A Venom Dark and Sweet

by Judy I. Lin

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

The stunning conclusion to the Book of Tea duology, A Venom Dark and Sweet will steep readers in its pages full of magic as the journey to save the kingdom of Dàxi amidst invaders and as visions of war and bloodshed fill Ning’s nightmares.

The enthralling conclusion to Judy I. Lin's Book of Tea duology—#1 New York Times bestseller A Magic Steeped in Poison and A Venom Dark and Sweet—is sure to enchant fans of Adrienne Young and Leigh Bardugo.

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...

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250767103
Publisher:	Feiwel & Friends
Publication date:	08/23/2022
Series:	The Book of Tea , #2
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	6,293
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.30(d)
Lexile:	820L (what's this?)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Judy I. Lin, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of the Book of Tea duology (A Magic Steeped in Poison and A Venom Dark and Sweet), was born in Taiwan and immigrated to Canada with her family at a young age. She grew up with her nose in a book and loved to escape to imaginary worlds. She now works as an occupational therapist and still spends her nights dreaming up imaginary worlds of her own. She lives on the Canadian prairies with her husband and daughters.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for A Venom Dark and Sweet:

A New York Times Bestseller
A Publishers Weekly Bestseller

"Thrilling ... An immensely satisfying conclusion to this duology. ... Teens will be clamoring for more." —School Library Journal

Praise for A Magic Steeped in Poison:

A #1 New York Times Bestseller
A 2022 PEOPLE Magazine Best Book of Summer
A Cosmopolitan Best YA Book of 2022
A USA Today Bestseller
A Publishers Weekly Bestseller
An ABA Indies Introduce Selection
An ABA Indies Next Pick

"Beautifully written, from the setting to the magic system, A Magic Steeped in Poison is sure to enchant both fantasy lovers and cdrama aficionados. I’ll be inhaling whatever Judy I. Lin brews up next." —Joan He, New York Times-bestselling author of The Ones We're Meant to Find

"Blend threads of Chinese and Taiwanese mythology with a generous pinch of courage, a hint of romance, and a underlying note of mystery, then steep in a pot of court intrigue and serve in a bowl of evocative storytelling … Who could resist a fantasy about the magic of tea? In her remarkable debut novel, Judy I. Lin creates a world rich in folkloric magic, in which a young woman must stand up against the machinations of the powerful, centuries of protocol, and her own feelings of guilt in order to save a loved one." —Juliet Marillier, award-winning author of the Sevenwaters series

"A breathtaking tale with a stunning magic system rooted deep in Chinese mythology and tea-making traditions. Lin's originality truly blew my mind. Love and magic overflows past the brim in this work of beauty." —Xiran Jay Zhao, New York Times-bestselling author of Iron Widow

"Ning’s unforgettable voice and the lush, atmospheric settings will enchant readers in this high-stakes story of deadly magic. ... Lin blends Chinese folklore with a thrilling mystery. It's the perfect recipe for a page-turner." —Booklist, starred review

"Lush, descriptive prose sells the well-built magic system of this world, and every plot twist surprises and delights, making this a rich fantasy page-turner. As much a political thriller as a fantasy, this is a quieter, excellent companion to Xiran Jay Zhao’s Iron Widow and Chloe Gong’s These Violent Delights. The ending will have readers begging for the sequel." —School Library Journal

"Vivid descriptions of foods and scents of tea delight the senses, while cinematic prose captures the beauty of the landscapes ... The magic system is unique, and the tea competition, with its well-established importance to the protagonist, adds tension. ... This sophisticated fantasy is as refreshing as a freshly brewed pot of tea, and readers will eagerly await the sequel." —The Bulletin

From the Publisher

08/01/2022

Gr 9 Up—Fans didn't have to wait long for the thrilling conclusion to the "Book of Tea" duology. This sequel picks up almost immediately where the first book left off, with Ning and her crew on the run from Princess Zhen's uncle, with Ning branded a traitor for poisoning people at the last feast before everything went terribly wrong. Ning has managed to save her sister, but can she save all of Dàxi? The princess still doesn't completely trust her, and the boy she might love helped bring about the coup that unseated the princess. Ning must follow her own path to keep her sister safe and save the entire kingdom. In the capital, Kang struggles with following his father's orders, a father he barely recognizes anymore. He can tell something is wrong, but he doesn't know if he can find the courage to stand up for what is right, when all he wants is his father's approval. And he can't stop thinking about Ning and trying to find out the truth about the poison that made its way through the court. What he discovers will test his familial bond, and tug on the bond that the shénnóng-shi magic created with Ning. Though the switch to Kang's third-person narrator can be jarring, it is an immensely satisfying conclusion to this duology. Ning must test her own limits and mature beyond her years to ensure that everyone she loves is safe. VERDICT A satisfying conclusion to Lin's duology, and teens will be clamoring for more.—Stacey Shapiro

School Library Journal