When it comes to reading books I am definitely more character driven then plot driven, so sadly I didn’t really connect with the characters in this book. That said the world, magic, and writing is beautifully done. Some thing else I really enjoyed in this book was the pacing ! There never seemed to be a slow or dull moment. There was always something happening that made me just want to keep reading. I am planning on continuing what this duology and reading the second book ( which has a STUNNING cover). I am really hoping that in the second book there is more character development so I can fall in love with the characters as well as the world.

Ning was the one who brewed the poison tea that killed her mother and left her sister ill. In order to save her sister's life, she decides to participate in the kingdom's tea-making competition to become the next royal shennong-shi (master of the ancient and magical art of tea-making) and ask a favor from the princess.

Blending magic and tea, everything in this novel has a deeper meaning - I was captivated by the tea ceremony in which Chinese poetry and thoughts incorporated added layer to the plot; the mention of gods followed by lush descriptions of food made me hungry while it was thrilling to read. Although I found the tactics interesting, I was personally less excited about the magical tea competition and more eager to know about the characters' story/past and their motivations. The flashbacks and the suspense around the mysterious boy and poisoned tea was delicious to read. Lin brings up the subjects of classism and power in an absorbing way. Finally, the pacing picks up towards the end, closing in a cliffhanger.

Full of betrayals, conspiracies, disputes and court politics, A MAGIC STEEPED IN POISON is a debut that I recommend and I am interested to see what happens next.

Title: A Magic Steeped in Poison
Author: Judy I. Lin
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

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.

I really enjoyed this read! The culture and world were fascinating, and I loved all the sensory details that brought it to vivid life. The characters were believable, and I really loved Ning and the friendships she formed—and the intrigues she landed in. I can’t wait to read the second book in the duology!

Judy I. Lin grew up in Canada. A Magic Steeped in Poison is her debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of Macmillan/Feiwel & Friends in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 3/256.)

4.5 stars

Honestly, what an incredible story with an immensely wonderful system of magic tea, and an array of soulful descriptions that make you want to be there because it just feels nostalgic and warm.

Something that really struck me about this book is the way it focused on Ning finding herself throughout the novel. She’s fighting for her family , but she’s also fighting for herself to be recognized and not naïve like any other small town girl coming to the court. Sure she also still falls into that trap but she’s so much more and you find that as she learns more about her skills with tea.. Another thing I enjoyed was the reality of her situation. Holy shit this girl has big fucking balls. In most YA books the female protagonist is very clever in getting their way. Whether it's by charming the pants off their mark or just doing devious things. Well, let me just say that Ning is fearless. I’ve read a lot of books, but it's rare when I'm reading about a protagonist and I'm caught off guard by their sheer bluntness ,and Ning is brilliant, she's calculated but not ever truly ruled by fear. Like holy shit what a woman. A lot of times I wish I could be as clever and sly as other characters, but Ning makes me want to be blunt and ruthless. I would not want to be an enemy of Ning at any point in this book. Not because she’s a killer ,but because of how well she sees through people and isn’t afraid to ask the thing she’s thinking and she will use anything to her advantage( like saying threatening to let a certain someone die unless the princess answers her very pointed questions). I also wanted to say that I loved the female friendship between Ning and Lian —- it's very much a true friendship not a I'm a girl your a girl instant lets be friends. They work through their status differences and recognize that they can be friends because they might need each other, but also that they value friendship and genuinely each other. They also have moments of weakness in their relationship but they move past it and help each other.

I can’t wait to see what comes next !

I was really excited about this one. The cover art is STUNNING and the blurb was intriguing. But... DNF @ 41% - I saw someone else use an acronym "NRN" (not right now) and I feel like that applies to me with this book. Over the past 2 months, I have picked this up and put it down, over and over again. I just can't get into it, and I think it's more about me vs. this book. I can tell the prose and the world building are well done and unique, and I can tell by other reviews that there is pay off to see it through. But it's slow going for me and it's just not grabbing my attention, so I keep putting it down in favor of other books in my TBR.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for my honest review.

Ning's sister has been poisoned, and in order to save her she heads to the imperial city in the hopes that she'll be able to win the tea-making competition there. However, when she gets to the palace, she learns that very few people inside its walls can be trusted, and no one wants her to stay in the competition.

Who thought a book about a tea-making competition could be so exciting? But holy cow was this book a ride! It delivered way more than I expected. I really thought that Ning was a great character, strong and smart. I love seeing Asian rep like this. The story itself was cool and so interesting. My favorite part was the piya part of the competition. I won't say anymore than that so I don't spoil anything for you. Be forewarned that this book ends with a major cliffhanger, and I'm so lucky that I was approved for both books 1 & 2. Otherwise, I'd be pulling my hair out right now.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. I definitely recommend A Magic Steeped in Poison!

Lin does such a wonderful job crafting this fantasy world and infusing magic, heartbreak, hope, and tea in this wonderful book. My heart aches and roots for Ning and her family. The competition setting is such a treat as well. I absolutely adore Ruyi and Zhen and I can’t wait to see how Lin concludes her duology.

What an incredible, unique and magical (pun totally intended) book. I was swept away by the worldbuilding and the story. I've read some fantasy books where every other character is an enemy and I'm glad this wasn't the case here. I loved how the characters defaulted to kindness and compassionate over hatred and malice, despite the general unease throughout the empire. Ning could have been alone in the competition but she found a friend in Lian and allies elsewhere in the palace and that made the book more enjoyable. Ning's strength and stubbornness, and hopeful yet cautious view of the world also made for a wonderful viewpoint to read from. I am so glad I got to read this well-written debut and I cannot wait for the second book in this duology.

This book was true magic. A unique concept brought to life so seamlessly. Utilizing a magic system based in tea and tea masters was absolutely beautiful and the story kept me engaged the entire time. I cannot wait for this series to continue and will be requiring the sequel as soon as physically possible. The story was as beautiful as the cover promises.

I’m not one to judge a book by its cover, but when I saw the cover of 'A Magic Steeped in Poison' I knew that I had to read this story. After reading it, I’m happy to report that Judy I. Lin’s writing is just as stunning as the beautiful cover artwork!

This book is full of tropes that we’ve seen countless times in a YA fantasy series. A competition where the main character must compete to save a loved one? This is a plot that many readers are familiar with. In 'A Magic Steeped in Poison', I found the familiarity of this plot-line fun! I think Judy I. Lin brought a unique look into the competition with her writing.

After losing her mother, Ning can’t bear to lose her sister in the same fashion. When she receives a letter from the kingdom about a tea competition, Ning knows that she must leave home to compete. A favor from the princess as the prize is hopefully exactly what Ning needs to save her sister’s life. So, she leaves her home for the first time to head to the imperial city.

Ning is a great character. She’s intelligent and kind. There are moments where she makes impulse decisions but it’s very fitting to her character, especially considering this is her first time outside of the safety of her home. It was fun to go on an adventure with her because she was so brave.

Once Ning arrives at the imperial city, the competition immediately begins. The entire competition was a lot of fun! I enjoyed reading about how the characters mix ingredients and use magic to brew each tea. It was very fascinating and it’s all thanks to Lin’s fantastic writing. Everything is written with such rich detail from the tea brewing scenes to the amazing world-building.

Being the first book in a duology, of course, there was more world-building than action which made for a slower-paced story, but I didn’t mind. Every scene was painted perfectly for the reader to feel as if they were Ning themselves sitting in the palace for the very first time.

All the characters were just as great, especially the princess. I will say that there were a lot of surprises when it came to every character. There were ones I thought would be evil but ended up being the complete opposite.

The only downfall to this story was the romance. I’ve never been a huge fan of insta-love romances, especially in YA fantasies. By the end of the story their relationship did develop more and it makes me interested to see where the romance will go in the next book.

Overall, I really enjoyed 'A Magic Steeped in Poison'. The court politics alongside the tea competition made for a fun reading experience! There are a lot of betrayals and twists. The characters were interesting and I think the ending wrapped things up nicely to set up the next installment perfectly.

If you’re a fan of fantasy stories then I highly recommend giving 'A Magic Steeped in Poison' a read!

There were so many things about this book that I loved: that the pace of what was happening was fast, but the actual writing felt languid–the descriptions of the tea and the food and the gardens and the interaction between all the characters make you feel like time slows down so you experience everything with Ning; the fact that Ning is realistically sheltered, being young and raised away from politics; that she isn't some individualistic gutsy cookie cutter heroine up against a broken system only a teenager can fix.

Excited for the next one.

Though it's not slow to start, this story about magic performed through the brewing and ceremony has a bit of a steep climb to start. Mired in political intrigue, Ning is struggling to make sense of a new world outside her rural village, and it takes her - and us - some time to get her bearings. But once she hits her stride, this story is engrossing. I would recommend it for fans of Holly Black's The Cruel Prince. The world building is deep and entrancing, and the mystery at its core had me racing to the end, ready for the sequel!

Not only does this book have a gorgeous cover, it is also a gorgeously written fantasy story centered around women. I love how Lin uses the art of tea to create a unique, inspired magic system that feels so fresh and intriguing. I absolutely love how Lin weaves her fantasy story around the elements of making tea, using the basis of Chinese medicine to create such an intricate, delicate magic that is integral to the plot and the main character's sense of self.

Ning is such an endearing protagonist. I love how much fire and passion she has, not just for her craft, but also for protecting those she loves. Her story really pulled me in and I enjoyed seeing her progress through the story, fighting to save her sister, but also striving to prove herself and her art, despite having humble origins. This story is as much about the underdog as it is about a quest to save a loved one, and Lin's storytelling ability really captured my attention and made me want to keep reading.

I love the varied cast of characters, but especially that the main focus is on female characters and their work, together, to fight to save their kingdom and its people. Though their is a minor romance, I like that Lin does not put much focus on it, rather letting it stay a minor plot point. So many YA novels, I feel, make the romance a major element, when it doesn't really need to be. This is a fantasy story that largely focuses on the protagonist and the friends she makes along the way and their struggles. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book.

Both the writing and the plot elements to this story are strong. Lin gave me exactly what I wanted in a fantasy story, so I'll definitely be waiting eagerly for the sequel to this book. Just a heads up, this book ends on a major cliffhanger, so be prepared. I know I wasn't!

This is a beautiful book from the moment you pick it up and through each page you turn. The writing is lyrical with a flowing prose, and the magic system revolves around one of my favorite things: tea! I really enjoyed the intrigue and the shifting alliances all interwoven in a competition setting. The ending was nowhere near what I expected it to be and I'm very much looking forward to reading book 2!

Be on the lookout for my full review on Instagram on 3/30 for the B2Weird tour. A huge thanks to Macmillan for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for tour participation and a review!

The characters in this YA fantasy were complex and interesting. I really enjoyed the tea magic, which was so different from much of the YA fantasy I have read in the past. I loved the world-building. My only critique would be that sometimes Ning's motivations get a little muddied or confusing as the competition progresses, but I still really enjoyed her as a character. I will definitely recommend this one to the teens at my library.

Published review will appear on Forever Young Adult on 3/22/22:

Cover Story: Montell Jordan

Yes, I took a gamble and judged this book by its cover because look at it. JUST LOOK AT IT. Thankfully, it paid off!

The Deal:

With her mother dead and her sister’s life hanging in the balance, Ning leaves her tiny village to journey to the capital of Jia and participate in a competition to become the next court shennong-shi, a wielder of magic in the form of tea making. Shennong-shi can fortify a person’s spirit, heal minor and major injuries, use teas as truth serums and divine futures. Except…Ning isn’t actually a full shennong-shi. She wasn’t even her mother’s actual apprentice—that was her sister. But she knows enough — and has enough tenacity — to fight through her competitors in order to win so she can be granted a boon from the future empress to heal her sister.

But as Ning begins to understand more about the court, the emperor’s disgraced and exiled brother, and the poisonous tea that has been killing unsuspecting subjects all over the empire, she starts to realize that her request isn’t so simple, and there’s so much more she’ll have to learn of the world outside her village if she wants to save what she loves.

BFF Charm: Survivor

Ning has a tinge of desperation clinging to her for the entire story, as everything she does is in order to find an antidote to the poison her sister ingested, which is slowly killing her. She believes everything being thrown at her is beyond her comfort level as a simple village peasant who knows nothing of the political intrigues of the court, but despite her naivety, Ning keeps on clawing her way through like the titular survivor she is. She’s practical and forthright, and while I wouldn’t mind being her friend…things tend to happen around her right now that would make me fear for my safety. So I’ll admire her from afar.

Swoonworthy Scale: 5

Ning meets a mysterious stranger while she’s out in the market looking for items for her first competition task, and they share a quick connection that may come back to bite her later on. She questions if she can trust her judgment and her magic. I’ll warn you that you won’t be seeing any major resolutions until the second novel.

Talky Talk: Steeped In Languid Words

Lin’s writing has an unhurried, dreamy quality that will keep you from feeling major highs and lows; instead, it lulls the senses into a kind of tranquil reading experience. I was wooed by the pretty cover, but as I opened the book I did have a thought of: how exciting can a competition about tea making actually BE? Am I in for a snoozer?

Luckily, Lin described the tea making process and the tasks Ning had to accomplish in such a way that it kept me really engaged; she knew when to explain things more depth and when to gloss over the minutiae. There was a lot of description overall, so I could easily picture the locations within the court and the action sequences. The plot unfolds at, you guessed it, a slow and steady pace. There will be plenty to wrap up in the sequel, but the book does end with some satisfying answers for the mysteries it poses.

I’m sure some will love this and some may find it too slow, but if you’re in the right mood, I think you’ll find it’s a pleasant read

Bonus Factor: Tea

It’s not everyone’s bag (heh), and I will fully admit the way I “tea” using an electric kettle and a teabag compared to the way the process of tea making is described in this book are like the difference between a house cat and a lion. Lin blends together real ingredients from traditional tea making and Eastern medicine into her own blend of fantasy where tea can heal and bring spiritual connections between the shennong-shi and their patient. It was such a fun and unique magic system the YA world has rarely seen.

Bonus Factor: Tasty Business

I am a picky eater and would probably end up disliking half the stuff described if it was actually in front of me, but between the richly seasoned soups, red bean pastries, and all the various pork-shallot-and-ginger-filled steam buns—OMG, you will be so hungry. I am really craving pork buns right now.

Factor: Cliffhanger

Initially it was an anti-bonus factor because, ugh, cliffhangers, BUT THEN I found out the second (and final!) book is coming out in August of this year, and praise be to whoever decided that. I want to read new books (and kinda have to for reviewing purposes) but I really, really hate having to wait a whole-ass year for the next installment.

For one, I feel like attention spans are getting shorter and shorter these days, so it’s almost a risk that people are just going to lose interest in your series unless you’re as popular as someone like Maas, and secondly…do publishers not understand how much I read?! I like to think I have a good memory, but when I read your first in a series anywhere from 40 to 60 books ago, the finer points of your plot are going to escape me.

Anti-Bonus Factor: Misogyny

Even with empress-in-training Zhen acting as regent and heir since her birth, there’s still so many misogynistic men running around undermining her and treating women like idiotic second-class citizens. Thankfully there are some really great examples of women getting shit done sprinkled all around the novel, but, really: down with the patriarchy.

Relationship Status: There’s Something There

I don’t know if we’ll be joined together for the long haul, Book, but you’ve got my attention with your sweet disposition and tasty concoctions. Only time will tell if ours is to be an auspicious union.

FTC Full Disclosure: I received my free review copy from Feiwel and Friends. I received neither money nor peanut butter cups in exchange for this review. A Magic Steeped in Poison will be available March 29, 2022.

Certainly intriguing and well written. Makes me yearn to write poetry while sipping on flowering tea. I look forward to the next installment

this book was INCREDIBLE. it is an arc though so no spoilers! i’m gonna start with the thing that absolutely makes a high fantasy book for me is the world building but particularly how unique/compelling the theory of magic is and it was impeccable in this book. it managed to be entirely individual and easy to understand at the same time, and magic through tea is such a beautiful concept (especially since us bookish people, on the whole, are big fans of tea). all the characters were fantastic; i love ning who feels like she has the weight of the world on her shoulders and can feel both like the protagonist and the side character within her own story. princess zhen and ruyi are two side characters that have my whole heart. the romance was fantastic, giving me everything i need but still leaving me wanting me more. ik devastated i read this as an arc because even before that cliffhanger at the end i needed more immediately. the perfect blend of everything i love in high fantasy; cool magic, political intrigue, and a mystery solve. absolutely a must read when it comes out.

When I first stumbled upon this book, I knew from the cover alone I needed to read it, but the "female main character forced into a competition full of betrayal and intrigue in an attempt to (throw in a plot point here)" seemed a little overplayed.

Boy, was I wrong.

Ning mistakenly takes her mother's life when she brews a poison tea, a tea that now is also slowly killing her sister, Shu. Her only hope of saving her sister is to enter a competition that the kingdom's princess is holding for all magical tea-makers to be the next royal shennong-shi. The winner of this competition will be able to ask for one favor, and that could mean getting the help that her sister needs to survive.

The world building Judy I. Lin crafts is magical and captivating. What initially started as seemingly slowly paced was ultimately perfect for the story, leaving small hints woven for you before the betrayal and angst catches you off guard. The characters are so charming and completely their own person, with fleshed out backstories and purpose. The competition itself wasn't what I am used to and instead was used to flesh out the lore of the story. My only complaint, shockingly, falls on the romance. I crave slow burn and it felt almost instant.

However, I'm going to need a copy of the sequel like.. today.

A beautiful story with the haunting themes of grief and determination to do anything it takes to save those you love.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy!

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A magic steeped in poison had such a magical and interesting concept. I had no idea that there was folklore involving tea. I would have never imagined reading about a book building off of the natural therapeutic of tea or the strengthening from it.

The word building in this book was intense. There was many things to keep track of and many names and places and terms being thrown at you at once. And it never felt like it stopped even at the end of the book. I am a huge fan of world building, but this felt like overload.

There was also such a good premise for a great love story, but it was hastily pushed aside and never thought of again. For a couple chapters, I was wondering where the love interest was, especially since we saw a valiant effort from him to see Ning. This book walked me to a bunch of trails that veered off to where I could not find my way back. And with that, I give this book a 3 star review.

Despite, my negative opinions about this book’s world building, I appreciated it. Yes, it was much, but was every detail beautiful. I liked knowing exactly how every tea tasted like, what every cup looked like, and the folklore with some of the statues. I was intrigued by the plot, but was not immediately snared. I’m not sure what I think of the MC just yet and I’m hoping that the second book will elaborate more on her and her development. Another positive about this story is that it has a HUGE LGBTQ rep, with two couples tangled into the story. I liked the book, but it wasn’t enough for me to call it great or recommend it often! I would recommend it, if you love folklore & detail & a story with 10 percent romance.

Thank you for letting me read this! I hope I also get approved for the second so I can read about Ning’s journey with the princess & ruyi!