The Blood Orchid

by Kylie Lee Baker

Whatever power you think you have is an illusion.
Whatever your dreams are, they belong to me.
And wherever you run, I am already there waiting for you.

Since Zilan entered the world of royal alchemists, she has learned firsthand that alchemy comes at a price. She has lost her family and her beloved prince in her search for justice against the evil Empress. All Zilan wants now is to find some way to bring them back. Resurrection is her specialty, after all.

In search of Penglai Island, where the infamous myth says life can be fully restored, Zilan starts a new adventure. But Penglai Island has been kept well hidden 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.

This gripping duology closer by the acclaimed author of The Keeper of Night is not to be missed

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1335091750
• ISBN13: 9781335091758
• Release Date: October 2024
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.8" x 8.1"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 and higher

Customer Reviews

Absolutely fantastic sequel!

I really admire Zilan. She can get herself out of every situation by putting that big brain of hers, and some handy alchemy to work. And she really needs it in this book! Because although the empress is dead, she had far reaching plans to keep control of the empire no matter what! Also luckily, Zilan has her brother Wenshu traveling with her, and Durian (that duck has some amazing talents revealed in this book!) on their search to find Penglai Island and bring back the innocents slain by the empress and her minions. And while there is a bit of romance (a bit hard since Hong is waiting by his river, a spirit only) I love that Kylie Lee Baker concentrated again more on familial relationships (mostly Wenshu but Yufei does make an appearance farther in the book). That was just as much fun as a romance because of how strong their love is for each other, in life or death or anything in between. Watching Zilan and the empress go head to head was fantastic because both are ruthless when something upsets their plans though Zilan definitely has a better moral compass and good reasons to go after the power of Penglai. I also liked the travel and seeing new lands and meeting some very interesting, albeit alchemists that hold their own secrets that must be ferreted out. So, in summary, this book is fantastic, full of meaningful sacrifice for love, awesome and finishes up the duology perfectly. Just be warned the ending is full of Yes Yes! Noooooo! Yes! Ahhhh! and then Yes yes yes! And I cannot state how much I love Durian the duck! Thank you very much to NetGalley and the Publisher for giving me a chance to read this absolutely fantastic book!