Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

In the land of Ixia, a girl named Yelena is about to be killed for the murder of the son of a high ranking general, until Valex, the Commander's first in command, gives her a chance to live, as the Commander's food taster. Put on the spot, Yelena chooses possible, uncertain death by poison over death of execution. And so the story goes from there, Maria V. Snyder enchanting the reader with every twist and turn of the Poison Study.

Truthfully, this isn't the first time I read the Poison Study. Yelena's such a charming character that I just had to read the book again. When I first read the book I was surprised, Yelena is such an unexpected heroine. As the underdog, she has to prove that she's a survivor to herself as well as Valex and the Commander. She appealed to me since her character was very relatable, being a headstrong girl who isn't going to lie down and let someone else abuse her but also knows when to accept someone else's orders. However, she wasn't the only character that was intreguing. Valex is also an interesting character, in his own ways. While Yelena is the underdog, Valex was her overseer, trusted by the most powerful people in Ixia. With power comes responsibility, which Valex seems to handle well, also knowing enough to keep a shroud of mystery around him, allowing no one in his inner circle for the mostpart. Yet who he trusts makes him even more myserious. The same goes for Yelena, who befriended Ari and Janco, the two guardsmen who taught Yelena how to fight and are minor, but unreplaceable. They not only lighten up the mood, created by Valek's seriousness, but keep the reader flipping through the pages of the book, just as Valek and Yelena do.

The story itself isn't that original, but the characters and techniques Maria V. Snyder uses while writing the book prove to be more than enough to make the Poison Study a fantastic read. I myself couldn't help myself, even the second time reading the book, and finished in one night each and every time. In fact, I plan on reading the other two books in the series, Magic Study and Fire Study, as well as the books Assassin Study and Power Study, Assassin Study being about Valek and Power Study being about Ari and Janco. In addition, there is a spin-off series, The Storm Glass series, which I hope to read as well. Anyways, I give this book a 5/5 and reccomend this book to all fantasy lovers.