A Magic Steeped in Poison

Content Warning: poison, deathI’ve been wanting to read this book since I saw the gorgeous cover. It’s even more beautiful in person! I really enjoyed this story.+ The magic system of the shennong-shi, is unique and cool! The magic is in the tea and the preparer and I totally believe it because whenever I drink a hot cup of tea, it’s a healing experience – so I loved learning about the shennong-shi. The competition to be the shennong-shi for the Emperor gives the story high stakes.+ Ning’s story is relatable in that she’s doing the competition for the love of her sick sister. I love her memories of her family and of home. I like Ning’s bravery and her ability to think on her feet whenever difficult situations arose. She goes through a lot of challenges in the competition.+ I enjoyed the politics taking place in the story as well. The emperor hasn’t been seen, so the Princess has been present for the shennong-shi competition. Ning meets a boy who happens to be the son of the emperor’s brother who was banished and exiled. There is talk of unrest in the empire and Ning is caught in the intrigue. She’s labeled a traitor and rebel but we learn more about what’s going on in the empire and the role of the Princess.+ The little romance storyline between Ning and Kang is sweet, in a way it’s a forbidden kind of love, since Ning isn’t sure where his loyalties lie. It doesn’t overtake the story though which is nice and I look forward to seeing what happens in book two.+ The author did a great job with the setting! I was definitely transported in Ning’s world of tea and the palace. Lovely world-building.~ Would love to learn more about Kang in book two because we do learn some things about him but he still stays a bit mysterious.Why you should read it:it’s a magic tea brewing competition! so uniquelush world-buildingNing’s love for her family, the politics she gets embroiled in and the romance that’s brewing for herWhy you might not want to read it:it’s a little bit of insta-love-ish but I think it was okay because the story didn’t fully focus on the romanceMy Thoughts:The gorgeous cover lured me in and then I was hooked by the tea competition and lush world building. I found this a quick read and with a unique concept. I loved this one and I’m glad I finally got to read it!

I loved reading this book. At many different points in the story I thought I knew where it was going, and it subverted my expectations, becoming more interesting by the page. For those who love character driven magical fantasy rooted in real world cultures and mythology, this is a brilliant read.

I'm quite impressed with Lin's Debut!Don't be distracted by the intro info: The death of her mother? That's covered immediately and moves forward into a competition meshed with politics and corruption.A unique magic system, fantastic imagery, and the food descriptions will have your mouth watering ;)My only complaint is that the ending felt rushed. I would have loved more time to absorb what was happening but, to be fair, the protagonist was also shoved into a time-cinched situation!I've already ordered the 2nd Book of Tea to find out what's next :)

Beautifully written with very interesting world building. The characters are all compelling, and it was a joy to read.I stayed up until 3 am on a work night reading this in bed. 100% worth the sleep deprivation.

***4.75***OverallI loved this book, it was a beautiful original story with a very interesting magic system (Tea!). The author has a way with descriptive words that just draws you in to every scene. The book feels incredibly sensory to me. Ning will do anything to save her sister from the poison that is slowly killing her. She enters a competition in hopes that it will give her enough sway to get the palace physicians to heal her. Throughout the competition and book Ning is unsure who she can trust but does make quite a few friends along the way. There is a little hint of romance but not much.NarrationI listened to the audiobook for the majority of this book and I am so glad that I did. The text is a bit small in the hardback copy that I own and I butchered many of the names and places because they are not western. The Narrator does an absolutely amazing job pronouncing the terms as they were meant to be read and I am so grateful for that because it amplified the story even more for me.CoverThe cover is absolutely stunning. Honestly, I would have bought this for the cover alone.RecommendationThis is a YA fantasy book with a unique magic system that draws heavily from Asian mythology and folklore. This is the first book in a duology and I am excited to read what happens next. If you are into YA fantasy this is a must read.

As soon as I saw this book was about tea magic, I had to read it, and it didn’t disappoint! This is a great book to read with a cup of tea, but you’ll always want a snack, because that tea is often paired with delicious food. (Side note: I am so happy that a new dim sum place opened near me, because this book had me craving dumplings!)The stakes are high for Ning from the start because her mother is dead and her sister is succumbing to the same poison. Ning enters a competition for tea masters in the imperial capital because she’s hoping to win a cure. Instead, she gets involved in a huge conspiracy and she doesn’t know who to trust.The action doesn’t stop as Ning battles assassins, rival tea masters, and corrupt court officials. She also makes some unexpected friends along the way. But the best part of the story is all the details about the tea magic. The competition stretches her to learn new techniques and flavors to achieve different magical effects. It also describes different styles of Asian cooking from all the regions of the Empire. The romantic subplot was a little confusing, but I enjoyed Ning’s friendships and her love for her sister.I can’t wait for the next book!

Primo libro della duologia “The Book of Tea” di Judy I. Lin, A Magic Stepped in Poison è uno YA dalle premesse interessanti ma che attira l’attenzione per il suo sistema magico delicato e intrigante, oltre che per quella piccola opera d’arte che è la cover realizzata da Sija Hong.Tradimenti, intrighi di corte, una ribellione alle porte e una competizione dove per lo più ci si pugnala alle spalle per ottenere la vittoria.Un’opera di debutto che sicuramente riprende e non si discosta poi molto dalle dinamiche e dai cliché del fantasy YA, rendendo lo sviluppo della storia un po’ (troppo) prevedibile. Le vicende ricordano per certi versi Spin the Dawn o The Daughter of Moon Goddess per esempio.Non parliamo di un romanzo dal ritmo veloce e incalzante, anzi soprattutto la parte centrale può risultare a tratti confusionaria e dal ritmo altalenante. A questo si aggiungono un instalove di cui nessuno sentiva davvero il bisogno, alcune illogicità e (troppe) comode coincidenze nella trama che fanno un po’ storcere il naso.Il romanzo, però, ha il pregio di risultare scorrevole grazie a personaggi primari e secondari interessanti e a un sistema magico basato sul tè.Complice anche lo stile dell’autrice lirico, a tratti onirico e romantico, ma senza risultare eccessivamente denso e ricco, la lettura diventa molto più sensoriale e “sognata”.Trovo che sia proprio l’ideazione di questa magia incentrata sul tè, l’elemento vincente del romanzo.Perfettamente inserito nel testo, l’autrice ha creato un sistema magico che dà forza alla storia e che contribuisce ad arricchire il worldbuilding di dettagli mitologici e culturali. Ad esempio ogni regione ha il suo modo di preparare il tè, così come diversi possono essere gli usi.A magic stepped in poison è un debutto piuttosto solido, che riesce a gestire discretamente la trama di intrighi e i personaggi ma che affascina per l’idea del tè. Ha i suoi innegabili difetti ma fa il suo dovere di intrattenere e sono curiosa di leggere il seguito A Venom Dark and Sweet!

The dust jacket doesn't fully cover the hardcover of the book, but honestly for the low price I can't complain! If you're picky about this then I suggest buying elsewhere, but for this discounted rate I can definitely look past it because it's not that noticeable. The book is also smaller than I expected for a hardcover, but I'm pretty sure it's because it's from a different publisher from the usual US/UK publishers, and honestly it's a lot easier to hold. The book came in relatively good condition and within the expected timeframe! Recommended

Well written, beautifully woven story that marries a fascinating magic system with Chinese culture and empires. And a touch of romance

I’ve had my eyes on this book for a while and I’m so happy I finally got it AND on sale!!! The cover is so pretty and I’m so excited to read it

Great story based around tea and magic. Wonderful for young adult. Have purchased a number of copies as gifts.