Welcome to Litsy!

Ning would do anything for her sister. Including pretending to be their late mother's actual apprentice and attending the shennong trials in the capital. If she wins she will not only be the official court Sheenong-shi; but will be granted a favor from the imperial princess herself.

This book is so beautifully written. So full of plot, intrigue, and the power of love.

#CoverLove

#multicolor

@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I just couldn‘t get into this one at all. I listened to the audiobook and couldn‘t wait for it to be done. It also just ends very abruptly. I know there‘s another book but I did just feel like it could have ended with more thought. The cover was amazing though!!! ⭐️⭐️

My #TBRtarot pick for this month was great! A story about magic that is built around tea! I loved the world building and characters who all had different motivations guiding them. It ended on quite the cliffhanger so I can‘t wait to read the next one! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I liked characters but I think they could have been more fleshed out. They are pretty easy to forget.

I adored the atmosphere and the setting. I loved combination tea & magic. Even though magic system could have been explained better.

This was really easy and intriguing to read, even though it wasn't flawless. But I always appreaciate fun adventures!

#SeriesLove23

“When you‘re told since you came out of the womb that you can do anything, why would you ever hesitate? If you were told at birth that the world is supposed to bow down to you, you would think it natural that you are destined to climb.”

It‘s kind hard to read your book when it‘s being used as a pillow! 🐈😴

Started slow but was ended with lots of excitement. It ends on a cliffhanger, so I‘m very glad the series is completed.
Ning was reluctant to learn to use her powers, but to save her younger sister she will do anything, including going to the capital to compete for the boon granted to who ever becomes the court Shennong-shi. She steps into a world of twisted politics and starts to see the magic in her world.
4/5 stars, read if you 💜magic and tea

#roll100 September rolls

@PuddleJumper

I deeply wanted to love this book - magic teas? Yes please. However, I found this book to be drawn out and because of that, I really I don‘t like the cliff hanger ending. I know there is a second one and I‘ll probably read it, but I‘m definitely not as excited as I was for the series. Which is disappointing because I wanted to get this duology for my sister who loves tea 😔 character development is fine but still feel disconnected.

Such a unique magical system, I love it!
Ning can use tea to make magic. She travels to the capitol for the competition to become the emperor‘s newest shennong-shi but she has a ulterior motive: she wants the mythical cure-all she believes will bring her sister back from the bring of death. A death caused by a mysterious poison that has been winding through the countryside.
Finished 7/15/2022

“If you can feel someone else‘s suffering, how can you look away?”

With her sister dying from the same poison that killed their mother, Ning participates in a contest to find the kingdom‘s greatest master of tea-making which will grant the winner a favor from the princess. Ning plans to ask for help from the imperial physicians if she wins but her path to victory won‘t be easy. Palace intrigue, secrets, friendship & a mysterious stranger who may be more than he appears to be made this story an entertaining read.

Starting this one today. Love, love, love the cover.

This is one of my favorite YAs of 2022. Tons of action, but none of it rushed. Quiet, beautiful descriptions. Multiple complicated character relationships, & to a lesser extent court intrigue. Also, I learned some about Chinese tea ceremonies. Plus, the author sent our teen group these postcards & stickers.

A story where the magic is based on teas, yes please! I enjoyed this story and excited to see what else will happen for Ninq in the next book.

#ScarathlonDailyPrompts Oct 17 #Poison

This was a solid YA fantasy with one of the prettiest covers ever.

#Scarathlon2022 #TeamMonsterMash

Thank you for the tag @KateReadsYA

1.) Tagged
2.) House of Earth and Blood Cresent City 1
3.) Jamaica, Disney's Private Island Castaway Cay, and Virginia Beach,VA

#WondrousWednesday @Eggs

I tagged @sprainedbrain @christyreads @FallenSpring

"There is a difference between living the suffering and reading about it."

"Grief has a taste bitter and lingering but so soft it sometimes disguises itself as sweetness."

“If you were told at birth that the world is supposed to bow down to you, you would think it natural that you are destined to climb.”
#quotes 🤔

Four #septemberrso2022 books. Life has been busy. End of school, now holiday with family. Always time to read tho.

So early on I was borderline going to dnf this one, because it is VERY YA at times. However, the magic system is really interesting, revolving around tea brewing. Also the last third was very exciting, though this ended on a minor cliff hanger, and I haven‘t completely decided if I will continue. May see how reviews go for book 2. Also prettiest cover of the year. 3.5⭐️

Thank you so much @Meshell1313 I love my #sliceofsummerswap Excited about the book . I have wanted to read it for while now! The candle smells so good!! Bringing the towels on my vacation that we are leaving for today! Everything is perfect!

@Catsandbooks

I love the cover it's so pretty. It's so sad the main characters sister is dying and if she wins the contest saving her sister would be a good prize like she wants. The fact she accidentally poisoned her and her mom must be hard to live with.

Meh. Another book with an interesting premise — magical tea, competition, murder — but poor execution — too many characters, not enough development. Did the lead care about her dying sister, her family‘s reputation, her community, the competition, the princess‘ safety, her love interest, or kingdom politics? Depends on the chapter! It was all over the place, and it REALLY needed a map. The cover is beautiful though. #ya #bookclub #teachersoflitsy

This book had more layers than I was expecting. I was expecting tea magic and a competition. I wasn't expecting all the complexities of the magic system and political intrigue. It kept me guessing about what would come next and wanting to keep turning the next page. I'm glad the sequel comes out soon, because it ends on a cliffhanger.

There were cupcakes at the library today, so not only did I get to have a sweet treat for breakfast, but it totally matched my book as well! 🥰🧁 #librarylove #librariansoflitsy

The fourth book I'm reading for the Asian Readathon is a fantasy book with tea magic. Tea. Magic. I am so excited to read this book! The prompt for this book is read a book by an Asian author that has a cover worthy of googly eyes. 👀 The country represented is Taiwan. #asianreadathon2022

Is it the worlds most photogenic book? 🤔 I mean, it‘s definitely a contender!

Thanks for sending it to me @KristiAhlers - I wasn‘t expecting to find anything other than political pamphlets in my letterbox today so this was a huge upgrade!

A beautifully written fantasy based in Chinese mythology! The tea based magic system was not only unique but very fascinating! While the pace of the story could be a little wonky, I was still gripped and the cliffhanger at the end has me looking forward to the sequel! This book has competition, politics, betrayal and posion!

💖 𝕊𝕆 ℙℝ𝔼-𝕋𝔼𝔸 🍵

It's finally here!
BookDepo actually cancelled my pre-order, said they're unable to fulfil it (2 weeks after publication!). So I ordered from Amazon, which is more expensive because of shipping (I'm in the PH—and, unfortunately, this isn't available at the local bookstores yet).
Good thing I can use my credit card reward points on Amazon, this was practically free.

I can't believe it snowed today! 😂🤣☝️

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin is an East Asian-inspired YA that will appeal to fans of Six Crimson Cranes or Jade Fire Gold. The story revolves around Ning, who has magical tea-brewing powers. When her sister grows sick, she enters a shennong-shi or tea-making competition in the imperial city in order to win a favor from the princess. Will she be able to win the competition? Or will other things distract her from her goal?

4/5⭐
A compelling story of magic, mystery, tea, competition, and court politics.
LIKES
🔸Interesting magic system
🔸Quick chapters
🔸Multi leveled plot meant there was something exciting happening every few pages
🔸Royal drama
🔸Magic competition
🔸Underlying mystery
🔸The last 80pgs😳
DISLIKES
🔹I didn't find a deep connection with characters
🔹Sometimes lost track of who's who in palace
🔹Romance subplot was kinda weird

I also went to Barnes & Noble and splurged a little bit. I went there for A Magic Steeped in Poison but it was buy one, get one 50% off, so I picked up The Siren of Sussex. I somehow hadn't bought the new Veronica Speedwell book yet, so I bought it as well. I don't know which book I'm more excited for. I need to finish a couple of library books first though.

#ThingsInCommon holding a hot drink
@Clwojick

A cuppa and a good book 📖 ☕ 🌞

Spending a beautiful afternoon at the park reading while my son and his Nanny run around feeding ducks and chasing birds 💛🦆⛅
This book is wonderfully atmospheric!

Yesterday's #libraryhaul
Look at these pretty covers 😍

Starting this buddy read with @ripley_reads 🍵
It's soooo pretty! 🤩