A Venom Dark and Sweet is the second book in Judy Lin’s duology, The Book of Tea. It stands alone, but to get the full sense of the world building, you should read them in consecutive order.
Lin develops a truly original system of magic and carries it through both books. She lovingly blends in Chinese and Taiwanese mythology and tosses in court intrigue and dastardly plots—and a bit of romance. Two courageous young people, Kang and Ning, embark on a hero’s journey to save the world as they know it. The kingdom of Dàxi is threatened by a great evil serpent, a banished prince of the days of the earth’s formation. He has been torn apart by other gods and his organs buried separately. He wants to reclaim his body parts and seize power. Ning is a powerful shénnóng-shi, using magic derived from the ancient art of tea-making. She escorts the Princess Zhen into exile. Together with the princess’s body guard Ruyi and Ning’s little sister Shu, they travel through the kingdom searching for allies to take back Zhen’s throne. Kang is the son of the man who has taken over Zhen’s throne and has mixed feelings about being his father’s heir.
A Venom Dark and Sweet picks up where A Magic Steeped in Poison left off. It’s the finale of an amazing fantasy for young adults. The world-building is exceptional as are the historical and cultural influences. There is a bit of enemies-to-lovers romance between Ning and Kang with just a touch of sexual tension, safe enough for those parents who worry about what their children read.
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A Venom Dark and Sweet(Feiwel & Friends, August 23, 2022) is available through:
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Book One, A Magic Steeped in Poison(Feiwel & Friends, March 29, 2022) is available from the same vendors.
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