Fire Study (Study #3) by Maria V. Snyder

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): 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.

Book Review:
So unfortunately, the reviews were true, and this was the weakest book in the series. However, I completely satisfied with the ending of both the book and the trilogy. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have more books to read in this series, but Snyder did an excellent job of wrapping up loose ends and preparing the reader for The Glass series! While it's hard to pinpoint exactly why this book fell short, I believe it suffers from a hefty amount of action, and a lack of the "subtle notes in-between." This makes for a choppier overall storyline. Not to say that Snyder's writing itself is choppy. However, the plot was action, action, action. A little bit more dialog in-between would have made for a more fluid storyline, in my honest opinion. However, do not be deterred from reading this series! I still enjoyed this book. Yelena's list of supporting characters grows impressively in size with each installment. I loved the interactions between Yelena and the horses, which provides some comedic relief. Of course, I savored every scene with Valek. I have a series book crush on this guy! Looking forward to continuing on with the spin off series!

Favorite Quote:
“There's always another storm. It's the way the world works. Snowstorms, rainstorms, windstorms, sandstorms, and firestorms. Some are fierce and others are small. You have to deal with each one separately, but you need to keep an eye on whats brewing for tomorrow.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
Loooove these covers! This is the least we see Yelena out of all three covers. However, I do love the bold, vivid colors!

Rating: