I read Poison Study and Magic Study both a couple of years ago and at the end of '08 to prep for reading Fire Study. I loved them all. They're great fantasy with just a hint of romance. Yelena and her boss, Valek are such interesting and cool characters. Unfortunately, I think Fire Study is the last one, I've heard she's working on a new series that might be vaguely connected. I hope you check them out!

Forgive me for writing the same review for all three books in this series! But they're all awesome. ;-p

Magic Study meets up with Yelena as she reunites with her family and prepares to begin her magical training. Yelena meets resistance - many people fear she is a spy - and acceptance when she accomplishes things other magicians cannot. Still a feisty I'll-figure-it-out-on-my-own character, Yelena fell a little flat this time around. I liked her bumbling attempts to protect herself in 'Poison Study' and felt her a little too confident in this one. Which I guess is good since she has experience, it was just one of those things that drew me in the first book.The high point of the novel was the introduction of the Sandseed clan - a very powerful group with a different sort of magic. I hope book #3 will explore them more. I was also sad to see less of Valek. I think he was one of my favorite parts in book #1 and he gets too little screen time in this one. Also, the chemistry between Yelena and Valek (when it was there) was a little too forced at times? Not quite as natural this time around. So, I'll probably finish the series, but as so often happens - the second didn't live up to the first. *sigh Here's hoping for a promising finish. ( )

WoW! Another great story. Very creative and intriguing. Couldn't put it down. I really like Yelena and Valeck and the rest of the characters. Nothing I disliked about this story. ( )

Absolutely loved Magic Study. In fact, I preferred it to the first book, Poison study! ( )

This is the continuing story of Yelena. Once again I truly enjoyed this character, she is a strong woman who isn't afraid to take care of herself and be who she wants to be. In this book she is reunited with her family, who live in the treetops. Could explain why in book one she uses the treetops so well. Yelena has no memory of her family, when she was 6 years old and taken from her family. The magician that took also took her memories from her.

Yelena meets a Mother that clings(as if I wouldn't in that same situation), a Father that spends his time looking for curative powers in the plants of their jungle and a brother that seems to hate her. Yelena is not sure that she wants to know her family it is all so new to her, she is there with her parents taking the time to get to know then for the two weeks she was given before she has to leave to go to school to get her magic under control. Unfortunately her brother tells her they must leave early, the same one that hates her mind you.

Then the real tale begins. I am of the belief that where Yelena goes trouble follows. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Once again this book is a thrill ride. I reserved the next book at my bookstore and I am going to pick it up today. Ms Snyder weaves a tale and I just want to follow it along. The only problem is the next book is the last of the Yelena books, it kind of makes me sad. But there is hope there is a series that follows. ( )

The story of Yelena takes unexpected paths in Magic Study, the follow up to the fabulous Poison Study. While I wasn't as enthralled by this book as the first, it was still enjoyable and imaginative.
The novel starts with Yelena meeting her family for the first time since she was 6 years old. They are a colorful bunch, and while some accept her and thrill at her return, others are suspicious that she is a spy from the north. This accusation follows her throughout the book (and likely into the next as well).
Yelena faces new adversaries and gains knowledge about her powers, finding that they are greater than she knew. There are several new supporting characters who, though interesting, don't have the depth and draw that those from Poison Study had. I found myself missing Janco, Ari, and especially Valek. They have a presence in Magic Study, but I wanted more of them.
Something small that absolutely drove me nuts was the way the horses spoke in Yelena's mind. I liked that they could communicate and I think it added and helped with the story line, but the 'horse speak' came across like baby talk in short, clipped sentences and incomplete thoughts. Like I said, a small thing.
Overall, I loved the book and have very high hopes for the next. She set up the third book wonderfully and I hope it lives up to the first two in the series! ( )

I was immediately absorbed in the story as I was with book 1 in the series. very entertaining. ( )

[WARNING: SPOILERS if you haven’t yet read Book 1, Poison Study!] 20-year-old budding magician Yelena has been banished to the southern country of Sitia. With her magician mentor, Irys, Yelena attempts to reconnect with the family whom she was stolen from 14 years ago, as well as to work on controlling her magical abilities.

The journey to self-discovery and self-control rarely runs smoothly, however, and not at all for Yelena. Against her desires, she gets entangled in national politics, tries to avoids the hostility of those around her—including her brother, Leif—and gets involved in the hunt to bring down a rogue magician who’s been stealing and killing young women. Yelena just wants time to relax and dream of (or be with) Valek, but the life of a young magician in Sitia just cannot stand still.

MAGIC STUDY is a worthy, though incomparable, successor to Maria Snyder’s smashing success, POISON STUDY. In this second book, Snyder continues to effortlessly tell a good story while creating memorable and three-dimensional characters.

All of our favorite characters make an appearance, and new ones are introduced, to varying degrees of success. Yelena’s clan, the Yaltanas, are a rather odd tree-dwelling group, and her parents do not have enough time in the book to be fully fleshed out as characters. Similarly, Yelena’s tense relationship with her brother, Leif, is inconsistent: puzzling in the first half, nearly nonexistent in the second, and too cleanly wrapped up. Fortunately, the people she meets at the Magician’s Keep hold their own against the reappearance of old favorites like Ari, Janco, and, of course, Valek.

While character development may be a little sloppier and more inconsistent in MAGIC STUDY, that is because so much effort is devoted to setting up a complex magical world. We are shown the subtle interactive dynamics between various groups of Southerners, and their motivations for acting the way they do. Each chapter ends on a cliffhanger, which just begs you to read one more chapter, just one more, in a viciously delicious cycle, until you’ve finished the entire book in a blink of an eye. There is never a lack of action and intrigue for hardcore fantasy lovers.

While not as strong as the first book, MAGIC STUDY is still an impressive novel in its own rights. Maria Snyder is a master storyteller, and fans of the first book should not be too disappointed. I know that I am still eagerly looking forward to reading the third book in this spellbinding series. ( )

Magic Study is the perfect sequel, without being a carbon copy of its predecessor, Poison Study. It is completely different from the first in the Study series. Set in Sitia, Yelena's southern homeland, our heroine returns to further learn about her magical powers. Her experiences from Poison Study definitely show in this sequel, how she much she's learned and grown as a character.

Snyder's writing is absolutely fantastic. Although we meet a vast set of new characters, we also come across some old ones along the way. I love how each character has a purpose and their own identity. It is the perfect characterization that weaves each character cleverly into the complex storyline with such ease, and it is also what makes the story so appealing.

I got so caught up in the story, I found myself yelling loudly at Yelena and Valek to "get a room!" (Ha ha. I later laughed at myself for being so emotionally outright.), for those two just can't keep their hands off each other. In Magic Study, Yelena and her lovely Valek are separated for vast periods of time. Therefore, every chance they manage to spend with each other, they definitely don't waste their time. Don't worry. There's nothing explicit. But it is definitely implied, and I swear, Yelena and Valek need to learn to control themselves! Ha ha.

But don't let those two love birds' promiscuous behavior sway you from reading this book ~_^ An engaging plot, surprising twists, witty humor, and a incredible set of characters make Magic Study an absolute delight to read. It definitely lived up to my expectations from reading the first book. ( )

Magic Study is the second installment of Maria V. Snyder Poison Study series. I must say that I loved this book even more than the first!Yelena is finally reintroduced to her family. Her mother and father are delighted at her return but her brother doesn’t seem as thrilled. In fact he doesn’t seem to like her at all. She isn’t left much time to spend with her family as she must go into her magic training with Irys.Her brother has other plans for her. He is sure that she is a spy sent by her former home Ixia. So sure that he leads her into an ambush by Cahil, who believes he is the true King of Ixia. But knowing Yelena she doesn’t have any problems getting herself into trouble or out of it.When she finally makes it to the Citadel to begin her magic training she is faced with instructors who don’t seem to trust her of her new found abilities. On top of that a rogue magician is taking the lives of numerous young girls. Yelena of course joins in the hunt for the killer, but is pleasantly surprised when a diplomatic mission from Ixia arrives, with Valek in disguise.Yelena continues to impress me as does the writing of Snyder. I couldn’t put this book down! I love these characters! ( )

Having foiled an assassination plot against Commander Ambrose and conquered some of her own personal demons, Yelena is on her way to Sitia to reunite with her family and be trained as a magician. Her clan welcomes her with open arms, except for her brother Leif, who is sullen and distant. She then travels to the Magician's Citadel to begin her magic training with Irys. However, matters are soon complicated by the arrival of Cahil, a claimant to the Ixian monarchy (and thus a challenger to the Commander's power). There is also a violent criminal at large who kidnaps, rapes, and tortures girls, then steals their souls. Yelena must face not only a delegation from Ixia (among whom are a few familiar faces), but also the animosity of warring Sitian clans, the evil power of this serial killer (which is the main plotline of the novel), and of course the development of her own magical talent. I didn't find this quite as suspenseful as Poison Study, but there was definitely enough to keep me interested, and I'm eager to read Fire Study next.

The only complaint I'd have about this book is that there are several points where there is a "recap" of stuff from the first book in the series. Since I read the books back-to-back, this was a bit annoying, but would be useful if one hadn't read them so close together.

The story is engaging and unpredictable. You care about the characters and want things to work out for them. It is a fantasy series with a female protagonist written with adults in mind and yet there is no obscenity or graphic sex.

Perfect!

I'm starting Fire Study next and have myself on the pre-order list for Snyder's next series... ( )

The continuing adventures of Yelena. This time she's come South to train as a magician, and meet her family and the like.

There is a wonderfully alive and different culture, and the mismatch between Yelena's expectations and background and what she finds in Sitia is beautifully handled.

Of course, this being Yelena, things don't go smoothly. First, although not bad for her, her magic abilities seem odd compared to most and that takes some adjustment.

But then Yelena gets called in to try and help the victim of a rape who is in a coma. She finds evidence of a serial rapist and heads off to take care of it. This brings her into conflict with the Sitians, who tend to sit around and discuss things first whereas her Ixian background tends to turn her to direct action. This leads to a number of collisions with her mentor and the like, and high adventure.

There are sub-plots too - she meets the Ixian heir to the throne, her romance with Velak continues apace and so on.

A good romping read. A bit light, but that helps it romp along faster. ( )

Note: Magic Study is the second in a trilogy. This review assumes you've read the first book, Poison Study. For my recommendation, skip to after the asterisks.

Yelena is on her way home to Sitia to meet her family after a fourteen-year separation. Because she was kidnapped at the age of six, she has no memory of her early childhood. The trip is bittersweet: Although she will soon know what it is like to have a family and a clan, Yelena has left her lover, Valeck, and friends Ari and Janco behind. And once she's seen her homeland, she will leave it to enroll in the magic school at the Citadel to study with her mentor, Irys.

Life in the south is not good for Yelena. While she is learning to hone her magic skills and is discovering some of her talents, she is met with hostility--even from her older brother, Lief--and is accused of being a spy for Ixia. Her classmates and teachers are jealous of her skills, a group of rebels are threatening to invade the north, young girls are being raped and murdered, and Yelena is being stalked by at least one enemy. She barely has a peaceful moment, and her burdens are heavy.

* * * * *
Magic Study focuses on a transition in Yelena's life, from enslaved child to independent woman. The exploration of her personality, magical abilities, and relationships with others is strong. Unfortunately, many of the characters introduced in this book seem to lack depth. I was disappointed that her family was not more fully developed. I'm not sure I understand Yelena's mother and her odd behavior, and Lief's motives were weak. Teachers at the Citadel seem to be either good or bad, and we don't learn much about them.

On the other hand, I like the spirited, strong Yelena and will definitely finish off the trilogy (with Fire Study). This is not a complex fantasy world filled with numerous creatures and cultures. Instead the books tell the story of one young woman and her struggles to overcome adversity and find her place in the world.

Magic Study could have used a stronger editor; the abundance of similes is sometimes annoying. In this Harlequin publication, romance is neither in the forefront nor excessive.

I've listened to the first two entries in the trilogy via audiobooks, read by Gabra Zackman. The narration is clear and nicely done. ( )

One thing that immediately impressed me in "Magic Study" was how vividly drawn Sitia was, a somewhat tribalistic nation rich with magic and with a definite mageocracy, and particularly in stark contrast to militaristic, egalitarian nature of Ixia from "Poison Study". In this new environment, a kidnapped child returning as a woman, Yelena Zaltana continues her development as a great character, overcoming the fear of her Sitian sorceror's powers and making new ties to her family and the land of her birth, while not discarding the people and skills from Ixia who helped shape her into who she is. The tone and story are completely different from "Poison Study" but are equally rich. ( )

Once more I found myself enchanted and enraptured by the story of Yelena and her journey to find out who she is and how to control her magic. Accompanied by Irys the Fourth Magician of Sitia, Yelena is reunited with the family she was stolen from 14 years earlier. Yelena is now Yelena Zaltana and a daughter, sister, cousin. Though her reunion with her brother Leif is less than joyous, as they travel together to the Citadel where Yelena is to be trained in magic, they are attacked and Leif convinces the attackers that his sister is really a spy from the North.

More here! ( )

After finding out the truth about her past and presents Yelena goes home to a family she doesn't remember and to start learning more about her magical abilites. While there she encounters a brother that hates her and learns that even though allowed to practice magic, her special tallents are not fully enbraced by the Master Magicians. Yelena's survival instincts are once again used to save herself and others. ( )

I'm truly loving this series. Fresh universe, nicely complex characters, and a clear writing style. I bought it expecting an action/fantasy book and got a romance thrown in. Love it! Can't wait to bury myself in the 3rd book. ( )

I finished Magic Study this morning. This is the sequel to Poison Study. In the second book, Yelena attempts to learn how to use her magical powers at the Citadel in the country she was kidnapped from as a child. Going home isn't as easy as it sounds. She hasn't seen her parents or her brother in fourteen years. Irys, the Fourth Magician, is the one who is escorting her and takes her to meet her parents before they head to the Citadel. Yelena's parents live in the trees above a jungle. An intricate maze of ladders, rooms, and hallways are suspended above the ground to where they aren't even noticable from the jungle floor. Her parents immediately believe she is their long lost daughter, however, her brother Lief, doesn't give her a very warm welcome. At first she and her parents feel this is because he feels guilty for her kidnapping all those years ago since he was the one with her at the time. Later in the book, you learn more about the reason Lief is the way he is.Adventures and dangers follow Yelena. In Magic Study, Yelena has to help stop a serial killer from preying on young girls. She learns of new abilities she possesses and how to use them to save herself and others. Familiar and likeable characters from Poison Study make an appearance in this story as well. We get to see Ari and Janco again as well as the Commander and Valek. New friends are made as well. Including a horse named Kiki. Valek and Yelena's relationship is as strong as in Poison Study. The time and distance away from each other hasn't hurt them a bit. The author writes about them to where they are just a couple that you root for. If you enjoyed the first one, you'll definately want to read Magic Study. Out of the two though, I enjoyed Poison Study more. It had a little more excitement in it I think. I was excited to see that a third book is due to come out March of 2008. Can you believe so far away??? UGH. The third book is called Fire Study. ( )

This was an amazing read. Being a part two, everything is amazingly fresh. Yelena is discovering her powers and talents while all the time her life is being threatened. Every moment is exciting and dramatic. Yelena is a very strong character and does not listen to the many other characters included in the story. This causes a lot of trouble and rumors to spread about her, but she doesn't let it stop her independent nature.

Lief is introduced, Yelena's brother. This was a lively character who keeps you constantly guessing his motives. However, like everyone else, his actions all fit perfectly into a puzzle that is revealed in the end. All the characters are wonderfully fleshed out with exciting personalities that makes this never a boring read--no matter who Yelena is talking to.

The only problem I had with the book is Valek's incredibly weak role. In order to make Yelena strong when Valek came into the picture, was it necessary to make him so weak? I enjoyed Valek's character in Poison Study, and was a little disappointed at how powerless he has become. He basically stands on the sidelines letting Yelena do everything, only helping here and there. I hope he'll become a more prominent character in Fire Study. ( )

Sooooo good meshes very well with the first book. A great continuation of the series. I can't wait for Fire Study to arrive so I can see how it all ends. ( )

Magic Study enthralled me even more than Poison Study did, hooking and keeping my interest from page 1. It works well as a series book because it introduces new situations and characters while still keeping enough of the first books' elements to tie it all together. This time, Yelena travels to Sitia to escape the fate she managed to arrange for herself, and also to find out more about her future and her past. Ixia, though, is never far from her mind or heart, and now her loyalties are torn between the land she calls home and the country of her birth. And both of these places expect her to choose. Throw in death, deception, and a plan that could bring both countries to ruin, and you've got a spellbinding story.

The biggest complain I have with Magic STudy is that I got tired of hearing about every time Yelana and Valek hop in bed. Seriously, every time it happens, the author tells us so. It's not graphic--the actual sex is never described--but it seemed unnecessary. We know that Yelena and Valek are in an intimate relationship. Until or unless it's relevant to mention it, I don't need to know when they get together; I'll just assume that it's happening.

But despite this, Magic Study is entertaining. Not as original as Poison Study, but still satisfying. ( )

Like the first instalment, I had a strong sense of déjà vu while reading this novel. In fact, I had to tell myself a couple of times to ignore the familiar elements and stop trying to place them in order to enjoy the novel more fully.

It’s not that I didn’t enjoy the story, just that I found pieces of it so reminiscent of other things I read that I kept wanting to identify which books and authors I was reminded of. It was kind of like playing “that guy” with the supporting actors while at the movies and getting distracted from the film you’re ACTUALLY there to see.

Anyway, this continues Yelena’s story and I’m pleased with the way she’s evolving through the story. I’d have preferred a more compelling reason for Valek to be around – I think one of the reasons I fell in love with them in the first novel was because they were both doing their own thing, which happened to be moving them in the same direction. In this one, Valek felt like an after thought – I understand why he was included from a “shippy” perspective, but he didn’t have much to do. He provides ongoing motivation for Yelena, but didn’t need to be physically present for that. I like that she can stand on her own two feet these days, but I don’t want him to become an accessory as a result, the same could have been achieved by her thinking of him in Ixia and the odd "mental comm" thing that they do when she is in trouble. Of course, I freely acknowledge that if he’d been in Ixia the whole time I’d be complaining about THAT! Hopefully in book three he’ll be more essential to the plot so that I can have my romantic subplot without sacrificing character development or the main plot line :) And speaking of book three, I’m moving on to it immediately. Love reading a series back to back! ( )

Inhaled this book in less than a day. Great read. ( )

even less interesting than the first book, which started out pretty great, and then totally fizzled at the end. it's like this author has good *ideas* but can't seem to flesh them out enough or falls into silly simplistic happy endings.. or maybe she's being pushed by publishing deadlines, i don't know. i enjoyed the relationship problems between yelena and her brother but then.. i don't know, it's all action and no real emotions in a way, nothing real. anyhow, i still read it and the third book as well, so i obviously like these books enough to keep reading, but i can't help feeling there could have been a lot more. ( )