You know your life is bad when you miss your days as a poison taster . . .
With her greatest enemy dead, and on her way to be reunited with the family she'd been stolen from long ago, Yelena should be pleased. But though she has gained her freedom, she can't help feeling isolated in Sitia. Her Ixian background has changed her in many ways -- and her newfound friends and relatives don't think it's for the better . . .
Despite the turmoil, she's eager to start her magic training -- especially as she's been given one year to harness her power or be put to death. But her plans take a radical turn when she becomes involved with a plot to reclaim Ixia's throne for a lost prince -- and gets entangled in powerful rivalries with her fellow magicians.
If that wasn't bad enough, it appears her brother would love to see her dead. Luckily, Yelena has some old friends to help her with all her new enemies . . .
I have been eagerly anticipating getting hold of this book. The first book in this series, Poison Study, was one of the few 5/5 books I read last year.
After her adventures in Ixia, Yelena is now is Sitia, getting to know a family that she has no recollections of, and trying to adapt to a completely foreign way of life to her. There are strange clothes, strange food, strange feelings of anxiousness, animosity from her brother, as well as a new life at the Citade (a kind of magician's school) that she now has to attend in order to meet her promise to Irys, who she met in the previous book.
There were many, many things to like about this book - the setting, the different areas of Ixia that had such variable conditions and people, the suspense.
There was just one thing that drove me a little insane, and that was in relation to Valek. Once Yelena and Valek were reunited he always called her love...drove me nuts, and didn't really fit my idea of his character that I had built in the first book. As an occasional endearment it's fine, but ALL of the time was a little bit too much!
Overall, a satisfying follow up to Poison Study, and I can't wait for Fire Study to come out!
Rating 4.5/5
Posts
Wasn't it an awesome book!!! :D I just luv it as well... just too bad that Fire Study won't be out before 2008 T_T As for Valek calling her love, I think it's understandable... I mean, they're in love, but haven't seen each other in months and will also be apart again... showing his affection reassures me :P so it should reassures Yelena as well. Also, you know, he was quite cold in the beginning of Poison Study, but he does not have a "cold, distant" personality... anyway, I love both of them :D
ReplyDeleteI guess I am not that kind of person myself which is why it grated me a bit.
ReplyDeleteI skipped the review cuz I have this in my ultra special TBR mehehehe. I am waiting till the Fire Study date is closer. LOL.
ReplyDeleteI loved the first one, but haven't been in the mood for the second, yet.
ReplyDeleteYou know, surprisingly enough him calling her love didn't bother me. Although, I never did review this book or Poison Study. I really should, both of them were really good.
ReplyDeleteI am about the only person on the romance reading planet who has not started reading this series yet! Oy. Okay, I am officially going to read it!
ReplyDeleteI started with Magic Study and need to go back and find Poison Study!
ReplyDeleteI have heard a lot of good things about these books. Looks like I'll have to take the leap and read it!!
ReplyDeleteAre you going to be reading Oprah's new book? I'm STILL disappointed it's not a Classic!