Yelena has been convicted of murdering General Brazell’s only son Reyad and she awaits her execution by hanging. With only hours left until her death Yelena is offered a stop to her execution, but only if she agrees to become the food taster for Commander Ambrose. Thinking that escape may be possible, she agrees.It would seem that being a food taster would be an improvement to Yelena’s former life locked in a dark, dreary, rat infested dungeon but there are different ways to be held captive. She might be living in the palace and eating wondrous meals, but she is once again held prisoner by Butterfly’s Dust. Shortly after her acceptance to be food taster she is feed the poison, now her only way to survive is to have a daily antidote otherwise she will die an agonizing death. It’s not as easy to escape as she thought.Unfortunately for Yelena, General Brazell still wants her dead. Now she always seems to be in death’s path. It is present everyday when she must test the Commander’s food for hidden poisons, and as well the thugs and killers hired by Brazell that seem to be lurking around every corner. When it seems it can’t get any worse Yelena discovers that a powerful magician is also trying to kill her and Yelena herself realizes that she also posses magic. Which in Ixia, where Yelena lives, anyone possessing magical qualities is sentenced to death!When a conspiracy against the Commander comes to light, Yelena must once again face the demons that have haunted her memories. All her life she has been trying to run away, but when the chance comes will she be able to take it?Yelena is one of those characters that you can’t help but instantly like. The moment she is given a choice to save her life she doesn’t look back, even though it seems like she’s only landed herself into another prison. She posses a strength that is unwavering! She is ruthless and very smart. She’s is everything a leading character should be.Of course the story itself is amazing, I was captivated by the first few pages, and I couldn’t put the book down once I started reading. Maria V. Snyder paints a vivid picture of her new world and yet, the world she created is completely convincing. I loved all the characters, especially Valek, which at first look would seem to be somewhat sinister but ended up surprising me. Poison Study isn’t only a spellbinding fantasy it is also a riveting love story! Snyder is very talented story-teller and I can’t wait to join Yelena once again in the sequel to Poison Study, entitled Magic Study. ( )

Very pleasantly surprised by this novel and was thrilled to discover there's a sequel.

This was a pretty good novel. It doesn't quite fit into a genre—not really fantasy, not really romance. There's some decent worldbuilding, nothing amazing, and the romance isn't too cliché. I would have liked a bit more depth, though. WHY do Yelena and Valek fall in love?? Just because they're there? It felt a little lazy on the part of the author. Oh, the two main characters have to fall in love, right? I went with it, and it's fine. Hopefully the other two books in the series provide a bit more oomph, though. ( )

Yelena is a young women about to be executed for murder. On the day of her execution she is given a chose. Die or become the Commander's food taster. Well, Yelena is no fool....

Poison Study is one of the books that I had on my shelf for a long time. I wish I would have picked it up soon, cause it's an amazing read. I loved it right away. Your sucked into Yelena's world from the very first page. By the last page your wishing it wouldn't end. If your into fantasy, this is the book for you. You'll defintley like it. It's got adventure, intrigue and even a little bit of romance.

Reviewed on November 28, 2007 ( )

Surprisingly good. This was a free book bundled onto my Sony Ebook Reader, so that when you unwrap it you have something to read, hence my expectations were somewhat low. There is an awful lot of derivitive fantasy out there and most of it is awful. This however is not, I was quite intrigued from the opening premise.

Ixia is a military governed country. Divided into neat Districts and ruled by a Code of Behavior, that is harsh, but also strictly applied to everyone. When the Commanders food taster dies, the Code specifies that the next prisoner due for execution (anybody who kills another is themselves executed, no excuses) is instead assigned to that post. Fortunetly our heroine is in that position and Valete gets to learn the tastes and smells (and effects) of all the common poisons. However life is made more complicated when the General whose son she killed (hence the awaiting execution) visits the Commander's castle and isn't pleased to find her still alive. Of course there are spiteful servants and all the petty politics of castle life to deal with.

This isnt' the usual rags to riches pig-boy fantasy tale though. Even if is shares some similarities in plot to Russel Hobbs more famous Assassin's Quest trilogy. The world is almost well thought out, and quite novel. It almost feels like a utopic socialist state, a kind of perfect N Korea, or somesuch. Everbody has a job, and a role - and a uniform identifying their role and District. But the uniform variations are only described as two tone, patterns of diamonds, I don't think there are sufficient diamond pattern variatsions to convey the multitude of jobs a nation requires to exist. Nothing is said of how or when a person is assessed for their role, nor what planning / numbers of children etc happens. But is does provide a good background to the story. And of course makes a fugitive from justice's life that much harder.

The writing focuses on Yelena, an orphan, taught in one of the General's orphanages and has an especially hard time there. the details are slowly ellucidated in dribs and drabs as she allows herslef to think about why she's in this or that predicament. Other than Yelena and her feelings everybody else just gets bit parts. But they are fun bit parts and there's a good diversity of characters.

The downsides. Yelena at 16 is just a little bit too good at everything to be quite beilvable. She doesn't have any faults and hasn't made any mistakes. And there's a lot of gushy romance and falling in love with older protective father like figures. Probably true enough to form, but not quite as accurately well written as some of the other areas.

Over all though this a quite enjoyable fast paced book with a likeable heroine (rare enough on its own) a fairly unique magic system (although this will be developed in the inevitabel sequel) and inventive world. Looking forward to the sequel. ( )