Thank you Feiwel & Friends for gifting me an eARC of the book. My opinions are my own.

Stories within stories. Dreams within dreams. This is wonderfully crafted with such detail in villages, food and culture. Each village and region differing, but also share common history, kindness and hospitality. I love the world building and the characters. They are flawed and relatable.

Ning has escaped the palace along with Zhen and Ruyi, looking for a safe place to regroup and formate a plan on how to reclaim the palace. Her sister Shu with fierce determination tags along despite Ning's objections as they journey to complete her tasks.

The general is now emperor-regent and Kang only wants to make his father proud. But he's also conflicted with the harsh treatment of the people. He's torn between loyalty to his father and doing what's right for the people. But as he does more investigating, there seems to be a more nefarious forces at play.

"She is the only thing that shines in this dark place, surrounded by decay and ruin."

⭐⭐💫

Thank you to Feiwel and Friends and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

content warnings: parental death, violence, blood, imprisonment

A Magic Steeped in Poison was one of the best books I've read all year, and upon realizing there was a book 2 that releases the same year, I put in a request immediately! I even managed to fit reading this before the release date despite my 30 ARC backlog.

Unfortunately, this book did not live up to the first half of the duology in the slightest.

My favorite characters in book 1 were sent away or not included for the majority of the story, and book 2 mostly focused on Ning and her journeys with her younger sister Shu and a rotating cast of a few other minor characters at any given time, with semi-regular POVs from Kang. While I did enjoy the Kang chapters and the glimpses into the palace much more than the main storyline, the switch between first-person POV and third-person POV was a bit jarring.

What I struggled with most was the lack of intrigue. Unless I care about the relationship dynamic of the characters traveling, I generally don't care for long journeys, which was the majority of this book. For some reason, I just didn't care much about Shu, so that didn't help either. I was also a bit lost with the logic. We never (at least in my memory) learn about the limitations of the magic system either, so it felt as though there was little suspense in dangerous scenes as magic or intervention of the gods could always conveniently save them in some new way. I think this should have been a DNF, as it took me two months to finish it, but I kept holding out hope that I would change my mind by the end because of book 1.

Judy I. Lin has a wonderful way of writing atmosphere and I enjoy her writing style in general! I would not hesitate to pick up a standalone or new series in the future.

I would still highly recommend at least reading the first book in this duology, and A Magic Steeped in Poison is still tied for #3 in my favorite books of 2022 as of August.

The conclusion to the Book of Tea duology, A Venom Dark and Sweet returns us to Ning and her journey to save the people of her empire from an ancient, evil god.

There were several elements of this sequel that felt familiar from the first book - the interesting magic based on types of tea, the absolutely delicious descriptions of food. Unfortunately I did not like this book as much as I did the first one. The motivations for the plot in the first half of the novel were vague, and the ending was quite rushed with everything that needed to happen to wrap up the story. I did like that we got an additional point of view this time - seeing the story through Kang's eyes was great (even though his POV was written in third person, while Ning's is in first person?). I think there was a lot of potential here, it just didn't land for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
A Venom Dark and Sweet comes not long after its predecessor, which is basically unheard of for debut authors in publishing. However this came about, the strategy worked out well personally for me, as I really enjoyed book one and am pleased to see book two continues and concludes the story in the same vein. I love the continued exploration of the medicinal uses of tea, and how the mythos of the world is further expanded on.
While the first book mainly focused on Ning as the sole protagonist, with a supporting role for Kang, Kang now shares the spotlight, and it’s a welcome addition as there’s added stakes for both of them, as Ning is on the run with her sister and the princess’s bodyguard to gather allies, and Kang is being prepared to be the kingdom’s new leader. I have mixed feelings about his POV being in third person, while hers is in first, but that stylistic choice has always confused me.
However, minor personal mechanics issues aside, I did like how the two of them navigated their relationship, even while being seemingly in opposition to each other.
The book is pretty well-paced as well. It does take a little bit to get back into the groove of things, but it picks up again about 20-30% in, and is pretty much compelling throughout.
I really enjoyed this debut duology and am eager to see what Judy I. Lin writes next. If you’re a fan of YA fantasy with unique world building and magic, I recommend picking this duology up.

I really enjoyed this duology by Lin. I read the first book in one sitting, and I did exactly the same for A Venom Dark and Sweet. I will say that I don't think that the sequel is quite as compelling as A Magic Steeped in Poison, possibly because I didn't feel that the stakes were as high, but I remain very impressed with the quality of the world building. I can't wait for my students to read this one so that we can discuss it.

Thank you to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this amazing book! I really enjoyed the conclusion of The Book of Tea duology. Loved the world that the author created, really loved the emphasis on the medicinal side of tea, still amazing character development, and the spellbinding writing. Can’t wait to share this beauty with my YA students!

I quite liked the first book in this series, and was pretty excited to dive into this sequel/finale! I must admit, I struggled a bit to recall what exactly had gone down in the first book, so it did take me a minute to get back into the world. But it ended up being a pretty solid, if a bit safe, sequel.

First, we are given points of view from both Ning and Kang- one from first person, one from third, which is a trend I am seeing a lot of lately, and plan to write a post about sooner than later. Anyway, because they are split up, this makes sense. Ning is on the run, because of some political shenanigans from the last book which I won't get into, and Kang is being groomed as the next leader of the kingdom. Not the rightful leader, mind, but the leader nonetheless.

So it's pretty exiting, in that everyone is basically afraid for their lives and trying to both survive, but make sure that their respective sides end up on the throne. Here's the thing: While I absolutely appreciated this, I didn't feel a sense of actual danger? Like sure, I knew that cognitively the characters were technically in danger, running for their lives and from their foes, but... I just didn't actually feel it?

But the story is good, even if I didn't feel the sense of urgency, and I enjoyed the characters and their growth. The world-building was really good too, I loved how unique and well done it was. Overall, a solid ending that certainly tied the story together.

Bottom Line: A solid, albeit safe-feeling conclusion that left me satisfied.

Part of why I love the A Magic Steeped in Poison duology so much is Lin's talent for world. Immediately after beginning, I sunk back into the atmosphere of Lin's magical setting. While the action is A Venom Dark and Sweet is fabulous - talk about some serious consequences and adventure - what I loved most were the themes. It's easy to get caught in the story, evil possibilities of magic, and the characters. But from the beginning, Lin examines the idea of necessary costs.

A dazzling and bittersweet end to the Book of Tea duology.

Once again, Judy I. Lin has drawn us into the world of magic and tea with her beautiful, eloquent storytelling. This book picks up right after <i>A Magic Steeped in Poison</i>. Ning, along with Ruyi, Zhen, and Shu traverse Daxi to find refuge and plot a way to retaliate against the general, Kang's father. Along the way, they learn more about the stories of ancient gods and legends, helping them understand the origins of the poison and leading them to the enemy.

I really enjoyed reading about Ning's development. She learns to trust people and to carry a burden, choosing to protect the people of Daxi. The POV of the story is also really interesting. We get to view Kang's side of the story with third person narration, along with Ning's first person account of her struggles in this battle with the enemy. The plot was unraveled so well, with small twists that settled perfectly in the world that Lin created. What I loved the most was the vivid details that made me feel like I was surrounded by the beauty, the ruin, and the heartache of this world.

<i>A Venom Dark and Sweet</i> is a perfect continuation of <i>A Magic Steeped in Poison</i>, etching silhouettes of the characters onto the heart of readers even after the epilogue ends. It is perfect for any reader who loves magic, tea, and gorgeous storytelling!

Thank you Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!💖

I loved this so much! It was a great read, written beautifully without being dull or dry. The characters we’re my favorite and had so much depth. Really wonderful storytelling!

The sequel to Magic Steeped in Poison is more action-packed and thrilling compare to the first.
Starting off where the ending of book one faded, Ning is on a quest to figure out how to stop the evil that would ruin her world.

Magical, spell-bounding, and satisfying. The Book of Tea Duology is one heck of a tale.

Magic
Family
Gods
Trust
Love

I will definitely purchase a copy when it comes out!

Lin returns to this world of tea magic in a world inspired by the Song dynasty era of Chinese history and what a delight it is. Lin’s lush descriptions of settings, food (omg the food), architecture, and more return just as strongly.

In book two, Princess Zhen is on the run from the usurper Banished Prince, and Ning must find a way to help restore her to the throne. Meanwhile, Kang finds himself in conflict between the Ning he met during the shengnong-shi competition and the one on the run from the state, as the Banished Prince, and his dad, has declared her a practitioner of more evil magics. All the while, older magics yet have begun to stir, with Ning repeatedly dreaming of the serpent she glimpsed at the end of book one.

I was initially pulled towards this series because of the tea magic, and I love that in book, two, Lin directs the focus towards medicinal teas. Traditional herbal Chinese medicine still plays such a big role in Chinese culture today and I loved how Lin highlighted so many different herbs and their different uses. Also Ning making full use of the tea alignment chart cracked me up.

My favorite part of this book is the inclusion of Kang’s POV. Kang was such an interesting character in book one, the mysterious prince who went into exile with his father, only to return with suspicious motivations. I loved his arc of conflict between loyalty to the father than he loves and the growing suspicious he has with his father’s new government and the people supposedly serving him.

My biggest issue with this book is the pacing. Frankly, book two could have easily been split into two books for a full trilogy. While book one is nicely contained to the tea competition and Princess Zhen on the run at the very end, book has to cram Kang’s father taking over, Ning’s attempts to unlock the secrets behind the poisoned tea bricks from book one, and the growing influence of older mythological beings. There’s so much going on that I wish we were able to spend more time with each individual element without being rushed to the next.

Overall, I rate this book a 4./5. I loved the emphasis on medicinal teas and Kang’s conflicted POV, but I think this series could have benefited from being a trilogy instead of a duology.

I really enjoyed this book. I think it was a lot more exciting than the first one and a great finish to the duology. I like the direction they took with the main villain. I thought it was very creative and there were parts of the end that actually brought quite a lot of emotion. I also really liked that the magic was also more prevalent. The main complaint I had about the first book was that the magic felt too quick and unimportant when compared to the politics and other stuff going on. In this book we get a lot more use of magic and the magic is also more important. I was very happy with this installment.

Lin's prose is a joy to read. It's beautifully written throughout the book. A Venom Dark and Sweet is a fantastic conclusion to the duology, with a fun magic system and a story that wraps up well. This is one that I believe both teenagers and adults will enjoy and I'll be recommending it to students and friends looking for a unique fantasy story.

A VENOM DARK AND SWEET is an absolute heartaching delight. Lin's prose is rich and full, making the world feel as real as can be. The dark, twisty story leads perfectly from the first book into this one. Every character feels real, fleshed out, their hearts all worn on their sleeves. Which, as a reader with trust issues, suits me so well. I really can't say enough good things about The Book of Tea Duology, I love both books so much.

A Venom Dark and Sweet is a delightful sequel to Judy I. Lin's first novel. Lin tied things up in the series in a satisfying way that will leave teens wanting more - not for lack of explanation but for disappointment that it is over.

After loving A Magic Steeped in Poison, I was glad that I would only have a short wait before the sequel and conclusion to this duology was released. Unfortunately, A Venom Dark and Sweet fails to live up to its predecessor.

The thing I loved most about AMSiP was the tea—the details of its brewing, the intricacies of the tea ceremonies, the magic it could create and bestow. Tea is still an element of AVDaS, but it’s not the main element, and that takes away from what made the first book so unique. Additionally, while AMSiP is best described as a competition fantasy, AVDaS is an adventure/travel fantasy, and again, it loses some of that uniqueness and feels more generic. I’ve read countless books over the years where the characters must venture forth on an epic quest to find ancient relics and save the kingdom, and although the inclusion of Chinese mythology here adds a different aspect, it’s not enough to make the story feel special.

The split points of view between Ning and Kang allow for the story to continue in two places at once, and although some readers have complained about this aspect, I think it’s fine. It is a bit strange that Ning’s chapters continue to be in first-person while Kang’s are in third-person, but it’s not that big of a deal.

I also feel that, although the stakes are higher in this book, they don’t actually feel as high. Everything Ning did in AVDaS directly impacted her, and her every move was scrutinized and judged. Here, everyone has their own parts to play, and although Ning is basically “the Chosen One,” her role seems oddly lessened.

Maybe part of that is due to rather anticlimactic showdown between Ning and The Big Bad. It just sort of…happens? I kept thinking, “Is this it?” and flipping to see if there was some big twist that would wow me. Sadly, I think the twist that was meant to be The Big Twist was obvious all along, so things just sort of fizzled out.

The conclusion was fine. After being disappointed by the final showdown, I was hoping for a nice ending, but it’s a bit bland, and I realized I don’t necessarily care.

I had big hopes for A Venom Dark and Sweet, but the magic of the first novel—the stakes of the competition, the intricacies of tea making, the complex relationships—is missing, making this follow up little more than a generic quest story.

This was a fun conclusion to the duology. It was fast paced and I loved that we got more of Kangs character. The change from 1sr to 3rd pov between perspectives though was a little annoying at first but othing that really pulled me out of the story. I think it wrapped up well

Wonderful conclusion and beautifully written. I can’t get over how cool the magic system is and liked getting into a different POV.

Because I read the first part of Lin's "Book of Tea" duology right before this one, I could really see the story in its entirety. The second book is just as beautifully written as the first one, with gorgeous, though slightly detached prose and vibrant descriptions. I loved that we got to delve more into the mythological aspects of the series this time, and the tea magic is still a wonderful idea.

The two books weave seamlessly into each other and this second book picks up right where the last one ended. I really enjoyed that we got a second pov this time around, with Ning's part of the story still being told in first person while her love interest Kang's chapters are written in third person. I liked his perspective and it added a lot to his character, although the generally detached writing, third person perspective and the present tense in which the book is written made his voice a rather... robotic telling of the events happening. I might have preferred two first person narratives here.

It's an exciting story full of wonder and gods, though it also suffers from same issues as its predecessor. The romance is not very interesting and the characters never manage to live up to their potential, though Ning undergoes much needed character development. The emotional parts of the story never really worked for me that well because of how detached we are from the characters, especially Kang in the later chapters.
The pacing is still fast, but a bit slower than in the first book because where once was a competition, there now is an adventurous quest leading to the characters travelling a lot. Honestly, the first part of the book is a bit too slow even, and in comparison made the ending chapters seem rather hectic.

There is definitely room for improvement, but the beautiful prose, the cool magic and the mythological aspects make this a fun duology that's also a very quick read.