Poison Study TV Show Fancast

Since I finally wrote and posted a review of Poison Study, I figured I should take it one step further: I should do a fancast for the movie or tv show adaptation that will never be, but that the story deserves.

Before we start, let me just refresh your memory on what I'm talking about and, if you live under a rock and haven't read this amazing series, introduce you to:

    

Boom.

Yes, the covers are the tiniest bit cringey, but we're working with it. Anyway.

Let's begin.

{Review} Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Poison Study
by Maria V. Snyder
Series: Study #1
Pages: 409
Release Date: March 1, 2007
by Mira

Goodreads / Purchase

Choose: A quick death…Or slow poison...

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...

{Review} Dawn Study by Maria V. Snyder

Dawn Study
by Maria V. Snyder
Series: Study #6
Pages: 480
Release Date: January 31, 2017
by Mira

Goodreads / Purchase

Despite the odds, Yelena and Valek have forged an irrevocable bond and a family that transcends borders. Now, when their two homelands stand on the brink of war, they must fight with magic and cunning to thwart an Ixian plot to invade Sitia.

Yelena seeks to break the hold of the insidious Theobroma that destroys a person's resistance to magical persuasion. But the Cartel is determined to keep influential citizens and Sitian diplomats in thrall and Yelena at bay. With every bounty hunter after her, Yelena is forced to make a dangerous deal.

With might and magic, Valek peels back the layers of betrayal surrounding the Commander. At its rotten core lies a powerful magician and his latest discovery. The fate of all rests upon two unlikely weapons. One may turn the tide. The other could spell the end of everything.

{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} Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder

Shadow Study
by Maria V. Snyder
Series: Study #4
Pages: 410
Release Date: February 4, 2015
by Mira

Goodreads / Purchase

Once, only her own life hung in the balance…

When Yelena was a poison taster, her life was simpler. But She'd survived to become a vital part of the balance of power between rival countries Ixia and Sitia. Now she uses her magic to keep the peace in both lands—and protect her relationship with Valek.

Suddenly, though, they are beset on all sides by those vying for power through politics and intrigue. Valek’s job and his life are in danger. As Yelena tries to uncover the scope of these plots, she faces a new challenge: her magic is blocked. She must keep that a secret—or her enemies will discover just how vulnerable she really is—while searching for who or what is responsible for neutralizing her powers.

Yes, the days of tasting poisons were much simpler. And certainly not as dangerous…

Study Series: Have You Heard Of It?

Have you guys heard of the Study series by Maria V. Snyder?

No?

Well then, let me enlighten you. It is the best series on the face of the earth.

If I was to summarize it quickly and in a non-spoilery way, I would say something like this:

The story is set in a fantasy world where two countries, Ixia and Sitia, share a border. Yelena, a young woman, is in an Ixian prison because she murdered a man. She is given a choice - either become the Commander's food taster and run the risk of being poisoned, or be hung. I mean, the choice is pretty easy, I think. So she becomes the Commander's official food taster, and is trained by Valek, the Commander's personal assassin who also happens to be the most badass man in the world. Yelena is still in danger because the family of the man she murdered is very powerful and hates her, so she has to learn to defend herself. And then there are a ton of twists and turns and fighting and action and badassery. You need to experience it.

{Review} Taste of Darkness by Maria V. Snyder

Taste of Darkness
by Maria V. Snyder
Series: Healer #3
Pages: 458
Release Date: December 31, 2014
by Mira (an imprint of Harlequin)

Goodreads / Purchase

She's fought death and won. But how can she fight her fears?

Avry knows hardship and trouble. She fought the plague and survived. She took on King Tohon and defeated him. But now her heart-mate, Kerrick, is missing, and Avry fears he's gone forever.

But there's a more immediate threat: The Skeleton King plots to claim the Fifteen Realms for his own. With armies in disarray and the dead not staying down, Avry's healing powers are needed now more than ever.

Torn between love and loyalty, Avry must choose her path carefully. For the future of her world depends on her decision.

*REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS*

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

 

 

What am I supposed to do with my life now that this beautiful series has ended?!

After the ending of the second book so much was set up to happen in this book and the first thing I wanted to happen [SPOILER: was getting Kerrick back.  ] It certainly didn’t happen as fast as or how I wanted it to.  I had to wait 50 agonizing pages before I knew [[SPOILER: he was okay.  And then he’s trapped in the forest. ] It killed me.

First off, this book was originally titled Taste of Death and I much prefer that title to this one, Taste of Darkness.  The latter sounds cheesier, while the first sounds intense and scary.  But I digress.

It took me a bit to get into this book.  To me the writing seemed kind of choppy and disconnected in the first 50 pages. Maybe Snyder just got into a groove later on or I got used to her writing style because the book, after that, was beautifully written.  In her books a lot of time passes so she changes a lot from present to weeks later.  Maybe that’s what threw me off a bit.  I’ve said it so many times but I’ll say it again – Maria V. Snyder is a genius when it comes to storytelling.  The story line is so fast-paced and thrilling and the staging is phenomenal.  Every single detail and every single escape makes perfect sense and isn’t too easy.  There is a lot of complicated theories in this series, like the Death and Peace Lily’s and what each one does to you.  [SPOILER: The cure for the plague ] was a great idea and I loved how we, as the reader, figured it out along with Avry. It was impressive to see Synder manipulate all the things she has developed over the course of this series to make solutions to all the problems.

There is never a dull moment, one mission after another.  The two POVs worked great in this book.  Usually I don’t like dual POVs but for this it worked perfectly because Avry and Kerrick were separated so often and we learned much more information.  I loved how funny the book was.  There were so many twists (not like in Scent of Magic though.  Those killed me) that had me gasping [SPOILER: (BELEN!).  ] And the cliffhanger at the end of every single chapters makes it impossible to put the book down.  One part of your mind is screaming “You have a ton of homework and a history midterm this week, stop reading” but the other part is yelling “OMG I must know what happens next this book is killing me” and the second always part wins out.

If I had one complaint, it’s that the ending seemed a bit rushed. I was kind of expecting something a bit more dramatic and encompassing. The last fight scene was over a bit too quickly, in my opinion.  I guess since there had been so many other drawn-out, difficult battles in the rest of the book Snyder just wanted to make this an easy one, but for the ending I was expecting something a bit more climactic.  Don’t get me wrong, it closed the book perfectly and covered any plot holes, but I was just kind of hoping for a more epic battle.  What I thought wasn’t done as well as it could have been was when [SPOILER: Avry woke back up after Kerrick killed Tohon and broke the bond between him and Avry.  I was kind of confused when she woke up where they were and what was going on ] and I kind of wished that was portrayed a bit better.  But other than that, this book was phenomenal!

Can we just take a second to appreciate how amazing this cast is?  You have Avry who is so freaking strong and selfless and brave.  She will sacrifice herself in a heartbeat for anyone, and I loved seeing her break the rules.  Kerrick – my beautiful weed boy – I felt for him in this book.  He wasn’t my sexy, confident, active Kerrick.  He was a trapped, tired, and gaunt Kerrick, and I miss the old Kerrick so much.  Then you have Belen who *bear hug* I love and [SPOILER: I’m so glad he’s back. ]  And the monkeys make everything so entertaining.  Loren and Quain are seriously like little kids only they can kill you and it’s so funny to see them banter.  I felt like Flea grew a lot in this book because he [SPOILER: has his magic and doesn’t want it but eventually learns to use it. ] I really liked him.  On the other hand, Ryne really annoyed me. [SPOILER: I hated how he would lie to Avry and use her as bait.  ] How about no?

Also, that whole Skeleton King thing is one of the creepiest, most disturbing things I’ve ever read.  I was cringing the whole time I read [SPOILER: that cannibal part and when he was biting Avry. ] That. Is. Sick.

I’m so sad to see this beautiful series with all its wonderful characters go.  But I can assure you I will be re-reading these books again and again.

 

 

5 stars

 

 

Other Books by Maria V. Snyder

Study                                    Healer                                             Glass                     Insiders

Poison Study                 Touch of Power - Review           Storm Glass              Inside Out - Review

Magic Study - Review     Scent of Magic - Review             Sea Glass                  Outside In

 

Fire Study - Review                                                            Spy Glass



{Review} Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder

Scent of Magic
by Maria V. Snyder
Series: Healer #2
Pages: 414
Release Date: December 18, 2012
by Mira (an imprint of Harlequin

Goodreads / Purchase

Hunted, Killed—Survived?

As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.

Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.

War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible ... again.

SPOILERS!  THEY WILL BE MARKED AND WHITENED OUT SO IF YOU WANT TO READ THEM HIGHLIGHT THE PLACE THEY ARE!

I'm not sure how to even begin this review. This is the kind of book that is hard to find the right words for. Amazing would be one, I guess.

 

This book was very different than the first book, Touch of Power, in that it was written from to POVs, Kerrick's and Avry's. This was a good thing and a bad thing, in my opinion. Well I guess they're both bad in a way. The good/bad thing was it enabled Snyder to make every chapter ending a cliffhanger and then force us to read the other person's point of view while still needing to know what happens with the cliffhanger. So that was pretty painful. But then the really bad thing was the fact that Kerrick's POV was much less interesting than Avry's. However, his POV still met up with the story so it was okay in the end. And that's a minor when you think about it.

I did notice that Synder's writing improved from the first book. It was much less choppy and flowed more. As usual her story was intricate and breathtaking. The action scenes were described so vividly that it was like I was right there in the story. The humor added a lot to the book as well, especially in the end.  [SPOILER: The ending of this book was really dark because at that point Avry had lost pretty much everyone she loved and there was no hope for her, she'd given up. It was a very vulnerable and deep part of the book and not at all a place for humor, you would think. But by adding the humor, Synder showed a whole different side to the despair. ]

I was really impressed with how Synder was able to stage everything. After the first book there are a lot of things left to be explained, [SPOILER: the most important being how does Tohon reanimate his soldiers? ] Throughout the book more mysteries were added that Avry had to figure out, and I was absolutely amazed at how Synder was able to stage and explain these mysteries to that I, as the reader, figured them out with Avry.

And then there were the partS of the book that literally had me screaming and yelling. There were so many twists in this book, and I never saw them coming. The ending had me screaming the most. I couldn't believe all the twists and betrayals and I was just sitting on my bed yelling for like 5 minutes straight as I read each twist. It was an absolutely amazing ending and it was funny in a way to see each part of the game to win the realms in the same place at the same time. It was very interesting to see how they worked and who they worked for and how they strove to survive.  [SPOILER:  And then of course you have the last 2 pages which...broke my heart. KERRICK CAN NOT FREAKING DIE! ]

The ending to this book was very open and set up a grand finale for the next book. [SPOILER:  From what I can tell you have Kerrick, Avry, Flea (who can unfreeze people), Quain (who was frozen but Flea unfroze him), Loren, Estrid, and Belen (who is frozen somewhere) vs Tohon, Sepp, and Jael vs Celinna and Wyn. Or maybe Celinna and Wyn are with Tohon, I don't know. The there are the wild cards like Estrid and her army (I'm assuming Flea will unfreeze them) and the northern tribes as well. ]  This next book is going to be fucking crazy.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love his cast. Avry and Kerrick are so perfect together and I ship them 100%. Their ship name is KAVRY. Yep. Their romance is so beautiful and awesome and they just fit together perfectly. They are both very strong, willful, loving, and protective, and willing to sacrifice for the greater good. That might end up being a problem though because one would be with out the other. NO EMILY DON'T THINK LIKE THAT!

I feel like I have to mention Avry's sister Noelle because that girl is sneaky and lying and I don't like her. Tohon is evil as usual. [SPOILER:  Flea, I'm so glad you're back from the dead. Belen, we better get you back. ]  Loren and Quain...I know it's hard, but just try to behave please ;P

I absolutely cannot WAIT for the third book. Like is said, that book is going to be absolutely crazy and I'm kind of scared, honestly. [SPOILER: The first thing that better happen though is Kerrick better be healed. ]

5 stars



{Review} Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

Touch of Power
by Maria V. Snyder
Series: Healer #1
Pages: 390
Release Date: December 20, 2011
by Mira (an imprint of Harlequin Teen)


Goodreads / Purchase

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes 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 Territories, 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....

Note: This is my new, updated review. I re-read this book and since my first review sucked I decided to write a new one :)

Words just cannot describe my love for this series. It is absolutely wonderful, amazing, awesome...words, I need more words to describe. Ugh.

I will admit, at times the writing was kind of choppy and disconnected and juvenile, but everything else in this book completely made up for it. That is such a small thing when you think about the story and word that Maria V. Snyder managed to create. Creating a fantasy world is very difficult, I think, and somehow Synder made this word seem like a real place. Her world-building and history was so well done and not boring at all, but we got all the details that we needed. This story is so complex and everything has to match up and have a plausible answer or reason to it. Somehow, Synder managed to make every single event, revelation, or info dump make sense. Sometimes in books when a character is in a difficult situation, such as being trapped in a castle with a dangerous magician, the escape is seethrough, flimsy, and too easy. In this book, however, every escape was thrilling, complex, and made perfect sense. The thing that really impressed me was not only Synder's ability to write amazing characters, but also her ability to stage things throughout the book. There were some twists in this book that literally had me screaming at the top of my lungs and certain scenes between a certain couple that shall remain unnamed (wink wink) that made me melt.

Synder always finds a way to create an amazing cast that I just fall in love with. First off, Avery. Can I be her? Please? Because not only is she strong and independent, but she can throw knives. It doesn't get much cooler than that. I really love her character, the fact that she's extremely stubborn and sarcastic, but still has the ability to really care about the “boys” as she calls them, and her ability to sacrifice. Plus she has Kerrick. So you're argument is invalid.

Yes, let's talk a bit about Kerrick. WHY CAN'T HE BE REAL?! Huh! Why? Every single freaking time I read one of Synder's books I always fall in love with the love interest. Why do you torture me like this, Maria?! Yes, Kerrick was horrible in the beginning of the book. But by the end of it I was screeching and swooning when him and Avery were together.

Then you have the supporting cast, Belen, Quain, Loren, and Flea. I love every single one of them, especially Belen. He is just the sweetest man ever. He seems just like a doting mamma bear, only he's a guy, haha. Loren and Quain are “the monkeys” and basically make a joke out of everything. Flea is the youngest of the group and probably has the most troubled past. Every single character in this book is just so interesting and well developed and deep.

I really say enough how amazing Maria V. Snyder's books are. (Almost) every single one I've read I've loved, and I've even given them to my friends and they've loved her books too. She really shows off her ability to write deep, complex stories...and make readers drool over fictional characters they can't have.

 5 stars



Review: Fire Study

Author: Maria V. Snyder

Series: Study #3

Pages: 441
Format: Paperback
Rating: 5/5

Summery:
Now the apprenticeship is over--
Now the real test has begun.

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 recieves 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.

Review:
Wow.  That's all I can say.  Wow.  I have mixed feelings about this book.  On the one hand, I'm sad.  Sad because this is the final book in this AMAZING series.  And happy, because I was given the privilege of reading this amazing series.

I love, love, love the plot.  Every time, Maria V. Snyder comes up with a new, exciting plot and wows me again and again.  And this time Yelena was in even more trouble than usual.  I loved the twists and turns, the battles, the action, the magic, everything.

I love Yelena.  She's strong, fearless, and she can take care of herself.
I love Valek.  He's so sexy.
I like Cahil and teensy-tiny bit more, but I still hate him.

All in all, this is one really bad review for a really good book.  This review does not do the book justice, so if you decide to read a book based on a review, ignore mine.  Words just can't express how much I love this series.

Review: Magic Study

Author: Maria V. Snyder

Series: Study #2

Pages: 443

Format: Paperback
Rating: 4/5

Summery:
A lesson in loyalty--a master class in intrigue.

So far, I've managed to survive.  You would think after being kidnapped as a child, imprisoned in my teens and  released to become a poison taster, I would have endured enough.  But no.
But no.  The discovery of my magical abilities--powers forbidden in Ixia--has resulted in an execution order.  My only chance is to flee to Sitia, my long-lost birthplace

But Sitia in unfamiliar.  I'm treated like an enemy--even by my own brother.  Plus I can't control  my powers.  I want to learn about my magic, but there isn't time.  A rogue magician has emerged and I'm targeted as his next victim.

Review:
It is really hard to write a good and long review for a good book because you can't go on and on about how this main character was a wimp or that cute guy wasn't cute at all.  So, this is going to be a very short, probably not very good review. :P

I love this story line!!  I just love it.  It is so amazing, and so complex.  I don't know how Snyder gets Yelena out of all these positions she's in.  First she was poisoned, now someone's after her.  I just mean, WOW.
I LOVE VALEK!!  I LOVE VALEK, I LOVE VALEK!!  He is SOOO sexy and cool and nice.  Why can't I have a sweet ninja for a boyfriend? :P

I love Kiki.  She made me laugh.  Everytime she saw Yelena she was just like "Apple?"  So funny.
I hate Ferde.  Hate, hate, hate him.  The little slime ball.
I didn't like Lief in the beginning, but he got a little better as I read.  But I'm still not a huge fan of him.
I love Ari, I love Janco, they're so funny.
And, last but not least, I love Yelena.  I love that she's a powerful magician, that she can take care of herself, has all these concealed weapons and knows how to use them.  She's the perfect main character for this book, and the other books in the series.

I own Fire Study, so instead of wasting time ranting over Valek, I'm going to go grab my copy and finish this amazing series once and for all!  Which I'm a little sad about because I won't have more books to read.  But I own the series, so I guess it's okay. :P

Review: Storm Glass

Author: Maria V. Snyder

Series: Glass #1

Pages: 488

Format: Paperback

Source: Mira

Rating: 2/5

Summery:

As a glassmaker and a magician-in-training, Opal Cowen understands trial by fire. Now it's time to test her mettle. Someone has sabotaged the Stormdancer clan's glass orbs, killing their most powerful magicians. The Stormdancers—particularly the mysterious and mercurial Kade—require Opal's unique talents to prevent it happening again. But when the mission goes awry, Opal must tap in to a new kind of magic as stunningly potent as it is frightening. And the further she delves into the intrigue behind the glass and magic, the more distorted things appear. With lives hanging in the balance—including her own—Opal must control powers she hadn't known she possessed…powers that might lead to disaster beyond anything she's ever known.

Review:
After reading the Study series and absolutely adoring it, I had really high hopes for this series.  I was a little disappointed.

In all the Study books, the story line was amazing.  There was action, twists and turns, fighting, romance, magic.  In this one, not so much.  I felt like there was barely any action at all (although I simply adored the ending.  It was amazing).  The writing wasn't as good, the sentences were choppy and disconnected.  I usually get so caught up in a book I can read it even when there's noise around.  In this one, I had to plug my ears so I could concentrate on the book.  In the Study books, Maria V. Snyder chose a specific story line and the whole book was about it.  In this one, it went from Stormdancers to glass and diamonds, then back to a little Stormdancers.  I was very surprised when Opal figured out the problem to the Stormdancers' troubles so fast.  I thought it would be the whole book.

I was all geared up for another Yelena with a different name, a kick-ass fighter, strong, and smart.  I didn't get it.  In my opinion, Opal was weak, couldn't fight, and she walked knowingly into traps.
In the Study series, I loved the romance.  Valek and Yelena were perfect for each other.  In this book, I feel like the romance was forced.  And I didn't get the love triangle at all.  I liked Kade the best, although he's not my favorite guy ever, and I didn't like Ulrick.

All in all, I'm definitely going to buy the rest of the series, mostly because I want to see what happens and I really want the next books to be good.

Huge thanks to Maria V. Snyder and Mira for sending me this copy for review.  And an extra thanks to Maria V. Snder for signing it.

Teaser Tuesday: (#9)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

Anyone can do it.  You just have to do is:

 (1): Grab your current read.

(2): Open it to a random page.

(3): Share 1 or 2 "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.  BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!! 

(4): Make sure you also mention the author and title.

Storm Glass, by Maria V. Snyder

Add this book to your to-read shelf on Goodreads

#1: "The door opened after the first tap.  Hustled inside, we entered the same room as before.  Elita waited with a man of average height and weight, although I would never forget him.  His pure white hair was buzzed close to his head and was in stark contrast to his midnight skin.  Elita introduced him as Mr. Lune."

2: "With his arm still tight around mine, he showed me the kiln, the glory hole and the other equipment needed to make glass.  Bowls, vases and a few glass balls littered the work space.  My mind registered the information, but couldn't quiet produce any intelligent thoughts beyond my terror."

Dusty Reads: (#4)

Dusty Reads is a weekly meme hosted by Giselle at Xpresso Reads, where you feature a book that has been sitting unread on our bookshelf for a long time.

So far, I've managed to survive. You would think after being kidnapped as a child, imprisoned in my teens and released to become a poison taster, I would have endured enough. But no. The discovery of my magical abilities—powers forbidden in Ixia—has resulted in an execution order. My only chance is to flee to Sitia, my long-lost birthplace.

But Sitia is unfamiliar. I'm treated like an enemy—even by my own brother. Plus I can't control my powers. I want to learn about my magic, but there isn't time. A rogue magician has emerged and I'm targeted as his next victim.
Will my magical abilities save me…or be my downfall?

The apprenticeship is over—now the real test has begun.

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

Teaser Tuesday: (#7)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

Anyone can do it.  You just have to do is:

 (1): Grab your current read.

(2): Open it to a random page.

(3): Share 1 or 2 "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.  BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!! 

(4): Make sure you also mention the author and title.

Magic Study, by Maria V. Snyder

Add it to your to-read shelf on Goodreads (Trust me, it's amazing.  I'm totally in love with Valek :P)

#2: "The ghosts attached.  They were tenacious and quick. I swung at them over and over again until my arms felt like lead.  A few of Tula's horrors disappeared, others shrank, but some seemed to grow as they fought."

What is your teaser this Tuesday?

#1: "I spun Kiki around in time to see a man coalesce out of the blue ray of moonlight.  Tall enough to meet my gaze without having to look up, the naked man's skin was indigo and hairless.  His bald head gleamed with sweat and I could see the strength coiled in his powerful muscles.  But his round face held amusement, and I sensed no immediate threat from him.  Pure magical energy emenated from him, so I thought he might be influencing my emotions."

Review: Fire Study

Author: Maria V. Snyder
Series: Study #3
Pages: 441
Format: Paperback
Release Date: March 1st, 2008
Rating: 5/5
Summery:
The apprenticeship is over—now the real test has begun.

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.

Review:
Wow.  That's all I can say.  Wow.  I have mixed feelings about this book.  On the one hand, I'm sad.  Sad because this is the final book in this AMAZING series.  And happy, because I was given the privilege of reading this amazing series.

I love, love, love the plot.  Every time, Maria V. Snyder comes up with a new, exciting plot and wows me again and again.  And this time Yelena was in even more trouble than usual.  I loved the twists and turns, the battles, the action, the magic, everything.

I love Yelena.  She's strong, fearless, and she can take care of herself.
I love Valek.  He's so sexy.
I like Cahil and teensy-tiny bit more, but I still hate him.

All in all, this is one really bad review for a really good book.  This review does not do the book justice, so if you decide to read a book based on a review, ignore mine.  Words just can't express how much I love this series.

Waiting on Wednesday (#5): Touch of Power

This is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlites upcoming new releases that we're highly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Touch of Power, by Maria V. Snyder

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes 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 Territories, 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....