danajoy's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Blood
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Death
febber's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Terminal illness
Minor: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism and Sexism
Minor: War, Murder, Torture, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Chronic illness
sinceraly's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Man, this book. I haven't been this torn on a book in a while, though I land mostly positive.
Before I start on the things I didn't like about it, here are the things I did:
the world building. I am mostly distantly familiar with Asian (or Chinese, if we're being specific) tea ceremonies, or the way ancient Chinese society was built. The world building in this book is quite easy to get into, as someone without much experience, maybe due to the fact that it's more of a fantasy-China setting rather than a real Chinese setting. Allows the reader to go in semi-blind and learn as we go on so long as we pay attention, which I enjoy.
The magic system. Really, this is what brought my attention to the book in the first place. I had never thought of tea as a conductor for magic, and I really appreciate it - especially how the book considers it a partnered magic, with, yes, the tea, it's vessels, and it's accompaniments being important to the end effect, but the brewer's skill, knowledge, and conscious ability to connect with the drinker being just as important, or more so. This book approaches the art of Shénnóng-shī as an intimate experience between the brewer, their tea, and the drinker, and I loved the descriptions of the magic at work.
The supporting characters. Though some weren't in the book for as long, or as often as I'd hoped, I did find myself genuinely enjoying a lot of the side characters and the way the contributed to the plot. The staff in the kitchens in particularly really stuck out to me, as I felt the familial warmth and the solidarity they radiated every time they were in the picture. I also enjoyed some of the Shénnóng-tú in the competition, like Lian, who becomes a very important source of rationality and consciousness in the book, even though she mostly helps Ning beat understand imperial life and politics. There's also another character who grew on me very fast through some very bold actions of his towards the later part of the book, but I won't say who for fear of spoilers.
The political intrigue and mystery. This was an aspect of the book I didn't expect to love as much as I did. I adore political intrigue, but I'll be honest - I tend to have a hard time finding YA novels that do it well or to my tastes. This book, I think, did a very good job of pulling the wool over my eyes several times in what I assumed or how I assumed things would go down. Things made sense as I thought about it, and I never read something and thought well, that's just dumb. I am legitimately very excited to see where this plot goes, more than anything else that could be offered by the second book in the series.
Some of the main characters. In particular, the royal characters. No names, no names.
The ending. Of course, no spoilers, but when I got to the last 25% of the book I legitimately could not put it down. Things layered beautifully, and every action cascaded onto itself in this tense, chaotic, and attention-grabbing final act of the book. It suddenly shook itself of any inconsistent writing and became a real gem. The political intrigue hit a head and really set the scene for the next book and the threats Ning will have no choice but to deal with, and I, for one, am so excited to see what that means.
But now, the things I didn't like about the book at all:
The romance. I knew going into this book that it contained a romance, and I didn't feel upset when it came up, but it was just badly done and shallow. The characters fell for each other in their first interaction, essentially, and though they did have a few times to chat and learn about each other, they kissed before their fifth interaction. There was something there, and if the romance had been nurtured, rather than thrown in at a shallow depth, I think it would have been something legitimately good. But as it stands, there is little to it and it made the little tug it got from my heart towards the end disappointing. If it had been done well, it really would have left an emotional impact. However, I am also someone who tends to be very picky about romances, so take that as you will.
The main character. Ning herself is so inconsistently written that it really makes it hard to understand how she reacts to the things going on around her. She claims that she's an outsider, that no one in her village likes her because she speaks her mind and is a troublemaker, yet she's more often than not demure. I wish so badly that the book was more consistent on her being a proponent of truth and honesty, because she really shines in the last quarter of the book, but struggles to be interesting for the majority of it. She loves her family, she wishes she could be like her mother, and she doesn't like imperial life. That's what I could gather from her. I want to know about her opinions, how what she's gone through has shaped her. She mentions from time to time the way that greedy imperial rules and their upholders have worsened the quality of life around her, even quotes revolutionaries, but none of that does anything to actually spur her into action. It falls flat because they come from the mind of a character that's purposely kept flat until the last quarter of the book to keep up with a competition plot that, honestly, falls apart halfway through the book and feels inconsequential.
Anime Jesus Syndrome. I can't think of a better way to describe this than this stupid joke. In isekai anime, the main character is often this unbeatable, all-knowing character who wins all the games and gets all the attention just because they conveniently have all of the experience with it. Ning has that too. The book states multiple times that she isn't an explicitly trained Shénnóng-tú - her mother had been training her sister to take up the mantle. Instead, Ning was learning to be a physician like her father, and had only sat in on her mother performing the magic or teaching lessons a few times, and yet you'd never think so with how Ning always knows the answer. All we can really tell is that she's not the most graceful when brewing the tea, but she knows every leaf, every material, every effect, every counter, despite not having professionally studied the art. It's a bit hard to believe. I wanted to feel like she grew during the competition, but it feels more like she started off at god-tier because the plot demanded it. I wish more focus had been put on her having to adapt through the competition, maybe use rural remedies and tricks against the more performative and pretty ones of the city-dwelling competitors.
Overall, this book's biggest flaws stem from what I think were common stumbles in a debut novel, and though it's certainly far from a perfect read, I think so long as the author is confident in how she approaches the world from her character's eyes, the next book will be something wonderful. I'm excited to see what happens next!
Before I start on the things I didn't like about it, here are the things I did:
the world building. I am mostly distantly familiar with Asian (or Chinese, if we're being specific) tea ceremonies, or the way ancient Chinese society was built. The world building in this book is quite easy to get into, as someone without much experience, maybe due to the fact that it's more of a fantasy-China setting rather than a real Chinese setting. Allows the reader to go in semi-blind and learn as we go on so long as we pay attention, which I enjoy.
The magic system. Really, this is what brought my attention to the book in the first place. I had never thought of tea as a conductor for magic, and I really appreciate it - especially how the book considers it a partnered magic, with, yes, the tea, it's vessels, and it's accompaniments being important to the end effect, but the brewer's skill, knowledge, and conscious ability to connect with the drinker being just as important, or more so. This book approaches the art of Shénnóng-shī as an intimate experience between the brewer, their tea, and the drinker, and I loved the descriptions of the magic at work.
The supporting characters. Though some weren't in the book for as long, or as often as I'd hoped, I did find myself genuinely enjoying a lot of the side characters and the way the contributed to the plot. The staff in the kitchens in particularly really stuck out to me, as I felt the familial warmth and the solidarity they radiated every time they were in the picture. I also enjoyed some of the Shénnóng-tú in the competition, like Lian, who becomes a very important source of rationality and consciousness in the book, even though she mostly helps Ning beat understand imperial life and politics. There's also another character who grew on me very fast through some very bold actions of his towards the later part of the book, but I won't say who for fear of spoilers.
The political intrigue and mystery. This was an aspect of the book I didn't expect to love as much as I did. I adore political intrigue, but I'll be honest - I tend to have a hard time finding YA novels that do it well or to my tastes. This book, I think, did a very good job of pulling the wool over my eyes several times in what I assumed or how I assumed things would go down. Things made sense as I thought about it, and I never read something and thought well, that's just dumb. I am legitimately very excited to see where this plot goes, more than anything else that could be offered by the second book in the series.
Some of the main characters. In particular, the royal characters. No names, no names.
The ending. Of course, no spoilers, but when I got to the last 25% of the book I legitimately could not put it down. Things layered beautifully, and every action cascaded onto itself in this tense, chaotic, and attention-grabbing final act of the book. It suddenly shook itself of any inconsistent writing and became a real gem. The political intrigue hit a head and really set the scene for the next book and the threats Ning will have no choice but to deal with, and I, for one, am so excited to see what that means.
But now, the things I didn't like about the book at all:
The romance. I knew going into this book that it contained a romance, and I didn't feel upset when it came up, but it was just badly done and shallow. The characters fell for each other in their first interaction, essentially, and though they did have a few times to chat and learn about each other, they kissed before their fifth interaction. There was something there, and if the romance had been nurtured, rather than thrown in at a shallow depth, I think it would have been something legitimately good. But as it stands, there is little to it and it made the little tug it got from my heart towards the end disappointing. If it had been done well, it really would have left an emotional impact. However, I am also someone who tends to be very picky about romances, so take that as you will.
The main character. Ning herself is so inconsistently written that it really makes it hard to understand how she reacts to the things going on around her. She claims that she's an outsider, that no one in her village likes her because she speaks her mind and is a troublemaker, yet she's more often than not demure. I wish so badly that the book was more consistent on her being a proponent of truth and honesty, because she really shines in the last quarter of the book, but struggles to be interesting for the majority of it. She loves her family, she wishes she could be like her mother, and she doesn't like imperial life. That's what I could gather from her. I want to know about her opinions, how what she's gone through has shaped her. She mentions from time to time the way that greedy imperial rules and their upholders have worsened the quality of life around her, even quotes revolutionaries, but none of that does anything to actually spur her into action. It falls flat because they come from the mind of a character that's purposely kept flat until the last quarter of the book to keep up with a competition plot that, honestly, falls apart halfway through the book and feels inconsequential.
Anime Jesus Syndrome. I can't think of a better way to describe this than this stupid joke. In isekai anime, the main character is often this unbeatable, all-knowing character who wins all the games and gets all the attention just because they conveniently have all of the experience with it. Ning has that too. The book states multiple times that she isn't an explicitly trained Shénnóng-tú - her mother had been training her sister to take up the mantle. Instead, Ning was learning to be a physician like her father, and had only sat in on her mother performing the magic or teaching lessons a few times, and yet you'd never think so with how Ning always knows the answer. All we can really tell is that she's not the most graceful when brewing the tea, but she knows every leaf, every material, every effect, every counter, despite not having professionally studied the art. It's a bit hard to believe. I wanted to feel like she grew during the competition, but it feels more like she started off at god-tier because the plot demanded it. I wish more focus had been put on her having to adapt through the competition, maybe use rural remedies and tricks against the more performative and pretty ones of the city-dwelling competitors.
Overall, this book's biggest flaws stem from what I think were common stumbles in a debut novel, and though it's certainly far from a perfect read, I think so long as the author is confident in how she approaches the world from her character's eyes, the next book will be something wonderful. I'm excited to see what happens next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Medical content, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent, War, Grief, and Murder
_andviolet's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.75
This is the best fantasy novel I've read in a while. The authors beautiful descriptions of a dynastic Chinese kingdom embued with magical traditions fuels this story of a girl's entanglement with political strife on her journey to save her family. This truly is a story for Asian drama lovers, expecially if you're a fan of traditional/royal settings and plenty of plot twists that you may, or may not, see coming. I'd even add on if you're a fan of the characters and rebellion of the Hunger Games, the pacing and plot of this novel will feel right for you.
Even if you're not familiar with any Chinese mythos, teas, or names, the story is very easy to get into with the introductory chapters and it flows right into the beginning of the overarching plot. The authors descriptions of scenery and sensations when brewing magic tea pulls you into the world like you're dreaming along with the main character Ning, and it quickly becomes addicting. You don't need to become an expert in the medicinal properties of the tea in order to appreciate the beauty of the magic system.
The novel does well with sectioning its story into arcs similar to a movie, but the last 70 or so pages become a real page turner, setting up the plot for the sequel. If you're doing a bookclub/read along with a friend, I recommend the following stopping points for discussion:
(1) Beginning to chapter 10, (2)Ch.10 to end of Ch. 15, (3) Ch. 16 to end of Ch. 20, (4) Ch. 21 to end of ch. 25, (5) Ch. 26 to ch. 32, (6) Ch. 33 to END.
Full story Spoilers Ahead
Already I was able to sense the pining and tension between these two characters, it even took my own breath away as I read it. Every moment between the two was fleeting yet longing, just as how it would feel to pine after a love interest in real life. I will admit, even though it became apparent by the time of the Emperors mourning that the story was heading towards focusing on its civil war arc, I was so incredibly heartbroken with the rift that forced Ning and Kang to "split." The sudden betrothal during the final trial even made my heart drop for Ning- everything came crashing down on her so fast after this point. With what little pages left for plot, I knew I had to order the sequel so that I could begin reading it as soon as I finished this novel.
Despite their blooming relationship not being the focus of the plot, really at any point, it is a big interest for me because of how "unfair" the Court life is for the both of them. They both became scarred and banished in someway at the behest of those in political power. With the novel's track record for foreshadowing, I still hold hope that Kang is being used just like Zhen.
Of course, due to the book having already announced the story would be split into 2 novels, there are a lot of questions left unanswered at the end after such a fast exit- certain truths and motivations, and perhaps in my rush to finish, a lack of foreshadowing that could give me any hint as to what I can expect to come.
Even if you're not familiar with any Chinese mythos, teas, or names, the story is very easy to get into with the introductory chapters and it flows right into the beginning of the overarching plot. The authors descriptions of scenery and sensations when brewing magic tea pulls you into the world like you're dreaming along with the main character Ning, and it quickly becomes addicting. You don't need to become an expert in the medicinal properties of the tea in order to appreciate the beauty of the magic system.
The novel does well with sectioning its story into arcs similar to a movie, but the last 70 or so pages become a real page turner, setting up the plot for the sequel. If you're doing a bookclub/read along with a friend, I recommend the following stopping points for discussion:
(1) Beginning to chapter 10, (2)Ch.10 to end of Ch. 15, (3) Ch. 16 to end of Ch. 20, (4) Ch. 21 to end of ch. 25, (5) Ch. 26 to ch. 32, (6) Ch. 33 to END.
Full story Spoilers Ahead
Spoiler
Because the plot is so easy to get into from the beginning, I very quickly read through the first 10 chapters in one day. What really got me hooked was the way the author wrote that first meeting of Ning and Bo (Kang) and the scene at the teahouse.Already I was able to sense the pining and tension between these two characters, it even took my own breath away as I read it. Every moment between the two was fleeting yet longing, just as how it would feel to pine after a love interest in real life. I will admit, even though it became apparent by the time of the Emperors mourning that the story was heading towards focusing on its civil war arc, I was so incredibly heartbroken with the rift that forced Ning and Kang to "split." The sudden betrothal during the final trial even made my heart drop for Ning- everything came crashing down on her so fast after this point. With what little pages left for plot, I knew I had to order the sequel so that I could begin reading it as soon as I finished this novel.
Despite their blooming relationship not being the focus of the plot, really at any point, it is a big interest for me because of how "unfair" the Court life is for the both of them. They both became scarred and banished in someway at the behest of those in political power. With the novel's track record for foreshadowing, I still hold hope that Kang is being used just like Zhen.
Of course, due to the book having already announced the story would be split into 2 novels, there are a lot of questions left unanswered at the end after such a fast exit- certain truths and motivations, and perhaps in my rush to finish, a lack of foreshadowing that could give me any hint as to what I can expect to come.
Spoiler
Whatever happens in the sequel, I'm glad to see that Ning's main goal to save her sister was resolved in the end, a full circle that still leaves me left wanting more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, and Violence
Minor: Death and Misogyny
magnan1mouse's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Grief
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Bullying, and Medical content
Minor: Torture, Self harm, and War
divi_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
ajozna's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Death of parent, Vomit, Murder, Grief, Death, Blood, Violence, Alcohol, and Medical content
Minor: War and Injury/Injury detail
mpbookreviews's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Violence, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
nytephoenyx's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I thought A Magic Steeped in Poison was good, but not great. I appreciate the twist Judy I. Lin employed in this book, leaning in to tea as magic. My understanding is that the tea ceremony and traditions surrounding it are revered by many Asian cultures, and as such, I loved that Judy I. Lin gave tea this additional sway.
That said, the emotions were flat in this book. I’m not sure if it was intentional. The world was interesting enough to bring me in every time I read it, but the characters weren’t so compelling that I felt invested, excited, or disappointed. They simply… were. For that, this gets 3.5 stars instead of 4. The book was interesting and I’m curious to see where it’s going, but I’m not compelled to reread it or own it.
That said, the emotions were flat in this book. I’m not sure if it was intentional. The world was interesting enough to bring me in every time I read it, but the characters weren’t so compelling that I felt invested, excited, or disappointed. They simply… were. For that, this gets 3.5 stars instead of 4. The book was interesting and I’m curious to see where it’s going, but I’m not compelled to reread it or own it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Blood, Child death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty
Minor: War, Grief, Medical content, and Torture
The characters in this book and their culture is Asian-coded, albeit it is a fantasy story. The author is Taiwanese and currently lives in Canada.