Words can't describe how this story steeped within me, all pun intended. I absolutely fell in love with Ning and her personality. Her determination and headstrong attitude made her an amazing protagonist as I followed her along her journey. With the way this story left off, it is a delight to know that the sequel comes out shortly after (but not soon enough!)

The writing in this book was even more stunning than the cover. The metaphors, the colorful imagery, the PLOT.

The characters were spell-binding and very well developed, their backgrounds and motivations absolutely riveting to read about.

Ning, was such an easy character to fall in love with and I found myself enamored with her point of view.
The romance was adorable, and easy to fall into and I was so satisfied with how sweet this entire book was. That ending though. I DESPERATELY need the next book NOW.

**Special thanks to NetGalley and Fierce Reads for the eARC** Wow. Just wow. Where do I begin? I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but dear heaven… The cover art of “A Magic Steeped in Poison” is *chef’s kiss* stunning. So gorgeous. Just by the cover I was so drawn to this book and trust me, the inside did not disappoint. This book is amazing. As aesthetically pleasing on the inside as the outside. A treat to the senses. Cannot believe this is a debut novel for Judy Lin. I’ve seen this book advertised to “enchant fans of Leigh Bardugo”, and it sure does. The story has a smartly crafted magic system and wonderful characters like Ning, our protagonist. A true heroine. The heavy influence of Chinese mythology and traditions is the cherry on top for this delicious mix of fantasy, mystery and romance. HIGHLY recommend this masterpiece.

I need more books like this immediately or as soon as possible, please. This is a book I wish had existed when I was a teenager devouring every fantasy book I could find in my school library because I would have been obsessed with it. The magic, the intrigue, the unforgettable characters - there's a lot to love within these pages. I'm ecstatic that this is only the first volume of a duology because I can't want to follow Ning's journey and find out what lies in store for her.

I couldn’t put it down. It was full of action and suspense that kicked off earlier than I thought it would. I love a competition book. It had great complex characters all around.

Both the cover artwork and the synopsis for A Magic Steeped in Poison tugged at my intrigue to read it. I’m happy to report that the story inside this beautiful book continued to pull my intrigue along throughout the entire story!

A Magic Steeped in Poison is filled with lush descriptions that paint a picture of the world and magic. While this book is set around a Royal competition, there’s so much more going on in the plot. If you’re one who enjoys discussions of food and tea, you’re definitely in for a treat. This is also for the reader who enjoys royal politics, assasination attempts, and rising revolutions.

There is a romance at play. It’s more prominent in the beginning and takes a backseat further into the story. I’m unsure how I feel about the romance in this one, but definitely see how it works for the plot.

And that ending! Ugh, I’m ready to read book two as soon as possible! This was a solid read and I enjoyed getting swept away by it.

Sadly, this book was a miss for me. I wanted to love it, but it all felt very familiar to me and though I hadn't read it before I felt as though I had. I had trouble keeping interested in the storyline and characters. I didn't feel real tension. I never felt connected to the characters and the plot seemed to carry me to plot point to plot point, but I never really felt anything. It really had all the elements I love so I should have loved it but for some reason I just couldn't really get into it. I'm sure others will though. I think it was a mood thing for me or I just didn't jive with the writing style.

4.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book. What an immersive book with a unique magic system as well as a plethora of culture woven throughout. I first drawn to this book by the STUNNING, GORGEOUS, MY EYEBALLS CANNOT HANDLE IT cover but then when I went to read the synopsis I was like, yes, please I need to read this. IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT.

I really enjoyed how descriptive the author was when it came to every aspect of this book. The details about the tea magic, the details about the food, and the emotionally journey the MC goes on is so well done. I could perfectly imagine this world and the characters within. I also really liked that I could not tell what the HECK was going to happen. When I thought the plot was going one way, I was completely thrown in another direction and it kept me wanting to read more and more. The motives and actions of all of the characters were believable and I never found myself frustrated by their choices.

The pacing was perfect between the competition and following the unraveling schemes that are happening within the court itself. The ending left us with a cliffhanger but also hope. I can't wait to read book 2!

A Magic Steeped in Poison is the first of a fantasy duology centered around a high-interest concept for me: a magical tea-brewing competition, set in what seems to be a Chinese-inspired kingdom! The protagonist, Ning, is a young woman who competes through a series of trials to become the next court shennong-shi, a master of tea, to serve the royal family.

This is a story that definitely contains some familiar plot elements and archetypal beats: entering a potentially dangerous competition to save a younger sister, political court intrigue, a mysterious poison ravaging the outer towns and villages. But the magic system of tea- to compel others, draw up memories, imbue with physical strength, or even to create illusions- helped bolster certain elements that were otherwise common to make them feel more unique.

I wish I liked the romance more, but I felt unfortunately it was a case of unexplained love-at-first-sight in sort of a jarring way. The relationship just moved a bit too quickly to be believable. Maybe this will be developed more in the sequel. I also felt the book was sometimes bogged down by some of the court politics; similar to how I feel when watching historical Asian dramas, when the action deviates from the central characters and relationships, even if necessary in building up the conflict, the plot can drag a bit.

I think the strongest appeal of the book continued to be Ning’s determination to redeem herself, carrying the burden of having brewed the tea that killed her mother. Her love for her sister and mother as a motive in her story of coming into her own rang true.

Judy I. Lin’s writing is impressive in this debut, lyrical and lush. I love that she is a Taiwanese author! This was the first year I’d ever read anything by someone who was Taiwanese like me, starting with Charles Yu’s Interior Chinatown in January and it felt fitting to close out December with this novel. The cultural references in this world’s food, clothing, and traditions sparked recognition in me and were threaded together beautifully.

Thank you to Feiwel and Friends and Netgalley for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was entirely fresh and original and I cannot believe we get the entire duology in one year. Absolutely this will be on the top of lists in 2022.

A Magic Steeped in Poison is a good ya fantasy debut. I was initially enamored by the absolutely stunning cover, and so I had to give it a shot, hoping the content would match the packaging. After having read the book, I can say that the whimsical, fast-paced fairytale-like story fits the gorgeous cover and would be a great addition to anyone’s book collection both as a beautiful display piece and a story worth exploring.

A Magic Steeped in Poison tells the story of Ning—a magician studying the art of tea-making, who sets out to participate in a tea-making competition to win and with hopes to save the life of her sick sister. The book discusses themes of grief, guilt, duty and loyalty in an engaging and fast-paced manner, weaving them into the conflicts of the characters.

I really enjoyed A Magic Steeped in Poison—ya fantasy debut novels can be really hit or miss for me, but Judy I. Lin’s debut ticked almost all the right boxes. The characters, the plot, the themes and the prose—albeit being very flawed—are charming and have exactly the right ya fantasy vibe that keeps the reader engaged without ever coming off as heavy or stilted.

The characters were interesting enough to follow and root for—I especially enjoyed the main character and her best friend that she gets to know through the course of the competition. The characters are likeable and charming, but they’re not especially layered and don’t have much internal conflict outside romantic relationships. Despite a large cast of characters, we only end up learning more about only a handful, while most secondary characters stay static and don’t contribute much to the narrative beyond an episodic intrusion. However, considering this is a really quick light fantasy read, I didn’t mind that—I was still engaged and had fun reading about these characters as the narrative began to unfold.

When it comes to the plot, this was where most of my doubts were; usually, magic competition-type narratives don’t manage to grip my attention as effectively, but in this book it was done in a way where it didn’t feel repetitive or tedious or forced: the competition was used as a tool to expand the world and the lore without hindering the pace. This aspect of the novel, just as all others, is by no means perfect—there were several events that felt a little too convenient, or rushed or somewhat unearned. Besides, the premise, as well as certain elements of the story can feel derivative, which may bore some readers. Personally, I read YA fantasy to simply relax and have fun, so this wasn’t much of an issue for me: although the book features some too-familiar tropes, it also manages to present them through an entertaining enough lens that doesn’t make the experience feel overly repetitive. One of the points that vexed me the most, and ultimately was one of the deciding factors why I didn’t rate this book higher, was the instalove that affected the whole story too much for my taste. While it was charming and cute, it spurred out of a single meeting and seemed too intense of a relationship to have been based on physical attraction and what the author calls “a thread of fate” connecting them. The romantic relationship of the main character and her love interest is the aspect that felt most underdeveloped; while they had nice moments together, certain points felt a bit formulaic and unearned, again mainly due to the fact that the relationship develops too quickly for one that started only because of physical attraction. That being said, the moments that they did share were cute and I hope the sequel develops the relationship and it feels even more rewarding to watch the two interact.

The prose is one of the strongest aspects of the book. YA debuts have certain prose pitfalls that don’t necessarily retract from enjoyment, but definitely become more and more noticeable over time; thankfully, A Magic Steeped in Poison dodges a lot of them: the prose is lush and imaginative and the abundant descriptions don’t feel forced or wordy; on the contrary— the descriptions of the food, the locations and the competition itself helped with the immersion and depth of the world. I also loved how the lore is woven into the narrative: every trial of the competition revealed more bits of information in a way where the reader wants to learn more about this whimsical world. Some of the dialogue doesn’t feel smooth or believable, but the whole narrative is fanciful enough where I could definitely let it slide. That being said, it might be a turnoff for some readers.

This novel is flawed in many many ways. Due to its structure and premise, it can feel somewhat formulaic and all-too-familiar, but it also has a lot of the naïve, juvenile charm that fits YA fantasy perfectly. It’s not exactly revolutionary or amazing, but I definitely had fun reading it and I’m sure A Magic Steeped in Poison will find its audience. I, for one, am eagerly awaiting its sequel, A Venom Dark and Sweet. This was a promising start and I can’t wait to see what Judy I. Lin does next!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of A Magic Steeped in Poison.

this book is imbued in cultural history and is a rich tribute to tea, legends and lore, and the magic we all dreamed of as kids. the vibes are there and it’s a unique magic system i’ve never read before. but… and i swear, the pun was not intended, this book wasn’t my cup of tea which I’m really sad and disappointed by because i was so excited for it. i felt like the plot was slow and the characters were underdeveloped in favor of more worldbuilding and by the end, i really wasn’t invested in anyone’s fates.

i also recognize and want to emphasize that this is likely just a me thing. i think this book is worth reading and it’s more so that the plot is a slow brew and i’m just not a patient person. this all being said, i will be reading the next book because i have hope for more character development!

<i><b> And that is what the brew is about. The taste of being human. Of making mistakes. Of being young again. The reminder that sometimes we are the laborer and sometimes we are the one at rest.</i></b>

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


*Thank you Netgalley for an early copy*
Not only is the cover stunning so is the story!
Ning is in the competition for her life and to save her family. If she wins this competition, she will be able to acquire the secret to save her sister from dying after drinking poisoned tea. However, not only is this competition filled with fierce competitors, there is someone who is out for the Queen's throne. Ning makes friends and enemies along the way, more importantly she meets a boy in a market who turns out to be someone else entirely. Her love interest is mysterious, but extremely helpful, however, can he be trusted? I can't say more without giving away more of the story, but it's an amazing book filled with magic, a strong female lead, and so much detailed food and tea that made me crave everything while I was reading!
Also needs mentioning is that there is LGBTQ representation, death, and twists that will leave you needing the next book right away!

✨✨✨
Favorite Quotes:
"Grief has a taste, bitter, and lingering, but so soft it sometimes disguises itself as sweet"

"When you're told since you came out of the womb that you can do anything...you would think it natural that you are destined to climb"

What a charming book! From the first information that Judy I. Lin shared about the book, it made my expectations rise higher and higher. But none of my guesses came anywhere near the majestic atmosphere and story created by the author. It is impossible to describe any minor error made by the author during the story. Everything connects perfectly and it makes you feel incredibly connected with the characters. A Magic Steeped in Poison is a story everyone should read. Very excited for the next Judy I. Lin masterpiece.

A breath-taking, magical story that I couldn’t stop reading.

Everything about this book is beautiful. From the way the author describes the process of making tea to the food served in the palace. It made me want to make my own tea and get something to eat as I was reading. I’m able to envision the way Ning prepares tea and the magic that takes place when she does. It’s as if I’m there watching her do it. All the effort and hard work put into brewing these teas really comes through. It was such a breath of fresh air to read a book about an entirely new subject. The concept of tea ceremonies is not unfamiliar to me, but having it presented in such a lovely way in a book is incredible.

Ning is focused on saving her sister, yet becomes entangled in the affairs of the court as she helps uncover the rebellion plot connected to her sister’s poisoning. Throughout the book you never lose the urgency there is for Ning to make progress and find an antidote. Even though it is urgent, it is not forceful. The love aspects do not distract from the focus of the story but only enhance. It also isn’t too romance heavy. The elements are there, but our main character does not lose herself. I really appreciated that the author didn’t make the romance part to be too heavy.

The pacing of this book was wonderful. It was easy to read so quickly. I never lost track of what was happening and it went along very nicely. I really enjoyed reading this and I look forward to the sequel.

First: LOOK. AT. THAT. COVER.

I was so SO intrigued by the cover alone and being approved for an eARC made my day. This was such a beautiful and enchanting story that every reader should add to their TBR.

After Ning loses her mother to poisoned tea, she blamed herself because she was the one who served her the tea. Her sister then also drinks poisoned tea and Ning does everything in her power to save her sister from the same fate. Ning hears of a competition in the kingdom to find the greatest Shennon-Shi (Masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making). Ning is desperate to save her sister and travels to the kingdom to enter the competition in hopes of winning a favor from the princess. The competition alone added so much story, drama, and obstacles for Ning to overcome. Like - A magical tea brewing competition? COME ON. The entire story was so beautifully written and the descriptions throughout were astonishing.

My only complaint? The Gods-be-damned cliffhanger I was left with.

I cannot recommend this book enough to those who are looking for a captivating story of hope and love. This YA fantasy that is entwined with mythology and magic is *chefs kiss*.

Thank you, NetGalley for an eARC for my honest review!

Review will be up closer to the pub date. A Magic Steeped in Poison was one of my highly anticipated releases and it lived up to my expectations!!

BRB SCREAMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First, thank you to the publisher for providing me an early copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This was such an incredible read, and I couldn't put it down. I love the magic and tea inufsed world that Lin created in the pages. Court is always the most dangerous place to be, and Princess Zhen's proves to be deadly. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style; it felt like I was right there with Ning as she navigated the palace. The world building was also worth its own scream. I am so entranced by this book -- it's one you should not miss in the coming year. I can't believe I have to wait until August for the sequel!

3.5 stars

The pacing could’ve been a bit better, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book in which tea is, quite literally, used as a means of spilling the deepest and darkest secrets of your enemies!

2.5/5 stars, rounded up to 3 stars.

This is the first ARC I have reviewed, so I had very high expectations. A Chinese-inspired fantasy where magical tea is mixed with political schemes? I preordered my own copy as soon as I could. It was an even greater surprise when I won a copy through Fierce Reads' YALL Fest giveaways; I literally said, "Holy shit," out loud in class when I got the email. It was totally worth the concerned stares I received as I immediately went to download the Netgallery app to get my grubby mitts on my copy.

Alas, like with many things in life, my expectations were too high. For one, I found the writing to be very simple, for many pieces of information were told rather than shown. This is one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to reading, and the amount of annoyance I felt whenever emotions were plainly described or when the obvious is being overly explained greatly frustrated me.

Additionally, I found the romance between Ning and the love interest to be extremely lackluster. Despite the distrust between them, they were immediately attracted to each other for no real reason; my eyes rolled so much and so far back whenever Ning described him as "frustratingly handsome" or any other sappy shit along the same lines.

It didn't help that I was more interested in the love interest's storyline than Ning's. His character and importance to the plot are far more intriguing. In fact, many of the characters in this world are more interesting than Ning, who I felt didn't have too much agency in her own story and was simply being strung around by other, more powerful characters. That may have been the point, because she is just a girl from a small village who has never dealt with the complications of court life, but when she actually tries to play into the game of politics, it doesn't really do much for her and she is still playing into her opponent's hands.

Despite all my grievances, I still found some elements that I enjoyed. From the setting to the tastes of the food or tea, the descriptions were quite expressive and fueled the imagination. The world-building is also interesting and has a lot of potential to be expanded upon in the sequel. And I really like the tea-making magic and how every ingredient used in it had connections to its real-life counterparts.

Overall, I liked A Magic Steeped in Poison, but its writing and agentless protagonist really hold it back. But I do think Lin has a lot of potential, and I will be reading the sequel when it comes out in August 2022.