I liked The Blood Orchid but didn’t love it quite as much as The Scarlet Alchemist. It picks up with Zilan on another big, magical, sometimes heart-wrenching journey, and while there were definitely parts that kept me hooked, the pacing felt a bit uneven. Some scenes had me flying through the pages, others dragged a little or felt a bit disconnected from the main story.

The worldbuilding is still really cool—alchemy, resurrection, ghosts, and all that good stuff. I also really liked the sibling dynamics and the return of Durian (yes, the demon duck still steals the show). Zilan continues to be a strong, complex protagonist, though I do wish the romance played a bigger role again—it felt kind of sidelined this time around.

The ending tied things up nicely, but a few twists felt a little too convenient for me. Still, it’s a solid conclusion to the duology and definitely worth reading if you enjoyed book one. Just don’t expect quite the same emotional punch.

I remembered loving "The Scarlet Alchemist", and this sequel did not disappoint! We got to see more of Zilan's journey to save and protect her loved ones with her family (and a new but returning addition??). While there was not as much romance as the first book, seeing her family dynamic especially with Wenshu was sweet to see. I definitely recommend this duology!

This is a book that has a lot of loose ends to tie up. There was a lot going on, and I found myself distracted easily. The pace felt very slow, with some action but not a lot of suspense. The tone was very heavy with a lot about death, very bleak. But everything was ended nicely.

This duology is quality and I am so happy that it stuck the landing. Zilan's quest to find Penglai Island so she can bring back her loved ones from death is filled with twists. My only gripe is with the lack of Hong/Zilan dynamic. I did appreciate the avoidance of a possible love triangle, though. Not quite as strong as the first book, but still such a great ending.

DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS DUOLOGY BCS THEY'RE SO GOOOODDDDD

I feel like this book (and the series) is criminally underrated. It has that unhinged FMC who are actually smart, cunning, and brave. Decisive, and we know deep down she has good conscience in her.

Continuing from The Scarlet Alchemist, Fan Zilan is trying to find Penglai Island, said to be the source of Alchemy, to bring back Prince Hong. Her journey was adventurous, tiring, and exhausting. She uncovered a lot more than just power. Miles away, her kingdom was in shambles bcs the riches are protesting the end of life gold era. Zilan met many more immortal alchemists in her way.

Her enemy, Empress Wu Zhao, isn't sitting still. She seized the opportunity to take back her power whatever it takes.

The pace is fast and nice to follow. Action-packed ang gorey. Lots of Durian scene 🥹🩷 WAKAKAKA felt a bit rushed at the end but I enjoy this so much.

If you like Iron Widow and a bit of The Poppy War, I think you'll love this. It's Chinese history inspired sff.

Honestly, please give it a go!!! It deserves more hype.

Thankyouuuuu for the e-arc in exchange for honest review ✨🩷

*Whatever power you think you have is an illusion.* These words perfectly capture the essence of *The Alchemist’s Promise*, a story that expertly weaves alchemy, heartbreak, and the relentless pursuit of justice into an unforgettable journey. Zilan, the fiercely determined protagonist, is an alchemist driven by the need to resurrect the people she’s lost, a quest that sets her on a perilous path that challenges both her powers and her very beliefs.

The narrative hooks you immediately with its mix of high stakes and emotional depth. Zilan’s journey to Penglai Island—a place shrouded in myth, offering the promise of life restored—becomes more than just a physical quest. It is a journey of self-discovery, sacrifice, and the search for a way to undo the irreversible. The author’s portrayal of alchemy as both a literal and figurative force in Zilan’s world is fascinating, as alchemy becomes more than a tool for magic but also a reflection of the cost of power and the weight of loss.

The world-building is rich and immersive, blending mystical lore with the dangerous unpredictability of powerful alchemists, making every turn in the story feel like a step into the unknown. The mythical elements of Penglai Island and the complex, often dangerous alchemists that guard it provide an intriguing backdrop for Zilan’s quest, making the stakes higher than ever.

Zilan’s character is a standout, her determination and vulnerability both palpable as she grapples with the consequences of her actions and the immense price of resurrection. Her internal struggle between saving her loved ones and confronting the dark truths about alchemy adds layers of depth to her character, making her journey both compelling and emotional. The romance and relationships in the story are equally well-crafted, adding emotional stakes without overshadowing the narrative’s focus on sacrifice and personal growth.

The author’s writing is masterful, delivering not only an action-packed adventure but also a poignant exploration of grief, power, and the lengths one will go to in order to undo past mistakes. The twists and turns in the story keep you on the edge of your seat, and the emotional payoff is worth every page.

This gripping conclusion to the duology is nothing short of breathtaking. With *The Alchemist’s Promise*, the author has crafted a story that balances fantasy, heartache, and the struggle for redemption, making it an absolute must-read for fans of high-stakes fantasy. If you loved *The Keeper of Night*, this book will undoubtedly cement the author as a master of crafting poignant, spellbinding narratives.

A fantastic sequel to The Scarlet Alchemist. Minor gripes about how some villains overstay their welcome, but overall a great read.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins publisher!
So excited for this conclusion! I finished the Scarlett alchemist and was dying that I had to wait for the next book. This book delves more into the alchemy and the we finally get to see Zilan and Wenshu's journey! Avoiding spoilers, they have to make their easy through a perilous journey and dangerous alchemists to save their loved ones. This was just as amazing and the first book and I loved getting to see these characters again (especially the alchemy duck!!!).

This is a great sequel. The characters are continued to be developed; the plot is well thought out and executed.

I particularly was thrilled to read the historical note at the end. Kylie Lee Baker did a great job with this book!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Thank you Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. Ahhh I’m so glad I finally finished this duology! I read the scarlet alchemist a while ago and really enjoyed it! This one did not disappoint and I had so much fun with it! Narrated by one of my fav narrators Natalie Naudus who is amazing as always. This book had so many twists and turns and the expansion of alchemy in this book was so interesting! I do feel like certain parts of this book did drag on. We were in the desert for so long 🤣 But Zilan is such an interesting main character and her flaws are very real. I loved how this intertwined with history and was an alternate way things could have gone. I also love the sibling bond that Zilan has with her brother and sister soooo much! Overall this was a very solid duology and I enjoyed it!

The Blood Orchid by Kylee Lee Baker is the finale of the author's The Scarlet Alchemist duology. Return to the world of The Scarlet Alchemist with this twisty sequel that picks up right where the first book left off. Set in an alternate Tang Dynasty China where alchemy has flourished, this world is decadent with gold and gems but teeming with death underneath the glitter. Inspired by Kylie's heritage, the half-Chinese, half-Irish heroine Fan Zilan has the ability to raise the dead, a power that thrusts her into the middle of a dangerous game at the imperial court.

Fan Zilan, the newly appointed Scarlet Alchemist, must find a way to resurrect her loved ones after they sacrificed their lives to destroy the evil Empress, who we haven't seen the last of. Zilan, who grew up poor, and practicing alchemy, once dreamed of becoming a royal alchemist, but although she’s achieved this goal, she’s also lost almost everything: Her friends, family, and beloved prince have all died as part of her quest to kill the Empress and enact justice. Hoping to resurrect them all and create a better world, Zilan, her alchemy duck, and her brother, Wenshu—who’s been resurrected in the prince’s body—search for legendary Penglai Island, said to be home to eight immortals who possess an elixir for eternal life.

With only her white foreign father’s scant notes and a riddlelike poem as guides, Zilan and Wenshu set off on a daunting journey. Each clue brings them one step closer to Penglai Island—and deeper into the dangerous, secretive world cloaking its whereabouts. But Penglai Island has been hidden well by a group of unpredictable and often dangerous alchemists. Uncovering the secret means challenging some of the most powerful alchemists to ever live. And when old threats come back to haunt Zilan, she will have to decide just how much she is willing to sacrifice to save her loved ones—and the practice of alchemy that has long defined her and the world around her.

Joining Fan Zilan on this adventure, besides her brother Wenshu, are her sister Yufei, rival alchemist Zheng Sili, and, most importantly, Durian, the alchemy duck Zilan created in the first book. Along the way, they encounter new threats, old enemies, and unexpected allies, making Zilan question whether the sacrifices she’s made (and continues to make) are worth it. If you like books with quests, and if you like nonstop action until the last page, you should read this entire duology. One of the best parts of this book was the family aspect. It was nice seeing Zilan and her siblings get away so well, even with a little banter to keep things moving.

I think the duology would have worked as a standalone so this book wasn't necessarily needed but you got to spend more time with the characters. The duck is still my favorite. I really love the focus of the sibling relationship in this duologu. The ending of The Blood Orchid was great but the pacing before that was ok.

i have been excited to read this book ever since i finished the first one. i have to say, i am very glad that there were some things that i hoped to happen in here that did. usually i am not one to be patient when it comes to slow burn even though i love them. however, though the slow was truly slow in this book, i have to say that i truly enjoyed it!

This was honestly a solid sequel. I wasn't sure how I felt following The Scarlet Alchemist, but I think the strength of this duology is definitely in this book. Everything felt more precise and interesting, from the characters, the arcs, the romance, and the plot itself. I think this was a solid ending as well and overall, a strong series!

I am a fan of book 1 and I dare to say the second book is good. But it doesnt meet my expectation.

I love how the author potrayed Fan Zilan in book 1. The brave, quirky and clever Zilan. But i dont see any of those qualities in book 2. Every times Zilan faces threat, the coincidences were playing plenty to help her. Idk if it was the writing, plot devices or it just me being picky with my novel.

This book is less bloody than the book 1. There were plenty scenes of the river of souls in almost every chapter (since our prince is trapped there).

But good news, we got Zheng Sili who liven up the plot. It it wasnt because Sili and Zilan dynamics, I might get this done next year.

Anyway, this book should be in trilogy. I think it will be more reasonable for the pace. I do think there is some major plot edited out because i feel kinda lost some details toward the ending.

Thank you publisher for the ARC

Scarlet Alchemist will always be a five starter read for me. However, this book just didn’t give me what I needed it to give. We work our way up to find the island and that was just very slow but at the same time I felt like everything was just against our main characters to the point where I was exhausted. There were no moments where it felt like things were going up for our main character because as soon as we thought that they were going up, they plummeted. and then the latter half of the novel was very slow. I think it would’ve been better if we combined going to the island with killing the Empress, but other than that, I do think that this is a satisfying conclusion with a happy ending, even though I would’ve been okay if there was not a happy ending

I received an advanced copy of The Blood Orchid from Netgalley and the publisher and am leaving this review voluntarily.

After the pure craziness of The Scarlet Alchemist's ending, I expected that The Blood Orchid would be packed full of adventure, and I was right. The book started where we left off and moved quickly, though it was sluggish in some places. However, those places were few and far between, and the story was engaging, pulling me through.

It was challenging for me to rate The Blood Orchid. I'm not one to use half-stars, but if I were to make an exception, it would be for this book. It sits solidly between three and four stars. Despite how engaging the story was, it wasn't everything I hoped it would be. It felt like all the answers fell into Zilan's lap without much effort. Maybe the quick pacing made it feel that way, but once Zilan figured out what she needed to do to get to the island, those scenes happened back to back. You're telling me everything she was looking for was conveniently in about the same area? I could have missed something, but it all felt so easy. Also, Zilan even mentions it at one point, but since death isn't permanent, none of the characters seem to take it seriously, which lowers the stakes. Whenever it seemed like the characters would die, someone would mention being able to be brought back, so it didn't even matter. The stakes were thrown right out the window as no one seemed to care about the consequences of being brought back, if there were any besides the ones we know.

Despite those issues, I enjoyed The Blood Orchid. The world-building was very well done. I liked that we saw the fallout from the first book's ending in relation to the main characters and the world. The effects were far-reaching and very realistic. It also helped that those consequences hindered the characters. On top of that, I loved the alchemy. I loved how it was based on elements but still ever-changing. We got to see more of what alchemy can do as each alchemist uses it differently. I found it fascinating and would have loved to just read about how it works.

I've seen many people say it, and I will also: I loved Durian, the duck. What I loved most was that he was treated as a character. The author obviously put a lot of thought into where he was and what he was doing, ensuring he didn't become a plot hole. It was wonderful.

This was a solid duology, and I would happily read anything else Kylie Lee Baker writes. Though not the perfect ending I was looking for, The Blood Orchid did a good job of tying up loose ends and left me satisfied.

I absolutely would like to thank NetGalley for gifting me a copy of this book. My review is an honest reflection of my feelings towards this book.
Coming off of the first book and immediately jumping back into the action of what had to be one of my favorite books from 2023 this book definitely lived up to the Scarlet alchemist in every way..
I absolutely adore how Kylie can craft such an engaging story from real history and fantasy with such a unique flare that she has to be one of my favorite authors. Seeing Zilan on the way to the conclusion of one of my favorite duologues was such a bitter sweet moment.
Seeing all of her actions coming back for retribution was such a nailbiting experience. And having the villain be the empress., I will say that I absolutely dislike that woman lol
I would say that the romance is kind of taking a backseat in this sequel, which I’m not mad about. Seeing Zilan grow and face her past was such a necessary aspect of this book.
I honestly would recommend this book to anyone who loves history mixed with fantasy because Kylie Lee Baker is a one of a kind author that will leave you on the edge of your seat, the whole book and leave you closing that book with a wistful look on your face.

Honestly a fantastic book. I really enjoyed Baker’s first book, and this second one has managed to live up to incredibly neatly wrap up the plot of the first. That being said, I think in many places it failed to deliver on the promise of the first. Where the Scarlett Alchemist was bloody and fast paced full of delightful twists, the Blood Orchid is far more meandering with nothing particularly surprising. Ultimately I think this book could’ve used some more punch, but I enjoyed it nevertheless.