A breathtaking conclusion to a truly unique duology set in a fantasy world influenced and inspired by Chinese and Taiwanese mythology.

With greater stakes, the sequel picks up immediately where A Magic Steeped in Poison leaves off. Ning must work to stop an ancient and great evil from taking over the kingdom of Dàxi and killing the people of the empire. Heavy in political intrigue and steeped (excuse the pun) in world-building, Lin weaves an engrossing and strong sophomore novel that ties together the loose threads of her debut. With beautiful prose and lush descriptions of both tea and food, one cannot help but be pulled into the mythical world Lin has created.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!