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

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Warning: May contain spoilers for Poison Study! I tried to keep it as spoiler free as possible, but if you haven't read Poison Study yet, proceed with caution.

Title: Magic Study
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Publish Date: January 1st, 2006

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

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

Will my magical abilities save me...or be my downfall?"



Cover:  I really like the new Kindle edition covers, and I hope they re-release the hardback/paperback with this cover because the set would look gorgeous together!

StoryLine:One thing I found myself wanting in Poison study was more information on the strange southern land of Sitia. A land full of magicians and seemingly completely different than Ixia? Yes, tell me more! Well, I got my wish in Magic Study. I think part of what keeps this book from falling into the middle book drag is the fact that it takes place in a whole new land with an almost completely new set of characters. Snyder flexes her incredible world building skills again in this book with an intricate land full of amazingly diverse clans and environments. From magically protected plains, to entire communities built in the tree tops of a forest, to crowded city hubs. There's so much to see, so to speak, in sitia.

Characters: We got to meet a bunch of whole new characters this time around, including the other Master Magicians, Yelena's family, and, my favorite, some horses. I have to say that the horses are some of my favorite character. The first time Yelena spoke to Topaz, I laughed out loud. We get some interesting new villains, and they manage to be even worse than the last antagonists.

Parting Thoughts: Magic Study managed to not just be a middle book to bridge the gap between the first and the last book of the trilogy. Sometimes the middle book is just there as a placeholder of sorts, but not here. With a whole new land, a big new cast of characters, and separate new storyline, Magic Study manages to be almost as good as book one!

4.5/5 Stars

Click the book's cover to go to it's Amazon page(Disclaimer: I am an Amazon Associate, meaning I earn a small percentage for the items bought through my links). Description from Goodreads.