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Cover of A Magic Steeped in Poison

A Magic Steeped in Poison

Judy I. Lin

425 pages

A lush, sensory fantasy where the delicate art of brewing tea becomes a deadly weapon in a treacherous imperial court.

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What it feels like

Reading this book feels like inhaling the steam of a complex, dark tea—it is deeply sensory, aromatic, and laced with a subtle, creeping danger. The narrative moves at a steady, deliberate pace, mirroring the careful rituals of the magic system it centers around, while the atmosphere remains thick with both grief and political tension. The prose is lush and tactile, lingering on the scent of jasmine, the heat of porcelain, and the bitter taste of betrayal. It is an experience defined by its emotional texture, balancing the quiet, melancholic weight of a daughter's guilt with the sharp, glittering edges of imperial court intrigue. This will delight readers who love their fantasy steeped in rich cultural mythology, intricate magical arts, and fierce familial devotion.

Mood
  • sensory
  • atmospheric
  • tense
  • steeped in grief
Tone
  • earnest
  • reverent
  • melancholic
  • determined
Pace
steady
Themes
weight of guilt · sisterly devotion · art as magic · corrupt power structures · grief and memory
The writing
Lyrical and deeply sensory, the writing lingers on the tactile details of scent, taste, and the delicate rituals of magic.
The arc
Begins in the heavy shadow of guilt and desperation, slowly brewing into a fierce, politically-awakened determination to protect loved ones at any cost.
Who it's for
Readers who crave lush, culturally rich YA fantasies where intricate magic systems and deadly court politics intertwine.
Content notes
  • grief
  • death of a parent
  • poisoning
  • parental loss

About the book

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.

Description from Open Library.

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