A Magic Steeped in Poison

'A Magic Steeped in Poison' by Judy I. Lin is a killer blend of Asian mythology and tradition. Elegantly written, the prose is filled with just the type of lyrical language one would expect, and sprinkled with quotable lines. It's an excellent representation of the artistry and complexities of the cultures which help shape the story. Though I found most of the mystery to be predictable, the author still does a good job of leading the reader through the paces of discovery.. and if I'm being honest, I really feel like the tea magic is where it's at for this story. Lin's magic system is a fascinating departure from the usual in modern fantasy and her descriptions of Ning's specific gift of magic is probably my favorite aspect of the whole book. I enjoyed the way that due to the competition, we also got a glimpse of life in various provinces across the kingdom, rather than just the imperial city or Ning's own town. It made the world Lin created feel fuller, distinguishing not only between the citizens of the city itself.. but also shedding light on those very realistic kinds of regional biases one might see in a large country. The story itself has plenty of tense moments, romance, and enough political machinations to keep the pace moving at a steady clip.. even when the telling diverges from the main path. There are numerous characters that we experience only briefly, but they're textured richly and make their mark, adding more layers to Lin's already robust world-building. If you're looking for a tale bursting with creative magical elements, palace intrigue, and threat of heavy consequences.. this is the book for you. (I received this title as an ARC. All opinions are mine and freely given.)

Judy Lin’s debut, A Magic Steeped in Poison is a beautiful, lush fantasy set is historical China. As suggested in the title, the magic system is embedded in tea and the world bruising around teas and foods is done so well! It really drew me into the world in an all-the-senses kind of way. However, I felt that the pacing of the plot and various side plots were a bit off, moving too quickly at times and much too slowly at others. In addition to this, there were many threads that were not tied off, which left me feeling dissatisfied rather than eager for book two. I also thought that the romance thread could h be gone deeper. Instead, much of it felt unearned. Despite those flaws, the book was fun to read and was able to hold my attention by the beautiful, descriptive writing and the sympathetic protagonist. I would still recommend this book to readers seeking non-western historical fantasy and I’m looking forward to the second book in this duology!

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin is an East Asian-inspired YA that will appeal to fans of Six Crimson Cranes or Jade Fire Gold. The story revolves around Ning, who has magical tea-brewing powers. When her sister grows sick, she enters a shennong-shi or tea-making competition in the imperial city in order to win a favor from the princess. Will she be able to win the competition? Or will other things distract her from her goal? Here is a magical excerpt from Chapter 1: "Our house is dim and quiet as I move through the rooms like a thief. Rifling through boxes and drawers, fumbling with things my father kept hidden, so as not to be reminded of his grief. I weave between chairs and baskets, drying racks and jars, my footsteps careful. I can hear Shu coughing softly through the walls, tossing in her bed. She has gotten worse in these past few days. Soon the poison will take her, as it did our mother. Which is why I must leave tonight, before my father tries to stop me and I’m bound here by guilt and fear until it is too late. I touch the scroll hidden in the folds of my tunic, to reassure myself it is still there." Overall, A Magic Steeped in Poison is a lovely YA fantasy with an original premise: a tea-making competition. Unfortunately, I found the rest of the story to be cookie-cutter predictable. I had predicted the reveal about a certain character, because I had seen it done in many other YA fantasy books before. I do give the author props though for a nice action scene at the halfway mark. I also enjoyed how the author gave us a jaw-dropping cliffhanger. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA fantasy books in general, I recommend that you check out this book, which is available now!