Book Review: A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin

  • Source: I received an advance copy of this book on NetGalley

  • My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (see my review on Goodreads)

Right off the bat, this cover had me hooked -- and the title sealed the deal! Gorgeous colors, tea rituals, magic, and poison?! Gimme! And friends, I was not disappointed. A Magic Steeped in Poison was a tale of self discovery and danger and the coolest tea magic I've heard of. The somewhat slow pace of this book felt appropriate and really allowed me to sink into the atmosphere of Ning's experience. Those moments of tea preparation were especially lovely. A chance to slow down, contemplate, and go through a ritual that can't be rushed; a ritual that culminates in magic and connection. It made the act of preparing tea for someone feel so intimate and special, and I just loved that. The intrigues and relationships and dangers and mysteries in this book were elegantly woven and by the end I could feel a very palpable sense of each character's situation. I appreciated the breadth of relationships Ning experiences, and those among the other characters as well. Every person felt so real and alive. By the end of it, my heart was aching to know what would become of everyone. And OMG pals, there's a bit of a cliffhanger. I am very glad that I only have to wait a few more months for the sequel!

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