Fire Study

Maria V. Snyder, author of the Study series, and various other books.

Title: Fire Study

Author: Maria V. Snyder

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Publisher: Mira

Publication Date: March 2008

Paperback: 441

Summary:

When word that Yelena is a Soulfinder—able to capture and release souls—spreads like wildfire, people grow uneasy. Already Yelena's unusual abilities and past have set her apart. As the Council debates Yelena's fate, she receives a disturbing message: a plot is rising against her homeland, led by a murderous sorcerer she has defeated before....

Honor sets Yelena on a path that will test the limits of her skills, and the hope of reuniting with her beloved spurs her onward. Her journey is fraught with allies, enemies, lovers and would-be assassins, each of questionable loyalty. Yelena will have but one chance to prove herself—and save the land she holds dear.

Book Review:

Okay so I loved the first book in the series, Poison Study. Magic Study was not great, but not terrible. Fire Study was just plain horrible. Maria V. Snyder proved that she was a capable, talented, writer in the first book. As the series progressed though the books got worse. The characters that I loved in the first book either got replaced or they changed into annoying people. At first I liked Yelena, she was strong and knew what she wanted. Then she became annoying, she would rush into situations without thinking, and she pushed everyone away. Valek had to be one of my favorite characters in the beginning of the series. Though over the course of the series he changed. Valek no longer had his strong personality, it was like his world revolved around Yelena. Actually if I think about it, Fire Study isn't that bad. If you don't compare it to Poison Study you might consider it okay. The only reason I finished this book though was to get a ending for the series. Overall it depends, I thought it was bad, but another might have thought that it was semi good.

Rating: C-

Notable Quotes:

"There's always another storm. It's the way the world works. Snowstorms, rainstorms, windstorms, sandstorms, and firestorms. Some are fierce and others are small. You have to deal with each one separately, but you need to keep an eye on whats brewing for tomorrow." 

"The others had taken Valek's return in stride, although Janco made a comment about Valek's lack of hair. "You ever notice how couples start to look alike?" he asked. In a deadpan, Valek replied, "Yes. In fact I was just thinking how much you and Topaz resemble each other. It's uncanny."