The Study Series by Maria V Snyder

The Series: Poison Study, Magic Study, Fire Study
The Author: Maria V. Snyder
My Grade: Books 1 and 2 A, Book 3 C

Poison Study: I loved this beginning to the Study series. As it indicates, the series is about a student about to embark on a most unusual course of study. When book one begins, the poison checker for the Commander, leader of Ixia has just died and as dictated by law the position is offered to the next prisoner in line for execution: Ylena Zaltana. Ylena's joy at her reprieve is cut short as she quickly realizes that she will be lucky to survive the training period, never mind worrying about the actual job! Her very first day in she is poisoned -- and advised that she needs the little vial of antidote held by Valek, her trainer, on a daily basis or she'll be dead in forty eight hours. Just his little way of keeping his poison checker in line. Then the study begins as Ylena learns -- sometimes by being poisoned herself -- just what each possible threat looks, tastes and feels like. As Ylena learns her position she begins building tentative relationships with the others who work in the Commander's headquarters. Is Valek, her trainer, friend or foe? Is Rand really just a friendly cook whose meals are akin to art? What about the soldiers Aro and Janco? And what about her self -- she is discovering she has some mighty peculiar talents in a land where magical abilities come with an automatic death sentence. As Ylena learns all about life at the top of the food chain in Ixia we learn all about the fascinating, multi-layered world Ms. Snyder has created. I found it deep, rich and interesting.

Ixia was interesting for a fantasy world because it challenged what we have always come to expect -- a feudal system built around kings and nobility. I don't want to give too much away but it is clear that Ms. Snyder thought out the aspects of government and the benefits what might attach to one form over another when creating her world. The Commander, as leader of the new world order, is a complex character. While we only get glimpses into who he is they are well thought out, nuanced glimpses which give us a guide to who he is and why he set up the government he did.

Valek, Ylena's trainer, is a familiar character in the fantasy landscape but for all that a very interesting individual and a good foil for our heroine. The roles he plays with her of tutor, challenger, and possible ally or enemy add depth to the book.

What worked for me in this book was that Snyder blended perfectly the craft of character and world building. She didn't become so fascinated by her novel form of government that she forgot to always let us see it through the character's eyes and he it affected them. And unlike many recent offerings I read she did not feel the need to explain magic, poison or the military to me ad nauseam. She gave enough glimpses into each that showed she had thought things out without getting bogged down in the details.

Her characters were all well nuanced and very likable. I especially liked the balance she used with Ylena -- while she is action oriented as she should be, she is also wise enough to always test the waters as she needs to, and always willing to ask for instruction as warranted. Not everything comes easily to Ylena, which always adds a nice sense of balance and reality to a character. If I had a quibble it was not with this character but the fact that several of the minor characters were so well reasoned out -- everyone had a purpose for doing something, no one seemed mean just for the heck of it. Unfortunately, life isn't quite that perfect but really, that is just one very minor quibble.

I raced through this book in an afternoon. It has a light, easy, reading style and Ylena's voice is highly enjoyable. I liked the characters and the action and mystery kept me turning the pages.

For: Fans of any paranormals.
Romance: Light but definitely there.

Tea: The perfect tea for this book is a mint tea. Candy Cane Lane, a green tea with the perfect hint of peppermint by Celestial Seasonings is my favorite but if you can't get that try adding a few sprigs of peppermint to a tea of your own choosing.