Write a review for A Steeping of Blood by Hafsah Fazial. Summary:

After the jaw-dropping ending of #1 New York Times-bestseller A Tempest of Tea, Hafsah Faizal crafts a deliciously twisty and seductive sequel that will leave readers breathless until the very last page. A romantic vampire fantasy novel for fans of Immortal Dark and Heartless Hunter.



Arthie Casimir has had her tea. Now she's out for blood.



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.



In Ceylan.



Hafsah Faizal returns with a vengeance in A Steeping of Blood, the thrilling and seductive sequel to the bestselling A Tempest of Tea. Picking up in the immediate aftermath of its predecessor's explosive conclusion, this installment plunges readers back into the richly imagined world of White Roaring, where the stakes are higher, the shadows are deeper, and the thirst for both tea and blood is insatiable.

Arthie Casimir, the resilient and resourceful heroine, is no longer just serving tea; she's out for blood, and Faizal delivers on that promise with a narrative that is both twisty and emotionally resonant. The city is reeling, the fragile peace shattered, and amidst the chaos, Arthie must navigate a landscape fraught with danger from all sides – a vengeful public, threatened vampires, and the ever-present machinations of the Ram.

Faizal masterfully balances the external threats with Arthie's internal struggles. The weight of loss, the burgeoning complexities of love, and the necessity of forging new alliances all contribute to a compelling character arc. Even as she rallies her battered crew for one last, desperate fight, Arthie must confront the ghosts of her past, adding layers of emotional depth to the high-stakes plot.

The world-building remains as lush and evocative as ever, with the vibrant setting of Ceylan providing a rich backdrop for the unfolding drama. Faizal's prose is both lyrical and sharp, drawing the reader into a world where elegance and brutality coexist. The romantic elements, while present, never overshadow the central conflict but rather serve to heighten the emotional stakes and explore the complexities of connection in a dangerous world.

A Steeping of Blood is a sequel that not only lives up to the hype but surpasses it. It's a breathless race against time, filled with unexpected turns, heart-wrenching choices, and a palpable sense of urgency. Fans of romantic vampire fantasy will devour this installment, eagerly following Arthie's journey as she embraces her newfound power and fights for a future that seems increasingly precarious. If you were captivated by A Tempest of Tea, prepare to be utterly spellbound by the intoxicating and dangerous brew that is A Steeping of Blood. You'll be left breathless until the very last page, already yearning for more.

Hafsah Faizal OWNS this genre. A Steeping of Blood only confirms that. Gorgeous, gripping, and flawlessly done.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I think I’m in the minority of ARC readers for this one, as I much preferred it to the first in the duology. Where A Tempest of Tea spent most of the book focusing on making plans and lacked excitement, A Steeping of Blood made up for in action-packed scenes! It picked up right where the first book ended and ramped up quickly. It was much faster-paced, which I was very grateful for after pushing through the dull moments in Tempest. There were still times when scenes were stretched out, and there were plenty of idle times between fights and action, but I felt it was a much better balance.
I didn’t care much for Arthie in the first book, but I took to her more in this one. Jin and Matteo remained my favorites by far though. Flick’s character development continued, and she remained a middle of the road character for me.
The conclusion tied everything together in a neat little bow, but certain aspects broke my heart (no spoilers, but you’ll know it when you read it). My biggest qualm with the sad twist was that it felt random and forced to evoke emotion. I can handle a heart-breaking moment, but when it doesn’t feel earned, it bothers me.
Overall, I thought it was a great sequel and ending to the duology.

As much as I loved the first novel in this series, I enjoyed this one even more! This beautiful book managed to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump. It jumps right back into the action and the plot never stops. Dealing with themes of colonialism, identify and community, it balances action and emotion. There isn’t a moment when the stakes don’t feel earned. It shredded my heart and put it back together again.

Flick and Jin own my whole heart.

A beautiful sequel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

I have been greatly anticipating this sequel, and it did not disappoint. My only regret is finishing it at work. Now I'm sad! I loved it. I love the characters. I will miss them. Well done.

The highly anticipated sequel to a Tempest of Tea, which was released last year. I really enjoyed how Faizal wasted no time when it came to confirming or denying theories that readers had after reading the first novel. Often times it’s something that’s dragged out, so I respected getting the theories answered early so that we can focus on the plot.

The found family and power dynamic within our group of characters is one of my favorites. I love that when characters are separated, each experienced an internal dialogue featuring how the others would react in that situation. Much like the first novel the story starts with a bang and it’s a fresh and exciting world to be a part of, but the pacing becomes slow. The first novel featured a heist which added a level of tension to the story that made the slow pacing to be excusable, but this time around and even with higher stakes, I felt the pacing still to be an issue. I will always pick up a new Faizal book for its beautiful writing, character arcs, and world building. Huge thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the lovely earc!

I would probably say a 3.5 or 3.75 mostly because the pacing was a bit slow and it took a very long time for me to be pulled into the story. I missed the heist aspect of the first book, and honestly I think the story could've benefited from being a trilogy instead of a duology. Even the ending (while heartbreaking) leaves questions for what comes next. How does Ettenia rebuild, how does Ceylan respond after the explosion, what is going to happen to Leith bc he's just kind of there. I liked that Arthie gets more time to heal and face her emotions, but taking away the character that can read her so easily and help her process that was cruel. How they handled the Rippers seemed a bit too easy, like there could still be holes in how that was addressed and it doesn't feel over. Flick was a highlight for the book, she really came into her own and I'm proud of her.

I really love this story. Vampires? Yes! Conspiracies? Yes! Please give me more! I can't wait for the next one

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.