Review: Touch of Power - Maria V.Snyder

Series: Healer #1
Genre: YA fantasy
Pages: 394
Published: Dec 20, 2011
Publisher: Mira
Source: Netgalley

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Fifteen Realms, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life….

My thoughts:

I liked Poison Study, though not the two books that followed. But then I heard that this one was good and I wanted to give it a go. And it was a good, YA fantasy where everything is nice and sweet, even if there is war and death around. 

I liked the idea of a bad bad plague sweeping through the land, killing most people and now people are struggling to survive while a few leaders are trying to conquer and bring peace in their own way. And I also liked that healers have been killed to extinction, to not get me wrong, it is awful. But it sure brings drama to the book. 

And the heroine Avry, is one of those healers and she is running for her life. I must say that the more I learnt about healers the more I thought their job seriously sucked. I have no idea how she did it. 

Out merry bang of soldiers then, they were a good cast. And of course I knew at once who would become a love interest even though it took a long time. 

Now on to the negative things. Honestly, how is this woman still alive?! She was sarcastic, snarky and bitchy towards the wrong people. She should have been lying in a puddle of blood, every bone in her body broken. How am I am supposed to take the baddies seriously when they let her get away with things like that? And then there was the baddy who stole kisses from her, oh please, he is a baddie, you all know what would happen. But this is YA, and that is what I meant at the beginning that everything is so sweet and nice. Then some bad things are thrown in and am I supposed to be shocked? No way, I was still waiting for someone to beat the crap out of Avry. 

And the baddies then. Yeah, was I supposed to think that Tohon was evil? Sure he was. But Estrid persecuted people cos of religious views and kidnapped people. And the king that Kerrick wants her to save is just as bad as the rest of them. I can't like him them. Either be bad, or not. And I liked Tohon, actually the best of all the characters in this book. 

The world is also different, so very medieval, and then not. Suddenly modern things are thrown in. It works because of the way they are used. I guess some people there just hide technology better. Or, I do not know.

Conclusion:

In the end this was a good book, even if a bit too nice, considering events. There was no major cliffie and I do want to know what happens to this world.

Cover:

it works

Review: Fire Study - Maria V Snyder

Fire Study by Maria V Snyder

The Study series 3

Genre: YA fantasy
Pages: 448
Published: 2008

The apprenticeship is over— now the real test has begun.

When word that Yelena is a Soulfinder—able to capture and release souls—spreads like wildfire, people grow uneasy. Already Yelena's unusual abilities and past have set her apart. As the Council debates Yelena's fate, she receives a disturbing message: a plot is rising against her homeland, led by a murderous sorcerer she has defeated before.

Honor sets Yelena on a path that will test the limits of her skills, and the hope of reuniting with her beloved spurs her onward. Her journey is fraught with allies, enemies, lovers and would-be assassins, each of questionable loyalty. Yelena will have but one chance to prove herself—and save the land she holds dear. 

I am sorry to say that I did not enjoy this last book. It took a week to read it because I just could not read long enough each time. Nothing kept me wanting more.

The first book was excellent, the second wasn't excellent but it was still great and I could not put it down. This one was ok, and I could easily put it down. It was rather dull at times and for a book named Fire it did not have the same fire and essence like the first two. I really thought I had found an amazing series, but considering book 1 she could have done better.

Yelena has lost her fire and not she is only a Mary Sue. People love her, or they hate her. Nothing in between. She is always in trouble. And even people who are enemies become friends because they both parties love her, oh very well.

The book has so much promise. Wicked magicians who steal powers and kill people. A forbidden lovestory that just drifts away and there is no danger or anything forbidden there. Everyone just accepts that she loves the scourge of all magicians. But it does not evolve and bring that darkness to this one. It's so light and easy to read even if there are massacres and more. Too light really.

Here wicked magicians wants to rule Sithia and Ixia and gain power. She wants to stop them, so she has to feel the country, and honestly I did finish it today but i am already starting to forget what happened. It does not stay with me.

Also the ending, yes good in a way and an ending, but at the same time not and I felt we were left hanging there.

I hate saying these things, but frankly it could have been done like book 1 and made into pure excellence, but sadly it was not.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Still a lovely cover, a bit hard to see though. But it goes well with the theme.

Why I read it: My own book

Final Thoughts: 3. I am afraid that in the future I will just read book 1 and 2.

Review: Magic Study - Maria V Snyder

Magic Study by Maria V Snyder

The Study series, book 2

Genre: YA fantasy
Published: 2006
Pages: 448

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 .  

 

 

 I did like this book, perhaps not as much as book 1 but that is often the case. It was a great start to a series. This one is a bit lighter in its tone, and even if it deals with some dark things it feels more YA and safe. Let's see if I can get some darkness in book 3.

Here Yelena is back in her birth land, and she remembers nothing. She finds her family in the jungle and soon she is too leave and go with Irys to the Academy of magic. Here she is to learn about her powers. But she soon finds herself in trouble. Her brother hates her, and everyone else sees her as a spy from Ixia. She really does not have any friends, but she does have a way of finding her way anyway.

 

She does have a way of making enemies and friends, oh my now I really see what Aarti from Booklust meant. Well I shall not mention it any more, but she does have a good point.

The romance was a bit lacking here, and I did find one thing strange. In the last book she and Valek discovered they loved each other. It went pretty quickly, bit too quick. And here when they finally met again he kept calling her love, and she never did say anything. Bah, who am I not to believe in sudden love and soul mates. Good for them. She sure needs a strong man and that she got. He needs a good woman who can keep him on his toes. And she does get into a lot of trouble.

I got to meet some favs from the first book and some new favs, like her horse. Trust me, it's a good horse.

This book deals with magic, finding yourself, and fighting for what you think is right. She finally gets a real family, but I do wonder. More things are to come, more problems with her magic and especially with her lover. All of Sitia hates Valek since he kills everyone with magic in Ixia. That part I have a problem with too, how can these parts get a nice ending? I guess she will go back to Ixia with him, not that I am too fond of Ixia either. I don't like the military dictatorship they have over there, and Snyder seems to be preferring it cos Sithia has beggars and Ixia has not.

But it was a good book, I could not stop reading and it was an easy and light read. I liked it a lot. Snyder creates good characters and worlds.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: There are many different ones but this cover series is my fav. They are beautiful, and this one really shows the second book for was it is about.

Reason for Reading: My own Book.

Final Thoughts: 4 and with a recommendation for reading this series.

Review: Poison Study - Maria V Snyder

Poison Study by Maria V.Snyder

Genre: YA fantasy
Published: 2005
Pages: 440

About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered a reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace, and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia. And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust, and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison. 

As Yelena tries to escape her dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and she develops magical powers she can't control. Her life’s at stake again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren’t so clear.

Oh I loved this book. It is already on my keeper shelf. Why did I not read this one before, and why did I not buy the rest at once when I started reading this one. As it is now, 2 weeks for more. How will I make it?

First up, it's YA, well I have read adult fantasy with less violence, and with a younger hero/heroine. So in the end, sure ok YA, but this one can be read by all. Especially when considering her torture flashbacks, and the rape.

Yelena has been in a filthy dungeon for a year, then she is brought up for her execution. As a murdered she is given a chance. Death or become the Commanders food-taster. With a slime chance of survival she chooses the latter, and the Commanders right hand man Valek introduces her to the world of poison. But first he poisons her so she has to stay at the castle. That chance for escape is fading away, and the family of the man she liked wants revenge.

I really liked Yelena, she had a strength that even years of torture and darkness in a prison cell could not take away from her. She had doubts, and was human. She also discovers a secret about herself, magic, and that is outlawed and will get her killed for sure. Then there is the other person in this book, Valek, mysterious, dark and he had me at once. Even when he poisoned her. Because he sees through her, even when everyone else calls her murderer and would rather spit at her.

This is true fantasy with intrigues and magic. There is a hint of romance, and I do prefer the real fantasy so that works fine with me. I can live on that little hope of love and feel for them, because I love to read about magic, war and political intrigues, that is what fantasy is all about. And of course I wonder if we will be given a HEA in the third book. I sure hope so, after the dust has settled, she has found her power, and life, then I do want her to have love too.

Snyder has created an interesting world, I always like a world I would want to live in or not. as it is now, I would not like Ixia. It's so strict, everyone wears the color of the profession they have and it's hard to travel between cities. Everyone has to be accounted for and no one can just take off. In the south there is Sithia, where magic flows, and they seem exotic, but would I want to live there, I don't know yet. But I appreciate her work and the political system she has built.

There is also darkness, the glimpses of the horrible things she has suffered through and the doubts she has and ghosts she has from her past. There is also the uncertainty of her future, but she is strong and determined to built a future for herself.

A lovely world, intrigues, magic, power and some great characters makes this book a keeper for me. The style is easy and flows. I kept turning the page to see what happens next, and it's a sure recommendation for fantasy fans. But if you do want that romance, well perhaps in later books. If you want pure fantasy this is teh book for you, and I did find myself enthralled by her storytelling.

So now I am waiting to get my hands on book 2 to find out more about Yelena, and Valek of course. On a sidenote, I love this cover, it was attracted me to the book in the first place. Too bad I then got the green cover with her face on it- But hey don't judge a book by it's cover (even if this one delivered when it was great.)