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

adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I received an ARC of this, and I'm excited to bring it to schools and discuss it with our teens. The writing is lush and beautiful, with mouthwatering descriptions of food and vibrant, tactile world building. There's mystery, danger, and twisting loyalties throughout. It's perhaps a dated readalike, but I think fans of Dhonielle Clayton's The Belles would love this as would readers looking for a fascinating magic system. As an adult reader, I wasn't the target audience for the often impulsive choices Ning makes, so the things that I didn't love probably won't be as much of an issue for our teen readers. One note, this ends
on a major cliffhanger
which is very rarely something I enjoy, and I didn't love it here. Still, highly recommend! 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings