{Review} Night Study by Maria V. Snyder

Night Study
by Maria V. Snyder
Series: Study #5
Pages: 444
Release Date: January 26, 2016
by Mira

Goodreads / Purchase

Ever since being kidnapped from the Illiais Jungle as a child, Yelena Zaltana's life has been fraught with peril. But the recent loss of her Soulfinding abilities has endangered her more than ever before. As she desperately searches for a way to reclaim her magic, her enemies are closing in, and neither Ixia nor Sitia is safe for her anymore. Especially since the growing discord between the two countries and the possibility of a war threatens everything Yelena holds dear.  

Valek is determined to protect Yelena, but he's quickly running out of options. The Commander suspects that his loyalties are divided, and he's been keeping secrets from Valek…secrets that put him, Yelena and all their friends in terrible danger. As they uncover the various layers of the Commander's mysterious plans, they realize it's far more sinister than they could have ever imagined.

*REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS*

They are whited out so you can only read them if you highlight the text 

YOU’D THINK THAT FIVE BOOKS DEEP INTO A SERIES THAT WASN’T INITIALLY SUPPOSED TO GO PAST THREE BOOKS SYNDER WOULD HAVE RUN OUT OF WAYS TO SHOCK US. NOPE. I literally do not understand how she does it. Snyder is a genius, there’s no other way to put it. To be honest, she owns my soul.

I though I was safe, I didn’t think anything could pop up in the FIFTH BOOK OF A SERIES that would shock me, but I was wrong. [Spoiler: Valek has a family and siblings, and MAGIC.] WHAT. I probably freaked out my UPS driver and mailman because I screamed [Spoiler: “HE HAS SIBLINGS???!?!?!?!??!” and “HE HAS MAGIC??????!!!!!!?!?!?”] and immediately after each shriek the doorbell rang and I had a delivery. They probably think I’m crazy, but whatever. I was floored. And the thing is, these twists were completely plausible and possible. [Spoiler: It makes sense that his past trauma would suppress his magical abilities and form a protective shield around him because he had literally shut the world out. It makes sense that his mother and father, after losing their three sons, would have more children. And then when he lets love back into his life, when he opens up to Yelena and his family, he is no longer closed off, and his power comes back. (hide spoiler.] It makes perfect sense. And I can’t believe that this deep into the story Snyder still finds room to completely blindside us. [Spoiler: I was also incredibly surprised by the Commander and how he was being controlled by Owen.] The plot thickens endlessly.


I feel like there was something missing from the storyline though. There were moments of fast-paced movement where the plot was unfurling and revelations were being made about Owen’s end goals and Brun’s plot, but there was also lots of building. It seemed like there were a lot of (very enjoyable) tangents but few revelations about the problems from last book. The Owen storyline has to be stretched out so it makes sense that it would have to be taken slow, but I wanted answers, dammit. [Spoiler: I want to know what is blocking Yelena’s magic, I want to know how and IF Owen is controlling the Commander, what will happen when the Commander learns of Valek’s betrayal, will the Commander even let Valek retire or will he want him dead? There were hints and revelations about Yelena’s magic and this newfound physical protection from magic which I’m sure as setting up a thrilling ending, but god I JUST WANT HER TO HAVE HER MAGIC BACK.] That being said, the ending was open, which is a bit aggravating, and it feels like the calm before the storm. There was action, but there was none of that usual last sentence cliffhanger torture that Snyder likes to subject us to. Instead, it was a line about this being a cause worth dying for, which is even worse, in my opinion. I don’t even want to entertain the possibility that someone will die, I don’t appreciate her putting that thought into my mind, it would destroy me.

I liked how the book was basically split in half by Owen and Brun’s storylines. [Spoiler: I was amazed by how ingenious and easy it was for Brun to bring all those incredibly powerful magicians to their knees. The dynamic between Sitia and Ixia and then Brun, the Commander, and Owen is so incredibly precarious and interesting. I don’t think the Commander actually wants to attack Sitia, he just feels threatened by magicians (which makes sense) and wants to protect his country from them. Brun and Owen are both power hungry but Brun is doing all the work. Ixia is already completely under the Commander’s control and has been for years. Sitia was unregulated and ununiform, and therefore Brun had to put in considerable effort and dedication to control it. So now there are two neighboring countries that are lead by two powerful leaders, both of which Owen probably plans to kill. We are creeping towards a world run by evil. And no blood was spilled to get to that point. Truly, genius.] I am so impressed by how Synder has managed to further this story.

A big emphasis in this book was loyalty and family. So many times it was reiterated that Valik, Yelena, Ari, Janco, Leif, and their various other companions are family. After all these books, after all these years, all these fights and rescues and bloodshed, there is no way they could be anything but, but god, it got me. It made me feel so incredibly happy to see that written on the page. I have waited so long for everyone to be around each other and for the group to all be together again. I missed the talking and planning and insults and the love, loyalty, and trust they share. And I really missed Yelena and Valek being together. I swear, I would read about Valek and Yelena watching paint dry, I just want to see their names on the same page and know they are together, it makes me so incredibly happy. [Spoiler: And I knew it was coming, but when they became married, I was on the floor. I knew Valek would choose Yelena over the Commander, but that didn’t make reading it any less emotional. I can’t even describe the feeling it gave me, I was just so incredibly happy and it felt so right. And I wasn’t the least bit surprised that those two overdramatic hoes literally carved a heart into their skin to show their love for each other.] I expected nothing less, to be honest. I am so incredibly emotional when it comes to Valek, my baby boy has changed so much and Yelena is the reason why, and she opened him up to love and it has made his life so much better. I love their family, both biological and unbiological.

I felt like I was part of the family too, because at this point in the series I have fallen into their rhythm. I can’t count how many times the group has had to camp and they set up a watch schedule. I’ve read those same lines and conversations so many times over the course of this series, but it never gets repetitive because it’s part of their routine, and I’m used to it, and I know it’s coming, and I’m thinking it before it’s said. I have never felt such a connection to a book and the characters on the page. I fell into their rhythm of riding and fighting and sleeping, and I love it. I have never mentioned it before, but Snyder’s attention to detail is absolutely amazing. She effortlessly rattles off names of territories, mountain ranges, rivers, town, swamps, and knows what territory borders what and which direction to head. I have literally no idea what is going on, the only places I know the location of are Ixia, Sitia, Castletown, the border crossing, the jungle, and that’s all. I mean Snyder could be totally bluffing and not have any clue where she’s sending the characters either, but I can’t call her on it cuz I have completely lost track. But I think she knows that world by heart, and it’s a testament to her dedication and skill that she is able to precisely pinpoint places the characters are going to and how to get there. She goes above and beyond.

This wasn’t so much a rant as just a discussion of the book, but when I am this invested in a story, I can’t focus on just writing my opinion on how the story was developed, I have to theorize and analyze and discuss as well as review. I am so excited but also sad to read the final book. I don’t want this story to ever end.

5 stars

Other Books by Maria V. Snyder

          

Poison Study (Study #1) - Goodreads / Purchase
Magic Study (Study #2) - Goodreads / Purchase / Review
Fire Study (Study #3) - Goodreads /Purchase /  Review
Shadow Study (Study #4) - Goodreads / Purchase / Review
Dawn Study (Study #6) - Goodreads / Purchase / Review
Touch of Power (Healer #1) - Goodreads / Purchase / Review
Scent of Magic (Healer #2) - Goodreads / Purchase / Review
Taste of Darkness (Healer #3) - Goodreads / Purchase / Review
Storm Glass (Glass #1) - Goodreads / Purchase / Review
Sea Glass (Glass #2) - Goodreads / Purchase
Spy Glass (Glass #3) - Goodreads / Purchase
Inside (Insider #1-2) - Goodreads / Purchase / Review