Book: Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: March 1, 2007
Summary:
Choose: A quick death and hell or slow poison and hell.
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.
Overall:
Yelena has finally found her escape from the hell she has been in for the past year. Instead of being hung for murder, she is now the food taster for the Commander of Ixia. Some might not think that is the greatest idea but for Yelena it finally gives her the hope that someday she might be free again.
Valek, the Commander’s master spy, is in charge of Yelena which means that he is in charge of helping her stay alive. At first, it seems like the only thing threatening Yelena’s life are the poisons she is supposed to be checking for but then strange messages begin to show up. At every turn, Yelena’s life seems to be threatened by a new person. And at every turn, Yelena seems to be growing closer to the people who are most threatening to her life and her heart.
Maria V. Snyder has created a whole new world in Poison Study. Ixia and Sitia are wonderful countries set in a whole dfiferent time period, with many different characters. There are magicians, spies, warriors, and commoners.
Yelena is a wonderfully developed character who grows more and more throughout the book. Her emotions and characteristics are so deep and visual. Everything that Yelena goes through, the reader goes through. She is just so easy to sypathize with.
Valek is also a fantastic character. As the book begins, you see nothing that you might like about him but as the book progresses, so do Valek’s good characteristics. He finally begins to show some emotions and some good traits that show why he is so important to the commander.
The whole story that is Poison Study is just too amazing for words. Poison Study marks the beginning of what promises to be a glorious new trilogy. Maria V Snyder has gone above and beyond in creating wonderful characters and stories that transport you to an alternate world. This trilogy shows promise to be an unforgettable, unputdownable new story.
Poison Study can be ordered here.
Similar books:
Storm Glass by Maria V Snyder
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Great review! I picked this one up at a used book store the other week but haven’t started it yet.
I just picked this up today. I can’t wait to read it.
Hey, have you seen the UK covers of these? They’re gorgeous.
::happy grin:: I remember when I first picked up Poison Study I was like ‘huh cool!’. I admit though I wasn’t on the Valek fan wagon to begin with. He was so…’like I care if you live or die i’ll just replace you’ in the beginning. dismissive. I felt so bad for Yelena then.
I love these books Yelena and Valek are great plus I think they are terrific names for the main protagonists .
Seahn
Loved, loved loved this book too! I’m so glad you enjoyed it too! I really need to read the rest of the series (finally bought all three).
Great review. The book sounds very unique and the names are awesome!
I read The Poisen Study Series in a month I loved it and i really like this Y.A cover their so greta Valek is my ficional husband !!!
I actually borrowed this from a friend like a month ago, but I haven’t gotten around to reading it yet. I’m definitely looking forward to it, though, once I find the time!
I’ve heard so much about this trilogy. I can’t wait to get my hands on it!
Your review makes me want to read Poison Study, it sounds really good.
I actually have this book! I’m waiting to get the next two before starting it 🙂
Fantastic review! I feel obligated to bump this book up the TBR. I like books with good character development, and your review makes it seem like Poison Study does indeed have well-developed characters. I look forward to reading more reviews from you. 🙂
I actually have this on my to read shelf but i just haven’t gotten around to it =) maybe it’ll be the next book i pick up after i read the host lol which has been on my shelf for like ever lol
What an intriguing book, thanks for the review!!!!
Very nice review! thanks!
I started reading this book but didn’t finish it, I prolly got distracted so now I really want to re-read it!
Great series. A friend of mine met Maria in Austin, and recommended these books. I could not put them down.
Pixie
LOVED poison study. It was so different than anything I’ve ever read. I’ve read a lot of books and never come across a story about a girl who is a food taster… can’t wait to read Maria’s other stuff.
I’ve gotten seriously 10 people to read this book, and they all loved it. It’s my favorite.
This is one of my favorite series! I love the relationship that Valek and Yelena has and I love watching them grow.
Great review!
Really enjoyed this one but loved Magic Study. Great review!
I have been really wanting to read this– everyone seems to be giving it pretty good reviews. Great review! 🙂
Great review! This sounds really interesting.
OMG! this sounds like my type of book! LOL now I have to read it! I’ll add it to my list.
I love love LOVE this trilogy, and Poison Study is definitely the best of the three. And I have to agree with you, Valek IS a fantastic character (and a yummy one lol). Nice review!
Kristin
This sounds like a book I’d really like. I can’t believe I’ve never heard of it before
OH I didn’t know it was a series. Cool. I already have this book on my TBR list. Thanks!