{English} Magic Study (Study #2) - Maria V. Snyder

An amazing sequel that leaves you with a wish for more.

Review of part 1: Poison Study

For fans of: Throne of Glass - Sarah J. Maas, His Fair Assassin - Robin LaFevers
Publication: 2013
ISBN: 1848452403

Pages: 419

Goodreads

Blurb: YOU KNOW YOUR LIFE IS BAD WHEN YOU MISS YOUR DAYS AS A POISON TASTER...

With her greatest enemy dead, and on her way to be reunited with the family she'd been stolen from long ago, Yelena should be pleased. But though she has gained her freedom, she can't help feeling isolated in Sitia. Her Ixian background has changed her in many ways—and her newfound friends and relatives don't think it's for the better....

Despite the turmoil, she's eager to start her magic training—especially as she's been given one year to harness her power or be put to death. But her plans take a radical turn when she becomes involved with a plot to reclaim Ixia's throne for a lost prince—and gets entangled in powerful rivalries with her fellow magicians.

If that wasn't bad enough, it appears her brother would love to see her dead. Luckily, Yelena has some old friends to help her with all her new enemies....

Opinion
Cover: There are many different editions of The Chronicles of Ixia, but the ones I chose are by far my favourites. Even though they are simple, they picture the essence of the content and they match the titles. The others have a girl on them and I'm not a fan of those kind of book covers. They take away some part of your imagination and in my opinion none of them looks like I imagined Yelena.

Content: The story picks off right where Poison Study ended. I was actually expecting a similar theme, but it surprised me, because it was very different and still fit into the whole story.
I like how Yelena meets her family for the first time. It's not easy for either of them and that's what makes it so believable. Her brother turns out to be a very shady character, his feelings are very understandable, though. What I enjoyed the most about Yelena's family is that each of them has a function. They are not just there to be her relatives - her mom is not just a mom, her dad is not just a dad. All of them have a history, a background. It's also interesting how their tribe lives, especially in contrast to how things are in Ixia.

Yelena is a fighter, if she falls down, she always gets up again. And she has to fall down a lot. Things don't come easy to her, as it often is in similar Fantasy novels where a character has to learn how to master their magic abilities. I'm glad that she's not only training in this book. There are so many things going on at the citadel and we get to know more about the hierarchies. Unfortunately there are so many new characters here that it get's a little confusing sometimes.

Writing Style: Maria V. Snyder has an almost elegant way of narrating a story, I'd say. No word seems to be unnecessary and her text is pleasant to read. It let's you get easily and fast through the novel. She always only reveals as much as is needed and tries to avoid info dumps.

My conclusion: Since Yelena has completed her basic training, I'm expecting something really big for the next book. There's still a lot she has to learn and not all characters feel friendly towards her at the end of this novel. Things are definitely going to be heated in Fire Study! (pun intended)

My rating: 4/5 Buttons