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I’m a big bookworm, so I love it when I find books that cross over with my love of tea. One tea-inspired fiction book that I recently enjoyed is A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin. It had been on my wishlist for a while, but I had to jump on it when it became available on Kindle Unlimited. In this post, I’ll share a bit of what this book is about and whether I would recommend it to others.
What’s It About?
Since this is a fictional novel, I don’t want to give away too much of the plot. We all know that tea is magical, but in this world, it literally IS magic (and at times poisonous). A Magic Steeped in Poison follows the journey of Ning, a young Shennong-shi, who enters a royal tea brewing competition in the hopes of saving her dying sister.
Here is a synopsis from the publisher:
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.
The magic is not in the ceremony of pouring the tea or the sharing of the cup. It is in the connection, the brief joining of souls. The tea leaves are a channel, the ingredients the signposts.
A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin
Would I recommend It?
I really enjoyed the escape of diving into this complex world during my daily commute. There was intrigue, court politics, a bit of romance, and just enough real-life tea references to keep me highlighting passages. The descriptions and world-building were vivid and engaging. The Chinese mythology woven throughout the story gave it an interesting and unique feel.
The story of A Magic Steeped in Poison wrapped up satisfyingly, but also ended with a cliffhanger that left me wanting more. I will be picking up the second part of this duology, A Venom Dark and Sweet, in the future.
I would recommend A Magic Steeped in Poison to anyone who is a fan of Young Adult fantasy novels like The Hunger Games. It would be fun to read alongside a tea-loving teen, but adults won’t find it too juvenile by any means. Common Sense Media suggests it for ages 13+. I think it would be super cool to see this book made into a movie someday. That would get a lot of new people more interested in tea.
Have you read A Magic Steeped in Poison? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
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