Honestly, I have some really mixed feelings about this sequel. On the one hand, I was immediately sucked back into this story after loving book one, and overall book two felt unputdownable to me. Its fast paced plot picks up where our crew’s best laid plans have gone to pot and they have to pivot in big ways to achieve their goals, making this duology perfect for fans of Six of Crows. While I didn’t feel the writing itself was quite as good as before (a little repetitive and a tad more simplistic), I found it enjoyable for the most part. I love the banter and flirting between the members of the crew, much of which had me kicking my feet and giddy with delight!

On the other hand, there were things that really bothered me. Certain developments felt thrown in, with ridiculously quick conflict resolution just for the sake of haphazardly tying up a loose end at the last minute. Similarly, there were a few instances where things felt rushed and not explained or written with intention. I predicted the two big emotionally devastating events very early on, but even my prediction couldn’t prepare me for how upset I’d be. I realize this is a fantasy featuring dark and serious themes, and not everyone is guaranteed an HEA, but some things felt unnecessarily cruel and ultimately made me feel like they did a disservice to the meticulously plotted character arcs and growth. There are plenty of books that dole out emotional damage that keep me coming back for rereads but the ending of this book left me sobbing ANGRY tears. Obviously tragedies are often inevitable, but our characters are repeatedly suffering throughout, making the whopper at the end feel unconscionably unfair. I can’t help thinking it was added just for shock value.

Like I said, mixed feelings. Maybe this was a victim of my insufferable mood reading and I just wasn’t in the right mindset for such a visceral gut punch, which is a bummer since this was such a highly anticipated sequel for me. I’m disappointed by the ending, but I can’t say it was all bad.

Leave it to Hafsah Faizal to absolutely rip your heart into pieces.

“A Steeping of Blood” is the stunning sequel taking place after “A Temptest of Tea”. A heartbreaking yet heartthrobbibg story filled with action, mystery, romance…and of course betrayal. Just think “Peaky Blinder” meets “Six of Crows” in this to die for duology.

I did indeed sob reading this and I imagine I’ll be seeing plenty of other readers do the same. This is a thrilling YA duo that is going to leave fans aching for more from Hafsah Faizal. At my adult age I still find Faizals books to be the most fascinating and entertaining in the industry. Without fail, she always provides the best pace, romance, and humor. Plot driven yet equally character driven. There’s just no way someone would come out not loving her work.

Although I am quite sad to say goodbye to this world, and completely devastated at what happened towards the end. I can’t wait to see to what comes next!

I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, but A Steeping of Blood turned out to be a dark, lush, and gorgeously written descent into a world of vengeance, alchemy, and secrets that bleed beneath every page. Faizal’s writing is sharp and atmospheric—there’s a heaviness to it, but in the best way. Every word feels intentional, like it’s part of a spell being cast.

Pros:
• The worldbuilding is so rich. From the tea houses to the blood alchemy, Faizal builds a setting that feels ancient, lived-in, and dangerous.
• The protagonist is morally complex in a way that feels natural rather than forced. I liked how her choices weren’t always easy or clean.
• The plot balances mystery, magic, and revenge with a slow-burning tension that actually pays off.
• Themes of grief, legacy, and identity are handled with care and weight.

Cons:
• The pacing dips in the middle. I found myself wanting things to move a bit faster—especially with how strong the opening is.
• Some of the secondary characters blur together. I wanted more depth from a few of the side relationships, especially given how important trust and betrayal are to the story.
• If you’re not in the mood for something heavy, the tone might feel a bit much—it doesn’t really let up emotionally.

Overall, this is a haunting, fiercely written novel that isn’t afraid to dig deep into the messy parts of power and purpose. It’s the kind of book you sit with afterward, letting it steep (pun intended) before you realize just how much it’s gotten under your skin.

I Don’t think I’ve sobbed this way in a very long time.

‘A Steeping of Blood’ is the stunning sequel of a ‘Temptest of Tea’ that follows along a gong of skilled misfits teaming up for a heist at a vampire society. This sequel is even more gripping and heart throbbing than the first book. The angst is top notch and the stakes are higher than ever.

Arthie is one of the best and most badass main charcaters I’ve ever encountered, and Jin and Flick literally attacked my heart so strongly that I miss them so much. Also HAFSAH FAIZAL HOW DARE YOU. HOW DARE YOU. I demand a change because those last pages had me sobbing😭😭

Although the story broke my heart, it was absolutely worth it in the end. Will I ever forgive Hafsah Faizal? No I will not. But her work is top tier so I know I’ll never stop reading it. 10/10 for realllll!!

Thank you SO much netgalley for the opportunity to read one of my most anticipated releases as an arc copy
This is the second and final book of the tempest of tea series and the first one was one of my favorite books from last year
I will say, since I had such a big gap between reading these books I had forgotten some plot points and wasn’t as attached to these characters as much so it took me a bit to get into this story
With that being said, I really just love the plot and atmosphere of this book! It’s also really short when compared to the fantasy genre, and you can still feel some similarities to six of crows/crooked kingdom so I would say that if you like that duology, I think you will like this too

3.5 ⭐️

So this book starts where A Tempest of Tea ends with Arthie recovering from a gun shit wound and pure chaos.

This book definitely had a lot more action than the first book. I enjoyed the moments when the gang was all together.. the dynamic and banter was so worth it.
I adored Jin soo much and this book and fell in love with him! The way he treated Flick *swoon*

And Flick’s growth was present and a focal part of her journey. She def had a hard time accepting her mother for who she is: evil. I liked that we saw her struggle but I loved when she found her confidence.

Arthur also showed some growth in this book. She was a lot more vulnerable and open. Her and Matteo were *chef’s kiss*

This book offered a lot more romance in my opinion.. I was honestly living for it.

There were some plot twists which I did see coming but there was one unexpected event that happened towards the end that literally got me in my feelings that I wanted to throw my kindle against the wall! I was sooo upset! I did knock off half a star from my rating bc while I kindof understand the why, it did not need to happen.. I’m still pretty bitter about it.

The Ram was probably worse in this book and she def got the ending she deserved.

Overall, I did enjoy the book but there weee some parts that were a little cringe and repetitive.

I will def miss these characters!

Hafsah Faizal continues the adventure that started in a Tempest of Tea with this book, a Steeping in Blood. The twists and the intrigue kept me glued to the page and wanting to read just one more chapter. Without giving anything away, the ending had me devouring the final pages.
On a heavier note, this is an excellent read to help highlight the problems of colonialism and the levels of oppression that form the foundation of exploitative capitalism. I hope others who read this brilliantly-written duology also gain a better understanding of some of the ham still present to this day because of the world's history of colonialism, and perhaps understand why future colonizing conquests by any nation are a Really Bad Idea.
A Steeping of Blood is must read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

☕️🩸

A Steeping in Blood is a great conclusion to The Tempest of Tea storyline. This book brings high stakes, important discussions, internal turmoil, swoony romances, found family and plot twists that truly feel shocking.

It picks up right after the events of Tempest of Tea and we follow Arthie, Jin, Flick and Matteo in their adventures and missions to figure out how to take The Ram down once and for all and to show the people of Ettenia that vampires are not the ones they should fear.

To me, everything that happened in this book made sense and felt like there was meaning behind it. Though there were some events that happened that were heart wrenching (iykyk), it still rounded out in a good way and made it a good conclusion for the story.

Oh man. This book had me in tears at the end. The ending was amazing. Sad, but amazing. I loved the first book in this duology, and it ended on a massive cliff hanger. This book picks up right where the first left off. Full of politics, vampires, romance, and heists, this book really hit all the feels. This book really made me think, feel, and most importantly enjoy life.

A Steeping of Blood by Hafsah Faizal is a fierce, atmospheric sequel that delivers even higher stakes, sharper twists, and richer emotions than its predecessor. Arthie Casimir is a force to be reckoned with as she navigates grief, loyalty, and the shifting alliances of a city on the brink of collapse. Faizal’s lush, cinematic writing brings Ceylan to life, and the tension never lets up as Arthie and her crew fight for survival. The emotional depth layered beneath the action kept me completely invested, and the new complexities in Arthie’s relationships added even more heart to the story. A gripping, blood-soaked, and deeply satisfying second installment — an easy 4-star read for fans of dark fantasy and morally complex heroines!

Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux & NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to like this one more, and I was so disappointed when I didn’t. I truly felt like the story became so fast paced, as if there was no moment for both character or reader to catch their breath. At first, I think it was working but then the pacing seemed to become too irregular to the situations going on in the story. I don’t know if spreading out the story over more pages/another book would’ve helped, but I genuinely felt like the ending happened so fast and I was left confused and spiraling.

Typically I’m good with endings that made me sad, but this one did not make sense to me.

Overall, Faizal does an incredible job with descriptive writing and also writing angst and yearning in romantic subplots. Hopefully, I’m in the minority that will not really enjoy this book, because I absolutely loved We Hunt the Flame.

CW: blood, torture, injury/injury detail, death of parent, death, colonization, grief, murder, physical abuse, xenophobia

This installment was difficult for me to get through, which was such a bummer because I LOVED the first book so much. It felt a little heavy-handed with its themes while also being witty and it took me out a little bit.

It's still a duology I would recommend to people, with a little hesitancy.

Look…nobody is more upset about this than I am, but I am so bored. I started reading this book three weeks ago and I only got 15% in and I can’t do it anymore. The writing was so heavy handed and the conversations between were so stilted and awkward. The pacing also felt really off from what I have read. I just don’t want to put myself in a slump c so I am putting this one down for now. Maybe I will listen when the audiobook is out.

Thank you to the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Came for the vampires nd stayed for the found family. I love these characters so ncyh and feel like they are my friends too, while reading. Matteo and Archie are endgame and I don't care how much they both somehow have me convinced they deserve more too. The pace was so much faster with this book. The action to romance ratio was perfect for a YA. I felt cozy at times and also on the edge of my seat.

The narrative is exceptionally well crafted and highly focused on the plot. It captivated my interest from the beginning and maintained it throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, and found that the pacing of the story was remarkably swift. I particularly loved the themes of found family in this duology.. the only thing I didnt like was the ending but telling you why I didnt like it would be giving out a spoiler. overall, great book!

This is the second book in the series and I loved it as much as the first book. A wonderful duo story filled with vampires and tea! Highly recommend!

This book was full of fantasy, wonder and history. It was an amazing follow up to book one. Definitely read A Tempest first though. This was rich and lush and fun too! The mystery elements were fantastic!

I absolutely devoured the first book last year when it came out. Vampires meets Six of Crows, and a broody man with a cat! I was so excited for the sequel! This book picks up right where the last one left off! It was definitely an enjoyable read. I did feel a little bored in spots, like the book was dragging on! When I was nearing the ending, I couldn't figure out how the book was possibly going to be wrapped up with barely any pages left! But to say I was a little disappointed in the ending. The book series is advertised as a fantasy with a slow burn romance. But I feel like there was barely any romance in book 2. But I was more disappointing that the main love interest died? It didn't seem fair that Arthie didn't really get her happily ever after...

I love the world and I think the characters are fun, this book seemed to simultaneously feel too slow and too fast. The overall plot was interesting, but it took so long for anything to happen. On the other hand, any minor fights or problems were solved in an instant. Everyone was too trusting and willing to forgive anyone for anything. Got betrayed? 10 pages later they’re teaming up because they said sorry and promised to never do it again. I really think this book could have solely been about getting Jin’s parents back, messing up Ceylan, and the emotional back and forth between everyone.

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.