Book Review: Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder

Review: Magic Study

Series: Study Trilogy – Book 2

Author: Maria V. Snyder

No. Of Pages: 390

Release Date: 1 September 2009

YOU KNOW YOUR LIFE IS COMPLICATED WHEN YOU MISS YOUR DAYS AS A POISON TASTER...

With her greatest enemy dead, and on her way to be united with the family she’s been stolen from long ago, Yelena should be pleased. But although she has gained her freedom, she once again finds herself alone – separated from her lover Valek and suspected as a spy for her reluctance to conform to Sitian ways.

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 embroiled in 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 her new enemies...

My Thoughts:

We are thrown straight back into the thick of it with the second instalment to this trilogy. Magic Study picks up right where Poison Study left off.

Once again Yelena demonstrates strength and wisdom beyond her years, this time adventuring home, to a family who thought she was dead. Everyone in her family welcomes her with opening arms, all except her brother.

You know there is some genuine sibling love when it isn’t hard for them to say “I hate you” to each other. And the banter that ensues reminds me of my own brothers.

Sitia is everything Ixia is not, it’s relaxed, in a way, and is vibrant with magic and colour and people who are in touch with nature. Sitia is a place that I would want to live, but I would want the Ixians to live there with me. The Sitians are not welcoming because of Yelena’s background. They also don’t like the fact that she is a murderer, even though it was her captor that she murdered.

I love Yelena’s huge family though and I especially love the part when they tell her stories, especially the ones about the evil Valek, thorn in Sitia's side. Yeah, Yelena definitely picked the right man to bring home to her family; I couldn’t wait for the introduction. Unfortunately it doesn’t come until much later.

I also loved the fact that out of habit she would unconsciously test her food for poisons, which doesn’t look very good when your mother cooks you a meal.

Yelena then moves on to the Citadel, where the magicians train there we meet a score of new characters including Kiki the horse, who is very funny and in my opinion makes the story with her constant quest for apples and mints.

In Magic Study, we also meet Moon Man who is Yelena’s story weaver, like a guardian of the soul. I love Moon Man, he’s cryptic and antagonistic and very funny with the way he just leaves Yelena hanging when she is so close. He is there to help her find the answers herself, not give them to her and she doesn’t like it.

Cahil, the would be king of Ixia, is also introduced. Cahil is annoying at times, but at others he is a complete gentlemen. He is constantly popping up at the Citadel where Yelena is training in her magic. Cahil is a little crazy and it shows at times, the funniest being during the trial.

The trial is probably my favourite part of the whole book, not because Yelena is being accused of being a spy but because Valek somehow eludes capture yet again. And when Cahil tries to pull the beard off a man whom he thinks is Valek, it is quite hilarious.

Magic Study is of the same calibre as Poison Study it sucks you in and won’t let go until you find the answers to the questions posed.

Others in this series:
Poison Study
Fire Study

Others who reviewed this:
Holes in my Brain