Night Study by Maria V. Snyder

Synopsis

Ever since being kidnapped from the Illiais Jungle as a child, Yelena Zaltana's 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 are 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 that they could have ever imagined. 

Review

First off, I really love the cover of this book - it's gorgeous! I haven't read Soulfinders #1, but I thought it wouldn't matter because Maria always explains what happens in the previous book in a few simple sentences to give readers like me an overview of what happened. 

This book, as usual, is full of twists and turns, surprises everywhere. I especially liked how Valek and Yelena's relationship becomes stronger, and how the party discover the plot that was behind certain things from both Ixia and Sitia. However, the book proceeds at a rather slow pace (which I'm assuming is due to the pre-war set up which requires much explanation to get things clear). And the book ended with a cliffhanger (which I assume is to ensure a smooth transition towards the 3rd book, like a new chapter).

Not the best, but still good enough to score a 4 stars from me.  And did I say I love how the little Valek/Yelena's prospect excites me?

Rating: 

Book Review : Touch of Power (Healer, #1) by Maria V. Snyder

Touch of Power (Healer, #1) by Maria V. Snyder

Paperback, 394 pages

Published December 20th 2011 by Mira

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs 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 Fifteen Realms, 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...

I consider it pure luck to be able to read this book within 2 months of its publication. I have been wanting to read Touch of Power since I first heard of it, because it's a new series by one of my favourite authors, Maria V. Snyder! Maria captured my heart with her Study series, which features a clever, talented heroine, Yelena Zaltana of Sitia and her mentor/lover Valek of Ixia.

I received this book as a gift from fellow book blogger, Jen at lratrandom.blogspot.com. Jen has been very kind to send me this book for my birthday, and I must say, this is the perfect birthday gift for me! Thank you so much, Jen! ♥

So, what's Touch of Power about, you ask?

It's the story about a girl, a talented healer called Avry of Kazan who was an apprentice at the Healer's Guild. After the plague ravished their realms, the people were angry and wanted to hold someone responsible. Finally, they resorted to blaming the healers for spreading the disease, and healers were hunted down and mercilessly killed. Avry was forced into hiding and has since been separated from her family.

Until one day, she couldn't bear not to save a sick child and decided to risk her own discovery by curing the little girl and assuming the sickness onto herself. She was turned in to the authorities by the girl's father and was sentenced to death at a guillotine the next day, but she never regretted her actions.

Fortunately, luck was on her side as Kerrick and his men were looking for a healer and saved her from a gruesome death. But their help comes with a price - she has to heal the sick Prince Ryne, who was held in stasis.

Avry is a notable heroine and she really deserves some commendation for her selfless spirit. She's a healer, but that doesn't mean that she can cure patients with just a touch. Alright, technically, she can, but in the process of healing her patients, she is actually transferring the sickness onto her own body and thus becomes the patient. I'm sure very few people are willing to sacrifice themselves for someone they barely know like what Avry is doing. To be honest, I myself am not sure if I'm willing to do that. It takes great courage and a kind heart to perform Avry's kind of healing.

As quoted from the book itself, Kerrick is a cold-hearted bastard at first. He cares about nothing but his mission - to find a healer to heal Prince Ryne. He saves Avry because she's the last healer alive, but when she refuses to heal Prince Ryne, he starves her, manacles her to a tree and leaves her in the cold at night. There is not an ounce of gentleman in him. Sometimes, I feel like giving the rude and ruthless jerk a good slap - he totally deserves it.

However, after traveling together with Avry for some time, he learns to care for her genuinely and soon falls in love with her, though he keeps that a secret from everyone in their group. I don't really like him, although there is a change in behaviour in him during the latter parts of the novel. He just pisses me off most of the times.

Belen is the one in the group whom I really like; he reminds me of Ari and Janco from the Study series. Nicknamed Poppa Bear by Avry, he's exactly what you'd call a gentle bear - if you're nice, then he's nice. However, if you intend to harm his cub, he will rip your shoulders out from its socket without a second thought. In this case, his cub is Avry, whom he considers a good friend after she healed his wounds.

I noticed some repetition in the storyline, where someone is kidnapped, then the others will hatch a plan to rescue the kidnapped person. This seems unavoidable in almost all of Maria's previous books. This, in a way, makes the story a little predictable and less exciting. Some parts of the story dragged a little, but it's no big deal considering Maria's excellent writing.

To shorten long sentences, Touch of Power is a solid start to the Healer series. Though I'm not really satisfied with the open ending, I won't utter a single complain, because I know Avry's journey has just started. There are two more books to come. Just the thought of this makes me smile. :)

Instilled with danger, betrayal and intrigue, Touch of Power is a book you wouldn't want to miss.

Rating:

If you're fan of Maria's Healer series, run over to Brodie's blog to check out her amazing character interview with Avry and Kerrick from Touch of Power!

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Maria V. Snyder attended 12 years of catholic school before going to Penn State University to study Meteorology. Earning a Bachelors of Science degree in Meteorology, Maria discovered, much to her chagrin, that forecasting the weather wasn't one of her skills. She found employment in the environmental field as an air quality scientist, and it was during those years that she began writing. After writing many science fiction short stories, Maria started Poison Study, her first novel about a food taster.

Book Review : Storm Glass (Glass, #1) by Maria V. Snyder

Storm Glass (Glass, #1) by Maria V. Snyder

Paperback, 504 pages

Published July 17th 2009 by Mira Books

Untrained. Untested. Unleashed. With her unique magical abilities, Opal has always felt unsure of her place at Sitia's magic academy. But when the Stormdancer clan needs help, Opal's knowledge makes her the perfect choice - until the mission goes awry. Pulling her powers in unfamiliar directions, Opal finds herself tapping into a new kind of magic as stunningly potent as it is frightening. Now Opal must deal with plotters out to destroy the Stormdancer clan, as well as a traitor in their midst. With danger and deception rising around her, will Opal's untested abilities destroy her - or save them all?

Storm Glass circles around Opal Cowan, a glass maker who did not realize her potential for magic at the beginning of the novel. If you can recall, Opal is a minor character in the Study series, the one who lost her sister to a murderous blood magician who tortures and kills his victims before injecting their blood in his skin to increase his own power. She might not be as clever and multifaceted as Yelena, but she has her own talents, which is making glass animals that enables magicians to communicate with each other with the spark of magic trapped within.

In Storm Glass, Opal and her mentor Master Magician Zitora were sent on a mission to investigate the truth behind the failing glass orbs created by the Stormdancer clan as these things, unable to contain the power of the storm, have been bursting and killing a few Stormdancers. She finds herself getting interested with one of the Stormdancers - Kade, but her very presence seems unbearable to him.

The starting is a little too slow according to my standards, but it is still tolerable as facts are thrown in time to time to reveal pieces of puzzle that will finally make up the whole story. The romance between Opal and Kade is not really clear and obvious. It is true that there is some attraction between those two, but Kade always shuts himself off to the world since the death of her sister. Ulrick, the son of a famous glass maker, on the other hand, is a protective bear - he clearly has some interest in Opal, but her mind is solely on Kade.

Storm Glass has all the usual elements present in Maria V. Snyder's books - suspense, intrigue, romance, betrayal, and the ingenious plot twists. Following the adventures of Opal Cowan, this book is a good start to the Glass series. Even though our heroine here is not as clever or multifaceted as our beloved Yelena from the Study series, I still admire her courage and strength. Opal has low self-esteem, she is a little slow (meaning not so clever) and she is indecisive in matters of love. (Not that we can blame her, given Kade's trademark I'm-not-interested-in-you-but actually-I-do actions. Sometimes even I feel like slapping some sense into him.) Opal is definitely a flawed person, but that is what makes her special.

Rating:

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Maria V. Snyder attended 12 years of catholic school before going to Penn State University to study Meteorology. Earning a Bachelors of Science degree in Meteorology, Maria discovered, much to her chagrin, that forecasting the weather wasn't one of her skills. She found employment in the environmental field as an air quality scientist, and it was during those years that she began writing. After writing many science fiction short stories, Maria started Poison Study, her first novel about a food taster.

Study .5 Books

I'm sure you know how much I loved Maria V. Snyder's Study series. I found some .5 books from the Study series a few days ago which are free for readers to read and browse. (These books are also available for free at Goodreads and Maria's website). I wanted to share this good news with Study lovers who haven't discovered these wonderful gems, so here you go:

Assassin Study (Study #1.5)

Download for iPad/iPhone (1.58 MB)
Download for NOOKcolor (993 KB)
Download for Literati/Kobo (610 KB)
Download as pdf. file (331 KB)

Power Study (Study, #3.5)
Download for all devices (41 KB)
Download as pdf. file (138 KB)

Ice Study (Study #3.6)
Download for iPad/iPhone (3.41 MB)
Download for NOOKcolor (1.96 MB)
Download for Literati/Kobo (1.18 MB)
Download as pdf. file (242 KB)

Book Review : Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder

"Living is a risk. 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 gt out of bed clutching illusions of safety."

Magic Study (Study #2) by Maria V. Snyder

Paperback, 443 pages

Published December 1st 2008 by Mira
Available at: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Synopsis

Yelena is on her way to be reunited with the family she'd been stolen from long ago. Although 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 magical training. 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 her new enemies.

Aik's Review

Things get more interesting in Magic Study as Yelena Zaltana returns to her homeland in search for her long-lost family. Her parents are happy and relieved to get her back, but her brother seems to be bitter and unwelcoming.

In this book, she encounters more troubles and embarks on more exciting adventures in an attempt to prove that she is not a spy from Ixia and also to capture an inhumane murderer who has killed eleven girls in his quest to gain strong, unbeatable magic power.

This is another one of Maria V. Snyder's books that I highly recommend. But make sure you read the first book before reading this one so that you have a better understanding of Yelena's journey.

Note: The author slightly mentioned about a rape scene and one about Yelena sleeping together with Valek, but there are no detailed descriptions.

Rating:

Read my review of Poison Study (Study #1) by Maria V. Snyder
Read my review of Fire Study (Study, #3) by Maria V. Snyder

About The Author

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Maria V. Snyder attended 12 years of catholic school before going to Penn State University to study Meteorology. Earning a Bachelors of Science degree in Meteorology, Maria discovered, much to her chagrin, that forecasting the weather wasn't one of her skills. She found employment in the environmental field as an air quality scientist, and it was during those years that she began writing. After writing many science fiction short stories, Maria started Poison Study, her first novel about a food taster.

Book Review : Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Poison Study (Study, #1) by Maria V. Snyder

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Mira; Original edition (December 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778327116
• ISBN-13: 978-0778327110
• Available on Amazon / Barnes & Noble

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....

I simply cannot express how much I love this masterpiece. Thrilling and suspenseful, this novel keeps readers guessing what will happen in the next chapter. It infuses me with anticipation and fear for the main character, Yelena, who seems to be facing a lot of trouble and perils, with herself at the center of them all. I prayed for her survival, and was curious how would she solve the problems.

Her handsome and strict mentor, Valek, is an assassin. Being a master of basic survival and combat, Valek possesses extraordinary wit and fighting skills. As the master-apprentice relationship between Yelena and Valek evolves into something more passionate, they also find out that one of the generals in the country is secretly planning a Coup d'état to overthrow the current leader of the country --- the Commander.

As the story goes on, secrets are unveiled and hidden pasts rediscovered. I'm in awe of the author's excellent storytelling skills and her creativity in weaving such a wonderful story filled with twists and turns. Trust me, you must read this book - it's awesome!

Pros: Everything about this book is good, I can't wait to read book 2!

Cons: None that I can think of.

Rating:

Read my review of Magic Study (Study #2) by Maria V. Snyder

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Maria V. Snyder attended 12 years of catholic school before going to Penn State University to study Meteorology. Earning a Bachelors of Science degree in Meteorology, Maria discovered, much to her chagrin, that forecasting the weather wasn't one of her skills. She found employment in the environmental field as an air quality scientist, and it was during those years that she began writing. After writing many science fiction short stories, Maria started Poison Study, her first novel about a food taster.

Achievements of note for Poison Study include:

• Won the 2006 Compton Crook Award for best debut novel from the Baltimore Science Fiction Society
• Won the 2006 Reader's Choice Award from the Salt Lake County Library System
• Won Cover Cafe's 2007 Cover Art Contest (Trade paperback edition)
• Won Paperback of the Year from the Wirral Schools in the United Kingdom (wirral-libraries.net)