A Magic Steeped in Poison

The character was so passive...and the plot didn't make any sense. Instead of being determined and filled with grit in a competition, the protagonist decides to just wing it. It would've made for a great character arc if she put on this forefront of a determined character while dread and doubt was still inside, and she learns to become more brave and determined to where she becomes more independent and strong. There was even one time where she was asked what she wants and she can't even answer it!

The romance was so...stupid. Stop talking to Pretty Boy, we need to get the tea leaves and win this competition! A good book would either put romance in as a crucial part of the story, work romance organically into the narrative via sexual tension/similarities, or will have romance be like a cherry on the cake. All of these do not get in the way of the narrative. This romance does. It was infuriating and sometimes it felt like she cared more about Pretty Boy than her DYING SISTER.

Basically, this book had no character, no payoff to the promises in the set up ( i.e. a thrilling championship), and a magic system that needed to be a hard magic system rather than the author's attempt at a soft magic system.