A review by annagerg
A Steeping of Blood by Hafsah Faizal

adventurous dark emotional sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

A Steeping of Blood picks up right where A Tempest of Tea left off, and it’s captivating… until it’s not. I disconnected somewhere in the middle and really struggled to get through the story. Then it picks back up at the end for a stunning and emotional conclusion. While I liked the story and its characters, the chapters are so short, and the narrators are constantly switching, which was distracting and hard to keep track of. Then at the same time the middle of the book felt like it was dragging. It’s still a wonderful story, and I loved the overall journey of Artie, Jin, Flick, Matteo, and their allies and enemies. It might not have the ending that you are hoping for, but it’s still a satisfying and fair conclusion. 

While there were some parts that moved unbearably slow, I will say that Hafsah Faizal writes some of the best kissing scenes ever. Wow. So while A Steeping of Blood wasn’t necessarily my favorite, it still had some fantastic moments and is definitely worth the read. Thanks and gratitude to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for providing the eARC via NetGalley.
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