Poison Study (Study #1)

I never had a single complaint with the book. I find assassins more interesting than most people and read about them and play them in video games often. The characters were solid so far, the setting and how it became was intriguing, and there was enough mystery behind Yelena’s past to keep someone interested from beginning to end. As someone who doesn’t like romance as the main focus I thought it was well done, by the time the love interest was presented I loved them both and was rooting for things to work. Everything about this book worked for me. Snyder has set up a wonderful series that I can’t wait to continue.

Poison Study is the type of book that brings you inside the book. It sucked me in as soon as read the first page! Maria V. Snyder is an amazing author who should win a hundred prizes, she's soooo good! The world that Yelena lives in is so amazing that I want to live there with her. I would love to be able to control magic and live in a world like this!

My favorite character was Janco. He was full of jokes that made me and the characters laugh. He was full of mischief and humor that never ceased to exist. I thought Yelena was a awesome character as well. She was such a determined character that was maybe a tiny bit stubborn.

This is a really stunning book, perfect for ages 12+, as it contains some inapporiate parts. But I think anyone around that age should so read it!

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOK EVER!!!
Seriously, go get a copy now and i mean RIGHT NOW!!!

An amazing book, Poison Study really captures you and pulls you into the world of Yelena Zaltana (although she doesn't find out her full name until near the end).

Yelena was in prison and ready for execution. For murder. And Yelena doesn't regret it. Not at all. Pulled out of prison, Yelena is offered a surprising opportunity. To become the new poison taster. Which doesn't seem so bad. Unless you consider the fact that Yelena could die from the next bite any second.

Given a poison called "Butterfly's Dust" (which, at the end, turns out not to be a poison at all), Yelena has to stay at the castle, working alongside the Commander's top assassin, Valek.

Yelena is sure her days are numbered, but as she spends more time there, Yelena finds she likes the castle. Especially its occupants. Yelena finds she is falling in love with Valek, and finds friends among some of the soldiers. Friends that are prepared to protect her when her old master, General Brazell, comes and is ready for revenge against Yelena for killing his son.

As her life goes on, Yelena realises that she has some strange powers. Magic. But she refuses to accept it, for magicians are executed on sight in Ixia. But she is finding it harder and harder to avoid the truth. Her only chance is to get to Sitia, where, as an added bonus, she might be able to find her long lost family.

Yelena is an awesome character, determined, headstrong, and more than a little stubborn. I really loved Janco, he was so light on his feet, and full of humour. I suspect he would have gotten into a lot of mischief hadn't strong, gentle Ari been there to keep him in check!

This is a wonderful book, perfect for all ages. Everyone should read it!

I loved it.I loved this book so much. ?t was sad to end like this.I stared about to four hours ago and it just finished.I can't stop myself to change pages. Anyway, I recommend this book for anyone.

Reader reviewed by Ruthie

This was a fantastic book! The world of Ixia and Sitia are so deep, this book was planned like a Harry Potter novel. Yelena was a strong, highly likable character and I cheered her on when she was fighting her demons. Her life had not been simple or easy and watching her evolve over this book was fun. The book started and ended at the perfect places and I'm certain people of many ages will enjoy this book. Go get yourself a copy today!

Reader reviewed by Nadia

Poison Study is definitely one of my new favourite books. It has magic, intrigue, and struggle.

Reader reviewed by Chaellee

A wonderful story written by a brillaint author. Easily in my top 10 favorite books of all time. It's a shame this tale isn't more popular in the world of young adult literature. While I typically prefer 3rd person, I found this novel (written in 1st person) absolutely amazing in description and plot. While many original fairy tales are a bit overly fantastical, I found this one's story to be both somewhat plausible and amazing. I adore this book!

Reader reviewed by Lizzy

The first in a series, Snyder has
created a world filled with lies, betrayal, murder, and magic. It's a
place where an eye for an eye is law, and trials don't exist. At the
start of the story, Yelena is waiting to be executed for the murder of
the only son of a general. Naturally, when she's offered the chance to
live, she takes it despite the fact that she has to become the food
taster (to check for poison) for the Commander of Ixia. She's escaped
being hanged, but she could die at any time....

It
was nice to read a story with a strong female heroine. She doesn't need
to be rescued, and she makes her own decisions (within the limitations
that have been put on her by her handler). Her life hasn't been easy,
but she never uses that as an excuse. I also liked that Snyder waited
to reveal why Yelena commited murder. I won't give anything away, but
it really made me understand and empathize with her character. I also
loved the cast of supporting characters! Yes, I used an exclamation
mark...I was always suspicious of them (which was, in my opinion, the
point). I never knew who was trustworthy, or who would could be leaking
information to the rebels.

I'm on my way to go pick up the sequel, and I'm sure I won't be able to put it down.

Reader reviewed by Lexie

The brutality of what Yelena faced in a relatively short amount of time
(before the start of the book) would probably have broken most people.
There isn't an in depth description of prison life, but from her
appearance and short clues she gives us it couldn't have been a
particularly good year of living. I often wondered if she could have
turned things back if she would have changed things and tried to live a
less...riotous life. I don't honestly believe so though, because she
doesn't have the character (the will) of a person who would change
things for an easier life if it meant another had to suffer.

There
are occasionally plot contrivances to keep the plot moving or propel
character development (how they finally figure out where Criollo comes
from is such a thing), but nothing as overt as 'Yelena found a book
that told her exactly what was happening and how to stop it'. Yelena
earns most things the hard way--her self-defense, the trust of
practically the entire cast and even her victories come at a price.

I
know from message boards and the like that Ixia, where Poison Study is
located, isn't the ideal sort of set up for most. Its very much a
military dictatorship--with all the paperwork, discipline and
uniformity expected of such. You come to find out though that the two
countries--Ixia and Sitia--are pretty much polar opposites on each ends
of extreme beliefs.

Commander
Ambrose believes that orderliness and properly channeling talents is
the only way of keeping control and from what we are told of the past
monarchy's rule there is something to what he says. He rewards hard
work, but doesn't expect someone to toil away at a job because he has
to. He wants the people of Ixia to want to work towards a better life.
There isn't any poverty or unemployment (at least not in any measurable
amount). Its kind of communist.

Sitia is described almost like a
hippie commune but with magic. Something the Commander does not
tolerate. We find out why eventually.

As far as romance goes,
its not a focal point of the novel at all. It happens over the course
of time--Yelena doesn't see Valek and go 'Wow give me some of that!',
she's actually very distrustful and wary of him for a long time. Since
this is a first person POV from Yelena, we can't know Valek's immediate
feelings upon meeting Yelena, but we can guess (she's basically bones
with a fine tissue paper skin stretched across, smells like a dung pile
and is a confessed murderess, I can't imagine that's a turn on for
him). When feelings are made to be known Yelena doesn't suddenly become
worried about how she looks or acts or Valek's opinion--well she
worries over Valek's opinion, but that has less to do with romance and
more to do with staying on his continual good side as an employee of
his. Doesn't do to piss off the foremost spy and assassin in the realm
eh?

((reprinted with author's permission))