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.

The fast paced and heart stopping sequel to the Tempest of Tea, Hafsah Faizal throws readers back into the world of White Roaring and the lives of the Casimir's and their found family. Arthie wakes to realize that she lives, having been turned a full vampire by Mateo after her near death from their heist gone wrong. Arthie, Jin, Flick, and their crew have each suffered since that night's failure, but they have the ledger containing the secrets to taking down the Ram, the brutal monarch of Ettenia who created the suffering the crew felt that night, and for decades before. With the ledger revealing the home base of a secret project to weaponize vampires, and a sinister tribute planned by the Ram in just a week, the crew races the clock to save themselves and the people of White Roaring before it is too late.
I LOVED A Tempest of Tea, and this sequel was an amazing jump back into the story and the world this series created. A Tempest of Tea ended on such a cliffhanger, and this book picked right back off where it had left. I loved seeing Arthie's relationship with her emotions and the people in her life develop and change into something deeper, and the romantic relationship between her and Mateo and Jin and Flick get the time and care they deserved. This book was a lot more fast paced than the The Tempest of Tea, which is to be expected of a sequel with lots to accomplish to end the story of this vibrant and dark world. I love Faizal's writing, and how she is able to create such an expansive and rich scenery, a lovable and morally grey cast of characters, and discussions of race, gender and classism in such a unique story premise. I recommend this series to everyone who enjoys a fast paced fantasy with darker elements, and cannot say enough good things about this sequel.

2.5 stars rounded up to three. I liked the first book in this duology well enough and wanted to see where the story was going. I am sorry to say that everything I didn’t like in the first one was exacerbated in this one. I wish the author spent less time trying to make quotable quotes and more time on the plot. Alas, that did not end up being the case. And what even was that ending.

I ATE this book up!! This book was action packed, I was never bored not once. I had a few laughs here and there. The slow burns 😩 I was so heartbroken at the end, I still don’t know what to do with myself 24 hrs later. It just plays in a loop in my head. it’s like an HEA but also prepare yourself 😭

...I adored book one of this series. So much! It was a genre-bending, witty, romantic adventure that I couldn't put down. And I love duologies within the romantasy genre because I feel that the pacing is always stronger than books that are stretched to much. But this one, was all angst. I understand some of the choices and murdered darlings make for a good story. But to be honest, the characters went through so so so much this book and by the time we got to the end, I didn't feel happy for them. I just felt sad still...

I absolutely loved A Tempest of Tea, and this one was no exception. as the last book left us wanting more, I was fully invested in what happens to Arthie. This was fast paced, and I felt like there was no time for Arthie to mourn. This was absolutely an amazing conclusion to this duology, and I am going to miss the wit of Arthie. I loved the "friends" taking on the government, especially during the times we are currently going through. The vampire theme was also perfection! This duology is an absolute favorite!

I enjoyed this second book from Hafsah Faizal in the Blood & Tea series. The story crafting and character development are excellent. I feel like the structure leading to the ending was not adequately built, and that brought it down a star for me. Still a good read.

I thought that this was a good follow up to A Tempest of Tea! I would say it was about on the same level (I gave both books the same rating), and I overall enjoyed the story. I thought the ending was fitting. As with the last book, I liked the characters and relationships, and thought each character had excellent development throughout this story. I found this one a bit faster-paced than the first book, and I overall had a really good time reading it! I would definitely recommend this duology as a whole :)

Oh man. I loved book one and book two did not disappoint. This series is going to be worth the read. I love this world, these characters, the concept. It’s so fun and well developed.

Wow!! Another brilliant book from Hafsah Faizal! Im blown away at this woman’s story telling skills. The world that has been created here is truly magical. My only complaint is i wish the blood and tea series wasn’t YA i personally think this book would fit better as a more adult book but i know a lot of people love YA. But overall absolutely wonderful i hope we get to see these characters again someday even if this is the end of the series.
4.5⭐️

I’m starting to be convinced that maybe Hafsah Faizal’s books aren’t necessarily up my wheelhouse? I really enjoyed We Hunt the Flame but was highly let down by its sequel. And I found myself trudging through Tempest of Tea but held out hope that this book was turn it around. Unfortunately, I was let down again.

Like I said, I didn’t totally connect with the first book in this series. I liked Arthie but couldn’t find myself interested in the others EXCEPT Matteo, who was a big reason I still tried this book because I was sure that he would step into a bigger role (he did). However, it still wasn’t enough to get me to care about any of the plot. WHY Matteo didn’t get POV chapters, I’ll never know. It seems like a massive waste of a great character. And don’t even get me started on the ending. What was the point? All the suffering throughout the book and it doesn’t even end on a happy note for Matteo or Arthie. Lame. Might have to take a break from Hafsah’s books until a premise really grabs me.

A Steeping of Blood
by Hafsah Faizal
Pub Date: Sep 23 2025

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.

First and foremost, thank you NetGalley and Macmillian for letting me get an ARC of this book!

This book is much more fast paced and action packed compared to the first, which wasn’t a win for me, personally. With the first book, I was there for the vibes, which were immaculate, but the vibes here were much different. Seeing the romances between characters develops was worth it, but the plot overall felt scattered. I struggled with this one, which is painful to say because I love Hafsah Faizal and her work. That being said, if you didn’t like the first book because of the pacing and vibes, you might actually really like this sequel, especially if you’ve already read the first book. Am I still going buy it when it comes out for my book shelf? Yes. Am I still sad that I hyped this sequel up for myself only to have my expectations not met in the ways I wanted? Also yes.

It’s a good book, I just wasn’t expecting what I got. 3/5.