Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder

Publication Date: December 1, 2008

Source: Local Bookstore

Format: Paperback

Rating: ★★★★★

Summary (from Goodreads): 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...

Favorite Quote: “’Living is a risk,’ I snapped at him. ‘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 get out of bed clutching illusions of safety.’”

What I Liked: This is my second re-through of the Study series and I’m enjoying them a lot more than I remember! I loved Ixia in Poison Study and now Sitia holds a place in my heart right beside it. Maria V. Snyder is so skilled at creating worlds and cultures that you forget that these places don’t really exist. The difference between governments and leadership in the two countries is fascinating. Both have their flaws and both have ways that they are better than the other.

She’s as sneaky as an assassin when it comes to placing villains into her work. Is this annoying person just someone that gets on Yelena’s nerves or will they turn out to be a great evil? Mogkan, from the first novel, started as a guard and died as so much more. Is Roze just hard on new, powerful students or is she a manipulative, evil bitch? Keep reading to find out!

Speaking of assassins, how about that Valek? I noticed, while reading other reviews that people were disappointed that Yelena tended to just use him for sex… But I think that it’s a very important matter. In Poison Study, Yelena is afraid of her body and what she can do with it, what has been done to it and how she’ll find her soul again. Now that she’s gained her confidence back, she knows she needs to let her sexual prowess shine after all the rape and pillage she’s been through in her life. Snyder tends to make the men she writes into sexual deviants, but she also makes Yelena’s sexuality known and mentions how important it is.

This novel is about finding yourself. Tying loose ends. Weaving your story (with the help of indigo painted men). It’s chock full of feminist ideals, intense imagery and really cool horses. What’s not to like?

What I didn’t Like: There are certain points in Snyder’s writing that she repeats words or phrases a little too much and it kind of breaks the suspension of disbelief just out of pure annoyance. Of course, this is her writing style and I have no quarrels with it… It just irks me for a bit but then I get right back to the story being told. Another thing I disliked was that Valek is only in the last half of the novel… Other than that the book was lovely, just as expected!

Why You Should Read It: This book is the perfect second installment to the wonderful Study series. If you like magic, horses, sword fights and really hot assassins, I suggest you pick this one up and give it a go.