Picking up where The Scarlet Alchemist left off, Zilan and her brother embark on a quest to find Penglai Island, a magical island that could restore all of those whom she has lost in her coup against the empress. The adventure is a bit of a scavenger hunt to gather pieces of a puzzle needed to get to the island, finding enemies and allies along the way. The thread of romance, which was light in the first book is even less prevalent in this sequel, but Zilan's relationships with her brother and a new friend's support show that she is not alone in her pursuit. One of the themes of the first book in the duology was the cost of magic and that resurfaces in The Blood Orchid most clearly before the story ends. The finale left me satisfied as fitting ending for the main characters. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed The Scarlet Alchemist, just know going in that the romance is pushed back for most of this story (for obvious reasons if you know how the first book ended); and for those that haven't read the first book but enjoy a magical fantasy adventure with a compelling main character, this duology is worth the consideration.
I received advanced access to this book thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, HarperCollins Children's Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

This book was an amazing read, that took you places you didn't know you were going to go. I was fully absorbed in this book right off the bat and flew through it in one day. The author did an amazing job with the plot and making the characters unique but relatable. I will be recommending this book to all of my patrons, family, and friends. Great read!