This was a great book. The cover is beautiful. There is great character development throughout the book. Ning is very well developed. The secondary characters are also very well written, and I can't wait to read more about them in the future. The magic system is great and so is the world building. The competition was handled very well during in the midst of the plot. It was one of the best competitions in a book that I have read. There is a massive cliffhanger at the end of the book. I am looking forward for the next book in this series.

I would like to thank Feiwel and Friends for providing me with an ARC.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Feiwel & Friends in exchange for an honest review.

Ok, so this is a slow burn novel, but stick with it, because once the action gets going, you'll be so engrossed in the narrative that you'll forget to breathe. A MAGIC STEEPED IN POISON combines Chinese mythology and magic with the art of tea in such a good way. Ning is both naïve and strong, she's flawed and makes mistakes. But the contrast between Ning and the politics of court that she has no experience with will keep readers on their toes. The side characters are amazing, the douchey spoiled kid is well, a perfect jerk, and there are some plot twists that I didn't see coming. The world building is superb and the magic system is well executed... and based enough within the real-world to honestly be believable which makes it even better.

Lin's novel will encourage you to never look at a mug of tea the same way ever again. But that ending?! Now that's a cliffhanger that is going to make me need the next book in my hands immediately.

An amazing debut novel! This story was woven so beautifully. I will definitely be recommending this book for lovers of fantasy. I can’t wait for the next book in the series! Thank you so much for an advanced copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for offering me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A Magic Steeped in Poison is the powerful tale of Ning, a girl who only wishes to set right her greatest wrong. That is, administering poison (albeit accidentally) to her mother and sister. While her mother did not make it, her sister still has a chance, if Ning can win the favor of the Princess and gain access to resources. Ning decides to go to the capital to earn her place as a shennong-shi, a master tea maker, skilled in the magical sod elf tea making. If she can advance in the competition, she may be able to brew a tea to cure her sister.

What can I say? I LOVED this book. Ning is an admirable character who wishes to help her sister above all else, though she also envisions a better world. One where people are not taken advantage of; a world where threats of poison are taken seriously.

What really blew me away was Just Lon’s writing. Her prose is consistently beautiful, without feeling ~purple~. She illustrates the magic of tea brilliantly, and what an incredibly unique magic system it is! I truly enjoyed watching this competition unfold, and getting to see the myriad ways in which tea magic can be expressed. I found it truly I vent I’ve and refreshing.

I also enjoyed that the story delivered what was promised: a competition story with political intrigue. Some stories imply a competition is occurring, yet forget to clue the reader in on the competition. With AMSiP, the competition is integral to the story and the world building. I think we could have seen a bit more of the contestants, but really I’m so satisfied with what we got.

Final note: Lin has accomplished with her writing what Studio Ghibli has accomplished with their animation: making the food so utterly irresistible. It’s a true gift.

The book left off on quite the cliffhanger, so I’ll be eagerly awaiting the sequel. Which apparently won’t be a long wait!

A story filled with intrigue, magic, tea, friendships, and figuring out who to trust in a world where the tea is poisoned and no one knows who’s responsible!

A headstrong empress regent, a girl who only wants to save her dying sister, an exiled prince and a vengeful general all intertwined in this tale!

I loved this and I am ANXIOUS for book two! The cliffhanger is killer!

I LOVE THIS BOOK! I cannot wait for the second one. The way the magic system flows so easily with realistic history is a perfect example of how worldbuilding should be done! The main character is strong and actually follows her motives throughout the story without sacrificing them for a Romantic interest.

Lovely book, I enjoyed it very much. I would love to be able to find books with this vibe, it felt super fantastic. I really appreciate being approved, I hope to be able to buy it soon.

A magician with the ability to enchant tea enters into a competition to become the royal tea maker in order to gain a favor that could help her cure her sister who she unknowingly brewed poisoned that killed her mother and is slowly killing her sister, Ning will do anything to help her sister, and using the skills she has, she has entered into the kingdom’s greatest shennong-shi competition in order to help her family. However, from the moment she enters into the imperial city and the competition, things go awry. From backstabbing competitors, political assassination attempts, secrets, betrayals, and a handsome stranger with a secret that could destroy them all, Ning is in more danger than she was ever before. Soon she will have to find a way to navigate not only the competition but surviving in a place that is rife with corruption. I had so much fun reading this book and was entranced by the magic system and the journey that Ning goes on. This is the first book in the duology but I ALREADY NEED THE SECOND ONE PLEASE!!!!! I love how resourceful Ning is, and how far she is willing to go to help her family. The political war going on in the palace was also a really interesting back drop for the story and I can’t wait to see where the second book goes!

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This beautiful book was unique and enthralling and I found myself thinking about the characters and story long after I had finished. The start was a bit of a slow build up but the magic system was so unique and had me eager to continue with the story. The descriptions of food and flavors had my mouth watering and the world building was beautiful and enchanting. The story of a challenge at royal court is done often, but the author makes this her own in a way that it was not repetitive or boring to read. I fell for Ning's determination and attitude, she was the perfect protagonist and my favorite kind to read in YA fantasy. This will certainly become a top YA fantasy read in 2022!

I have recently been immersing myself into fiction that focuses on Chinese mythology. Enjoying the reimagining and reinterpretations of the fascinating lore that are vivid in each of these novels.

Including, A Magic Steeped in Poison.

First, we need to talk about the cover of this book!

It is simply stunning. With gorgeous watercolors, the art by Sija Hong begs for the reader to pick up this book. The artist did a phenomenal job incorporating elements that are in the novel. Hong perfectly illustrates each detail into the cover art. A Magic Steeped in Poison‘s cover is breathtaking and is the envy of YA book covers.

Now, for the story.

You’ll notice right off, the core of the novel is sound. It’s a story about a young woman named Ning. She has magical powers, through the art of tea-making. Ning is not a fully trained apprentice. But because of her sisters dire state, she enters an imperial competition. If Ning wins, she will have the chance to save her sister’s life. Lin’s main thread of the story is as clear as the final notes of a grand opus: Ning being determined to help save her sister.

Think Hunger Games.

Even though we don’t see the day-to-day relationship between Ning and her sister over the course of the novel, as the reader, you are always aware of Ning’s attempts to keep her sister safe. The competition itself is as deadly as those games seen in the Hunger Games. Though it’s Ning’s determination, resilience, and abilities that are unwavering. Her desire to help her only sister is what drives her. That single thought propels her to do whatever it takes. She’s the type of heroine readers will be rooting for from the very beginning.

But, what I found perplexing were the subplots. They were not being tightly knitted into the tapestry of the story. They felt like loose ends. Threads that could be easily tugged and undone. Leaving the story somewhat threadbare and a bit confusing.

With a cliffhanger ending, readers will be eager to know what happens next. Wondering if Ning, her family, and the princess will survive, or if the Empire is worth saving.

I absolutely loved A Magic Steeped in Poison. If you’re a fan of Elizabeth Lim, Leigh Bardugo, or Victoria Aveyard, I think you’ll enjoy it, as well. Let’s start with the excellent, shall we?

First: THAT COVER THOUGH! Listen, I know you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, blah, blah, blah… That’s a nice lesson and all, but when a cover is THIS GORGEOUS?! Judge away. It’s colorful and whimsical and it draws the reader in. Before I even knew what the book was about, I wanted to read it. The cover is that powerful. Bravo.

Next: NING! She’s a legend, she’s an icon, and she IS the moment. Ning is your very typical “I don’t know how powerful I am” heroine, which could have felt familiar & overdone, but the way Lin writes her is refreshing. Instead of Ning downplaying her power and doubting herself, she leans into it. She soon learns just how good she actually is, and she uses that power to help herself and her friends. Ning is always thinking about others, but not in a self-sacrificing kind of way. More of a “I need to take care of you because who else will?” kind of way.

THE MAGIC OF TEA! Is there a cooler magic system? I’m serious. The shennong-shi style of magic is super unique and refreshing (just like a glass of iced tea on a hot day!). It’s also written very well; you can see how embedded it is in the culture of the book.

Let’s move onto the “eh” portion of the review:

CLIFFHANGER: Listen… It’s just not for me! Especially since I’m reading an arc. I now have to wait EVEN LONGER for the second?! This isn’t my favorite writing move. Additionally there are some aspects of the plot I think needed to be wrapped up a little neater before the book ended. I know there’s obviously a second one, but some of the plot lines just kinda… stopped? Which felt odd. I digress.

PLOT: Pretty solid, but slooooow at times.

Ultimately, Lin has managed to create an entire little world here full of magic, love, intrigue, danger, and history. It’s a refreshing take on what could have been a familiar tale, with vibrant characters that you’ll be rooting for. I can’t wait for the second.

A beautifully written fantasy grounded in tea. I loved this tale - it wasn't perfectly up my alley and did drag a bit for me, but I really enjoyed Lin's writing!

This book is gorgeous, inside and out and I am so, so happy to have won an arc of it through YALLFest! Even though that means it was a digital copy so I wasn't able to stare at the cover as much as I would have liked, the story didn't disappoint. The magic contained in this book was so cool! I mean, the story centered around a tea brewing competition, someone try and tell me that's not awesome.

Ning was a great lead and I loved how she interacted with the rest of the cast! I don't know why but the whole book I had this feeling of dread that Lian would betray her, but thankfully that never happened 😆 Another thing is I really liked how because the author took the time to build Ning's relationships with the other characters I was more invested in them than I usually would be. The only one I wish we'd seen more of was Ning's sister. She plays a central role in the story yet we don't know much about her. Maybe she'll make a comeback in book two lol XD

Overall, this book was a lot of fun, there were secrets, magic, tea and so much more! I loved it and can't wait for book two. Happy Reading :)

3.5/5 stars!

First of all this cover is ABSOLUTELY STUNNING and was one of the first things that really drew me in to read this book. A Magic Steeped in Poison had all the elements I love in a fantasy book, however I was ultimately left feeling underwhelmed. One of my absolute favorite aspects of this book however was the lush descriptions and world building. Right away I was immersed in the rich illustrations of the food, magic and tea to the point where I actually felt I was transported into the world. The magic system was so interesting and was one of the biggest aspects that hooked me to the story.

Despite the beautiful writing, I really struggled with the pacing of the book. For a majority of the book the pacing was very slow and then it rushed at the end. The characters were promising, although I didn't really feel a strong emotional connection to any of them. They weren't poor by any means, I just felt there was more room for development. I really wasn't sold on the romance between Ning and Kang, the way it was carried out felt very random. Kang drops in and out of the book at random times with no explanations, and although I liked aspects of his character, I felt we didn't know much about him.

I wasn't sure or not if I was going to continue on to reading the sequel when it comes out, however the cliff hanger at the end of the book certainly swayed me. I feel the sequel has a lot of potential to be great, especially considering how this book ended. I have a feeling the beautiful writing and unique worldbuilding will definitely draw many readers in and not let them go.

The magic of this novel reaches through the pages and steeps into the reader’s brain the way a well-brewed tea does. I have never read a book with a magic system as beautiful and unique as this. I absolutely loved the world building and the ease of character introduction. This book flows beautifully, all of the moving parts coming together to create a complete masterpiece of a story. I thoroughly enjoyed the fast pace of this novel paired with the competition and the court politics that kept me on the edge of my seat; constantly worried for Ning's well-being, and having no idea where the story would go next. Filled with strong female friendships, a slow burn relationship, stunning imagery, and heart-wrenching plot lines, this book isn't one that you'll want to miss. I cannot WAIT to read the next book in the duology.

TW: Grief, death of a parent (past and described on page), violence, blood, medical content (graphic), gore, animal abuse/experimentation, terminal illness, Govt. Violence (local militia specifically)
Special thanks to Netgalley and Fierce Reads for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

This is a stunning fantasy with a unique magic system and a fascinating, twisty, court intrigue throughline. A bit of a slower start, but the last half had me glued to the page. The tea-based magic and the food and flavor descriptions were to die for, and I found myself really liking the majority of the cast as well, even those who were not overly present in the story. Hands down one of the best YA fantasies I've read in a while, and a new favourite.

Objectively: 4/5
Personally: 3.25 / 5.

Pros:
- The cover (and title)!
- The prose! The writing was beautiful and magical itself. It was descriptive but never too detailed, lyrical but never weighing down the pages, lush but not opulent. Judy I. Lin really struck the perfect balance here in terms of prose.
- The magic system! Really cool, really original. Magic tea? Of course!
- The setting! Ancient China!!!!!! Amazing world building - also, with the writing, I really felt plunked into the atmosphere right alongside the characters.
- The characters (minus the love interest)! Ning was a compelling protagonist, even if a little on the cliche side.

Cons:
- The plot. Sadly, the plot (girl enters magical competition at a palace. Court intrigue and romance ensues) felt a tad unoriginal to me. It was well executed, but as someone who has read many, many YA fantasy books, I was a little bored. With that said, that's more of a personal issue than something wrong with the book.

Conclusion: not a personal favorite, but I will definitely read more of Judy Lin.

Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy for review. This in no way affected my thoughts.

This was so good! I am loving all of the Asian folklore-inspired fantasy we've been getting lately and this is a worthy addition. While the story focuses on Ning and her participation in the shennong trials, it encompasses so much more too. There is palace intrigue, a mystery to solve around the tea poisonings, civil unrest, a potential coup/revolution, a mysterious love interest, finding friends, and danger lurking everywhere. Who can Ning trust, what is the motivation of everyone around her, will her naivete place her in peril that she cannot escape? There is a tension running through every page that keeps you going, needing to know what happens next and will Ning be safe and achieve her goals.
The magic system with the tea is so unique and interesting. I adored the descriptions of the tea-brewing and all of the food. What I couldn't get a good sense of though was the other magic in the world. There clearly was more magic than just the tea, but I definitely don't have an understanding of it or what it entails.
Lian was a great friend, and I loved their interactions with the palace staff. There was also a ton of tension with Kang; their scenes were both so sweet and laced with so much distrust at times. I'm so curious to see how that will play out. The last 15% of the book really goes crazy with the action and the danger! And OMG THE CLIFFHANGER!! Thank goodness the next book comes out this year because a long wait to see what happens would be torture!

4.5 stars

I really liked how the story basically jumps into the magical tea making competition at about 10% into the book. The reader gets the necessary background information and scene setting in a tight and entertaining package right at the start. The rest of the story has similarly quick pacing that was a plus for me, but might make this read as "very YA" to some.

The main character Ning feels like a real and complicated young adult. She feels guilty for the death of her mother and her sister's severe illness and doesn't feel like she can return home without a cure. The stakes for the competition are high, but they feel extra high for Ning because of her family situation. So when Ning realizes that she is at a greater disadvantage than she thought, due to the other contestants' gender and socioeconomic status, it hurts that much more.

I am not 100% sold on the feelings between Ning and her love interest, but I am interested in seeing how their relationship develops in the sequel. On the other hand, I was immediately hooked by the relationship between the princess and her love interest. I very much would like to see more of those two in the next book.

This is a SOLID 4 out of 5 stars for the first book in a new series. I can't wait to get my hands on A Venom Dark and Sweet.

When I tell you this book has every. single. thing. I look for in YA fantasy, I really mean it has everything:
✓ a strong female lead who would let the world burn for her family
✓ a heavy-handed dose of mythology
✓ a captivating will-they-won't-they romance (that doesn't remove our heroine's agency!!)
✓ a plot driven by court politics
✓ prominent sapphic rep(?!?!!!)

Here's what you need to know:

This is an enthralling, fast-paced book set in the kingdom of Dàxi. The political state of the kingdom is rapidly deteriorating: the emperor has been in hiding for weeks with a mysterious illness leaving his teenaged daughter, Princess Ying-Zhen, to act as regent, there has been a deadly rash of tea poisonings across the country sowing seeds of distrust among the common people, whispered stories of two mysterious figures, the Banished Prince and the Shadow, have inspired fear across the countryside...

“The astronomers all speak of change in the stars… It is a period of shifting alliances and fickle natures.”

Enter Ning. She is blunt and pragmatic and courageous.

“I am prickly and restless, more at home with plants than with people.”
(relatable tbh)

And, she is responsible for the recent death of her mother and serious ailment of her younger sister.

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

When given the chance to enter into the Princess Ying-Zhen's competition for a new court shénnóng-shi (an advisor and magician adept in tea magic), Ning jumps at the opportunity to secure the prize—a favor from the Princess herself. Procuring this favor will give her the chance to save her dying sister before there is more blood on her hands. But, entering this competition throws Ning into a world of politics and magic like she's never before encountered.

But here is what you really need to know:

This is the first book I've read in well over a year that made me audibly gasp. And laugh. And even snort once. The plot twists were truly twists. Every time that I thought I knew where things were going, Lin masterfully reminded me that she was the one holding the reins.

Ning is a truly loveable character, who might be the first protagonist I've read about with "chosen one"-level abilities that actually make sense to me. Every talent she has is an extension of deliberately developed character traits and skills. And her weaknesses? They are actual weaknesses. This is no over-powered Mary Sue. This is a smart and adaptable MC with hard-earned skills that translate well into the magical world.

The side characters are some of the best developed and most loveable I've ever encountered.
Spoiler
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Perhaps my favorite part of this novel: the description is beyond reproach. Lin makes it easy to immerse yourself in the setting with her vivid but not over-wrought description. I highlighted at least ten instances of phenomenal nature and food description. Like, I will probably be referring to this book as the Miyazaki of YA fantasy.

<img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/3b0081fa997fc9a941bdc1454c457951/b3c9e44eaeb622c4-4a/s500x750/0e7bca8a4b6daed33ca4de92c5f31488f1152d9c.gifv" alt="Lin biting into a Anpan steamed bun in Spirited Away"/>

Did you want to eat the steamed buns from Spirited Away as badly as I did when I was a kid? That's now how I feel about this book's sweet-and-sour fish and pink gao.

Thank you so, so much to Netgalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Feiwel & Friends for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am exceedingly grateful for this opportunity. This book has truly been added to my list of favorites of all time.