Author: Maria V Snyder
Series: Study #2
Publication Date: October 1, 2006
Source: Purchased
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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...
This book was quite different from Poison Study. Yelena is in her home land and is attempting to learn to control her magic - the whole feel of the book is different from the first. Since the book takes place in Sitia, the world building from book 1 is essentially gone.
The plot didn't feel as riveting and I found myself shaking my head as the protagonist made foolish decisions. Yes, she was always true to her character by consistently being brave and caring for other, but she was quite foolish.
In this book we are introduced to a number of new characters. Unfortunately, I didn't really care for any of them. None of them felt as well developed to me as the characters in the first book. I also felt like Valek has changed a bit - I understand that his relationship with Yelena developed and so naturally the way he interacts with her would be different but he just seemed far too different to me.
It was an OK read and I'll continue the series simply because I purchased the bundle.
Too bad it didn't live up to the first one. That's so sad when it happens. But a lot of times the next book in the series will bring it back. I hope it does! I've heard so much about this author that I wanted to try it.
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