Poison Study (Soulfinders Book 1)

Snyder's writing style is fluid and at times almost lyrical--colorful, vivid descriptions abound and I felt as if I could have been right there in Ixia. The story was nothing short of brilliant--one of just a few truly original (at least, to me) books I've read lately. (That list includes The Hunger Games and Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely books.) Poison Study had me hooked from the beginning and I had a hard time putting this one down--let's just say it's a good thing there's not much going on at work these days, because it gave me time to sneak in a lot of pages today.

Aside from the writing, even better are the characters--I think it is probably safe to say that for most of us, characters (along with the plot) can make or break the book. Yelena has gone through unimaginable horror in her young life and her past still haunts her, yet she overcomes it all to become an incredibly strong young woman. She makes friends who help her to become that woman, in Valek, Ari and Janco. Also intriguing is the magical Irys from Sithia. And of course, there are some really abominable, evil troublemakers that we all love to hate... I always love for people to get their comeuppance! And yes, there's a romance that develops, but I won't give any spoilers away--suffice it to say that it made the story that much better.

I will definitely be ordering the other two books in this series: Magic Study and Fire Study. Even though Poison Study did have a fairly tidy ending as far as the conflict was concerned, I am anxious to read more of Yelena's story.

I really loved this book. I thought the premise was great - when the king's food taster dies (which happens regularly, for obvious reasons) the next person scheduled to be executed is offered the opportunity to take his/her place. When the heroine, Yelena, is offered the job she says that only a fool wouldn't accept, and that she is no fool.

The state of Ixia reminded me an awful lot of Plato's Republic - in many ways fair and just, in others tyrranical and joyless. Yelena has a job that requires spending a lot of time around very important people, including the head of state, the Commander, and his head security advisor...but because of her position, as a pardoned criminal and relative nobody, she is treated with little respect and a great deal of mistrust.

Not only that, she's a sort of dead man walking - she samples a lot of poison so that she can recognize it in the Commander's meals; if that doesn't kill her, it's only a matter of time before somebody actually trying to kill the Commander does.

There's a lot to like about Poison Study. The way the plot is structured, it's more like peeling the layers off an onion than going from point A to point B. Yelena, and the reader, find out more and more about what's going on around her - the characters involved, the intrigues at play - and each new revelation changes the whole landscape, makes you see everything that's happened in a new way. You think you understand what's going on, and then you find out that you didn't, that it's something entirely different.

I really admired the way that Snyder introduced new characters - by the end, there are a lot of people running around but each individual appears gradually, and they're never hard to keep track of.

I liked Yelena, who has suffered through a lot of abuse and only grown stronger for it. Although she's relatively powerless, she uses what power she does have intelligently; and although the atmosphere of the book is very dark, Yelena still manages to make friends and appreciate what beauty and happiness does come her way.

I can't wait for the sequel.

I loved this book. I used an audible credit on it on a whim. I liked the cover and the description seemed interesting. This book was definitely worth the credit.

I love Yelena. She changes so so much throughout the book. I really liked how all of her actions and choices were in accord with her background and everything she survived.

Valek is also an important character. He is an interesting fellow, mysterious. I often found his interactions with Yelena entertaining. He is the head of security. She is a confessed murderer and the food taster.

I don’t know how to explain how much I loved this book. Yelena is great and totally made the book.

This review first appeared at CatholicAmanda.com.

I finished listening to The Poison Study by Maria Snyder. It's a fantasy put out by Luna (Harlequin). Although the romance is light in this, it was a very enjoyable book -- so much so that I was listening to it at work on my iPod, which is amazingly hard to do and write at the same time :) However, she's created a fantasy world that is both interesting, but not so terribly different that you're thrown out of the story too often trying to figure out what a term is.

The book is about Yelena, an orphan scheduled to be executed in Ixia for the murder of a general's son. but as luck would have it, the commander's food taster has recently died and the law of the country states that the next person to be executed can have the job. Yelena accepts the position, and is trained by Valek, the chief of security and spymaster, very loyal to the commander. Yelena catches on quickly, but unfortunately, there's a number of people who want her blood. The story paces quickly as Yelena tries to stay one step ahead of all the assassins, even as a strange magic power begins to blossom within her. Magic, btw, is forbidden in Ixia and punishable by execution.

The story started out feeling a bit like young adult fantasy, but then quickly escalated. I especially enjoyed the narrator and heroine, Yelena. She's strong and intelligent, and very practical, though with enough of a woman's heart that she didn't seem cold. I was reminded a bit of Mercedes Lackey's Arrows of the Queen trilogy, without quite so much of the magic. The atmosphere is that of something similar to our Italian Renaissance with a communist rule. I especially enjoyed how the commander's regime was seen in shades of grey and not black and white.

Since this is a Luna book, the romance was not center stage, and really only starts falling into place near the end. But the buildup to it was lovely, particularly since it's in first person and we're watching it completely from Yelena's point of view. And I admit, I'm a sucker for a teacher/tutor romance :)

This is a wonderful debut novel for Maria Snyder. I look forward to the next installment.

At the beginning of POISON STUDY, the debut novel by Maria V. Snyder, Yelena finds herself faced with a choice: Be hanged for killing the man who raped and tortured her for years, or become the food taster for Commander Ambrose, the leader of Ixia, and risk death with every meal. Yelena, thinking she will have the opportunity to escape, chooses a life endangered by yet-unknown poisons. But then Valek, chief of security for the Commander and Yelena's "poison study" teacher, slips a deadly poison called Butterfly's Dust into her tea--and the only way Yelena will be saved from a slow, agonizing death is by taking an antidote every morning...an antidote only Valek has access to. So, even though she is no longer confined in a dank dungeon cell, Yelena still finds herself trapped.

Over the following months, however, Yelena begins to settle into life in the Commander's castle. With the small measure of freedom she is given, she makes friends in the unlikeliest of people, and she becomes closer to Valek, who is finally beginning to trust her--and to care for her more deeply than he should. But there is one person who isn't happy with Yelena's continued presence in the castle: General Brazell, the father of the man Yelena killed. Brazell is determined to see Yelena dead for her crime. He is also determined to become the ruler of Ixia, and he will stop at nothing to attain his goals. The one thing that can save Yelena--and Ixia--is the thing that could also condemn her: her ability to use magic, which is punishable by death in the province.

POISON STUDY was a pleasant surprise for me. I don't know what I was expecting--I don't normally read books of this type and only found out about this one because my mom recommended it. But I found myself totally immersed in the world Snyder has created, and the pages just flew by. The writing itself isn't anything particularly special, but the story is fast-paced and thrilling, and the characters are surprisingly well-nuanced and engaging. The world Snyder has created is intriguing--familiar and foreign at the same time--and politics, romance, and suspense are balanced nicely in the plot. Snyder's captivating characters and imaginative world show a lot of potential; I'll definitely look forward to the continuation of Yelena's adventures in Snyder's new novel this fall. This is how escapist fiction should be done!

(A fantasy fiction)

Next in line for the hangman's noose, Yelena is offered a reprieve to her death sentence. She can become the Commander's food taster--if she passes the initial poison test. The drawback is that a poison has already been introduced to her body. If she doesn't receive the antidote every morning, she will be dead by nightfall. Yelena agrees, but not everyone is happy that she will live. In fact more than one person seeks her demise.

Poison Study is an intricate tale full of well-defined characters and a fast-paced plot that keeps the reader captivated to the very end. Orphaned at an early age, Yelena's plight will have you cheering for her as you delve into the mystery of what happened to make her murder her benefactor's son. Her budding romance will make you smile.

Rich in detail, Maria Snyder's mythical world comes alive. The political intrigue and deceit among the various leaders adds to the story. Yelena is left wondering who she can trust and why she is at such risk. When she begins to develop magical abilities, Yelena is at more risk, since magic has been outlawed by the Commander and all who have those talents are to be executed. Valek, the man in charge of Yelena and whom she is coming to care for, is also the commander's executioner of magicians.

This is a book to enjoy. From the first page to the last I was enthralled with this tale. I loved Yelena and her friends. I highly recommend Poison Study.

Armchair Interview says: A magical journey full of adventure and excitement.

I have read a LOT of mediocre or bad books lately, and I was worried that this was going to be yet another one.

Boy, was I pleasantly surprised! This book is awesomely good!

A strong and intelligent heroine, an intriguing cast of characters who have real depths to them, and a fascinating world where you are never entirely sure what is good or bad or what side you should barrack for. And the plot moves along at a heck of a pace, never letting you get bored, but never rushing through things too fast either. Also, though there is a delicious hint of romance, it never overpowers the story or becomes its only focus...it is more like a subtle hint of spice in a delicious and satisfying meal of many and complex flavours.

If the author of this book is reading this review, I would just like to say, THANKYOU, and well done! You have given me back my faith in books, which I temporarily lost after the last ten or so I read were really sub-standard. I am in awe of your talent. Oh, and that was a nice touch when you called the substance 'Theobroma'...a definite allusion to theobromide in chocolate!

I can hardly wait to read the sequels to 'Poison Study' (which are of course called 'Magic Study' and 'Fire Study', in case anyone is wondering). I hope they are as good and impossible to put down as this one. Though with my newly restored faith, I am sure they will be.

I highly recommend the "Study" series to anyone who likes a smart read with great character development and doesn't mind the absence of elves, ogres, and magic swords.

The world Maria created in the Study series is unlike any I've seen in a Fantasy series and her detailed descriptions of each place made it easy for me to immerse myself in the worlds she created. From the deep damp basements of her jail and palace where she was forced to be the "poison taster" for the king to the village surrounding the palace. Each scene was vividly painted in words and delightful to imagine. I also valued that she developed the characters so well. Yelena was a delight, strong and yet vulnerable at the same time. And never pitiful. Valek was perfect and I found myself wondering about his motivations from the first dialogue with Yelena. The author did not have to tell you what what happened or what each character thought - it is easily gained by the dialogue between the characters and how their mannerisms were described. This is not easily done by an author and many choose to have inferior dialouge and simply "sum up" what happened. I think that is what I enjoyed most about her writing.

As an avid reader, I don't find many books that I enjoy in this genre. This is a shining example of fantasy adventure at its best. I found it completely refreshing to follow Yelena's journey. It is a story of a girl who finds herself in a highly problematic circumstance and how she uses her wit and skills to overcome and discover herself and her destiny.

And of course, with a little magic.

This book is great, there's magic but there's also this huge country that is totally against these magicians. I love how after all she's been through, though you don't learn about it till a ways in, that she can still love and trust someone. Of course, it still takes her about forever to do that. I do like that though Valek, the one that said he'd be testing her continually, you only read him doing that a few times. Also, why would there only be one poison tester for the Commander, not one and a understudy (or whatever you like to call them). What makes me wonder, is that Yelena has been a magician for about a while and yet it takes that long for her to be found, and then the one who finds her just lets her go? That's a bit a likely if you're an untrained magician and you work alongside the Commander and you have no alliance to the magicians country. Even though I had a few questions this was still a good book, and I look forward to your next book.

If you find anything lacking or something should be left out, please leave a comment, so I can do better next time.

I've heard so much about this book and have had it in my to-read pile forever. What I found out was this was one of those books for me that after you read it, you berate yourself for putting it off for so long. I absolutely loved it! Yelena is an awesome lead. Throughout the entire book she is unassuming and humble, yet she has an inner strength that is matched by few. Through the course of the story she is able to prove to the people who matter, those close to her, her worth as a person and an ally. All of the characters were well developed and easy to fall in love with, or hate if that was the intent. I really look forward to reading more about them.

The author's writing style was fabulous. I love the world she created for her story; my only wish is we would have gotten more of it. What we got was an introduction/overview of the different areas but no real explanation. It worked for the story; it is just my personal preference to have more background.

I'm not sorry I bought this book. That said, it's not one that I will read again.

The thing that really prevented me from loving the novel is that I just couldn't buy into the characters - they didn't feel very real to me. Everyone's motivations seemed a little two-dimensional, even the main characters, which is kind of disappointing since it is told in first person. Normally, being trapped behind someone's eyes gives you a good sense of how the world FEELS to them, but I found Yelena kind of unbelievable. For someone with her background, she falls in love WAY too easily. And one little incident really rang false for me - when its suggested that her family background is obviously from the south, and she claims never to have really considered it before. Come on, she's an orphan. Just about the number one orphan fantasy is dreaming about your "real" family and wondering who they are, where they're from, etc. Especially when the life around you is miserable.

I did enjoy the fact that the incredibly totalitarian dictatorship in which she lived happened to be portrayed in a mixed but generally positive light - it made me feel a little confused about who were supposed to be the "bad guys," but then even the worst of people are kind to cats, or secretly feed baby birds, or write Christmas cards to their aged grandparents. It was a nice little touch of "the world isn't black or white." I just wish the touch had been more deftly applied to the characters.

Great hard to put down read. I read it almost in one sitting and then immediately started on the next book. The world and storyline were highly original. I liked the main character and supporting cast. There was a lot of intrigue, suspense, action, adventure and violence. There was also a touch of romance.

The book had a quotation from Publishers Weekly, "This is one of those rare books that will keep readers dreaming long after they've read it." I found I agree with that sentiment; I kept thinking of the characters even after putting the book down. Will defintely be one that I reread.

Only negative -- I would have liked more development of the relationship between Yelena and Valek. It seemed a bit superficial. They jumped from an adversarial role to all of a sudden being in love without showing enough interaction and thoughts to make it totally believable.

One word of warning, torture and rape were covered in the book...not too graphic though.

I noticed that the publisher introduced new covers. I like the new style covers versus the old ones. The old ones Yelena were interesting but she looked to young. The story didn't feel that young. The new covers are more suited for the story and are beautifully done.

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder was a wonderful surprise to me as a reader. The blurb I read about it implied that it was a medieval mystery, so when I read the back of the book and found that it was a fantasy book with some romance, I almost sent it back to the library. I'm so glad I didn't! Yelena has been sentenced to death for the murder of a general's son. The day of her hanging she's given the opportunity for a reprieve: become the food taster for the Commander and live until possibly being poisoned by one of his enemies. Yelena is no fool; she takes the position and falls under the command of Valek, the Commander's right hand man and assassin. Yelena tastes and smells poisons to learn their properties so she can detect them in food and drink. Before she's even had a chance to assume her duties, she's caught up in the political intrigue of the castle and hunted by men working for the father of the man she murdered. There are so many layers and subplots to this story, it's impossible to address them all. I'm not a big fan of fantasy novels, but Snyder made a believable world full of fascinating characters and back story. Yelena is tough and unwilling to give up, but she has to learn to trust herself and others, especially Valek. The book is full of twists and turns and wonderful characters. For the first few days after finishing it, I found myself missing them and the world of Ixia. To me, that's the sign of a great read!

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.

Yelena, you see, has been chosen to be the Commander's new food taster. And the Commander has so very many enemies. As does Yelena...

Poison Study is the first in a trio of novels by Maria Snyder, telling the story of Yelena. Set in a fantasy kingdom which has recently been taken over in a puritanical military dictatorship which reminded me of Cromwell's England. Yelena's crime, the murder of one of the sons of the military officers, is not easily forgiven by the grieving father. In addition, that father has plans of his own for the future of Ixia. And what of the strange abilities that Yelena is slowly starting to manifest?

Poison Study is definitely a character driven book, focusing on the motivations, character, and growth of Yelena. As such, Snyder creates a complex, three dimensional protagonists with strengths, flaws, hopes and dreams that grows and changes throughout the novel. There are hints of some interesting world building going on here, too.

Its a solid, good novel, and I look forward to reading the remainder of the series.

I'm not a big romance reader, but this book came with good recommendations, so I gave the first a try. I was amazed. I appreciate books that keep me guessing, and this one was so unpredictable that even near the end I wasn't sure how it was going to come out. The romance was very slow to develop and very subtle, not the main part of the plot at all -- in fact, I'd hestate to categorize it as a romance novel. If I owned a bookstore, I'd shelve this with other fantasy novels.

In Poison Study, a young woman named Yelena, imprisoned for murder (of a guy who frankly deserved it) is plucked from her dungeon cell and given the choice of being hanged or becoming the Commander's new food taster. The Commander is the dictator of the country of Ixia. His right-hand-man is an assasin who murdered the former King of Ixia, and who is assigned to train Yelena, training that starts out with feeding her poisons so that she can learn to recognize them. Nice work, if you survive it. But it seems that the family of the twerp Yelena killed is still after her -- but they want something bigger than revenge. And if that's not enough, a magician from the southern land of Sitia wants to kill her, and the strange sensation she calls her "survival instinct" just might be incipient wild magic, which is so illegal in Ixia that she could be put to death for having it -- by the very man who is training her as a food taster An assassin as a boss, two parties wanting her dead, and the threat that her own "survival instinct" might destroy her -- what's a girl to do?

Yelena has a choice. She can either taste the Commander's food for poison before each meal, or be executed for her crime of killing a general's son. Thus, she chooses to the food taster. But things aren't so simple as the Commander's chief of security, Yalek, has poisoned her, and only by showing up for her daily antidote will she live. Adding to her complications, Yelena begins to develop magical powers and rebels try to control Ixia.

I read this book mostly because of all the buzz around it. When I started it, I was like "okay, nothing special", but then when I went to go eat dinner, I found that I didn't want to put the book down. As I read more and more of the novel, it sunk its hooks in deeper and deeper.

I loved it. It was a refreshingly original fantasy with good characters and a solid plot. It remained absorbing without resorting to gimmicks. Yelena was a good heroine. She wasn't whiny and had her own mind.

I also liked how the book wasn't revolved around romance. It was there, but subtly.

Just because I have so little to say about the book, shows how much I liked it. Usually I have a list of complaints.

Anyway, I'm anxiously waiting to read the sequel!

After having scads of friends tell me "You must read this book", I finally did just that. Having had a few hours to kill, I curled up in a chair. I only had one big problem with that. I was so glued to my seat that after I'd finished, I had to do some stretches to get the kinks out of my muscles. I read it pretty much in about one big sitting.

The book follows Yalena, a young girl who has been placed in prison for murdering the son of one of the kingdom's important people. On the morning of her hanging, she is given the option to become the new poison taster for the king rather than go immediately to her death. Choosing to live, Yalena goes to the castle & learns the art of poison detection under the tutelage of the broody Valek. Once there, she finds that even as she initially mistrusts him, she is also drawn to her tutor.

I loved this book. I loved the descriptions as well as the characters. I didn't immediately see the chemistry between Yalena & Varek, but I will say that when I eventually caught on I did see how they made a good match. The only thing I would say needed work is that at times Yalena seemed a bit like Wonder Woman, always making the right steps & almost never stumbling. I enjoyed the book so much though, that I was willing to forgive this one flaw.

I'm not going to launch into a recap of the story - pick any review on here to figure out what the book is about.

Having just come from the gritty and ultramodern world of Lillith Saintcrow's Dante Valentine series, it took me a while to get into the swing of things with Poison Study.

I'm going to agree with the people who say the prose is clumsy - something just doesn't sit right when you read it. I'm also going to agree with those who find the occasional modern term or piece of lingo jarring against this uniform, supposedly dreary world.

But you know what? I still couldn't put it down. It *is* a casual read - you can go from chapter to chapter, put the book down and pick it up later without feeling like you've dropped a critical piece from memory. You can blast through the whole thing in one or two sittings too, without having to slow down and let things absorb into your brain.

Yelena and Valek were very well fleshed out I found - I actually gave a damn about their relationship. The world was not - very one dimensional world.

Despite this, despite it's flaws, take it for what it was - a debut novel - light and fluffy romance, set in a passable, enjoyable fantasy world.

The biggest problem with this book was the lack of copy editing. There were a lot of punctuation errors, but more irritating was the fact the wooden staff used in martial arts is spelled "bo", not "bow" like on a birthday gift. That aside, it was a pretty decent story, though fairly predictable. Things came too easily for Yelena, our trusty food taster turned warrior magician. Any time she needs something, there it is, whether accidentally provided by her friends or simply discovered without much effort.

One thing I did sort of like was the ambiguity of the Commander. Was he a bad guy? A good guy? Or possessing the qualities of both?

The kids in the high school book club I sponsor chose this book to read. They finished it much faster than I did and we've ordered the next book in the series. I wasn't blown away by this one, but I never reached a point where I dreaded picking it up again, so I'll read MAGIC STUDY and see how that one goes.

I almost didn't buy this book. What a loss that would have been! Yelena is scheduled for execution for murdering General Brazell's son, Reyad. However, the Code of Behavior in the Territory of Ixia allows for the next individual to be executed to assume the role of food taster for Commander Ambrose whenever the current food taster dies. Yelena is in luck as the latest food taster has died and Valek spares her life and begins training her for her new role. Needless to say, General Brazell is furious over Yelena's continued existence and several attempts are made on her life. Meanwhile, Yelena is also attacked by the magician Irys, whom she eventually realizes is on her side as Yelena is also a magician, albeit untrained and unaware of her ability until informed by Irys. Yelena is befriended by Janico and Ari who begin teaching her fighting skills. Yelena develops from a weak woman whose first instinct is to run and hide into a fighter willing to stand for what she believes in. Yelena, Irys, Valek, Janco, and Ari band together to fight against a magician using General Brazell in an attempt to overtake Commander Ambrose. This is the first in a series and also the first novel by Maria Snyder. Her character development was exceptional and the underlying intrigues and plot twists kept me fascinated throughout the novel. I am eagerly looking forward to the next installment.

Right or wrong, deserved or not, you're sentenced to hang for the murder of a king's heir. For over a year, you're forced to live in a dank dungeon and be subject to the cruelty and boorish ways of the guards. Never any privacy or even a glimpse of sunlight.. no fresh air. You eat at their leisure, your body craves movement and the lack of that with malnourishment take their toll. Suddenly, you're called from your cell, and instead of the hanging you've begun to long for as a means to an end for your miserable life, you're offered a job. Tasting the food of the King, to ensure he isn't poisoned.
This is the way the story of Yelena begins. From the beginning, this story.. this author's style.. had me completely drawn in. One of those reads that you can't put down, for fear if you abandon the character something dire will happen to them. The plot will change, if you take your eyes from the text for too long. This work has action, some minor adventure, and an underlying romance that takes an achingly long time to fully bloom.
I am certainly looking into more by this author. Her style and ease of writing believable and easy-to-relate to characters leaves a craving for more, and also leaves the reader with a sense of fulfillment in having a clear end to each story.

"Poison Study" is a story of Yelena, a murderer, who after a year in a filthy dungeon, is offered an opportunity to choose either a quick execution or a daily fear to be killed by a poison during her duties as a food taster.

I do not normally read fantasy. For me this genre is forever associated with Tolkien and "Lord of the Rings," and I am not really too keen on books about magic, goblins, etc. However this book pleasantly surprised me. It wasn't quite what I expected it to be. You'd think what can possibly be interesting about daily life of a food taster? And yet the story was captivating. I found Yelena's journey to recover from her dark past very compelling, the romance also didn't disappoint, the fantasy world was very well structured, the intrigue was well, intriguing, and even the magic component interested me a lot.

I am definitely going to check out the rest of the trilogy, even though according to most reviews, books 2 and 3 are not as good as the 1st one. Not sure why this book is marketed to YA though. While there are no graphic sex scenes, the subject matter is the kind you don't normally see in books written for teens. Plus, there are no teenagers in the book either. The main characters are in their 20s and 30s.

I have had my eye on this book for quite some time. Everytime I go to Border's I see it, but I already have my hands full and say next time instead of just grabbing it. So I saw it the other day and I said, alright it's time you need to read this book now, so I bought it. Well, it was definitely amazing. I have been looking for books that grab my attention from the get go and this one did. It's so interesting and unique. A couple of things reminded me of The Hunger Games though the books are nothing alike, but this one came out three years prior to THG so its still very unique in my mind. I love the main lead Yelena. She's had a rough time, and it's like everything that comes her way is terrible, even the semi-good things. And I love Valek. He's spytacular(get it, he's a spy..), the best of the best, gorgerous and mysterious. How can you not love him???
It seemed like everytime I thought I had something figured out I was getting caught by surprise! I found myself saying stuff outloud like "NO WAY!" or "HE CAN'T DO THAT!" Yes, that would be my voice raised... heh lol.. I can't believe I didn't buy Magic Study at the same time because now it's one of the few things I want to read. Luckily I have one thing to hold me over(thank god you're here The Iron King) but once that's over it's to the store for me, and i'm buying both Magic Study and Fire Study.. I'm not playing any games with this one! One super awesome plus side of waiting so long to read it is the books are all out, which means no waiting months to find out what happens next! With that said, I think you all know how I feel. Snyder weaves an adventurous tale full of action, suspense, romance, sabatage and more. And while it obviously has some paranormal magic going on, it's not overpowering at all. This is going into my all time favorites shelf... once they get organized that is!

What are you waiting for go read this series!!

Yelena has committed murder, a crime punishable by death in the land of Ixia. But she's offered a chance to delay her inevitable death by stepping up as the new food taster for the Commander.

Yelena must now answer to Valek, the Commander's head of Security, a man with a troubled past who has more than a few tricks up his sleeve. As part of her new position, Yelena is poisoned with Butterfly's Dust and must return every morning for the anecdote, lest she try to escape.

The castle is full of secrets and Yelena continuously finds herself in the center of conflict, while simultaneously developing feelings for Valek.

POISON STUDY is a well-crafted book with several layers. Just as you start to peel back one layer of a character or a plot point, another layer is introduced/developed. Not all "layers" come as a surprise and I particularly disliked the use of a ghost plot device, but overall it is a solid read.

Rating: Three and a half wings.

I love this book and have re-read it many times. Maria V. Snyder did an excellent in describing the life in which Yelena lives in. The whole process of studying poisons was very interesting. I loved Yelena's character, and although I wished I learned more about Valek, I loved his character too.

Me being me, I wished there was more romance, that there was more tension between the two. Here's the one thing that really bothered me (see spoiler alert)

** Warning - Spoiler Alert **

When Yelena and Valek are imprisioned and Yelena spends the night very sick, with cramps and vomiting, with only a bucket of water to try and clean her self up, she and Valek "do it" after he confesses that he loves her. But really, she's been spending the night vomiting and now she's kissing him and more? Sorry, that was hard for me to believe. But I guess it's rather minor.

Overall, this is an awesome book!

In this fantasy world, people don't choose to be the poison tester for the Commander, the military ruler who overthrew a tyrannical king, but they don't have much choice. Yelena is taken out of the prison cell she has been in for about a year, and given two choices; hang for murder, or learn the poison trade.

Choosing the latter, she is taken in by the Poison Master, Valek, who feeds her a deadly poison called Butterfly's Dust to keep her from running away. In order to keep her life she needs a daily dose of the antidote, and the only one who can make that antidote is Valek.

Despite this bitter matter, Yelena finds herself fitting neatly into the role of poison taster. She is talented in recognizing poisons, and she's intelligent; despite her job, she could actually enjoy herself here even while she plans escapes.

However, it can't be all fun and games. An important man wants her dead for the murder she committed, and he will stop at almost nothing to have her killed. Yelena is under the protection of the Commander, but it may not be enough to keep her safe.

Dive into this tale of fantasy, mystery, romance, and intrigue to find out how Yelena stays on her toes, and watch as her past is unveiled bit by bit to reveal her secrets... and others.

I loved this book! I work at a book store and we get advanced copies in to review. I wasn't expecting much since it was a first time author but it intruiged me. Once I started reading, I read it all the way through in one sitting! It was great!! I gave it to my sister to read, who is rather picky about what books she thinks are good, and she loved it too!!

I am a fan of different genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Action, Adventure, and some Romance. As some have said, this book encompasses multiple genres and does it very well!!

One person said that the romance was a little unbelievable as it came from nowhere. I dissagree! Valek and Yelena grow from mistrust and suspicion to grudging respect, to trust, attraction, and almost friendship, to love. I thought it was very believable! It wasn't love so much for the background information they knew, but what they had learned and knew about each other's character and person! It isn't like the typical romance novel at all, which I liked! They often seem the same after a while!

As the story line and plot progresses, you learn new twists and turns that recolors the previously given story. I have already read it twice and loved it even more the second time! I think this will be a book I could read over again at least once a year and not get tired of it! I really can't wait for the sequal! Come on October!!

In this, the first of at least two books, we are intriduced to Yelena, an orphan raised by General Brazell. The story begins with her in a dungeon awaiting execution for the murder of General Brazell's son. At the last minute, she is offered a deal by Valek, the right-hand man of the Commander. She can escape execution if she agrees to become the food taster for the Commander, the man who overthrew the King, and is a frequent target of poisoners. Brazell, who is subordinate only to the Commander, demands that her death sentence be carried out and continues to plot her demise. In addition, to prevent her escape, Valek poisons her and forces her to return daily for the antidote.

While dealing with all of these things, Yelena must learn who can be trusted and who is a threat. Is the moody Valek a friend, an assassin or what? We watch Yelena stuggle to overcome the events that placed her in the dungeon and move on to face new challenges.

I could not put this book down. It is a 'light' fantasy. There are magicians and castles, but readers who do not commonly read fantasy will not be put off by it. The real strengths of this book are the characters, who develop well throughtout the book and the fast-moving story itself.

A great read. I love discovering books like this!

This is the type of book that you read just for the sake of having fun. There isn't any baggage or serious food for thought here, so if you're looking for a mental work-out, look elsewhere. But for those who want to delve into an intense world with some fascinating main characters, stop now and buy this book.

The premise is promising: Yelena, about to hang for murder, is given one last chance at life when she is offered the choice of becoming the food taster to Ixia's Commander. She begins her lessons on poison with Valek, the Commander's right-hand man, amidst a sea of political intrigue, magic, and very real danger.

This book is amazing in that it does just what it is supposed to do; it grips you, from start to finish. I found myself wanting to do nothing but read, clamoring for the chance to settle down and finish the next page - no, maybe the next chapter - or no, just 50 more pages! That was how it affected me, and I loved every moment of it.

But then again, POISON STUDY does have its pitfalls. While the story itself is a wonderful breath of fresh air, there is nothing stunning in the prose, and it does lapse into cliche every now and then. But it's the type of cliche that leaves you smiling to yourself at the silliness and fun of it.

The other problem is its ending. A book like this will always have a tough time wrapping itself up, because the best part of it is the journey it takes the reader on. But the ending still left me with a faint sense of disappointment. It just doesn't match up to the excitement of the rest of the novel.

I'm still eager, however, to begin on the sequel MAGIC STUDY, and I strongly recommend this new and promising author's work.

For a fun read and a promising new author, pick up POISON STUDY.

I almost didn't pick it up because it is from the Luna imprint. Their books have been real hit and miss for me. I'm glad I got it because it turned out to be one of the nicest reading surprises I've had this year.

Book revolves around a young women who was due to hang for murder who has her sentence commuted so she can become the food taster for the Commander, the military ruler who overthrew her country's corrupt royal family and set up a utopian, highly socially regimented, dictatorship. She gets pulled into political intrigue on several layers and has to worry about the powerful family of the man she killed, her developing, illegal, magical power and her growing feelings for her boss the Commander's spymaster and assassin.

The book is written like a straight historical novel, not a fantasy, and although there is magic in the book it is not integral to the plot. That, and unique, almost socialist, culture that Snyder creates make Poison Study stand out from the huge mounds of blood and thunder, sword and sorcery, pseudo medieval, epic quest fantasy novels out there. The texture of the book is more like a well done Romance novel than standard Fantasy or SF, and that may turn some people off which is too bad because it is an enjoyable story.

I like honesty, trustworthiness, loyalty and this book is the antithesis of what I like. I've gone out of my way to avoid a spoiler for those who choose to read this book. This book also has so many areas that leave you scratching your head. Is this girl 12, 18 or 30? Because at times her world view is that of a child while at other times she has the experience and view of a much older woman. This young woman routinely performs physical feats that are well beyond what she should be capable of from the story we've been told. Some of the concepts we're supposed to swallow are laughable when you really think it through (Valek's hidden secret? No way is hiding that possible in the world and environment the author has created). If you insist on reading the book, borrow it so you don't waste your money.

First off, I would like to make a rebuttal to those one star reviewers. The villains in this novel is not evil for the sake of being evil. They're evil because they wanted power and reign over Ixia and Sitia. They're evil because they had ambitions to rule. They're not evil for nothing. Furthermore, I don't know where that one reviewer got the harlequin part. This novel or series is NOT a harlequin type novel, it has more intelligence and plot than trashy harlequin novels. The romance in this novel is kept to a acceptable amount because Ms. Snyder was focusing on more character development and other aspects that make this novel an interesting read.

I enjoyed this book because you see a gradual change and growth in the main character, Yelena. I did not think her romance with Valek was stapled on at the last minute. Yes, Valek revealed his love for her at the near end but there's a gradual process of Valek being more kind and soft on her, while Yelena learning to trust Valek and eventually having feelings for him, which herself did not know. I liked her interactions with Ari and Janco, they're two friends I would like to make. Whatever happened to Maren is what I'm curious about. She did not appear much towards the end after Yelena became a stronger fighter.

Valek - He maybe described as a cold, ruthless assassin and expert on poisons. But He also has a tragic history and reasons for why he became the man he is. However, he's not as heartless as his cold and indifferent exterior makes him out to be. when I read this book, I didn't envision SNAPES from Harry Potter at all. I imagined a cold, smart, mysterious, handsome guy who you could not completely understand. He wore a multifaced mask, where if you do not know or understand him, you would misunderstand his actions and intentions. But if you really take a step back and look at him at all angles, you'll see that under that cold, stone face exterior, he IS STILL human...that can still bleed and feel pain.

The only minuses about the novel is how often Snyder blends an ancient setting with references to modernish culture. Perhaps it is how I read it and imagined Ixia as a more ancient place and when Snyder comes in and includes dialogues that sounds a bit to 21st century it takes away the illusion of an ancient setting. Stuff like "Stop or she'll die" "I took the manacles and handcuffed him to the post" instead of I took a rope and tied him to the post. Maybe this infusion of modern culture was the author's intention? It does get on my nerve since I imagined it differently, but overall the interesting characters balanced it all out. I am looking forward to the sequels and hope that the ever blooming romance of Yelena and Valek will continue.

I had no complains on the shortage of romance in this novel because it is only the beginning. With all the secret battles over the rule of Ixia and what not, and with people plotting to murder other people, the slowly budding romance was appropriate without excess.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who appreciates an author who has skill in ending each chapter with suspense and making it quite a page-turner. Snyder writes with lucidity and conciseness. I definitely read the sequels.

There is never a dull moment with Yelena the poisoned food taster. The main character of the story, Yelena hasn't had the best life. Orphaned as a child and brought to Brazell's manor only to become a lab experiment. When she kills Brazell's son she is sent away to be sentenced to hang. That is when Yelena's life changes. She becomes the food taster in exchange for her life. Yelena must face many obstacles as a food taster. At any moment she could be poisoned by the food she tastes, Brazell is after her for killing her son, and her food taster instructed Valek could kill her any time with one of his tests.

Always finding herself back up against the wall she tries to fight for her life. Yelena may have made some enemies but she has made some friends as well that try to help her fight through.

It was a great book, I didn't want to stop reading. Never a dull moment, always something new about to happen. Some great small twists that kept the novel interesting. I can't wait to read the next in the series Magic Study. I hope to see some of the old characters in this novel as well.

There were a lot of very original things in this book -- the slightly brave-new-world-esque set up of an otherwise typical medieval fantasy setting, a betrayal that I did NOT see coming (rare!), a surprise about the king, and the heroine's career as a poison taste tester were all things I am not used to seeing in this genre of teen fantasy, which I'm very familiar with. The writing was strong and engaging, and the characters were on the whole complex and multifaceted. I loved watching Yalena's character develop from avoidant and passive into a strong, confident, powerful young woman, and her relationship with Valek was well paced, well developed and a pleasure to watch build.

With that being said, it must be acknowledged that there were some common tropes in the novel: the orphan with unexplained mysterious powers, the evil for the sake of being evil villains, the main character being a little too good at everything (I had no issue with her fighting skills, which we saw develop, but her woodsman skills were something we had no reason to expect her to have and yet she's able to completely lose a crack team of trackers?), the mysterious, powerful magician who appears just when most needed, and a few other things. HOWEVER...I love all those tropes, haha. This was a riveting, magical adventure story and I could not put it down. The writing was well-developed enough to carry a few moments of suspension of disbelief, and there were plenty of surprises along the way. It was far from a formulaic, paint-by-number teen fantasy, and as a voracious reader of the genre, I can very confidently recommend this novel.

Note -- there are some rather graphic violent moments. I would recommend for older teens.

Condemned to die for murdering the man who tortured and raped her, Yelena is offered a reprieve--of sorts. Instead of being executed, she's to be the new food-taster for the Commander of the nation of Ixia. Considering the track record of previous tasters, the difference between being executed and being a taster is a matter of time, but Yelena grabs what time she can. Escape is not an option--unless she gets a daily antidote to a poison she's already gotten, she'll die a horrible death. Together with spymaster Valek, Yelena uncovers hints that a conspiracy against Ixia's commander is under way--but she can't reveal too much. If Valek learns that Yelena is also one of the forbidden magicians, the magicians who ruled Ixia until overthrown in the Commander's revolution, her execution will be back on schedule.

The longer she spends with Valek, the more Yelena is forced to confront the fact that she's falling in love with him.

Fortunately, Yelena soon makes friends, including a group of soldiers who teach her self-defense and bo-work (bo is misspelled bow throughout the text, but we'll credit this to an editor, not to brown-belt author Maria V. Snyder). Together with her growing magical talent, Yelena becomes a threat to Ixia's enemies--who move to eliminate her before she learns too much.

With the strong relationship between Valek and Yelana, POISON STUDY certainly reads like a romance to me, so I'm classifying it in this category. Fans of light fantasy (along the Andre Norton later Witch World book lines) may also want to check this one out.

POISON STUDY is an engaging story and a welcome first novel. I would have liked to see a bit more by way of plot twists, and I thought that Snyder didn't always manage the balance between romance and fantasy very well (e.g., the scene where Yelena envisioned Valek's uniform pooled around his ankles seemed out of place to me), but the world-building and the martial arts felt authentic and added to the enjoyment. Yelana is an interesting character, with the mysterious Valek the book's real hero.

This review contains spoilers for not only this book, but both its sequels. I initially wrote up the review as one blog post, and have no good way to break it up now.
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Poison Study begins well- a self-admitted murderer (Yelena) is saved from the hangman's noose by the opportunity to become food taster to her country's controversial new(ish) leader, the Commander. The world as it is described is a harsh one- every citizen must wear a uniform denoting their rank, home, and profession, they must apply for permission from the Generals to move or marry. Every aspect of life is strictly regimented and deviation of any kind is harshly punished. The way in which the author described the Commander's takeover and the demise of the monarchy, it seemed well set-up for a plot in which the remaining royalty is returned to power and freedom is restored to Ixia's people.

Except... not. I guess people like being oppressed? As it is, even the woman who is sentenced to death and tasting for poison is completely loyal to the Commander and thinks that his rule is peachy keen.

Then there's the Commander's right-hand-man... Valek is an assassin, a spy, underhanded and a brilliant tactician. It's Valek who offers Yelena the chance to become the food taster, and Valek who feeds Yelena a long-lasting poison that she needs the antidote for every day to prevent her from running away with all her poison knowledge. He begins as a compelling character, and his amorality combined with his complete devotion to the Commander made me very interested to see how his character would be used in the story.

Well... except that he turns out to have had a troubled youth, and he's really a great guy, and Yelena thaws his heart and he learns to love for the first time. Let me clarify- he learns to love Yelena. I quote, "You've slipped under my skin, invaded my blood, and seized my heart," and, "You have poisoned me, [Yelena:]." Poor Valek went from badass to smarmy over the course of about fifty pages.

There are other supporting characters, of course, all designed to show off Mary Sue Yelena to best advantage. The soldiers who didn't like her at first teach her how to use a bo staff (which is infuriatingly and confusingly spelled "bow" through the entire series) and a switchblade, and become so fond of her that they call themselves her brothers. Every single person who hates Yelena turns out to be a bad guy (if they merely dislike her, they'll come around). No exceptions. Also, Yelena is an amazing acrobat, who is the best food taster they've ever had, becomes an expert fighter in only a couple months, and the murder turns out to have been in self defense, but all those other people she killed? It's So Totes Okay, because they were most certainly bad guys.

So Poison Study was ridiculous, but I enjoyed it- mostly because there was some interesting court drama in the first half, before it deteriorated.

Magic Study... eesh. This was where the anachronistic language really picked up steam. The book is set in a quasi-medieval fantasy world, and yet phrases like, "we threw him a curveball," and "a boss to die for," were regularly thrown around. As difficult as it was to get into the story, those sentences pulled me right out... and into a pleasant little rant.

As it turned out, Yelena is also a super-powerful magician! With a very rare talent! Everyone is afraid of her Awesome Power, but the good guys love her anyway. Those darn bad guys, though... they hate her all along. Also, her deep and meaningful relationship with Valek has been put on hold, because magicians are executed in Ixia, so she had to leave and go train back where her real family was from- because she had been kidnapped as a child. That's why she's so speshul, yanno. But then Valek comes to visit, and rather than having the deep heart-to-heart talks that Yelena claims to miss so much, they just boink like bunnies. Every time they see each other. There is no conversation, no relationship. (As it turns out, I found out later that the novels, while always shelved in Sci-Fi/Fantasy, are actually an imprint of Harlequin's.)

So, yeah. As the story goes on, insignificant things happen, Yelena discovers that she's even more powerful than before, and stops the bad guys. The girl seriously has nothing she can't do, but at the end of Magic Study there are still a few things where people are better than she is.

That changes at the beginning of Fire Study (Study, Book 3). They're following a bad guy through a jungle with someone who knows the jungle backwards and forwards and a master tracker? They can't find the people. Only Yelena can. She can fight anything. She can find anything. Her magic is SUPER-AMAAAAAAAAZING. I got a hundred pages in and gave up, after guessing how the ending would go. The Commander's mother was a mage, and her death traumatized him so much that he subconsciously hates all magicians. Yelena insightfully helps the Commander realize this, and her order of execution is repealed. Valek is immune to magic because he's a magician! Yelena saves the day through her awesome magic, and the leader of the magicians (who hated Yelena) turns out to have been the bad guy all along. Yelena's brother, who felt responsible for not stopping her kidnapping gets over everything because Yelena is so wonderful, and they all lived happily ever after.

Mary Sues can be done well. This was not. She just kept getting more and more and more nauseatingly good at everything she touched that I wanted to punch her in the face.

Oh, did I mention that she can talk to horses and no one else in the world can?

Awaiting execution for murder, Yelena is given the choice of dying tomorrow or a life

After committing murder, Yelena is given the choice of death by execution or a life of constant risk as the Commander's food taster.

Yelena decides to choose the risky life, because at least she'll be alive, but she quickly finds there is little chance for escape as she must daily receive the antidote to a slow acting poison that the Commander's spy master (and her food tasting teacher) gave her as her first lesson. Without the antidote, she'll die painfully in a few days.

Now Yelena must deal with the ghost of the man she killed, battle foreign magicians, gain control of her illegal magic, not fall in love with the enemy, and stay alive to keep fighting the next day.

This was my first all nighter book of the new year. I'd been putting off Poison Study despite hearing wonderful things, intending to read it once all three books were out, because there's nothing I hate more than having to wait after a cliff hanger. And I was right to wait, as each book ends with Yelena starting her next adventure. Even now, the third book is out, but it seems difficult to find (I think they are rereleasing it in a new paperback edition, since the other two books just came out as such), and I had to order a copy on the store. Thus, to fill the few days until I get the third one (yes, I had to get it on 2 day, instead of waiting till free shipping got around to getting it to me), by writing this review.

Snyder does a wonderful job of blending characters and plot with world building and magic creation, so I can clearly picture the world and society, yet never felt like I was lectured to. So many magic heavy books need to spend pages explaining the world to the character, and while there were a few spots where Yelena had to learn what the reader and she didn't know, the spots flowed so smoothly between the story, I barely noticed.

If I had one complaint, it's that I felt like Snyder didn't really describe the characters. We heard some distinguishing traits, hair color or eye color, but not much to really tell me what they looked like. In fact, I thought that one of the main characters (Valek) was old when he first showed up, like in his 50s, cause all the descriptions she gave matched more the wise old man than young (30s) handsome love interest. And part of that could be that I don't always pick up subtle descriptions, but the character's narration voice just made it hard for me to be sure what things looked like, unless it was something she really spent a lot of time describing, because most of the time it was just a trait or two.

Read in depth review at Bookwyrm Chrysalis - [...]

Over the past twenty years or so, I've rarely found a new author that interested me. I've tried reading various books and usually end up never finishing them. A coworker brought in "Poison Study" for another coworker to read, and the book sat on their desk for a number of days without them reading it. So I picked it up and was immediately drawn into the book. I devoured it and the entire series, and everything else that Maria V. Snyder has written. I am eagerly awaiting anything else she may write. If anyone else is looking for an author with a similar style, I would suggest the Throne of Glass by series by Sarah J. Maas. Another excellent series that I couldn't put down. I'm now looking for more female authors with a strong female lead character. I've found a few good ones, but am reading so much now that I can't find enough.

Poison Study is an enjoyable novel, although there are rough patches. The story moves forward at a brisk pace, and the writing is easily readable, and draws you into Yelena's life.

Some parts of character develpment are just skipped over, in order to move the plot forward. There is no gradual shift in additude, rather you are informed that Yelena now feel THIS way about person X, where 20 pages ago, she felt THAT way about person X. New characters are also introduced as scetches, that serve one purpose only. Yelena however, is fairly well fleshed out.

The action however is fun, and keeps the plot moving forward, which seems to be the point. The exposition about (recent) history of Ixia, also serves a deffinate purpose, rather than being a description that is never used. This is deffinately one of the streangths of this nove. You do not learn things you will shrug off, and wonder why the author made you waste your time reading 20 pages about something or someone you will never see again. On the downside, this make everything very straight forward, and the road ahead is clear, containing very few surprises.

I adored this book.

The development between the two love interests were well done. A cast of lovable side characters.

I appreciated the transgender character in the novel.

The treatment on rape and its psychological impacts were a wee bit superficial for me but not terribly done.

Loved Yalena's character development.

I just loved this thrilling and adventure-filled fantasy novel! It reminded me of the types of fantasy books that I loved to read when I was young - and while that made me a bit melancholy at first (that I had missed the best age to read this for the first time), as the story progressed, becoming more and more interesting, I just enjoyed it more and more. Luckily, this is the first book in a trilogy, and I am so glad that I have the entire trilogy to read. I will certainly read anything else that she publishes, so I will be keeping an eye out for all future books in the stores as well! The main character, Yelena, was great - very sympathetic and completely likable! Although the plot of the book overall was a bit predictable, it was just such a fast, fun, joy to read. I can't wait to start reading the sequel, Magic Study. It is such a wonderful feeling to discover a brand new series! And I am thankful that all three books are published - I wouldn't want to have a long wait between volumes!

Poison Study is the debut novel by this author and was an excellent read. I am eagerly awaiting the next book Magic Study

It tells the story of Yelena, a woman who has been used and abused till she is not sure she has a soul left. She was sentenced to death for the killing of her abuser. When fate intervenes (previous food taster dies, and the job is offered to the next to be executed), Yelena become the Commander's food taster. Valek is an advisor to the Commander, who appoints Yelena as the next food taster and trains her to detect poisons. In the begin Valek is uncertain of what to make of Yelena, but as time passes he comes to respect and love her.

Yelena is a gutsy woman who overcomes adversity and her `demons' (ghost who haunts her and having magical powers when magic is condemned) to excel and become a person who is respected, makes friends and has confidence in herself.

The writer has a way of describing things with a sense of humor, even though the reality is at times quite grim. Makes for quite a a delightful read.

Sitting in a dungeon in Ixia our heroine, Yalena, awaits her execution for a crime that she does not regret, murder. She knows what she did, why she did it, and that it was wrong, but there is nothing she can do about it. Even if the murder was an accident or a matter of self defence the consequence is the same - death. But Yalena is in luck because she is next in line for the hangman's noose she is also the chosen candidate to be the Commander of Ixia's food taster. And because she is no fool she takes the job and all the risks that come with it.

Filled with political intrigue, assassins, and acrobatics Poison Study was a fast paced refreshing read that I hadn't encountered in a long time. It's not your typical YA where romance normally tends to take centre stage leaving the rest of the story in the background but a story I believe that has a little something for everyone - humour, action, and yes, even romance.

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Just as she is facing the hangman's noose for murder, fate intervenes for the young Yelena. She is given a choice - execution, or the opportunity to train to be the new food taster for Commander Ambrose of Ixia. Called many things, stupid was not one of them, so Yelena accepts the alternative presented to her. Thus begins her new life...

In her very first lesson, Yelena is dosed with the poison Butterfly's Dust to prevent any escape attempts. If she does not receive her daily dose of the antidote, she will succumb to an agonizing death within three days. Valek, head of security for the Commander begins Yelena's instruction in the skill of food tasting and they fast fall into an easy routine. In spite of the possibility she could die at any time by poison in the Commander's food, Yelena blossoms in her new life, even gradually discovering tender emotions for Valek.

However, danger beckons from more than one direction. Enemies of her past would like nothing more than to seek their revenge and see Yelena dead. Someone in Ixia is plotting a takeover, and she and Valek are caught up in the middle. To make matters even worse, a mysterious magician from the south is lurking about, with a startling revelation for Yelena. For our young food taster has strengths she never knew, which could save the Commander, Valek and everyone else she cares about, or result in Ixia's ultimate destruction. She must now make a choice, but how will that affect everything she's ever known?

Poison Study by Maria V Snyder is an imaginative novel sure to charm readers from the very first sentence. Politics and intrigue, with a healthy dose of magic are the name of the game in this debut novel. We are dropped right in to the heart of it all with Yelena as hope beckons her out of her gloomy cell. Intelligent young woman that she is, she adapts rapidly to her new life and takes to her lessons with ease, after surviving her first, and most dangerous, poison test, "My Love."

The cast of characters is expansive and varied, from the malicious General Brazell who would like nothing more than to see Yelena dead, to the loyal Ari and Jenko (captains in the Commander's army). We also have a touch of the mystical in the form of the ghost of Yelena's murder victim and Iris the Magician. Valek is strong and brave, totally swoon-worthy even in light of his chosen profession and a few unusual keepsakes in his apartment (like the still-bloody knife used in the kill that cemented Commander Ambrose as ruler of Ixia) and his rather unsentimental exterior. Of course though, Yelena is my favorite character. Hearing her story about how she rose above her rough beginning and subsequent treatment by the man and his son who fostered her. She has quite a bit of courage wrapped up in a small package and you can't help but admire her for the person she has become.

Snyder certainly did her research, which she blended into the fantasy world of Poison Study. I was quite fascinated by the attention to detail found in the studies of the various poisons. The different tasting methods, the flavors to watch out for, and the symptoms of the poisons were surprisingly well done, giving us an education right alongside of Yelena.

Gabra Zackman does a wonderful job narrating Poison Study. The various inflections and accents she used made each voice as unique as the character it belonged to. She is a fairly new-to-me performer, this only being the second book she voiced that I listened to, but she has talent and I look forward to future performances by her.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, January 2007. All rights reserved.

The beginning really intrigued me. The characters were strong and caught my attention. Midway through it got a bit boring and slow but I hung on because I enjoyed the relationship between Yelena and Valek and the the others: Margg, Rand, Ari, Janco, the Commander, the mysterious Irys, etc. I was also curious as to the ending and where it would end before the next book started.

What I didn't like was the writing and dialogue. The story seemed to be set in a distant time in a completely different world yet the language seemed modern. I didn't connect with Yelena. I disagreed with a lot of her choices and feelings and I didn't find her to be very smart or wise.

I walked into the bookstore yesterday looking for some nice easy fantasy to help me recover from Plato's Dialogues and I happened to pick up Poison Study.

Told from the point of view of Yelena, a convicted murderer who is granted a reprieve from the noose only because she becomes the Commander's food taster, Poison Study is the perfect comfort book. Yelena is a spunky and sympathetic heroine for whom you can't help but cheer as she dodges assasination attempts and makes a life for herself. Her boss, the assasin and spy-master Valek, seems to be constantly in the process of beating someone up (while displaying his almost supernaturally wonderful physique) or impressing the reader with his hidden depths of compassion. The supporting cast of genial warriors and suspicious castle servants, though perhaps not the most multi-dimensional group of characters, is certainly fun and amusing.

The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars is that it did not explore many deep themes or pull at the heartstrings. That said, who cares about heartstrings? I certainly don't want every book I read to make me sniffle. Poison Study is an excellent example of fantasy as light reading and just what you need to bounce back after reading heavier tomes.

SPOILERS POSSIBLE
Poison Study by Maria Snyder follows the story of Yelena who has been spending a year in a dungeon waiting to die when she's offered a chance to live: become the Commander's Food Tester. While that intrigues her enough, she soon finds out that she can't escape because she's given a poison where she has to have the antidote every day or she'll die. The only person with the antidote is Valek, who is head of security and current food tester. While there, she finds out she does have magic - something that could get her killed if she stays in Ixia - along with a plot against the Commander.

Overall, it sounds like an attractive story, but looks can be deceiving. There were a few issues I had with this story. So many plot holes.

First off, what category is this? It reads like a young adult book and I'm thinking it is, even though Yelena is nineteen and older than the regular young adult book. I'm thinking it's more of an adult book, but it doesn't read like one. Even my library doesn't know. Some have them in young adult and some in adult. So... what genre is it? All I get is "romance", which I don't even see how that's possible since there wasn't any real romance.

The structure was just horrible. It was stiff, didn't flow right at all, and wasn't smooth. The story was filled with short, choppy sentences that didn't flow right.

What time period is this? Or supposed to be? I know it's a fantasy/sci fi type of story, but for the most part, it's based off of medieval setting, but then it randomly jumps to modern day...? It wasn't consistent and I don't even think Maria knew what she was doing. I mean, how do you go from magic, castles, dungeons and so forth to camouflage and factories?

It takes Yelena a year before they're going to kill her or save her. A YEAR. Why does it take that long? WHY? If she's a murderer, she would die as soon as possible. If this position has been available for her and she was the one they were waiting for, why did it take them a YEAR to do anything about that? What could they possibly do that would take a year to figure out? Okay, according to the law, the first woman who is supposed to die is given the chance. That was her. Why wasn't she given the chance when she first was arrested? Or a month or so afterwards? Why did it take a year for them to ask her?

The first poison Yelena drinks is Butterfly's Dust, where she has to have an antidote every day or she'll die. But when she starts drinking poisons to know what they taste like, the first one, My Love, puts her out for three days. THREE DAYS. That's three days without her antidote. Got that? So... why is she still alive after those three days when she hasn't had her antidote? Why did no one give her the antidote? And why did Yelena not even care if she had the antidote those three days she was out? WHY? Does anyone know? Nope. Clearly not the author because she leaves all these plot holes.

The Commander is drugged with theobroma. Sounds interesting, right? Look it up and see what it says. A type of tree which includes the cacao. Know what that is? Chocolate. (Basically) So, we have chocolate that's drugging the Commander. Chocolate. Got it. Didn't know chocolate could do that...

The characters were so flat and one dimension. They were boring, dull, or Mary Sues. It was annoying to read. Everyone was skilled in everything. Some more so than others. And I don't even know what any of them look like or how old they were. I honestly thought Valek was some old guy in his 50s or something. It wasn't until more than half way through the book that Maria mentioned about the Commander being close to 40 years old and that Valek was seven years younger than that. So, Valek is 32. (Though, according to wikipedia, he's 33...)

Apparently there was some romance between Valek and Yelena. Where, I don't know, but it was there. All I read was how Yelena didn't trust Valek, didn't like him, wanted to kill him, etc. And Valek seemed content on having Yelena dead as well. But then, randomly, it would be where Yelena would look at him and describe how beautiful he looked in one long paragraph. Then it would go back to hating Valek. All of a sudden, towards the end, they kiss and she tells him she loves him (this is right after she tells him she's a magician and she knows he is the one who kills those with magical powers). I'm assuming they also had sex, but it wasn't very clear with the description. It was just how they were together. Nothing about in bed, sleeping or any normal way of saying they had sex. It was awkward and didn't make sense. I had to reread it and wonder if Maria actually meant they slept together. It's not a children's book. She can say they had sex instead of making up random words that don't make any sense.

I didn't get the romance and it was just weird. Maybe it as the age thing too. They're 14 years apart and while that isn't bad, it was just odd. Maybe it was also because I thought Valek was twice her age as well...

Everything and everyone was so predictable it was annoying and clichéd. It's your standard "bad guy has physical flaw", "bad guy acting nice to good guy/leader", "bad guy really trying to kill good guy/leader", "main protagonist has bad history/past but (s)he's learned to move on, making them a better person", "middle ground guy trying to make nice with protagonist but is really going against them", "middle ground guy feels bad for trying to betray protagonist once they get to know them", etc type of story. Name a cliché and you've got it in this book. Really Maria, you can't think of anything better?

And it turns out that the poison Yelena thought she had wasn't a poison at all. But Valek made Yelena think she had a poison so that she wouldn't leave. Yeah, that was predictable.

Commander Ambrose apparently isn't a man, but a woman in a man's body. Say what now? Ambrosia was a woman but she decided she didn't want to be a woman, so she dressed like a man and acted like a man and dressed like a man from an early age and no one (except Mary Sue, I mean Yelena) discovered that. Okay... um... yeah... So, this woman has to dress up like a man and no one knows she's a woman in mans clothes. Isn't there the fact that she would have breasts, a vagina instead of a penis, and a period that would tip someone off a lot sooner? Like, I don't know, her maids?! And why in the world would it matter if she's male or female?

Overall, the story wasn't all that good. There were plot holes, the writing wasn't smooth, and it was just a jumbled mess. Some of it wasn't bad, but not enough to make me want to buy the book or recommend it. Maybe if there were better details, more consistency, more romance since it was a "romance", more depth to the story, it wouldn't be so bad. But as it was, it wasn't very good at all.

The debut fantasy novel POISON STUDY by Maria V. Snyder has it all --- adventure, suspense, vivid fantasy setting and romance --- to make this book a reading delight across genres. POISON STUDY is a gourmet reading experience worth savoring and a book likely to be included in many top reads lists from a variety of readers.

From the dungeon in Ixia, a world under new leadership, Yelena receives a reprieve from her nearing execution. She is offered a choice of execution or the position of food taster for the Commander of Ixia. One choice means knowing the means and time of her death and the other could lead to a slow, excruciating death from poison at any moment. Valek teaches Yelena the study of poisons, becoming her mentor, protector and captor all in one. As Yelena lives in the new order created for Ixia, both an outsider and the ultimate insider in her position as food taster, protecting the leader's life with her very own life. Just when Yelena thinks she had settled into her new role, new tensions and threats arrive at each corner she turns. Rebels plot to take over Ixia. Now living in a world that executes magicians, Yelena discovers powers with herself she cannot control. Memories and ghosts from her past haunt her at the same time as new threats emerge. With a rebels and spies inside and outside Ixia, can Yelena discover who supports her and who plots her downfall? Forced to defend herself at every corner, can Yelena gain the skills and knowledge to keep herself alive?

POISON STUDY is a powerful read. From the very beginning, Maria V. Snyder draws the reader into Yelena's character, creating an emotionally investment in the outcome and the relationships forged within the world of Ixia. Suspense emerges from each situation, indeed from each page. Maria V. Snyder's elegant use of description makes this alien come alive so that even the food entices with its smells and colors. Each moment is fraught with danger. Like the food, each scene has the possibility of an exquisite new taste or intense danger where the end is unknown. Adventure, suspense, fantasy and romance all combine into a beautifully written tapestry of the Ixian world and its struggles to survive. Maria V. Snyder places the reader right at the heart of the battle between Ixia and Sitia with the vivid worlds she has created. Her look at the various values underpinning each society gives the reader insights into one's own world with a vision that is both imaginative and expansive.

POISON STUDY is one of those rare keeper books for the permanent bookshelf that readers will enjoy rereading in order to experience its pure delight again and again.

As Young Adult fictional reading it might pass the test, but I'm afraid the novel "Poison Study" lost what little imaginative creativity it had going for it. The story became predictable and the characters came across as cardboard cutouts placed on a medieval stage with contemporary language. The author definitely has some talent for conceiving a story as there were glimmers of hope for a fantastic confrontational ending. Unfortunately, the creativity had run its course early on and the story ended with a harlequin romance whimper.

The great thing about books is that one person's Poison can definitely be another's Medicine. Many reviewers seem to have found the antidote. Not I!

I loved this book! Never before have I enjoyed written from the first person point of view. Too much self-reflection, etc., but this book was very well written, giving the reader the sensations that were important without ruining it with every single thought, feeling and sigh that first person novels tend to have. The story starts with a wonderfully vivid description of Yelena's trip from the dungeons to her meeting with the man that would spare her life, or would he? I cheated at the bookstore and skimmed ahead, yet after I purchased the book and read from the beginning, I was surprised that what I had skimmed was not how I had assumed the story went ... nothing about this book was predicatable. well, not completely predicatable. I was surprised by a number of twists while being intrigued with the educational description of the various poisons and how one might attempt to poison a leader. It wasn't so addictive that I wasn't able to put it down when needed, but always looked forward to my next subway trip or evening alone when I could read more. The book is even appropriate for teen girls as it doesn't have vivid sexual encounters.

I must admit I was initially hesitant about this book. But the author has laid my doubts to rest. This is truly a great beginning to a series, a wonderful debut for the author to say the least and I look forward to the next novel.

Yelena, a orphan child, a murderer, condemned to death for killing the son of a general...her only possibility of escape, be the food tester for the Commander. And so begins a her battle of wits with the Commander's Chief of Security, a shadowy spy and assassin who seems delighted that Yelena is testing him.

But soon enemy forces, traitorous forces begin to show their hand. Even more dangerous Yelena may have magic, which the Commander has outlawed, merely being capable of magic is a death sentence and Yelena has been warned that her powers need training or she will be a danger to all!

A great adventure tale, I look forward to the next book!

I scanned the first few pages before purchasing this book and discovered that the cover illustration was done without any reference to descriptions of the main character. Now, this isn't enough to condemn a book...there are plenty of books in this genre that seem to run to flashy, non-substantive covers. And some of those are even good. But it's still a tip-off that, chances are, the publisher wasn't as focused as they could have been on substance.

And that's the case with this book. None of the characters are ever fully fleshed-out. Neither is the political or geographical setting. This is really a book that could have used a map and a short introduction describing historical events prior to the start of the story.

The book is saved from a two star rating because the poison information is interesting. Most of it is probably made up, but it was still fun to read.

Poison Study was fantastic! I recommend this to all magic lovers. The book was magical itself. Yelena is accused of murder, which she did commit but for good reasons. She has the choice of death or being the commander's poison taster. So she chooses the latter. Valek trains her to be able to taste and indentify poisons which is a very diffcult task. Once she is finished she must soon learn who her friends are because someone is trying to poison the commander and that means someone will end up poisoning her. Coming face to face with her old rivals, the father of the man she killed and an old enemy, she has to figure out why they are so interested in the commander. There's love and friendship and many secrets. This is a book that you must read for yourself, sorry if I'm not giving you much on plot, but if I did, I would spoil the book for you.

Hands down one of my favorite series. I love the way this book and series combine old world characteristics (horses to travel, no electricity, etc) with modern notions. Its a unique world that totally works in a great way. It also leaves it open to where there can be the most amazing details that pull everything together. You are rooting for Yelena right from the very beginning, and the path she takes and the friends she makes are a wonderful collection. You'll be sucked right into Ixia and Sitia and loving the ride as the story unfolds.

Overall, I classify this as a great pulp read, but not great literature. Here's why.

The Good:

A terrific read and a great romp. This book has likable characters, a smoothly flowing story, is edited well, and never ever once had any discrepancies that yanked me out of the plot to go "wait, what?" Plus, some of the finer details just made my day. Valek's hobby was a nicely chosen contrast, very quirky and unexpected, and Yelena's own talent with acrobatics is one I don't often see used, much less used well. Little features like those just make me want to snuggle the book until it falls to itty-bitty pieces.

And for the record, despite what follows, yes, I would read it again, and recommend it to friends. It is, overall, a well written book.

The Bad:

I spent much of the book...less than transported to another land. Admittedly, most of it happens in a very narrow sphere of the heroine's captivity, but there are small details authors can put in anyway to make you feel that you're somewhere else. Modes of dress, turns of phrase, customs, gender roles, types of food eaten...just smallish things, nothing that even needs concentrated on but is often told in passing. Instead, this felt like "modern girl meets generi-castle." Which, admittedly, doesn't detract at all from the story, but was something that lingered with me long after I'd put down the book.

The Ugly:

**MASSIVE SPOILER ALERT**

Turn back now, ye who haven't read it.
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This girl is enslaved, abused, raped, murders her captor, and then spends a year in a dungeon sentenced to die for the crime of defending herself AND SHOWS NO TRAUMA. Sure, she is a very SERIOUS person, and yes, she is very worried about her immediate situation. But...no distrust of men or authority figures. No flinching or jerking away when touched. No hesitation to trust (caution, yes, but not fear of trusting again). No sign of any sort of PTSD or long term emotional repercussions. Just...trauma, what trauma?

Heck, her acrobatic skills weren't even appreciably rusty, though by all rights she should be woefully out of practice.

She doesn't even hesitate to go running with a bunch of trained soldiers, any one of which can easily overpower and harm her, even though her main male contact in life so far has been to be a slave, sex toy, and then to be controlled by a man poisoning her slowly. This is a woman harmed physically time and time again but yet fears no bodily harm. *I'M* more paranoid than she is just walking down an unfamiliar street.

Now, keep in mind, I'm not asking for her to be so broken she cannot function, nor to chip away any of her inner or outer strength. But some REALISTIC REACTIONS would have been nice. Seriously, terrible events leave terrible scars. Any author not creating room for SOME sort of emotional scarring either has not done their research or simply can't be bothered to care. Bright and shiny back-stories are useless when the character is affected by them so little they might as well be looking offstage and shouting "LINE!"

When I feel like the back-story happened to another person entirely, the writing has failed to take a left turn at Albuquerque, and the plot has now emerged somewhere beside the coveted Pismo Beach. (And yes, that WAS a Bugs reference in a serious review.) The author is obviously supremely capable and can do better.

This is a good book, with strong characters and none of that instantaneous romances that plague YA novels. The leading character is a strong survivor, far from perfect, but not broken.
I would not recommend this book for children. There are dark rituals involving torture and rape of 15 to 16 year old girls. While this doesn't play a big part on this first installment, it becomes one of the main plots on the second book (Magic Study).

I thought Poison Study was just okay, 2.5 stars maybe. Most of the book was slow with little direction. I think the "plot," if one existed, was that Yelena was trying to survive, but she really didn't know how to go about doing that. So mostly, she just ran away and/or fought when she was attacked. I never really felt like I was pulled in to the book, because Yelena had no real plan, purpose, or goals. Her entire personality has that she had a tough life, and she survives. But there was simply not enough depth there for me to really care what happened to her.

Valek did not have much personality either, and I have to admit to being a bit dumbfounded about why they like each other. They did not have any real chemistry--mutual respect, but definitely not romantic chemistry. I could understand Yelena having a teacher-student type innocent crush on Valek, but when did they fall in love?

This book is categorized as fantasy, but the magic system was never described in any detail. And the use of magic was pretty sparse throughout. I am a fantasy fan, and frankly, I feel as though I was tricked into reading this book.

I really loved this book! it was amazing and suspenseful all at the same time. Yelena is one badass character! I loved the fact that Yelena wasn't taking crap from anyone even after spending a year in prison. The fact that she wanted to live so badly even if it meant becoming the food taster is a testament to her strong survival skills. Getting to know more of her past as the book went on was revealing to her character. In the end, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely read the rest of the series.

Poison Study is a roller coaster ride. Within just a few words you're sucked in to Yelana's world and the story moves quickly from there. I listened to the audio, and I think Gabra Zackman was an inspired choice for the narrator. Her voices were wonderful. My only quibble - the use of bumper music between chapters was unfortunate. It may have been designed to heighten tension at key moments, but in my opinion it only drew attention to the cliffhanger ending of nearly every chapter and added a somewhat corny, perils of pauline feel. The audio of Magic Study dispenses with that and is better for the omission. Overall, it was only a mild annoyance because by mid-book I was so engrossed I hardly noticed it anymore. It's a very good production of a fast-paced and inventive story, and I'm looking forward to much more from this author.

After spending months questing for the perfect fantasy read, I finally encountered Poison Study, and my first impression from the engrossing premise was that this would be a fantastic read. Fortunately, my assumption was right, and Synder's novel transcended my expectations by miles, refurbishing my love of reading. Snyder successfully amalgamates magic, mystery, romance, and action, forming a irresistible, utterly mesmerizing novel that forever ensnared me in its spellbinding net.

The compelling, addicting plot is like eating a giant, moist wedge of red velvet cake after a box of bland Saltines. On the first page, I was hurled straight into the dungeon, where a doomed girl named Yelena awaits her hanging. Instead of being executed as planned, the head of security offers Yelena a better - though possibly worse - choice: to be the poison taster for the Commander of Ixia. Though saved from execution, Yelena is still at risk. Everyday is a struggle for survival, haunted by a cruel past. This looming sense of constant danger drives the story onward, never permitting a dull moment:

I rose, my head spinning. "Is it lethal?"
"A big enough dose will kill you in two days. The symptoms don't arrive until the second day, but by then it's too late."
"Did I have a lethal dose?" I held my breath.
"Of course. Anything less and you wouldn't have tasted the poison." - page 19

This tense instant of danger occurs when Valek, chief of security, poisons Yelena with the lethal Butterfly's Dust in order to prevent her from running away. A plethora of these scary moments exists, propelling the book to a fast gait. Snyder, a grandmaster of foreshadowing, splashes seemingly insignificant hints and clues amidst the pages, resulting in a complex story, so I kept stumbling into surprises - some obvious, some not - that made me gasp. Interlaced with more darker themes than most young adult novels, Poison Study deals with violence, murder, and sexual abuse. However, these heavy themes are necessary for the story, and sorrowfully, are concepts that some teenagers face today.

This book has a vivid setting, a place where any reader can immerse themselves in. The militarized world of Ixia, a refreshing change from the typical monarchy that fantasy books often have, fills Poison Study with flavor and vibe. Lead by the domineering Commander, Ixia has eliminated the previous corrupt King and transformed the land into a militarist area sliced into Districts. Snyder, an amazing world builder, brings this world to life, buttressing it with rich history of tainted kings who ruled unethically, before the Commander seized control and brought about different ways. The Commander, while wise, rules Ixia with a harsh hand. Though his Code of Behavior, the inflexible, strict set of laws, prevents crime, poverty, and lack of order, it is also very controlling. Citizens who don't don their uniforms are chained to the town square naked, no excuses. Anybody who kills another person, even if by accident or in self defense, is hanged. The new form of government frowns upon the arts and requires paperwork for almost everything. The Commander's rigid rules show an insight to his fascinating personality, especially since he harbors a major secret, a secret that makes him selfish but all the more intriguing.

Snyder paints her characters deep, layered profiles. Though older than most YA heroines at nineteen, Yelena is an interesting protagonist and an intelligent, strong young woman, tarnished by a brutal, disturbing personal history; memories of Reyad, the man she killed, haunt and harass her throughout the novel. Readers can easily slide into Yelena's shoes, and I liked relatability of her choices and mistakes. Never making me want to bellow at her in frustration, she is resourceful and clever, a girl with inspiring independence; when men try to kill her, instead of running away squealing for help, she learns self defense to beat them up. Valek, the Commander's chief of security, is untrustworthy, ruthless, and crafty, making him another prominent figure of Poison Study's cast. Alas, my liking for him slightly declined toward the end, when he began to shy away from his devious character. Ari and Janco, two humorous, goodhearted soldiers, add comic relief in contrast to the story's foreboding tide. I love how even though Yelena secures a strong friendship with the castle's talented head cook, Rand, she still thinks of him in shades of gray; young adult books often tend to have their protagonists befriend somebody and then portray him or her in either black or white, bad or good. Rand is the complicated type of character that more novels need, a person complex enough that he could easily have been snatched from the real world.

The refreshing romance, subtle and powerful, snuck up on me opposed to dancing in front of my face and giggling, like many sappy relationships in young adult books do. Though admittedly a smidgeon of cringe-worthy cheesiness crept in at the end, the relationship still maintained its engrossing, cogent qualities, definitely branding it as one of the most interesting romances in young adult fiction.

Poison Study reminds me of the reason I love books. My favorite novels project me into their worlds, where I can live as a different person, completely immersed in another land. These escapist books include The Hunger Games, the Harry Potter series, and Graceling, with Poison Study joining the elite list. Though I read this book while vacationing in stunning Yosemite, encompassed by the looming cliffs of rock and shimmering waterfalls, I lived a parallel life in the Commander's castle. When bears lumbered outside the tent, ten feet away, I still could not tear my eyes away from the page. I completely agree with Publisher's Weekly when they reviewed Poison Study, saying, "...this is one of those rare books that will keep readers dreaming long after they've read it." This consummate fantasy is a must read for all book lovers, and like me, most readers will immediately stampede to the store to purchase the two sequels upon reaching the last page.

Cover: 3/5 - The green vines that snake across the cover are gorgeous, though otherwise, nothing about this cover strikes me.

I must admit I was initially hesitant about this book. But the author has laid my doubts to rest. This is truly a great beginning to a series, a wonderful debut for the author to say the least and I look forward to the next novel.

Yelena, a orphan child, a murderer, condemned to death for killing the son of a general...her only possibility of escape, be the food tester for the Commander. And so begins a her battle of wits with the Commander's Chief of Security, a shadowy spy and assassin who seems delighted that Yelena is testing him.

But soon enemy forces, traitorous forces begin to show their hand. Even more dangerous Yelena may have magic, which the Commander has outlawed, merely being capable of magic is a death sentence and Yelena has been warned that her powers need training or she will be a danger to all!

A great adventure tale, I look forward to the next book!

Why is it that most of the book club books I enjoy are part of a series?!?!?!

I enjoyed the way the story was written and told, it had a way of keeping your attention by giving you snippets and making you want to continue to learn more. Here is a story of a young girl's roller coaster of a life. All of the horrible things she has survived and how they have made her stronger. She goes from no friends to being betrayed by friends to finding out what true great friends are. Along the way she learns of her own magic and a family out there she was taken from. She learns her own strengths and weaknesses. She learns the meaning of true love and loyalty only to have to leave it....for now.

Some interesting twist and turns. Looking forward to the next book soon.

I scanned the first few pages before purchasing this book and discovered that the cover illustration was done without any reference to descriptions of the main character. Now, this isn't enough to condemn a book...there are plenty of books in this genre that seem to run to flashy, non-substantive covers. And some of those are even good. But it's still a tip-off that, chances are, the publisher wasn't as focused as they could have been on substance.

And that's the case with this book. None of the characters are ever fully fleshed-out. Neither is the political or geographical setting. This is really a book that could have used a map and a short introduction describing historical events prior to the start of the story.

The book is saved from a two star rating because the poison information is interesting. Most of it is probably made up, but it was still fun to read.

book has it all. Magic and Murder. Romance and Revenge. Even though Yelena's death sentence has been cancelled she is still in constant danger. She could be assassinated by the man who tried to send her to the gallows originally. She could die of either accidental or intentional poisoning. Or she could be executed if anyone finds out about the magic in her blood. Valek is everything you want in a romantic character. He's handsome, powerful, protective oh, and a talented assassin. Yelena is a character who is easy to love and empathize with. She's also brave, strong-willed, persistent and unbeknownst to her, a magician in a country where all magicians are executed. Their first meeting is anything but ideal. She's gaunt and filthy from being in a dungeon awaiting execution for nealy a year. He is the man who offers her a reprieve if she becomes the Commander's food taster. Ari and Janco are an equally engaging and loveable pair of soldiers who "adopt" Yelena and teach her to defend herself from frequent assassination attempts. I love these characters and I love this book except for the magic stealing evil magician and the sadistic rapist. This ugliness is why I gave this book four instead five stars. It is a small but pertinent part of the story.

Poison Study was fantastic! I recommend this to all magic lovers. The book was magical itself. Yelena is accused of murder, which she did commit but for good reasons. She has the choice of death or being the commander's poison taster. So she chooses the latter. Valek trains her to be able to taste and indentify poisons which is a very diffcult task. Once she is finished she must soon learn who her friends are because someone is trying to poison the commander and that means someone will end up poisoning her. Coming face to face with her old rivals, the father of the man she killed and an old enemy, she has to figure out why they are so interested in the commander. There's love and friendship and many secrets. This is a book that you must read for yourself, sorry if I'm not giving you much on plot, but if I did, I would spoil the book for you.

Hands down one of my favorite series. I love the way this book and series combine old world characteristics (horses to travel, no electricity, etc) with modern notions. Its a unique world that totally works in a great way. It also leaves it open to where there can be the most amazing details that pull everything together. You are rooting for Yelena right from the very beginning, and the path she takes and the friends she makes are a wonderful collection. You'll be sucked right into Ixia and Sitia and loving the ride as the story unfolds.

Overall, I classify this as a great pulp read, but not great literature. Here's why.

The Good:

A terrific read and a great romp. This book has likable characters, a smoothly flowing story, is edited well, and never ever once had any discrepancies that yanked me out of the plot to go "wait, what?" Plus, some of the finer details just made my day. Valek's hobby was a nicely chosen contrast, very quirky and unexpected, and Yelena's own talent with acrobatics is one I don't often see used, much less used well. Little features like those just make me want to snuggle the book until it falls to itty-bitty pieces.

And for the record, despite what follows, yes, I would read it again, and recommend it to friends. It is, overall, a well written book.

The Bad:

I spent much of the book...less than transported to another land. Admittedly, most of it happens in a very narrow sphere of the heroine's captivity, but there are small details authors can put in anyway to make you feel that you're somewhere else. Modes of dress, turns of phrase, customs, gender roles, types of food eaten...just smallish things, nothing that even needs concentrated on but is often told in passing. Instead, this felt like "modern girl meets generi-castle." Which, admittedly, doesn't detract at all from the story, but was something that lingered with me long after I'd put down the book.

The Ugly:

**MASSIVE SPOILER ALERT**

Turn back now, ye who haven't read it.
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This girl is enslaved, abused, raped, murders her captor, and then spends a year in a dungeon sentenced to die for the crime of defending herself AND SHOWS NO TRAUMA. Sure, she is a very SERIOUS person, and yes, she is very worried about her immediate situation. But...no distrust of men or authority figures. No flinching or jerking away when touched. No hesitation to trust (caution, yes, but not fear of trusting again). No sign of any sort of PTSD or long term emotional repercussions. Just...trauma, what trauma?

Heck, her acrobatic skills weren't even appreciably rusty, though by all rights she should be woefully out of practice.

She doesn't even hesitate to go running with a bunch of trained soldiers, any one of which can easily overpower and harm her, even though her main male contact in life so far has been to be a slave, sex toy, and then to be controlled by a man poisoning her slowly. This is a woman harmed physically time and time again but yet fears no bodily harm. *I'M* more paranoid than she is just walking down an unfamiliar street.

Now, keep in mind, I'm not asking for her to be so broken she cannot function, nor to chip away any of her inner or outer strength. But some REALISTIC REACTIONS would have been nice. Seriously, terrible events leave terrible scars. Any author not creating room for SOME sort of emotional scarring either has not done their research or simply can't be bothered to care. Bright and shiny back-stories are useless when the character is affected by them so little they might as well be looking offstage and shouting "LINE!"

When I feel like the back-story happened to another person entirely, the writing has failed to take a left turn at Albuquerque, and the plot has now emerged somewhere beside the coveted Pismo Beach. (And yes, that WAS a Bugs reference in a serious review.) The author is obviously supremely capable and can do better.

This is a good book, with strong characters and none of that instantaneous romances that plague YA novels. The leading character is a strong survivor, far from perfect, but not broken.
I would not recommend this book for children. There are dark rituals involving torture and rape of 15 to 16 year old girls. While this doesn't play a big part on this first installment, it becomes one of the main plots on the second book (Magic Study).

I thought Poison Study was just okay, 2.5 stars maybe. Most of the book was slow with little direction. I think the "plot," if one existed, was that Yelena was trying to survive, but she really didn't know how to go about doing that. So mostly, she just ran away and/or fought when she was attacked. I never really felt like I was pulled in to the book, because Yelena had no real plan, purpose, or goals. Her entire personality has that she had a tough life, and she survives. But there was simply not enough depth there for me to really care what happened to her.

Valek did not have much personality either, and I have to admit to being a bit dumbfounded about why they like each other. They did not have any real chemistry--mutual respect, but definitely not romantic chemistry. I could understand Yelena having a teacher-student type innocent crush on Valek, but when did they fall in love?

This book is categorized as fantasy, but the magic system was never described in any detail. And the use of magic was pretty sparse throughout. I am a fantasy fan, and frankly, I feel as though I was tricked into reading this book.

I really loved this book! it was amazing and suspenseful all at the same time. Yelena is one badass character! I loved the fact that Yelena wasn't taking crap from anyone even after spending a year in prison. The fact that she wanted to live so badly even if it meant becoming the food taster is a testament to her strong survival skills. Getting to know more of her past as the book went on was revealing to her character. In the end, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely read the rest of the series.

Poison Study is a roller coaster ride. Within just a few words you're sucked in to Yelana's world and the story moves quickly from there. I listened to the audio, and I think Gabra Zackman was an inspired choice for the narrator. Her voices were wonderful. My only quibble - the use of bumper music between chapters was unfortunate. It may have been designed to heighten tension at key moments, but in my opinion it only drew attention to the cliffhanger ending of nearly every chapter and added a somewhat corny, perils of pauline feel. The audio of Magic Study dispenses with that and is better for the omission. Overall, it was only a mild annoyance because by mid-book I was so engrossed I hardly noticed it anymore. It's a very good production of a fast-paced and inventive story, and I'm looking forward to much more from this author.

After spending months questing for the perfect fantasy read, I finally encountered Poison Study, and my first impression from the engrossing premise was that this would be a fantastic read. Fortunately, my assumption was right, and Synder's novel transcended my expectations by miles, refurbishing my love of reading. Snyder successfully amalgamates magic, mystery, romance, and action, forming a irresistible, utterly mesmerizing novel that forever ensnared me in its spellbinding net.

The compelling, addicting plot is like eating a giant, moist wedge of red velvet cake after a box of bland Saltines. On the first page, I was hurled straight into the dungeon, where a doomed girl named Yelena awaits her hanging. Instead of being executed as planned, the head of security offers Yelena a better - though possibly worse - choice: to be the poison taster for the Commander of Ixia. Though saved from execution, Yelena is still at risk. Everyday is a struggle for survival, haunted by a cruel past. This looming sense of constant danger drives the story onward, never permitting a dull moment:

I rose, my head spinning. "Is it lethal?"
"A big enough dose will kill you in two days. The symptoms don't arrive until the second day, but by then it's too late."
"Did I have a lethal dose?" I held my breath.
"Of course. Anything less and you wouldn't have tasted the poison." - page 19

This tense instant of danger occurs when Valek, chief of security, poisons Yelena with the lethal Butterfly's Dust in order to prevent her from running away. A plethora of these scary moments exists, propelling the book to a fast gait. Snyder, a grandmaster of foreshadowing, splashes seemingly insignificant hints and clues amidst the pages, resulting in a complex story, so I kept stumbling into surprises - some obvious, some not - that made me gasp. Interlaced with more darker themes than most young adult novels, Poison Study deals with violence, murder, and sexual abuse. However, these heavy themes are necessary for the story, and sorrowfully, are concepts that some teenagers face today.

This book has a vivid setting, a place where any reader can immerse themselves in. The militarized world of Ixia, a refreshing change from the typical monarchy that fantasy books often have, fills Poison Study with flavor and vibe. Lead by the domineering Commander, Ixia has eliminated the previous corrupt King and transformed the land into a militarist area sliced into Districts. Snyder, an amazing world builder, brings this world to life, buttressing it with rich history of tainted kings who ruled unethically, before the Commander seized control and brought about different ways. The Commander, while wise, rules Ixia with a harsh hand. Though his Code of Behavior, the inflexible, strict set of laws, prevents crime, poverty, and lack of order, it is also very controlling. Citizens who don't don their uniforms are chained to the town square naked, no excuses. Anybody who kills another person, even if by accident or in self defense, is hanged. The new form of government frowns upon the arts and requires paperwork for almost everything. The Commander's rigid rules show an insight to his fascinating personality, especially since he harbors a major secret, a secret that makes him selfish but all the more intriguing.

Snyder paints her characters deep, layered profiles. Though older than most YA heroines at nineteen, Yelena is an interesting protagonist and an intelligent, strong young woman, tarnished by a brutal, disturbing personal history; memories of Reyad, the man she killed, haunt and harass her throughout the novel. Readers can easily slide into Yelena's shoes, and I liked relatability of her choices and mistakes. Never making me want to bellow at her in frustration, she is resourceful and clever, a girl with inspiring independence; when men try to kill her, instead of running away squealing for help, she learns self defense to beat them up. Valek, the Commander's chief of security, is untrustworthy, ruthless, and crafty, making him another prominent figure of Poison Study's cast. Alas, my liking for him slightly declined toward the end, when he began to shy away from his devious character. Ari and Janco, two humorous, goodhearted soldiers, add comic relief in contrast to the story's foreboding tide. I love how even though Yelena secures a strong friendship with the castle's talented head cook, Rand, she still thinks of him in shades of gray; young adult books often tend to have their protagonists befriend somebody and then portray him or her in either black or white, bad or good. Rand is the complicated type of character that more novels need, a person complex enough that he could easily have been snatched from the real world.

The refreshing romance, subtle and powerful, snuck up on me opposed to dancing in front of my face and giggling, like many sappy relationships in young adult books do. Though admittedly a smidgeon of cringe-worthy cheesiness crept in at the end, the relationship still maintained its engrossing, cogent qualities, definitely branding it as one of the most interesting romances in young adult fiction.

Poison Study reminds me of the reason I love books. My favorite novels project me into their worlds, where I can live as a different person, completely immersed in another land. These escapist books include The Hunger Games, the Harry Potter series, and Graceling, with Poison Study joining the elite list. Though I read this book while vacationing in stunning Yosemite, encompassed by the looming cliffs of rock and shimmering waterfalls, I lived a parallel life in the Commander's castle. When bears lumbered outside the tent, ten feet away, I still could not tear my eyes away from the page. I completely agree with Publisher's Weekly when they reviewed Poison Study, saying, "...this is one of those rare books that will keep readers dreaming long after they've read it." This consummate fantasy is a must read for all book lovers, and like me, most readers will immediately stampede to the store to purchase the two sequels upon reaching the last page.

Cover: 3/5 - The green vines that snake across the cover are gorgeous, though otherwise, nothing about this cover strikes me.

I see why it had to be that way, but the first half of the book is very slow and you only get a good picture of the world she lives in past the 50% mark. So at first the main character seems decontextualized and it was hard for me to get into. But persisting past the beginning, the conflict, her relationships, and her world as a whole become quite interesting. I'm now well into Magic Study and I'm hooked. I really enjoy the author's writing style and her character development. She allows her characters to learn from their mistakes at a normal pace; I haven't noticed any complete out-of-character actions made, nor have the characters obstinately made the same mistakes over and over. Really love it all. Only giving it 4 stars because of how I was continuing to say "still not quite hooked yet" in the first 50% of the book.

Great book. I finished it in one night. It was just too great to put down. What a fantastic world Snyder created. Basically a country runned by milatary rule. Everything is to the letter. There is no gray areas. If you kill someone, even is self defense or by accident, your hanged. Which is what is going to happen to our herione. After spending almost a year in prision she is let out for her hanging. Amazingly, rules are set saying that the next person up for a hanging will be asked to be the next food taster for the Commander and she is it. So let's see, live in the palace, eat great food, bath, sleep in a warm soft bed or or or or or be hanged? Well, duh.

Life is not all rosy, though. The Commander's second seems to be intent on poisoning her himself while training her and regardless of his harsh ways, she thinks she's falling for him. Also, several others are trying to kill her. Especially, the father of the man she killed. A lot of intrique. A lot of mystery. A lot of surprises. I loved it and can't wait for the next.

I hesitated before picking this book up, because it didn't exactly sound like something I would enjoy -- how interesting can the life of a poison taster be, anyway? The answer to that is "Quite!" This book is part mystery, part fantasy, part romance -- and entirely entertaining. The author is terrific at creating a moody and believable atmosphere, and the poison testing is fascinating (not that I expected it to be). There are some unexpected plot and character twists, and this is one book that is very difficult to put down.

I can't wait to read the sequel and see how Yelena learns to use her magic and what happens to her relationships with Valek and Commandor Ambrose.

If you are looking for a book that is off the beaten path, you will likely enjoy this as much as I did.

Let me begin by telling you that is one of my all time favorite fantasy novels. Right from the beginning, I was hooked and still am. I enjoyed this book so much that I've read it multiple times. I even own the audio book so I can listen to it over and over while doing other things. I've shared this book with all the women in my family, who include a teenager, a couple of twenty somethings, and a couple of moms. They all loved it and went on to read the entire series. Needless to say, I love this book and I think you will too.

Imprisoned for murder, tortured, and scheduled to be executed, Yelena is presented with the option to be the Commander's poison tester. She accepts the position and is given a second chance at live, at least for now. Under the tutelage of the Commander's adviser, Valek, Yelena studies poisons, among other things (wink), and gradually earns respect from Valek and the Commander. Even with their respect, she still has many enemies and her live is frequently in limbo. While fighting for her survival, she discovers strange abilities, adding a whole new layer of complexity to Yelena's life.

Yelena is a smart, strong, and easy to relate to heroine and quite honestly a character of her caliber is hard to find these days. Although cheesy sounding, Valek is an intelligent, awesome, bad ass assassin while at the same time tender and kind. I loved every scene with him.

Snyder weaves an intriguing world that left me wanting more. It's fun, addicting, and there's love, what more can you ask for. Yelena's story carries on in Snyder's next two books, Magic Study and Fire Study.

Read the first chapter on Maria V. Snyder's website and become an obsessed fan like me. For more Poison Study fun, check out Snyder's Assassin's Study, which is a short story from Valek's perspective and is set in between Poison Study and Magic Study.

I'm not usually a fan of books written in the first person, but from the opening lines, this volume swept me into the world and simply wouldn't let me go. The story of a woman condemned to death for murder, she receives a reprieve. Become the food taster and risk daily death or be executed. Of course our heroine takes the risk, and it's good she does.

Poison Study is the author's first novel, and although there are a few minor things along the way, it was a smooth read from cover to cover. This page-turner keeps things moving with an intricate, but fast paced plot, a likeable heroine, and high stakes. We're introduced into a rich world where magical powers are shunned as much as they're coveted, and there's a traffic in humans and drugs, that parallels many of the ills of our own society. I loved the way our heroine took charge of her life, and the way she makes friends and allies along the way. This book is more than about staying alive, though that does consume a large portion of it, it's about life and love.

An excellent read, and well recommended.

I read alot of books and find that I rarely ever write about them. This book screams for a review. I picked it up and finished it the same day and pretty much exclaimed out loud the whole way through about what a find I had in my hands. I'm a fan of fantasy books, even romance novels for the most part but I can't remember the last time that I felt so strongly about a heroine and...I wanted her to thrive and succeed.

I've read some of the other reviews and I have to comment on the abuse aspect in the book. It isn't drawn out with details,it isn't by any means right, just, or kind. It is merely stated in simple terms. What shines through the pages is the will of a young woman who lives and breathes through an adversity that would fell a weaker person.

The story concentrates on what must be done to overcome, fine tuning your gifts to be at your best despite what your life has been in the past. I fail to see a reason why anyone couldn't benefit from an outlook of that magnitude. Throw in a little romance, a little magic and the book is exactly what it looks like. A gift waiting to be opened.

Towards the end of the story I was still saying "what a great book" in my head and I was sorry that I had come to the last page. I'm looking forward to the next two.

Yelena is locked in a dungeon waiting to be executed when the Commander's security advisor, Valek, offers her a deal. She can become the food taster for the Commander, making sure that no would-be assassin has poisoned his food. To make sure she doesn't use the freedom of her new position to try and escape, Valek poisons Yelena with Butterfly's Dust. To survive, she has to visit him every morning for a dose of the antidote. Yelena must try and figure out how she can escape now that she's been poisoned but it's hard to find time to do that because a rebels are plotting against the Commander. On top of all that, she just found out that she has magical powers she can't control.

I want to start off this review by reminding my readers that I am not an experienced fantasy reader - if you are, you may want to take my review with a grain of salt.

Yelena is a great, strong female character. She doesn't play the damsel in distress; she pulls herself up by her bootstraps and learns to kick some butt. She does have a love interest, but I didn't feel any chemistry between him and Yelena. That subplot felt a little forced to me.

Magic doesn't play a significant part of the story until towards the end which was actually a plus for me. For some reason, I can get on board with zombies, vampires and werewolves but I have trouble suspending my disbelief when it comes to magic. I think it might be because there are more clear-cut "rules" about what zombies, vampires and werewolves are capable of. Maybe reading more fantasy would cure me of that problem. Overall, I think thought Poison Study was a fun, quick read.

I don't even know where to begin! This book takes action, mystery, a touch of romance and a bunch of great characters to just.. give you an awesome ride. I haven't devoured a book this fast since I read The Hunger Games.

Here is what I like the most. Each character is human.. meaning, they all make mistakes and it's difficult to actually pick out a "good guy". I was second guessing people all the way through the book. One of the "shocking" revelations really did stun me because I think the author assumed everyone reading would guess something, so she went in a bit of a different direction - which direction you will have to see when you read the book!

Recommended for folks who enjoyed The Hunger Games and darker fantasy type novels.

Poison Study is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOKS. I have read and re-read it... well at least once a year since it was released. This series has such a novel premise and I adore the characters. While this book deals with some dark topics, Snyder keeps it classy. I highly recommend this book as well as all Syder's STUDY/GLASS/SOULFINDER books.

I bought this book because I liked the idea of a heroine who was a poison taster, so I was quite disappointed when that aspect of the book practically disappears from the story maybe a third of the way through. At that point, it turned into the standard "learning how to fight and wield magic while the bad guys are trying to kill you" plot. The story was still fine, but I was disappointed by the bait-and-switch.

The book also deeply frustrated me because the world wasn't logically consistent. On one hand we have swords, staffs, castles, and chamber pots and on the other hand we have factories (complete with conveyer belts), spray-on clothing starch, disinfectants, and briefcases. As a history buff, it bothered me that the technology wasn't logically consistent.

Not only that, but Maria Snyder says she's a brown belt in karate yet has her characters call a staff a "bow." Since she also uses the Japanese word "kata," I assume she meant to use the Japanese term for a fighting staff: "bo." Our main characters use the "bow" (meaning staff) a lot in the last half of the book, so the misspelling is all over the place. Surely someone at Luna knew that a "bow" (as in, "bow and arrow") is not the same as a staff even if Maria didn't bother to double-check, but somehow this glaring mistake got through. Also, it's odd that Maria uses European terms for most of the weapons (spear, sword, etc.) and yet suddenly uses Japanese terms for "staff" and "fighting forms"...especially when there is no evidence that this country has any contact with an Orient culture.

Also, Yelena learns the staff because it can help her win against swords. Yet, near the end, Yelena throws away her staff when confronted with a swordsman. It almost makes sense in context except she apparently knew all along that she was going to attack this same man a few seconds later with her _bare hands_. Not surprisingly, she gets captured. Oh, yeah. I love it when authors make their smart heroines temporary idiots at the worst possible time.

Finally, a number of the sentences weren't logical, and I often didn't understand the similes. For example, on page 359: "I stepped toward her, my body frozen with dread." If her body is frozen with dread, then how is she able to move?

Again, the plot was fine and the storytelling was pretty good, but I had a hard time enjoying the book because the above problems showed up every few pages. If things like logical and technological consistency don't bother you, then you'll probably enjoy this book at least a star better than I did. Otherwise, I'd recommend buying the book used if you want to give it a try.

The novel is interesting debut novel, but it tries to encompass too many elements into one such that it was unable to fully balance everything. The overall plot is predictable, but interesting. A fresh regime, a seemingly evil General (one level below the Commander), and a secret "factory" pretty much screams some sort of coup d'etat. The plot is carried through effortlessly and subtly. With such a plot, Snyder still manages to create suspense throughout the story. Right from the beginning, Snyder throws readers immediately into a world of darkness and fright of impending death. This sets readers in Yelena's frame of mind instantaneously, which definitely helps me understand and sympathize with her subsequent mistrust of others, paranoia, and sometimes ruthless acts. The character development and growth of Yelena is made especially compelling with the first person narrative of Yelena, and I believe this is the most successful part of the novel. Readers watch and sense her develop from a woman "with no soul" to one with confidence and assertion.

However, due to the first POV of Yelena, it was difficult to sympathize with other characters and this made the other characters less dynamic than Yelena. Because Yelena does not come in constant direct contact with either of the main anatagonists, Mogkan and Brazell, the first POV stripped the "stage presence" of these two villains. The final "good vs. evil" fight at the end lost a bit of its intensity and seemed a bit frivolous. I didn't really care for Mogkan as a character, but there was so much potential with Brazell as the ultimate villain. Brazell's high rank in government of Ixia, his "benefactor" reputation, and his anger over his son's murder...all these qualities can warp Brazell into a great cunning, manipulative, and dangerous villain to both the state of Ixia and Yelena. I had always imagined Brazell to torture Yelena extensively if she eventually gets into his hands for his son's death. Though Brazell explains that he knows the poison in Yelena will torture and kill her very soon, anger, hatred, and depair should have prompted him to still inflict some sort of pain (i.e. whipping) in Yelena in those two days. Which high ranking official like Brazell will let this go when the murderer of his ONLY child is in his hands? And with such a high rank, I would assume that Yelena's killing of his son probably hurt his ego too because he pretty much raised his own son's murderer.

Then there is the treatment of rape in the novel. Reyad's torture of Yelena told in flashbacks throughout the novel and Snyder was still able to weave those flashbacks effortlessly within the story. In the beginning, Yelena had mentioned that she was "grateful" that although Reyad told her to strip and tortured her with physical excercises, Reyad never raped her. Therefore, I had assumed Reyad hadn't raped her until she recounted that night she murdered Reyad. Rape is a traumatic experience and has strong mental repercussions. I could be wrong but I did not pick up on rape trauma in Yelena. I am no psychologist or specialist in this area and so I could be wrong, but I thought one of the most evident repercussion of rape is fear of men (or women) or individuals resembling the raper. With Yelena's long time of seclusion in the dugeon, I didn't think she would have time to "confront" her fears. There are certain things that are more scary than death so I wouldn't think the fear of death would make her indifferent to this part of the trauma. This also affects the realism of the development of relationship between her and Valek. She never mentioned she was scared of Valek because he's a man; she was only scared of him because he's a danger to her survival.

Pros:

- Entertaining and satisfying enough to be an automatic page turner

Cons:

- Incredibly predictable, which is a big disappointment given the potential.
- Leans too much toward giddy teenager romance

I really enjoyed the world building in this book. The characters were very interesting, nothing was really dull or lagging. I only read it on the trip to and from Chicago for the weekend but it helped pass the time as I was sucked into the story immediately. I was a bit disappointed how abruptly it ended but look forward to reading the second book.

A convicted murderess is given the opportunity to avoid hanging, by agreeing to be the commander's (ie socialist leader equivalent.. dictator would be a good modern day title) food tester. She can die by hanging, or slowly by poison.
I quite enjoyed this book. It's not the best fantasy I've ever read, but it has elements of all the things that keep me interested. There is romance, intrigue, magic and some girl kick butt fighting. I like how the world is an apocalyptic socialist society, where you are identified by the colour and uniform you are wearing. While nothing is new in this novel, it will keep you entertained for an evening.

Next in line to be executed for murder, Yelena is instead offered a chance to live - only by accepting the potentially lethal position as official food taster for the Commander of Ixia. Rather than face a more certain death, she opts for the only slightly less dangerous choice and begins her position recognition training under the tutelage of Valek, the Commander's Second. She's a quick study, but it becomes clear early on that someone is trying to get rid of her.

Although I enjoyed it, this book didn't quite live up to the potential I thought the premise held. I still intend to read the sequel, though.

Title: Poison Study Series (Poison Study, Magic Study, and Fire Study)
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Publisher: MIRA Books
Edition: Paperback: 2005
Back Cover Summary: 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...

*******

Believe it or not, but my grandmother found this book for me. She thought it would be something I would be interested and Oh Boy! was she ever right. See, every now and then you get one of those books that you start and can't seem to put down until it is finished. That's only happened a few times for me, but I love it when it does happen. I was comparing this book and its sequels to crack cocaine the entire time I was reading them. They just appealed to me that much.

High Notes: Where do I start? I loved the exciting and fulfilling plot. There was intrigue, romance, fantasy, action, mystery, anything and everything you could be looking for. I enjoyed every character, loved how they spoke and developed on their own, like no one had written them, but they really existed. Yelena is just the kind of woman you want to read about. She's headstrong, intelligent, capable, vulnerable, beautiful, sarcastic, curious, and is perfectly complemented by her counterpart, Valek. I also loved the world Snyder created. I'm always so impressed when a person can build a world from scratch, complete with maps, different tribes, politics, religions, magic, etc. There really isn't anything I can't compliment.

Low Notes: Honestly, I loved this book too much to say anything bad about it. Perhaps the only thing I didn't like was that it ended. However, I will say that this book may not be for everyone. If you're not into fantasy books or period pieces, you may not be as intrigued as I was or enjoy it as much. Nevertheless, I urge you to try.

Some people may think that fantasy/sci-fi/magical books are of no use because they are not realistic, but there is so much to be said about working the imagination.

Ratings:

Character Development: 5/5
Dialogue: 5/5
Prose: 5/5
Believability: 5/5
Style and Grammar: 5/5
Overall Rating: 100% LOVED IT!!! And trust me, a 100% does not happen that often!

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I'm giving this book three stars as opposed to merely two because the plot was very well-constructed, and everything ties together well at the end. The reasons I haven't given it five stars are because:

1) The characters are two-dimensional and pretty predictable. Ran, the heroine's supposed friend, is a good example. I knew exactly what was going to become of him from the first inclination he held a grudge against Valek. But I won't spoil anything for anyone who hasn't read it. Overall, I think they could have been a bit deeper.

2) This novel - supposedly adult fantasy - reads like something out of the Young Adult/Teen genre. My initial thought upon meeting Valek was that he was somewhere around eighteen, maybe twenty. I thought Yelena was seventeen at the most. Upon learning that Valek was a thirty year old man and Yelena in her twenties, I was astonished. They don't act their ages at all, which is a shame.

3) The main character. Although I found her tolerable, most of the time I was very annoyed with Yelena. Unfortunately, I don't really know why, but something about her made me want to roll my eyes. I had no sympathy - or empathy, for that matter - as I read the story. I didn't even feel happy for her when she got the guy at the end, which is sad.

Overall, Poison Study was a good, fast read. But I won't be reading it a second time around, and I regret buying it full price. If you want a detailed, epic fantasy novel, this is not a good choice.

This was a very, very good read. It's fantasy, but I almost felt like it was history. It was not silly at all which happens a lot in fantasy, I think. The various poisons and how they are used was a gruesome but fascinating. I found it hard to put this book down. The author is a very good writer and I'm looking forward tot he other books in the series.

Maria Snyder tells a good tale. Not as full of death and dismemberment as some fantasy, but a quick read and real page turner. Works pretty well as a stand-alone, but this one really hooked me on finishing the series.

Poison Study is probably the best book in the Study Trilogy, in my opinion. Snyder is a master storyteller, and I was amazed at how intricate and detailed she was able to make her fantasy world. You can't help but root for Yelena because she really is the ultimate underdog. Furthermore, she is the type of character who recognizes her own flaws and learns how to utilize her strengths despite of her shortcomings. She doesn't try to push any sort of moral agenda but instead reflects on her actions and how they affect others around her. I'm not sure if I would classify this series as material for the "young adult," since a lot of the scenes are brutal. I recommend this series to all fantasy lovers out there. Even though some of the fight scenes are a bit cheesy, this is a great book and definitely worth your time.

This book was a treat , believable, well developed characters, exciting story and written in a style that makes it a pleasure to read. Magic did play a role in the story, but it was more about the characters and their relationships, which is a nice change from fantasy where magic dominates the story. One minor complaint, I didn't believe that Valek would have accepted the Commander's order to execute Yelena at the end of the story, it really seemed to me that he loved her too much for that. Of course, we never find out what would have happened if the order was actually given to Valek, but it is implied that he would have carried it out. This was just a very minor flaw to me in an otherwise wonderful story. I will definitely be reading the sequel, "Magic Study".

I wish I had picked these books up sooner! So well written, and such a unique story and world. The world building is fantastic, the characters are complex, and the magic system is well thought out. I have not been able to put the series down since starting Poison Study! I read book 2 over the weekend.

This was a nice fantasy book, one which really deserves 3.5 stars rather than 3. It's the story of a woman, who on death's door for a crime, is offered the option of becoming a poison tester for a ruler. Since all the previous tasters have died of poison, it appears to be a temporary reprieve more than a rescue from death. Along the way, you learn that magic is outlawed in the country this woman lives in, and she is, unfortunately, displaying some powers of magic.

I liked the book well enough after the first few chapters, to lend it to my husband (a fellow fantasy book lover) as a book he might like. He returned it to me with a "Decent, but so romancy" comment. I looked at him, bewildered, since the chapters I had read had been romance free. Since we were on a plane, I quickly finished the book and I wrinkled my nose at him when done. He asked me, "See what I mean?" and I nodded immediately. The romance had over-ridden what I found good about the novel, removing the fantasy and world-building and friendships and making it a romance novel instead.

After coming home, I learnt that the Luna publishing group was mainly romance rather than fantasy which might have altered my purchase if I had known before hand. It at least would have saved me from recommending it to my husband who would have given this about a 2.5.

The description of poison tasting and learning how to find poisons in a food was the BEST part of this novel. In fact, if I find any good non-fiction books about this old profession, I might give them a read. It was fascinating enough that even though I had a number of problems with this book, I still rate it a 3.5.

I give this book a solid three stars. It didn't blow me away, but it entertained me and held my attention while I was reading it, and that's more than I can say for a lot of books.

My taste in fantasy runs to the sprawling political-intrigue epic with a bit of magic for spice, and books get extra points with me for elegant, lush prose. _Poison Study_ is sort of a "lite" example of the subgenre when compared to my favorites (A Song of Ice and Fire, Kushiel's Legacy, Maledicte, to name a few) both in terms of plot and in terms of style. The plot of Poison Study is relatively simple by comparison, and the prose is perfectly serviceable but not seductive. Still, it's a fun bit of brain candy, for the most part.

What I liked: The parts about poison tasting, which were fascinating and left me wanting to know more about poisons and food tasters throughout history. I also liked the ambiguity of the government Yelena serves. It's frighteningly totalitarian in some ways, and in other ways it's superior to the corrupt monarchy it replaced, and while the law states that there are no exceptions to justice, there are plenty of secret ways around the prescribed sentences for those who are worthy or lucky.

The romance aspect doesn't bother me. I'm not a member of the "Get This Stinkin' Romance Out Of My Fantasy!" club. What I didn't like, though: Yelena is too perfect; she's the type of heroine who is loved and lusted after by everyone and who is good at everything. Yet, she can be annoyingly clueless at figuring out the agendas of people around her. I also find it disturbing that the love scene is vague and flowery while the rape scene is explicit. If both scenes had been written in the same style, I wouldn't have an issue; as it is, it feels like loving sex is being glossed over and rape glorified.

Gripes aside, however, I have begun reading the sequel, and will probably read the third book as well. While _Poison Study_ is not perfect, it's clear that Maria Snyder can spin a good yarn, and she'll improve with experience.

I have to say, for someone who doesn't like "romance" novels, the Luna series has sucked me in.

Of the Luna books I've read, this one ranks in the upper three, if not the best I've read. The world is believable, the characters are well-done, and the plot is compelling.

The only thing I found a little odd was the speed at which the characters declare their feelings for each other; otherwise, the rest of the book was well done. I can tell when a book has really resonated with me when I read it over again as soon as I've finished reading it the first time. This is one of those books, and is definitely an author to watch.

I have never heard of this author before, until I stumbled across her book while searching for books to buy, and I am NOT sorely disappointed. The book doesn't start out slow, and its such a wonderful book, I was disappointed that it ended. Luckily I had the 2nd book on hand, and I am almost done with that too. I cannot wait for the 3rd one to come out which would be Fire Study.

Its about a girl who survies the harshness of Ixia, and the dangers of being a Food taster to the Commander. Its also about her facing her demons, her past and struggling to move on, but events comes by and wrecks havoc on her, but she also makes friends, strange allies....I won't tell you more, but I would Highly Recommend the book....

P.S. My grandmother is going to be reading it...so that tells me something since she;s a romance reader, adn its not a romance book....but...there is SOME romance in it...hehehehehe

A convicted murderess is given the opportunity to avoid hanging, by agreeing to be the commander's (ie socialist leader equivalent.. dictator would be a good modern day title) food tester. She can die by hanging, or slowly by poison.
I quite enjoyed this book. It's not the best fantasy I've ever read, but it has elements of all the things that keep me interested. There is romance, intrigue, magic and some girl kick butt fighting. I like how the world is an apocalyptic socialist society, where you are identified by the colour and uniform you are wearing. While nothing is new in this novel, it will keep you entertained for an evening.

Next in line to be executed for murder, Yelena is instead offered a chance to live - only by accepting the potentially lethal position as official food taster for the Commander of Ixia. Rather than face a more certain death, she opts for the only slightly less dangerous choice and begins her position recognition training under the tutelage of Valek, the Commander's Second. She's a quick study, but it becomes clear early on that someone is trying to get rid of her.

Although I enjoyed it, this book didn't quite live up to the potential I thought the premise held. I still intend to read the sequel, though.

Title: Poison Study Series (Poison Study, Magic Study, and Fire Study)
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Publisher: MIRA Books
Edition: Paperback: 2005
Back Cover Summary: 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...

*******

Believe it or not, but my grandmother found this book for me. She thought it would be something I would be interested and Oh Boy! was she ever right. See, every now and then you get one of those books that you start and can't seem to put down until it is finished. That's only happened a few times for me, but I love it when it does happen. I was comparing this book and its sequels to crack cocaine the entire time I was reading them. They just appealed to me that much.

High Notes: Where do I start? I loved the exciting and fulfilling plot. There was intrigue, romance, fantasy, action, mystery, anything and everything you could be looking for. I enjoyed every character, loved how they spoke and developed on their own, like no one had written them, but they really existed. Yelena is just the kind of woman you want to read about. She's headstrong, intelligent, capable, vulnerable, beautiful, sarcastic, curious, and is perfectly complemented by her counterpart, Valek. I also loved the world Snyder created. I'm always so impressed when a person can build a world from scratch, complete with maps, different tribes, politics, religions, magic, etc. There really isn't anything I can't compliment.

Low Notes: Honestly, I loved this book too much to say anything bad about it. Perhaps the only thing I didn't like was that it ended. However, I will say that this book may not be for everyone. If you're not into fantasy books or period pieces, you may not be as intrigued as I was or enjoy it as much. Nevertheless, I urge you to try.

Some people may think that fantasy/sci-fi/magical books are of no use because they are not realistic, but there is so much to be said about working the imagination.

Ratings:

Character Development: 5/5
Dialogue: 5/5
Prose: 5/5
Believability: 5/5
Style and Grammar: 5/5
Overall Rating: 100% LOVED IT!!! And trust me, a 100% does not happen that often!

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I'm giving this book three stars as opposed to merely two because the plot was very well-constructed, and everything ties together well at the end. The reasons I haven't given it five stars are because:

1) The characters are two-dimensional and pretty predictable. Ran, the heroine's supposed friend, is a good example. I knew exactly what was going to become of him from the first inclination he held a grudge against Valek. But I won't spoil anything for anyone who hasn't read it. Overall, I think they could have been a bit deeper.

2) This novel - supposedly adult fantasy - reads like something out of the Young Adult/Teen genre. My initial thought upon meeting Valek was that he was somewhere around eighteen, maybe twenty. I thought Yelena was seventeen at the most. Upon learning that Valek was a thirty year old man and Yelena in her twenties, I was astonished. They don't act their ages at all, which is a shame.

3) The main character. Although I found her tolerable, most of the time I was very annoyed with Yelena. Unfortunately, I don't really know why, but something about her made me want to roll my eyes. I had no sympathy - or empathy, for that matter - as I read the story. I didn't even feel happy for her when she got the guy at the end, which is sad.

Overall, Poison Study was a good, fast read. But I won't be reading it a second time around, and I regret buying it full price. If you want a detailed, epic fantasy novel, this is not a good choice.

This was a very, very good read. It's fantasy, but I almost felt like it was history. It was not silly at all which happens a lot in fantasy, I think. The various poisons and how they are used was a gruesome but fascinating. I found it hard to put this book down. The author is a very good writer and I'm looking forward tot he other books in the series.

Maria Snyder tells a good tale. Not as full of death and dismemberment as some fantasy, but a quick read and real page turner. Works pretty well as a stand-alone, but this one really hooked me on finishing the series.

Poison Study is probably the best book in the Study Trilogy, in my opinion. Snyder is a master storyteller, and I was amazed at how intricate and detailed she was able to make her fantasy world. You can't help but root for Yelena because she really is the ultimate underdog. Furthermore, she is the type of character who recognizes her own flaws and learns how to utilize her strengths despite of her shortcomings. She doesn't try to push any sort of moral agenda but instead reflects on her actions and how they affect others around her. I'm not sure if I would classify this series as material for the "young adult," since a lot of the scenes are brutal. I recommend this series to all fantasy lovers out there. Even though some of the fight scenes are a bit cheesy, this is a great book and definitely worth your time.

This book was a treat , believable, well developed characters, exciting story and written in a style that makes it a pleasure to read. Magic did play a role in the story, but it was more about the characters and their relationships, which is a nice change from fantasy where magic dominates the story. One minor complaint, I didn't believe that Valek would have accepted the Commander's order to execute Yelena at the end of the story, it really seemed to me that he loved her too much for that. Of course, we never find out what would have happened if the order was actually given to Valek, but it is implied that he would have carried it out. This was just a very minor flaw to me in an otherwise wonderful story. I will definitely be reading the sequel, "Magic Study".

I wish I had picked these books up sooner! So well written, and such a unique story and world. The world building is fantastic, the characters are complex, and the magic system is well thought out. I have not been able to put the series down since starting Poison Study! I read book 2 over the weekend.

This was a nice fantasy book, one which really deserves 3.5 stars rather than 3. It's the story of a woman, who on death's door for a crime, is offered the option of becoming a poison tester for a ruler. Since all the previous tasters have died of poison, it appears to be a temporary reprieve more than a rescue from death. Along the way, you learn that magic is outlawed in the country this woman lives in, and she is, unfortunately, displaying some powers of magic.

I liked the book well enough after the first few chapters, to lend it to my husband (a fellow fantasy book lover) as a book he might like. He returned it to me with a "Decent, but so romancy" comment. I looked at him, bewildered, since the chapters I had read had been romance free. Since we were on a plane, I quickly finished the book and I wrinkled my nose at him when done. He asked me, "See what I mean?" and I nodded immediately. The romance had over-ridden what I found good about the novel, removing the fantasy and world-building and friendships and making it a romance novel instead.

After coming home, I learnt that the Luna publishing group was mainly romance rather than fantasy which might have altered my purchase if I had known before hand. It at least would have saved me from recommending it to my husband who would have given this about a 2.5.

The description of poison tasting and learning how to find poisons in a food was the BEST part of this novel. In fact, if I find any good non-fiction books about this old profession, I might give them a read. It was fascinating enough that even though I had a number of problems with this book, I still rate it a 3.5.

I give this book a solid three stars. It didn't blow me away, but it entertained me and held my attention while I was reading it, and that's more than I can say for a lot of books.

My taste in fantasy runs to the sprawling political-intrigue epic with a bit of magic for spice, and books get extra points with me for elegant, lush prose. _Poison Study_ is sort of a "lite" example of the subgenre when compared to my favorites (A Song of Ice and Fire, Kushiel's Legacy, Maledicte, to name a few) both in terms of plot and in terms of style. The plot of Poison Study is relatively simple by comparison, and the prose is perfectly serviceable but not seductive. Still, it's a fun bit of brain candy, for the most part.

What I liked: The parts about poison tasting, which were fascinating and left me wanting to know more about poisons and food tasters throughout history. I also liked the ambiguity of the government Yelena serves. It's frighteningly totalitarian in some ways, and in other ways it's superior to the corrupt monarchy it replaced, and while the law states that there are no exceptions to justice, there are plenty of secret ways around the prescribed sentences for those who are worthy or lucky.

The romance aspect doesn't bother me. I'm not a member of the "Get This Stinkin' Romance Out Of My Fantasy!" club. What I didn't like, though: Yelena is too perfect; she's the type of heroine who is loved and lusted after by everyone and who is good at everything. Yet, she can be annoyingly clueless at figuring out the agendas of people around her. I also find it disturbing that the love scene is vague and flowery while the rape scene is explicit. If both scenes had been written in the same style, I wouldn't have an issue; as it is, it feels like loving sex is being glossed over and rape glorified.

Gripes aside, however, I have begun reading the sequel, and will probably read the third book as well. While _Poison Study_ is not perfect, it's clear that Maria Snyder can spin a good yarn, and she'll improve with experience.

I have to say, for someone who doesn't like "romance" novels, the Luna series has sucked me in.

Of the Luna books I've read, this one ranks in the upper three, if not the best I've read. The world is believable, the characters are well-done, and the plot is compelling.

The only thing I found a little odd was the speed at which the characters declare their feelings for each other; otherwise, the rest of the book was well done. I can tell when a book has really resonated with me when I read it over again as soon as I've finished reading it the first time. This is one of those books, and is definitely an author to watch.

I have never heard of this author before, until I stumbled across her book while searching for books to buy, and I am NOT sorely disappointed. The book doesn't start out slow, and its such a wonderful book, I was disappointed that it ended. Luckily I had the 2nd book on hand, and I am almost done with that too. I cannot wait for the 3rd one to come out which would be Fire Study.

Its about a girl who survies the harshness of Ixia, and the dangers of being a Food taster to the Commander. Its also about her facing her demons, her past and struggling to move on, but events comes by and wrecks havoc on her, but she also makes friends, strange allies....I won't tell you more, but I would Highly Recommend the book....

P.S. My grandmother is going to be reading it...so that tells me something since she;s a romance reader, adn its not a romance book....but...there is SOME romance in it...hehehehehe

Yelena is a young women about to be executed for murder. On the day of her execution she is given a chose. Die or become the Commander's food taster. Well Yelena is no fool....

Poison Study is one of the books that I had on my shelf for a long time. I wish I would have picked it up soon, cause it's an amazing read. I loved it right away. Your sucked into Yelena's world from the very first page. By the last page your wishing it wouldn't end. If your into fantasy novels, this book you'll defintley like. It's got adventure, intrigue, even a little bit of romance.

I search and search...read and read, hoping to find an author that can spin a tale worthy of my attention. I have only discovered a handful and I have bought and pre-ordered all of their work. Maria Snyder fell into that category after I read Poison Study. It held me under a spell from the very first page until the last, leaving me with an emptiness at the end because I had finished the masterpiece and I wanted more. I believe that any book can be good with the proper character development and Snyder hit that ball right out of the park!

This is the book that you see in the store and you think ...hmmm cool name way better cover art than the rest of my SF/Fantasy collection...I wonder. You pick it up, flip through the pages, and decide it is probably a gimic. Then you buy it anyway because the cover is Sooo pretty. You go home, sit on the sofa then read the first page. After than you can't possibly move for the next few hours and finally come up for air with a horrible neck cramp and the utter satisfaction that comes with being in the middle of a great story. It has enough of the regular markers of the genre to make it a comfortable read but it is told in such a fresh way with very original twists that make it completely enjoyable. Yelena's is a world you will not want to leave. The story continues at full speed through the sequel Magic Study which tells a very new tale but still upholds the quality of the first. The third book Fire Study should prove to continue this tradition upon its release.

It's Got Everything, Action, Suspence, Murder, Thievery, A Touch Of Humor, And Very Sexy Romance! Maria Knows How To Give Us What We Crave! This Story Will Hook You, And Then Stay With You Long After You've Finished The Series! And Just As Though I Too Have Been Given The Poison "My Love", I Must Come Back And Get the Antidote! This Series Is A Keeper And I Revisit Again And Again! .....Sigh!

Although from Harlequin, this books is light on romance and heavy on good storytelling. The book revolves around Yalena, who had been scheduled for execution but was given a choice to become a food taster instead, tasting for poisons in the Commander's food.

My one complaint about this book is the lack of focus on setting. On the surface it is a medieval type fantasy involving castles, swords and dungeons. But the story keeps trying to add a modern spin that's a little distracting.

Sometimes it's with a wink and a nudge, such as when the cook invents what are obviously cinnamon buns but can't think of a name for them. Other times it's in the decidedly modern way the characters speak. While I don't expect the dialog to be in true medieval English, it still grates at me if the speech sounds too modern. For example, at one point one of the characters refers to the protagonist camouflaging herself with leaves as "going camo".

There were other details that detracted from the feel of this story as a medieval fantasy. Leotards were mentioned at one point - a garment which wasn't invented until the 19th century on Earth. There was also an assembly-line type factory in the story, which is definitely not a medieval invention. There are many other modern aspects to the story as well, they stood out glaringly and somewhat hindered my suspension of disbelief.

But the story is engrossing enough that I can put those issues behind me. There were some plot twists that were meant to be surprising but that I had guessed in advance. But in spite of that the story contained enough suspense to keep me eagerly reading.

The characters are very well written, and the protagonist's struggles and growth as a character are engaging to follow.

I really enjoyed the way the author portrays political ideals and agendas. Some aspects of the laws and regulations of the land of Ixia will seem deeply wrong. But on the other hand other aspects helped correct for years of rule by a tyrannical despot. The author displays situation without over-moralizing it, leaving the reader to decide right and wrong.

I would recommend this book to anybody who enjoys a good fantasy.

This is a reread but Poison Study will always be my `it' book. I read it when it was released way back when (ok, it really wasn't THAT long ago...just a few years) and even though it was not a genre I would have normally considered, I ended up loving it. It got me back into reading and I have not stopped since.

Since I read this long before my book reviewing days I wanted to give it some well-deserved attention this second go around.

I ended up loving Poison Study and a lot of the characters as much as I did when I read it years ago. And I think this is only the second book I have ever reread...Jane Eyre being the other.

Maria V. Snyder builds a captivating and unique tale that draws you in. The smooth writing and vivid descriptions hold your attention and makes Poison Study a book you will not want to put down.

It's a story about Yelena who has a rocky past and present to say the least. She was forced to do something and is now paying the price. She accepted her fate only to be given a thread of hope to grasp on to. She's offered the chance to become a food taster. But only after passing...well surviving a deadly test.

i was recommened this book from a friend, and i dont regret reading it. this book is full of action, brilliantly thought out plots and just magic. the next book in the series is going to be my next read. loved this book. recommend to lterally anyone over the age of 11. sorry about typosz :)

I literally read this book in one night. From the first page I was drawn in by Yelena and her plight as a soon-to-be-executed prisoner and her choice of becoming a poison taster or hanging. Told in first person, the story moves along quickly as Yelena tries to learn to trust again and uncovers a potential conspiracy involving outlawed magic use in the military dictatorship that has overthrown the kingdom. The characters are likable and there were more than a few twists that keep me turning the page.

Good lite fantasy read but don't expect a lot of complexity, depth or adrenaline racing suspense. What bothered me the most are the characters blind loyalty to the commander s/he's a dictator! I thought the storyline would segway into Yelena and Valek plotting to over throw the commander and rebuilding a free and just society, (one where people won't be hanged for defending themselves) but nope they all (for some reason) don't mind be controlled and living in fear.

I thoroughly loved and enjoyed this book! I couldn't put it down. The story was fascinating and drew me in almost immediately. There was never a dull moment in this novel. There are a lot of unexpected twists and an unexpected romance too. Yelena is an amazing character who shows strength and defies the odds. Yelena is always looking for a solution to her problems instead of just sitting back and letting things happen. It is especially interesting when she develops magic because that brings even more danger into her already danger-filled life. I liked this book because the plot is completely original and it contains magic, adventure, torture, and all kinds of action within the pages. This book does not disappoint as a fantasy novel. I definitely recommend this as a must read book.

Set in a time when kings rule, sorcerers exist, and true love always wins, Poison Study spins a tale about how a single choice can change the course of one person's life in a way they never thought possible.
Yelena is a twenty year old woman in jail for murdering the son of the general who took her in as an orphaned child. She is sentenced to be executed, but when her execution day comes she is offered the chance of a new life. Granted, it's a life that isn't exactly what one would have in mind, but a life none the less. She is offered the job to be the Commander's food taster. This job involves constantly being put in danger of being poisoned herself. As Yelena starts her new job and new life as the Commander's food taster her life is fraught with new dangers. She is still wanted dead by the general, and she is beginning to realize that she has the powers of sorcery, which is illegal in the kingdom of Ixia. As she continues her new life in Ixia, she begins to be trusted by the Commander as well his closest adviser, Valek. As a plot against the Commander is revealed Yelena is forced with another choice, as well as the pressure to once again kill, this time for her kingdom.
This tale is spectacularly written and spins a world that the reader will easily be lost in. The imagery is especially strong. It creates a world that can easily be imagined. It is not too different from the world we live in that the reader has a hard time identifying with it. The characters are well developed and extremely real. Yelena is a strong and independent and smart woman. Valek is extremely loyal, almost to a fault, and would do anything for those who he cares about, even if it means taking another's life. The villain in the story is very real, as well and makes a stunning addition to the characters of Poison Study. The first in a trilogy, Poison Study makes a stunning debut and readers are sure to be amazed.

When I first purchased this book, I wasn't sure if it was something I would enjoy reading. The idea of a poison taster in a modern military style medieval world seemed a little out there for me. I was happily surprised by how much i enjoyed Poison Study.

Poison study is an easy read book because the characters don't have tons of depth. However, the plot is incredibly addictive. Once I began Poison Study I found it very hard to put down. I found Yelena to be a very likable character who, even though she has been through a lot, persevered and overcame every obstacle thrown at her. It was nice to read about a strong female character when most fantasy book heroes are male.

I also enjoyed Yelena's relationship with Valek. At first, I considered him a villain who was going to try and make Yelena's life horrible. As their relationship progressed however, I found there was a very different person hiding inside the Commander's assassin.

I would recommend this book for anyone who wants an action packed story line, and an all around enjoyable book. I look forward to reading both Magic and Poison Study as well as any other books by Maria Snyder

This was one of those books where as you are reading along you think to yourself 'why the hell did I wait so long to read this!?'. I can't think of any words right now to describe how good I thought this book was. I enjoyed it the whole way through and wanted to read it all in one go. Damn shame I have to work!

Not really my typical 'paranormal' reading this is more fantasy and the setting reminded me slighty of the 'Dhampir' series. Poison Study starts off simple enough and then the story unravels itself and grows into something addictive. The main characters are easy to understand and likable making this story even better.

I can't wait to read the next part 'Magic Study' and I am sure I will be buying 'Fire Study' when that comes out next year.

Like other reviewers, I wasn't sure how engrossed I could become with a poison taster - I feared that it would be too futuristic and technical for me. Shortly into this book, all my fears were swept away - I was hooked!

The feisty heroine, Yelena, was written as someone that any reader could relate to and her relationships within the novel are satifyingly complex. Without being a caricature, Yelena blends vulnerability with magic in a most engaging way. The mixture of suspense and fantasy was just right - the situations and characters were believable, yet engrossing.

Like others, this is an author that I will be sure to watch!

It was surprisingly fun reading the adventures of Yelena, food taster to the Commander of Ixia. Yelena had been sentenced to death, but after the Commander needed a new food taster, Yelena chooses to take the job rather than then noose. She has powerful enemies of her own so so tasting food isn't the only hazard she faces. Maria Snyder created a intricate world which is familiar, but with some interesting quirks to keep the reader on their toes. The characters are fun and I love the way they interact with each other. Great light fantasy read, perfect for reading while curled up with a mug of hot coco!

Poison Study, while it may not be a brilliant work of literary genius, is an anjoyable read and exceptional for what it is: a "stew" fantasy touched with romance.

Stew, I say, because it takes many existing components of fantasies and stories in general and throws them into one story. For instance, the Butterfly Dust poison, which another reviewer said has been used by a number of other authors. Also, many of the characters fit into standard categories--the nice guy who is a reluctant traitor, the cocky, humorous former thief, the huge but loyal and nice guy, and so on. But all these borrowed ideas work in Poison Study. If you're picky about that sort of stuff, originality, those parts might bother you. But the way in which they're put together is original and will keep many people reading.

So, I wouldn't have wanted to give anything away, but other reviewers did and I guess once you start reading, it's kind of obvious. I personally loved the idea of the romance between Valek and Yelena. Sometimes, Snyder hinted a bit too heavily at their attraction, which made me want to snort, but the concept appealed greatly to me. I'm a sucker for "unconventional" romances--the whole meet with distrust and grow into love sort of deal. If you like that, you'll enjoy the romance. I will admit that the ending lines of romance, the dialogue, disappointed me somewhat, as it seemed Valek seemed to just jump out of character.

In any case. It's an enjoyable read, and one you can read again without feeling completely sick of it. I definitely recommend it to anyone recovering from a heavy read or just looking for entertainment.

I felt that Synder's strong points were her characters. With fantasy novels, I find myself suspending my disbelief IF the characters are complex, or unique in some particularly fascinating way. I love Valek's character- his contradictions, his strengths, cunning, and even his cruelty in the face of his loyalty to his Commander or past slight done to his family. There was this AMAZING scene with him posing as a drunk, during which he beat up four armed thugs while clutching only a beer mug. That scene just about sums up Valek's character- resourceful, with a potent mix of cunning and latent humor.

Yelena,the protagonist, is another one of the characters that Synder illustrated well. Horror laced her adolescence, but she managed to pull ahead, and HEY, how can you not be intrigued by food-taster/acrobat/Magician female protagonist? There's also an interesting twist of truth to the Commander's identity, which I found veryy captivating.

So read this novel replete of fun characters for the amusing interactions between Yelena and Valek, touches of comedy, for the adventure and Yelena's daring, and for the undercurrents of magic, betrayal, and horrors of the past. I wouldn't classify this book as really romantic, but Valek and Yelena were two characters that balanced each other well. I like how romance didn't rule this book; it would've been too sappy for my tastes then.

"Don't judge a book by its cover" was never advice I took. I always judged a book, or at least was attracted to a book simply from its cover. I have to say that was the reason I was attracted to the Study books. After seeing "Magic Study" in the store and thinking its cover was gorgeous, I decided to buy Poison Study so I could begin reading the book. I usually never buy "strange" books that I dont know anything about. However, I think the fact that I did was a blessing in disguise.

When I began reading, I was immediately impressed and relieved that Yelena was not your average gorgeous and flawless beauty that you usually read about. I was happy to read that the author was accurate with the things that Yelena would have looked like, being a prisoner and thrown in a dungeon for an entire year. Obviously she would have greasy hair, a scrawny body, pale and sick... I felt the author stayed true to that and wasn't too worried about people thinking that Yelena wasn't interesting anymore because she wasn't still gorgeous.

I also found it a relief that Yelena is a witty and strong woman. When she is confronted, she doesn't cower in the corner waitiing for a man to save her like a lot of the helpless beauties in romance novels. She fights back, if not with her strength, than with hilariously witty words. I felt that was a breath of fresh air and rather humorous. Though I wouldn't consider this book a romance novel, I still feel it had the elements of many different genres put together into one beautiful source: fantasy, adventure, romance, historical...you name it, it has it.

I feel this book was beautifully done, especially for the authors first novel. I was drawn right in and I finished it in a matter of days. Being a full-time college student and employee, that's a hard task to accomplish. However, with "Poison Study", I couldn't find time to put it down.

I never expected to love this series so much. I was blown away by how much I adored certain characters and detested others! If the sizzling romance doesn't do it for you.....perhaps the exciting action and magical plot? Maria V. Snyder has written yet another amazing series I hope everyone will read. Although Poison Study certainly has an adult novel feel to it (minus the "adult content"), fans of the young adult genre will easily become accustomed to the more mature themes!

19 year old Yelena is a prisoner in Commander Ambrose's dungeon, about to be executed for murdering General Brazell's son, Reyad. She is granted a reprieve when Valek, the Commander's security chief, offers her the position of the Commander's food taster. Valek poisons her with Butterfly's Dust, ensuring that she returns every morning to receive the antidote. Huge nailbiter, am I right? Yelena and Valek's relationship only gets more amazing as the book continues. We see sides of both that we never expect, as they learn from each other and break down the walls encasing their hearts. This coupling...gosh, how much I love it! I could happily read 10 books about their adventures together, it's that good! Along with Valek, Yelena befriends soldiers and other workers in the castle. Janco and Ari are particular favourites of mine but as for everyone else, you'll be questioning their motives and wondering who in the castle is an outsider spy! *gasp*

Yelena is a magic-wielder whose abilities come out in her times of need, something we begin to explore in this first book. Yelena was mentally and physically abused in the orphanage she lived in with General Brazell and Reyad, so we're really able to see her strength of character, as can Valek. Yelena lives in the North, where magic is strictly forbidden, but in the enemy territory of the South she can be taught about her skills, as they embrace magic. Tension between the two lands slowly builds, setting the foundations for the sequels!

Poison Study is a fantastic book with realistic characters you can't help but love. As the plot unravels bit by bit, Yelena and Valek come closer and closer together.... Team Valena badges need to be made! They are absolutely swoon-worthy. This novel will mess with your mind, full of shocking twists and suspenseful action throughout. A stand out read!

I wasn't sure I would like this book and it took me a while to pick it up. However, once I picked it up I could not put it down and finish it in a day. Yelena is very cool. The romance is not one of those, she looks at him and he's so handsome and they fall in love right away, etc. It is so refreshing, so different. I love it! This one's a must read. The book I pick up to read after Poison Study is so lacking compare to it that I wonder if I should waste my time.

Maria Snyder's debut novel hits all the right notes as it careens along at a breakneck pace, introducing us to the world where her story takes place. The main character, Yelena, has spunk to spare and talent aplenty, and is strong enough to carry the novel. There are many engaging or evil supporting characters as well, and the book is a page-turner. If you're looking for high fantasy like Jordan or Brooks, don't bother though. There aren't any woodland elfs or trolls here.

Strongly recommended.

One of the first things a person should take into consideration when reading this book is that it is the writer's first published novel. As for myself, I'm curious to see where the series will go in the sequel. Yelena is a strong and capable character (although I fail to see the Mary Sue element another reviewer accused the writer making -- and I'd know: I've met the author.)

Maria does draw from her own experiences -- as a writer should. This gives some of the events that Yelena goes through (not to mention some of the fights) a level of authenticity. Also, Maria makes excellent work of using the other senses throughout the book -- the most obvious being taste and smell. On a whole the writing is strong and clear -- it's easy to draw one's self into the story.

The setting may take a little getting used to: it's not your typical medieval fanatsy. To me this is more a Post-Rennaissance/Reformation setting. We see a country where the monarchy has been broken and replaced by a militaristic law. At some points, the "Code" seems a little too strcit to be plausible, but it doesn't draw away from the story over all. Magic exists here, but it's subtle, invisible, and in Yelena's case, illegal.

The romantic element is also atypical -- based on what romance I've read -- in that Yelena is independent enough to function on a whole without her male counterpart. She can handle herself in a fight, and in the field of politics. Her ability with magic may be weak, but that's part of the plot. The point is, while Yelena and the hero are very much in love, Yelena can endure without him if need be.

However, this atypicality (if that is a word) of both the fantasy and romance sides to the story also works against it. It's hard to classify this work as either genre because while both aspects are blended well, there's little for the reader of the "standard" to hold on to. At the same time, it's also what makes this book stand out as unique and entertaining.

I loved this entire series honestly and the author I believe is phenomonial! The world and characters she creates are so vivid and beautiful. While reading the books I entirely forgot to eat or sleep or do anything but absorb every page. I am pretty sure I read the whole thing in one sitting, and then reread it because it was just that good. I try to get everyone I know to read these books, even non-fantasy readers...because I think it will appeal to almost anyone.

Call me jaded, I guess. It takes a lot these days to find a new author or series in fantasy or science fiction to really make me sit up and notice. After hearing quite a few people tell me that I should read this one, up off it came from my Mt. To-Be-Read, and I settled in for an evening's read.

Set in the land of Ixia, a young woman is rudely grabbed from her cell and hauled before an official. She has a choice, she's told, to either hang for a murder that she's committed, or become a food-taster for the Commander. It's not much of a choice, but Yelena eagerly takes the chance. After all, another day is another chance to plot her own survival and escape, right?

But it's not as simple as it might sound -- she needs to take an antidote to a poison that she's been tricked into taking, and it seems that the ghost of the man that she killed is intent on haunting her as well.

Told as a first person account, we get to see through her eyes the changes that have happened in the land since the Commander Ambrose and his troops came and overtook the kingdom in a military coup. Even the names of the countryside have been changed with a clutch of generals running Military Districts, numbered one through six, and even called MD1 or MD2 as needed. The old aristocracy and ruling family, who were all magicians it seems, were wiped out or fled south to a land called Sidia, and now in this remade Ixia, everyone has a job and everyone wears a uniform. No one has a real education, just learning enough to do their job. For Yelena, the world is all in hues of red and black clothing, blank walls where artworks once stood, and a real feeling of unease.

Her mentor in all of this is Valek, an arrogant right hand man of the Commander's, who's good at plotting and conniving and trading quips with Yelena. As she survives her training in poison and varied attacks by the father of the man she killed, and machinations by fellow servants, we get to find out her past, a very little bit about why magic is so distrusted, and the rumours of a rebellion against the Commander's New Order.

For a first novel, this one is barely acceptable. There are plots and counterplots, a real lack of any sort of logic to the setting, and a heroine who is (of course) pretty, smart, an acrobat, and evidently a tough survivor of abuse -- all at the age of sixteen or seventeen. It pretty much goes without saying that she excells at everything, will inspire loyalty in her fellow servants and soldiers, at least those who don't hate her on the spot, and is good and noble herself. Turns out that the man she killed was a real pervert who enjoyed torturing children.

In fact, there were some elements of this novel that made me cringe as I read it. One was the complete lack of any sort of credible fantasy setting -- Snyder is very lazy when she comes to the nomenclature of her land and people, everyone has just one name, no background, and seems to accept that life is good in this Orwellian fantasy of a land of happy human robots. One of the things that makes a fantasy novel work is that the author needs to provide some sort of colour and vibrancy to the story. Instead, it's all just dreariness and labour. The language is very much modern, 21st century idiom -- there's even an 'okay' or two in there, along with some modern slang such as 'camo,' 'termination' and the like. That, for me, completely yanked me out of the feeling I was reading a fantasy novel, and I started to dislike the book intensely.

It's one of the basic jobs of a fantasist to create a world that is different enough from the one that the reader lives in to have a sense of being 'somewhere else,' but have enough familiarity to keep the reader interested and sympathetic to the story. Here, I was left without any sense of history, or even why the Commander had bothered to take over, unless everyone has bought into the megalomania. And it's written in such a flat style that it was simply boring to read.

The cuteness factor is ratcheted up with the use of chocolate as a plot device and the author calling it 'theobroma,' the modern Latin name for chocolate in our world. It's laziness on the author's part.

Most of all, several parts of the novel have distinct episodes of sadomasochism, intended rape and other forms of nastiness. The descriptions are fairly lurid, and if the author did intend this for the Young Adult market, it's pretty disturbing. Some people can manage surviving extreme trauma and not be psychologically messed up, but sadly, the opposite is usually the case.

This might do for a young adult novel, but I suspect that most folks over the age of twenty will be bored stiff by this one. There are two more books in the series, and while I am certain there are fans of the series, I don't think that I am one of them.

Three stars, and I am being very charitable about it.

Not Recommended.

This is the best book I have read in a long time. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I was so enthralled by it, I couldn't put it down, and read it in the span of a couple days. Poison Study is a masterpiece, showing just how far the strength of a female character can extend. Yelena has been through so much in her life, from loosing ties to her real family, dealing with a tragic childhood in which she is tortured for fun, and being imprisoned for protecting herself and those she cared about most. She becomes stronger through all of this and embraces life, when she could choose death. She becomes resourceful and cunning. She learns how to manipulate the world around her to stay alive. And she learns that she has a gift that nobody can take away, this knowledge helps her continue on through many trials that will test her to the extreme. She constantly works to improve herself by learning how to fight to defend herself and gaining knowledge anywhere she can find it. In this way, she will be almost unstopable, an intelligent cunning woman who can fight in more than one way and find her way out of almost any situation. Through all of this, she still finds time to be normal, to fall in love, and to learn what family really means. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

The interactions between Yelena and Valek make this novel a fun read. I found myself becoming absorbed with their work relationship right away.

One of the first problems that Yelena must overcome is her own mind. She must decide to either be executed or become the Commander's food tester, which, could mean instant doom as well.

She chooses the food taster and as she states to Valek, the Commander's right hand man, she is not a fool...she wants to live. Valek becomes her superior, and in a way an enemy, because he forces her to become a slave to the Butterfly Dust poison/antidote. But Yelena does not let that define her relationship with Valek. She finds ways to create trust within her rank, finds a small amount of personal freedom, and friends along the way.

However, Yelena's personal demons are always a heartbeat away, and she is forced to deal with those when the Commander has visitors at the castle. Mix in a magician who wants to execute her as well, Yelena finds herself in some precarious situations.

However, as the plot heats up, Yelena learns that trust and loyalty are important. But, dealing with your own problems supersede any resolution in life.

This is one of favorite books now. Besides a wonderful plot, fascinating characters and background, this books has a great amount of detail on subjects that I previously didn't even consider - for example, food tasting. I was most surprised by the amount of research that the author has invested into writing this book. Sadly, nowadays most writers get by with little (if any) research. Mrs. Snyder, however, did her homework and the book turned out to be marvelous!

Yelena is about to be executed for murder, but is given the last minute chance to instead become the food tester for the Commander, ruler of Ixia. As Yelena learns to test for and recognize poisons, she is pulled into the palace intrigues, builds a difficult relationship with her teacher, and begins to recognize her developing magical powers--powers which are, in Ixia, punishable by death. Poison Study is a promising text with an intriguing premise, a strong female protagonist, and carefully plotted twists and developments--but Snyder's writing is unforgivably immature. As a result, the writing style is rough and sometimes silly, and setting, character, and plot all lack realistic detail. I wanted to like this book, and I still admire the concept, but there is no skill in the execution and the final product is disappointing. As such, I can't recommend it.

Poison Study boasts an allover interesting concept, and perhaps most interesting is the protagonist's tenacious strength. Coming from a situation where she was dehumanized and abused, Yelena overcomes the difficulties of both her past and her present: she accepts the risky job of testing for poisons, learns to fight, defends herself against attackers, and wins the respect of her teacher and the Commander. Yelena is not the only strong female character in the text, and Snyder carefully and successfully avoids the vast majority of gender stereotypes, giving women agency and putting them in positions of power. I've read a lot of bad books recently, but this is the first of those that is not poor because of its themes or the messages it conveys. In those realms, this book is empowering, with a female protagonists who finds her strength within herself. Add to this an unusual fantasy setting where the aristocracy has recently been overthrown by military rule, an interesting concept in the form of the poison study itself, and careful political intrigues, and this book has a very promising premise.

What keeps the book from meeting its potential, however, is Snyder's immaturity. Her book is full of this immaturity, and there are more examples than I can mention here--but for a few: the first person voice sounds more like daily speech than a written novel, the setting is constantly confused between medieval and modern, twists and turns in plot are either predictable or inexplicably swift, characters are strictly typed and undeveloped, Yelena's character development lacks all subtlety, and attempts to make Yelena realistically flawed result in exaggerated physical reactions (she thinks of something scary, and then lifts her arms to shield her face) and a near-literal haunting. Perhaps it's the curse of a first novel, and the sequels (Magic Study and Fire Study, neither of which I've read) are better; perhaps Snyder doesn't know how to write. Either way, this book reads as if it were the first draft of a novel penned by a fourteen year old.

The book is not impossible to read by any means, and in fact it's swiftly over. The plot, however predictable its twists, keeps the story moving along, and Yelena is a compelling character. But with such a good premise and such a strong protagonist, it's awful to see the book executed so poorly. On some level the good aspects save this book from a bad rating, because there is honestly no harm in reading it except for wasted time. However, I simply can't recommend the book, not with so much out there that is worth reading. The novel is an exercise in disappointment, interspersed with moments of sheer disbelief when Snyder, for example, talks about the jagged wounds left by glass or the waggling fingers of a disapproving fire. Another writer, a more mature style, or more revision might have saved this book; as it is, it is simply too immature to excuse or to enjoy, and I don't recommend it.

The first book of three Yelena Zaltana novels (whether they're strictly a trilogy is perhaps a moot point), Poison Study will appeal to readers looking for a well-paced story and a strong, yet human, heroine. We meet Yelena when she is caught between a rock and a hard place - an immediate death sentence or risking her life each day as the food taster for the Commander of the military state of Ixia. Naturally, Yelena chooses to take on the job, and we strap in for the ride as she experiences life at the pointy-end of Ixian politics, a world that is reminiscent of the court of the Bourgias combined with communist Russia, and sprinkled with a little magic to taste.

One of the best things about Poison Study is Snyder's simple and flowing writing style, essential for the success of the first-person viewpoint. Like other good YA fiction, we're rarely bogged down in long descriptions of peripheral aspects of the story. Instead, we find ourselves caught up in Yelena's thoughts as the action drives the plot to unfold. We learn that things aren't always as they seem with the somewhat maligned Commander of Ixia and his right-hand-man, the assassin Valek. And whilst Yelena does some amazing things as she rebuilds her self esteem and discovers her full abilities, we're just as often reminded that, at the end of the day, she is a young woman in her late teens who grew up in a cruel orphanage environment.

Poison Study is squarely aimed at the female young adult market and has earned its biggest fan base to date from this group. It's quite light on the fantasy element and has more focus on gymnastics, friendship, romance and tree-climbing rather than sword and sorcery or fantasy world-building. There are, however, certain themes in the book, particularly the use and abuse of power in male/female relationships, that parents of younger readers may wish to be aware of. Nevertheless, Snyder doesn't wallow in reams of graphic detail so it's nothing much more than you would witness in a prime-time tv slot.

If the ratings system allowed, I would have given this book 3.5 stars. For it's genre, it's better than 3 stars but there were some things that kept it from being as brilliant and compelling as other contemporaneous YA speculative fiction I've recently enjoyed.

My reasons are as follows:

1. As far as first-person heroines go, I never really 'felt' Yelena as much as I've felt for characters in other books, such as Katniss in Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games, for example. There was always a sense that Yelena's voice was coming from an adult trying to write a young adult, rather than directly from a young adult. This is a fine line that I think Collins mastered better than Snyder.

2. Secondly, I just didn't find this book as original as some of the other reviewers have claimed. When I think of original YA speculative fiction of the last couple of years, things like Patrick Ness' The Knife of Never Letting Go spring to mind. On its own, Poison Study is quite fresh, but in comparison to TKONLG, it's a pastiche of fairy tales and other fantasy offerings of recent years.

*SPOILER ALERT*

3. Finally, the treatment of Yelena's relationship with Valek (at least 10 years her senior) disturbed me far more than the sexual abuse she endured when she was younger. The psychology of her falling for someone who held so much power over her earlier in the book was quite chilling in the way it was romanticized and so readily accepted - it seemed to be playing on the 'college freshman or high school senior falls for dangerous/mysterious professor' fantasy. For me personally, this undermined a lot of the positive messages that were otherwise coming out of this book for young female readers.

Just finished this book. The beginning was drew me in quick and I wanted to know more about Yelena, the main character. The more I learned, the more I liked her. It kept my interest throughout but I was a little disappointed towards the end. Her relationship w/ Valek just seemed to easy, as well as the ending itself. I would've liked more buildup in their relationship and maybe more of a climax to the story. Overall though, I liked it and I will read the next book in line, Magic Study.

Overall, Poison Study is one of the most entertaining book I've read in a while. In fact, I managed to read it and its two sequels (Magic Study and Fire Study, which I also recommend) in one weekend. The book appeals mostly to older teenagers and young adults. Its a bit two dark for young or immature teens and preteens and deals with some sensitive subject matter so i wouldn't recommend it to the younger crowd (anyone below 14-15). That being said, the story is very gripping and shows a real, strong female protagonist, which I personally favor. The main characters are built well, though some supporting characters can remain quite static. The plot moves quickly and is consistently thrilling. The actually prose isn't first class, however, I don't imagine that is the purpose of the novel anyway. So, while the writing could be improved, the story does leave the reader thoroughly entertained, which is the point after all, of a book like this.

The novel POISON STUDY begins with the protagonist Yelena bound and chained in the dungeons of an unknown castle, about to be executed for murdering the son of a General. Within the first few pages, however, Yelena is offered a rare chance at escaping death (or at least, execution) by becoming the poison tester for the Commander.

The rest of the novel is filled with intrigue stemming from this job as poison tester, and the reader is constantly left to wonder whether someone will take revenge on Yelena for her murder of the General's son, or whether someone will try to poison the Commander and Yelena will die gruesomely poisoned. There is a love story as well, and Snyder balances intrigue, love and magic to create the perfect fantasy which leaves you wanting more. Luckily for us, there's a sequel! Highly, highly recommended.

Was one of my favorite books ( read this year) ! Great fun read with a very likable character. The next two books really go downhill though. Had to force myself to finish/ get through Fire Study( book 3). Not sure I'll read Shadow study... depends on reviews.

Poison Study is the first book in Maria V. Snyder's Study Series and hot damn, did I enjoy this book!

I was instantly sold on the jacket's description and the book lived up to every word. I was hooked! Let's put it this way, my employers are lucky I showed up to work because I was this close to feigning illness just so I could stay, curled in bed, with the main characters, Yelena and Valek.

(Uh...let's pretend that's not as dirty as it actually sounds)

Snyder brought a really interesting story to life with this novel. The fast paced adventure made it easy to immerse myself in the militaristic, almost-totalitarian world of Ixia, which you can't help but compare to today's society.

Let's not forget to bring some attention to the main character, Yelena, who proves to be a strong, ass-kicking heroine as the novel progresses. And guys, I may not want to admit this, but I still drool over the very sexy Valek, who, I'm convinced, is a certified ninja!

Poison Study is a fascinating, memorable read. I honestly can't recommend it enough!

What's next for Yelena and Valek, you ask? Find out in the next book, Magic Study.

**GrowingUpYA on Blogspot**

I am a fantasy fanatic when it comes to novels and this one was so unique because in it's own world, the mystery and magic seems so scientific and logical! The story and characters are fantastic. I have a hard time starting some books, but this one was so easy to fall into because it is exciting from page one and doesn't let up at all!! Non stop action and mystery throughout and it kept me guessing till the end! Wonderful series, I highly recommend them.

The story starts out when Yelena is in a stinky, rot filled cell awaiting her death sentence to be carried out. Before long, Yelena is given the opportunity to take over as food taster for the Commander of Ixia. This means she eats everything before the Commander to taste for poisons. Yelena begins training in the art of poisoning. Her trainer? None other than master assassin Valek, a secretive and intriguing hunky guy who seems determined to make Yelena's life miserable. While dealing with the demons of her mysterious past, Yelena adjusts to castle life and attempts to hone her budding (but necessarily hidden) magical abilities. As if all that wasn't enough, Yelena stumbles upon a conspiracy relating to the Commander, master magicians and her old tormenter, Brazell, General of another district in Ixia.

The plot line is extremely fast-paced and engaging. I spent all 400+ pages breathless and doing what I could to still my heart. Every little event that happened - from Yelena's first taste of My Love to her introduction to Irys, a southern master magician, to her discovery of a conspiracy that may have world wide implications - left my heart in my throat, pounding wildly. Despite this being a relatively short book (as compared to the 600+ tomes I've been reading as of late...), a lot happened! It was action packed and I couldn't get enough.

And all of this was greatly aided by the world Maria V. Snyder created. Ixia was well fleshed out and very real feeling. I saw what I imagine Snyder saw in her mind's eye, in the characters, their abilities and the general look of the world itself.

The romance aspect of the novel was present and well done. The relationship between Yelena and Valek developed slowly and at the right pace. There was a tiny feel of insta-love near the end but it wasn't over the top.

In the end, I couldn't believe it ended as it did, nor was I fully prepared to leave the world Snyder created. I loved the story and high energy and didn't want it to be over. The major cliffhanger at the end definitely increased that need to get ahold of the rest of the series.

I loved this story! The characters were well developed and the story and plot were well written. I can't believe this was the debut novel for this author- it was amazing! I will definetly be reading anything else written by this author. I got my paperback copy in a used book store- but the kindle bundle would have been a great value if I'd known before purchasing the paperback! I can't wait to read the next one!!!

When I first got book I was stuck at an airport for 5 hours and this was only book that looked even remotely interesting. I expected not to like it but was shocked how fast it pulled me in. I like the fact the story stayed focased on the main charater insteed of skipping around like lot books do. Also while she does eventually develope a love interest its doesnt take over the whole story(she doesnt cry bout her guy for whole book). That and its realistic how she falls for the guy so it wasnt annoying. The second one was even better and more my kinda book.^^

I found this novel to be excellent in every way. I was so disappointed when I reached the end of the book. The writing is solid and the plot ensnarls the reader like a vine. I was taken aback by the vivid description of Yelena's existence before being taken from prison to be the Commander's food taster. If I were to categorize this book aside from being fantasy/science fiction, it would be as a sword-and-sorcery type adventure.

This book is a gem! I'm not going to describe the story to you, you already read that above. This book is undeniably interesting and enticing. At the start your not really sure what to expect, but there is a growth of characters and by the end of the book you want to know what happens next. Like another reviewer, I went out and got the next book, and being able to do that was wonderful. And by the time the author brings out the third book, if she does, I'll get to reread the first two. Can't wait! Great work, Maria!

Not sure where the great reviews come from, it was ok, especially since it was listened to at work otherwise I would have turned it off I think the romance was lacking and the story was not very fun. The writing was not bad in that it flowed just not my kind of story. Maybe the second will be better since I bought it onsale in the set.

This book was a severe disappointment for me. I picked it up after seeing its great reviews on the store.com, the lovely cover, and the promising first chapter. However, even as I bought it, a little voice nagged in my mind that it would probably turn into a horrible romance novel. I had no basis for this opinion, but my intuition was correct. I wish it hadn't been.

The book's concept is intriguing: the noose or poison? Simply having to make that choice gives the novel potential, and the first few chapters hold up to it. The world and situation that the main character Yelena is presented with is fascinating. The government and country almost reminds me of a milder, fantasy version of 1984, though that could just be me since I'm seeing that book in almost everything I read. In any case, it is interesting, and the way the officials are portrayed makes them seem more humane than one may expect from such a heartless-seeming coup. Yelena's struggles with her new job, situation, and even her own conscience also are interesting and suspenseful for the first third or so of the book.

Unfortunately, then it all begins to go downhill. First, Yelena's life becomes a bit TOO dramatic. I understand that she murdered someone rather important and people would be angry with her, but it goes to the extreme. I simply do not believe people would waste that much time and effort with one person; it seemed like the entire plot of the book was based on hating the main character and getting back at her. It didn't help that Yelena reacted almost the same way every time, making for a shallow, predictable, and rather dull story.

At the same time that Yelena's life gets dramatic, it also seems to get better. The worse things become, the more help she gets. People who shouldn't really care about her suddenly do. Her "boss" falls for her; the Commander cares about her well-being; and people who in the beginning of the novel wouldn't like her due to an emotional burden do so anyway. Villains aside, almost everyone ends up liking Yelena and helping her, even if they betray her in the same measure. By the end of the novel, nearly every "good" character likes her, which makes it listless.

The novel also, unfortunately, devolves quickly into a not quite romance. Yelena keeps thinking that she shouldn't love him and keeps denying it when it's totally obvious, even when everyone else can see it as clear as day. Nothing explicit happens, but the situation is aggravating enough with how clueless the main character is.

Though, actually, everyone in the novel is that oblivious with everything. I figured out some of the more obvious things far before anyone else did, and the fact that Yelena and the others can't see most of this stuff makes them seem like idiots. However, in the end, Yelena often ends up being the one to figure it out, being smarter and better than her superiors in classic Mary Sue style.

For those who don't know, a Mary Sue is a perfect female character who is beautiful, all powerful, loved by everyone, and yet somehow manages to have an angsty past and horrible personality. Yelena is a good example. Her past is horrible, full of mental and physical abuse and then finally the ultimate in Mary Sue pasts, rape. She angsts and struggles with this throughout most of the novel, while everyone falls for her and loves her, as I have stated before. Of course, everything works out for her in the end too, even when it definitely shouldn't (characters and magic both end up appearing out of no where to save her). I have no respect or liking for such a character, which dragged the novel down.

The novel picks up a bit at the end of the novel with the resurfacing of Yelena's struggles with her conscience, which are interesting. The magic of the world is also vaguely intriguing, particularly how magical defenses are handled. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough for me to want the sequel or enjoy the novel. The book was far too much of a disappointment, for it had great potential that was squandered with predictability, a perfect character, and irritating romance.

I would recommend the book if there is nothing else around to read, as the beginning is decent and it doesn't end too badly. However, a good chunk of the novel is mediocre at best, and there are better books out there to read.

Happy reading!

Wow! I wasn't sure I was going to like this book, but I figured I would give it a try. After the first chapters I couldn't put it down. I couldn't even stop dreaming of this world, characters and everything else that comes with this kind of story. I normally read reviews here by starting with the worst (just in case) but I didn't bother to read reviews first for this one. I couldn't wait to start the next book.

I read close to 3 novels a week, which makes for a lot of books and a wide variety of authors to choose from.
After reading Poison Study it is very easy to say it made my top 10, possibly even the top 5.
I can't wait to read Magic Study and find out what happens ot Yelena as she becomes more engrossed in her magical abilities.

If your looking at this review as a deciding factor in your purchase, I highly recomend you go for it! I couldn't put it down, and managed to read it in one afternoon.

So, I didn't have very high expectations for this book, I just kind of picked it up and started reading it one day. At first I wasn't that into it but just stick with it, it gets really good. I can't wait to read the sequels. I'm not one to buy books (my library is my friend) but I liked this book so much that I wanted to buy it to read it again along with the sequels. I found myself wanting to keep reading but also not wanting to because I didn't want it to end. So, yes, I would obviously recommend this book.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the bit of history in the story and the time period was a change to what's out there. The character development was good and I easily made a connection with Yelena. Just a nice change of pace.

This first book is the best of the series. I wish it had been a stand alone book. Unfortunately, there are two other books in the series, and they get progressively worst. I was so disappointed with the final book, I was wishing hadn't even started the series. I would recommend THIS book, but not the others in the series, but it is really hard to start a story and not find out how it ends.

I don't have much to add, but I loved this book so much, I just had to throw in my two cents. There was only one of the many twists that surprised me. I found them all to be utterly predictable . . . and yet, I so thoroughly enjoyed the read that I didn't mind one bit.

This book is a rarity in that it's one of the few books I have ever read that show women in various roles of power and yet they are not judged by the writer for the ways in which they use it. I have never sensed in any work of fiction that the women are truly portrayed as equal to the male characters. In this book, they are, and it was refreshing and interesting.

I can't decide if the thought struck me during this book or in the next Magic Study, but reading this trilogy reminded me of Tamora Pierce, Alanna, and her world or Tortall. With a couple of differences and a different story it still really felt like a watered down version of Piece's books. While I still enjoyed reading the books, once the thought hit me I really couldn't help thinking about the comparison.

I accidentally ordered this book instead of the one I originally wanted from the library and let me say, ONE OF THE BEST MISTAKES I'VE EVER MADE! Highly entertaining and just when the reader thinks he or she knows what's going to happen, Snyder turns it around and throws an unexpected twist. I stayed up all night on a school night, to finish reading and then ran around waiting to get the next two. Very original and extremely entertaining.

Interesting concept and well laid-out story, I enjoyed reading about Yelena's adventures, although some parts were easy to predict.

I'm very interested to see how the story continues in the next book.

Note: I also posted this review on Goodreads.

I almost gave up on this one within the first few pages - the initial descriptions of Vaelek's eyes and panther-like grace were off-putting coming as it were from the mind of his scared prisoner. I'm glad I stuck with it, though, as I ended up really enjoying it. Still, don't think I will read the sequels as the reviews say they aren't as good and poison study just made I for me as a decent read.

This is a bad book. I don't understand why it has such a high rating.

The characters are mostly rather boring. My main problem with the book is how stupid everyone is, and how little care is paid to make the story seem believable, or make the motivations of characters seem consistent.

Characters don't pick up on the most obvious of clues, and often act with total blindness, especially towards the end of this novel, where everyone routinely ignores attempts of murder, mind control, and poisoning for no stated reason (possibly this is due to severe procrastination). The main character's choices are especially absurd, basically amounting to walking into a meat grinder without having any motivation to do so, having every motivation to avoid it, and easily being able to escape.

Poison Study leaves you with a sweet taste in your mouth and craving more. (I'm so glad there's a sequel.) Yelena has one of the most interesting jobs around, tasting meals for the Commander of Ixia. It has great fringe benefits with the best food, nice clothes, a room in the palace, but there are those about who would just as soon see the Commander dead, and poisoning is always a threat. I felt for Yelena through her many trials, and cheered her on when she became empowered. It's hard to find a heroine who can be tough and caring all at the same time. Maria V. Snyder reconciled those opposites in Yelena.

..who bought it.

What were they expecting?

This book was great, original, kept me reading.

Someone mentioned this was more "Romance than fantasy". Yes, that's why it was the in the Romance/Fantasy section of my Borders. Yes, Luna is part of Harlequin.. I figured that out really fast as well just by keeping my eyes open.

This is by far my absolute ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOK.....and I work in a book store! Maria V Snyder always has strong female leads in ALL her books. They are fantasy worlds without a bunch of outrageous realms and names you can't pronounce. This is the most exciting, adventurous story you can read with just a touch of a love story.

Every once and a while you come across a book not expecting to really like it and then your suprised into loving it! I read some of the not so pleased reviews and I could see where they got caught up in the modern mixing with the medieval being a problem, for some that would be an issue. It did not bother me at all. Her writing and character development reminded me of George R. R. Martin, I am adding this author to my list of ones to read. Bravo Ms. Snyder! I am looking forward to the next installment!

I read Poison Study after finding it at a local bookstore and have read it many times since then. The plot is complicated, the characters are fun and loveable, and the ending unexpected. I thought the heroine, Yelena, was strong, independent, and unlike any other I have read about.

She is smart and has a knack for getting into trouble, but is miraculously always able to get out of it. Valek is a master assassin and almost as smart as Yelena.

Ari and Janco are hilarious and make the book.

So that gives you a daring heroine, a sexy and "non-douche" love interest, the jokester sidekicks, and the best book ever.

I work at a bookstore... there are few contemporary titles that the majority of my fellow booksellers agree are great books, but this one is the exception. I actually "stumbled" on "Poison Study" while browsing the SF section. It was amazing-- a period piece with action, suspense, intrigue, a little magic and some romance thrown in the plot. I recommended it to my fellow booksellers and they loved it also. We all bought copies (the highest commendation from booksellers) and we look forward to the sequel.

I decided to wait to review this until I had finished all three titles in the series.

The premise of the story was compelling. Mysterious Valek gives Yelena the choice to die or become a food taster for the General. The subplots were also interesting. I had a sense of the book being more for young adults; the tone of the writing seemed slightly juvenile. But the story was good enough to look forward to the sequel.

This is the type of book that makes you stay up way too late even though you know you have to get up early. Great start to the series & the sequels only get better. This series has it all: action, adventure, drama, magic, fantasy, suspense, mystery, humor, & romance; all rolled up w/a strong, intelligent, female lead~girl power! And it doesn't hurt that her "heart mate" is a super hot, dangerously seductive, bad boy...just saying ;-)

This first book is the best of the series. I wish it had been a stand alone book. Unfortunately, there are two other books in the series, and they get progressively worst. I was so disappointed with the final book, I was wishing hadn't even started the series. I would recommend THIS book, but not the others in the series, but it is really hard to start a story and not find out how it ends.

I don't have much to add, but I loved this book so much, I just had to throw in my two cents. There was only one of the many twists that surprised me. I found them all to be utterly predictable . . . and yet, I so thoroughly enjoyed the read that I didn't mind one bit.

This book is a rarity in that it's one of the few books I have ever read that show women in various roles of power and yet they are not judged by the writer for the ways in which they use it. I have never sensed in any work of fiction that the women are truly portrayed as equal to the male characters. In this book, they are, and it was refreshing and interesting.

I can't decide if the thought struck me during this book or in the next Magic Study, but reading this trilogy reminded me of Tamora Pierce, Alanna, and her world or Tortall. With a couple of differences and a different story it still really felt like a watered down version of Piece's books. While I still enjoyed reading the books, once the thought hit me I really couldn't help thinking about the comparison.

I accidentally ordered this book instead of the one I originally wanted from the library and let me say, ONE OF THE BEST MISTAKES I'VE EVER MADE! Highly entertaining and just when the reader thinks he or she knows what's going to happen, Snyder turns it around and throws an unexpected twist. I stayed up all night on a school night, to finish reading and then ran around waiting to get the next two. Very original and extremely entertaining.

Interesting concept and well laid-out story, I enjoyed reading about Yelena's adventures, although some parts were easy to predict.

I'm very interested to see how the story continues in the next book.

Note: I also posted this review on Goodreads.

I almost gave up on this one within the first few pages - the initial descriptions of Vaelek's eyes and panther-like grace were off-putting coming as it were from the mind of his scared prisoner. I'm glad I stuck with it, though, as I ended up really enjoying it. Still, don't think I will read the sequels as the reviews say they aren't as good and poison study just made I for me as a decent read.

This is a bad book. I don't understand why it has such a high rating.

The characters are mostly rather boring. My main problem with the book is how stupid everyone is, and how little care is paid to make the story seem believable, or make the motivations of characters seem consistent.

Characters don't pick up on the most obvious of clues, and often act with total blindness, especially towards the end of this novel, where everyone routinely ignores attempts of murder, mind control, and poisoning for no stated reason (possibly this is due to severe procrastination). The main character's choices are especially absurd, basically amounting to walking into a meat grinder without having any motivation to do so, having every motivation to avoid it, and easily being able to escape.

Poison Study leaves you with a sweet taste in your mouth and craving more. (I'm so glad there's a sequel.) Yelena has one of the most interesting jobs around, tasting meals for the Commander of Ixia. It has great fringe benefits with the best food, nice clothes, a room in the palace, but there are those about who would just as soon see the Commander dead, and poisoning is always a threat. I felt for Yelena through her many trials, and cheered her on when she became empowered. It's hard to find a heroine who can be tough and caring all at the same time. Maria V. Snyder reconciled those opposites in Yelena.

..who bought it.

What were they expecting?

This book was great, original, kept me reading.

Someone mentioned this was more "Romance than fantasy". Yes, that's why it was the in the Romance/Fantasy section of my Borders. Yes, Luna is part of Harlequin.. I figured that out really fast as well just by keeping my eyes open.

This is by far my absolute ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOK.....and I work in a book store! Maria V Snyder always has strong female leads in ALL her books. They are fantasy worlds without a bunch of outrageous realms and names you can't pronounce. This is the most exciting, adventurous story you can read with just a touch of a love story.

Every once and a while you come across a book not expecting to really like it and then your suprised into loving it! I read some of the not so pleased reviews and I could see where they got caught up in the modern mixing with the medieval being a problem, for some that would be an issue. It did not bother me at all. Her writing and character development reminded me of George R. R. Martin, I am adding this author to my list of ones to read. Bravo Ms. Snyder! I am looking forward to the next installment!

I read Poison Study after finding it at a local bookstore and have read it many times since then. The plot is complicated, the characters are fun and loveable, and the ending unexpected. I thought the heroine, Yelena, was strong, independent, and unlike any other I have read about.

She is smart and has a knack for getting into trouble, but is miraculously always able to get out of it. Valek is a master assassin and almost as smart as Yelena.

Ari and Janco are hilarious and make the book.

So that gives you a daring heroine, a sexy and "non-douche" love interest, the jokester sidekicks, and the best book ever.

I work at a bookstore... there are few contemporary titles that the majority of my fellow booksellers agree are great books, but this one is the exception. I actually "stumbled" on "Poison Study" while browsing the SF section. It was amazing-- a period piece with action, suspense, intrigue, a little magic and some romance thrown in the plot. I recommended it to my fellow booksellers and they loved it also. We all bought copies (the highest commendation from booksellers) and we look forward to the sequel.

I decided to wait to review this until I had finished all three titles in the series.

The premise of the story was compelling. Mysterious Valek gives Yelena the choice to die or become a food taster for the General. The subplots were also interesting. I had a sense of the book being more for young adults; the tone of the writing seemed slightly juvenile. But the story was good enough to look forward to the sequel.

This is the type of book that makes you stay up way too late even though you know you have to get up early. Great start to the series & the sequels only get better. This series has it all: action, adventure, drama, magic, fantasy, suspense, mystery, humor, & romance; all rolled up w/a strong, intelligent, female lead~girl power! And it doesn't hurt that her "heart mate" is a super hot, dangerously seductive, bad boy...just saying ;-)

I have to thank the store.com and the reviewers on this one. I don't remember exactly how I came across it, but I must have been searching around the store's site, and it appeared as a recommendation or one of those "If you like this, then you'll probably like this" suggestions, so I opened up the page for Poison Study and read the reviews.

People seemed so excited about the book that I ran out that day and bought it from a local bookstore. I picked it up casually the next morning before I needed to head outside and do some gardening. Now, I'm not sure if it was the power of suggestion or not, but I literally had to tear myself away from the book or I would have read it straight through in one sitting. As it was, I thought of little else while I was gardening, returned to reading it as soon as I had showered, and finished it shortly before DAWN (and I'm not that fast of a reader).

I never really thought I'd be interested in the fantasy genre - although I, like everyone else anxiously awaited each release of the LOTR movies - and I never ventured into the sci-fi/fantasy section of bookstores. I certainly would have missed out on this book if it had not been for the the store suggestion that piqued my interest and the reviews which tipped the scale, so thank you, fellow readers, for that. I have since ventured into the sci-fi section a few times and have even purchased a few more books there. Needless to say, I'll also be purchasing Magic Study as soon as it's available.

So, really no need to re-hash the plot here. Others have covered it just fine. I happen to like books written in the first person quite often. It presents a far more vulnerable, sympathetic, and natural perspective. I think it's written really well and that Maria Snyder has an appealing style. It was exciting and it certainly kept my interest.

Some basic parts of it verge on well-travelled material: young, naive girl uncertain of her place in the world and the nature and force of her own powers is thrust into suspenseful situation with older and wiser guy who could be good/could be bad and begins to make friends, find her own voice, acknowledge her own strength, and realize her feelings before heading off to learn more about herself and presumably use this info in the future. A) What's not to love about a journey that, really, all of us travel to a certain extent in our lives, and B) This basic outline has plenty of original aspects, and it's told in such a fresh, compelling, and exciting way - with creative plot twists - that you really do find yourself turning pages, getting lost in the story, and rooting for Yelena and her friends. She grows a great deal in the first book - facing some traumatic emotional scars and overcoming numerous challenges as well.

I highly recommend this book. It's a great read, and I'm anxious to find out what happens in the rest of the trilogy.

The premise sounded interesting. I was immediately caught up in Yelena's story. Her dilemna, her survival, her growing attraction to Valek, who if anyone to trust, the totalitarian state in which she lives - all combined to keep me reading oblivious to everything else. I'm glad I bought this book and Magic Study at the same time and totally crushed that I have to wait for the next one.

One of the best books I have ever read, I came across Poison Study through an eharlequin update that I get. Originally part of their Luna publications, the idea behind the story interested me. After reading Poison Study I found myself so eager for more than I was on my toes for its sequel, Magic Study, which was equally as great as the first. I share these books with all my friends, and so far have addicted three of my friends to these books. All of us, my friends and myself, are eager for Fire Study, planning to order and buy it as the first chance we get. Its a series you don't want to miss.

this is my all time favorite book! i'm an avid reader and i've got plenty of experience of great, okay, and fantastic books. only one other series can be compared to this book (and the whole series really). there is everything you would need in a good story from romance to mystery to adventure and no one can deny that this book is hard to put down. i would even recommed you don't start this book late at night or during a day that you need to get a lot done. it is also well written with charcters that you can sympathize with and relate to and others that are a puzzle to figure out.

please give it a try at least! you won't be disappointed!