#Review : Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

By Maria V. Snyder

Fantasy / Romance

Synopsis:

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…

It’s been awhile since I’ve picked up a fantasy novel and thoroughly enjoyed it – so much that I almost grabbed my kindle to buy the next book within seconds of finishing it. I forced myself to make dinner instead, knowing my friend was going to lend me the 2^nd book over the weekend.

While the MC is facing darkness and there’s no light at the end of her tunnel, I wasn’t bothered the least bit by the book’s bleak tone. Her desire to live – to learn – captured my empathy from the very beginning.

Yummies: Characters were all flawed, real, & balanced by each other. SO well done. I love especially how Ms. Snyder portrayed Yelena’s growth throughout the story. Nothing was hidden from the readers emotion-wise. Yelena’s fear, anger, and lost soul are easy to see, and her transformation a complete joy to witness.

Yuckies: Not that they’re REAL yuckies worthy of hurting a 5 star rating, but I wouldn’t have minded a more organic feel to the world building. It lacked a smidge in my opinion. Also, I’m a sucker for passion. I want to read it. Nothing worse than being left in the dark. Literally. Grrrrr (Hypocritical seeing as how the romance I write is ‘sweet’, I know.)

Both of these  so called ‘yuckies’ really have no bearing on my rating. If I can’t put a book down and don’t even realize the yucks ‘til after I’m finished it’s worth getting 5 stars.

Recommend: Absolutely. Even if you’re not a huge fantasy fan you’ll get caught up in the conflict Yelena faces – external & internal.