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queergoth_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
I received this eARC from NetGalley but all thoughts are my own.
This picks up straight after the events of A Magic Steeped in Poison. I don't want to spoil that for anyone that hasn't read it so I'll keep it vague. We follow Ning as she journeys across the kingdom, not knowing who to trust or where she belongs, but determined to save it.
The second book had a different feel to the first one for me. It was darker and while it still focuses heavily on magic, it wasn't quite in the same way as the first. I guess the strong focus on Ning developing her magic in the first book was to introduce the magic system but I just the ceremonies and problem solving of the first one. This one focuses more on the threats to the kingdom and the journey taken to save it and I would have liked a blend of the two a little more.
I still really enjoyed this though. The magic and mythology are so wonderfully weaved into this story and the author does an amazing job of making you care about every character, even if they have a relatively small part. And as always, I love a good description of food in books and this book gives me that and more.
This picks up straight after the events of A Magic Steeped in Poison. I don't want to spoil that for anyone that hasn't read it so I'll keep it vague. We follow Ning as she journeys across the kingdom, not knowing who to trust or where she belongs, but determined to save it.
The second book had a different feel to the first one for me. It was darker and while it still focuses heavily on magic, it wasn't quite in the same way as the first. I guess the strong focus on Ning developing her magic in the first book was to introduce the magic system but I just the ceremonies and problem solving of the first one. This one focuses more on the threats to the kingdom and the journey taken to save it and I would have liked a blend of the two a little more.
I still really enjoyed this though. The magic and mythology are so wonderfully weaved into this story and the author does an amazing job of making you care about every character, even if they have a relatively small part. And as always, I love a good description of food in books and this book gives me that and more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol
greymalkin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A very solid sequel to the first book and a good conclusion to the duology. It's so rare to have a 2 book series be complete, just about everything's a trilogy these days. But despite being two slim-ish volumes, there was plenty of action and worldbuilding.
The tea aspect was pushed a little bit further than the metaphysic really seemed to support (like when she put her magic in the soup- I mean sure, I can see the reasoning but it seemed a bit like a "I need this to happen so it does"). And the details seemed a bit more rushed and less complex than in the first book. But I suppose the pacing was different since she was on the run, so that fits.
I did enjoy the bridge of birds reference and it made me wish there were a few more of those stories brought into the books like that.
I did enjoy the bridge of birds reference and it made me wish there were a few more of those stories brought into the books like that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, and War
Minor: Torture
risten's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
booksthatburn's review against another edition
This picks up with no overlap from the end of the first book. The shift from a first-person perspective only in the first one to a combination of two narrators (one in first person and one in third person) makes the events at the palace feel disconnected. The first book ended in a cliffhanger where it was uncertain whether Ning would live or die, but then when this book begins she's just fine, with very little fanfare. I also remembered very little of the plot from the first book, partly because only a few important things actually happened. The story so far feels like it has very little to do with A MAGIC STEEPED IN POISON, and it's not one I'm interested in.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Animal death, Mental illness, Self harm, Medical content, Dementia, Death of parent, and Murder
schnaucl's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I thought it was okay. There was less focus on food this time around.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Torture, Violence, and Death of parent
bassbotics's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Death
karcitis's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Genocide, Gore, Blood, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Physical abuse and Torture
pvbobrien's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Torture, Blood, Grief, and Murder
boba_nbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
The final installment to this duology did not disappoint. There were a few slow parts, but overall, I loved how Lin shifted the story from just Ning to the entire kingdom of Daxi. One of the most unique stories I’ve read, and I loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War
marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
In Judy I. Lin’s follow-up to her gorgeous debut, A Magic Steeped in Poison, Ning is on the run with her newly-saved sister, alongside the princess and her beloved bodyguard. Even as they run for their lives, Ning can’t help but think of the boy she left behind, the son of the general behind the coup, behind the still-lurking poison. When at last they meet again, Ning must surrender to trust in order to survive the trials that many more seasoned than she have failed, all in order to save their people from a vengeful, power-hungry god who haunts her at every turn. With atmospheric scenes of magical connection sprinkled throughout, this sequel satisfies like the perfect cup of tea.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Confinement, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Gore, Torture, Vomit, and Alcohol