Magic Study

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

Title: Magic Study

Author: Maria V. Snyder

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance (kinda)

Publisher: Luna

Publication Date: October 2006

Hardcover: 392

Summary: You know your life is bad when you miss your days as a poison taster... 

With her greatest enemy dead, and on her way to be reunited with the family she'd been stolen from long ago, Yelena should be pleased. But though she has gained her freedom, she can't help feeling isolated in Sitia. Her Ixian background has changed her in many ways—and her newfound friends and relatives don't think it's for the better.... 

Despite the turmoil, she's eager to start her magic training—especially as she's been given one year to harness her power or be put to death. But her plans take a radical turn when she becomes involved with a plot to reclaim Ixia's throne for a lost prince—and gets entangled in powerful rivalries with her fellow magicians. 

If that wasn't bad enough, it appears her brother would love to see her dead. Luckily, Yelena 

has some old friends to help her with all her new enemies....

Book Review:

In Magic Study the sequel to Poison Study, Yelena travels back to Sitia where she reunites with the family that she never really knew or remembered. I liked this book a lot. Unlike Poison Study though there wasn't the unique sense of danger and the poison aspect, which were part of the reason I liked the first book so much. Though I still really liked this book. Magic Study and Poison Study do have running themes throughout them. It's the same old Yelena, getting into impossible situations one after another. Magic Study also stands it's own, and I like how even though they are part of the same series, they both are individual books that are amazing in their own ways. I was kinda annoyed the Valek didn't make a appearance until the second half of the book, but this just made it better in the end. Oh by the way the only problems I had with this book is the events got kinda repetitive, and Yelena got kinda annoying. There are just so many events with people getting kidnapped and tortured all the time got kinda annoying. Yelena who used to be one of the most independent and strongest female character that I have read about, is reduced to being an idiot. She rushes into trouble without thinking and acts like she is always right. This is so annoying. By the way Valek is one of my favorite male characters of all time. Or at least he used to be. I loved how Valek and Yelena's relationship worked in Poison Study. They respected each other, and neither one of them changed. They both stayed their own regular, wonderful selves. Then in Magic Study I was looking forward to  seeing how their relationship would grow, but instead Valek was reduced to just sitting around waiting for Yelena to call for him. He used to be a cunning assassin and now, uhh. Anyway I can't wait to read the next book, Fire Study. Hopefully it will be more like Poison Study and not like Magic Study. Overall Magic Study wasn't that bad. 

Rating: B-

Notable Quotes:

"Living is a risk," I snapped at him. "Every decision, every interaction, every step, every time you get out of bed in the morning, you take a risk. To survive is to know you're taking that risk and to not get out of bed clutching illusions of safety." 

"Her amber eyes burned into mine with all the hate and loathing she could muster. Underneath, though, she was terrified. Hate and loathing didn't bother me, but fear was a powerful emotion. Fear causes the dog to bite and Roze was one b****." 

"Another relative?" Valek asked. 
A broad smile stretched Moon Man's lips. "Yes. I am her mother's uncle's wife's 
third cousin." 
--Valek and Moon Man 

"Your mother sounds like a formidable woman," Valek said into the silence.
"You have no idea," Leif replied with a sigh.
"Well, if she's anything like Yelena, my deepest sympathies," Valek teased.
"Hey!"
Leif laughed and the tense moment dissipated. 

"Bad dreams are ghosts of our fears and worries, haunting us while we sleep."

"Don't feel ashamed for having those feelings and those memories. What happened in the past can't be changed, but they can be a guide for what happens in the future." - Yelena