Poison Study

Series: Study #1

Genres: Fantasy

Publisher: Mira

Released: October 2005

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace—and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia. And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust—and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison. As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear.

For Fans Of: Cast in Courtlight, Crown Duel, and Brightly Woven.

My Review: I can honestly say that Poison Study is one of the best books I have ever read. Not only because of the great story and the consistency of the plot line, but also because of the relationships, Ari and Janco, Yelena and Valek, and the way that the story unfolds.

Yelena is such a smart character, which is what I love about her. She uses her brain in every situation and she is so strong. I love that Snyder doesn’t focus on the horrors in Yelena’s past. She is constantly giving hope to Yelena’s future.

I also loved and constantly gushed about how Yelena and Valek’s relationship unfolds. It is so subtle and realistic. Valek is also an incredibly interesting character, not only in his treatment of Yelena but also in his relationship with the Commander Ambrose, as well as the treatment of his guards.

The supporting characters in Poison Study also shine, as well as the place of Ixia itself. Ixia is such a great, scientific, country that is easy to understand. (Watch for the scene with Yelena hiding in the trees) Poison Study was a book that I didn’t want to end, and I highly recommend it! 

Touch of Power

Author: Maria V. Snyder

Series: Healer # 1

Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Adventure

Publisher: Mira

Released: 20 December 2011

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Fifteen Realms, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos. Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life...

For Fans Of: The Study Series, and Finnikin of the Rock

My Review: I came to Touch of Power already a big Maria V. Snyder fan.  I had read the Study Series and was completely in love with Yelena and Valek, read the Glass series and was a little bit under whelmed (Opal kind of bugged me, mainly because I adored Yelena and everything about her!).  So when I heard that she had come out with another novel that was similar, but not a companion book to the Study series, I was intensely excited. (Similar in the fact that they both involved magic, and a ‘realm’…however the idea of healing is kind of introduced in the Study series.  Yelena exhibits the same symptoms of healing as Avry does in Magic Study so maybe they are companions? I don’t know, I don’t care, this book was just amazing…am I gushing too much? I am aren’t I?)

Anyways, I’ve been waiting around for an amazing female lead and let me tell you, Avry did NOT disappoint.  She was such a strong, clear, and all around great character, especially for a young adult set.  Talk about being able to make her own way in the world and choosing things on her own, without coercion from any one else! This girl is the kind of girl that readers can look up to! (finally!)  Avry makes her own decisions and really considers all of her options.  And of course there is Kerrick, what a great male lead!  Not because the relationship between him and Avery is something to write home about (still stuck on Yelena and Valek, don’t judge) but Kerrick is a guy who has quite a bit of honor and determination.  He is really loyal, and you see that a lot throughout the novel.  Although things between him and Avry are pretty rocky in the beginning, you can tell that they are both doing what they honestly feel is the right thing.  The fact that Avry is so defiant when it comes to Kerrick is something that I loved, and that Kerrick is able to see past the cockiness that inhibits him is pretty great too.

Snyder has always impressed me in that she is really good at the craft of writing.  She gets the little things from her characters, the little comments, or emotions, or facial expressions that really bring her characters to life for me.  The “band of rogues” that Avry ends up traveling with is probably my most favorite group of guys in literature right now (excluding Ari and Janco – but they don’t count as they are a roguish duo and not a band of rogues) the way that they are able to play off of each other as well as their reaction and inclusion of Avry is awesome and incredibly funny.  Touch of Power wasn’t without it’s sad moments, and if definitely had some action scenes in it, although I would say it’s what my brothers would call a ‘girl book’ through and through (in that girls like it and boys would probably like it but never admit to reading it) as far as a really great, fun, and exciting read goes I definitely vote for Touch of Power, it is by far one of my favorite books to come out recently and one that I could read over and over again. I give it 5/5, because really. After all that gushing, did you honestly think I would give it anything less?