Book: Magic Study by Maria V Snyder

Rating: 5 Stars

Release Date: October 1, 2006

So far, I’ve managed to survive. You would think after being kidnapped as a child, imprisoned in my teens and released to become a poison taster, I would have endured enough. But no. The discovery of my magical abilities—powers forbidden in Ixia—has resulted in an execution order. My only chance is to flee to Sitia, my long-lost birthplace.

But Sitia is unfamiliar. I’m treated like an enemy—even by my own brother. Plus I can’t control my powers. I want to learn about my magic, but there isn’t time. A rogue magician has emerged and I’m targeted as his next victim.

Will my magical abilities save me…or be my downfall?

SPOILER ALERT: If you haven’t read the first book, Poison Study, read no further.

Shortly after being banished from Ixia for having magical powers, Yelena flees to Sitia, to return to her home and her familly. After being gone fourteen years and having no memory of her family, she is skeptical about what she may find. When she arrives at the home of the Zaltana clan, her fears were proven right.

The Zaltana clan lives high above the jungle floor, in a city built into the trees. All of the inhabitants look at her with fear; fear that she may be an Ixian spy sent to destroy their home. It turns out that Yelena’s own brother is behind the rumors of a spy and they seem to be taking root within the clan.

After spending only a short amount of time with her family, Yelena is summoned to the Citadel to begin her magic training with Irys. On the journey there the first of many attacks occurs. Cahil Ixia, the lost nephew of the former king of Ixia, is out for revenge against the Commander. Thinking that Yelena is a spy for Ixia, he kidnaps her and holds her hostage until reaching the keep. There, Yelena is introduced to the rest of the Master Magicians in a most unpleasant way.

As her time in the Citadel progresses, Yelena makes some new friends, catches up with some old, and makes many more enemies. Will she be able to defeat them all or will her luck finally run out?

Once again I am almost speechless about this book. It was just amazing. I can’t believe it took me this long to finally begin this trilogy. Poison Study was great but this book showed so much more of Yelena and really began to give you a clear understanding of how she got where she was in the first book.

You are introduced to some new characters in Magic Study, such as Yelena’s family and her new horse, Kiki. For a horse, Kiki is a surprisingly well-developed character. It was actually pretty funny to read about Yelena’s conversations with Kiki and the other horses in the book.

My only issue with this book was that you didn’t really get a clear background of what went on with the Zaltana family while Yelena was missing. Towards the end things begin to clear up but I would have loved a little more background about the relationships there. Leif, especially, had a very confusing relationship with Yelena in this story that only began to clear up towards the end.

Overall, Maria V Snyder has done it again. The stories just seem to be getting better and better. I cannot say enough good things about this trilogy so if you haven’t read it, read it. Then you can form your own opinions and tell me whether you agree with me or not.

Magic Study can be ordered here.

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