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

adventurous inspiring mysterious reflective tense slow-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? No

3.5

a love story built on necessary deceit & a war that broke those ties

despite its flaws (namely some meandering descriptions and stilted dialogues), AMSIP manages to captivate its audience through soulful narratives and eloquent explorations of the lengths one will go to in order to protect their loved ones. at its core, it is a tale of family and sacrifice, displayed before a royal court too wrapped up in the maintaining of its own image to care. ning's desire to both burn and be a part of said court provides a fresh perspective, one i don't see much in east-asian fantasy but which i can deeply relate to.

on paper, this should have been my favorite book this year, and i'm incredibly sad that i didn't get to fully enjoy it. here's hoping AVDAS will be my saving grace.

quotes that scratched that weird itch in my brain

Grief has a taste, bitter and lingering, but so soft it sometimes disguises itself as sweetness.

If you were told at birth that the world is supposed to bow down to you, you would think it natural that you are destined to climb.

Human hands make mistakes, Ning, but they are the hands the gods gave us. We use them to make amends, to do good things.

You cannot pull the truth from the unwilling, and you cannot tear something out of a mind that is closed off.

We all have people we care about, those we would give our lives for. It puts us in danger, or makes us dangerous.

"You can raze plants to the ground, burn them, but some will always return the next year, and the year after that."

"The tree may stand strong, but the rot starts from within." 

quotes that dissolved me into a puddle on the floor

"Careful, clever one," he says next to my ear, his breath stirring my hair.

The quick flash of his smile in the night is lightning against a dark sky.

"Ning," he sighs, and a shiver runs through me.

"I have to go," Kang says, yet he makes no effort to move.
"You should," I say, yearning for him to stay.

The lightest brush of my lips against his. He tips my head up and deepens the kiss, until it is a different sort of drowning, until we are forced to draw breath.

"I've tried to send her away for her own protection, and she crossed the empire to save me. I will never leave her again."
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