Win a signed copy of Maria V. Snyder's upcoming novel Outside In.

There is a giveaway I'm very excited about going on over at My Bookish Ways. As you all know I have recently discovered Maria's Study series and have absolutely fallen in love with her writing. I plan to pick up her latest book, Inside Out, soon. This contest is to win a signed copy of the sequel to that book Outside In.

Go here to enter.

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

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.

What can I say about Magic Study that I didn't already say about Poison Study? I read many reviews in which readers claimed that Poison Study was the superior book and Magic Study fell short of their expectations, but for me that was not the case. This book was certainly different from its predecessor and had something different to offer but I found that refreshing. All of the old characters we fell in love with in Poison Study were back along with a cast of new characters who didn't disappoint. We are given a tree climbing mother, a bitter "king" without a throne, "talking" horses, a family of glass blowers, head magicians, etc. While Poison Study was a book primarily composed of "who can Yelena trust?" moments and endless intrigue Magic Study presented us with a story about family and a Hogwarts-esque magic school. In this sequel Yelena had all of her old friends (and her lover) from Ixia to support her. One of my favorite parts of the book was Yelena's ability to communicate with horses. I adored Kiki and Topaz and thought they added a necessary lightness to the book and to Yelena's otherwise complicated and dangerous life. I highly recommend this book and will continue on with the series. I've already got Fire Study, the third and final book in the series (not including its spin off series Glass that is), sitting in my to be read pile.

Rating: 5/5

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

Yelena, convicted of murdering the son of a powerful general, awaits execution. But with only a few hours left, she is offered an incredible reprieve — and agrees to become the new food taster for Commander Ambrose, the military leader of Ixia. Living in a palace and eating only the best meals is a dramatic change for Yelena, who spent the last year locked up in a rat-infested dungeon, eating gruel. But she soon realizes that she has more to worry about than ingesting potentially lethal poisons in the commander’s meals. The general whose son she murdered has vowed bloody vengeance, and everyone in the commander’s retinue look at Yelena as an untrustworthy criminal. The longer she stays alive, however, the more she begins to understand her own perplexing abilities — all of which will be put to the test when cunning rebels plot to take control of Ixia.

Poison Study is one of my new favorite reads and the start to what I expect to be a very original series. Yelena is one of the most refreshing female characters I’ve come across in a long time. She is as tough as Katniss from The Hunger Games, without being as annoying, and her struggles in her childhood have made her into a complex and completely relatable character. Yelena is entering her twenties and is a bit older than most heroines I am used to reading about lately, which is a good thing for me since I am twenty three and can’t relate as much to characters in their teens as I used to. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for a more adult fantasy novel. The leading male in this book is older, in his thirties, and reminds me a bit of Booth from the television show Bones. I think he is a man girls of any age will fall for. The supporting cast of characters is also wonderful; with the strong magician Irys and her fierce but well meaning attitude, and Ari and Janco and their playful yet protective manners. Another thing I liked about this book is that not all of the “bad guys” were completely “bad”. In the real world, it’s not so black and white, and I love that this book was willing to show that. The commander’s story also really touched me and I loved that Maria chose to go there with the story. Pick up this book, you will not regret it. I’ve already started book two!

Cover Art: 5/5

Characters: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Writing: 5/5

Overall Rating: 5/5