I received this ARC from Publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder Published by MIRA on February 24th 2015
Pages: 416
Source: ARC from Publisher
Amazon-Indiebound
Goodreads
New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder wowed readers with Poison Study, the unforgettable story of poison taster Yelena. Now she's back with a new tale of intrigue.
Once, only her own life hung in the balance.
Oddly enough, 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...
My Thoughts:
Oh man. I cannot even tell you how excited I was to hear about this book. More Yelena and Valek?!? More Ixia and Sitia?!? Heck to the yes!
There is so much to love about this book. First and foremost, I adored being back in a fantasy world I love with characters I cannot get enough of! It was also really interesting to see these things years down the road! Much has changed for Yelena, Valek, and company. It was interesting to get a feel for where they all are now.
I also really enjoyed seeing how the characters and their worlds were changing. Yelena is not the same person she was at the beginning (or even the end!) of the Study series. She is an adult, at a point in her life where things are changing yet again. The same is true for those around her. I would have been disappointed if it had just been the same old, same old.
Speaking of changes… I am really interested in characters who were introduced in Shadow Study! Of course I have some theories and ideas about them but it’s all super spoilery… just like my thoughts about some of the new plot developments! I can’t even think of a way to begin talking about them!
While I enjoyed Shadow Study, I do think I rushed a bit to read this one. I was just so excited for more Yelena and Valek!!! I really wish I would have read the Glass series and the short stories first. You certainly don’t need to read them to enjoy this book… I could just tell I missed out on many events. I didn’t realize how closely tied the series were!
Overall, I really enjoyed Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder. The ending was a bit abrupt for me but I think that’s mostly because I didn’t want to leave the characters or the world! Fans of the Study series shouldn’t miss this one!
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