Magic Study (Study #2)

When we last saw Yelena she was fleeing execution in Ixia. Now at the start of Magic Study she’s on her way to study magic and finds her family. While her parents are ecstatic at her return, her brother, Lief, has his suspicions. He’s convinced that she’s a spy for the Commander, and has her kidnapped when he’s suppose to be escorting her to the Citadel for her magic lessons.

Even though we lose the novelty of having Yelena as a food taster, she still gets herself into plenty of exciting and interesting (and sometimes disturbing) situations as she travels through the jungle and when she eventually enters the Magicians Keep. I loved being able to see the world outside of Ixia. There’s several different clans, each with their own unique fashions (or lack thereof!) and lifestyles. We also learn so much about magicians and the vast variation in their magical abilities. It was so fun getting to see some Yelena’s abilities, such as bonding with an adorably hilarious horse!

Speaking of her horse, there’s a fantastic cast of new characters along with the return of some favorites! Esau, Yelena’s sweetheart, scientist father. Perl, her neurotic mother. Lief, the standoffish brother. Kiki, the horse, and my personal favorite! Cahill, friend or foe? The Master Magicians, Moon Man, and several others. Each of them adds something to the story and even the minor characters felt well developed.

There’s more than enough action and intrigue, twists and turns aplenty, a little bit of romance, and lots and lots of magic! While I really enjoyed this one, I’m not sure if I liked it more than the previous book. Both are so different, so let’s just say I like them the same but for different reasons. One thing that was definitely more enjoyable in the previous book was Yelena and Valek’s relationship. In Magic Study it felt forced and superficial. Every scene with them together they’re having sex (not that that’s a problem), Valek is calling her “love,” but I felt absolutely no emotion. It was as if their scenes were just added for the sake of having romance. Despite that, I’m excited to see what Fire Study has in store for them!

This is one of those books that you will be thinking about for weeks after you have finished it!

As it was in Poison Study, Janco is still my favourite character, even though he was not in it as much.

Yelena is still the same, that is, stubborn (really, really stubborn), determined and no one can stop her from doing something she wants to. Even though Yelena believes Sitia (where she is now) has made her "go soft", I think it is nice to see another side of Yelena while still seeing her stubborn side pop up all the time.

I must say, Fire Study better be a good book, because I have very high expectations for it after Magic Study and Poison Study.

There is only one word to describe this book and its other friends in the series, WOW! This book is truly WOW! It has that massive WOW factor that is just perfect. I loved this book to the moon and back.

My favorite character is still Janco but you don't see him as much as Yelena lives in a different country. I found this slightly disappointing but I loved the parts that he was there. Yelena was the same, headstrong, and stubborn. I found this great as in some other series the characters varied in different books.

This book will blow your mind, and then break your heart. I will one day read it again, but for now, its on to Fire Study.

THIS BOOK IS JUST GETTING BETTER AND BETTER!
Can't wait to read the next one. Hope its as good as the rest.

Reader reviewed by Ruthie

Again a marvelous novel by Maria V. Snyder! Magic Study was a great follow-up to Poison Study. You got to experience the differences between Ixia and Sitia and although Yelena was away from her friends from book one, she still made contact with them. I always enjoy a deep backstory in books and Yelena's still hasn't drifted away from her. I definitely can't wait for the next book! I have high expectations for Fire Study!

Reader reviewed by Lizzy

I really enjoyed Poison Study,
the first book in this series, so I was looking forward to reading this
one. I had set pretty high standards, and hoped that this book would
hold my attention like its predecessor had. Well, I'm happy to say that
it did. This story felt new and refreshing, while maintaining the
likability of the characters (well, at least SOME of them). There are
new villains, and the reader gets to experience Yelena's new life in
the south, a life which is extremely different from the one she had in
Ixia.

I liked the new family dynamic. It was nice to see
Yelena show a softer side, even though she seemed to perceive it as
"going soft". Similar to the first book, there are some scenes
involving sexual/physical assault. They're certainly not easy to read,
but that doesn't mean the book should be passed by. These
scenes/memories allow readers to understand Yelena better as a
character. We are forced to relive her worst memories, and watch as she
grows and overcomes them.

I was glad to see the return of a
few of my favorite characters (the flawed Valek, and of course, Ari and
Janco). They didn't appear until the second half of the book, so I'm
hoping they'll play a larger role in Book 3, Fire Study. Overall, this book was a great sequel, and I can't wait to read more.

Reader reviewed by Lexie

So
we left off our intrepid heroine having to leave the only home she's
known, Ixia, for fear of having her boyfriend cut off her head under
military decree (even though she saved the military Commander's
life...oh its a hard life). Though self-same boyfriend said that he'd
kill her and then himself if he was given the order to end her life. So
I guess that's something right?

In the last book she also met a
Sitian Master Magician by the name of Irys, who came to Ixia undercover
and sort of detoured her way to kill her. Everyone wants to kill
Yelena. The good news though was that Irys instead offered to take
Yelena back to Sitia and her family and get her trained right and
proper before she went and destroyed the world.

I'm not certain
if you can call Yelena's adventures easier or harder this time around
as the last time. Her life is in danger from practically everyone she
meets (again), there's a crazy guy on the loose doing unspeakable
things to people (again) and oh yeah let's not forget her brother is
the biggest jerk EVER. Seriously. Chip on his shoulder the size of
Sitia. I guess family makes things worse.

There's more of a
mystery element in Magic Study then there was in Poison Study. The true
bad guy isn't revealed in Magic Study right away and even then its sort
of like 'Yeah I'm the bad guy...but there's a worse guy!' and there's
an awful lot of people who want to either kill Yelena for her power
(her very very dangerous power that is taboo) or use her for her power.

Yelena
is also very much uncomfortable in Sitia, even though its her
birthland. Having grown up in Ixia, in an Ixian way of life, following
Ixian rules for well over a decade she finds the relaxed way of life in
Sitia irritating. The colors of their garments garish and the sudden
family thrown in her lap feels awkward. Half of her wants to embrace
this side and be the daughter/sister/cousin that everyone wants her to
be, but the other half is almost repulsed and wishes for the simpler
Code of Behavoir from Ixia. She misses her friends (Ari and Janco) and
Valek (who she thinks she can hear sometimes in her head). She misses
the familiar.

Valek is pretty much public enemy #1 in Sitia
because of his involvement with killing magic-users and hunting down
Sitians in Ixia under the Commander's orders (okay so maybe he's public
enemy #2 after the Commander), so its not even as if Yelena can talk
about Valek to anyone. She's the prodigal daughter returned with
awesome powers and having defeated a renown criminal of Sitia after
all. She's distrusted enough as is.

The flow of the story is
easier this time around--relying less on plot conveniences and more on
character relationships and developments. One thing to note is the
addition of Moon Man, a Story-Weaver. He's simply hilarious and so much
fun its ridiculous. I love him.

((reprinted with author's permission))

Reader reviewed by Jessica

In the sequel to "Poison Study," the main character learns of her past and her family, traveling South in order to meet a life she thought never possible where she can live with her magic and learn how to control it. If she cannot be taught how to control her powers, the magic will fizzle out and she will not continue. Leaving her romance and her home with the Commander, she finds a different life with a family she hasn't met since she was younger. Learning more about them and their life with her back in their arms, she is torn between the two lives, one with her love, one with her family.

As amazing as the first of the series, "Magic Study" will leave readers of all ages and of all types enthralled and waiting for more. Written well in a voice that hasn't been heard in literature today, readers will find that they cannot resist the charm that these books carry and will be hungry for the next after they quickly finish this one. A must read for all fantasy fans, "Magic Study" promises to be something highly different from the rest of the books out there.

Reader reviewed by Nabi

Yelena finally got out. Out of Ixia. And out of her job as food taster. Although, now she's not so sure she wants to leave. She leaves Valek behind as she ventures out into Sitia. There she discovers the family that she was stolen from. But Yelena doesn't feel like it's home. Her brother, for reasons she doesn't know, hates her. Throughout this book Yelena finds the heir of the Ixian throne and discovers a chain of murders. Typically, Yelena is drawn in and finds herself caught in a chase for the murderer.
The story hurls the reader through the pages at a fast pace. The world building was excellent. Readers will wish for a third book. Something they won't have to wait too long for because the third book (Fire Study) is being published in March.

Reader reviewed by Tiara

Most sequels are nothing compared to the first. However, this one is even better. Yelena is reunited with her homeland and her family but trouble is brewing. She has an unwelcoming brother who tells everyone that she is a spy, a long lost prince of Ixia plots to defeat her love, and a rogue magician is loose! Yelena stays strong and faces one thing after another, learning more about herself on the way. Dont miss this book or its prequel Poison Study. In addition look out for Fire study in march.