A MAGIC STEEPED IN POISON by Judy I. Lin (BOOK REVIEW)
They say you can spot a true shénnóng-shī by their hands – palms colored by the stain of the earth, fingertips scarred from thorns, a permanent crust of soil and blood darkening the crescents of their nails.
I used to look at my hands with pride.
Now, all I can think is, These are the hands that buried my mother.
How fantastic is that opening?!
Judy I. Lin’s debut xianxia novel Magic Steeped in Poison gripped me straight away. How could it not, with an opening like that? Better still, it kept hold of me right the way through to the end, and I’m still missing that world.
Ning was trained in the magical art of tea-making by her mother. But since the fateful day she unwittingly served her mother and younger sister tea brewed from a poisoned supply, she has stepped away from that world. She lost her mother to the poison, and her sister barely survived. Shu, the far more promising student, now suffers from the after effects and Ning is losing her fast. When a missive arrives from the capital inviting Shu to take part in a trial to appoint a new shénnóng-shī for the Princess, Ning steals away in the middle of the night in Shu’s place. Maybe if she can win the contest and gain the Princesses’ favour, she will grant Ning the things she needs to save Shu.
So far so simple!
But of course what meets Ning in the capital is a veritable nest of vipers, as can be expected from xianxia court fantasy! Ning becomes embroiled in so many mysteries; the Emperor is locked away from ill health, someone is trying to sabotage her in the contest, she finds herself falling for a mysterious stranger she met on her first day only to find he is the son of the Emperor’s banished traitorous brother and of course the Princess wants her to spy on him… but at the centre of it all for Ning is her driving need to discover who is poisoning the tea supply and can she create an antidote in time to save her sister.
How does one become an apprentice of Shénnóng? A question rises unbidden in my mind, one of Mother’s basic lessons. The magic sounds like ringing to my ears. You may sense it differently. Is it a taste? A brush against the skin? Mother had sat us both down in front of her while she poured the tea for us. Shu gasped, said she could see it – colorful lines being pulled from her hands, like fabric from a loom. But I smelled it, distinctly.
It smelled like pomelo flowers.
Lin has created one of the best magic systems I’ve read in a while! A blend of intuitive ability which is either present or not, which is then honed through apprenticeship and learning, it felt like Ning was constantly discovering more about her magic, and it was a joy each time she did. Different types of tea could have different effects. Ning might brew a tea for herself to drink to then use her magic on another person, or she might brew a tea for another person to drink which would then affect them in some manner. Different ingredients could be added to the teas for different results or enhancements. I simply loved the organic nature of this system and its cultural significances.
There is so much intrigue and action that keeps you turning the page. The contest set-up is one of my favourite narrative constructs; I find it’s a great way to connect a reader to the protagonist as you find yourself rooting for them, urging them to overcome the injustices thrown in their path. And it really did feel like everything was working against Ning; she is an unknown from the countryside, versus the men from the esteemed academies with contact in the capital and in the palace. What she lacks in the artistic flair of her competitors she makes up for in raw ability, and it was wonderful following her as she overcame her fears and her confidence bloomed. Everyone loves an underdog story!
My favourite aspect of this story was Lin’s worldbuilding. She brought to life a sumptuous East-Asian inspired world that I lost myself in, utterly. The descriptions of the city and the palace, the clothes and the food… it was wonderfully immersive. I absolutely loved the references to Chinese mythology that I recognised from having read Sue Lynn Tan’s Daughter of the Moon Goddess; Lin incorporated them into the mythology of her own world, giving depth to her world whilst representing Asian stories. It’s a trend I can’t get enough of in current fantasy!
I cannot have someone else I feel an obligation to, or else how could I betray him if I needed to?
How can I give another part if myself to someone else, when I already have so little to give?
Amongst the gorgeous prose and unique magic system were plenty thought-provoking undercurrents reflecting China’s complex history and policies. Represented in this story was the greed of governors and officials, the plight of the populace when their ruler is so far removed from their lives they cannot begin to understand or seemingly care about them. Rebellion and betrayal. A history written by the winners. Just like one of Ning’s teas, Lin expertly blends together an apparent cacophony of ingredients to create a most magical, beguiling, beautiful story that sweeps you away.
Many thanks to Gethyn from Titan Books for my review copy.
A Magic Seeped in Poison is available now – you can grab your copy HERE
This sounds amazing! Great review too.