I am glad I received this ARC through NetGalley, and this does not influence my review. I loved the world building, there was a thorough depiction of the culture. Personally, I don't think I can look at tea the same way again (lol). The competition had me thoroughly invested, and in a way it reminded me of the book Spin the Dawn. The romance was disappointing in my opinion, there was no chemistry. Also I wanted a certain someone to have been the Shadow, but it wasn't... Anyways, I will probably be reading the sequel.

This book was such a delight. Okay yes it starts with poison and contains murder, rebellion, and lots of danger. But TEA! I love love love tea and reading about the different types and additives and how it's used as a conduit for shennong-shi was fabulous. The vivid descriptions of the tea, the aromas, and the process of preparing, brewing, and serving the tea was so interesting. The story of the poisonings and further intrigue at the palace captivated me, while Ning meeting some seriously lovable people made me smile. There was a splash of romance, but not enough to overpower the story or Ning's thoughts and actions which I really appreciated. The longing to help her sister and avenge her mother, while also thinking about all the suffering people was so strong and really made me love Ning even more. I loved watching her grow into her power and all the amazing things she was able to accomplish. I can't wait to see more of her and her magic. The world building was the sweet spot of interesting and unique, without any info dumping or pieces that were hard to reconcile. The story flowed just right and I never really wanted to put it down because I could not be sure where it was going. I loved the ending and need to get my hands on the next one ASAP.

Thank you to MacMillan and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Magic Steeped in Poison in a highly anticipated release for me. So after two slow reading months in both January and February I was excited to receive this earc. This book lived up to all my expectations and I highly suggest it to everyone who lives fantasy and rich story building. Just a warning do not go into this world hungry.

I honestly don't know where to begin as to why I loved this story so much.... There's a competition, a race against time to save Ning's sister, a ton of court intrigue, and betrayal, but Lin takes time in her sto1rytelling; nothing felt rushed. Giving the readers lush details about Dàxī, the food, and the magic experienced through the tea ceremonies. I love the history and culture that Lin has weaved within her story and the friendship that grows between Ning and Lian and also the staff. All building up to the climax of the story that left me reeling (and uh now really begging for book 2). After an ending like that I know there's so much more in store and I can't wait to continue this journey.

This was a very magical and artfully descriptive read where Ning who is gifted in the art of tea-making, different combinations of leaves gives different magical results, comes from a small village to compete in a competition. She is already at a disadvantage to the other wealthy connected competitors in this competition to find the kingdom's greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making.
But is this competition a cover for something bigger happening within the court. Is there a power shift or power play about to happen? Ning is trying to find who is poisoning the tea bricks randomly and her mother was one such victim. But her mother also has a past in this palace.
There was a lot of intrigue, betrayal, a little romance, lots of magic and tea making. The magic system in this book was very unique and I can't wait to see where the 2nd book takes us cause it was a cliffhanger in a way but it stopped at a satisfying spot but we have a lot of work to do or they do. Lol I got invested.

Loved the Chinese and Taiwanese culture and royalty in the the story. This cover is amazing and the 2nd book that is releasing later this year has a just as eye catching cover.

Recommend if you are looking for a
🍵strong female lead and cast
🍵atmospheric settings
🍵 unique magic system and the food and tea descriptions 🤌


Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends and Net Galley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

I love the feeling of the immediate pull into a new fantasy book. A Magic Steeped in Poison had me hooked from the first few lines and, to be honest, I had been eager to read this book since I first heard about it. I was so glad it did not disappoint! The plot was unique and well-crafted like the perfect cup of tea. The characters were dynamic, and each had their own conflictions and nuances that set them apart from one another. This added intrigue and layers into the story, especially into the competition aspect of the novel. The magical art of tea brewing and the story’s unique lore set it apart from other fantasy stories that might be of a similar fashion, but I was blown away by the beauty of the prose and the well written world of the story. I am on pins and needles for its sequel!
**Special thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this title, though all views are my own**

90% politics, 10% tea magic….and I loved it??

With entrancing, almost soothing writing and layers of political and personal complexity, A Magic Steeped in Poison was a delicious read that I devoured in one sitting.

Though definitely slower-paced, it was the lore, the art of tea-brewing, the class divide, and the INSANE, mouthwatering descriptions of food that really made this book shine. I don’t usually enjoy books that mainly focus on the politics of the world, but the author’s light hand made it delightfully digestible and the twists and turns of court intrigue had me on the edge of my seat!

I didn’t connect very well with the characters, but I *felt* for them — very deeply — which I think made the ending even more emotional.

Spectacular, beautiful, heartwrenching!

wowow SUCH a stunning fantasy novel

read this book for:
- inspo from chinese mythology and history
- asian culture
- intricate magic system
- BEAUTIFUL writing style
- magic competition
- plot twists & complex character dynamics
- swoon-worthy romance
- forbidden love
- lots of tea 🍵
- food descriptions that will (!!) make you hungry
- strong friendships
- the prettiest (!!!) cover ever

despite this being a fantasy novel and fantasy novels taking me ~1 week to read, i devoured the majority of the book within a day. the writing style is just so lyrical and beautiful, and the descriptions of food made me SO hungry lol

the plot reminds me a lot of spin the dawn by elizabeth lim. ning has the big heart, fiery spirit, and affinity for magic that maia has, and the book’s cutthroat magic competition was as engaging as the one in spin the dawn.

i feel so represented by this book and by ning. a magic steeped in poison is the kind of book i wish i had with me when i was younger, and i wish i had a main character i could see myself in like i do with ning

the romance in this book really intrigues me, mainly because kang as a character is so interesting to me and i just want more of everything. more of him, more of him & ning, all of it. i finished the book unsure about his true intentions/loyalties so i’m excited the sequel will include his POV

the characters in this book are all super strong and ning’s friends are all very lovable (lian i miss you). i wish i got more of their dynamics and backstories!

the character dynamics are very intricate, and the abundance of plot twists complicate that even more. i can’t wait to read more in the sequel

pick this book up rn 😻😻

thank you to macmillan for an e-ARC and final copy!

cw: death, violence, blood

A Magic Steeped In Poison by Judy I. Lin // 4/5 stars

HIGHLIGHTS //
-The fast-paced plot line kept my attention, even during the transition scenes. It was easy to read and dive in!
-The competition plot was based on skills with tea rather than fighting/killing others, which is a fresh perspective on this trope.
-Ning’s uncertainty of who she should trust as major plot points unfold kept me on my toes! I love how the author set up Ning’s relationships with other main characters.
-Lots of detailed worldbuilding made it easy to get immersed into the setting. I loved reading the ins and outs of the lore, history, and political ties.
-The ending was SO well-written! The climax was better than I had imagined it would be. My mind is still reeling! The cliffhanger caught me off guard in the best way. I can’t wait to read what happens in the sequel!

LOWLIGHTS //
-The competition plot did not seem well introduced. I wish there had been more set up and tension leading to her leaving for the competition.
-The romance subplot seemed to happen very fast and did not make a lot of sense to me personally.
-At the beginning, the plot seemed to just happen to Ning, rather than her making choices to advance the plot. However this improved a lot for me in the second half of the book!
-I wish there was a map!

OVERALL //
I really enjoyed A Magic Steeped In Poison! It is unique and unlike other fantasy novels I’ve read recently. It has a fresh take on the royal competition plot line, and the complex relationships made this such an interesting read. Lin’s prose is very descriptive and easy to read, which made this very enjoyable for me. I would definitely recommend AMSIP to fans of YA fantasy!

A huge thank you to NetGalley, who provided me with a free e-book ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. This is my first ARC and I am very excited to be providing my feedback!

Okay this was an honest 4/5 for me, at point I had no idea where the story was going but in the end it was really enjoyable. Around the 50% mark in the book it got a bit boring and dull but then around 75 things picked right back up and I feel like we truly found a plot that made sense, spoke to the characters and engaged the readers. I loved learning about the healing medicines mentioned as well as the dishes heavily described in this book. It is truly a treat for your senses and I feel like we definitely deserve some type of spin off cook book. I loved a bunch of dynamics in this book. First The sisterly bond, the bond between parents and children and also the struggle of staying somewhere stagnant vs taking risks and growing through challenges. I honestly cant wait for the next novel.
Notes to add: I felt like the beginning half of the book kinda struggled getting the footing/ figuring out the exact plot. Pacing was very good though there weren’t any weird time jumps

Tea is my favorite way to start my day, so I was especially excited to read a fantasy novel focused on tea. The first thing about A Magic Steeped in Poison was Judy I. Lin's writing. It's beautiful, magical, and incredibly joyful. Every moment, even those where not too much is happening, is described perfectly and brings your attention to details one may not normally have picked up on. The writing style additionally lends itself perfectly to the detailed, yet clear, world building. I found myself able to understand most of the lore and fantasy of the world within the first 50 or so pages, which is hard to find in fantasy novels with such intense magic systems.

Regarding the characters, I thought each of the characters were properly developed, with a great amount of growth, but leaving enough room for more during the sequel. Ning was truly incredible to read. I think the most interesting part about her character was her interactions with others such as the princess and Kang. Ning really grows not just due to circumstances, but due to her relationships with others.

Overall I thought the writing was the star of the novel, but also adored the world building and characters.

I quite enjoyed A Magic Steeped in Poison, especially as the story got moving. I will admit, it was a bit of a slow start for me, but as soon as I got invested, I really enjoyed it! I fully admit to knowing less than nothing about tea. If you came to my house, I could not make you tea, except in my Keurig. I am fairly useless as a person. But I was definitely interested in how tea like... did stuff in this world! I mean, if I could find some tea that could change the world, I'd totally figure out how to brew it or whatever.

Anyway. Ning has made an oopsie and maaaybe poisoned her mother and her sister. The former is dead, the latter lingers near death. And Ning is bound and determined to save her sister's life. So she jumps at the chance to enter a teamaker competition, even though that didn't go so well the last time she tried her hand. This is where things really got interesting for me.

We've got all kinds of court politics at play here, some of which went a little over my head, but I got the gist of, at least. Ning isn't just in a competition, the stakes are clearly much higher, and there is basically not a chance that this competition will be completed in a fair manner. So Ning finds herself in an even more precarious position, because her sister's still poisoned, and now Ning is in the lion's den, so to speak.

I loved getting to know all the people Ning met along the way, and am so excited to see what happens next in this series! Ning is a very likable character, and I cannot wait to see how her story unfolds! Also, that cover is quite literally to die for.

Bottom Line: An exciting start to the duology, I cannot wait to see what is in store for Ning next!

I am in awe that this beautiful story is this authors debut. The tension slowly but steadily mounted with each chapter, making it hard to put the book down. I found myself truly enchanted with how seamlessly and beautifully magic was woven within this story, making each page feel like it has been sprinkled with something magical and awe-inspiring. The last thirty percent of this book truly pained me in the best way possible. So much tension came together. I was heartbroken, scared, exhilarated, hopeful, yet hopeless. Holy moly, the feelings I experienced so rapidly had my head spinning! Each character in this book was unique, they each had something they were hiding that gave them a sense of intrigue and mystery. I am so impressed how much I cared and loved for so many of these characters, not just our main protagonist. The author gives each character a strong personality without over explaining or creating anyone that felt stereotypical. I am simply in love with this story, I cannot say enough good things. The ending seriously set up for the next book and I am undeniably excited to read it.

While I enjoyed this book, I found it a bit slow for my liking. It has your typical YA fantasy tropes (but when has that ever stopped any of us, they're popular for a reason) and I loved the magic system within the book. I definitely want to give it another try once the audiobook is out because I loved the premise so much!

Spoiler free review! I enjoyed this book so much I just had to buy the physical copy to keep on my shelf. It was so good and whimsical with a side of mystery. Contains the perfect amount of intrigue, romance, heartache and excitement to keep you turning the pages until the very end! I can’t wait for book 2!

“I used to look at my hands with pride. Now, all I can think is, These are the hands that buried my mother.”

Overview—A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin is a novel that introduces a world filled with tea-based magic, intriguing court politics, a magical competition, a string of murders, and Ning, the seventeen-year-old girl tied up with them all. This book literally has it all. I mean, between the plot (a magical tea-brewing competition plus a strong (murder) mystery aspect, I mean, sign me up!), the worldbuilding (the world is mesmerizing and so atmospheric, it felt like I was there), the (complex and dynamic) characters, the magic (magic tied to tea making, such a unique concept in and of itself), and not to mention that stunning cover, I enjoyed every minute of this book.

The Plot— The entire story kept me thoroughly engaged, especially the entire tea-brewing competition, complete with unique tasks and backstabbing competitors, working alongside Ning and the other characters in trying to figure out who was behind the tea brick poisonings and deadly attacks on the court, and witnessing the lengths to which Ning would go to save her sister from the poison that has already taken her mother.

The Worldbuilding, the Writing & the Pacing— The writing style was beautiful and so atmospheric, which I think paired nicely with the world that Lin has crafted; between the various descriptions and the sense of immersion created through including vivid details related to the five senses (namely sight, smell, and taste), it truly felt as though you as the reader were exploring and experiencing the world alongside Ning. My only (slight) complaint when it comes to the writing would have to be the pacing; although the story is quite engaging, the pacing was a bit too slow for my taste (up until the end), although I still enjoyed the story either way.

The Magic— The entire magic system within this story was so unique! I mean, magic related to the art of tea-brewing? Totally unlike anything that I have ever read before! I enjoyed learning about the history and mythology behind the entire process and witnessing Ning and the other shénnóng-shī at work. I likewise loved learning about the various types of “powers” that the different types of tea and tea combinations produced and the sort of connections between people that were a result of sharing tea.

The Characters— The characters themselves were so complex, dynamic, and multi-layered and it was fun getting to know them over the course of the novel, although our protagonist, Ning, was definitely my favorite character. I absolutely loved Ning’s character, between her loyalty and dedication to her family, her bravery and ingenuity in relation to the competition as well as her situation in general, and her unflinching ability to question authority and the world around her. I especially enjoyed the various relationships that Ning possessed over the course of the novel, namely with her sister, Shu, and her fellow competitor, Lian. The one thing that I will say is that I was not a huge fan of the romance between her and Kang, it was a bit too insta-lovey for me and I wish that we got to see them interact a bit more in general before this romance was developed.

The Mystery— The mystery itself was one of my favorite aspects of the novel; between the tea brick poisonings, the various attacks on the court (namely the princess), and the motivations of the various characters, there were a wide variety of mysteries to unravel and I greatly enjoyed working alongside Ning in trying to figure out who was behind the murders and attacks. Likewise, I enjoyed how the various twists and turns kept you guessing and that the motivations and loyalty of the characters were not black-and-white in the slightest and that you do not know until the end (and even not concretely) as to who can be trusted.

Conclusion— Overall, A Magic Steeped in Poison is an amazing debut and I cannot wait to read the sequel (which comes out in five(!) months) because that ending!

Ning is running out of time. She makes her way to the capital to enter a competition in the hopes of finding an antidote to the poison killing her sister, the same poison that killed her mom. Her goal is to win the magical tea making competition and become the royal tea maker, or shennong-shi. Hanging over the competition is the threat of conflict from a banished general.

Oh my gosh. What a magical story. It's not for someone looking for something fast paced. Rather, it takes it's time letting the story unfurl, letting the reader connect to the characters, and build the world in a way that gives so much information but doesn't overwhelm. Reading this gave me ASMR vibes. The characters are strong and easy to distinguish, making you care about their journey and choices, especially when the competition is over and Ning is forced into situations she never expected.

Magical story that has me waiting impatiently for the second!

I loved A Magic Steeped in Poison. I'm always hesitant when it comes to fantasy, but this really worked for me. This is because of the uncomplicated yet compelling world, the likable, sometimes morally gray characters, and Judy I. Lin's lovely writing style. It just works in so many ways, and I hope its the next big YA fantasy hit.

This book isn't super action-packed and the romance (although the romance is great) isn't at the center. Instead we learn about the magical properties of tea in this world, and become embroiled in some intense court politics. I'm the type of that prefers court politics to dragons and battles and stuff like that, so this really worked for me. That being said, I think it will work for all fantasy readers. Its fast-paced, there's a competition element and some great friendships. I loved the rag tag group we followed at the end of this book. I particularly liked the friendship between our main character and Lian, and the sibling relationship. Both were easily the driving force of this story for me. But the magic system is so cool and unique and can not be ignored. Like I keep saying, everything in this works.

I will be encouraging all fantasy lovers I know to read this. Its just kind of perfect and has it all -magic, queer rep, and so many likable characters. Read this ASAP.

Wow! Wow! Wow!

I was attracted by the cover of this one but the story definitely deliveres as well.

Competition,tea-based magic, murder mystery - what more can I ask for.

If you enjoyed Descendant of the Crane and Spin the Dawn, then you'll surely have a blast reading this one.

Can't wait for the sequel!

~4.5/5~
A Magic Steeped in Poison was beautifully written and I loved the tea magic which really helps this stand out from other fantasy books and captured my attention as I moved through the story and I loved how the side characters impacted Ning such as her relationship with Lien throughout the story.
I haven’t been big on fantasy lately but this really helped me get back in the mood and I’m excited for the next book! Which thankfully won’t be a long wait before it hits the shelves.

For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it's her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu.

When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom's greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning's only chance to save her sister's life. 

But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan for this arc! Can’t wait to receive my copy in the mail!

A great book, especially as a first book. There is so much to talk about and love in this book. The way Judy weaves in so many sayings that actually feel natural to say and hear is great.

CAWPILE SCORE
C-7
A-8
W-8
P-7
I-10
L-8
E-9
TOTAL-8.14/10

<spoiler>
CAWPILE
<b>Characters.</b>
Ning is a great character. We really get into her head and the reasons she has for doing things. Any character who might have initially felt one-sided was shown to have other sides to them. I really felt like her characters all acted appropriate to their ages. No teenagers acting like adults and vice versa.

<b>Atmosphere</b>
The world that Judy I. Lin has created is beautiful and scenic, even if there aren’t many scenes outside the palace, the use of all 5 senses creates a great scene that you can truly feel. Her incredible use of Scent and Taste were spectacular

<b>Writing</b>
Writing was good, occasional small things I could nit-pick, but nothing so bad it took me out of the story. Her chapters end well, and at a good length. The writing flowed well. I liked that we get told Ning was trouble to her family when growing up and then later its shown to us one instance.

<b>Plot</b>
The Plot has some YA tropes to it, but done different enough that they worked well for it. I enjoyed the directions the plot took, and while I knew some things that would happen(tropes) I was still very excited to actually read it and am still excited to see where it is going.

<b>Investment</b>
The first chapter was great and very engaging, it gives us everything we need to know to get started, but after they start the Trials everything gets so much better.

<b>Logic</b>
Most everything follows the logic that is set forth earlier in the book. I dislike and like when teenagers switch so quickly on romance/hate, but that really is how some teenagers are.

<b>Enjoyment</b>
I loved this book. I loved the Magic and Tea. I Loved all the lore that is presented to us, never felt info dumpy. I loved so much about this book and I am super excited for the next one.

MISC awesome parts and thoughts
“Grief has a taste, Bitter and lingering, but so soft it sometimes disguises itself as sweetness” What an amazing line. Beautiful.
Love all the sayings throughout the book.
One thing I dislike in tournaments is when one test is super unrelated to the tournament. Aka find this random thing do this thing that doesn’t actually relate to what your testing on. That’s what I thought was going to happen, but then it didn’t and it worked so well. Lily Scene
How the magic is different for all the shennong-tu.
During the first test. Dragon shakes off the morning dew after sleeping, Dragon encircles his royal residence. I live for this kind of stuff. So amazing
Stupid Judge who interrupts her first test. Is he the stupidest man alive, yes and yes, does he deserve to be thrown in a pit forever, because he couldn’t be patient for 5 more minutes yes.
It was a bit fast how many contestants they eliminated.
The sister transcribing her antidote efforts into stitching and her coming home and saving her sister. Just amazing

</spoiler>
I will be talking about it on Libromancy 05/02/2021 https://libromancy.podbean.com/