A review by parchmentdreams
A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin

emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

“The more you ask of the magic, the more it takes, either from the one who casts or the one receives.”

Overview

When Ning’s mother is killed and her sister is gravely ill from poisoned tea, Ning decides to enter the competition to become the court shennong-shi and use the favour the Emperor will grant to save her sister. However when she gets to the capital Ning is embroiled in rumours of rebellion, and struggles against the discrimination she faces.

What I Liked
 
I love Ning and the strength of her character! I loved seeing her develop and make friendships throughout the competition, and her dynamic with Kang is fantastic.
 
I really enjoyed the writing style and the world-building. The magic system is fascinating, and I love how it is all linked to tea - as a tea drinker myself, it was really interesting to find just how many plants and brews I recognised! The writing style is very descriptive and lyrical without being overly flowery or verbose. It reads like a fairytale, and reminds me a lot of Daughter of the Moon Goddess but with a faster pace.
 
The main characters were all well developed, and the plot flowed well. The pacing was consistent and I never found myself getting bored or lost.
 
What I Didn’t Like
 
Nothing of the plot or writing, but the characters… lets just say that Kang’s father needs to be stopped… permanently!
 
Oh, and the ending. What a brutal cliffhanger! Great ending, but I don’t want to wait months until I can read the sequel haha
 
Other Impressions
 
Overall, I absolutely loved A Magic Steeped In Poison! It swept me away into this world brimming with mystery and magic, and I felt like I was immersed the whole time. It also made me want tea, so if you’re a tea lover, I highly recommend! Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Lim and Axie Oh.