Series: The Scarlet Alchemist # 2
Format: Hardcover, 400 pages
Release Date: October 22, 2024
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy
The sequel and conclusion to the acclaimed dark YA fantasy duology that began with The Scarlet Alchemist. Zilan sets out on an epic and dangerous quest through alternate Tang Dynasty China in search for a mysterious place, hidden by alchemists, that could hold the power to resurrect her loved ones and fix past mistakes.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.
The Blood Orchid by Kylee Lee Baker is the finale of the author's The Scarlet Alchemist duology. Return to the world of The Scarlet Alchemist with this twisty sequel that picks up right where the first book left off. Set in an alternate Tang Dynasty China where alchemy has flourished, this world is decadent with gold and gems but teeming with death underneath the glitter. Inspired by Kylie's heritage, the half-Chinese, half-Irish heroine Fan Zilan has the ability to raise the dead, a power that thrusts her into the middle of a dangerous game at the imperial court.
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, who we haven't seen the last of. Zilan, who grew up poor, and practicing alchemy, 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. But Penglai Island has been hidden well 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.
Joining Fan Zilan on this adventure, besides her brother Wenshu, are her sister Yufei, rival alchemist Zheng Sili, and, most importantly, Durian, the alchemy duck Zilan created in the first book. 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. If you like books with quests, and if you like nonstop action until the last page, you should read this entire duology. One of the best parts of this book was the family aspect. It was nice seeing Zilan and her siblings get away so well, even with a little banter to keep things moving.
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