A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin

And while the sabotages are thorns in Ning’s way to victory, an encounter with a handsome stranger further complicates her life. Tan -in a good way because I love the trope and any number of books exploring it is less. The backstabbing dynamics are evidently inspiration from Chinese dramas the struggle against oppressive regimes reminded me of Jade Fire Gold by June C.L. Not to mention the betrayals, unethical tactics, and ruthless contenders that make the competition a high-stakes one. But with a rising rebellion led by an old banished prince wanting to claim the throne for himself and a heavy yet palatable dose of court intrigue and royal politics, the kingdom isn’t the easiest to navigate.

Holding tightly onto hope and the magic in her hands, this determined heroine who is easy to instantly root for, travels to the rich imperial city of Jia. It is this fairly immediate and passionate response to saving her loved one that establishes Ning as a protagonist of this debut that the Taiwanese-Canadian author rightly once said has “girls ready to burn down the world for their families”.Ĭonsider reading this review over on my blog. So when she receives an invitation to compete in the kingdom’s tea steeping competition and potentially win a royal favour, the acceptance isn’t surprising. The pain of losing her mother to a tea that Ning herself unknowingly brewed with poisoned leaves is insurmountable, and the guilt of having threatened the life of her younger sister with the same tea leaves her desperate to fetch a chance of turning things around. But the art of tea-making - an ancient magic of Shennong - no longer brings pride to her, only grief. Ning, a commoner in a village of the homely Su province, will do anything to save her sister’s life, including competing in a brutal magical tea-brewing competition. It’s time to make space on the shelf for A Magic Steeped in Poison - front-facing, of course, for the stunning cover illustrated by Sija Hong deserves all the attention.

Whether it’s the recent YA fantasy, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh that retells a Korean folktale or the recent adult debut, Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan that is inspired by the Chinese legend of the moon goddess Chang’e. Blending threads of mythology with courageous heroines and hints of romance against a mysterious fantastical backdrop inspired by folklore has recently found a huge space on bookshelves, and deservedly so.

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin