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!

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 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.