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."         

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

Poison Study

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

Title: Poison Study
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance (kinda)
Publisher: Mira
Publication Date: November 2008
Paperback: 409

Summary: 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....

Book Review:

Poison Study is compelling fantasy story which has a little romance overtone to it. In the beginning Yelena starts out scared and timid. Over time Yelena gains allies, and with that she grows physically and mentally stronger. The romance between Valek and Yelena was well written and a delight. It was fun and refreshing to read something that wasn't cheesy like most of the other books out there. I enjoyed reading how both Yelena and Valek were falling for each other without knowing it. At the beginning Valek views Yelena as a tool, and Yelena is scared of Valek. Since the book was from one perspective it left out how Valek was feeling about Yelena. This kept the reading from really knowing 100% that Valek and Yelena loved each other until the author wanted them to. When a master magician from the south comes and tries to kill Yelena, she finds out that she is a magician, and was kidnapped from the south along with a bunch of other kids. The only thing I wish that the author had done is explaining why magicians are banned from Ixia.  Ixia is supposed to be a socialist community defined by a militaristic rule. Why this was better than the previous monarchy is not well explained, and another disappointment was how quickly the book wrapped up while leaving so many issues outstanding. The romance culmination seemed quite hurried, though a little less rushed than other books that I have read. I would have liked to have seen a bit more slow unwrapping of some of the parts of the books. 

Rating: A-

Notable Quotes:

"Everyone makes choices in life. Some bad, some Good. It's called living, and if you want to bow out, then go right ahead. But don't do it halfway. Don't linger in whiner's limbo." 

"But you’ve slipped under my skin, invaded my blood and seized my heart.”
“That sounds more like a poison than a person,” was all I could say. His confession had
both shocked and thrilled me.
“Exactly,” Valek replied. “You have poisoned me." 

"What have I earned from you, Valek? Loyalty? Respect? Trust?"
You have my attention. But give me what I want, and you can have everything." 

"In fact, he's never taken an interest in a woman before. I was beginning to to suspect he might prefer one of his male sneaks, but now..." She paused dramatically. "Now, we have the lovely, intelligent Yelena to get Valek's cold heart pumping."
"You really should get out of your sewing room more. You need fresh air and a dose of reality," I said knowing better than to believe a word Dilana said, but unable to control the silly little grin on my face.
Her sweet, melodious laughter followed me into the hallway.
"You know I'm right, " she called." 

"Poisoned, pursued and living with a psychopath. Not what I'd consider the good life. Death has its perks."