Poison Study (Study, #1) in Bookish Reality

Sep 18, 2019 Laura ☾ rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

4 stars

Recommended by Brittany

Poison study is a high fantasy novel in which Yelena, who is to receive the death sentence for murder, becomes the food taster for the political figurehead (the commandant) instead.

This felt a little Throne of Glass-esque but darker from the beginning.

Snyder provides for satisfying character development, especially Valek's.

This book felt a bit slow at times but still held my interest, and it was somewhat cliché but still entertaining! ...more

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Jan 17, 2020 Tomethee Chalamet rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2020

This is what I like to call, my mental notes.

I can't say that hated this book, for that would not be true. I can't say I liked it either. It's really mixed.

It didn't grab my attention from the start as I had anticipated. The writing style was way off and I couldn't get invested. By chapter ten I was hooked and so badly wanted to see what happens. By chapter twenty-three I was off again. I can explain.

The situation we're faced with at the beginning of the book is weird. Having this girl be hanged This is what I like to call, my mental notes.

I can't say that hated this book, for that would not be true. I can't say I liked it either. It's really mixed.

It didn't grab my attention from the start as I had anticipated. The writing style was way off and I couldn't get invested. By chapter ten I was hooked and so badly wanted to see what happens. By chapter twenty-three I was off again. I can explain.

The situation we're faced with at the beginning of the book is weird. Having this girl be hanged for murdering her abuser, only to be poisoned and lead to work a dangerous job, her boss essentially being the person who poisoned her? It's awkward, isn't it? I guess that makes for a good setup.

I can't say I loved the characters, as much as I loved exploring the world through them. Which I guess is the point. I really didn't know what to make of Yelena for half the book. But for some absurd reason, I never questioned Valek, which is weird because of the aforementioned. These thoughts obviously were not conscious thoughts at the time, I've had some time to reflect back. As for their interactions, what you'd probably call the romance in this book, I enjoyed the idea of it until it happened. I don't know why, but at the start of the book I wanted to see them interacting romantically, and when it was happening I couldn't help but cringe. It was slow enough that felt believable when it happened, and I still love that it did, I just feel like we could have explored different timing of the situation. But I have to admit that I loved seeing their progression through the book, and their slow, unknowing, opening up to each other. When the author started to address it, it turned me off. Maybe it's a me thing.

I absolutely LOVED Ari and Janco's characters.
That's it. That's the statement. I loved them. As characters and as friends. Maybe they're of the few characters in this book I really loved.

And boy was the book action-packed. The weird change in scenery and time, mid-chapter, caught me off guard many times. I didn't really enjoy reading a sentence, and the next being three months ahead if I'm being honest. But that's just nitpicking. But all the stuff we learned about the world, the magic system, the law and the people in charge, it was interesting to get to know about. Also, all the kicking ass that happened. BOY DID I LOVE seeing my little girl Yelena kick ass. Like yas queen learn that self-defence. I also found it weird seeing her backstory, and everyone's reaction to it. Though I was expecting to delve a bit more into the effect that telling it to someone like Valek would have, instead of a "Mogkan and Brazell will perish". But the ending, I have to say, it did leave me curious to see what will happen to these characters. ...more

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Feb 23, 2020 Mary Chin rated it really liked it

I actually quite liked this book, though the main character annoys me sometimes. But then again, she's not supposed to be perfect, eh? Anyway the book was pretty draggy at certain parts, which I thought could definitely be glossed over because they were somewhat irrelevant yknow. Yeah, but awesome book. Though, I think I need a break so I wont be binge reading the series, heh. ...more

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Jun 01, 2019 Autumn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned-read

4.5 stars

This book has been on my wishlist for 2 years, waiting for it to go on sale on amazon but to no avail. I finally caved in and bought it... and I’m so happy I did. I love the world, characters, and the character building. Yelena’s backstory of how she became the food taster was predictable but raw. The way Snyder writes about her feelings, taste/smell, and surroundings made it easy to become immersed. I am definitely going to pick up other books by this author, and I am very satisfied.

Th ...more

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Jan 24, 2020 Shree rated it really liked it

Like any other fiction, sorry is not that interesting in middle as in end and in last. It has got a really good plot any I was able to enjoy it a lot. It is with a read.

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