Review: Dawn Study - Maria V. Snyder

The exhilarating conclusion to the Chronicles of Ixia series

Despite the odds, former poison taster Yelena and warrior Valek have forged an irrevocable bond - and a family - that transcends borders. Now, when their two homelands stand on the bring of war, they must fight with magic and cunning to thwart an Ixia plot to invade Sitia.

Yelena seeks to break the hold of an insidious evil that could force her to make a dangerous deal whilst Valek peels back the layers of another dark betrayal. At its rotten core lies a powerful sorcerer . . . and his latest discovery - that the fate of all rests upon two unlikely weapons.

One may turn the tide.

The other could spell the end of everything . . .

The Chronicles of Ixia:
Poison Study
Assassin Study (Short Story)
Magic Study
Fire Study
Power Study (Short Story)
Ice Study (Short Story)
Storm Glass
Sea Glass
Spy Glass
Shadow Study
Night Study
Shattered Glass (Novella)
Dawn Study

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Review:
I fell in love with Yelena and Valek in Poison Study and have been a devoted fan of this series ever since then. Maria V. Snyder has created such a wonderful world along with so many favourite characters and I just devour each new instalment so I'm pretty heartbroken that Dawn Study is the final book. If you're going to end a series then it has to be on a high note though and she has definitely achieved that goal here. This book was action packed from beginning to end, we get a chance to catch up with all our favourite characters (old and new) and I don't think there could have been a more fitting end to the series.

This is the conclusion we've been building up to, the final showdown between Yelena and her herd and their longstanding enemies, and it was well worth the wait. Owen Moon thinks he has everything planned down to the tiniest detail, he has the Commander brainwashed, the Master Magicians and the Sitian Council are under his control and he is about to start a war between Ixia and Sitia to destroy the magicians once and for all. Unfortunately for him Yelena, Valek and their allies are determined to stop him at any cost. They're short on manpower, they're up against weapons they have no idea how to counter and they are still trying to figure out all of Owen's backup plans but they're fighting for their lives and they're aiming to win no matter what it costs them.

I'm not going to say anymore about the plot but just when you think you have everything figured out Maria V Snyder throws another curveball to change the game completely. Our team are hit with one thing after another and the danger has never been greater so it's genuinely an edge of the seat read that leaves you praying everyone you love will make it to the end. If I have one complaint it's that I'd have liked a longer epilogue but that's only because I'm not ready to say goodbye to these characters and I wanted to spend more time with everyone, not because the book actually needed any more. I can't help it, I'm greedy when it comes to this world! In reality I actually think the author was right to end Yelena and Valek's story here, it's about time they found some peace and are able to focus on themselves and their growing family.

That doesn't mean I'm not hoping for more in the future though, I'd be happy to read extra stories about ANY of the characters in this world but what I'm really keeping my fingers crossed for is a spin off set a few years down the line starring some of the younger characters. I'd love to see more of Reema and Teegan as they grow into their powers and just imagine how much they could achieve if you had them working alongside Fisk and his helping hands or Valek's younger siblings. Onora would be another interesting character to follow and I'd be happy to spend more time with Ari and Janco too. There are so many options for expanding this world and of course if we could get a glimpse into Yelena and Valek's future too that would just make things even sweeter.

This is without a doubt one of my favourite series and it's one I can't recommend highly enough. It has been excellent from beginning to end and Maria V Snyder continues to be an auto-buy author for me so no matter what she decides to write next I'll definitely be reading it.

Source: Received from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Shattered Glass - Maria V. Snyder

While trying to teach her adopted daughter, Reema, how to work with molten glass, Opal receives a letter from Master Magician Zitora Cowan requesting Opal's immediate help. Zitora resigned from the Sitian Council over two years ago to search for her lost sister, and no one has heard from her since. The letter is probably a trick, but Opal refuses to pass up the opportunity to help her mentor, who may be in genuine trouble. Good thing Opal isn't that easy to fool. With her two soldier friends Nic and Eve providing backup, the three travel to a small town in the Jewelrose Clan. But can they rescue the Master Magician without being caught in the same trap?

The Chronicles of Ixia:
Poison Study
Assassin Study (Short Story)
Magic Study
Fire Study
Power Study (Short Story)
Ice Study (Short Story)
Storm Glass
Sea Glass
Spy Glass
Shadow Study
Night Study
Shattered Glass (Novella)
Dawn Study

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Review:
Maria Snyder is an auto-buy author for me, I love everything she's written but her Chronicles of Ixia books (the ones narrated by Yelena in particular) are my favourites so I bought Shattered Glass as soon as it was published. This story is set between Night Study and the upcoming final book in the series, it actually overlaps Dawn Study a little so I'd highly recommend reading this before you get the new one. There are certain revelations at the end that are going to have a big impact on Opal's actions in the final story.

It was really nice to get a chance to catch up with Opal, I'm still not convinced about her relationship with Devlin but I'm glad she's happy and I really enjoy watching her with her adopted daughter Reema. I actually think Reema is a pretty brilliant character and I'd love to have a spin off series featuring her a few years down the line when she's old enough to be off having her own adventures, I can't be the only one thinking she'd be a great match for Fisk can I? Just imagine the trouble those two would cause if they put their heads together? They'd take over the world in no time!

Opal's old mentor, Master Magician Zitoria, has been missing for several years now, ever since she went looking for her lost sister, so when Opal receives a mysterious letter from her requesting her help she immediately jumps to respond. Devlin isn't happy about her going alone but he has to stay behind to look after Reema so Opal recruits her friends Eve and Nic to help her.

I'm not going to say any more about the story because it's fairly short and would be too easy to spoil but I enjoyed seeing Opal in action again and this left me more eager for Dawn Study than I already was. I know not all readers are fans of authors writing additional novellas that are required to understand the full length novels in a series but I think it's worth pointing out that Maria wrote this to help raise funds to pay for her daughter's friend's treatment for breast cancer and I think it's worth buying for that reason alone. Even if you ignore the fact that your money is going to a good cause it's a fab little story and fans are going to love being back in this world.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Night Study - Maria V. Snyder

A new darkness is rising for Yelena Zaltana

Ever since being kidnapped from the Illiais jungle as a child, Yelena Zaltana's life has been in peril. But the recent loss of her Soulfinding abilities - the powerful magic that has protected her before - has made her more vulnerable to her enemies.

As she searches for a way to reclaim her abilities neither Ixia nor Sitia are safe for her. Especially since the growing discord between the two countries and the possibility of a way threatens everything Yelena holds dear.

Now with the most sinister threat she has ever faced approaching, Yelena will have to find a new way to fight the dark.

The Chronicles of Ixia:
Poison Study
Assassin Study (Short Story)
Magic Study
Fire Study
Power Study (Short Story)
Ice Study (Short Story)
Storm Glass
Sea Glass
Spy Glass
Shadow Study
Night Study
Shattered Glass (Novella)
Dawn Study

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Review:
I'm not very rational when it comes to this series because I just love it so damn much but I think Night Study might just be my new favourite from Maria V. Snyder. Yelena and Valek have been one of my favourite fictional couples ever since I read Poison Study and my love for them both has only grown throughout the series so you're just going to have to forgive me for fangirling a little (or probably a lot!) in this review.  I'm going to assume that anyone who is reading this review has read at least as far as Shadow Study so please be aware that there may be spoilers beyond this point for anyone new to the series but just in case you've been hiding under a rock for the last few years and are yet to discover the Chronicles of Ixia you're just going to have to trust me that these books are AMAZING and you NEED to read them! So, if you're not up-to-date step away from the screen now and get reading, I'll wait right here until you're finished.

Are you back? Okay you've had your spoiler warnings so this is where the real discussion starts. Night Study picks up immediately after the ending of Shadow Study and you're already aware of the cliffhanger that ended on so I'm sure you've been desperately waiting for this book just like I was! Yelena has just made a very big discovery and now it's time to break the news to Valek, this is a huge time of change for the couple and things aren't helped by the fact that Yelena is still unable to access her magic. Valek is understandably feeling very protective towards his heart mate but he is torn between his love for her and his duty to the Commander. It's not going to be long before Valek is forced to make some difficult choices, especially since the Commander seems to be hiding so many things from him lately.

I really don't want to say too much about the plot here but there is a LOT going on that is will potentially have a huge impact on lives in both Ixia and Sitia in the future. Yelena and Valek are dealing with enemies both old and new, there are new friendships, strengthening of old ties, surprising allies and betrayals from unexpected corners. Night Study is full of action and romance, it will tug on your heartstrings and shock the hell out of you but leave you with a huge smile on your face. Our favourite characters are facing difficult challenges and danger but they are also learning a lot about themselves and the people they care about. The best news of all is that Yelena and Valek actually get to spend quite a lot of time together in this book, yes they still have separate tasks that they need to perform but they also spend some quality time as a couple and their relationship is stronger and more wonderful than ever.

This series has gone from strength to strength and Night Study is the best instalment yet, I'm absolutely devastated that Yelena and Valek's story is coming to an end but at the same time I can't wait to see how things play out. There are a lot of loose ends but things are finally coming together and I can't wait to get my hands on Dawn Study to see how it all plays out.

Source: Received from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Shadow Study - Maria V. Snyder

Yelena Zaltana is back and facing her biggest battle.

When Yelena was a poison taster, her life was simpler. She survived to play a vital role in the balance of power between rival countries Ixia and Sitia.

Now she uses her magic to keep the peace in both lands - and protect her relationship with Valek.

Yet dissent is rising. Valek's job - and life - are in danger. And Yelena's magic has been compromised.

Now she faces her toughest challenge - uncover and defeat her hidden enemies without the help of her powers . . .

The Chronicles of Ixia:
Poison Study
Assassin Study (Short Story)
Magic Study
Fire Study
Power Study (Short Story)
Ice Study (Short Story)
Storm Glass
Sea Glass
Spy Glass
Shadow Study
Night Study
Shattered Glass (Novella)
Dawn Study

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Review:
I'm a huge fan of Maria V. Snyder, I was late to the party when it came to the Chronicles of Ixia books but I absolutely LOVE the Study trilogy and Yelena and Valek are still one of my favourite fictional couples so I can't tell you how excited I was to find out they were going to be the main characters in this new series. Although I enjoyed the Glass trilogy and would recommend reading the Chronicles of Ixia series in order (start with the Study trilogy, then the Glass trilogy and finally the new Soulfinders trilogy that starts with Shadow Study) I had missed Yelena and Valek as the main characters and was looking forward to them taking a central role again. Better still, Shadow Study finally gives us a chance to see things from Valek's point of view as he is one of the story's narrators alongside both Yelena and Janco.

Shadow Study was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it more than lived up to expectations. There is just so much to love about these characters and this world and I loved getting the chance to see inside Valek's head and the chance to learn more about his childhood and his assassin training. Did you ever wonder how he ended up working for the Commander or why he wanted to kill the king of Ixia? Did you want to know who taught him about poisons and how he became so skilled with a blade? You'll get the answers to those questions and so many more, Valek has always been a bit of a mystery so it was great to get to know him better. His relationships are sorely tested in this book, people he trusts are keeping major secrets and he isn't sure why but Valek has never been one to back away from a challenge and you just know he'll move heaven and earth to protect Yelena so anyone who is out to hurt her is going to end up in a world of trouble.

I have to admit I would have liked for Yelena and Valek to have spent more time together than they did but I can understand why things were that way and I think we're going to see them working closer together as the series continues. At least the time they do spend together was quality time and I love seeing how strong their bond is and how happy they still are after so many years as a couple. Adding Janco as a third point of view was brilliant, he is able to give us insight into both Yelena and Valek and he is just such a fun character to spend time with.

Yelena finds herself in an impossible situation here, she has several enemies coming at her and very little way of protecting herself against them. I don't want to go into too much detail about what happens but I found it interesting seeing her a bit out of her depth for a change, she is so used to being able to handle anything that is thrown at her and it comes as quite a shock to find herself feeling vulnerable. I had a suspicion about something for quite a long time and I was absolutely thrilled by the big reveal at the end of the story. In fact there are so many things I desperately want to talk about but I can't because they're all veering into spoiler territory.

Shadow Study is absolutely fantastic and it was one of those books that I wanted to devour in one sitting, so much so that I was annoyed because life kept getting in the way. It was great to catch up with some familiar faces but we are also introduced to some interesting new ones and the plot was just amazing. My only real problem with this book is that the rest of the trilogy isn't available for me to devour immediately - it's just not fair that I'm probably going to have to wait 2 years to get hold of book 3 and I actually think Maria V. Snyder is trying to kill me! I can't fault her though, any author who has me so totally invested in the lives of her characters is obviously doing something right and I will be right at the front of the queue on release day impatiently waiting for my copies of Night Study and Dawn Study when they are published.

Source: Received from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Spy Glass - Maria V. Snyder

A new legacy is rising . . .

After siphoning her own blood magic, Opal Cowan has lost her powers and been separated from Kade and Ulrick, the two men who divide her heart. Now an outsider looking in, Opal spies through the glass on those with the powers she once had.

Until spying through the glass becomes her new power. Suddenly, the beautiful pieces she makes flash in the presence of magic. And then she discovers that some of her blood has been stolen - and that finding it may let her regain her powers for good.

Or learn if they're lost forever.

The Chronicles of Ixia:
Poison Study
Assassin Study (Short Story)
Magic Study
Fire Study
Power Study (Short Story)
Ice Study (Short Story)
Storm Glass
Sea Glass
Spy Glass
Shadow Study
Night Study
Shattered Glass (Novella)
Dawn Study

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Review:
I'm a huge fan of Maria V. Snyder and I absolutely love her Chronicles of Ixia series. I think the first three books starring Yelena were probably my favourite but I've still been really enjoying the Glass books featuring Opal so I was looking forward to seeing how things played out for her in Spy Glass. I hate to say it but I think this is the first time I've been disappointed by one of this author's stories. Don't get me wrong, there were a lot of things to love about this book and I think that anyone who has started Opal's trilogy will have to read this book if only to see the end of her journey but there was one thing in particular that really annoyed me.

I'm going to talk about the positives first and I think the biggest was seeing how far Opal has come since the beginning of the series. She's been through so much and losing her magic at the end of the last book left her despondent and depressed. She feels more than a little sorry for herself at the beginning of this book but I can't blame her for that and I thought the author did a good job of showing how lost and alone Opal felt. I loved seeing her come to terms with what had happened though and deciding to make the best of things. We also get to see her spending a lot of time with Valek which was brilliant, Valek has always been a favourite of mine so I'm never going to complain about him getting more page time! There was plenty going on in this story, lots of action and a good does of mystery and magic that kept me turning the pages.

The main issue I had was to do with Devlin and is where I veer into spoiler territory so you might not want to continue reading this review if you haven't read the book yet! I've actually grown to like Devlin a little in the last couple of books which surprised me considering how we first met him, we've seen a lot of changes in his character and I do think that people can redeem themselves and turn their lives around. I could even get on board with Opal forgiving him to a certain extent and I would probably have been happy to see him find love in a future book once he'd done a bit more to prove that he's changed. What I really, really, REALLY couldn't believe was that Opal fell in love with him. That just didn't seem even slightly realistic and I'm just completely unhappy about their relationship.

This is the man that tortured her both physically and emotionally, not just once but on multiple occasions going on for days at a time. He broke her, he basically destroyed her and he made her betray her friends and the people she loved. Not only was he involved in her sister's murder but he also swapped souls with her boyfriend and then used her boyfriend's body to seduce her and torture her all over again! All this has happened in the space of the last two books and yet now I'm expected to believe that she can not just forgive him but fall head over heels in love? Nope, I don't believe it. In fact I HATE it. I'm disappointed in Opal and I'm angry with Maria V. Snyder for leaving Opal's series with such an unrealistic ending. Of course the one potential silver lining to Opal ending up with Devlin is that Kade is still single and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we're going to get to see more of him in the next part of the series. I'd really like to see him meet someone and get his own happily ever after.

I may have been disappointed with Opal and Devlin's relationship but I've still really enjoyed the series as a whole and I would highly recommend all 6 of the current books in the Ixia series. I can't even begin to tell you how excited I was to learn that Maria V. Snyder was writing a new trilogy for the series and the first book, Shadow Study, is one of my most anticipated reads of 2015 - especially since it is going to be told from the points of view of three of my favourite characters in the series - Yelena, Valek and Janco!

Source: Received from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Sea Glass - Maria V. Snyder

A Game of Magic

Student magician Opal Cowan's newfound ability to steal others' powers makes her too powerful.

Trapped under house arrest, Opal dares to defy her imprisonment, searching for Ulrick, the man she thinks she loves. Thinks because she is sure another man - now her prisoner - has switched souls with Ulrick.

In hostile territory, without proof or allies, Opal isn't sure whom to trust. She doesn't know the real Ulrick's whereabouts and can't forget Kade, the handsome Stormdancer who doesn't want to let her get too close.

And now everyone is after Opal's special powers for their own deadly gain . . .

The Chronicles of Ixia:
Poison Study
Assassin Study (Short Story)
Magic Study
Fire Study
Power Study (Short Story)
Ice Study (Short Story)
Storm Glass
Sea Glass
Spy Glass
Shadow Study
Night Study
Shattered Glass (Novella)
Dawn Study

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Review:
Now that the Council have found out about Opal's ability to steal other magician's powers they immediately see her as a threat. No matter how much she has done for them in the past it is all worth nothing now and they now want her under house arrest inside the Citadel where they can monitor her activities and decide what to do with her. The worst thing of all is that nobody believes her when she tells them that Devlen and Ulrick have swapped bodies so now Devlen has free reign of the Citadel and is as trusted as Ulrick would have been. Opal doesn't know what his goals are but she knows that nothing good can possibly come of them and since she's the only one who knows what's going on it's up to her to stop him. First she needs to find Ulrick and figure out a way to put his soul back in his own body but what if Ulrick wasn't quite the innocent victim in all this? Will he even want Opal's help?

While I think I prefer the Study series I'm still really enjoying the Glass books and I love being able to dive back into the world of Ixia. Although this is Opal's story we still get to see some familiar faces along the way and Janco in particular has a starring role in this story but I also loved catching up with Leif and of course Yelena too. Opal has always seemed much more innocent than Yelena, she is younger, more trusting and less able to stand up for herself, particularly in Storm Glass and during the beginning of this book. I was really pleased to see how much progress she makes in this novel though, she still has her moments but it was great to see her starting to gain confidence now that she's beginning to understand how her magic works and I was glad that she is standing up for herself more now. In fact by the end of the book she'd become pretty impressive. I actually like the fact that Opal and Yelena are so different and it's always fun to see how the two of them interact with each other.

There is a lot going on in Sea Glass, Opal finds herself in a whole heap of trouble and she has more than one enemy to deal with. We get to see more of the different Sitian clans which was interesting but at times it did feel like there was a little too much travelling going on. I would have liked to spend more time with some of the clans seeing Opal making use of her new found magical abilities. That's a fairly minor niggle though because there was so much going on that I was certainly never bored and I could happily have devoured the whole book in one sitting if only there were more hours in the day. One thing Opal really has to learn throughout this story is not to blindly trust people, even those who she feels closest to. There are a lot of people who aren't quite what they seem and that doesn't make it easy for her to figure out who are allies and who are enemies but that is something she is starting to get better at. She needs to learn to trust her gut instincts a little more and that is definitely something she is improving at.

There are some revelations at the end of Sea Glass that are going to make things very interesting for Opal in the future and I can't wait to read Spy Glass to see what happens to her next.

Source: Received from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Storm Glass - Maria V. Snyder

Untrained. Untested. Unleashed

With her unique magical abilities, Opal Cowan has always felt unsure of her place at Sitia's magic academy - but now it's time to test her powers in the real world.

Under threat from a deadly massacre, the powerful Stormdancer clan need Opal's unusual skills to protect their people. And their plea is impossible to resist, especially when it comes from mysterious, mercurial Kade.

Yet pulling her powers in unfamiliar directions pushes Opal to uncover a new kind of magic as stunningly potent as it is frightening, with danger and deception rising around her, will Opal's untested abilities destroy her - or save them all?

The Chronicles of Ixia:
Poison Study
Assassin Study (Short Story)
Magic Study
Fire Study
Power Study (Short Story)
Ice Study (Short Story)
Storm Glass
Sea Glass
Spy Glass
Shadow Study
Night Study
Shattered Glass (Novella)
Dawn Study

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Review:
I have become a huge fan of Maria V. Snyder's since I discovered her books, I absolutely loved the Study trilogy staring Yelena and Valek but I was also looking forward to exploring more of this world she has created and meeting a new cast of characters in the Glass series. Although these trilogies are about different characters I would personally recommend reading the Ixia books in order, starting with the Study books and then moving on to the Glass series. It will make more sense to you that way as you'll get to see the full scope of the world and characters from previous books do make appearances in Storm Glass.

Opal was introduced in the previous books but we didn't get to know her well so I was really excited to learn more about her abilities to create wonderful creatures using glass and capture magic inside them. The magical glass she makes can be used by other magicians to communicate over long distances and I was interested to see what else she was capable of. One of my favourite things about this book was the description of glass blowing, I found it absolutely fascinating and it was described so vividly that I was able to picture exactly what Opal was doing. I actually quite fancy learning how to blow glass myself now and might have to look into the possibility of finding a class if it's not too expensive.

Opal has been studying at the Keep under the master magicians for four years now and although she is the only one who has the ability to trap magic within glass she really struggles with even the easiest kinds of magic. The other students make fun of her and consider her a one trick pony and she feels incredibly frustrated that she can't get the hang of anything else. She worries that she doesn't deserve her place at the Keep and is nervous that she will be sent back home.

Kade is a Stormdancer who is able to trap the energy from storms in glass orbs, these orbs are then used as an important energy source for factories and businesses but it is creating them and bleeding energy from the storms that helps the clans survive the winter weather. The Stormdancers have a problem though, the latest batch of orbs aren't able to do the job they were made for and they are cracking when they try to fill them with energy. Not only does this mean they are unable to reduce the strength of the upcoming storms but it also puts lives at risk when they try to channel the energy. Since this is a problem with glass Opal is the obvious person for the Keep to send to assist them but things are a lot more complicated than they first appear and Opal soon finds herself in the midst of a complex web of deceit and betrayal.

I found myself really liking Opal, she isn't as strong as Yelena was in the beginning, in fact, she's a little unsure of herself and doesn't really have much confidence in her magical abilities but she's intelligent and hard working which made it easy to respect her. We've already seen her kidnapped and tortured so the fact that she's come out the other side of her ordeal and with her sanity in tact shows that she has a strong backbone even if she doesn't realise it herself. I loved seeing her grow in confidence throughout the story, she really does come a long way and I'm sure we're going to see that continue throughout the series. I loved seeing her discover new sides to her abilities and things are definitely going to get interesting now we've seen more of what she is capable of. Opal may not be kick-ass in the same way Yelena was but she definitely has her own strengths and I'm glad she's so different to our previous main character.

I loved Stormdancer Kade from the beginning so was rooting for the two of them to end up together. I was a little frustrated by the triangle that formed when Ulrick came on the scene, I never really warmed to his character and hope that he doesn't have such a big role in the second book. It was also great to catch up with some of the characters we already know and love, Yelena makes an appearance along with her brother Leif and we also get to see a fair bit of Janco which was nice. I'll admit to being a little disappointed that we didn't get to catch up with Valek but I'm hoping that will change in the next book. Even though Storm Dance is a long book I found it to be a very quick read because I didn't want to put it down. Maria V. Snyder has a way of writing that hooks me in from the get go and I always feel incredibly invested in her characters and the journey they take. I can't wait to continue reading this series and see where she takes Opal next!

Source: Received from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

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Quick Review: Ice Study - Maria V. Snyder

Ice Study is a short story that can be read for free on Maria V. Snyder's website HERE.

This is a short story about Yelena and Valek as they race to keep the powerful Ice Moon from a rogue magician.

The Chronicles of Ixia:
Poison Study
Assassin Study (Short Story)
Magic Study
Fire Study
Power Study (Short Story)
Ice Study (Short Story)
Storm Glass
Sea Glass
Spy Glass
Shadow Study
Night Study
Shattered Glass (Novella)
Dawn Study

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Review:
Ice Study is a free short story that can be read on Maria V. Snyder's website here. It fits into the series timeline after events in Fire Study so I would recommend waiting until after that book to read it.

After everything they've been through in the series you'd think that Yelena and Valek had earned the right for a little peace and quiet, some time just the two of them - kind of like a honeymoon perhaps? Well, of course nothing is ever quite that simple for these two and they are pulled straight into another adventure. This time Leif and Valek have been captured and Yelena is the only one who can save them both.

I don't like to go into too much detail when talking about these short stories because it is way too easy to give spoilers. I loved being able to visit this couple again though and I loved that the story is told from both Yelena and Valek's points of view. It is always fun to catch up with these guys and although I was disappointed that the couple were separated for the majority of the story you can still really see how perfect they are for each other and how in love they are.

I have enjoyed all three of these short stories from Maria V. Snyder and really hope that she'll decide to write more of them in the future. I don't think I'll ever get enough of this world or these characters!

Source: Free read on Maria V. Snyder's website here.

Other Reviews:
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Quick Review: Power Study - Maria V. Snyder

Power Study is a short story that can be read for free on Maria V. Snyder's website HERE.

Ari and Janco deal with a Sandseed Story Weaver and a cocky young soldier while Valek is off helping Yelena.

The Chronicles of Ixia:
Poison Study
Assassin Study (Short Story)
Magic Study
Fire Study
Power Study (Short Story)
Ice Study (Short Story)
Storm Glass
Sea Glass
Spy Glass
Shadow Study
Night Study
Shattered Glass (Novella)
Dawn Study

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Review:
Power Study is a free short story that can be read on Maria V. Snyder's website here. It fits into the time line of the series during events in Fire Study so I wouldn't recommend reading it until after you've finished that book.

Ari and Janco were my favourite side characters in the series, they added a lot of humour to every scene they were in so I was excited to spend some time getting to know them a bit better. This short story shows us what they got up to towards the end of Fire Study when Valek was off on a secret mission leaving Ari and Janco in charge of the other soldiers in the Commander's army. Since the two of them have never been particularly good at following orders I'm sure you can imagine the kind of trouble they get themselves into!

I'm not going to go into the plot because you should just read it for yourself to see what happens but I loved seeing things from their POV. They are both such fun characters and I enjoyed the chance to get inside their heads for a bit. I will say that I wish it had been longer but then I say that with any short story I read.

I love the fact that Maria V. Snyder has given us these little shorts to show us more of the side characters we've come to love throughout the series. It's always nice when authors give a little something back to their fans and it's something I really appreciate.

Source: Free read on Maria V. Snyder's website here.

Other Reviews:
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Review: Fire Study - Maria V. Snyder

The battle of her life has begun

In the barren territory of Sitia, power comes at a price. Yelena Zaltana possesses the most terrifying magic in the district - the ability to capture and release souls.

While the sinister Sitian council meet to decide her fate, Yelena must capture a Soulstealer, her dark counterpart, until she discovers someone far more dangerous.

And in the war between good and evil, there can only ever be one victor.

The Chronicles of Ixia:
Poison Study
Assassin Study (Short Story)
Magic Study
Fire Study
Power Study (Short Story)
Ice Study (Short Story)
Storm Glass
Sea Glass
Spy Glass
Shadow Study
Night Study
Shattered Glass (Novella)
Dawn Study

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Review:
I have become a huge fan of Maria V. Snyder since I first read Touch of Power last year and my experience with her Chronicles of Ixia series has just cemented her as one of my favourite YA fantasy authors. I'm beginning to think she can do no wrong because every single time I pick up one of her books I'm completely pulled into the world she has created and am captivated by her characters. I have come to love Yelena, Valek and their friends and I'm sad to say goodbye to them now that their part of the series has come to an end. I'm looking forward to getting to know side characters better in the next part of the series but I do hope we'll see appearances from some familiar faces too because I want to know how they get on in the future.

I have loved learning about Yelena's magical abilities and in Fire Study we get to see skills really put to the test. She failed to destroy the Soulstealer in Magic Study so she must go up against them once again but now they know of her powers they have been able to prepare for her attempt to stop them. The enemy she is facing has powerful allies who will stop at nothing to destroy Yelena and she has never been more at risk. Unfortunately there isn't anyone who can help her master her powers, knowledge of Soulfinders has been lost over the years because her abilities are so rare so Yelena has to work out a lot of things on her own. Thankfully she has good friends and people who care about her but letting them close enough to help just puts them at even more risk. Yelena has to decide who to trust and find a way to keep them safe while they work alongside her.

I don't want to say too much more about the plot for fear of giving spoilers so I'll just tell you that this is just as action packed as the first two books, there is so much going on and the characters are really up against it. We get to explore more of both Sitia and Ixia, spend time with familiar faces and get to know some not so familiar ones. It was really nice to learn a bit more about Opal who is the heroine of the next three books in the series and I'm really looking forward to finding out more about her glass blowing skills and the beautiful things she creates.

If you enjoyed the first two books in the series then I'm sure you'll love Fire Study just as much, the characters are in for a tough time but the ending was perfect and left me with a happy smile on my face. I had guessed at who was in league with the Soulstealer but I think we were supposed to and that didn't stop my enjoyment of the story. I can't recommend this series highly enough for fantasy fans but you definitely need to read the books in order starting with Poison Study. I'm just so relieved I have three more books already available to read - I know I'm going to be devouring them very soon.

Source: Received from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Magic Study - Maria V. Snyder

Discovering her fate could prove deadly . . . 

Yelena Zaltana has been found guilty of possessing magical powers. The Code of Behaviour that rules the land of Ixia states she must be executed. Escape is her only hope.

But when the freedom Yelena has fought for is once more in jeopardy, she must use her magic to survive.

With only one year to prove herself, Yelena's future is uncertain and when magic is involved one mistake could mean sudden death.

The Chronicles of Ixia:
Poison Study
Assassin Study (Short Story)
Magic Study
Fire Study
Power Study (Short Story)
Ice Study (Short Story)
Storm Glass
Sea Glass
Spy Glass
Shadow Study
Night Study
Shattered Glass (Novella)
Dawn Study

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Review:
I was such a huge fan of Poison Study that I couldn't wait to dive straight into Magic Study to continue following Yelena's story. I had high expectations and once again Maria V. Snyder smashed them with this incredible follow up, she has seriously become one of my favourite authors and I can't wait to carry on reading this series. I'm going to assume that anyone reading this review will have already read Poison Study so there may be spoilers for that book but it will be spoiler free for Magic Study. If you haven't started the series yet then stop reading this review right now and go grab a copy of Poison Study - buy it or borrow it from the a friend or the library but just get hold of a copy ASAP and start reading immediately, you won't regret it!

Now that Yelena's secret has been discovered and the Commander knows that she is a magician she has an execution order hanging over her head and staying in Ixia would mean certain death. Her only hope is to escape to Sitia where, with the help of Irys, she can not only find her long lost family but also begin her magical training. It isn't easy to leave Valek and her friends behind to face the unknown but Yelena knows she needs to learn to control her magic before it destroys her and she isn't one to turn away from a challenge. Meeting her family isn't easy though, her parents are delighted to have her back in their lives but she is wary of them and finds their affections stifling while her brother, Leif, seems to hate her on sight and she really doesn't understand why. Yelena must try to find a place for herself in Sitia but it is hard to know who to trust, especially when everyone seems to have their own reason to get close to her.

I loved getting to see how different Sitia is to Ixia, while Ixia is much more ordered and controlled it is also better at providing for it's citizens. Sitia on the other hand is brighter, more colourful and chaotic, there are less rules but for the first time ever Yelena sees beggars and realises that some people don't even have enough food to survive. Both cultures have positives and negatives and Yelena starts to realise that perhaps Ixia isn't as bad as she originally thought it was. I think my favourite part of Sitia was the Zaltana's home in the jungle though, I loved their treetop hideaway and it would be a wonderful place to visit. For the first time Yelena has a family who cares about her and she isn't quite sure how to deal with their affection, she has been on her own for so long that she doesn't find it easy to trust or to let anyone in and she is confused by the way her family instantly accept her as one of their own. Although she doesn't understand why Leif hates her so much she probably understands his suspicious reaction more than she does her parent's open acceptance and love.

Yelena has done a lot of growing up and her reaction to fear is no longer to run away, now she is much more prepared to fight to protect herself and those she cares about. It was fantastic to see her learning to use her magical abilities but I'm glad she didn't start to just rely on her magic to get her out of difficult situations, she is still more than capable of physically kicking butt thanks to the training she had in Ixia. Although I enjoyed watching her make new friends and allies I'll admit that I missed Ari and Janco, their banter was one of my favourite things about the first book so it wasn't quite the same without them. Luckily they have more of a role in the second part of the story and it was great to see them both again. I'd also missed Valek in the beginning, I fell for him big time in Poison Study and missed the romance between him and Yelena, thankfully that was also much more present and just as swoonworthy as ever later on in the book. I love the fact that Valek doesn't try to take over Yelena's life, he knows she is where she needs to be and he also knows that she can protect herself. He always has her back but doesn't try to stop her from fighting her own battles.

Magic Study was every bit as addictive as it's predecessor, the plot is fast paced, well written and full of intrigue and betrayal. There are plenty of plot twists to keep you on your toes and we are introduced to some fabulous new characters to go along with those we already know and love. If you enjoyed Poison Study you're going to love this one just as much if not more!

Source: Received from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

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Quick Review: Assassin Study - Maria V. Snyder

Yelena, the heroine of Maria V. Snyder's stunning debut novel Poison Study, is on her way to her ancestral homeland of Sitia to be reunited with her family and to learn more about her magical powers. An order of execution hangs over her head should she ever return to Ixia. But her true love, Valek, quickly learns that an assassin has taken it upon himself to make sure Yelena doesn't reach her destination.

As Ixia's chief of security, and a highly skilled assassin himself, can Valek track down the killer in time to save Yelena's life?

The Chronicles of Ixia:
Poison Study
Assassin Study (Short Story)
Magic Study
Fire Study
Power Study (Short Story)
Ice Study (Short Story)
Storm Glass
Sea Glass
Spy Glass
Shadow Study
Night Study
Shattered Glass (Novella)
Dawn Study

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Review:
Assassin Study is a free short story that can be read on Maria V. Snyder's website here. The story is set just after the ending of Poison Study and I wouldn't recommend reading it if you are new to the series but it's a fab little addition for fans of the first book. I absolutely loved Valek in Poison Study so was incredibly excited to learn that this story was from his point of view and it was really good to see things from his perspective.

Yelena has left Ixia and is travelling to Sitia to start her magical training leaving Valek behind to continue his work for the Commander. Neither of them want to separate but since there is an execution order against Yelena she has no other option and has to leave Ixia. When Valek learns that an assassin has plans to carry out the execution before Yelena can reach her destination he sets out to stop him but will Valek get there in time?

This is a very short story so don't go in expecting too much in the way of character development but I loved getting to see how much Valek cares for Yelena and the lengths he is prepared to go to to keep her safe. He has always been a bit of a mystery but this really proved to me that he cares as much as she does. It was interesting to see his journey across the Avibian Plains and I'm very intrigued by the new character we are introduced to. Valek now owes Ziva a favour and I'll be interested to see what she needs his help with, I'm hoping that question will be answered as I continue reading the series.

Fans of Valek are going to love this short story and I'd definitely recommend reading it between Poison Study and Magic Study. The only slight disappointment is that we don't actually see Yelena but it was nice to focus on Valek for a change so that didn't bother me too much. I just wish it could have been longer but considering it's a free read there isn't much to complain about.

Source: Free read on Maria V. Snyder's website here.

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: Poison Study - Maria V. Snyder

How much is your life worth?

In the territory of Ixia control is maintained through the Code of Behaviour forbidding the practice of magic, but danger lurks in mysterious places . . .

Imprisoned for murder, Yelena Zaltana's punishment is death, unless she accepts the position of the Commander of Ixia's food taster . . . and risks assassination from poison daily.

In a world where magic equals death and freedom is for the lucky few, the battle for Yelena's life has just begun.

The Chronicles of Ixia:
Poison Study
Assassin Study (Short Story)
Magic Study
Fire Study
Power Study (Short Story)
Ice Study (Short Story)
Storm Glass
Sea Glass
Spy Glass
Shadow Study
Night Study
Shattered Glass (Novella)
Dawn Study

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Review:
I'm a huge fan of Maria V. Snyder's Healer series so I have been wanting to go back and read her Study and Glass books for quite some time now. I've got no idea why it's taken me so long to get to them but I'm thankful I finally got around to it because I could not put this book down. I absolutely devoured Poison Study reading right through to 8:30am because I had to know how it would end and I immediately started on Magic Study as soon as I'd finished! I loved this book so much that I think I'm going to have trouble writing a sensible review for it so I apologise in advance for any fan girl squealing that goes on in this review!

Yelena was found guilty of murder and has spent the last year in the dungeon waiting for her death sentence to be carried out. Then she is offered a surprising way out, if she agrees to be the food taster for the Commander's meals she will be allowed to live, well, as long as she doesn't end up being poisoned that is. She must learn to distinguish the many different forms of poison by their taste or smell and can only hope that she doesn't end up ingesting a lethal dose. In a world where she has many enemies Yelena must do all she can to keep her biggest secret though because if anyone finds out she can do magic then getting poisoned will be the least of her worries.

I absolutely loved Yelena, she is such a strong character, someone who has been through hell on earth and survived to tell the tale. After everything she has suffered many people would have given up but Yelena is going to take even the tiniest opportunity to live and use it to her full advantage. She is strong, independent and will do whatever it takes to protect herself. It has been a long time since she was able to rely on anyone to help her but as she finds her place in the Commander's castle she starts to make friends and learns to let people in. I didn't blame her for being wary of who to trust though and I was pleased that she was so sensible when it came to guarding her back.

The story has a fantastic cast of side characters, I loved the antics of Ari and Janco who become like big brothers to Yelena. The way the bicker with each other was hilarious but as much as they provide a lot of light entertainment they are also very protective of Yelena and go out of their way to help her learn to protect herself. My favourite side character was Valek though, he was such a complex character and it took a long time to figure out his motives. As the Commander's chief of security he is the one who offers Yelena the chance to become the new poison taster and he is in charge of her training. Valek comes across as very arrogant and sure of himself, he is a master assassin and makes no apology for the people he has killed to protect the Commander. He is the kind of guy that does what needs to be done no matter how hard it is or how much it costs him but he also has a softer, nicer side that starts to shine through when we get to know him a bit better.

The plot of Poison Study was riveting, Maria V. Snyder does such a fantastic job of building her world that it's like you've stepped inside the story and are living through the events right alongside Yelena. You are friends with her friends, you hurt when she is betrayed and you laugh when she is happy. It's been a long time since a series as captured my attention quite as much as this one has and I can't wait to start reading Fire Study!

Source: Received from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle: