From the Bookshelf of Study Buddies…

Touch of Power (Healer, #1)

Maria V. Snyder

Start date: December 20, 2011

Finish date: March 20, 2012

Discussion: Discuss Touch of Power

Why we're reading this: New series! YA and adult novel. More info at http://mariavsnyder.com/books.php …more
[close] New series! YA and adult novel. More info at http://mariavsnyder.com/books.php

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Discuss Touch of Power

Discuss Touch of Power - Now with Spoilers!
By A · 6 posts · 50 views

last updated Jul 14, 2012 06:30AM

Touch of Power - No Spoilers Thread
By Renée · 41 posts · 60 views

last updated Feb 29, 2012 01:45AM

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What Members Thought

Mar 01, 2011 Kaitlynne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: absolute-favorites

I have absolutely no doubt that this book is going to be amazing!

*After reading it*

Yup, I was right. This book exceeded my expectations :)

17 likes · Like · see review

Feb 28, 2011 Rosa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks-owned, netgalley, library-owns, favorites, kick-ass-heroines, neeeeeeddddd, cute, arc, magic, paranormal

Aha! So you've decided to read by review eh? Would you like to read more?... No? oh... well, my blog link's right here if you need it...
http://far-past-midnight.blogspot.com/

Avry's been on the run for 3 years because of her gift, the ability to cure someone's injuries by laying her hands on them and assuming the injury onto herself. She is one of the last Healers. Healers like herself were blamed for starting the disastrous plague that wiped out many, and because of that they've been hunted to n ...more

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Sep 06, 2011 Ashley Mayer rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy-sci-fi

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Fifteen Realms, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.
Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with po ...more

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Sep 17, 2011 Erika rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-in-2012

Title: Touch of Power
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Publisher: Mira
Number of Pages: 394
Date of Release: December 20th, 2011
Summary From Goodreads:

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Fifteen Realms, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.
Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band o Title: Touch of Power
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Publisher: Mira
Number of Pages: 394
Date of Release: December 20th, 2011
Summary From Goodreads:

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Fifteen Realms, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.
Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life…

Review: HOLD THE PHONE GUYS!! This book is just beyond words and I put off reviewing it because of that! The first books I read of Maria’s were before I started this blog, but the Study series is still my favorite series of all time! I knew I would love this book but I didn’t know I would laugh, cry and bite my nails with worry! Touch of Power has instantly set up the success of Maria’s new series!

Avry is brilliant, she is self-reliant, strong and most importantly compassionate. She is the last of her kind left and is being hunted by the people she saves from deaths grip. Avry comes into herself throughout the novel and I enjoyed reading her hopes and dreams. Kerrick was just swoon worthy. His name is divine, and at first he was kind of a jerk, but really he is just a big teddy bear! I loved all of Avry’s captors, they all were hilarious.

I mentioned once before that if I had to have a superpower it would be a healing power. This book explores the type of pain that kind of power would hold. Not only that but there is a whole freaking mountain of mystery that you don’t even really think is important, because there are bigger things going on until the very end!! Maria is an amazing writer and Ican’t wait for the next book she writes! If you are a fan of high fantasy (Graceling, Fire, Mistwood, Brightly Woven etc.) you need to pick this book up right now!
...more

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Oct 05, 2011 Devon Hernandez rated it it was amazing

She strikes again! Maria puts out consistently fabulous writing, and this one is no exception. I got to talk to her at my local B&N book signing in Lancaster recently, and as I told her, the Inside Out/Outside In duo was great reading, it was a more Sci-Fi effort that, after her previous 6 books in the realm of magic/fantasy, felt different. Great reads, but...Maria just has a fantastic touch with the fantasy genre. I count her Study and Glass trilogies among my most favorite books, and this new ...more

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Oct 19, 2011 Katelyn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own

Maria V. Snyder has done it again! To be honest, I'm no longer surprised to find that each of her new books is better than the last. Every time I pick one of her novels up I get this thrill of excitement because I know it's a winner even before I've cracked the cover. Her Poison Study series captured my attention as well as my heart as a reader, and ever since she just keeps on putting her touch of pure magic into her writing. Where do authors come up with these story lines? Magic and healing ma Maria V. Snyder has done it again! To be honest, I'm no longer surprised to find that each of her new books is better than the last. Every time I pick one of her novels up I get this thrill of excitement because I know it's a winner even before I've cracked the cover. Her Poison Study series captured my attention as well as my heart as a reader, and ever since she just keeps on putting her touch of pure magic into her writing. Where do authors come up with these story lines? Magic and healing may have been done before, but no one comes close to touching on Snyder's Healer series. Anyone who tries...well good luck with that, but don't be shocked when you come up short. There's no matching her ability to draw readers in and capture them to the point where they'll start to believe that her worlds actually exist.

I couldn't have been happier to meet Avry and discover yet another literary heroine to add to my list of favorites. She's hard to resist and after a while you won't even know why you tried. Her band of rescuers (so to speak) are just as impossible not to love. But I will say this. After knowing how many ups and downs Snyder can put her readers through by making her characters go through all their paces and insurmountable obstacles, this series by far put me through the ringer. I laughed (a lot) and cried (even more) but really I just couldn't believe how attached I got to these characters. And after only a few pages...I was relating and empathizing with their tales as if they truly were real and my very own friends and family. Ridiculous some may say, but those individuals have never experienced Snyder's magic. And that's the real shame.

Readers who know and love Snyder, won't find this review hard to believe or far fetched in any way, but what they might find shocking is that Snyder managed to having me falling for a character even more than the immortal Valek. I myself did not think that would ever be possible, but she's done it! I won't go into anymore detail because everyone should really experience this one for themselves, without knowing too much going into it. But trust that you won't be disappointed. Now can we please get book two, Scent of Magic, like immediately! ...more

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Nov 19, 2011 Misty rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: own, recieved-for-review, netgalley, team-awesome

If your looking for a complete gush fest about how much I love this book and the author herself, then you've come to the right place!

It's no secret that Maria's my favourite author and I spent all of 2011 awaiting the release of Touch of power so as you can imagine I tore it open and started reading right away when it arrived and I was not disappointed!

Fans of Maria's previous work, her Study and Glass trilogies in particular will really enjoy this book, it's set in another fantastical world tha If your looking for a complete gush fest about how much I love this book and the author herself, then you've come to the right place!

It's no secret that Maria's my favourite author and I spent all of 2011 awaiting the release of Touch of power so as you can imagine I tore it open and started reading right away when it arrived and I was not disappointed!

Fans of Maria's previous work, her Study and Glass trilogies in particular will really enjoy this book, it's set in another fantastical world that's described with great detail so I could imagine myself as part of the gang as they travel across the land on a journey full of twists and surprises that had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through.

Avry is another strong women, she's survived on the run longer than any of the other Healers and she will stand up for what she believes in even if it means risking her life. As cold as she tries to be she can't help caring for people and wanting to help anyone she can.

On of the things I enjoyed most was watching her friendship develop with the guys she is travelling with, I really felt, by the end that I was friends with them to because it was written so well, they weren't instant friendships, the relationships grew over time making it believable.

The story itself was a fantastically woven plot that tied up neatly at the end but also left it open for the next book Scent of magic, there were some really interesting elements, some very sad moments that had me near tears and other times that had me swept up in the emotions.

Needless to say, I loved this book! In fact I think I might have already mentioned that I did but it bears repeating, if your a fan of the author then read it! If you've never read anything by the author then read it!

It's a great book, but did I mention the next one isn't out for a whole year! How will I survive waiting that long?!?

Favourite quotes

'Disappointment panged until I remembered I hated him.'

"Tohon isn't mistaken." Kerrick traced one of the scars along my shoulder blade. "I would be...upset if he succeeded in luring you away." ...more

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Apr 06, 2011 Anna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned, romance, fantasy, young-adult, fiction

I devoured this! I liked Touch of Power as much (if not more) than the Study & Glass series. The style of the book is much the same as the others, but it is set in a completely new and creative world - the Fifteen Realms.

This was very hard to put down. I seriously considered reading under my desk at work just to finish out the chapter I was on when my lunch break ended (don't worry, I restrained myself). The last time I read a book this hard to put down was probably the Hunger Games series.

I can ...more

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Jul 07, 2011 Jessie R rated it it was amazing

Another awesome read from Maria.V!
She sure knows how to craft a compelling tale:) I know some people will have a problem with some of the plot lines that are left hanging. But, I have come to know and love Maria's style of dishing out a little info here and there to keep the mystery going and then wrapping everything up nicely in the second and third books.
I actually found the villain, (whom will remain nameless) to be a very interesting and intriguing character.
I hope there is more mention of ...more

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Jul 16, 2011 JoBird rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-sci-fi-dystopian, favorites, i-loved-it-2012, reading-it-again, made-me-cry

2013: Pretty much just as good the second time around. I decided to re read it before I read scent of magic. I am now really excited to find out what happens next. I am glad I decided to re read it, there was a lot I had forgotten. And Yes I did cry at the end again. hehe

2011: That was amazing. I just loved it. It has been ages since I have cried in a book. The ending in this one had me crying like crazy. What an adventure this one was.

There is so many directions that the story could continue o ...more

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