A review by eliajor
A Magic Steeped In Poison by Judy I. Lin

dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

My first time reading Chinese-inspired mythological fantasy steeped in medicinal lore. I'll admit months apart made me forget the first half of the book but I was sort of able to pick up some of the plot. I struggled with remembering names and faces, but I look forwards to how the plot develops in the following book. 

I loved the use of tea ingredients as a medium of connection between characters. It makes me want to try out my own experimentations for the perfect cup of tea suited for the occasion but alas tea here is simple and not magic infused (though I wish it was).

I did struggle to finish this book because the writing style wasn't vibing with me. It was explicitly narrative and many parts were more 'tell' than 'show'. The mystery was hard for me to follow when I couldn't immerse myself in the details of the world. Though I enjoyed the way Judy wrote dialogue and I hope to emanate that talent myself.

- Ps: Good to read alongside tea + traditional chinese music playlist