I’m so excited to be part of the TBR & Beyond tour for fantastic ending to the Book of Tea fantasy duology. Find the full tour schedule here.
About the book
A Venom Dark and Sweet (The Book of Tea #2) by Judy I. Lin
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publishing Date: August 23, 2022
Synopsis:
The enthralling conclusion to Judy I. Lin’s Book of Tea duology—A Magic Steeped in Poison and A Venom Dark and Sweet—is sure to enchant fans of Adrienne Young and Leigh Bardugo.
A great evil has come to the kingdom of Dàxi. The Banished Prince has returned to seize power, his rise to the dragon throne aided by the mass poisonings that have kept the people bound in fear and distrust.
Ning, a young but powerful shénnóng-shi—a wielder of magic using the ancient and delicate art of tea-making—has escorted Princess Zhen into exile. Joining them is the princess’ loyal bodyguard, Ruyi, and Ning’s newly healed sister, Shu. Together the four young women travel throughout the kingdom in search of allies to help oust the invaders and take back Zhen’s rightful throne.
But the golden serpent still haunts Ning’s nightmares with visions of war and bloodshed. An evil far more ancient than the petty conflicts of men has awoken, and all the magic in the land may not be enough to stop it from consuming the world…
Content Warning: violence, fight scenes, witnessed torture, death, disturbing events (mutilation, body horror, forced suicide, possession, and fire).
Book Review
A fitting ending to a strong fantasy duology.
Ning, the girl who nearly won the shennong-shi competition through her skilled wielding of tea as a source of magic, is on the run with Princess Zhen and her bodyguard, Ruyi. They bring Ning’s healed sister as they flee across the continent in search of both human allies and magical relics that could help the Princess reclaim her throne.
Meanwhile, the boy Ning loved, Kang, is at court as the son of the Banished Prince, returned. Kang struggles to understand the competing agendas and magical powers at work in court as his father awaits an auspicious day to ascend to Emperor. He’s also unhappy to find himself on the opposite side as Ning, the girl he still feels connected to.
Imbued Chinese mythological influences, this book takes us beyond the teahouse and introduces additional forms of magic. While the other book took place mostly at court, the characters’ travels in the sequel allow the author to show us the full breadth of the magical world she’s created. While Ning and Kang didn’t have as many scenes together as I would have liked – I always love a star-crossed romance! – I enjoyed the ones they did. This action-packed book takes the reader along a breathtaking journey to a surprising conclusion.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and TBR & Beyond Tours for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
About the author
Judy I. Lin was born in Taiwan and immigrated to Canada with her family at a young age. She grew up with her nose in a book and loved to escape to imaginary worlds. She now works as an occupational therapist, and still spends her nights dreaming up imaginary worlds of her own. She lives on the Canadian prairies with her husband and daughter. A Magic Steeped in Poison is her debut novel.
