Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder

 

Magic Study

Author: Maria V. Snyder

Pages [hardcover]: 392

Book 2 in the Study series!
Book 1: Poison Study

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

Favorite Characters: Valek, Ari, & Janco

First Thoughts: I LOVED the first book, Poison Study and couldn’t wait to get my hands on this second installment! Hopefully I’ll continue to love this series.

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….

Review:

 I love this book, as well as the first Study book, Poison Study. The characters are unique and memorable, the main character is strong-headed and unstoppable, and who doesn’t like a good book that involves magic?

This book focuses on Yelena honing her magic skills and understanding her limitations as well as discovering new talents. She’s as independent and free spirited as ever, choosing to take her own path when the one set before her isn’t what she had in mind. Though at times her decisions seem rash and irresponsible, she prevails over her obstacles and learns from her mistakes. She places everyone’s safety above her own, which I find admirable.

Yelena is such a great character, and I loved getting to know her even better in Magic Study. Setting out to find her family, she reacts naturally, with equal parts fear and excitement. And though everything could have gone cornily happily ever after, Maria V. Snyder throws plot twist after twist at the reader, leading me to jump to conclusions-and be proved wrong every time. I love the little guessing game, and read quickly because I wanted to know what was going to happen next.

Though the book concerned much moving around from place to place and discussing what to do next, it never lagged. Rather, it served to enhance the action aspects of the novel and give me a break before the next round of fighting.

Magic Study is an awesome book, though if you don’t read Poison Study first, you won’t know what’s happening! I give it 5/5 stars-the Study series continues to impress me!