About This Book
Reach for this book when your teen is grappling with the heavy weight of family expectations or the guilt of a mistake they cannot undo. It speaks directly to the young person who feels they must carry the world on their shoulders to save the people they love. The story follows Ning, a young woman who enters a deadly competition of tea-magic to win a cure for her sister, who was poisoned by a tea Ning herself unknowingly brewed. While the setting is a lush, high-stakes fantasy world rooted in Chinese mythology, the emotional core is about resilience and the complex nature of trust. It is most appropriate for readers aged 13 and up due to intense moments of political violence and the dark reality of a kingdom in turmoil. Parents will appreciate the book's deep respect for cultural tradition and its portrayal of a protagonist who uses her art and intellect, rather than just brute force, to navigate a corrupt system.
