This is no surprise, I absolutely loved the first book, so I was looking forward to the sequel. Duologies are my preferred format, because it gives me the opportunity to stay a bit longer with the story and the characters without it dragging. This was a fast and easy read as I was fully invested from the very beginning. It didn't unfold how I had imagined it would, so it kept me on my toes and I was surprised to see a few characters making an appearance. I love the way the souls stay in a different plane and their energy is represented by a river. The alchemy is such a fun part of this world, I absolutely adored spending time with Zilan one last time. Also, there's a pet duck called Durian, and this book is his moment of fame. Give this duology a go !

The book was intriguing and dark. We explore the spirit realms more in this book. I love the world building and character development. The book is filled with twists, magic and dark gory details. Zilan ventures on an odyssey to bring back souls of her loved ones. But she is faced with obstacles, threat, perils and old rivalry.

Thanks to the Publisher

First of all thank you to NetGalley and to Hodder & Stoughton for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was super eager to read this one after finishing The Scarlet Alchemist and what a fantastic duology that this proved to be. This book picks up not too far from where the last one finished with Zilan and Wenshu leaving to find Penglai Island. I loved the worldbuilding around Penglai Island.

Unfortunately I think, like it's predecessor, this book started off rather slowly. I personally prefer a quicker pace, so was relieved when this book did pick up around halfway through.

Really enjoyed the exploration of the spirit realm as well as getting to explore more of the world too. The development within society after the changes Zilan and her siblings made to the production of life gold felt realistic, and liked that the Empress continued to be a thorn in their sides.

The character development all round was brilliant. I didn’t expect to like Zheng Sili by the end of this book, but I did. He'd really redeemed himself and his relationship with Durian the duck was quite sweet. Zilan continued to be feisty until the end and her relationship with her siblings really grew.

This series is much more gory and graphic than your average YA Fantasy, so if that isn't your thing please don't read this. However, if you enjoy historical fantasy set in Asia with strong family relationships and feisty FMCs, this will definitely be for you.

[ARC provided by NetGalley and Hodderscape. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review The Blood Orchid.]

Rating: 5/5

First of all, let’s just have a round of applause for a truly fantastic duology. Kylie Lee Baker has created something brilliant here and I’m so happy to have gotten to know these characters. When I first read The Scarlet Alchemist it was so easy to fall in love with such a magical story, but naturally I was a little worried that the conclusion wouldn’t live up to expectations, or that there would be some major heartbreak to deal with by the end of it. The verdict? Well, this author certainly knows how to break your heart, but she also knows how to put it back together again in the most stressful but beautiful way possible.

The Blood Orchid picks up shortly after where The Scarlet Alchemist left off and Zilan is beginning to fully understand the enormous cost that comes with alchemy. With the fate of her loved ones on the line, she must now embark on a journey to find the mythical Penglai Island where it’s rumoured that life can be fully restored. But this adventure won’t be an easy one, and when old and new threats threaten to derail her plans, Zilan must ask herself how high of a price she is willing to pay.

Wow. There’s no other word for this. This is a story that will quite literally keep you on the edge of your seat as tensions rise higher and higher with each new plot development. I was constantly blindsided by the twists and turns and just when you think you’re getting a calm moment to breathe, a new perilous situation takes centre stage. I absolutely loved how fast the pacing of this story was and the only reason I would put the book down was to give myself a chance to calm down.

I also loved the recurring themes throughout this book such as family, power, and the lengths we go to for those we love. Zilan and the rest of the cast of characters are so incredibly complex and I really appreciated how we got to see the good with the bad. I especially enjoyed every scene with this book's main villain who was written so well - I genuinely felt fear for Zilan and her gang whenever they popped up.

I’m so happy to have read this duology and I’m simply in awe at how thrilling, amazing, and just how unputdownable it is. If you enjoy fantasy that features darker themes, and bonus points if you enjoyed Fullmetal Alchemist, then this duology is a must. I can’t wait to check out more from this author in the future.

I love The Scarlet Alchemist so much, and I was apprehensive of the sequel being able to live up to it. Thankfully The Blood Orchid did not disappoint.

The tone is very different this time around, with a plot revolving around finding the mystical island that alchemy comes from. I did miss the imperial court setting but I also really enjoyed seeing how the actions of book 1 affected the whole nation.

There was a lot of emotional fallout over Zilan's choices at the end of book 1 and it was handled very well. I also really liked how an old enemy became a friend in this book. I would have liked a small bit more romance personally, I know the end of book 1 made it difficult but a few flashbacks or dream sequences wouldn't have hurt.

Overall this was a very enjoyable read. I'm sad to say goodbye to this world but I can't wait to see what Kylie is releasing next.

Thanks to Hodderscape and Netgalley for the eARC!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a brilliant end to this duology! I've been so excited to see what happens to Zilan since reading The Scarlet Alchemist, so this really was a joy to read.

This second book takes us on a journey beyond the royal palace in Chang'an, as Zilan, her resurrected brother Wenshu and two unlikely sidekicks (a demonic duck and an old nemesis) seek the fabled island of Penglai to right the mistakes she made.

There's less of a focus on romance - although there's plenty of painful longing - and a lot more delving into alchemy, world lore and court politics.

I'm highly satisfied with the ending and will be recommending this duology to anyone who likes a well-paced historical YA fantasy.

Kylie E Barker is the queen of fantasy! This second book was absolutely stunning and I needed more!!!

The Blood Orchid serves as a satisfying conclusion to the duology. This installment unfolds at a slower pace than the first book as we accompany Zilan on her quest to rescue the Prince. We delve deeper into the world of alchemy, exploring its history and the chaos that can ensue when it falls into the wrong hands.
The familial bond among Zilan, Yufei, and Wenshu faces tougher challenges in this book, as the task ahead appears daunting and nearly impossible. I appreciate that Kylie reintroduces the main villain, as I felt the resolution in book one was wrapped up a bit too neatly.
In this story, romance takes a back seat, allowing for greater character development not only of the main characters but also of a side character who I initially loved to hate in book one but found myself rooting for in book two.
I absolutely adored Durian and wish he could have his own novella! The conflict between Zilan and the Empress remains fierce, clever, and bloody. I enjoy a relentless villain, and Kylie executed this brilliantly.
I eagerly anticipate reading more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC. 3.5⭐ rounded down.

The Blood Orchid is just as exciting, bloody and full of twisty turns as its predecessor, and wastes no time diving right into the plot. While the first book was devoted to a series of trials, this one was essentially a quest across multiple locations. Our heroine Zilan still remains an enjoyable protagonist, but what dragged the story for me was the tiresome bickering and constant arguments between Zilan and her two travelling companions. It made me miss her time with Li Hong; reminding me of how much I liked their funny and wholesome dynamic. Even as I wasn't wholly convinced of their romance from Book 1, I did enjoy it more here, given their unbreakable devotion to each other.

Kylie Lee Baker provided a rather clever resolution to defeating Zilan's nemesis. The ending was narratively good (i.e. it made sense and the story built up to it), but not emotionally satisfying. Overall, a remarkable duology that I'd recommend.

3.5 ⭐ I loved the first book so I was very excited to finish this duology, unfortunately I was a bit disappointed with it tbh. I loved the world building, her relationship with both of her cousins whom they always supported her and were there for her to support her and make her believe that she could do it, the true star of the book, one and only Durian who saved them multiple times, and I liked how it was wrapped up.
This book is basically focused on the quest of finding the magical island. The pacing was very slow for me, although I didn’t struggle reading it but I definitely didn’t enjoy it as much. One thing I disliked and wanted to read more about was Hong, and his relationship with Zilan.
Overall I did enjoy it a lot and if you loved the first book i’m sure you gonna enjoy this one too!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an arc i’m exchange of an honest review. ✨

This novel takes readers on an enchanting journey alongside a young woman navigating a world steeped in magic, mythology, and complex family relationships. As a sequel to The Scarlet Alchemist, it deepens the exploration of alchemy, revealing its intricate nature far beyond her initial perceptions. The protagonist comes to realize that her past decisions have significant implications for the challenges she currently faces.

The narrative centers on her quest to uncover the origins of alchemy, driven by the hope of resurrecting her loved ones. Throughout this journey, she embarks on a profound exploration of her identity, heritage, and inner strength. Her character development is both compelling and relatable, as she grapples with emotional turmoil that resonates, even in the context of her extraordinary experiences.

If you enjoy rich, detailed storytelling and can appreciate occasional narrative digressions, this book is likely to resonate with you. However, readers who prefer a more straightforward plot may find it challenging to stay engaged. Overall, it’s a beautifully woven tale of growth and discovery set against a backdrop of fantastical elements.

From start to finish, I have loved this duology. There is often a bit of dip with the second/final book in a series and that just wasn't the case at all here.

Like the first book, there is a lot of real world history and legends weaved throughout. Consequently, we meet a few new alchemists and I was equal parts fascinated and terrified of them. The Sandstone Alchemist was just so interesting, as was the Arcane Alchemist, but the Silver Alchemist? She was pure intrigue and horror. If Kylie wrote a book following those trios before we came across them, I would go broke buying every copy produced in languages I don't even speak.

<Spoilers ahead!>

I don't think anyone will be surprised that the Empress is not dead but oh dang, I did not see how so much of that played out coming. And the moving between the world and river plane was so excellent. I just loved it. My only real complaint was I didn't really enjoy the sudden Empress narrative, but I did think that Kylie did a great job making the voice change abrupt and fitting. When we finish with Hong's POV, I think that furthered my opinion that Kylie's ability to shift the voice to match the character's POV is flawless.
</spoilers>

I loved the banter and humour came through throughout the book. Wenshu and Zilan but also the bickering between a returning character I did not expect to see again and Zilan. Also, as is right and proper, the surprise character loving Durian. We all love Durian the duck. The historical notes at the end provided further background to the elements of the story that were already so strong.

This was a brilliant book to follow on from The Scarlet Alchemist and overall comes together as a phenomenal duology.

3 stars
Honestly not as good as the first book. Was disappointed by the plot not moving along and the storyline being a trip to a place on a treasure hunt. The romance didn't live upto expectations.

Zilan is searching for the mythical Penglai island, home to eight immortal beings and their elixir of eternal life. She wants to find a way to bring her loved ones back. As many different obstacles like private armies, tricky alchemists and old enemies threaten her path she fights with expected and unexpected allies to overcome them. Can she pay the steep price to achieve her goal?

With its chilling prologue we are instantly hooked and enjoy the lush, poetically flourished writing of the author. This is a satiating fantastical world, a cruel world, presenting those vivid descriptions that haunt your imagination and figurative speech to admire and envy, that bring the page alive. Boldy and beautifully evocative, colored with a philosophical tint. The narrative drips with intrigue from the start. It is a companionable narrative that brings us along for the ride. The humor and wit we loved in the first one are here and we must not forget our fave animale sidekick. Or Wensu's snark.

The author uses her vibrant depiction skills to show us the alchemy, the whole mythology which evolves wonderfully in this sequel. This story is a quest. A quest involving a squad that is so entertaining and clever you will be enamored with them. They meet engaging characters along the way and the twists keep on coming, some of them ingenious. A deliciously evil villain always makes a tale better and this delivers. Moves along at a nice canter, then gallops at certain exciting moments, stealing your breath. So much happens but you are never lost as the storyline breathes. You get to feel and discover alongside the protagonist. When you are yelling at a book, at the events or characters in the story, you know you love it.

"You couldn't build a new dream on shaky foundations" says the book. Do we agree? It doesn't matter, making things better is not as easy as one may think. Unfortunately, there is a delicate and mostly unfair balance of how society works and the gap between the haves and the have-nots is deep. It deals with power and how you use it. Power has a price. About what we do for those we love. About setting things right.

Brutally honest, peak storytelling, hope-provoking and gut-wrenching, I felt like I was holding my heart at the end. Loved, loved, loved this series.

*Actual rating is 3.75 stars*

The Blood Orchid is the second book in The Scarlet Alchemist duology. It continues Zilan’s story from where the first book left off, and focuses heavily on the journey to find the mythical Penglai Island. While I love a book that takes the reader on a journey across its fantasy world, there have to be events along the way that make things interesting. Unfortunately here the journey made the story feel a bit directionless at times.

Furthermore, since most of the book takes place on the road, in comparison to the royal court, there’s much more focus on the characters. Which isn’t a bad thing in itself. Zilan got even more time to shine here, but her brother Wenshu was just annoying for the first half of the book. Not to mention the lovely relationship between Zilan and Hong that seemed almost forgotten, since he hardly got any place in the story. While I understand the author's decision for the story to be that way, it just felt a bit empty.

While I didn’t love this book, I enjoyed it for the most part and it was a satisfying end to the duology.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗢𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗱 • 𝗞𝘆𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿
★★★★.𝟱

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗧𝗼 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁
- Historical fantasy
- Inspired by the Tang dynasty
- Ability to raise the dead
- Political court intrigue

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
I didn’t expect to cry reading this duology, but cry I did. Blood Orchid was beautiful. This entire duology has demonstrated masterful storytelling and characters that I could really sink my teeth into.

Whilst there weren’t as many twists in this book compared to the first, the world building is just as detailed and engrossing. This series has become a firm favourite of mine and I’m looking forward to see what KLB comes up with next.

𝗤𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀
“𝘈𝘮 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘠𝘶𝘧𝘦𝘪, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘵, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦? 𝘕𝘰, 𝘡𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯, 𝘐’𝘮 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘶𝘴, 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤 𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯-𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳-𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘴.”

“𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳, 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦, 𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘦.”

What a brilliant sequel to the scarlet alchemist!

I loved how Durian was such an important part of the storyline, I loved that the FMC wasn’t always confident in her decisions but had help along the way.

The ending was so we written and everything my heart hoped would happen.

Brilliant duology and one I will highly recommend.

I enjoyed this book and ending is nice.

I really appreciated historical notes and explanations. They always help me learn and it makes historical books even more enjoyable.

--------- SPOILERS -----------

I do wish it was less bloody and that less people died. There was no need for so many to really die. And part of me would have liked to read this book without danger of Empress. I think it would have still been a fine and interesting book, with a lot of small dangers, even if she was not back from the dead in ways that feel overblown for what we know of alchemy by them.

--------- END OF SPOILERS -----------

a 5 solid shining stars!!!

this book was a trip from the beginning to the end but I would be lying if I tell you that I did not have a blast finishing it in two days. what a brilliant conclusion to one of my fav reads of 2023. I literally could NOT put it down to the point of thinking about it while I was in the shower. I laughed, I cried real tears, and I also feared for everyone's lives multiple times.

The Blood Orchid follows up the bloodthirsty beast that was The Scarlet Alchemist and not only matches its excellence, it elevates it.

This has not been a duology that holds back. Blood runs through each page and under the nails of our protagonist, Zilan. For her, alchemy has always meant sacrifice and made the boundaries of life and death liminal. She has been driven by revenge and wanting to protect her family at any cost. That pursuit of power comes from a long-held survival instinct that morphs into a thirst for validation in a world that wishes to destroy her. In this duology, her character arc is astounding and I love how it develops over the course of the two books without compromising that calculated, scheming nature we met in the first few pages. There is no shortage of death and destruction here either, as we deal with the ramifications of that incredible final act from the first book. I adored the deeper world-building we explore here and the way we tap more into the history of alchemy and how it has shaped the political power structures of this country. It is a legacy of suffering and pain that runs deep in this world.

Lee Baker does not shy away from tackling the consequences of these actions on the wider population. They are often used as pawns in these mystical, mind-bending games of magic and abilities beyond our comprehension. Zilan is keenly aware of the blood seeping through her pores and the devastation she has wrought from her decisions. Those ideas of choice and sacrifice are tantamount to this book, particularly in the weighing up of an individual against a mass collective. We examine in-depth the corrosive influence of power, continuing the thread from the first book, as alchemy moves in different spheres. The action scenes are exciting and well paced, with cinematic flair.

The Blood Orchid sharpens its claws and prepares to draw blood in this electrifying ending to an intense and intriguing duology.