Overall I think this duology is memorable and remains original. While I didn't enjoy the supernatural reveal in book one it grew on me in this book. The ending was solid and leaves a reader satisfied. The setting remains distinctive and the development of the world is well thought out. But in this book the characters shine.

The fast paced and heart stopping sequel to the Tempest of Tea, Hafsah Faizal throws readers back into the world of White Roaring and the lives of the Casimir's and their found family. Arthie wakes to realize that she lives, having been turned a full vampire by Mateo after her near death from their heist gone wrong. Arthie, Jin, Flick, and their crew have each suffered since that night's failure, but they have the ledger containing the secrets to taking down the Ram, the brutal monarch of Ettenia who created the suffering the crew felt that night, and for decades before. With the ledger revealing the home base of a secret project to weaponize vampires, and a sinister tribute planned by the Ram in just a week, the crew races the clock to save themselves and the people of White Roaring before it is too late.
I LOVED A Tempest of Tea, and this sequel was an amazing jump back into the story and the world this series created. A Tempest of Tea ended on such a cliffhanger, and this book picked right back off where it had left. I loved seeing Arthie's relationship with her emotions and the people in her life develop and change into something deeper, and the romantic relationship between her and Mateo and Jin and Flick get the time and care they deserved. This book was a lot more fast paced than the The Tempest of Tea, which is to be expected of a sequel with lots to accomplish to end the story of this vibrant and dark world. I love Faizal's writing, and how she is able to create such an expansive and rich scenery, a lovable and morally grey cast of characters, and discussions of race, gender and classism in such a unique story premise. I recommend this series to everyone who enjoys a fast paced fantasy with darker elements, and cannot say enough good things about this sequel.

2.5 stars rounded up to three. I liked the first book in this duology well enough and wanted to see where the story was going. I am sorry to say that everything I didn’t like in the first one was exacerbated in this one. I wish the author spent less time trying to make quotable quotes and more time on the plot. Alas, that did not end up being the case. And what even was that ending.

I ATE this book up!! This book was action packed, I was never bored not once. I had a few laughs here and there. The slow burns 😩 I was so heartbroken at the end, I still don’t know what to do with myself 24 hrs later. It just plays in a loop in my head. it’s like an HEA but also prepare yourself 😭

...I adored book one of this series. So much! It was a genre-bending, witty, romantic adventure that I couldn't put down. And I love duologies within the romantasy genre because I feel that the pacing is always stronger than books that are stretched to much. But this one, was all angst. I understand some of the choices and murdered darlings make for a good story. But to be honest, the characters went through so so so much this book and by the time we got to the end, I didn't feel happy for them. I just felt sad still...

I absolutely loved A Tempest of Tea, and this one was no exception. as the last book left us wanting more, I was fully invested in what happens to Arthie. This was fast paced, and I felt like there was no time for Arthie to mourn. This was absolutely an amazing conclusion to this duology, and I am going to miss the wit of Arthie. I loved the "friends" taking on the government, especially during the times we are currently going through. The vampire theme was also perfection! This duology is an absolute favorite!

I enjoyed this second book from Hafsah Faizal in the Blood & Tea series. The story crafting and character development are excellent. I feel like the structure leading to the ending was not adequately built, and that brought it down a star for me. Still a good read.

I thought that this was a good follow up to A Tempest of Tea! I would say it was about on the same level (I gave both books the same rating), and I overall enjoyed the story. I thought the ending was fitting. As with the last book, I liked the characters and relationships, and thought each character had excellent development throughout this story. I found this one a bit faster-paced than the first book, and I overall had a really good time reading it! I would definitely recommend this duology as a whole :)

Oh man. I loved book one and book two did not disappoint. This series is going to be worth the read. I love this world, these characters, the concept. It’s so fun and well developed.

Wow!! Another brilliant book from Hafsah Faizal! Im blown away at this woman’s story telling skills. The world that has been created here is truly magical. My only complaint is i wish the blood and tea series wasn’t YA i personally think this book would fit better as a more adult book but i know a lot of people love YA. But overall absolutely wonderful i hope we get to see these characters again someday even if this is the end of the series.
4.5⭐️

I’m starting to be convinced that maybe Hafsah Faizal’s books aren’t necessarily up my wheelhouse? I really enjoyed We Hunt the Flame but was highly let down by its sequel. And I found myself trudging through Tempest of Tea but held out hope that this book was turn it around. Unfortunately, I was let down again.

Like I said, I didn’t totally connect with the first book in this series. I liked Arthie but couldn’t find myself interested in the others EXCEPT Matteo, who was a big reason I still tried this book because I was sure that he would step into a bigger role (he did). However, it still wasn’t enough to get me to care about any of the plot. WHY Matteo didn’t get POV chapters, I’ll never know. It seems like a massive waste of a great character. And don’t even get me started on the ending. What was the point? All the suffering throughout the book and it doesn’t even end on a happy note for Matteo or Arthie. Lame. Might have to take a break from Hafsah’s books until a premise really grabs me.

A Steeping of Blood
by Hafsah Faizal
Pub Date: Sep 23 2025

White Roaring is sharpening its fangs after the deadly night that left the city in shambles. The press are dead, the public is calling for justice, vampires are in danger, and amid the turmoil, the Ram announces a celebration.

Still reeling from the bloodshed, Arthie Casimir has no time to mourn the death of anyone, let alone her own. She has no time for love, either, even though it had saved her life. As Arthie navigates new emotions and new allies, she must reassemble her scrambled crew and scrape what little they have left to fight one last time—and she will need to face the ghosts of her past to do it.

First and foremost, thank you NetGalley and Macmillian for letting me get an ARC of this book!

This book is much more fast paced and action packed compared to the first, which wasn’t a win for me, personally. With the first book, I was there for the vibes, which were immaculate, but the vibes here were much different. Seeing the romances between characters develops was worth it, but the plot overall felt scattered. I struggled with this one, which is painful to say because I love Hafsah Faizal and her work. That being said, if you didn’t like the first book because of the pacing and vibes, you might actually really like this sequel, especially if you’ve already read the first book. Am I still going buy it when it comes out for my book shelf? Yes. Am I still sad that I hyped this sequel up for myself only to have my expectations not met in the ways I wanted? Also yes.

It’s a good book, I just wasn’t expecting what I got. 3/5.

A Steeping of Blood is Robin Hood meets Twilight. It’s an action-thrilled second book in the Blood and Tea duology with not one, but two swoony romances. Readers who enjoy found-family, vampires, and unlikely heroes taking on a corrupt government leader. It has a quick-moving plot with lots of action and the ending is bittersweet like a cup of tea. I read it in one sitting.

It really pains me to say this but I struggled with this sequel. I absolutely adored the first book and couldn’t wait to dive in and be back with these characters. The first 25% was great, I was having a wonderful time being back in the world, but then I started getting a little bored and ended up struggling with the rest of the book.

Thank you soo much to Macmillan for sending me an eARC of this book.

I’m trying so hard not to spoil this book but it is so so incredibly good and I loved it, even more than the first one. This book gave me more of the characters and helped me understand them more and truly make a place for them in my heart.

I love Arthie SO MUCH and how she changes in this book and truly opens up to the crew is so sweet. I can’t really say much else without spoiling.

But Hafsah has also said that she added a lot more tweaks and fluff to the story since the ARC was released for reviews and I do believe they could make the book much better so I am still waiting until September before fully forming a review.

But overall great, and also made me really sad. That’s all I will say.

Another great novel in this series. A Steeping of Blood by Hafsah Faizal is very well written and very plot driven. It caught my attention from the start and held it. I also love the cover the color palette and illustrations were a great choice for the book.

I really enjoyed this! Maybe not as much as book 1 but I still had a great time with the characters and the plots were very paced fast! I love the found family tropes and also how certain relationships developed can’t wait to add to our library collection!

I love this duology and I want more of it! This is so much fun!

This duology has vampires, secret and not-so-legal businesses, political drama, and a cast of unlikely friends/outcasts working together. All things that I absolutely love. And if that description alone didn't make this obvious, yes, it is perfect for fans of Six of Crows. If you like the heist, sneaky business and ensemble cast of that series, definitely give this a go. I think you'd really like it.

I think these two books accompanied themselves perfectly, I don't think one was better than the other and I think that's so rare to find with duologies (at least in my experience).

I loved the arc that these characters went through and I loved all the little drama and reveals that we got throughout the duology (a lot of it coming to a head in this final book). These characters were just all so fun and falling in love with the characters is such an important thing for me when reading. So yes, now it is time to look up fanart and fall even more in love with them.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

This was a fun book. It was just as good as the first book in the series and the story developed wonderfully. And the romance was great.