A Magic Steeped in Poison

I enjoyed this book overall, especially because I love mythology-inspired reads. The author does a phenomenal job incorporating Chinese mythology and the ancient art of tea into this novel, but I felt some details were kind of underdeveloped and didn't add up (details here and there throughout the book). I also wasn't particularly fond of the romance being so quickly presented in the story; I like more of the slow-burn romance so it doesn't give the cliché feel of "love at first sight". The book also seemed, for me personally, to lag in a few areas. Overall though, the book was really good with a good plot, and I can't wait to read the sequel to this novel.

Title: A Magic Steeped in Poison Author: Judy I Lin I love the cover it's so pretty. It's so sad the main characters sister is dying and if she wins the contest saving her sister would be a good prize like she wants. The fact she accidentally poisoned her and her mom must be hard to live with. I loved the quote that explained their beliefs in death: "Three souls contained within each of us separated from our bodies when we die. One returning to Earth, one to the air, and the final soul descending into the wheel of life." It's a nice way of putting how death works around this point is where I got hooked on the book. When she sold her only memory of her mom she had left in Nánjiāng was very sad. I agree with the makers of the game that they had to take a test to be let into the competition it'll help keep the cheaters out. I also loved how they gave them a price limit for the tea ingredients so make it more fair. The boy she met while shopping for ingredients my gut said don't trust him but later on he helped save the Princess from an assassin attempt. I don't want to go into more detail so I don't spoil the rest of the story for others but all around I loved this book and I would 100% reread it.

This story was as gorgeous as the cover with a killer cliffhanger! I will say the only thing I did not like about it was that the next book is not out till the fall and I wish the cliffhanger wasn't so edge of the seat. I really enjoyed learning about all the teas and how Ning and the other shennong-shi could use them to affect the body, heal the sick, or, as what happened to Ning's mother and sister and countless others, poison and kill them. The contest to become the royal shennong-shi was really interesting and I was rooting for Ning and Lian since it really was a cutthroat contest. I liked how in between all the intrigue, there were slices of beauty that were mentioned, plus the cool tea brewing ceremonies. This book did very well balancing the excitement and beauty of tea and the unrest in the empire. I am not sure who to trust, besides Ning, but I can't wait for the next book!