A story worth the gorgeous cover

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This story was as gorgeous as the cover with a killer cliffhanger! I will say the only thing I did not like about it was that the next book is not out till the fall and I wish the cliffhanger wasn't so edge of the seat.

I really enjoyed learning about all the teas and how Ning and the other shennong-shi could use them to affect the body, heal the sick, or, as what happened to Ning's mother and sister and countless others, poison and kill them. The contest to become the royal shennong-shi was really interesting and I was rooting for Ning and Lian since it really was a cutthroat contest. I liked how in between all the intrigue, there were slices of beauty that were mentioned, plus the cool tea brewing ceremonies.

This book did very well balancing the excitement and beauty of tea and the unrest in the empire. I am not sure who to trust, besides Ning, but I can't wait for the next book!