Poison Study By Maria V. Snyder

Series: Study #1
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Release Date: September 1st 2007
Source: Bought
Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars
Cover Rating: 2/5 Stars
Synopsis: Choose: A quick death Or slow poison... 
Yelena has a choice – be executed for murder, or become food taster to the Commander of Ixia. She leaps at the chance for survival, but her relief may be short-lived. Life in the palace is full of hazards and secrets. Wily and smart, Yelena must learn to identify poisons before they kill her, recognize whom she can trust and how to spy on those she can’t. And who is the mysterious Southern sorceress who can reach into her head? When Yelena realizes she has extraordinary powers of her own, she faces a whole new problem, for using magic in Ixia is punishable by death...

Poison Study was a lot better than I thought it was going to be. It's the first book I have read by Maria Snyder though I had heard her name being thrown around the blogosphere. The only reason I picked up this book was because it sounded unlike anything I had ever read and I wanted a change - that and the fact the shop was having a 3 for 2 sale and I needed a third book. The book follows Yelena who's waiting to be executed when she gets a lifeline. She can be executed or be the royal food taster. Both of which almost certainly make her death inevitable but the latter gives her a bit longer at least. She chooses to be a food taster and is immediately made to train with the dangerous Valek. She is taught to identify the poisons but not before being given one herself to stop her running away, a poison that will kill her unless she takes the antidote once a day. With escape impossible Yelena adapts to life in Ixia but she is not safe...

Yelena was exactly how a heroine should be. She was smart, stubborn and strong. She didn't rely on anyone and didn't whine. Not even when she was waiting to be executed! There's nothing I hate more than a whiny heroine. Yelena wasn't described as pretty, she has personality instead of looks which I've noticed is becoming a more and more popular trait in Young Adult books. Valek was also amazing. He was a ninja! Well maybe not a ninja but assassin doesn't sound as cool. Anyway, I loved the chemistry between him and Yelena, their relationship was entertaining to watch. Two other characters, Ari and Janco were awesome. They are both guards so you would expect them to be hard and mean. Well they weren't. Once they became friends with Yelena their protective sides came out. They were fiercely devoted to protecting her and just very sweet.

I really enjoyed this book and am going to pick up the second as soon as I can. The world building in Poison Study was exceptional, there was even a map at the beginning of the book which I reverted back to at many points in the book.It was very helpful. I would reccomend this to those who enjoy fantasy or even those who don't have much experience with it (like me) because this makes a great first. One thing I should say is although the book is young adult it is a very adult, young adult book for more mature readers.

My Favorite Quote

“Poisoned, pursued and living with a psychopath. Not what I would consider the good life. Death has its perks.”

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK