This was a great book. This book picks up with the main character trying to save the princess and her country from the rebels, and the evil magic. I love the main character, she is fierce and smart. If live books with magic and adventure defiantly read this book.

Amazing writing, beautiful art style cover, love the fantasy of this book! I haven't read a great fantasy book series in such a long time and this duology definitely brought me into the fantasy world

A good sequel to A Magic Steeped in Poison! Felt about the same with this one and enjoy Lin's writing and world-building. I love the MC and liked the journey in this installment, and the magic system continues to be beautifully fleshed out. Enjoyed the conclusion and will definitely re-read the duology soon.

I'd definitely recommend the series to my friends.

Since A Venom Dark and Sweet is the second book in the Book of Tea duology, I won't be going into much detail about the plot. I'd hate to ruin the end of the A Magic Steeped in Poison for anyone!

I really enjoyed A Venom Dark and Sweet! I wasn't sure what to expect after the way the first book ended, but I was pleasantly surprised. The first book was told from Ning's perspective, but Venom switches back and forth between Ning and Kang. It was helpful to have Kang's POV this time, but it was a little jarring at first going from first person in Ning's perspective to third person in Kang's chapters. Still, it did help differentiate the sections! I was never unsure whose story I was following.

This second installment in the Book of Tea duology really ups the scope of the story and the stakes. In A Magic Steeped in Poison, Ning's main goal is saving her sister. The second book is about who takes the throne and whether Ning and her companions can stop an ancient evil from rising. I'm still obsessed with the magic system surrounding tea in this duology and was fascinated by the use of mythology in this story! I'd highly recommend this duology to YA fantasy fans, especially those who love unique magic systems and mythology! I'm looking forward to seeing what Lin will write next! (And I wouldn't be mad if it was a Zhen and Ruyi story because I LOVE them!)

After book 1, this was delightful to read + finish <3. The author's writing style is amazing and I would definitely recommend this to fantasy fans!

As with the first volume of the Book of Tea duology, A Venom Dark and Sweet is beautifully written, with elegant imagery suiting the mythology. This volume also mixes the mythology of Asia with the culture of tea, returning to Zhang Ning and her quest to find the relics necessary to defeat the serpent god before he can complete his quest for domination.

As much as I enjoyed this novel, it was somewhat predictable, especially for someone like myself who has read a great deal of mythology. The setting and characters are outside my experience, but the plots of many myths are similar, and this one is no exception. However, for those who are unfamiliar with Asian culture, this is a wonderful introduction to the culture and history of the region. The similarities and differences between European and Asian mythology underscore the similarities and differences in the cultures that gave rise to them, and this novel does a good job of making them comprehensible. While I would recommend reading the two novels as published, this volume would be a good read as a stand-alone novel as well. Recommended for readers of all ages.

I absolutely devoured the first book, and I 100% understand why they decided to pub both parts of this duology within the same year.

We've taken up almost where we left off, but skipping ahead just a tiny bit. Ning found her sister, but then fell ill herself and when she awakens, her sister is on the journey with Ning, Ruyi, and the princess. But they had to leave their father behind, she finds. Alternately, Kang is with his father who is basically killing everyone and possibly possessed?

A fitting and enjoyable conclusion to this duology. Looking forward to more from Lin.

This was an awesome ending to this duology! It was full of suspense, adventure and magic. Again I love the magic system in these books so much.

Lin’s writing suffers intensely from a glut of telling and not showing. The almost exclusive use of inner monologue as story-telling device creates a painfully boring narrative that amounts to a list of overwrought emotions and plodding tasks and actions with no character development to speak of. I had hoped an expansion into the broader world of the story would have added some intrigue, but from the first chapter I struggled to care or even understand why any of the characters were doing anything at all. This is one of worst instances of cool cover design, terribly dull book syndrome that I’ve ever encountered. I would have DNF’d if not for the fact that I felt obligated to finish after receiving an ARC from NetGalley.

A fantastic conclusion to the Book of Tea duology. The concept of tea serving as a magical form is amazing. In chinese culture, different types of tea are paired with foods and seasons to serve different purposes, and the combination of tea leaves with herbs and spices helps to bring out the flavors and "powers" of the tea leaves. This book combines that history and natural magic with real and actual magic. Which makes for a simple yet diversely complex magical world. The duology also draws on Chinese history and lore, and A Venom Dark and Sweet really pulls from the history of the land to create a powerful and fluid tale that draws in the reader and makes them connect with what they are reading.

A stunning conclusion to Lin's duology, rife with the same lush description I loved so much in the first installment. This was just as un-put-downable as the first, as well. I look forward to seeing more of Lin's work in the future; I think she has a bright future ahead.

This brilliant conclusion to Magic Steeped in Poison kept me enthralled from the very first page! The plot, the character development and how it all comes together at the end just made this such an epic journey

I did a spoiler-free Q&A with the author, the link is attached. This was apart of the end of the post: Now if you haven’t added this book to your TBR, you need to change that! This duology is filled with court intrigue, mythology, found friends/family and MAGIC (which is truly the making of a great book/series)!

Needless to say, I loved this book and it was a great conclusion to the duology! I share other thoughts in the blog post so please go check it out!

These books are lush, imaginative, full of tea and magic, and a perfect introduction to court intrigue for young adults who aren’t ready for (or don’t like!) Game of Thrones. Four stars.

This was one of my most anticipated reads this year! It didnt disappoint. I loved the unraveling of the plot. The characters were likable. I really enjoyed the elements in the story and the development of both the plot and the characters. Looking forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, MacMillan Children's/Feiwel & Friends for the eARC for review. All opinions are my own.

4/5 stars

Judy I Lin kept us on the edge of our seats yet again for the conclusion to this duology! The magic system was just as beautiful as it was within the first book, and I really loved the expansion of the mythology/lore of the gods and their symbols and powers being pulled into the overall plot! All of the characters were just as lovable in this installment, and there were a lot of exciting action moments throughout the book. The imagery, food, and magic descriptions were just as beautiful and vivid as they were in the first book as well!

Although I did love the book and it was a nice finish for a debut duology, there were a few things that felt missing or different in this installment, compared to the first book. While the first book was perfectly paced, had constant action and emotion throughout, and we were easily able to connect to the characters, that somehow felt missing in this installment. The beginning 20% was much slower, and the first 80% almost felt like solely a set-up for the last 20% of the book instead of shining in it's own right. I'm not sure if it was the story set-up or the writing, but I know it felt as though Ning's inner monologue was more of the focus this time and that she tended to be very "matter of fact" or blunt. The ending was very big, exciting, and unexpected, but it also felt very quick (dare I say rushed) compared to the prior 80%, and I just wish we would've had a bit lengthier of a story climax.

I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and were not affected by the free copy.

Accused of murdering the Emperor, Ning and Princess Zhen escape the palace and travel the kingdom looking for allies to take the throne back from the Banished Prince and his son, Kang. However, the golden serpent stalks Ning's every move, filling her nightmares with war and bloodshed.

Ning finally seems to come into her own in this book. I remember loving how dedicated she was to her family, but not loving how apathetic she was to basically everything else. Here, we see her finally decide what she wants to do, and then follows through with that.

Typically, I reread a series when the next book comes out; since I read book one in May, I decided that wasn't necessary this time. Boy, do I wish I had reread it. So much is packed into a book, and I spent the first third of the book just trying to remember what had happened, let alone trying to pick up on all the new threads that were being weaved. The pacing was a bit slow, which was weird because there were so many plot lines happening. Once I made it past the first third though, things picked up.

I don't particularly dislike multiple POV's, but it's also not something I love. However, I did enjoy getting to know Kang a little bit more, and seeing who he was and why. I still love the idea of tea magic, but unfortunately, I still didn't get the in-depth look at it, so I'm left feeling a little confused about the world.

I still really enjoyed this book, and will most likely get myself the hardcovers, because look at that cover, absolutely stunning!

This was a wonderful follow up to A Magic Steeped in Poison! The magic system remains unmatched and absolutely stunning to read about. This was a story of struggle and ultimately finding yourself despite your family's history. I absolutely would recommend this if you've read the first - and if not I recommend both. I can't wait to see what else Lin has to offer with her talents.

Thank you to @fiercereads for including me on the book tour and providing a gifted copy for A VENOM DARK AND SWEET, the second book in the Book of Tea Duology by @judyilinauthor. The first book, A MAGIC STEEPED IN POISON was an early 2022 favorite. A VENOM DARK AND SWEET was released this past Tuesday on August 23, 2022.

A VENOM DARK AND SWEET picks up where A MAGIC STEEPED IN POISON concluded. However rather than go directly to the battlefields and the action, the first third of the book is about logistics and strategy

It's a book that slowly moves forward, in the second third the plans start to take shape and things start to come together, before we get to the final showdown in the last third.

At the heart of this book, it's still about family, and what you will do to help save family members. Not just family through blood, but found family. We learn more about the families of many of our characters - Ning and Shu's bond, Wenyi's family, Kang and the General.

Overall, I enjoyed this second book, but the pacing was a bit slower than my liking. Additionally, this book is in disk POV. While in Ning's POV, it is first person present letting you jump right into the action. However in Kang's POV it's third person past - making him seem to be an observer. I understand the reason behind this, but it took some adjusting and might have led to the slower pace.

I hope you get a chance to pick up the book soon. As an aside, I forgot what happened in A MAGIC STEEPED IN POISON, so I borrowed the audiobook from there library, Carolyn Kang did a great job bringing life and nuance to Ning in that book.

For this photo, I chose to include some boxes of Chrysanthemum tea, as Ning brews that tea a few times during the book. It took me back to my childhood and the days of brining these drinks to school. I've also included a husband and a wife cookie, as they reminded me of some of the pastries made by the kitchen.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: A Venom Dark and Sweet

Author: Judy I. Lin

Book Series: The Book of Tea book 2

Rating: 3.5/5

Diversity: Chinese MC and characters

Recommended For...: young adult readers, Chinese mythology, fantasy

Publication Date: August 23, 2022

Genre: YA Fantasy

Age Relevance: 14+ (death, murder, violence, gore)

Explanation of Above: There is death and murder shown in the book. There is violence due to poisonings and weapons. There is vomit and blood gore shown and mentioned in the book.

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Pages: 352

Synopsis: 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...

Chinese mythology Little confusing in beginning Picks up immediately after last book Multi POV I've lost the plot it gone I don't understand the necessity for this other POV I think this book would be better if you read it back to back with the first one but alone it is a confusing mess Quick paced

Review: This was a decent sequel to the first book. I loved the Chinese mythology used in the book and the book picks up immediately after the ending of the first one. The book is multi-POV and had great character development and world building. I also loved the ending and thought it did well to sum up the novels.

However, I was confused throughout the book because it had been awhile since I had read the first book, so this is definitely one you need to read the first book again to understand what’s happening in this book. I also lost the plot a couple of times in this book and I didn’t understand the necessity for the other POV outside of Ning’s. I think the book is decent, but it’s also a fast paced read that you need to enjoy with the first book to get the full experience out of it.

Verdict: It’s ok!