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The Book of Tea #1
A Magic Steeped in Poison
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2022)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.
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.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published March 29, 2022
2846 people are currently reading
127600 people want to read
About the author
Judy I. Lin
8 books2,341 followersJudy I. Lin is the #1 New York Times-bestselling and award-winning author of fantasy and horror books for young adults, including the Book of Tea duology, Song of the Six Realms, The Dark Becomes Her and the upcoming Avatar Legends: City of Echoes. Judy was born in Taiwan and immigrated to Canada with her family at a young age. She grew up with her nose in a book and loved to escape to imaginary worlds. She now works as an occupational therapist and still spends her nights dreaming up imaginary worlds of her own. She lives on the Canadian prairies with her husband and daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,108 reviews
March 28, 2022
The magic in this was SO COOL it's based on different types of tea?? Like different tea does different magic depending on the leaves and how you prepare it? JUDY, YOUR MIND-
August 15, 2022
the element that really sells this story is the magic in the ancient chinese art of tea brewing. i loved how everything in this book revolves around tea - it connects the characters through magic bonds, it provides the MC with a way to help her family through a competition, and it serves as the opposition as tea is being poisoned. tea is the life and heart of this novel. it was very cool to not only read about ancient chinese customs around tea making, but also traditional chinese medicine.
the thing that prevented me from going “oh, i quite liked this” to “i loved this” is how formulaic the story is. i guess for a debut, i really shouldnt be so critical of the narrative structure because its not terrible, but because this follows the set-up of any basic YA fantasy, i never really felt like the stakes were high or got super emotionally invested in the story/characters.
but overall, a more than decent beginning to a magically rich story/series!
↠ 3.5 stars
the thing that prevented me from going “oh, i quite liked this” to “i loved this” is how formulaic the story is. i guess for a debut, i really shouldnt be so critical of the narrative structure because its not terrible, but because this follows the set-up of any basic YA fantasy, i never really felt like the stakes were high or got super emotionally invested in the story/characters.
but overall, a more than decent beginning to a magically rich story/series!
↠ 3.5 stars
January 26, 2024
Dobra, to było super ekscytujące
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March 15, 2023DNF @ 60%
I just couldn't get into this one. Felt a lot like other things I've read, but it wasn't bad! Just wasn't doing it for me. I might revisit this though when I'm in a less slumpy mood.
I just couldn't get into this one. Felt a lot like other things I've read, but it wasn't bad! Just wasn't doing it for me. I might revisit this though when I'm in a less slumpy mood.
April 17, 2023
I am an avid tea drinker and this book is purely about tea.
May 10, 2022
Blending threads of mythology with courageous heroines and hints of romance against a mysterious fantastical backdrop inspired by folklore has recently found a huge space on bookshelves, and deservedly so. Whether it’s the recent YA fantasy, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh that retells a Korean folktale or the recent adult debut, Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan that is inspired by the Chinese legend of the moon goddess Chang’e. It’s time to make space on the shelf for A Magic Steeped in Poison — front-facing, of course, for the stunning cover illustrated by Sija Hong deserves all the attention.
Ning, a commoner in a village of the homely Su province, will do anything to save her sister’s life, including competing in a brutal magical tea-brewing competition. But the art of tea-making — an ancient magic of Shennong — no longer brings pride to her, only grief. The pain of losing her mother to a tea that Ning herself unknowingly brewed with poisoned leaves is insurmountable, and the guilt of having threatened the life of her younger sister with the same tea leaves her desperate to fetch a chance of turning things around. So when she receives an invitation to compete in the kingdom’s tea steeping competition and potentially win a royal favour, the acceptance isn’t surprising. It is this fairly immediate and passionate response to saving her loved one that establishes Ning as a protagonist of this debut that the Taiwanese-Canadian author rightly once said has “girls ready to burn down the world for their families”.
Holding tightly onto hope and the magic in her hands, this determined heroine who is easy to instantly root for, travels to the rich imperial city of Jia. But with a rising rebellion led by an old banished prince wanting to claim the throne for himself and a heavy yet palatable dose of court intrigue and royal politics, the kingdom isn’t the easiest to navigate. Not to mention the betrayals, unethical tactics, and ruthless contenders that make the competition a high-stakes one. The backstabbing dynamics are evidently inspiration from Chinese dramas; the struggle against oppressive regimes reminded me of Jade Fire Gold by June C.L. Tan —in a good way because I love the trope and any number of books exploring it is less. And while the sabotages are thorns in Ning’s way to victory, an encounter with a handsome stranger further complicates her life.
These components impress even more when the prose paints each scene with a particular softness that almost reads like a marvellous dream. Intended or not, this praise even reflects in the lulling, romantic cover. The lyrical writing draws a sensory world with descriptions of cultural clues and infuses (pun very much intended) Chinese legends to build a detailed backdrop. Though, the aspect worth appreciating the most is the creation of a magic system based on ‘tea’ instead of the usual ‘chi’ that many fantasy tales based on East-Asian mythology are driven by.
It’s a relief to see the tea as a central force that consistently contributes to the story — whether when showcasing the diversity of regions within this world based on the different ways of brewing tea or when the magic system revolves around it: how you can relive memories or even break into someone’s mind through a magically brewed tea. Tea is truly synonymous to Asian culture so the refreshing and fascinating system of sorcery based on it definitely excites. In the midst of the competition, assassination attempts against the princess continue to intrigue; also greasing the plot enough for it to be a fast-paced thread that sits well with what is usually expected from a YA fantasy.
Judy I. Lin masters the act of not lifting the curtain all the way up. While various facets of the magic system and the major plotline are unravelled throughout this start to a duology that she says is “about leaving home to discover yourself, and finding the strength to continue even when the path is hard”, a lot will still make you crave resolution. This obviously translates into a cliffhanger that makes it almost impossible to not pick up the sequel, A Venom Dark and Sweet. Overall, this epic fantasy is lush in the word’s true sense —instead of as an overused adjective used to describe fantasy tales by authors of colour, but I digress— and unfolds in a beautiful world where treachery and betrayal brews in cups of aromatic magic.
➵ the author says it has 'girls ready to burn down the world for their families' and if that isn't the thing I look for in asian books, i'd be lying. also, this cover has won the best cover award so everyone can just leave now ok bye-
Ning, a commoner in a village of the homely Su province, will do anything to save her sister’s life, including competing in a brutal magical tea-brewing competition. But the art of tea-making — an ancient magic of Shennong — no longer brings pride to her, only grief. The pain of losing her mother to a tea that Ning herself unknowingly brewed with poisoned leaves is insurmountable, and the guilt of having threatened the life of her younger sister with the same tea leaves her desperate to fetch a chance of turning things around. So when she receives an invitation to compete in the kingdom’s tea steeping competition and potentially win a royal favour, the acceptance isn’t surprising. It is this fairly immediate and passionate response to saving her loved one that establishes Ning as a protagonist of this debut that the Taiwanese-Canadian author rightly once said has “girls ready to burn down the world for their families”.
Consider reading this review over on my blog.
Holding tightly onto hope and the magic in her hands, this determined heroine who is easy to instantly root for, travels to the rich imperial city of Jia. But with a rising rebellion led by an old banished prince wanting to claim the throne for himself and a heavy yet palatable dose of court intrigue and royal politics, the kingdom isn’t the easiest to navigate. Not to mention the betrayals, unethical tactics, and ruthless contenders that make the competition a high-stakes one. The backstabbing dynamics are evidently inspiration from Chinese dramas; the struggle against oppressive regimes reminded me of Jade Fire Gold by June C.L. Tan —in a good way because I love the trope and any number of books exploring it is less. And while the sabotages are thorns in Ning’s way to victory, an encounter with a handsome stranger further complicates her life.
These components impress even more when the prose paints each scene with a particular softness that almost reads like a marvellous dream. Intended or not, this praise even reflects in the lulling, romantic cover. The lyrical writing draws a sensory world with descriptions of cultural clues and infuses (pun very much intended) Chinese legends to build a detailed backdrop. Though, the aspect worth appreciating the most is the creation of a magic system based on ‘tea’ instead of the usual ‘chi’ that many fantasy tales based on East-Asian mythology are driven by.
It’s a relief to see the tea as a central force that consistently contributes to the story — whether when showcasing the diversity of regions within this world based on the different ways of brewing tea or when the magic system revolves around it: how you can relive memories or even break into someone’s mind through a magically brewed tea. Tea is truly synonymous to Asian culture so the refreshing and fascinating system of sorcery based on it definitely excites. In the midst of the competition, assassination attempts against the princess continue to intrigue; also greasing the plot enough for it to be a fast-paced thread that sits well with what is usually expected from a YA fantasy.
Judy I. Lin masters the act of not lifting the curtain all the way up. While various facets of the magic system and the major plotline are unravelled throughout this start to a duology that she says is “about leaving home to discover yourself, and finding the strength to continue even when the path is hard”, a lot will still make you crave resolution. This obviously translates into a cliffhanger that makes it almost impossible to not pick up the sequel, A Venom Dark and Sweet. Overall, this epic fantasy is lush in the word’s true sense —instead of as an overused adjective used to describe fantasy tales by authors of colour, but I digress— and unfolds in a beautiful world where treachery and betrayal brews in cups of aromatic magic.
Thank you, Feiwel & Friends, for the review copy!
➵ the author says it has 'girls ready to burn down the world for their families' and if that isn't the thing I look for in asian books, i'd be lying. also, this cover has won the best cover award so everyone can just leave now ok bye-
Currently reading
April 28, 2022I'm celebrating book's birthday with my hardcopy! I'm not sure if I read the book or eat the cover! It looks soooooo delicious!
April 4, 2022
I have had amazing luck picking 2022 fantasies lately and I’m so happy that A Magic Steeped in Poison has continued that streak. Maybe it’s because of my new strategy: only read things with elite cover art. ✨
Ning doesn’t have many choices left. After her mother died of the same poison that’s slowly killing her sister, she’s running out of options—and also time. Her hopes to save Shu’s life are now tethered to a competition in their kingdom’s capital. The princess has sent an invitation to all who study magical tea-making to compete for a chance to be the next royal shennong-shi. The odds are slim, but along with the title and prestige the winner will be able to ask the emperor for one favor. And what Ning needs more than anything is access to the best medical treatment in the kingdom for her dying sister.
The competition is brutal, though, populated by underhanded tactics and ruthless contenders. And with a number of power plays and political maneuvers being enacted behind the scenes, Ning will have to be careful not to step into the line of fire.
Judy I. Lin writes with a softer touch, even though the stakes are just as dire as other YA fantasies. But there’s something almost soothing about the description of her tea magic, no matter what is actually being depicted in the text. The blend of a cultural staple, like tea, with with traditional medicine and magic, is such an incredible way to incorporate real-world customs into fantasy, and I hope we see more of it. I’d love for tea magic to become its own its own sub-genre the way ‘wizard schools’ have.
This wasn’t as fast-paced as some others I’ve read recently, but it’s just as engaging as the best of them, especially by the end. The political components were fun to try to unravel. You think you understand who the major players are and where their loyalty lies, only for everything to be eventually flipped on its head. We’re left on a cliffhanger, not one that will totally destroy your life (All of Us Villains 😠), but one that will simply haunt your every waking hour. Probably even some sleeping ones, too.
If you love lush food descriptions, intricate and unique magic systems and fantastical competitions, you will enjoy A Magic Steeped in Poison. And luckily for us, the sequel in this duology, A Venom Dark and Sweet, is coming out only FIVE (5) months after the first one!!! If you’re not aware, this is basically unheard of for a YA fantasy series and I’m taking it as a blessing. 🙏
*Thanks to Fierce Reads for an advance review copy!
**For more book talk & reviews, follow me on Instagram at @elle_mentbooks!
Ning doesn’t have many choices left. After her mother died of the same poison that’s slowly killing her sister, she’s running out of options—and also time. Her hopes to save Shu’s life are now tethered to a competition in their kingdom’s capital. The princess has sent an invitation to all who study magical tea-making to compete for a chance to be the next royal shennong-shi. The odds are slim, but along with the title and prestige the winner will be able to ask the emperor for one favor. And what Ning needs more than anything is access to the best medical treatment in the kingdom for her dying sister.
The competition is brutal, though, populated by underhanded tactics and ruthless contenders. And with a number of power plays and political maneuvers being enacted behind the scenes, Ning will have to be careful not to step into the line of fire.
Judy I. Lin writes with a softer touch, even though the stakes are just as dire as other YA fantasies. But there’s something almost soothing about the description of her tea magic, no matter what is actually being depicted in the text. The blend of a cultural staple, like tea, with with traditional medicine and magic, is such an incredible way to incorporate real-world customs into fantasy, and I hope we see more of it. I’d love for tea magic to become its own its own sub-genre the way ‘wizard schools’ have.
This wasn’t as fast-paced as some others I’ve read recently, but it’s just as engaging as the best of them, especially by the end. The political components were fun to try to unravel. You think you understand who the major players are and where their loyalty lies, only for everything to be eventually flipped on its head. We’re left on a cliffhanger, not one that will totally destroy your life (All of Us Villains 😠), but one that will simply haunt your every waking hour. Probably even some sleeping ones, too.
If you love lush food descriptions, intricate and unique magic systems and fantastical competitions, you will enjoy A Magic Steeped in Poison. And luckily for us, the sequel in this duology, A Venom Dark and Sweet, is coming out only FIVE (5) months after the first one!!! If you’re not aware, this is basically unheard of for a YA fantasy series and I’m taking it as a blessing. 🙏
*Thanks to Fierce Reads for an advance review copy!
**For more book talk & reviews, follow me on Instagram at @elle_mentbooks!
April 16, 2022
This one should have steeped a bit longer!
A Magic Steeped in Poison has a great beginning and ending, but a bit of a confused middle part with some logic holes and things that made no sense to me, as if the author had not had the time to edit the middle as thoroughly as the rest.
But the incredibly gorgeous cover makes this definitely worth buying even if you just want it as an art object, and the evocative prose and unique tea brewing magic system are its biggest strengths. Plot and characters didn't always convince me as much, especially the weak YA insta-romance,
Things I liked:
- pretty prose and descriptions
- cool magic system
- female friendships
- intense love for one's family
- good build-up of tension and suspense
- magical competition
- interesting side characters I liked
- entertaining, quick read that flows nicely
Things that didn't work for me:
- some aspects of the story and setting don't really make sense when you think about it
- some logical discrepancies
- constant secrecy/lies/deception that usually seemed so unnecessary, I kept wondering why something had to be kept secret (e.g. mild spoiler, not a big deal: Another example would be when Ning is hanging out in the palace kitchen, which then has to be concealed for unknown reasons, leading to her pretending to be newly hired kitchen help, who's then forced to change into a maid dress and serve tea at a palace party (which would not be a kitchen help's job at all), just so she can conveniently discover something there (pure plot contrivance). These kinds of occurrences are just a bit farfetched and contrived, and don't feel well-thought-out.
- romance is a little toxic (with the heroine being the toxic one for a change)
- it felt a bit derivative of Elizabeth Lim's wonderful Spin the Dawn
- too many gratuitous food descriptions for my taste (this might be a plus point for you, but I started rolling my eyes a bit at all the glazed things drizzled with this and that)
- too many convenient coincidences
This sounds as if I didn't enjoy it, but I'm actually still looking forward to the sequel - this is only a debut, and the author clearly has a lot of talent for beautiful prose and creating tension. With a bit more attention to more thoughtful plotting, characterization and world-building, she could become a favorite.
A Magic Steeped in Poison has a great beginning and ending, but a bit of a confused middle part with some logic holes and things that made no sense to me, as if the author had not had the time to edit the middle as thoroughly as the rest.
But the incredibly gorgeous cover makes this definitely worth buying even if you just want it as an art object, and the evocative prose and unique tea brewing magic system are its biggest strengths. Plot and characters didn't always convince me as much, especially the weak YA insta-romance,
Things I liked:
- pretty prose and descriptions
- cool magic system
- female friendships
- intense love for one's family
- good build-up of tension and suspense
- magical competition
- interesting side characters I liked
- entertaining, quick read that flows nicely
Things that didn't work for me:
- some aspects of the story and setting don't really make sense when you think about it
- some logical discrepancies
- constant secrecy/lies/deception that usually seemed so unnecessary, I kept wondering why something had to be kept secret (e.g. mild spoiler, not a big deal: Another example would be when Ning is hanging out in the palace kitchen, which then has to be concealed for unknown reasons, leading to her pretending to be newly hired kitchen help, who's then forced to change into a maid dress and serve tea at a palace party (which would not be a kitchen help's job at all), just so she can conveniently discover something there (pure plot contrivance). These kinds of occurrences are just a bit farfetched and contrived, and don't feel well-thought-out.
- romance is a little toxic (with the heroine being the toxic one for a change)
- it felt a bit derivative of Elizabeth Lim's wonderful Spin the Dawn
- too many gratuitous food descriptions for my taste (this might be a plus point for you, but I started rolling my eyes a bit at all the glazed things drizzled with this and that)
- too many convenient coincidences
This sounds as if I didn't enjoy it, but I'm actually still looking forward to the sequel - this is only a debut, and the author clearly has a lot of talent for beautiful prose and creating tension. With a bit more attention to more thoughtful plotting, characterization and world-building, she could become a favorite.
Want to read
March 30, 2022i wanna marry this cover. can i?
June 1, 2023
This was EVERYTHING I wanted in a fantasy book!! 😍😍 Such a cool magic system, stunning writing and a really entertaining plot. I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this! ☕💖
“Grief has a taste, bitter and lingering, but so soft it sometimes disguises itself as sweetness.”
A Magic Steeped in Poison follows our mc Ning, who is suffering from the grief and guilt from losing her mother after she unknowingly brewed a batch of poison tea- the tea that is now killing her sister, Shu, too. Then Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom's best shennong-shi (masters of the ancient, magical art of tea-making), where the winner will receive a favor, she travels to the palace to compete, desperate to save Shu. But Ning is soon caught up within the bloody court politics and with a handsome boy with a terrible secret distracting her, her life may actually be the one in danger...
“There is a difference between living the suffering and reading about it.”
I've had my eye on this book for AGES (ngl, mostly bc of the gorgeous cover 😍), and have just put it off but ages- but I'm so glad I finally picked it up!! 💖 This was such a magical fantasy book that I just had such a good time reading it 🥰🥰
Starting with the characters- I really liked them! ✨ Our mc, Ning, was super easy to connect to and I really admired her willingness to do anything for her sister. Her development throughout the story was really well-done and I was rooting for her throughout the competition 💗💗 I also really liked our mmc, Kang- he was such an interesting character and finding out more about him throughout the story was so interesting. He's honestly so sweet, i love him! 🥰🥰
“How can I give another part of myself to someone else, when I already have so little to give?”
Next, the writing- which was absolutely stunning!! 😍😍💖💖 Judy I. Lin's writing is so gorgeous and descriptive and just has this magical quality that I adored 💗 It kinda reminded me a little bit of Stephanie Garber's writing- they're not exactly the same, but both create such a magical feeling which really drew me into the story! 🥰 I also loved the way Asian culture was woven into the story- Asian fantasy always has the most amazing cultural influences. There were tons of descriptions of the food and tea they were making, as well as the type of society they were living in, which really entranced me and made the story feel sm more interesting! 💗💗
I also really enjoyed the plot!! 🤩🤩 I think the author paced it really well- there was always something to keep me interested, whether that be action, the competition scenes or little sprinklings of romance 😏 The competition was super interesting to read about and kept me hooked. I also really liked the action at the end, which definitely left me wanting to pick up the sequel!! 💖
There was also a little romance subplot- which was super cute!! 😍😍 It's definitely not the best romance I've ever read, but I thought it was adorable and they did have some really good scenes. The chemistry was definitely there. There was a bit of drama between the couple in the end, so hoping we get more of them in the second book! 💗
“I'll rescue you ten times over if I will be kissed like that every time”
Overall, this was sooo good!! 😍😍 Would absolutely recommend if you want:
✔ Asian fantasy
✔ Beautiful writing
✔ Likable characters
✔ Cute little romance subplot!
I definitely want to pick up the sequel at some point!! 🥰🥰
~ 4.25 stars
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was so so good!! 😍😍 Such a magical fantasy read that I thoroughly enjoyed ☕💖
RTC!
“Grief has a taste, bitter and lingering, but so soft it sometimes disguises itself as sweetness.”
A Magic Steeped in Poison follows our mc Ning, who is suffering from the grief and guilt from losing her mother after she unknowingly brewed a batch of poison tea- the tea that is now killing her sister, Shu, too. Then Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom's best shennong-shi (masters of the ancient, magical art of tea-making), where the winner will receive a favor, she travels to the palace to compete, desperate to save Shu. But Ning is soon caught up within the bloody court politics and with a handsome boy with a terrible secret distracting her, her life may actually be the one in danger...
“There is a difference between living the suffering and reading about it.”
I've had my eye on this book for AGES (ngl, mostly bc of the gorgeous cover 😍), and have just put it off but ages- but I'm so glad I finally picked it up!! 💖 This was such a magical fantasy book that I just had such a good time reading it 🥰🥰
Starting with the characters- I really liked them! ✨ Our mc, Ning, was super easy to connect to and I really admired her willingness to do anything for her sister. Her development throughout the story was really well-done and I was rooting for her throughout the competition 💗💗 I also really liked our mmc, Kang- he was such an interesting character and finding out more about him throughout the story was so interesting. He's honestly so sweet, i love him! 🥰🥰
“How can I give another part of myself to someone else, when I already have so little to give?”
Next, the writing- which was absolutely stunning!! 😍😍💖💖 Judy I. Lin's writing is so gorgeous and descriptive and just has this magical quality that I adored 💗 It kinda reminded me a little bit of Stephanie Garber's writing- they're not exactly the same, but both create such a magical feeling which really drew me into the story! 🥰 I also loved the way Asian culture was woven into the story- Asian fantasy always has the most amazing cultural influences. There were tons of descriptions of the food and tea they were making, as well as the type of society they were living in, which really entranced me and made the story feel sm more interesting! 💗💗
I also really enjoyed the plot!! 🤩🤩 I think the author paced it really well- there was always something to keep me interested, whether that be action, the competition scenes or little sprinklings of romance 😏 The competition was super interesting to read about and kept me hooked. I also really liked the action at the end, which definitely left me wanting to pick up the sequel!! 💖
There was also a little romance subplot- which was super cute!! 😍😍 It's definitely not the best romance I've ever read, but I thought it was adorable and they did have some really good scenes. The chemistry was definitely there. There was a bit of drama between the couple in the end, so hoping we get more of them in the second book! 💗
“I'll rescue you ten times over if I will be kissed like that every time”
Overall, this was sooo good!! 😍😍 Would absolutely recommend if you want:
✔ Asian fantasy
✔ Beautiful writing
✔ Likable characters
✔ Cute little romance subplot!
I definitely want to pick up the sequel at some point!! 🥰🥰
~ 4.25 stars
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was so so good!! 😍😍 Such a magical fantasy read that I thoroughly enjoyed ☕💖
RTC!
April 8, 2022
2 Stars
Naturally the book with a beautiful cover, I don’t like….
I listened to the audio and at one pointy started skim listening as it wasn’t my cup of tea <— pun intended.
I loved the idea of tea and myths but it just bores me. I’m not much into competition books any more either. And someone’s review said there was animal cruelty which you know I hate but I must have missed it in my skimming
Either way, if you loved it great, if you didn’t, that’s great too.
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Naturally the book with a beautiful cover, I don’t like….
I listened to the audio and at one pointy started skim listening as it wasn’t my cup of tea <— pun intended.
I loved the idea of tea and myths but it just bores me. I’m not much into competition books any more either. And someone’s review said there was animal cruelty which you know I hate but I must have missed it in my skimming
Either way, if you loved it great, if you didn’t, that’s great too.
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
December 31, 2022
It's always a bummer when a book you highly anticipated doesn't land well and that was the case here. I felt like we really didn't get to know any of the characters well outside of our main character and there was a major lack of depth with everyone we encountered. The plot is filled with convenience for our main character and things tend to just work out well for her without much struggle. I did enjoy the writing style and the bits of magic that we got to see, I loved. Outside of that I just didn't mesh well with it.
August 26, 2022
Star Rating: —> 5 Stars
•RE-READ 08/23/22 in prep for A Venom Dark & Sweet !
Wow. This book definitely lives up to its cover!!! A competition? Mystery hot love interest??? THAT TWIST !!! And SUCH a strong female MC! I L O V E D this!!!
ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL CHINESE MYTHOLOGY BASED READ!!!
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher—Fewel & Friends/ Macmillan, & Judy I. Lin for the e-arc!!!!
_____________
OMG HOLY MOTHER-COVER 😍😍😍
______________
Inspired by Chinese Mythology & history?! Thats all I need to hear— *slaps that want to read button*
•RE-READ 08/23/22 in prep for A Venom Dark & Sweet !
Wow. This book definitely lives up to its cover!!! A competition? Mystery hot love interest??? THAT TWIST !!! And SUCH a strong female MC! I L O V E D this!!!
ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL CHINESE MYTHOLOGY BASED READ!!!
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher—Fewel & Friends/ Macmillan, & Judy I. Lin for the e-arc!!!!
_____________
OMG HOLY MOTHER-COVER 😍😍😍
______________
Inspired by Chinese Mythology & history?! Thats all I need to hear— *slaps that want to read button*
June 21, 2022
i really tried everything to give this book a chance, tried to justify everywhichway all the problems i had with it just to give it a passing go, but this is just an impossible book to like. i wanted to dnf it countless(!) times, as is obvious since it took me a MONTH to get through barely 400 pages.
i don’t have clear cut problems here, just.. i’ve never read something so passive. so much happened here, from a personal pov, but also in the world and the empire itself, and yet? not a single part of it rang true, or ever actually felt like was happening. it seemed like a story you’re hearing from someone with no personal stake in it, who heard it from someone who heard it from someone who heard it from someone who, also, heard it from someone else entirely. no depth, no perception, no emotional weight.
the story flows by without a bump (which is odd, in and of itself) but more than that,.. it was like the author’s just trying to rush you from one plot point to another. there were way too many convenient coincidences, more plot holes that were thrown in(??) randomly for no discernible purpose and then just never mentioned again. all of this, and more, led me to never feeling immersed in the storytelling and cost me whatever interest i initially had in the book.
the characters were painfully underdeveloped,- 400 pages and i don’t know a single thing about them, truly. it’s like i’ve never come across them at all? ning, the main character, read like someone watching everything unravel in the sidelines and passing mild, uninterested commentary on it. (on her own life!) (spoiler: there’s a part where she’s trapped in the dungeons, about to be executed the next day, and yet, she managed to be offbeat and impersonal about that too! why? why are you about to DIE and still can’t provoke a single emotion in me?)
she was really disturbingly passive; a fish caught in the waters, and while i really do try to find parts of female leads i can like, even if i don’t like them, there was just.. nothing here to work with. none of the other characters had anything remarkable to remember them by, the romance was barely there, too.. up-and-down for two people who’ve barely just met, and have no real growth or intimacy together. i don’t care about them enough to care for the hurdles!
i’ll give that the premise of the book sounds good, but the actual grit of the story is very simple, already very overdone, and magic steeped in poison brought nothing new to the table. on contrary, it did the exact opposite,— managed to be surprisingly mediocre. and while the writing style itself is.. nice, i guess, it was entirely overwhelmed by weak characters and weaker monologues. rants aside, for me; there just wasn’t anything in this book worth any time reading it.
i don’t have clear cut problems here, just.. i’ve never read something so passive. so much happened here, from a personal pov, but also in the world and the empire itself, and yet? not a single part of it rang true, or ever actually felt like was happening. it seemed like a story you’re hearing from someone with no personal stake in it, who heard it from someone who heard it from someone who heard it from someone who, also, heard it from someone else entirely. no depth, no perception, no emotional weight.
the story flows by without a bump (which is odd, in and of itself) but more than that,.. it was like the author’s just trying to rush you from one plot point to another. there were way too many convenient coincidences, more plot holes that were thrown in(??) randomly for no discernible purpose and then just never mentioned again. all of this, and more, led me to never feeling immersed in the storytelling and cost me whatever interest i initially had in the book.
the characters were painfully underdeveloped,- 400 pages and i don’t know a single thing about them, truly. it’s like i’ve never come across them at all? ning, the main character, read like someone watching everything unravel in the sidelines and passing mild, uninterested commentary on it. (on her own life!) (spoiler: there’s a part where she’s trapped in the dungeons, about to be executed the next day, and yet, she managed to be offbeat and impersonal about that too! why? why are you about to DIE and still can’t provoke a single emotion in me?)
she was really disturbingly passive; a fish caught in the waters, and while i really do try to find parts of female leads i can like, even if i don’t like them, there was just.. nothing here to work with. none of the other characters had anything remarkable to remember them by, the romance was barely there, too.. up-and-down for two people who’ve barely just met, and have no real growth or intimacy together. i don’t care about them enough to care for the hurdles!
i’ll give that the premise of the book sounds good, but the actual grit of the story is very simple, already very overdone, and magic steeped in poison brought nothing new to the table. on contrary, it did the exact opposite,— managed to be surprisingly mediocre. and while the writing style itself is.. nice, i guess, it was entirely overwhelmed by weak characters and weaker monologues. rants aside, for me; there just wasn’t anything in this book worth any time reading it.
May 3, 2023
The magic system in this book is very cool but otherwise it’s standard YA fare.
October 4, 2021
a feast for the senses
July 27, 2022
“The more you give the magic, the more it takes.”
This book was so good! This was an enchanting and stunning fantasy full of Chinese mythology, magic, and political intrigue. Ning is a shénnóng-shi, a master of the art of tea-making. Her mother was her mentor and she recently died from a poisoned tea that Ning brewed. Ning enters a competition to decide who is the best shénnóng-shi in the kingdom and if she wins she will be able to save her sister who has also been poisoned. Eventually, Ning discovers that she may be in more danger than her sister because of competitors who try to harm her and soon she becomes tangled in deadly game of political intrigue.
The pacing in the beginning was slow but by the middle I was swept away by the beautiful world that the author created. The writing was beautiful and very descriptive, although it was a bit flowery at times. The world-building was amazing, I was blown away by the interesting characters and the unique magic. The book is told from Ning's perspective. I loved Ning, she is strong, brave, caring, and will do whatever it takes to save her sister. I really liked Ning's friend Lian, she is sweet, helpful, and brave. I liked Kang, he is handsome, mysterious, helpful and kind to Ning. I really liked the romance between Kang and Ning, but I was hoping for a few more romantic scenes between them. The side characters were all interesting and they each had their own unique personality. There were several surprises that I didn't expect. The ending was so good! I can't wait to read the next book!
This book was so good! This was an enchanting and stunning fantasy full of Chinese mythology, magic, and political intrigue. Ning is a shénnóng-shi, a master of the art of tea-making. Her mother was her mentor and she recently died from a poisoned tea that Ning brewed. Ning enters a competition to decide who is the best shénnóng-shi in the kingdom and if she wins she will be able to save her sister who has also been poisoned. Eventually, Ning discovers that she may be in more danger than her sister because of competitors who try to harm her and soon she becomes tangled in deadly game of political intrigue.
The pacing in the beginning was slow but by the middle I was swept away by the beautiful world that the author created. The writing was beautiful and very descriptive, although it was a bit flowery at times. The world-building was amazing, I was blown away by the interesting characters and the unique magic. The book is told from Ning's perspective. I loved Ning, she is strong, brave, caring, and will do whatever it takes to save her sister. I really liked Ning's friend Lian, she is sweet, helpful, and brave. I liked Kang, he is handsome, mysterious, helpful and kind to Ning. I really liked the romance between Kang and Ning, but I was hoping for a few more romantic scenes between them. The side characters were all interesting and they each had their own unique personality. There were several surprises that I didn't expect. The ending was so good! I can't wait to read the next book!
July 3, 2023
dnf at 48%
well, I guess... *clears throat loudly* this just... *shifts in seat* wasn't really... *lip bite* my... cup.... of.... *looks at cameraman* ✨tea✨
*MIC DROP*
⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
I normally don't dnf books, especially since this one definitely wasn't horrible! It was cliche and trope-y and the writing and dialogues felt very stilted and there were plot holes and I didn't really care about the characters too much and the romance was insta-lovey and bland and there was people-hate and it was predictable and, um, where was I going with this? I had a point, maybe??
anyway, uh, I might come back to this, but I say dnf for now! *runs*
well, I guess... *clears throat loudly* this just... *shifts in seat* wasn't really... *lip bite* my... cup.... of.... *looks at cameraman* ✨tea✨
*MIC DROP*
⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
I normally don't dnf books, especially since this one definitely wasn't horrible! It was cliche and trope-y and the writing and dialogues felt very stilted and there were plot holes and I didn't really care about the characters too much and the romance was insta-lovey and bland and there was people-hate and it was predictable and, um, where was I going with this? I had a point, maybe??
anyway, uh, I might come back to this, but I say dnf for now! *runs*
August 26, 2022
pre-read: the worst thing about this book is that it’s not out yet (update: ITS OUT! IM ON MY WAY!)
-
read: yay!!! magical tea!!
3.7 stars.
i’ll be honest- the beginning was a bit slow to get into. it all felt like something i’ve read before and maybe mildly enjoyed. but then the subplots start and we move along and the last 30% is good!! there are some really great lines in that 30% that legitimately boosted my overall rating (as good as the last 30% was, though, my rating will be based on the whole 100%).
yes, i appreciated the ending. yes, i will be reading the sequel. yes, i’m willing to accept an unedited half-finished word document of book two right now.
-
read: yay!!! magical tea!!
3.7 stars.
i’ll be honest- the beginning was a bit slow to get into. it all felt like something i’ve read before and maybe mildly enjoyed. but then the subplots start and we move along and the last 30% is good!! there are some really great lines in that 30% that legitimately boosted my overall rating (as good as the last 30% was, though, my rating will be based on the whole 100%).
yes, i appreciated the ending. yes, i will be reading the sequel. yes, i’m willing to accept an unedited half-finished word document of book two right now.
Want to read
July 9, 2025i need to start reading the books i actually own, so im giving this one a go 💗
September 14, 2022
I absolutely loved the world and magic of this one! It took me a while to warm up to the characters, but I got there by the end, and I also appreciated that this was YA that read like it was actually for teens. Will finish the duology
April 28, 2022
This is so disappointing. I liked premise of this book, I mean tea based magic and cover is beautiful. But that's all goof I can say pacing is mess, romance insta-love, character are bland. I fell bad for rating but execution was so bad.
December 12, 2021
"There is a difference between living the suffering and reading about it."
⭐💫
1.5 stars
I read somewhere - likely on Twitter - that this book was inspired by The Descendant of the Crane. I certainly see it. The flowing prose, the vivid worldbuilding, the themes of family, betrayal and unravelling of difficult truths. I enjoyed The Descendant of the Crane, and for the same reasons I did like some aspects of A Magic Steeped in Poison quite a bit. Don't get me wrong - though I mention similarities, they are two different books that stand separately - firmly on their own strengths.
I just wish the pacing of this book wasn't this much of a mess. Sure, the writing flows so smoothly that I almost felt as if I'd been swept away by a stream, but it was as though I was simply carried from plot point to plot point, never once immersed. It was hard to follow the story for this reason, and even harder to keep myself from losing interest.
(The same could be said about the characters, even though I followed them for a greater part of 400 pages. It was as if I hadn't really met them at all? Ning especially - and she's the protagonist whose perspective we follow. It was like I thought I knew her, but she always acted the complete opposite of internal monologue. This could just be me - I was too distracted, fighting off my growing disinterest.)
A Magic Steeped in Poison contains all the ingredients for a wonderful story. And, as I've mentioned, the writing had so much potential. But I won't lie and say I wasn't disappointed. As it stands, I'm not sure if I will be continuing on with this series.
Still, I'm excited for the novel's debut. I'm absolutely certain that a lot of people will enjoy this. It was just not for me.
Big thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings: assassination, death, disease, poison, violence.
April 11, 2022
excuse me while i go drink 503729 cups of tea and pretend it gives me magical abilities and i have a cute golden retriever but also sassy warrior boyfriend
August 21, 2025
If only the whole book had been as good as the last 20%. This is yet another ya fantasy where payoff is suddenly there without any of the necessary buildup - the side-characters and character relationships, including the romance, are half-baked, and we randomly find out new things about them as it suits the plot. I was so excited to read this duology because of the covers and the premise centering tea magic, but it ended up being a rather lackluster read.
Want to read
January 17, 2022Y'all can I marry a cover? This cover is everything I ask for and didn't know.
November 2, 2022
Me he quedado completamente enamorada de esta historia.
La trama engancha y hay tanto misterio y peligro que se mantiene la tensión activa todo el rato.
La prosa es poética y muy bonita, incita a disfrutar de cada frase.
Tiene algo tierno, tiene peligro, engaños, muchas intrigas y líos palaciegos, una pizca de amor, deber y honor, té y hierbas, magia y oscuridad.
China imperial. Una competición por ser el maestro del té del emperador. Una conspiración en el imperio y té envenenado.
Una premisa sin duda diferente y atractiva, pero si además le añades magia oscura, peligro, amor prohibido y un chico misterioso, el libro se convierte en imprescindible.
Nuestra protagonista debe luchar por su sueño, que no solo es convertirse en maestra de té, sino salvar a su hermana de la enfermedad causada por el té envenenado que ha sumido al imperio en un miedo constante.
Pero todo en palacio son intrigas y juego sucio en su contra.
He disfrutado intensamente esta historia, la forma de narrar de la autora y la excelente traducción me han permitido saborear cada página, cada frase. La bonita estructura de la magia, incluida en una ceremonia ancestral y llena de sentimiento han hecho que lo sienta totalmente real.
Este libro es un frasco de veneno, hermoso e inofensivo desde el exterior, pero hecho de una combinación de elementos que encajan adecuadamente entre ellos para componer algo tan perfecto como mortal.
Sin duda os lo recomiendo muchísimo, además la edición es en tapa dura y un formato muy bonito.
La trama engancha y hay tanto misterio y peligro que se mantiene la tensión activa todo el rato.
La prosa es poética y muy bonita, incita a disfrutar de cada frase.
Tiene algo tierno, tiene peligro, engaños, muchas intrigas y líos palaciegos, una pizca de amor, deber y honor, té y hierbas, magia y oscuridad.
China imperial. Una competición por ser el maestro del té del emperador. Una conspiración en el imperio y té envenenado.
Una premisa sin duda diferente y atractiva, pero si además le añades magia oscura, peligro, amor prohibido y un chico misterioso, el libro se convierte en imprescindible.
Nuestra protagonista debe luchar por su sueño, que no solo es convertirse en maestra de té, sino salvar a su hermana de la enfermedad causada por el té envenenado que ha sumido al imperio en un miedo constante.
Pero todo en palacio son intrigas y juego sucio en su contra.
He disfrutado intensamente esta historia, la forma de narrar de la autora y la excelente traducción me han permitido saborear cada página, cada frase. La bonita estructura de la magia, incluida en una ceremonia ancestral y llena de sentimiento han hecho que lo sienta totalmente real.
Este libro es un frasco de veneno, hermoso e inofensivo desde el exterior, pero hecho de una combinación de elementos que encajan adecuadamente entre ellos para componer algo tan perfecto como mortal.
Sin duda os lo recomiendo muchísimo, además la edición es en tapa dura y un formato muy bonito.
August 20, 2022
FOUR STARS
Okay, this book was so beautiful.
Review to come
Okay, this book was so beautiful.
Review to come
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