A Magic Steeped in Poison (The Book of Tea, 1)

Judy Lin’s debut YA fantasy novel involves Chinese mythology and centers on the main character, Ning, who is trying to save her dying sister, Shu. Ning inadvertently brewed a poisonous tea for her mother and sister. So she enters a competition in the hopes of winning and is then granted a wish to heal her sister. Ning’s journey to save her sister will be fraught with many obstacles, deception, and dangerous enemies.

First off, the cover art for the book is absolutely breathtaking! I’m usually not a fan of fantasy stories, but the cover art and the magic of tea brewing drew me in. I was enthralled by the story with the cool magic system and the interesting characters. I would love for Ning to come and brew some magical tea for me. Lin writes with such effortless beauty, she has a way of painting the scenes that I can imagine myself being there. I love the ending, and I’m super excited to read the sequel.

This story has it all: magic, great characters, strong friendships, romance, and political intrigue, so I highly recommend this YA book!