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.

I didn't like this as much as I thought I would. The story was just so fast paced. The characters were hopping from place to place. Fight to fight. It was just a lot. I don't always mind an action-packed story, but this one was a bit much for me. The characters never had a chance to breath, let alone have a conversation. And anytime the characters were about to have a conversation it would be interrupted by another action sequence. This series is inspired Fullmetal Alchemist and it is really evident in this installment. I don't necessarily think that is a bad thing, but I tend to prefer more character driven stories and this book was mainly just a bunch of cool fight scenes back to back to back.

Enjoyed this throughly. Very nice conclusion to this duology. The pacing was a bit slow at times, but will read from this author again.

Full Metal Alchemist meets Chinese history (and mythology) in “The Blood Orchid,” the riveting sequel to Kylie Baker’s “The Scarlet Alchemist.”

It didn’t seem possible for the stakes to rise higher than in the first book, but Baker turns up the intensity, putting her characters through an even tougher ordeal. I often mention being on the edge of my seat or biting my nails in my reviews, but this time it was entirely true—“The Blood Orchid” kept me up past my bedtime because I just couldn’t put it down!

I did feel a bit let down that the beautiful romance that blossomed in “The Scarlet Alchemist” wasn’t as prominent in the sequel. While the shift makes sense for the story, I found myself missing the connection between Zilan and Hong.

The Blood Orchid by Kylie Lee Baker is the second book in the Scarlet Alchemist series and I think it was even better than the first. I continue to love the characters and world-building that Baker is playing with and look forward to more!

The Blood Orchid is a satisfying conclusion in the Scarlet Alchemist duology. It continues from the first novel with Zilan having entered the world of royal alchemists. The story does a great job at picking up from where the last one ended where it was easy to get re-immersed in the world. A new journey begins to Penglai Island, which is rumored to be a place where life can be restored. The world builds upon the first novel while introducing more information about the history, the details of the alchemy system, and general universe.

The rivalry between Empress Wu Zhao and Zilan was nicely done and one of my favorite parts about the story. While the romance portion of the story wasn’t featured a lot, I did enjoy the focus on family and other relationships. There are new characters introduced that fit well in the story, however, I think more time is needed to explore them. The pacing was pretty good, and I think this was an excellent end to the duology. There is a lot of character growth, tension, relationship ups and downs, and plot in this story where there was great continuation from the first novel while still holding its own as a story. This duology was a great read, and I enjoy Baker’s writing. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, HarperCollins, for the opportunity to read this enjoyable novel. The opinions expressed are completely my own.**

In The Blood Orchid, the highly anticipated sequel to The Scarlet Alchemist, Kylie Lee Baker takes us deeper into Zilan’s world of perilous alchemy and desperate quests. Since Zilan first stepped into the dangerous circle of royal alchemists, she has learned that every spell comes with a cost, often one paid in blood. Haunted by the memory of lost loved ones, Zilan is willing to brave even the fabled Penglai Island—a place where it’s rumored that life itself can be restored. But reaching Penglai is no simple feat. Old threats resurface, and the path is crowded with unpredictable, sometimes hostile alchemists who have their own agendas. Zilan finds herself constantly questioning: how much is she truly willing to sacrifice?

This sequel does an incredible job of building on the conflicts and choices from The Scarlet Alchemist, showing Zilan grappling with past mistakes and growing in her commitment to justice. The sibling dynamics remain a true highlight, and the banter between Zilan and her siblings is as lively as ever. It’s particularly rewarding to see her forge an unexpected friendship with a former enemy, adding fresh layers to her character.

The series shines in its character development, making you root for each of Zilan’s choices, however risky they may be. The alchemy sometimes dips into complexity, occasionally verging on convoluted, yet this aspect rarely detracts from the story’s overall momentum. The Scarlet Alchemist and The Blood Orchid stand out as one of the best YA duologies, combining powerful themes of sacrifice, resilience, and family with an irresistibly engaging story.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

This was an interesting sequel. While I think this duology would have made for a better standalone, the character development here was deep and well done. I am very pleased with the ending and am always happy to shed hopeful tears.

So I had forgotten what happened in book 1 before jumping into book 2 which was a rough start. I will say I did like this sequel better than the other sequel that Kylie Lee Baker wrote. Narratively with the different Immortals, I thought the plot itself had good pacing. I liked the characters (although I wish we got more of the sister).

I will say that I didn't love the ending and my problem is it felt like the stakes were too high during the book itself for it to be concluded the way it did.

this is the second book in the scarlet alchemist duology.

zilan has lost loved ones thanks to the evil empress, and now she aims to get them back through any means necessary. as old threats come back to haunt her, though, she begins to wonder just how far she’ll go.

i’ve been so excited to read this since reading (and, of course, loving) the scarlet alchemist last year! i enjoyed picking right back up where we left off in the previous book and continuing this journey with zilan. also, one thing i love about kylie lee baker’s books is how there’s always a strong sibling dynamic. as someone with brothers myself, this is always a great experience for me!

this was a wonderful conclusion. i can’t wait for more from kylie lee baker!

I am always so excited to see a new Kylie Lee Baker book, and I have been anticipating The Blood Orchid since I finished The Scarlet Alchemist. Blood Orchid wraps up the story of Zilan as she corrects the wrongs she committed in the first book.
Resurrection is Zilan’s specialty, and she will bring back her family, her true love, and all the alchemists who gave their lives to put down the Empress. Her answer lies in the mythical Penglai Island where life can be fully restored. She starts her journey with her cousin in the crown prince’s body leaving her other cousin in the Empress’ body. The path is treacherous, and she must confront familiar faces as well as new faces on the way. Is Zilan powerful enough to reach the island and resurrect everyone as she promised, or will she screw everything up like she did before?
The sequel’s biggest is that Zilan gets way too emo on us. I can understand some imposter syndrome; the death toll that took down the Empress would weigh on anyone. But the women made their sacrifices. And Zilan’s reflections are continuous. As readers, we understand what is going on and why she is making mistakes. The author can trust that we understand and not have so much repetition. It also made me sad to see the Scarlet Alchemist die so easily. It really weighed down the book as the Scarlet Alchemist was a character herself. Zilan’s self-deprecation didn’t have to drown so much of the book
But the story of the journey she is on pulls readers in, and each character is changed. The ending is especially tense. I was concerned for the characters and how anything would work out in a positive way. There was such a rich work Baker had created with such complex rules. Her creativity gave readers other perspectives on the world and what each character saw. It was rather enlightening. This helped build the suspense and made the story more complex instead of something cookie-cutter. I was very pleased when I shut the book.
I was when the story was over; I just always wanted more from these books. The Blood Orchid was no exception. I will just have to wait until April 2025 when Baker drops the horror book Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ BOOK REVIEW
Kylie Lee Baker did not miss with The Blood Orchid! The flow was chef’s kiss—I was completely swept away, and the humor? Perfectly placed. It gave just the right amount of lightness in between all the magic, chaos, and high-stakes drama. Kylie Lee Baker is one of my favorite authors and she never fails to create a story that puts me right into the world and time that the book is set in.

The dynamic between Wenshu, Yufei and Zilan finally makes sense to me now. Zilan’s love for Hong? UNMATCHED. The way she would move heaven and earth for him hit me right in the feels. And Durian! So much more Durian. I love that duck's evolution.

I was absolutely engulfed (obsessed, really) with the quests to find Penglai Island. Every step felt like peeling back another layer of this world, and it kept me hooked the whole time. And don’t get me started on the alchemists—meeting all the different types was such a cool touch! Plus, the banter between Zilan and Zheng Sili had me grinning like an idiot. Their back-and-forth was hilarious and gave some much-needed levity to all the tension.

This book was everything I wanted and more, and I’m beyond excited to see what Kylie Lee Baker does next. If you love magic, quests, and sharp humor, The Blood Orchid will not disappoint!

Thank you @NetGalley and @HarperCollins for the eARC.

#NetGalley #HarperCollins #TheBloodOrchid #KylieLeeBaker #eARC

I love this second book, but I am sorry I love the first most. This book feels like the consequences of what the characters have done in the first book, and it didn't write as strongly as before. But this duology is literally screaming what a duo!

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for this advanced copy!

This title was good but I preferred the 1st more - in Blood Orchid the characters seemed flatter and the times where the story went surreal we sometimes a bit harder to follow. Still a fun read. I'd promote the first in the series over this one.

The Blood Orchid is the second and final book in The Scarlet Alchemist duology. I love this series so much. I reread the first one before reading this book, and I highly recommend binge-reading this series. It pretty much starts where the first book left off. The Blood Orchid focuses more on family and the quest, which I adore. The family banter between Zilan and her siblings was amazing to read. Also, let's not forget Durian. I adore that evil duck. I love the unique magic system the author creates using alchemy. It was so fun to read. Overall, it was a fantastic duology, and I highly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Blood Orchid reels from the consequences of The Scarlet Alchemist. Reeling from her discovery, and the bloodshed at the end, Zilan is trying to figure out her next move. What follows is a twisty story about figuring out what powers we have, and should have. Zilan has made so many sacrifices. She's kept giving up the things she love and being forced to recoup her losses. In The Blood Orchid Zilan's story explores destiny and power. It explores unlikely alliances, revenge and retribution, and the power of love.

That dang duck Durian is my favorite. He needs his own little book.

The second and final installment in The Scarlett Alchemist duology. I despise book summaries that give spoilers for the previous books in the series so I’ll keep it brief. Go read The Scarlet Alchemist, then dive right into the nonstop adventure that is The Blood Orchid.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, I devoured The Scarlet Alchemist and couldn’t wait to dive into The Blood Orchid.

What I loved…
- a quest - I LOVE quests!
- Durian 🦆 he is the star of the show and I am so glad he made a reappearance
- Wenshu is a awesome brother - it is such a treat to read a book where the FMC has the support of a man than is not the love interest.
- Overall the importance of family really shined in this book
- The vibes in this book are just as elite as the first book. Think: a little gross, a lot of necromancy, amazing alchemy and a very cool reimagining of Tang Dynasty.
- excellent side characters, both ones you love to love and love to hate
- quite a few shocking reveals that had me not wanting to put down the book.

What I didn’t love…
- The second book featured a lot less romance, and while the relationships within The Blood Orchid were wonderful to read about I really missed the Zilan and Hong dynamic.
- The prose felt choppy in this one, The Scarlet Alchemist did such a wonderful job at showing vs telling with descriptive imagery, and in comparison The Blood Orchid felt like I was being told how these characters felt rather than show.

Overall this was an enjoyable read, albeit a bit of a disappointing conclusion to the series.

One more thing I didn’t love but potentially a minor spoiler that is not specific but could be considered a spoiler if you’re sensitive to them…

I was very unhappy that a certain character got a redemption arc, specifically because in my mind what that character did in the first book during their first appearance is unredeemable, regardless of how tortured they were.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars

This one wasn’t quite as strong as the last one. It felt kind of like it lacked a driving force, like Zilan and company were kind of drifting aimlessly from place to place and solving each (smaller) problem with relative ease - and maybe that’s just because resurrection alchemy undercuts the fear of consequences (ie death).

It also wasn’t nearly as funny, which is probably a good thing tonally but made the text a bit less engaging. Though bringing Zheng Sili in allowed for some of that solid banter and witty comebacks.

I also think that Hong’s absence from the majority of the story cut the strength of Zilan’s motivation off at the knees. Wenshu claims that Zilan is moping because of Hong but we don’t really see that. She seems kind of adrift throughout the story - vaguely guilty, vaguely homesick, vaguely scared of the Empress. And we just kind of left Yufei to her own devices to the point where she’s honestly not even a major character in this book either, along with Hong.

We join our intrepid royal alchemist Fan Zilan as she goes on a journey to find the mythical Penglai Island. She hopes to resurrect everyone she has lost using the powers of the island but has to contend with a not so dead Empress as well as the increasingly steep price of alchemy.

I would follow Zilan to the ends of the earth and beyond. I'd help her bury a body if she asked. She is such a great lead character and I wish we could have more books about her. Zilan is flawed, bitchy and rough around the edges. Yet, she has a good heart and an iron will that makes you root for her. It makes perfect sense that Wu Zetian would see her as a worthy adversary. I really liked the complicated relationships between Zilan and her siblings (particularly Wenshu). It was nice to see drama between siblings instead of romantic partners.

At first, the plot came off as a bit chaotic and slow to start. I wasn't quite sure where Baker was taking us but the ending more than makes up for the weak start. I don't want to spoil it but, god damn, can Baker write an ending. The continuing theme of alchemy requiring an increasingly steep price was well done and bittersweet. I will say that the not ill defined rules of alchemy did annoy me from time to time but not enough to pull me out of the story.

All in all, a worthy sequel to the Scarlet Alchemist and I'm sad that this series is over.

Reviews going live on Goodreads, Strorygraph, Fable and Tiktok on 10/22

An amazing conclusion to this duology!

I love how much the sequel expanded on the world of alchemy, especially involving Penglai Island and the (new) alchemists involved with its discovery.

The dynamic between Zilan, Wenshu, and Zheng Sili were hilarious. I especially liked Sili’s character development and his unexpected alliance with Zilan and Wenshu. His interaction with Durian were also adorable (he takes him out for a walk and feeds him grapes 🥹) I didn’t expect to like Sili’s character but he did grow on me in this book

I also enjoyed Zilan’s character development- her overall character and personality were more fleshed out in this book; we really got to see her pain and guilt and regret over everything that happened

There was a lot less romance in this book but in place of it, there was a lot of painful longing and angst. Even though Hong was in the spirit plane , he still cared so much about Zilan and she loved him in turn

As for the villain, she was terrifying and cunning. It was so difficult to tell who to trust and who not to trust

I’ve really enjoyed reading the conclusion of this duology and Zilan’s adventure! I look forward to reading more of Kylie’s books