The Blood Orchid

by Kylie Lee Baker

Overview

Whatever power you think you have is an illusion.
Whatever your dreams are, they belong to me.
And wherever you run, I am already there waiting for you.

Since Zilan entered the world of royal alchemists, she has learned firsthand that alchemy comes at a price. She has lost her family and her beloved prince in her search for justice against the evil Empress. All Zilan wants now is to find some way to bring them back. Resurrection is her specialty, after all.

In search of Penglai Island, where the infamous myth says life can be fully restored, Zilan starts a new adventure. But Penglai Island has been kept well hidden by a group of unpredictable, and often dangerous, alchemists. Uncovering the secret means challenging some of the most powerful alchemists to ever live. And when old threats come back to haunt Zilan, she will have to decide just how much she is willing to sacrifice to save her loved ones—and the practice of alchemy that has long defined her and the world around her.

This gripping duology closer by the acclaimed author of The Keeper of Night is not to be missed!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780369749901
Publisher:	Harlequin
Publication date:	10/22/2024
Sold by:	HARLEQUIN
Format:	eBook
Pages:	400
Sales rank:	697,347
Age Range:	13 Years

About the Author

Kylie Lee Baker is the author of The Keeper of Night. She grew up in Boston and has since lived in Atlanta, Salamanca, and Seoul. Her writing is informed by her heritage (Japanese, Chinese, and Irish), as well as her experiences living abroad as both a student and teacher. She has a BA in creative writing and Spanish from Emory University and a master of library and information science degree from Simmons University.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for The Scarlet Alchemist

"An enchanting, immersive world in which the manipulation of elements knows no bounds. Centered around life and death, this fast-paced story is gory and gruesome but lightened by moments of levity... Grisly, dark, and utterly entrancing." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review


“A ruthless and standout series opener to a dark, adrenaline-fueled duology. Highly recommended for all collections.” —School Library Journal, starred review


“In this deeply immersive historical fantasy, a grisly duology opener, Baker expertly navigates the societal constraints and pains of marginalization via visceral prose.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

The Blood Orchid

In this follow-up to The Scarlet Alchemist (2023), Fan Zilan, the newly appointed Scarlet Alchemist, must find a way to resurrect her loved ones after they sacrificed their lives to destroy the evil Empress.
Zilan once dreamed of becoming a royal alchemist, but although she’s achieved this goal, she’s also lost almost everything: Her friends, family, and beloved prince have all died as part of her quest to kill the Empress and enact justice. Hoping to resurrect them all and create a better world, Zilan, her alchemy duck, and her brother, Wenshu—who’s been resurrected in the prince’s body—search for legendary Penglai Island, said to be home to eight immortals who possess an elixir for eternal life. With only her white foreign father’s scant notes and a riddlelike poem as guides, Zilan and Wenshu set off on a daunting journey. Each clue brings them one step closer to Penglai Island—and deeper into the dangerous, secretive world cloaking its whereabouts. Along the way, they encounter new threats, old enemies, and unexpected allies, making Zilan question whether the sacrifices she’s made (and continues to make) are worth it. This sequel, whose setting evokes Tang dynasty China, is just as dark and gruesome as the first volume. Full of action and gore, this fast-paced story centers around love, sacrifice, family, and death. The presence of new, powerful alchemists opens up more of this mesmerizing, terrifying world.
A dark, thrilling duology closer. (content note, historical note) (Historical fantasy. 14-18) - Kirkus

From the Publisher

2024-08-03
In this follow-up toThe Scarlet Alchemist (2023), Fan Zilan, the newly appointed Scarlet Alchemist, must find a way to resurrect her loved ones after they sacrificed their lives to destroy the evil Empress.

Zilan once dreamed of becoming a royal alchemist, but although she’s achieved this goal, she’s also lost almost everything: Her friends, family, and beloved prince have all died as part of her quest to kill the Empress and enact justice. Hoping to resurrect them all and create a better world, Zilan, her alchemy duck, and her brother, Wenshu—who’s been resurrected in the prince’s body—search for legendary Penglai Island, said to be home to eight immortals who possess an elixir for eternal life. With only her white foreign father’s scant notes and a riddlelike poem as guides, Zilan and Wenshu set off on a daunting journey. Each clue brings them one step closer to Penglai Island—and deeper into the dangerous, secretive world cloaking its whereabouts. Along the way, they encounter new threats, old enemies, and unexpected allies, making Zilan question whether the sacrifices she’s made (and continues to make) are worth it. This sequel, whose setting evokes Tang dynasty China, is just as dark and gruesome as the first volume. Full of action and gore, this fast-paced story centers around love, sacrifice, family, and death. The presence of new, powerful alchemists opens up more of this mesmerizing, terrifying world.

A dark, thrilling duology closer. (content note, historical note)(Historical fantasy. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews