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:

Magic Study (Study #2) by Maria V. Snyder

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): 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 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.

Book Review:
Wow! I don't even know where to begin! My  head is still spinning. As I've read reviews on this series, it seems that most readers prefer Poison Study to the rest of the series. I must admit, I was a bit apprehensive going in to Magic Study. While, it did take me a wee bit longer to fully delve into the story, I was just as captivated with this sequel! I enjoyed seeing a softer side of Yelena. When first introduced to her in Poison Study, she has become hardened, just looking to survive. This time around, Yelena not only thrives, but has people who make her life worth living (Janco, Ari, Valek, Irys, her parents, etc...). While she is once again met with a hostile environment, I enjoyed watching Yelena grow and adapt. Introducing more magic into the story makes for a more complex plot, which I enjoyed. I've seen several reviews displeased with Yelena's newly developed ability to speak with horses, but I rather enjoyed this aspect. It gave the story some whimsy and humor. I don't think I'll ever look at an apple the same. ;) There is so much left unanswered, I hope that the final installment of the series will prove to be satisfying and entertaining, as I have developed high expectations of Snyder.

Favorite Quote:
“Living is a risk," I snapped at him. "Every decision, every interaction, every step, every time you get out of bed in the morning, you take a risk. To survive is to know you're taking that risk and to not get out of bed clutching illusions of safety.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
LOVE IT! The colors are vivid and the jungle background is the perfect rich and lush. We see more of Yelena this time around as well.

Rating:

Poison Study (Study #1) by Maria V. Snyder

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary 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 new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear...

Book Review:
Words can't even begin to describe how much I enjoyed this book! I have been meaning to read Snyder's work for a while. I actually started reading Storm Glass first, but found myself a little lost in the world building and characters. There were several references back to the Poison Study series, so I stopped reading Storm Glass, and started on Poison Study. What makes this book so successful is the main character Yelena. She is strong and feisty, while conscientious at the same time. This makes for a well-rounded character. My favorite scenes are those with Valek. They balance each other nicely. The plot provided one surprise after another. I remember thinking "I don't know how Yelena is going to survive this" quite often. Snyder did an excellent job on the world building. I was completely swept away to another place and time. Overall, this was a strong start to the series. I've already started on the sequel Magic Study.

Favorite Quote:
"Everyone makes choices in life. Some bad, some good. It's called living, and if you want to bow out, then go right ahead. But don't do it halfway."

Cover Art Commentary:
This book has many covers, but this is my favorite! Love the stairwell and Yelena disappearing around the corner!

Rating: