When I tell you I SCREAMED when I got the eARC for this book. I have been eagerly awaiting it after the cliff hanger Hafsah Faizal left us with in a Tempest of Tea.

Arthie continues to push past the betrayals, the fear, and the destruction of Colonialism. This book was heavier than I expected, with a few light moments splattered throughout to ease the tension. The sari scene was everything. The ending had me cheering, sobbing, and back to cheering again as hope conquers all.

Thank you for the opportunity of an eARC and I am leaving this review willingly.

Wow. I’m not sure I’ll ever recover from that ending! Faizal once again drew me in to the world of Ettenia with a story filled with humor, love, and heartache and had me falling in love with Arthie and her crew again!

From the very first chapter, it’s off to the races and I’m not sure the story actually ever slows until the very ending. This found family gets put through its paces and manages to make it through the toughest parts of life together.

After reading a tempest of tea, which I found just to be ok, I was on the fence if I was going to continue with A Steeping of Blood. While I loved the idea of found family we had built and the cliffhanger at the end promised an action packed conclusion, I feel this book fell flat in many ways.

I think the dialogue was in some ways more juvenile than I was expecting for topics that are discussed and we hit a bit of a slog in the middle portion of the story due to pacing but overall the characters all had growth and the plot was sufficiently twisty. Not entirely predictable so that is always a plus.

I really enjoyed delving more into the characters of Flick and Matteo and watching them grow into themselves…even their conclusions, which seemed appropriate to the story as much as I didn’t want to like the ending. However Jin’s backstory was not as fleshed out as I would have wanted. The importance of finding his parents didn’t seem truly urgent or imperative to moving forward with the plot as they were never established as being more than a loss he refused to believe was dead and then all of a sudden they are alive and may have crucial informative important to our current dilemma.

Even though I was disappointed with some aspects of this story, I am still glad I read this conclusion and will continue to read anything released by Hafsah Faizal :)

🌟🌟🌟🌟.5/5

The final book of the Blood and Tea duology, this one was a doozy.

*Possible spoilers for book 1 ahead*

First of all: Hafsah Faizal should be in ja*l for the cliffhanger she left us on last time 😂

And then she goes: what if we took all of the elements of the first book and cranked it up a few hundred notches??
The pace, the emotional damage, the heat, the RAGE, it’s all here and absolutely on fire 🔥

I loved how much this book emphasizes the destructiveness of colonization. It shows how much it destroys and how people in and outside the system uphold its power, but also how to fight against it.

I loved Arthie’s arc in this book. Seeing where she started at the beginning of this series and where she ends up was truly beautiful.
And I continued to love and adore Jin and Flick ☺️

And oh my goodness the emotional damage 😭😭😭 this ending took me through it, I’m still upset 😭

Faizal did it again. I didn't think I would love this sequel as much as the first book, but OH MY! What a ride. Where the first book was hiest-like, this one feels more like The Island of Dr. Moreau of sorts with some old-fashioned dungeon crawls. High stakes (no pun intended for a vampire book) and interwoven love stories will leave you both with good feelings and deep sorrow. The range of my emotions in this one was whiplash at some points. Gold stars as well to everyone's favorite supportive character: Opal the Kitten.

In this riveting sequel to A Tempest of Tea, Faizal keeps the gothic vibes strong while diving deeper into betrayal, revenge, and power. I loved the character development that carried over from the first book, and things wrapped up in such a satisfying way.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Macmillan and Netgalley for the arc!!
I was thrilled to get my hands on this sequel! It jumps right back into the story, but with a noticeably different feel. The first book was a wild ride from start to finish, while this one slows down to focus on character development. I really appreciated seeing the characters evolve and deal with their personal struggles. However, I did find myself missing the fast-paced action of the first book and wishing for a bit more excitement to keep things moving. The ending was definitely dramatic, and while all the loose ends were tied up, it felt a little too rushed, which lessened the impact of certain events. Despite that, the emotional resonance was strong, and I'm already feeling nostalgic for these characters. I'd love to see a glimpse into their future, especially after that whirlwind of a conclusion! Overall, it was a satisfying conclusion to the duology, even if I'm left wanting more.

“A Steeping of Blood” is a thrilling and emotionally charged sequel that elevates the stakes and deepens the intrigue of its predecessor, A Tempest of Tea. Set against a backdrop of political unrest and supernatural danger, the story follows Arthie Casimir as she grapples with the aftermath of a devastating event that has left the city in turmoil. With vampires in peril and justice hanging in the balance, Arthie must navigate a web of alliances and confront the ghosts of her past to lead her crew in a final, high-stakes mission.

Faizal masterfully blends elements of fantasy, romance, and suspense, crafting a narrative that is both captivating and emotionally resonant. The characters are richly developed, with Arthie's journey of self-discovery and resilience at the heart of the story. The romance adds depth to the narrative, providing moments of tenderness amidst the action and intrigue.

With its intricate world-building, compelling characters, and a plot filled with twists and turns, A Steeping of Blood is a must-read for fans of fantasy and adventure. Faizal has once again delivered a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, leaving readers eagerly anticipating what comes next.

Thank you to MacMillan and NetGalley for the ARC!

4/5 stars

This book was an excellent sequel that picked up right where we left off and never stopped for a minute. The pace was quick and yet we somehow still got to see our characters grow and adapt even as they were each dealing with their own hardships. I wish we were getting a third book, if not for more of a follow up to the quick paced conclusion, then definitely for more of our characters finally having peace. Not to mention I spent the last few chapters waiting for a certain someone to come back through the doors.

The ending did seem to come together very quickly and made a few things feel a little less impactful because of how rushed they were. But the emotional damage was still very strong. Overall, it was a solid conclusion to the duology and I'm going to miss these characters and the quick paced heists

I loved the first book in this duology! I was so excited to be approved for this one. It picks up right where book 1 ended. This sequel has a different pace than its predecessor, so it felt completely different. The first book was nonstop from beginning to end, and this book was much slower. I appreciated the growth of the characters, and this was more than likely the reason for the chance of pace. Though I do wish we got a bit more action throughout to keep the pacing up. The end was very dramatic, and I'm not sure it could have gone any other way. While all of the questions for answered, I would love a peak back into this universe to see where the characters are in the future.

I absolutely fell in love with this sequel. Hafsah Faizal’s writing is a delicious blend of dark fantasy and sizzling romance that kept me glued to every word. The twists kept me breathless, and the way the story explores loyalty, loss, and fighting for what matters hit me hard. It was an emotional rollercoaster that I didn’t want to get off, and I’m still thinking about it days later.

After the cliffhanger ending of a Tempest of Tea, Arthie Casimir is now a full-fledged vampire trying to pick up the pieces of her life. Along with her friends Flick and Jin, the "crew" follows the twisty path to uncovering -- and stopping -- the Ram's secret plans to solidify her dictatorship. A satisfying ending to the duology.

I loved the first book in this duology so when I saw that I got accepted for the arc I was extatic. This book was all I needed it to be and more. A steeping of blood starts where a tempest of tea ends and has you wondering what will happen next at every page. I never wanted to put this book down with the plot twists at every chapter! This book is the perfect ending to the series. Just be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster.

The book picks up right after the events of A Tempest of Tea and it’s an adventure the entire time. I was happy to get more POV from Flick and Jin. I loved seeing how the characters have grown and changed. This ragtag team of criminals stole my heart time and time again. Faizal’s writing allows you to really see the characters and love them, flaws and all. Thank ending though, iykyk (I'm glad it is addressed in the acknowledgements). I highly recommend to anyone that loved the first book and can’t wait for this one. You will not be disappointed!

This was a great sequel and end to A Tempest of Tea. This has everything, a heist, vampires, crime, romance, found family, and taking down the colonizing monarch. With all of it, I was kept on my toes and my emotions were all over the place, I did cry at the end for both good and sad reasons, and I don’t know if I’ll ever get over what could have been.

I loved A Tempest of Tea, and A Steeping of Blood did not disappoint. A perfect conclusion to the duology!

I don’t know if I’ve ever been in the mood to read book more than I was in for A Steeping of Blood. I downloaded this the minute after I saw that my NetGalley request was approved and set aside my current and next reads because that ending of A Tempest of Tea was just too good and I needed to know how Arthur and crew would recover. I thought this book was more fast paced than the first one and I devoured this. It was hit after hit for Arthie, Jinn, Matteo and Flick. I felt so bad for them but loved how they came together and fought to beat the Ram. The found family aspect of this book really packs a punch. I also liked the commentary on colonialism weaved into the story. Also I enjoyed how Arthie, Flick and Jin changed and grew and the overall arc of their characters. I’m a big fan of how romantic and searing Faizel’s writing is. She literally renders your heart in two. I do wish we had more interactions between Matteo and Arthie in the first book so their relationship in book 2 felt more solid and deeper. I highly recommend picking this up if you enjoy A engaging and searing read where the stakes feel so high!

honestly a great sequel and i highly suggest going in with an open mind and maybe even reread the first book if you want to brush up on a few things because i sure did and i don't regret it

This one doesn't waste time, starts right where the first ended, a level up for the character who still has a complex relationship with her maker. If you loved book 1 you'll appreciate the character's journey in this one and the conclusion. A different take on vampire characters and story with a lot of political intrigue.

Faizal never fails to show up and treat. This duology wasn't as dear to me as her first, but the story still packs quite the punch with great twists and epic action.