First , I just want to say how excited I’ve been to read this book! As a medicinal tea maker I immediately wanted to read this book. The plot line of this book is excellent and the characters are really intriguing. The added mythos/folklore is as right up my alley. Following the main characters grief and determination to help her sister is truly a great representation. Also i loved the included self reflection of how she felt around her family for example she played a role of the daughter and a family member but never felt like she was included or even a part of it. That is something I extremely relate to. And this is not about the book itself but i follow the author on Instagram and they’re really really cool! They say don’t judge a book by its cover but please do because the story is as amazing as the cover of not more! I can’t wait to read the next book!

I am a huge sucker for pretty descriptions AND a complex political drama, and if you like the same things, then check out this book! A Magic Steeped in Poison serves bitter court intrigue and slow-burning mystery in a dainty, beautiful serving that will have its readers both fulfilled and asking for more.

Right from the first page, one is immediately immersed in a worldbuilding that demands all of your five senses. Judy Lin transports us to Daxi with wondrous sights, tastes, and smells that leap off the page without being too overbearing or overly long. The tea, the music, the FOOD: everything makes me want to leave my boring room and be whisked away to this wonderland. However, the setting is not picture-perfect: discrimination, corruption, and injustice exist in this world. Lin creates a world that *can* be lived in and is every bit as complex as ours—one that carefully accounts for all the factors that shape the characters’ roles and place in society.

This luscious worldbuilding does take up a lot of space; as a result, the pacing of the plot is quite slow. But the author takes this time to gradually build the stakes of the conflict and introduces many aspects that shore up tension even more: the cruelty and corruption of local government officials, the discrimination towards people from provinces further from the capital, the crushing weight of taxes, the carefully woven revisionist history, the restrictions of palace life, and so much more. Instead of long exposition sections, each character embodies a piece of Daxi’s history. All the clues planted in every step of the story come back full circle, and though nothing is entirely unexpected or novel, the resulting actions still hit hard because readers have the fullest sense of the stakes involved.

The plot and the worldbuilding go hand in hand to highlight the best part of this book: its character arcs. No one here conforms to a cookie-cutter cardboard trope because even minor characters are given history and agency. You cannot deny Ning’s motivations for her decisions, nor Zhen’s restrictions in pursuing the truth. Yang, Minwen, and Lian are all very aware of their social status and that of their families. Though not as fleshed out, the loyalties of the ministers and other shennong-tu are clear and logical according to their backgrounds and affiliations. Everyone is acting in the only way they believe is right, and if you have ever been in a position that pushes you to pay a heavy price for your family, then you know how hard it is to judge others’ actions. I truly love the care Judy Lin puts into writing these characters, and the craft needed to pull this part off is amazing.

I also love how cultural icons are wielded in this world because they are shown at exactly the right context for them to have significance in the story, like Ning’s impromptu poetry recitation or Kang’s wistfulness for the art of his people. I wish I were more familiar with Chinese and Taiwanese culture to note all the callbacks and references, but as it stands, these narrative choices beautifully illustrate the escalating tension and emotional impact.

My only gripe in this book would be the romance between Ning and Kang. Although it is not insta-love, it still feels a little bit too fast-paced. It feels like I skipped too many scenes and got right to the highs, which is why some personal stakes don’t hit as hard. Still, the romance is still better written than some YA books I have read recently, and it does nothing to diminish the complex character arcs Ning and Kang individually go through.

On the lighter side of things, A Magic Steeped in Poison makes me appreciate the art of tea-making. Although I love tea, much of my experience with preparing it myself just involves heating hot water in a kettle and steeping a bag of Twinings or dumping a sachet of 3-in-1 cardamom karak in a mug. I don’t come from a culture with an elaborate tea heritage, and reading all about the intricacies of water, leaves, curing, and even storage makes me want to try non-instant tea.

When I started this book, I had a steaming cup of tea—a poor substitute for the wonders Ning describes, but tea nonetheless—refilled it with a fresh brew, then promptly forgot about my next cup because I was too invested in the characters. I can’t wait to read the sequel to see how all of these things will unfold, and I’ll be ready with better tea when it arrives.

This is such a fun read! I wasn't quite sure what to expect going in, despite the blurb, and I have to say I loved the mix of culture, mystery, and intrigue! The concept behind the magic teas was totally unique and it was so interesting to read about all the different things that tea could do in Lin's fantastical world.

With her mother dead and her sister on death's door, Ning has little choice but to enter the competition to become the next shennong-shi for the kingdom. She hopes to win and gain the medicine needed to save her sister's life. But there's a lot more at stake than just some friendly competition. The book is chock full of political drama and secrets, and people willing to do anything to win the competition. There was a lot of detail, and many twists and turns so you never have everything quite figured out (even when you think you do lol). I liked Ning's character - she's willing to do anything to save her sister, and she's so sweet and brave in the process. I really loved her friendship, and I didn't mind the romantic relationship as well, though it was verrryyyy slow burn. I'm hoping to see development in that area in the sequel/conclusion!

Overall, I think the writing style here is great, I think the plot is fun and unique, and I think the worldbuilding was very well done. I'm looking forward to seeing how this duology ends with that cliff hanger!

A Magic Steeped In Poison exceeded my expectations, as an Asian and someone who enjoys reading about Asian cultures, I'm satisfied with the representation+the writing style flows smoothly, its a quick and fun read.

Highly recommend to fans of Spin The Dawn, These Violent Delights, Jade Fire Gold! 🪄

A Magic Steeped in Poison has a unique plot, with a magic system like no other and a world steeped in Asian culture that made it rich. Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Lim's Spin the Dawn. I want to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book, and I'm looking forward to the sequel.

I really enjoyed this book and am looking for the sequel. The main character was a bit flat, though I enjoyed her drive to protect her sister. The romance was pretty adorable. I also liked a lot of the side characters especially the princess. The magic system was unique and interesting.

Thank you SO much publisher for taking on this amazing author and this book. Look at this cover - doesn’t it remind anyone of the artist James Jean?!! The book summary got me hooked. I preordered it within a day. Even though I got an e copy to read, I had to get a hardback copy too. It’s so rare to read about tea pouring as tradition or as an art form. This book has political palace suspense, budding friendship/romance story and a secret. Highly recommend this book to all readers of YA mystery fans. Definitely support Asian authors!

I have been waiting to read this book for a long time. For one, even though this is part of a duology (I hate cliffhangers, by the way), the sequel is only months away from being released. And it is all about the art of tea making and the magic brewed with it. That is something I cannot say no to. Glad to say that the story doesn't disappoint.
Ning is on a mission to save her sister from the brink of death. Her mother has already succumbed to the poison found in the tea leaves provided by the imperial coffers. Her only chance lies in winning the competition organised by the princess. Am I the only one here getting the 'Hunger Games' and 'Goblet of Fire' vibes? Well, don't expect something that nerve-racking; except for the last part, the story follows an even pace as soothing as the morning tea.
That brings us to the most interesting part: the magic of the shennong-shi, masters adept in the art of tea-making. In a palace riddled with mysteries where every step could lead to danger, the competition adds another layer to the political intrigue. Not everything or everyone is what they seem. As Ning progresses through each round we are introduced bit by bit to the beauty of this art and when the shennong-tu's hands wield the tea, all the chaos seems to recede.
The story explores the power of female relationships and thus all the major characters are women, except for Kang - the adopted son of the banished prince. His background is still shrouded in mystery, that is something to wait for in the sequel. Their sudden progress from friends to lovers might have taken me by surprise, still, I am rooting for this duo.
A beautiful story that will ensnare you from the very beginning. Drinking tea will never be the same anymore.

Favourite quotes:

"Grief has a taste, bitter and lingering, but so soft it sometimes disguises itself as sweetness"

"The nice thing about getting old is you realize everything circles back on itself"

"Human hands make mistakes, Ning, but they are the hands the gods gave us. We use them to make amends, to do good things"

"We all have people we care about, those we would give our lives for. It puts us in danger, or makes us dangerous"

"There is a difference between living the suffering and reading about it"

This is a fabulous new series. Immediately engaging, and I cannot wait to read the next book coming in the series! A definite addition to personal collections and libraries!

4.5 stars

This was an incredible YA fantasy read. The magic system was unique and elegant and I found myself wanting to discover the possibilities along with Ning. I appreciated the balance between having a character that is both incredibly talented and still a student. The competition was an excellent way for the reader to learn about the magic system. The challenges were unique and interesting and often wove in elements of the political turmoil. The unrest is a shadow looming over the story that slowly becomes more and more apparent culminating in a tense final scene that left me on the edge of my seat. I am incredibly excited to see how the magic and the turmoil expand in the next book.

The characters were also incredible. Ning was determined and strong. Kang was charming and shrouded in mystery. The princess and her bodyguard were particularly interesting characters to piece together.

As much as I loved the book I can't quite give it five stars. This book has quite a slow build-up with a lot of moments of waiting or contemplation for Ning. The second half really escalated the stakes of the story but we spent almost too much time in the build-up. I also wish we had gotten more distinct characters among the competitors. There was only the friendly one, the enemy, and the enemy's sidekick. There were hints of additional character development with one of the competitors at the end. But I would have liked to see Ning interact with her peers a bit more. As exciting as secret rendevous are I wanted more character interactions related to the competition. Now that the story has really taken off I am confident I will love the sequel.

Individual destinies are too entwined with one another. A combination of hundreds, thousands of choices." #AMagicSteepedInPoison #JudyILin #macmillan

📚: 1 / 2

✨Genre: #YA #Fantasy #AAPI #ChineseMythology

✨You will find in this book:

🌱Magic / Tea making / Love-hate relationships/ Friendship 🌱

Ning has lost her mother and a lot of people are dying from the poisonings.

Ning's sister is sick. And Ning decides to go to the Palace to take part in the shennong-shi competition, for the right to serve the emperor and find the cure for her sisters sickness.

Girl from the village, encounters a lot of palace intrigues, but also meets kind people, with whom her destiny will be entwined.

Beautiful and original story with a lot of tea brewing. I loved it.

I liked that author has not chosen typical "they lived happily ever after" trope. I was completely wrong about Kang and Princess, this makes me really excited for a book two.

Cool tea magic system? The cover? Competition? These were some of the things that intrigued me and I can confirm, A Magic Steeped in Poison is a beautiful debut, full of court intrigue, mysteries and pretty descriptions. It's easy to read and entertaining enough that the pages flow by as we accompany Ning in her determined quest to find a cure for the poison and save her sister.

I really liked Ning's character and how her family always propelled her through the competition and courtly schemes. Her newfound allies that support her as well the interesting side characters added to the enjoyment. Also, the worldbuilding. The best part of the book probably. I loved how it was all put together with excellent descriptions of every food, place, situation or tea; along with the inclusion of Chinese inspiration. Though the plot falls into the typical YA fantasy category plots, it was mainly the writing that kept me going.

What I didn't like mainly was the insta love that felt forced in the plot to keep up the mystery, but Kang as a character is someone I'd like to know more about in the sequel, along with his relationship with Ning. The pacing was off at times too, with a few scenes being dragged on or seemed too convenient.

Overall, a good debut though, as it provides a solid base for the sequel. I'm eager to see the improved characterization and return to the same lush world!

I confess this was a book where the book cover demanded a reading investigation by me. I was not disappointed by what I found within its cover. I really loved the idea of magic within tea steeping, especially since I live in SE Asia where tea culture is an everyday experience. I am curious how this series will continue into the next one.

I loved this book! It was so fun and fast paced. I loved the character relationships, and the beautiful descriptions of the setting. I also greatly enjoyed the magic system, and the discussions of tea! I am very excited for book 2!

I can't even begin to put into words how I much I loved this book. Forget about how gorgeous the cover art is, and it is GORGEOUS! What is inside this book is magical! I really enjoyed the magic system and the world building in this story and I cannot wait to read more from this author!

The book's pace was slow but overall was rich in detail. There was great description of socioeconomic differences which were incorporated into the competition. The tea descriptions were beautiful. Common fantasy tropes appeared throughout but they didn't feel predictable. It's a unique premise that delivers.

I ended up DNFing this book, unfortunately. I couldn’t connect to the characters and found myself not keeping up with the plot. I definitely recommend for most YA fantasy readers, but because I’m a very character driven reader this just didn’t work for me. Thank you for the opportunity to read this title early.

Oh. My. Goodness.

This book was so good!!!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for allowing me early access to this book as an eARC.

Like it gave Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim vibes but this book literally had me about to cry during the last true interaction between Ning and Kang.

The magic system is so next level!! The whole magic with the tea was so unique and so cool. The amount of thought the author put into it was so cool and just made it so whimsical and beautiful in its magic.

The pacing in the beginning was a tad slow but after we got into the competition everything flew by. There was a bit of everything from romance, to political intrigue, to backstabbing betrayals.

I’m so excited for the sequel!! (And if anyone needs a kidney I’ll trade one of mine for an ARC of A Venom Dark and Sweet 👀)

Clever premise. Got a little lost in the magic but the friendships and relationships were well done. Looking forward to sequel.

Will buy a copy of this book. Didn't have time to read the ARC before the Archive Date as I got a copy a week before release. Have heard amazing things about this book though, so I am excited to read, and then read the sequel in my ARC library.