Recaps of books by Maria V. Snyder

Magic Study by Maria V Snyder

The basics

Title: Magic Study

Author:

Series: Study #2

- Poison Study (2005)
- Magic Study (2006)
- Fire Study (2008)
- Shadow Study (2015)
- Night Study (2016)
- Dawn Study (2017)

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Goodreads Summary:

With her greatest enemy dead, and on her way to be united with the family she'd been stolen from long ago, Yelena should be pleased. But although she has gained her freedom, she once again finds herself alone - separated from her lover Valek and suspected as a spy for her reluctance to conform to Sitian ways.

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 embroiled in 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 her new enemies.
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Poison Study by Maria V Snyder

The basics

Title: Poison Study

Author:

Series: Study #1

- Poison Study (October 2005)
- Magic Study (October 2006)
- Fire Study (March 2008)
- Shadow Study (2015)
- Night Study (2015)
- Dawn Study (unknown)

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Goodreads Summary:

Choose: A quick death…Or slow poison...

About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace—and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust—and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.

As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear...
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Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder

The basics

Title: Scent of Magic

Author:

Series: Healer #2

- Touch of Power (2011)
- Scent of Magic (2012)
- Taste of Darkness (2013)

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Goodreads Summary:

As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.

Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.

War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible ... again.
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Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

The basics

Title: Touch of Power

Author:

Series: Healer #1

- Touch of Power (2011)
- Scent of Magic (2012)
- Taste of Darkness

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Goodreads Summary:

They destroyed her world. But she's their only hope...

Avry’s power to heal the sick should earn her respect in the plague-torn land of Kazan. Instead she is feared. Her kind are blamed for the horrifying disease that has taken hold of the nation. When Avry uses her forbidden magic to save a dying child, she faces the guillotine. Until a dark, mysterious man rescues her from her prison cell. His people need Avry’s magic to save their dying prince. The very prince who first unleashed the plague on Kazan.

Saving the prince is certain to kill Avry – yet she already faces a violent death. Now she must choose – use her healing touch to show the ultimate mercy or die a martyr to a lost cause?
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