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

adventurous challenging dark 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

4.25

This book was beautiful, in this case definitely judge a book by the cover. This gorgeous cover absolutely
encompasses the beauty of this book, from the magic of the tea, to the flowery prose, and the magestic
landscapes, Lin builds a world that captivates readers. The magic system was fascinating, and one of a kind; learning about the significance of tea and ceremony around it was wondrous. Definitely don't be fooled because the contrast to all this beauty is the dark rooted political games that lead to tenuous situations that Ning finds herself. Some of the relationship development between Ning and other characters was a bit clunky to me, but it didn't impact the story line significantly and ultimately the character relationships came to fruition.
Spoiler Ning's twisty relationship with Kang didn't quite hit the way it was intended, it felt like it needed more build-up and tension. Ning's friendship and partnership with Zheng and Ruyi equally needed more development. That being said, the gay tension between Zheng and Ruyi was perfection, and hopefully in the sequel we get to see more of their relationship. Ning and her sister's relationship is also something to hopefully look forward to in the next book
Ultimately excited to read more about this magical world in the sequel.
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