I’ve had this gem sitting on my NetGalley shelf for a while and kept putting it off because I could tell that once I started reading, it would be a finish-in-a-day kind of book. Today I finally had the time, and it didn’t disappoint!

I could rate this book highly on aesthetics alone. Reading this was a lush and luxurious experience, and the details of the setting, the food, and of course the various tea ceremonies were absolutely enthralling. The whole concept of the magic system being embedded within the art of tea was so intricate and interesting and lovely…and I don’t even like tea, as a general rule 😆

The plot moves quickly, and it follows a fairly standard YA fantasy structure: the heroine enters a series of tests to prove her worth, paired with a healthy dose of plot-to-overthrow-the-empire in the background. There’s the requisite love interest who may be working for the enemy, but thankfully it’s not a love triangle, and we focus mostly on Ning’s actual progress and skills than we do on the romance. The romance was actually one of the weaker aspects of the novel, in my opinion. Kang felt desperately underdeveloped as a character, so the whole “will we ultimately betray each other when we want so badly to just make out” tangent fell a little flat for me. Honestly, the mere implication of a romance between the princess Zhen and her handmaiden/bodyguard held more intensity and interest than the whole of Ning and Kang’s arc. I could have done without it, but I’d never begrudge a YA fantasy its prettyboi.

In contrast, I appreciated many of the side characters and enjoyed Ning’s friendship with Lian and the kitchenfolk. The supporting cast brought a warmth to the story and added to the richness of the world building, which, again, was superb. I loved the various trials and how different they each were, and how each subsequent test revealed new layers of the magic system. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention the absolutely stunning cover art — not only is it gorgeous, but it also aptly captures the atmosphere and “feel” of the book.

This is the first in a duology, so don’t expect a tidy ending — it very much leads into the next book. However, it won’t be too long a wait, as this book is due out at the end of March and the sequel is expected in August. I’m excited to read the conclusion, and will be adding these to my classroom library.

This is my favorite YA book in quite a while. It involves a lot of similar mythology to that in Daughter of the Moon Goddess, which I also loved, but it leans on an entirely different type of magic.

The author clearly spent a great deal of time researching the traditional medicinal properties of the ingredients in this book, and with them she weaves together a tale of magic, tea, betrayal, loyalty, and sacrifice. Even many of the more minor characters in A Magic Steeped in Poison have great moments that define their character and give them depth for the reader, while other characters are left shrouded in mystery for the second book in this duology.

The world building is excellent, but it feels natural. I never felt bogged down in it or confused as to what was happening in the world surrounding the main character, Ning.

What’s more, Ning is a great character to follow. She is driven but rational and cares deeply but isn’t rash or impulsive. At one point, I was afraid she was going to make a decision that often sours other YA stories for me—to abandon everything in a moment of emotion, but she did not disappoint me. Ning is the kind of protagonist who doesn’t break in her beliefs, even when she is afraid or anxious. She may be used by other characters, but she never abandons her core beliefs, even when it is difficult to tell what is right or wrong.

I also love books with strong friendships, and really enjoyed the loyalty that develops between Ning and Lien throughout the book.

This is the first book of a duology, and since it ends on a cliffhanger, I can’t overstate how happy I am that the second book is set to release in August of this year. Lin has built an enchanting world and a fascinating magic system, and I can’t wait to see where Ning will follow her gifts and her loyalties in A Venom Dark and Sweet in just a few months.

I was lucky enough to receive an e-arc of this through NetGalley. I’m so glad that I’ve had the chance to read this because now I can wax lyrical about this story in the hopes you’ll go out and buy the book! Okay, maybe not all that lyrical, but this was a book that I am very excited about.

A Magic Steeped in Poison follows Ning. Ever since her mother died and her sister got sick due to a poison in the tea that Ning served them, she’s hated her hands. Yet her hands are the very thing that could save her sister. When they receive a letter inviting their mother’s apprentice to enter a competition to become the court Shennong-shi — a magic practitioner whose spells are enacted through tea — Ning knows she has to enter and win in the hope of winning a wish from the princess. With that wish, she could get the medical help that her sister needs. Within the walls of the court, Ning winds up tangled up within magic and intrigue both, and her attraction to a boy she meets at the market may cause her more trouble than she’d have ever expected.

This book was so much fun. At the time of reading this book, I wasn’t really in the mood for fantasy or sci-fi. I’d put a few books down as I just wanted to read some chick-lit or romance. No matter what I was in the mood for, I knew I had to read this first, and I was worried that it would tarnish my reading experience of this book. That I wouldn’t like it as much as the right book, wrong time. Fortunately, that was not the case. My lack of focus didn’t come into play, and I easily read this in two days. Considering every other fantasy book I’d read recently I’d dragged out…this was pretty amazing.

I liked Ning as the main character. She was kind, and she was determined. When it came to dangerous situations like chasing the feared Shadow, she was okay with throwing herself at them to stop them. On multiple occasions. She wasn’t a quiet wallflower, even if that was what was expected of her. That said, she wasn’t too brash either. Within the tea ceremonies and the intrigue she’s pulled into, you see that she’s thoughtful and does want to listen to her heart. She just knows it’s not always the best choice and tries to remind herself of that. Her heart being so big did lead to her getting hurt, but I’m curious to see where that will take the second book.

The magic system in this book was one that I found fascinating. I hadn’t really heard of the idea of tea magic. Though thinking about it, I feel like it’s something that witches use. Just perhaps not in the same way. I don’t know much about Chinese or Taiwanese mythology, so I don’t know how much is prevalent in the book. Though I did read that Shennong was a Chinese emperor who wound up being referred to as the Medicine King, due to the fact he introduced a lot of herbal medicine. I like the way that Lin transformed that in her fantasy world.

If you hate cliffhangers, then be warned this book has one. I’m so glad that the sequel comes out so soon, as, after that ending, I don’t want to wait to see what happens. Poor Ning. The cliffhanger did work well though. So much of this book focuses on Ning wanting to help her sister, and what happens at the ending could lead to several possible endings for that arc. I’m curious as to where Lin has taken it, and I can’t wait to read more.

There are a few things I want to warn you about though. Nothing particularly major, but I know some things could upset people. There is a scene where a man grabs Ning when she’s dressed as a servant, and it’s suggested that he could possibly rape her. But nothing explicit happens or is said. There is also a challenge that focuses on animal harm. They have to try to poison then heal a bird. There is no animal death, but I know it’s something that upset me a little and could upset others.

Overall though, it was a great book. A fresh fantasy tale that I hope all will enjoy as much as I did.

Ning has lost her mother and now she is facing losing her sister to the same poison, but when a letter comes from the imperial palace asking for her mother to compete in a competition to be the next shennong-shi Ning decides maybe going to the source will be the place to find answers. Instead she finds a world that is more corrupt then she could ever imagine. One never knows who might be a friend or a foe. There is danger and those out to remove her from the competition every where she turns. Will Ning be able to figure out not only how powerful her skills are, but who she can really trust in time? Can she save her sister and figure out who is behind the mass poisonings without losing her own life?

If you love adventure and twists and turns you will love this book. Ning is a strong character who knows what she wants most in life and while she sometimes strays from her goals she is always able to pull herself back in time to refocus. This book is filled with twists and turns and one never knows what ones true nature is. I think readers of all ages will be swept away on this fantastic journey, and trust me when I say you will want to read more.

Thank you so very much to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this text.

~Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read an ARC of this book!

4.5 🎇

PLOT
•The book had a good plot, and there were numerous twists and turns that had me reading this book constantly and begging for answers. It ran at a good pace and the book was properly sized to tell this story.

CHARACTERS
•These characters were very dynamic and I enjoyed watching each of them change and seeing where their true loyalties lie at the end of the story. Ning is an amazing character and I am excited to see where she goes next.

WORLDBUILDING
•The world crafted is beautiful, it's unique and has it's own wonderful lore and history to as well as the references to certain Asian mythology. I loved the culture and magic this story had and it has to be one of my favorite components.

OVERALL
•Amazing book, and I heavily recommend it.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy from Feiwel and Friends and Netgalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫

A Magic Steeped in Poison is the first book in a duology, following Ning, a young woman who sneaks her way into a magical tea-brewing competition at the royal palace in an attempt to find a cure to heal her ailing sister. Will she be able to enter the competition, much less beat the other contestants long enough to discover a cure to whatever has poisoned her sister? Or will she discover even more mysteries than she can handle along the way?

I thoroughly enjoyed this read and would have finished it much faster if not for life getting in the way. The characters all had unique voices and I am in much suspense wanting to learn more about a particular character in book 2. Even the minor characters left an impression on me! The atmosphere was delightful, and even though I know next to nothing about how to brew tea without a Keurig and tea bag, I was mesmerized by every scene and thrilled by the author's writing.

I have no complaints about this book, really. I didn't enjoy/understand some of the aspects of a competition round involving insects and poison, but it was truly so minor that it did not affect my reading experience. I have already requested a review copy of next book in this duology, and cannot wait to discover what the finale has in store me!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Historical YA Fantasy, magical competitions, possibly extreme slow burn romance, and complex characters!

A Magic Steeped in Poison was a beautiful rendition of wonder and Chinese folklore. I really enjoyed the magic system of tea introduced. It was unique and beautiful. The prose is also gorgeous. I could read those descriptions for hours. However, the author spent a bit too much time worldbuilding. I would've liked to see more of the characters, rather than learn about the history that brought all of them to that point. In all, this lovely book could have used a bit more to make me love the characters, though. The cliffhanger was great, too. It will make readers want to get their hands on the next one as soon as possible.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC!

I loved this book! The characters and plot were really good. I loved Ning's character development and the ending really surprised me. I would definitely recommend this to my friends!

I'm giving this book 4.5 stars, rounding up to a 5!

When Ning accidentally poisons her mom and sister with some faulty tea, killing her mom and causing her sister to become gravely ill. She joins a competition at the palace to win the favor of the princess, hoping to get the best physicians to save her sister's life. But, can Ning save her sister in time when all around her the empire is crumbling?


This book was a whirlwind of twists and turns. Every time you suspect someone of being the bad guy, all of a sudden it's someone else.
I loved all of the stages in the competition, getting to see the magic and the tea making of the Shennong-shi. I enjoyed the very tiny amount of romance that was in this book, I feel like book two will be very interesting to see how that blossoms. I also loved the LGBTQIA+ rep.
I'm still not sold on the ending, but, morally gray characters are always my favorite characters. I also love a good redemption arc, I cant wait to see what we'll be getting in the next book.
The ending! A cliffhanger! Oh man, I love a good cliffhanger! I need book two right now! I will definitely be picking up the physical copy of A Magic Steeped in Poison the day it comes out. also, look at that freaking amazing cover. 100% recommend!


Thank you to Judy I. Lin and the publisher!
I received my copy of this book through NetGalley, all opinions are my own. I was not paid.

I hate the cliffhanger! But at the same time, I love it... Can't wait for the next installment. Lin knows how to keep me on the edge of my seat. This book is the perfect example of a page-turner in my opinion. I enjoyed following the character who was surprisingly not that annoying. I'm a sucker for an Asian-inspired fantasy and this book delivered everything I love about the genre! An easy 5/5 read.

I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
A Magic Steeped in Poison is an interesting Chinese-inspired debut historical fantasy, the first in a duology. The premise immediately caught my eye, and it absolutely delivers.
I love the magical centering of tea, from its usage as poison as the inciting incident to the fact that it’s at the center of a freaking brutal competition. I never imagined tea-making could be cutthroat, but combine the art with political intrigue, and that’s exactly what happens.
The writing also further insulates you within the world. Not just in the sense of this being imperial China, but it gives you a feel for every sight, sound, scent, etc. And when it comes to the tea itself, you really get the sense of the details of the preparation, without it feeling like you’re being beaten over the head with things you wouldn’t care about if you don’t care about tea (I sure don’t).
The characters and plot are pretty standard for the genre, albeit enhanced by the world around them. Ning is a young woman without much experience attempting to navigate a cutthroat environment, slowly coming into her own as she does so through her determination to care for her sister and prevent her from the same fate that befell her mother.
This is a great start for a new author, and can’t wait to see how it develops in book two! If you like YA fantasy, you should give this a try!

Thanks to NetGalley & Feiwel & Friends for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. Sadly, I was unable to finish this and left off at 40% of the way through.

Ning is an assistant to her mother, a magical tea-maker and enjoys her life. Until her mother dies and her sister falls ill. A summons from the palace arrives soon after, demanding all magical tea-makers appear to the princess and take part in a competition. The prize: one gift of the winner's choosing. Ning sees an opportunity to ask for a cure for her ill sister and takes part in the competition. The only problem is, the competition involves layers of political intrigue than Ning anticipated....will Ning survive in such a cutthroat environment?

This book was very slow in its pacing and I kept getting so bored quickly. It's weird because I usually *love* the mysterious competition involving royalty/nobles and a plucky heroine working her way up the ranks story...but it was SO boring here. It was definitely more of a political intrigue book rather than magic combined with romance. It didn't help that the romance felt insta-lovey which I don't like at all. The magic felt minimal to the story which is weird to me considering it's, well, magic.

Ning/the author kept telling rather than showing which kept frustrating me. The writing itself is lyrical but it was ruined often by Ning stating the obvious: "I must go and save my sister." every 5 seconds...

I will say, the story's written well, especially with the political threads connecting the characters together. I think it's just not for me--I like a nice blend of political intrigue with fantasy and the fantasy element felt minimal at best. Still, if you're into very slow political intrigue buildup--this book is for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4.5 stars.

OKAY BUT TWO THINGS FIRST 1) THE COVER. IT IS STUNNING. OH MY GOD. 2) HOW DARE IT END ON THAT. I KNOW IT IS A DUOLOGY (at least I think it is?) BUT HOW DARE IT END LIKE THAT. THIS IS MY WARNING.

Anyways. This was a beautiful, magical novel. Steeped in Asian (ahaha, unintentional tea pun) traditions, magic is granted to those who can brew tea and train to brew tea with magical properties (I'm assuming they have to show signs of possessing the tea magic). Ning is just...amazing. Likable protagonist, not a "pick-me" girl with **the boy** and is honestly kind of morally grey (or might be morally grey by the end of the duology). While it did take me a while to become immersed in the world, I soon couldn't put it down. The teas can bring the truth out of someone, give them strength, poison them, see the future, heal, and so much more. I also like how the novel includes a nature element as well, and the cost of magic -- especially those done in ill intent. The female friendship is also top notch.

I deducted it a star because 1) the boy was completely unnecessary and could have been included in his purpose in the plot in another way and 2) a lot of this book sets up book #2 with court politics, world building, the drama, the conflict, etc. I really enjoyed it, but I feel like too many cans of worms were opened by the end of the book to lead into the next...however...I did rather enjoy ALL of the plot twists that it had.

Thank you, Feiwel & Friends, for allowing me to read A Magic Steeped in Poison early!

I have to be honest and reveal I requested this title and its sequel mostly because of the beautiful covers on both tomes belonging to Judy I. Lin's debut duology, but I definitely ended up loving this book, its intrigue and the tea-making! Judy I. Lin's captivating prose delighted me while I read of Ning and her adventures to save her sister from a poison tea she brewed herself. The book has all the warmth and the strong aroma of an excellently prepared tea.

Thank you Netgalley, Macmillan Childrens and Feiwel & Friends for the opportunity to read and review this title before publishing!

Ning lives in a small village with her father and sister, Shu. The family is grieving a massive loss— their vibrant, beautiful mother who was a master of the magical arts of tea. Now, Shu is deeply ill due to the same thing that killed their mother— poison. Ning heard of a competition happening in the capital where competitors will work to prove their talents in the magical art of tea making, and in return they will be shown favor from the emperor. Believing this is her only chance to save her sisters life, she flees to the capital to compete. Little did she know, the capital is a dangerous place with hidden loyalties, backstabbing friends, political turmoil that Ning cannot have begin to understand from her small village. Turns out, she may be in even more danger here than ever before.

I loved this book from the first page. It’s beautifully written, with the most visceral imagery and flowing prose. There is a perfect amount of action, something I was worried I would go without much of in a novel about magical tea making. Which brings me to another point: the magic in this is so unique and special. The author blends together a cultural staple of tea with traditional medicine and healing magic, and the result is something soft and inviting but still somehow riveting and intense. I absolutely adored this aspect of the story.

This book felt like a love letter to Chinese culture, mythology and cuisine. (On that last note: prepare to be craving all the Asian food you could ever imagine up. This had me hungry all the time in the BEST way). I also adored Ning as a character, and the way she is portrayed as both soft and caring but also prickly and unapologetically herself.

I don’t have much to say in the way of drawbacks of this title, only that some of the political avenues and stances seemed a bit ill-formed. While I do attribute this to Ming’s lack of understanding of the court, I do wish I had a much clearer idea of her opinions, as well as the stances of the two opposing political forces come the end. There were some moments when this confused me earlier in the story as well, I’m moments where Ning would have a powerful outburst about something political and I’d find myself thinking, “huh, I didn’t know she felt that way.” I am looking forward to the second book for answers to these questions.

A major warning: this has a DOOZY of a cliffhanger, and we’re very much set to jump straight into some very high stakes in the sequel. I can say with certainty that I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

My favorite part about this book was honestly the cover, which is so beautiful. Overall I this was an entirely average read. I didn’t feel entirely connected to the story and finally gained interest about 70% through the book. I the characters, I felt, were one dimensional and I didn’t particularly care for them. I don’t see myself reading the next book coming out this August.

A Magic Steeped in Poison
by Judy I. Lin
A Review by Jamilla @LandsAwayBooks on Wordpress.

I was provided with an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had an inkling, when I first heard about this book that I would like it!

Tea magic? To make you stronger, braver? To heal you? To manipulate you?

A mother lost? A sister in danger?

Old gods?

An Empire in the beginnings of great turmoil ?

But to like it as much as I do?!?! That was unexpected!

This is a stunning debut by author Judy I Lin!

The Setting?

Exciting! With lush descriptions of the palace, I could see it before me it’s all of it immaculate splendor! The descriptions of the food! I am a sucker for these! It all felt so warm and familiar and I was starvingggg and sad not to find those juicy pork and chive dumplings waiting for me on my table.

The Plot?
Excellent!

What I thought was a simple quest to find an antidote to the poison that killed her mother and wrecked her sister’s body turned out to be majorly complicated!

Will she save her sister? And not only that, will her path to save her sister lead down a road she can’t return from? What the heck is going on in this empire?

The Characters?

The MC brave, talented, trusting. And her timidness and uncertainty in the beginning slowly vanishes as she makes more decisions for herself and takes risks!

The others? Motives? Uncertain. But compelling all the same!

We have an exiled prince, the son of a warmongering, greedy, betrayer who lusted after his brother’s empire. But is the prince like that? Where do his allegiances lie? With whom? The country girl he took out to tea and meets with in secret? The princess he knew as a child? Or with his father? A mysterious villain?

I just have to say that y’all not ready for this one!!! It’s so good! I can see the vision Judy Lin was going for now and I am very excited for book 2!

Unfortunately, I DNF'd the ebook at 10%. This was one of my anticipated releases of the year, and I truly want to love it. I expected there to be a lot of Chinese/Japanese culture within these pages, what I was not expecting was for it to also be heavily steeped (yep, tea jokes) in Chinese/Japanese mythology as well. I found myself slogging along in the book and thinking it was a chore even though I wanted to love it, and the potential for me to love it was there.
I would like to revisit this book at some point as an audiobook, though!

I'm speechless. Everything about this book is just perfection. The cover alone is enough reason to read it, but it's full of lyrical prose, stunning magic, and a plot that's unlike anything I've ever read. While it may be geared more towards a YA audience, I didn't lose anything by reading it as an adult. The premise of tea-making being arcane really wowed me and the processes of its brewing were described in such a delicate way. Adding in the contest to become the new shennong-shi and allllll of the political intrigue? I'm sold. The way that Judy I. Lin writes about everything from tea to swordplay is truly magical and I can't wait to read the finale to this duology. I can't wait to read it over and over again.

*Thank you to B2W Tours, Feiwel & Friends, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

An interesting fantasy steeped in tradition, family, and tea. I couldn't get very far into the book, but what I was able to read was stunning.