Review: Magic Study

Title: Magic Study

Author: Maria V. Snyder

Author's Website: http://www.mariavsnyder.com/

Series: Study, #2

Pages: 400

Goodreads Description: Yelena is a survivor. Kidnapped as a child, held prisoner as a teen, then released to act as a poison taster, she is now a student of magic. But these magic skills place her in imminent danger, and with an execution order on her head, she has no choice but to escape to Sitia, the land of her birth. But nothing in Sitia is familiar. As she struggles to understand where she belongs and how to control her powers, a rogue magician emerges and Yelena catches his eye. Suddenly she is embroiled in a situation not of her making. And once again her magical abilities will either save her life or be her downfall. 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 new-found 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. 

After reading Poison Study, I immediately picked up this book even though several people said it wasn't as good.  I'm not one to start a series and not finish it.  Plus I like to judge books for myself.  With that being said, the book was a little slow at the beginning.  However, once the book picked up I couldn't put it down.  I finished it in 2 days!  

Yelena's adventures and the dangers that follow her make for intense reading experience.  Along the way we learn more about her unique magic abilities.  The whole magical twist makes it even more fascinating!  The suspense is cleverly woven throughout the whole story and it never lets up, not even at the end.

I was thrilled to see that some of my favorite characters reappeared in this story.  Ari, Janco, and of course Valek have their own unique roles in the book.  Ari and Janco make an amazing team and are great for laughs.  Although Valek isn't in the book as much as the romance lover in me would like, he does add enough passion to the underlying love story.  

Along with the old characters, we are introduced to several captivating newcomers.  I was especially intrigued by Moon Man, Yelena's story weaver. His cryptic messages leave you constantly guessing what’s going to happen.  Only after the fact do you understand what he actually meant.

Overall, I thought that Magic Study was a wonderful follow up to Poison Study!  It is a must read if you enjoyed Poison Study!

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