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

adventurous mysterious 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? No

4.25

A brilliant fantasy debut! Lin’s writing was lovely and captivating, her world-building intricate yet easily understood. There were multiple plot twists that took me by surprise, proving every one of my many theories wrong, so props to her for that as well.

The only reason I didn’t give it a higher rating is because I found myself not very attached to or interested in Ning, the protagonist. My favorite characters—Kang, Lian and Zhen—were all part of the supporting cast; they had sizable roles in the story, yes, but nonetheless were side characters.

Despite that, I’ll definitely be reading the sequel when it comes out. I have high hopes, especially after that brutal cliffhanger. 😮‍💨

I would recommend this book to you if you like magical competitions and unique magic systems, and/or the books Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim and Lobizona by Romina Garber. (Which, by the way, are both amazing!! So check those out along with this one. ;))

Representation
  • full Chinese-inspired cast
  • sapphic side couple
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