'A Magic Steeped in Poison' by Judy I. Lin

'A Magic Steeped in Poison' by Judy I. Lin - Blog Tour & Review

4/2/2022

Continue below to read my review of the book and be sure to follow this link - [TOUR SCHEDULE] to check out the rest of the stops on the 'A MAGIC STEEPED IN POISON' blog tour brought to you by TBR & BEYOND TOURS, FEIWEL & FRIENDS, and JUDY I. LIN!

A Magic Steeped In Poison by Judy I. Lin

A Magic Steeped in Poison
(The Book of Tea, #1)
Judy I. Lin

Published by: Feiwel & Friends
Publication date: March 29th, 2022
Genres: YA Fantasy

Synopsis:

Judy I. Lin’s sweeping debut A Magic Steeped in Poison, first in a duology, is sure to enchant fans of Adrienne Young and Leigh Bardugo.

I used to look at my hands with pride. Now all I can think is, “These are the hands that buried my mother.”

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.

r e v i e w
rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ (4 / 5 stars)

'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.

About the Author:
Judy I. Lin 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 daughter. A Magic Steeped in Poison is her debut novel.

AUTHOR LINKS: JUDYILIN.COM | GOODREADS | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER

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