Magic Study

Great for Y.A series about a woman coming into her own powers. If you like tamora pierce you will like Maria v. Snyder A little less depth then Tamora pierce books but still really good

I love Poison Study, and since I was so excited to continue reading about Yelena, I ordered Magic Study and Fire Study in one go. Let me tell you...the beginning of Magic Study was great, I was still excited to read on to the next chapter but after that, it just want downhill. Many scenes happened where one should be stressed and anxious for the characters but...I could care less!! Repetitive, boring, and predictable. No other series made me go from liking the main character to absolutely hating her and finding her annoying beyond all else in just 3 books. If you loved Poison Study, leave it at that and don't continue the rest of the series...

Poison Study, book one in the adventures of Yelena's precarious and often dangerous life, introduced a heroine worth giving more than a second look at. Put through hell and back, she refused to let abuse and foul black magic to take her life as a child. As a young woman, she conquered the challenges of becoming the poison taster for the ruler of Ixia and managed to secure the heart of its most dangerous assassin. Through many tests, Yelena has already walked, but there's one left that she's only dreamed of and it may prove the most difficult for her to overcome yet. Fourteen years have passed since Yelena was taken from her family, kidnapped from the southern country of Sitia. As those possessing magic are put to death in Ixia, Yelena must take herself, along with her newly budding powers, to the only place left for someone such as her. The first challenge of her once again new start at life? Her family. When she meets up with them again, it's a culture shock for both parties. Determined to rekindle something of her past though, Yelena gives it her all with the large Zaltana clan. Treachery is never far from home though, and soon she's having to watch her back around a close family member. Even in the capital city, where Yelena travels to learn how to control her magic, she can't gain a moments respite from danger. There, she become embroiled in the machinations of a would-be king, the treachery of an evil magician and the stigma of a power so great, others fear the very mention of one who wields it. Looked upon with suspicion wherever she goes, Yelena must once again fight for a place in a society that has no place for her. True to her nature, she makes a place for herself, and soon is hot on the trail of the evil magician as well as her constantly unfolding destiny. Yelena's first person voice leads the reader straight and true throughout the twists and turns she encounters. This is the type of story, the kind of adventure, where nothing slows down, nothing stops till the end. From her boisterous and unique family, to the stringent atmosphere of the Citadel, where Yelena begins her magic study, I was entranced by every word, hungry to know as much about Yelena's past and abilities as she was. The addition of an Ixian delegation and with it, Yelena's assassin lover, Valek, only heightens the strenuousness and level of difficulty for her. Magic Study, like its predecessor, is a book uncluttered by unnecessary elements. Every character mentioned counts. Every action holds weight. I wanted to yank Yelena back a few times and rail at her to accept the help of her friends (besides Valek), and in this the frustrations some characters in the book have with her are completely understandable. But too, Yelena's had no one to depend on but herself for years, and no chance to adjust to all the new developments in her life before the next comes hurtling at her. She is still by this book's end very much growing into her own skin. The twist to this installme

I loved POISON STUDY but I was unwilling to pay for a hardback when MAGIC STUDY came out. Now however, I am pre-ordering FIRE STUDY. This is a fabulous tale and I can hardly wait for the next one. The trade paperback is now out for MAGIC STUDY and I encourage you to get it now. Yelena is very leery about going home and meeting her family, she has no memories of them and tho she longs for a family her heart belongs to Valek. Imagine her surprise to find a mother and father who love her and a brother who doesn't. Yelena is still unsettled by her magic and doesn't know what her special magic is. But maybe all the trauma and torture and adversity have honed her talent and she will be surprised where it may lead. Valek is the Commander's Chief of Security, a master assassin and poisoner. The Commander is ruler of Ixia. I love Valek's confidence and the love he has for Yelena, if you haven't read POISON STUDY, you really need to find and read that book also. Although he is hated in Sitia, the country of Yelena's birth, he is willing to take chances to see his beloved. Valek is a null and magic doesn't affect him but somehow Yelena does and only she seems to be able to breech his non-magic. Lief is Yelena's brother and senses the blood she has spilled. He is determined to hate her and seems to betray her at the first oppertunity. Yelena will be taught by Irys, the fourth Master magician. She has much to learn about trust and using her abilities. There is a serial killer, a master magician, stalking young girls and when he turns his eyes on Yelena all bets are off. Yelena is no fifteen yr old, and she has friends who will stand by her. The world of MAGIC STUDY expands and opens up to marvels and wonders Yelena has never seen. I found it a diverse and wonderful journey and I know you will love it as much as I did. Well worth the time and money and I am sorry I didn't get it earlier.

"Poison Study", the first novel published by Maria Snyder, was excellent. It followed the fortunes (or misfortunes) of Yelena, a prisoner about to be executed who is given a chance to live a little longer by being the food tester for the Commander, the leader of Ixia. Yelena is trained by the assassin Valek to taste different poisons but it isn't only death by poison that she faces - her latent magical skills are beginning to break through and magic is outlawed in Ixia. When saving the life of the Commander by defeating a magician Yelena shows that she has magical talent and the Commander has to write an order for her execution, so Yelena decides to travel to Sitia, apparently her birthplace and home of magicians, to learn her trade, leaving her lover Valek behind. "Magic Study" starts when Yelena, having travelled through Sitia for a couple of months with Irys and the rescued girls and having been taught magical skills on the way, approaches her home. She has no memories of the Zaltana people but they remember her and her welcome is generally good - apart from that of her brother Leif. She has to travel to the magicians Citadel with Leif but on the way they are ambushed and Yelena's life is once again pulled into danger. It's hard for her to know who to trust and how to stay safe in an unfamiliar place but she once again is able to assemble some friends around her, even four-legged ones. The polarisation between Sitia and Ixia is very well written - each side views the other with suspicion and Valek's reputation in Sitia is mud. Yelena has to keep quiet about their partnership and yet she has grown up a lot in this series of books and is able to look deeper into the morals and deeds of those around her. In "Poison Study" Yelena was a slightly fearful character whose main method of self-preservation was to run away; in "Magic Study" she has grown in confidence in stature and in fact now her reaction tends to be to barge in, magical guns blazing. It's a welcome development in her character, that we see her able to stand on her own two feet as she slowly unravels the extent of her powers. She faces a great deal of opposition from an evil magician and even from the heir to the throne of Ixia who becomes her friend and yet she throws herself into protecting those weaker than her, even at risk to herself. For those (like me) who liked Valek in the last book - and I know not every reader has found him a suitable hero - he features again in this book. This time, however, he allows Yelena to find her way as she is growing into her skills and power; his assassin and spying abilities seem somewhat magical again and yet he is not always able to protect Yelena and she has to rely on herself. This book contains some good writing as their relationship settles into something more of equals than the teacher-and-student of the first book. For those who enjoyed "Poison Study", "Magic Study" is definitely worth reading. It's as good, has the same great writing

Usually the second book in a series is more studious and/or laid back. The author takes the time to give background that you may have missed out on in the first. He/she explains the what-ifs and whys that were not explained in the first. With Magic Study, it's like a brand new book-another beginning. A first kiss for the second time. This is one that will definitely please. Yelena is in a whole new world. One that she was born to but remembers nothing about. The story begins with Irys dropping her and the other lost children off at their family's homes. Yelena discovers her family lives in the trees (sort of appropriate). Right off, she is welcomed with open arms from her parents, and she is shocked by it until her father shows her a sketch book (I'll let you discover that--it was pretty cool), but her brother, Leif, seems to hold nothing but hatred for her. Regardless, she attempts to make amends and discover the cause of his animosity. Unfortunately, her time with her family is cut short when Leif is called to the city and he being the one who was to take her, she has to go along with him. On the road they are kidnapped and she is accused as a spy. She's basically mind-rapped at the city and is asked to help in solving serial killer that has been attacking young girls. Believe it or not, this all happens within the first few chapters. This story rocks. If your worried about not hearing from you favorite characters from the first book in the series, you won't be disappointed. Valek, Janco, and Ari do put in an appearence, but not until the later half. Luckily, it becomes obvious at the end that there will definitely be more in this series. I'm looking forward to it.

I read many many many books a month. I read mostly fantasy. And while I enjoy the books I read, I can put them down. Both books by this author kept me up late at night, unable to put the book down. This is a rarity for me. I started this book last night at 9:30, intending to read only a few pages before going to bed. 2 hours and 250 pages later, I stopped, but only because my eyes were so tired that I couldn't read anymore. I finished the book during my lunch hour. I couldn't wait til I got home after work. I just love her world and the characters! And will be anxiously awaiting Fire Study.