A Magic Steeped in Poison

A Magic Steeped in Poison (2022) is the debut young adult fantasy novel by Taiwanese Canadian author Judy I. Lin. It is the first in the Book of Tea duology, which concludes with A Venom Dark and Sweet. Inspired by Chinese folklore and culture, A Magic Steeped in Poison centers on the imperial politics of the kingdom of Daxi, where tea experts called shennong-shi combine the traditional tea ceremony with magic in order to read fortunes, heal, and inspire. In the southern rural region of the kingdom, Ning lives with her physician father and her younger sister, Shu, who is dying of the same poison that killed their shennong-shi mother (accidentally administered by Ning herself in contaminated tea). When the princess announces a competition to find the next royal shennong-shi, Ning views it as an opportunity to save her sister’s life. Equipped with only incomplete training from her mother, Ning sneaks away to the capital city to compete.

Armed with a strong sense of justice and a magic she barely understands, Ning must navigate an increasingly dangerous situation, uncertain of friends and foes, including a mysterious boy who may or may not be plotting to overthrow the kingdom. Her journey explores The Galvanizing Force of Sisterly Love, The Corrosive Impact of Political Intrigue, and The Tension between Personal Desires and Social Obligations.

This guide is based on the 2022 e-book edition published by Feiwel and Friends Book, an imprint of Macmillan.

Content Warning: The source material and this guide contain depictions of bullying, graphic violence, and death.

Plot Summary

Zhang Ning sneaks out of the house, intending to enter a competition to become one of the next royal shennong-shi (magical tea experts who can heal and perform other feats). Although Ning is not an official apprentice (shennong-tu), her shennong-shi mother taught her the basics before dying of a poisoned tea. Now, Ning’s sister, Shu, is dying of the same poison. Although tea supplies have been poisoned across the kingdom of Daxi, Ning blames herself for brewing the tea that sickened her family members. If she wins the competition, she will be able to find an antidote.

Ning travels to the capital city of Jia, enters the competition, and befriends Lian, a girl from a rural province. For the first round, the competitors must pair a tea blend with a dish from their province. Ning visits the market to buy supplies and encounters a charming boy named Bo.

The first round takes place before a full audience and the judges, including Chancellor Zhou and Marquis Kuang, as well as the princess Li Ying-Zhen, who acts as regent while the emperor is ill. When Ning’s turn arrives, she quotes a revolutionary poet, gaining the ire of the marquis. An assassination attempt against Zhen interrupts the competition, and Bo suddenly appears to save the princess.

Ning learns that Bo is in fact Kang, the adopted son of Li Yuan (the emperor’s brother, who was banished after a failed coup). Ning also meets Steward Yang, the woman in charge of the servants. Yang once knew Ning’s mother, who used to work in the palace before she became pregnant and left in disgrace. Offering to help Ning in the competition, Yang gives her a sample of a tea to be used in the next round; this tea has the power to reveal the truth.

Kang secretly visits Ning at night, wanting to apologize for his deception. Although Kang’s father is reviled for his betrayal, Kang insists that his own goal in this place is to beg for mercy from the emperor. He explains that the people of Luzhou (the islands to which Li Yuan and his followers were banished) are now suffering. Ning practices brewing the truth tea for Kang and concludes that he is telling the truth. She also learns that Zhen is hiding the emperor’s recent death.

In the second round, the competitors must use the assigned tea to find a single safe cup of tea among poisoned ones. However, someone sabotages Ning by giving her the wrong tea, so she arranges to drop the cup and receive a new one. This subterfuge allows her to pass the test.

That night, the princess’s handmaiden, Ruyi, appears and leads Ning through secret tunnels to speak with Zhen. Zhen threatens Ning’s family and orders her to report on her interactions with Kang and uncover his true political intentions.

The next day, the palace announces the death of the emperor. When Kang and Ning sneak out to visit a garden together, Ning tries to gather information. Kang tells her about the people of Luzhou, who used to be black pearl artisans before the emperor banned their trade. Ning tells him about her mother and sister, and they kiss.

When Ning sneaks out at night to report to Zhen, she sees a figure known as the Shadow sneaking into the tunnels, headed for the princess’s chambers. Believing that the Shadow is responsible for the poisoned tea in the kingdom, Ning tackles the figure. Zhen stops her, explaining that the Shadow is Ruyi, whom she sent to uncover the true poisoner.

Ruyi has been wounded with a poisoned arrow, but Ning refuses to heal her until Zhen promises to help her find an antidote for Shu. Ning brings Lian to help, and together they pull the poison out of Ruyi; this endeavor requires Ning to enter a liminal, magical space called the Shift. Zhen suspects that someone in the court is behind the poison. Chancellor Zhou, whom Zhen trusts, tells them that a key ingredient of the tea poison is seaweed that can only be found in Luzhou. Hearing this, Ning fears that Kang has lied to her about his intentions.

The competition continues. The contestants’ next test is to work in pairs to trick a poison-detecting bird to eat poison, after which they must heal it. Ning and Lian pass. However, only three are permitted to enter the final round. Lian backs out of the competition because Zhen is sending her on a different task. Ning and two others, wealthy Shao and monk Wenyi, continue in the competition.

Ning confronts Kang, accusing him of the poisoning and of trying to put his father on the throne. He proclaims his innocence, but she refuses to listen. The next day, as the final round of the competition begins, Zhen makes the surprise announcement that she is now betrothed to Kang. The final test will pit Kang in duels against three challengers, and each competitor will brew tea to help him win. Wenyi sabotages Kang instead, accusing him of being a traitor, and is arrested. Ning uses a tea blend to counteract Wenyi’s sabotage, helping Kang to win the final duel. However, one of the judges accuses Ning of cheating and lying. She is disqualified, making Shao the winner.

A banquet occurs as Ning prepares to leave. Steward Yang warns her that someone has poisoned the banquet, killing several officials, including the marquis. Then soldiers arrive to arrest Ning. The soldiers carry black-pearl-encrusted weapons, and Ning realizes that Luzhou’s forces have infiltrated the palace. The chancellor accuses Ning of conspiracy, treason, and murder. He sentences her and Yang to execution, and she finally understands that he is in league with Li Yuan.

Ruyi and Zhen help Ning escape the palace. While hiding in a teahouse, they see Li Yuan arrive. Ning also steals a vial of powdered black pearl she sees Luzhou soldiers consume; she realizes that this powder is the key to making an antidote for Shu. They return to Ning’s village, and Ning heals Shu by entering the misty, liminal space of the Shift, where she encounters a shadowy serpent that bites her. Even as her sister is healed, Ning collapses.