A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin Photo Credit: Macmillan Publishing

On this week’s First Five Chapters, Luke Kerr is joined by Bookstacked and Bookmarked podcast founder Saul Marquez to dive into the first five chapters of A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin.

Volume 1 in The Book of Tea duology, A Magic Steeped in Poison entices readers with its rich imagery. Ning’s motivation to save her sister is clear. Lin is a master of dropping breadcrumbs and beautifully succinct sentences , which keeps readers turning pages.

If A Magic Steeped in Poison has one “fault,” it is that its first five chapters seem too short and readers could have been given a deeper understanding into Ning’s relationship with her father.

The Book of Tea Volume 2, A Venom Dark and Sweet hits bookstores on August 23, 2022.

Only you can decide whether to read beyond the First Five Chapters!

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A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin Official Summary

For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it’s her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu.

When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom’s greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning’s only chance to save her sister’s life.

But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.