Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

In Ixia, punishments are meted out on an eye-for-an-eye basis, and so Yelena, convicted of murder, faces the noose. She’s spent nearly one year confined in prison, and she has little hope for life, so it’s a great surprise when she’s offered the opportunity to live and work as a food taster for the Commander of Ixia. Yelena is given back life, as well as a room in the palace and the best food in all of Ixia. But with this blessing also comes hardship: the head of security, cold and cruel Valek, deliberately gives Yelena a poison called Butterfly’s Dust to prevent her escape, a poison only he has the antidote for; General Brazell wants her dead in retribution for the murder of his son; and Yelena is developing magical abilities, which is outlawed in Ixia. Yelena finds herself an unwilling participant amidst a secret plot to seize control of Ixia, but she may be able to influence the outcome for the better if she can only preserve her own life and conquer her demons first.

Spellbinding, fantastic, and impossible to put down, Poison Study is the incredible beginning of what promises to be an unforgettable trilogy. The plot draws readers in from the very first page and holds their attention beyond the end four hundred odd pages later. Snyder effectively blends fantasy, action, and romance into a suspenseful and interesting tale that sparks my imagination. On top of such a well-written story, Snyder’s characters are also well developed and realistic. Yelena in particular has my sympathy from the very beginning. She isn’t defined as a good girl heroine who does everything right, but as a beaten woman who knows she’s done wrong. This makes her so much easier to relate to despite the horrible crime she committed, and her haunting past and subtle but tentative inner strength gain her respect and hope that she will end up safe and victorious. Another delight is the unexpected complexity of Valek’s character. That in combination with Yelena’s story is what makes Poison Study into such a unique read that’s impossible to forget.

I look forward to more of Snyder’s powerful storytelling in Magic Study and Fire Study, the continuations of Poison Study. I recommend Poison Study to all readers, eager or not, especially fans of Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, The Abhorsen Chronicles by Garth Nix, and the A Great and Terrible Beauty trilogy by Libba Bray.

Rating: 5.0

Review copy from personal collection