also explores themes like spirituality (especially as the old ways are threatened by a new religion and general progress), loneliness and how it affects people, one's identity within society, as well as race and class.

What a journey this book was! I can't even begin to describe how much I adored it. The world-building, characters, action, and plot were all magnificent, the story felt new and original which i loved and ate up!

The settings and the diverse cast of characters, particularly Ex and the formidable (pregnant) female MC which is something I haven't seen alot in a fantasy novel. Their partnership, amidst the perils of a treacherous forest and the complexities of royal politics, added layers to the story. I enjoed the novel's pacing, it never felt rushed, keeping me turning pages until its satisfying conclusion.
The story ended beautifully, but I won’t mind a sequel if there is one in the future.
Thank you, NetGalley and Angry Robot for this Arc in exchange for an honest review!

Firstly, this cover is amazing and I cannot wait to get the full colour version in my hands. This was a brilliant story that was filled with wonder and character. Strongly recommended.

Thanks to Angry Robot for the ARC! I definitely picked this one up for the cover. Overall, the story moved at a quick pace and it was a fun read. I thought the characters were fine; they didn’t stand out or make me angry. I didn’t really care for the romance part of the story, but I thought the word/mythology was fun! A fine book, but I don’t know that I’ll be seeking out a sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the arc!

I was very pleasantly surprised by this book! This book was multi-layered; it has so much depth and details! The writing was indulgent and artistic, painting vivid descriptions of everything you can imagine, from scenery to magic to creatures to food. The author also perfectly spun intricate concepts of balance, planes of existence, light vs dark, new vs old magic, modernization, good vs evil, humans vs nature, soul ties, death, and reincarnation. The Thai and Asian folklore, culture, and mythology was excellently written as well; it being complex, rich, and perfectly weaved in with every other moving part. I will also say that this book is not predictable at all, and went in places I didn’t expect. And before I forget, I’m very happy to say that there is necromancy in this book! I love necromancy!

As for the characters, I absolutely loved the side characters. The Hound and Mali are amongst my favorites. Of course, I was rooting for our main characters as well (even if Ex is fucking stupid at times (god bless him, he means well)). I truly believe in Arinya and Narissa supremacy. I <3 badass women who save our mmc’s sorry ass over and over. Lastly, yes, all characters went through satisfying character development.

My one issue with this book is that I wish the climax was a little more climatic, but I still enjoyed it. The resolution and epilogue was handled very well. A wonderful read, I highly recommend it, and especially to my fellow The Spear Cuts Through Water -4.5

Thank you to Angry Robots for providing me an eArc!

3.5 stars.

The last phi hunter was a quick, adventurous and entertaining read that flowed well with a richly imaginative and immersive world steeped in Thai folklore, likeable characters and an engaging and fast paced plot. As for the romance between Ex and Arinya I must admit, I cared little for it and would've preferred they remained friends with no romantic involvement.

Overall this was a fresh and enjoyable read and I would recommend it to adventure and fantasy readers alike!

3.5 stars

This was a fresh and entertaining fantasy with dark magic and Thai mythology. As an adventure fantasy with dark elements and action, it works great. Where it fell apart for me was the romance subplot. I was having an incredibly fun time with the story until about chapter 12, then the introduction of the romance completely threw me out of the story. I usually love romance in all my books, but this book would have been so much stronger without it. It could have absolutely stood as a buddy adventure.
The story is rich with descriptions and detail, devas and demons. A section near the end even had me emotional. But it also made the romance even weirder to me ultimately. Maybe it will work for others, but I personally think the book would be been better taken in a different direction.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. All opinions are my own.

Gorgeous romantasy published by a press that's rapidly become a favorite for this world. tysm for the arc

The Last Phi Hunter by Salinee Goldenberg was a wild ride, jammed with Thai folklore, hungry ghosts, demon hunters and spine ripping savagery, literally. Ex, the last recruited phi Hunter, works alone hunting and banishing demons with the hope of finding a legendary illusive demon and gaining his demon slayer badge. However all those plans get interrupted when Arinya, a pregnant woman, needs his help.

“Sometimes it swells like a tsunami, and drowns you. Sometimes it grows as slow as a tree, and blossoms like a flower. Sometimes it strikes like lightning. Which was it?”

If you like stories full of demons and close escapes with a side of love, then this is for you.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this in exchange for a honest review.

I must first confess that I break for a pretty cover with dragons, wyvern, or naga on it, and this one had me smitten. The other point that got my attention was that this was a debut author in fantasy fiction with what seems to be a stand-alone book. So much of this genre is dominated by series, and I understand that there is a lot of investment into world building and developing magical systems so authors try to spread that expenditure into returns across multiple books, but as a reader, it is nice to get a complete story without waiting for years for subsequent volumes (especially when you are trying out a new or new-to-me author). Now, having read The Last Phi Hunter, I will say that even though it is a complete story, there was a door left open in the end to return with a sequel.
The story itself flows nicely. The characters of Ex and Arinya are engaging and their adventures captured my interest. What really gives this story its heart is the relationship between these two characters. The different magic and mysticism of this world is woven together nicely and interlaced with elements of myth and lore from what I guess is Thailand, Cambodia or Laos. And the world, too, seems to be based loosely on the rural villages of past versions of that area of Southern Asia. I'd recommend this book for anyone who enjoys fantasy with mythic creatures, adventure and a dash of romance and especially if you don't want to be left with a cliffhanger at the end.(3.5*/5)
I received advanced digital access to this book thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Angry Robot) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Thank you Angry Robots for giving me an eArc!

In this dark fantasy, the male main character is a Phi Hunter and a lone wolf, (and funny enough, he does have a companion that is a hound). He's on a journey to hunt a legendary demon to acquire the demon slayer badge. However, he ends up helping a pregnant runaway who saves him from a brawl—like, GIRL IS PREGNANT AND KICKED SOME DUDES' ASSES, LET'S GO.

The story is filled with Thai culture, mythology, folklore, and Buddhism. It’s very action-packed and has some humour.

Although most of the book is from the POV of the main character, I enjoyed the change of POVs. It's really cool to see the world from the perspective of one of the demons.

I loved learning about Thai culture, and I liked the main character, but there was something about the story that didn't fully hit for me, and I didn't really care for the romance.

What a fascinating book! I was already really curious about this title, and not only because of the absolutely beautiful cover (seriously, this is in my top-20 favorite book covers for the year).

Ex felt like a really well fleshed-out and nuanced character, and the descriptions of each Phi were phenomenal. The Thai culture aspects were also really well done, and I enjoyed the forays into Buddhism and unique world lore.

I think what my feelings mostly come down to - this was a <b> really fun </b> read. I read the entire book in two days, and had that "I just finished a book" afterglow that happens when I read something great. I've read a lot of books where the content was super heavy/depressing, and while this book doesn't shy away from complex/dark topics, the whole experience left me with positive feels and hope for a sequel. 10/10, would happily experience this book again.

I read an eARC of this book so thank you to the author, the publisher and Net Galley.

This was such a fast paced, action packed fantasy novel. A joy to read and so exciting!

For a relatively short novel, the author has managed to create such a vivid and detailed world. The length of this novel meant the pace was kept fast throughout, driving the tension and the sense of a race against time. Certain events meant that our characters faced looming deadlines with serious consequences if they failed.

I loved the two main characters in this. They felt so fresh and different to what we’ve seen in a lot of recent fantasy novel. We have Ex, a phi hunter who is the youngest in his guild. Ex who is low on funds after being swindled by a local leader reluctantly agrees to take a heavily pregnant woman to see a swamp witch. The forest is full of dangers that Ex is uniquely placed to protect his companion from. Ex ends up drawn into a complicated web of events involving the royal family and nefarious influences. I loved the female MC who is a strong, former fighter and who in spite of being nine months pregnant manages to save Ex from being beaten by thugs early in the book.

The phi are fascinating and we see multiple sides of the story, from the purely evil, to complex, to tricksters, to those trying to be redeemed. Ex himself has to challenge the beliefs of his guild and learn that the Phi are not also what they seem.

The world building, characters, action and plot are all wonderful. This felt so fresh and exciting!

Incredible! My mind is kind of blown here. Did not see half of that coming. And oh my gosh, the tropes! What a cinnamon roll! I also loved the inclusion of a pregnant kickass FMC, as that’s really unusual. This is just a fantastic book that’s sure to win a lot of awards.