Subscribe to my RSS Parajunkee on Twitter Like on Facebook! Goodreads YouTube Tumblr
Paypal
Google Email Me! google Amazon profile
Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, books, movie, giveaways and more! This blog has moved. View latest greatest info at parajunkee.com

2.16.2010

Poison Study by Maria V. Synder


Poison StudyPoison Study by Maria V. Syneder
PJV Series You Should Be Reading Feature

Bought with my own money.

PJV Quickie POV: One of my favorite authors and series. Poison Study is a fantasy novel unlike any I have ever read before. A usual fantasy novel drips with strange names, bizarre creatures, and bloated writing, where you have to sift through chapters of back story, world set-ups, and inflated descriptions. Not to say there is anything wrong with that - don't get me wrong, I was raised on fantasy and scifi as my aunt read aloud Lord of the Rings and handed me my first cherished fantasy series book...a Dragonlance novel. But sometimes change is good.

Review: Yelena is given a choice. Execution or Food Taster. Quick death, or the threat of a slow, agonizing death by poison. The choice for Yelena was simple, she took the helm of the food taster, even though she knew it was dangerous, anything was better than being executed, and hung she will be. Her crime is certain, the punishment, death.  She has killed a nobel's son and for that she must pay the price. The tale is told through Yelena's POV and her story is slowly revealed throughout the pages.  As the story goes on, the depth of the plot gets deeper and deeper as we are introduced to Valek, the Commander's assassin, whom seems to be able to wrap himself in darkness itself to sneak upon his quarry.

Valek trains Yelena in the subtle art of food tasting and the ability to detect poison.  If not to save herself, but at least with her dying breath to be able to call at which poison is killing her so the murderer can be detected.  As Yelena is sucked deeper and deeper into her new world, she begins to discover that not everything is how it seems, and enemies might need to be kept a little closer.

Poison Study is a great introduction to the fantasy genre if you are looking to cross the genre barriers.  The world Synder created is rich in its depth, but not over-whelming or bloated. It is a unique world, a world of magic, military might and medieval noble sensibilities.  Poison Study is a study in character development, the characters of Yelena and Valek are larger than life, entirely relatable and fall in love with material. As Yelena made choices and faced problems and tasks I was drawn in and didn't want to leave.  Moving on Magic Study & Fire Study are almost as good as the first!

Recommendations: There are some adult scenes, nothing blatant, so I'm recommending this for older teens and adults.  You don't necessarily have to be a fantasy genre fan.  This has a lot of paranormal aspects, so fans of paranormal might really enjoy this.











Coverology...

Which do you prefer? If I'm not mistaken there are THREE US version & the Other three are UK & Aussie versions. If I'm wrong please correct me, but every time I looked I would find a different cover.

 
 









11 comments:

brizmus said...

Oh, you have me convinced! I MUST read this book! My favorites are the two on the very right (with the head at the top and then the smoke). I think I like the smoke one bestest.

Blodeuedd said...

The 2nd is my fav, the 1st and 3rd, and 4th are ok too, but the last two bleh.

Loved this book, but didn't like book 2 or 3

Tales of Whimsy said...

Oooo I like the purple cover on the bottom left :)

PS I have a cool contest for a floating shelf here

Persephone said...

So many covers! I have the 1st one, but I love the purple cover right below it. I have cover envy!

WonderBunny said...

I really like the bottom left cover too!

I have "read" the first two (audiobooks) and enjoyed both of them. Although I had a few issues with the second book but still good.

Mari - Escape In A Book said...

Great review, Poison Study is on my wishlist. It sounds like such a great and different read!

April (BooksandWine) said...

I have the green cover! Haven't read Poison Study yet, but every keeps telling me I need to read that (but you know, so many books, so little time).

Monster of Books said...

I love this book, will be reviewing it soon.
I own the top center cover :)
But my favorite is the bottom left or bottom center cover. Awesome review!!

Wings said...

i heart this book!!! my favourite in the series!

the black is definitely aussie...it the one i have :D

i think the butterfly opening one (second on bottom row) is available here too...

awesome review!!!

Alyssa Kirk said...

I have got to read this series! It is my kind of book and love your review!

I like the one in the middle of the top three, and all of the bottom ones. The bottom right is my favorite!

Liz @ Cleverly Inked said...

I have read I think one other review ad it was a good one. Another one to add

Post a Comment

Let me have it...