A magician with the ability to enchant tea enters into a competition to become the royal tea maker in order to gain a favor that could help her cure her sister who she unknowingly brewed poisoned that killed her mother and is slowly killing her sister, Ning will do anything to help her sister, and using the skills she has, she has entered into the kingdom’s greatest shennong-shi competition in order to help her family. However, from the moment she enters into the imperial city and the competition, things go awry. From backstabbing competitors, political assassination attempts, secrets, betrayals, and a handsome stranger with a secret that could destroy them all, Ning is in more danger than she was ever before. Soon she will have to find a way to navigate not only the competition but surviving in a place that is rife with corruption. I had so much fun reading this book and was entranced by the magic system and the journey that Ning goes on. This is the first book in the duology but I ALREADY NEED THE SECOND ONE PLEASE!!!!! I love how resourceful Ning is, and how far she is willing to go to help her family. The political war going on in the palace was also a really interesting back drop for the story and I can’t wait to see where the second book goes!

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*