Book 3 in the Study Series
Genre: Fantasy
Grade: C+
Status: Library Book
This will be short because Fire Study is a continuation of the first two books and almost everything in it is a spoiler for Poison or Magic.
In this novel, Ylena is continuing her studies but things go wrong almost right away. That is to be expected -- what are fantasy novels for but for things to go wrong ;-) What brought the grade down in this one is that when Ylena figures out there is a spy in her camp, she immediately turns on what I felt was the least likely candidate. In addition, the primary villain of the piece has been obvious from book two but Ylena seems surprised by finding out who it is as do several others, leaving them to fight a battle for several hundred pages that could have ended much more simply, imo. Finally, the book hinges on a secondary character going from good to bad to good again. That could have worked if the character had been a mercenary and pulled a Han Solo or just plain been a mercenary and either been paid more by the good guys or seen the battle going in their favor and decided to switch coats for self-preservation. He could have had a catalytic experience that showed the villain killed his father (or in the ever popular copy Star Wars style learned the villain was his father.) None of that happened. He just kept switching back and forth with no real cause that I could see.
Despite the above, I would recommend this book. Yes, there are errors but the first two novels more than make up for the mistakes in this one. The world is still interesting and by this point you are invested in the characters and want to learn what happens to them. Anyone experienced with fantasy trilogies knows that final books can be hard to pull off -- they wrap up the stories and often the plot gets bogged down in trying to explain everything. This book falls right in the middle of trilogy writing and for a freshman effort that is no bad place to be.
tea time
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder
Book 2 in the Study series.
Grade: A
Status: Library Book
Genre: Fantasy
If you read my previous post you know I gave the first book in this series an A as well. This book has the same strong world building, fascinating characterizations and intriguing plotting that made the first book a win for me.
When we left Ylena at the end of "Poison Study" she was setting off for the next phase of her training to the neighboring land of Sitia. While Ixia, under the Commander, is more of a socialistic/communistic regime, Sitia is under a council based on magical ability and birth rights. There is an interesting contrast between life in Sitia and life in Ixia that I thought added to the book. The differences between the two governments is underlined by Cahil, someone Ylena grows to know over the course of the book who feels that he is the rightful leader of the Ixian people. I definitely formed an opinion as to which was the better way of life but I didn't feel the author really had Ylena do that -- and that was a good thing. Her neutrality forms a back drop for the individual reader to decide what they like best (or if they even care).
I don't want to give away much of the plot since it would include spoilers for "Poison Study" so I will say: Read Poison Study first. This is most definitely a book two and while it may stand alone it will certainly be a more confusing experience than it needs to be if you read book one. Also, most of the back ground information on the secondary characters is contained in book one and that information is needed to keep them from looking one dimensional.
What I can tell you about this book is that Ylena, an orphan, learns a great deal about her family back ground in this novel. It is less of an ordeal than Ylena fears and yet it is definitely rife with challenges of its own. As she struggles to discover who she is and who her friends (and enemies) are in this new environment she is also struggling to learn the basics of her new course of study, namely magic. A point in Snyder's favor as a writer is that she walks the line between too much and too little information very well. She doesn't overwhelm us with the how and why of Ylena's abilities but she does fill in what we need to know.
New characters are of course introduced and a challenge is presented that eerily mirrors something that Ylena had a taste of in book one. We don't spend as much time as I would have liked with characters from Poison but they definitely make an appearance. This book has more action and some of the new characters don't add much to the overall story but I was still very impressed with this sophomore effort.
If you like poison study you will not be disappointed in its sequel.
The Tea: I've made a surprising discovery. After years of drinking Celestial Seasonings Chai offerings I have become a lover of all things Lipton. I especially enjoy their basic decaf blend which serves as a nice conduit for my International Delight creamers. Unlike the Chai, which has a flavor of it's own, Lipton Decaf is a subtle taste that blends well with just about any creamer flavor -- especially the Hershey's rich chocolate. Enjoy!
Grade: A
Status: Library Book
Genre: Fantasy
If you read my previous post you know I gave the first book in this series an A as well. This book has the same strong world building, fascinating characterizations and intriguing plotting that made the first book a win for me.
When we left Ylena at the end of "Poison Study" she was setting off for the next phase of her training to the neighboring land of Sitia. While Ixia, under the Commander, is more of a socialistic/communistic regime, Sitia is under a council based on magical ability and birth rights. There is an interesting contrast between life in Sitia and life in Ixia that I thought added to the book. The differences between the two governments is underlined by Cahil, someone Ylena grows to know over the course of the book who feels that he is the rightful leader of the Ixian people. I definitely formed an opinion as to which was the better way of life but I didn't feel the author really had Ylena do that -- and that was a good thing. Her neutrality forms a back drop for the individual reader to decide what they like best (or if they even care).
I don't want to give away much of the plot since it would include spoilers for "Poison Study" so I will say: Read Poison Study first. This is most definitely a book two and while it may stand alone it will certainly be a more confusing experience than it needs to be if you read book one. Also, most of the back ground information on the secondary characters is contained in book one and that information is needed to keep them from looking one dimensional.
What I can tell you about this book is that Ylena, an orphan, learns a great deal about her family back ground in this novel. It is less of an ordeal than Ylena fears and yet it is definitely rife with challenges of its own. As she struggles to discover who she is and who her friends (and enemies) are in this new environment she is also struggling to learn the basics of her new course of study, namely magic. A point in Snyder's favor as a writer is that she walks the line between too much and too little information very well. She doesn't overwhelm us with the how and why of Ylena's abilities but she does fill in what we need to know.
New characters are of course introduced and a challenge is presented that eerily mirrors something that Ylena had a taste of in book one. We don't spend as much time as I would have liked with characters from Poison but they definitely make an appearance. This book has more action and some of the new characters don't add much to the overall story but I was still very impressed with this sophomore effort.
If you like poison study you will not be disappointed in its sequel.
The Tea: I've made a surprising discovery. After years of drinking Celestial Seasonings Chai offerings I have become a lover of all things Lipton. I especially enjoy their basic decaf blend which serves as a nice conduit for my International Delight creamers. Unlike the Chai, which has a flavor of it's own, Lipton Decaf is a subtle taste that blends well with just about any creamer flavor -- especially the Hershey's rich chocolate. Enjoy!
Monday, August 3, 2009
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.
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.
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