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.

I enjoyed the scarlet alchemist quite a bit but this sequel didn't really match that energy for me. it was good but not great. i don't think it will stand out in my memory much.

The Scarlet Alchemist was one of my top reads of 2023 so I was incredibly excited for The Blood Orchid. Needless to say, my expectations were definitely met!! I missed Hong so much in this story, as he was my favorite character from the first book, but I really enjoyed getting to know Wengshu, Yanfei, and Zheng Sili more during their travels and adventures. The Blood Orchid was chock full of action, fights, bloody messes, and alchemical mysteries that kept me on the edge of my seat. Kylie Lee Baker is grossly under-hyped. Her writing style is engaging and she artfully crafts plot twists that blow my mind every single time. I’m going to fan girl over this duology for the foreseeable future and will continue to tell everyone with ears to read this now!!! I’m so sad the story is over because I had such a fun time, but I’m glad things ended as they did and I can’t wait for more from Kylie!

Thank you to Harper Collins, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy.

This is the 2nd book in a duology and I have no idea how to review it without spoilers because so much absolutely wild stuff happened at the end of book one. This one is definitely different, as our main character is on a quest across the country looking for ~secret spoilery stuff~ for ~secret spoilery reasons~. This definitely changed the tone and vibes from the first book, but the interesting and unique magic system was still present. Book one was my favorite in this series, I think, because it was a bit more fun. I understand why this one was not, there was a lot of heavy stuff needing to be resolved, but it was still an enjoyable conclusion to the series. I really enjoy this author's writing and will be looking forward to her next work! Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Blood Orchid, the sequel to The Scarlet Alchemist, was another 4.5/5 (rounded down) for Kylie Lee Baker. I really enjoyed the quests in this book and the immersiveness of KLB's writing. Although this didn't have as much romance, it still had the importance of family.

I can't wait to read more books by KLB.

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperCollins for an ARC of this title!

I thoroughly enjoyed this brutal sequel. The worldbuilding is so descriptive, the characters are lovable, and I found myself waking up early and staying up late just to keep reading this. I would highly recommend this series.

The sequel and final book in the duology, picking up where the first book left off, Zilan is now the official court alchemist and has resurrected her brother into the body of her fiancee, the crown prince who was murdered by the empress and her sister's soul into the body of the empress. Both the Empress and Zilan's fiancee, Hong's souls are wandering now and Zilan must find a way to resurrect him while also destroying the Empress who has now taken up a new body. Resurrecting Hong is going to be difficult as Zilan must also find the other alchemists to help her. The Empress is also after her.... and with a ticking clock, Zilan must find a way to evade escape, assassination attempts, and survive deadly encounters with other alchemists if she wants to survive. If bringing back Hong will cost her the ultimate price, will she be willing to pay it? The story is a good ending to the series and wraps everything up by the end. Did I feel like the story kind of slowed down a bit compared to the first book? yes, however I did enjoy reading it and liked the overall world that the author created. The romance also took a bit of a backseat as the story focuses more on the familial relationships in this one as Zilan spends more time with her family, but it was nice. The romance between Zilan and Hong was sweet overall and they truly loved one another through it all. I would definitely recommend this fantasy duology to readers who enjoy political intrigue and a touch of magic!

What a great ending to this duology. It was a lot of fun, and damn was it a bit emotional too.

We follow Zilan as she searches for an island of alchemy, to revive her cousins in their own bodies and to bring back the man she loves. In this she meets various alchemists with unique powers, testing her wits and skills as she goes and encountering a new, old enemy.

I will admit, the plot with the return of the empress confused the heck out of me at first, and I'm still a little confused by the...logistics of it all. But it was super interesting and definitely raised the stakes.

I love the magic system in this world, and getting to explore the alchemy through these new alchemists was really interesting, giving us a view of how expansive it could be.

It was nice getting to see Hong again, in the little bits we see him. Still a himbo, still enamored with Zilan. I love it.

I'm glad there was discussion too on how much of an issue her cousin occupying her boyfriend's body was going to be. It was a good discussion and I like how it turned out.

The ending was wild, and very satisfying, and I'm really happy with it, though Baker had me scared for a second we were getting a sad one.

✨4 stars✨

Thank you Harper Collins and Netgalley for this eARC!!

Boy was this book a wild RIDE. The plot never stopped at all. Loved it, but loved book one just a slight bit more.

Significantly less romance than the first book, which was a little disappointing.

The ending wasn't my absolute favorite. Satisfying, but just a bit too easy and quick. The major conflict, in my opinion, was solved waaaaaayyyyy too easily. I wish the middle part of this book was shorter so the ending could have been more.

All in all though, I love this series. It's competing as my favorite YA fantasy series of all time for sure.

I had been waiting to read The Blood Orchid after finishing book one - The Scarlet Alchemist last year, and this one was even better than the first book!💙 I found myself unable to put it down for a single second because I needed to know what would happen next haha!⁣
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I don't want to give away any spoilers for this one, but this duology is set in an alternate Tang Dynasty China where alchemists have managed to extend lives with alchemical gold and our protagonist Fan Zilan is a talented alchemist who's determined to claw her way up and prove herself! The Blood Orchid picks up immediately after the events of the previous book and Zilan sets off to find the mythical Penglai Island along with her cousin Wenshu as she's desperate to revive many of her friends and loved ones. She's kinda dealing with some survivor's guilt too but she doesn't really have the time to process it either as she's constantly dealing with danger and threats from all directions.⁣
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I loved watching Zilan's character development in both of these books! She's very determined and ruthless at first, but she's a bit shaken in this one with faltering confidence - but that doesn't prevent her from achieving her goals. I loved her relationship with her cousins and it was nice to see them support each other unconditionally. Durian - the reanimated 🦆 was definitely my fave as he brings in some unexpected surprises too! The nonstop action along with the twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat and the antagonist was pretty interesting too! There wasn't much romance in this one but I was more invested in the plot and lowkey worried about how it'd end😂 Thankfully I was very satisfied with how things were wrapped up!⁣
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If you're looking for a historical fantasy duology with kickass characters and lots of adventures, you should definitely check this one out!

୨⎯ 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒔 ⎯୧
rating: 3.75
plot: 3.75
characters: 4
writing: 4
romance: 3.5

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°•*⁀➷ the rundown
this was a really great ending to the duology. I enjoyed seeing Zilan be an awesome Alchemist once again despite all the odds going up against her and her siblings and crew she's concocted. My only issue is there was barely any romance, when we did get it, it was in the end. the very end. I needed more of Zilan and the Prince!!! it was agony. it did have some slow parts, especially in the beginning while leading up to a lot of the action scenes. I think it was written really well and even could've been a series, I would've loved that, or even a spin off! I love the Alchemists and their Alchemy, the way everyone is different and especially how in depth and efficient the Empress was with her plans.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

ᯓ thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the eARC.

I loved the first book, but I was delighted by how much I loved the second. I think I liked it more, which is often difficult in a duology. The love letter to FMA was so felt but in a fresh and interesting way. I also felt the love Zilan had for her love interest Hong in a way I normally just don’t for many YA fantasies. What a beautiful ending to this story!

It's not very often that a sequel book is as good as if not a bit better than the first but The Blood Orchid certainly accomplished that. From the very first chapter, you're plunged right into the back into the Zilan's world and everything that they've been through. The adventure continues at a fast pace and yet you never feel like you're missing anything or that the story doesn't make sense. No spoilers but it's also one of the few books with a true ending and I do love that.

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins, and Kylie Lee Baker for the ARC!

The Blood Orchid was a solid conclusion to a story that endeavored to do much more than the average YA fantasy duology. While having some pitfalls that make it not quite as good as the first book, I still thoroughly enjoyed it and was satisfied with the conclusion to Zilan's journey.

Zilan is the kind of flawed protagonist that I usually see in more adult fantasy titles; she causes problems, suffers consequences, attempts to solve those problems the only way she knows how, and the cycle continues. But she is AWARE of it, even as she fails to break free of it; she sees herself spiraling but also commits to it, fully believing that as long as she achieves her goal of reaching Penglai Island, all of her mistakes will be undone. She reassures the people around her while being fully aware that she is pretty much winging it, trying to keep her sand castle together as the tide comes ever closer to washing it away. I could feel her exhaustion and fraying nerves through the pages with every road block that came up.

Zheng Sili was a welcome addition to the main cast, even though the story was relying a little too much on him, Wenshu, and Zilan to carry the action while traveling around China. The rest of the characters have either very brief appearances or incredibly passive roles this time, which was a little disappointing. But I enjoyed the parallels between Zheng Sili's formal alchemy training and Zilan's self-taught alchemy, and how each of them encountered situations where one was better equipped to handle it than the other. I was glad to see Zilan and Wenshu interact a lot more in this book, though I wish Yufei could have gotten more on-page time as well.

I liked the expansion on the history and uses of alchemy, though each of the four immortal alchemists that Zilan encounters felt a little like "villain of the week" characters until we get that bit of backstory near the end that ties them together. It also feels almost unbelievably lucky that Zilan's group is able to run into these figures that have lived largely secluded and hidden lives for so long, you can kind of feel the plot demanding it.

Final note: Durian is adorable and as present as I hoped, though I'm not sure how I feel about the explanation (or lack thereof) of its existence and impact on the plot. Oh well, cute duck!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I love this duology a lot, and The Blood Orchid is a satisfying and unhinged conclusion. I think this would best be read immediately after finishing The Scarlet Alchemist—this one picks up right where the first book leaves off and maintains a nonstop pace. I really liked how Baker expanded the world and explored the repercussions of the events at the end of the first book, and I commend her for maintaining really good tension and pacing throughout.

Zilan’s relationships are definitely the highlight of this series and Baker handles them well. I appreciated that her relationships with her siblings took center stage, and I did not mind that the romance was put on the backburner to focus on other things, like Zilan’s personal growth and the quest to find Penglai Island. Super fun and enjoyable!!!

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Children’s Book division for this advanced reading copy. The release was October 22nd, so pardon the late review.

The Blood Orchid is the sequel to Kylie Lee Baker’s The Secret Alchemist. This will be a spoiler if you haven’t read the first book. The book starts back up from where the first book left off, in chaos. The Royal House of Li is in shambles. The plan to kill the Queen has gone wrong, resulting in all the Alchemists dead. As retaliation, the Queen has killed Hong and Zilan’s cousins, and as a result, Zilan has killed the Queen. Everything Zilan has ever wanted and dreamed of is gone, and she has to find a way to get them back, which starts the journey to Penglai Island to undo everything that has happened. But the journey is complex, and she does not take the journey alone. There are unknown adversaries along the way at every turn and in every corner. Will Zilan reach Penglai Island and keep her promise to those she loves?

The Blood Orchid is dark and gory. There are undertones of death and visits to the world of the in-between of life and death. There are graphic scenes in the book that involve killing and blood. Zilan stressed me the hell out throughout this entire book! With every single dip and turn Zilan and the group made, something or someone was around the corner, waiting to pounce! And the author did not care about anybody’s blood pressure while crafting this masterpiece. There was a lot of mystery and suspense surrounding alchemy and the discovery of where it would lead. I was on edge this entire book but it was worth the read. I especially loved the history lesson at the end of the book that detailed the inspiration regarding the legacy behind the throne.

I look forward to seeing more from this author.

Thanks to HarperCollins for the gifted ARC!

THE BLOOD ORCHID is the second book in THE SCARLET ALCHEMIST duology, and was one of my most anticipated reads of the year! I absolutely adored THE SCARLET ALCHEMIST for the magic system and dark humor. Both of those continue here, but we also get a little of Kylie's writing from THE KEEPER OF NIGHT with some horror scenes in this one. I love romance, sense of family, secrets, resurrection, and sacrifice in this book, all while Zilan goes on an adventure to find Penglai Island, where life can be fully restored. This duology is such a well-rounded story that includes influence from Ancient Chinese history.

This was the perfect sequel to the Scarlett Alchemist. I loved the deeper dive into the way alchemy works and the different types, the inclusion of Zilan's parents, and the fact that the empress was still causing problems.

I think my favorite scene from this book is when Zilan is talking to her brother, and points out that she choose him from the river, not her boyfriend, because she loved him more. The focus on sibling relationships and love is just so impactful. I also love that the "romance" is not more important than her other relationships.

Also, the redemption of that CHARACTER?

I loved the ending to this duology and am sad that there won't be a next book. I admired Zilan and Wenshu's bond as they journeyed across China to search for Penglai Island in hopes to bring back those who had perished in the last book. Lastly, I loved all scenes with Durian the duck who brought much comedic relief to the story. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.

The Blood Orchid by Kylie Lee Baker is a second book of a duology that follows Zilan as she looks for Penglai Island, the source of alchemy to try to save the souls of those who sacrificed their lives for her. Once again, Baker created a visceral world full of intrigue, danger, and interesting magic systems. And again, we find ourselves rooting for Zilan and her gang against the Empress.

I really enjoyed this book and was happy to revisit the world. Baker’s writing is lyrical, and her descriptions were lush or biting. My main issue with The Blood Orchid is that we lost some of Zilan’s brass and courage compared to The Scarlet Alchemist, and I found myself sad that her edges were dulled. I do think, though, that she regained some of it by the end.

I definitely recommend this duology. The storytelling and world building are excellent! Thank you to Harper Collins for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. The Blood Alchemist was published October 22.