A Magic Steeped in Poison

In Judy I. Lin's young adult fantasy novel A Magic Steeped in Poison, Ning is a teenager burdened with guilt after accidentally brewing a tea that killed her mom and is now killing her sister. Since there is no way to cure the issue, Ning travels to the imperial city to sign up for an uncommon and high-end competition where tea brewers who possess the power to infuse magic in teas are experimented upon. The reward is a boon from the princess, and Ning hopes this will be her best shot at saving her sister. Throughout the game, Ning is surrounded by a world of hidden agendas, bitter rivals, and palace politics. She must keep her guard up, prove herself, and determine with whom she should trust. Along the way, she also falls for a boy who is enigmatic and whose actual identity may be the key to her future.

Overall, A Magic Steeped in Poison is a fun and interesting fantasy novel with a clever idea of using tea as a form of magic. Ning is a sweet and brave heroine who wants to save her sister after committing a terrible wrong. The world is magical, and the tea fight in the palace is always exciting. There are some areas where the book lags behind in character development. Some of the characters are not well-developed. The romance is also a little too quick. Despite that, the book has much to recommend it and a wonderful ending. The ending is such that you need to know what happens next. If you love books that have magic, suspense, and a healthy sister relationship, then this book is a good choice.