Poison Study (Study, #1) in Study Buddies

Nov 06, 2009 Rebecca rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2018, genre-fantasy, young-adult, all-time-faves, read-in-2014

1st Read: September 2009
2nd Read: June 2014

2014 thoughts:
FUCK YES. This was just as amazing as I remembered it being. I was so worried that it was a fluke, that despite all the amazing reviews and discussions I've had with awesome people about how ridiculously perfect this books is, I was worried I wouldn't like it as much as I did the first time. BUT I WAS WRONGGGGG.

Yelena is one of my all-time favourite heroines. She's just so fantastically strong and such a treasure. Despite everything she's 1st Read: September 2009
2nd Read: June 2014

2014 thoughts:
FUCK YES. This was just as amazing as I remembered it being. I was so worried that it was a fluke, that despite all the amazing reviews and discussions I've had with awesome people about how ridiculously perfect this books is, I was worried I wouldn't like it as much as I did the first time. BUT I WAS WRONGGGGG.

Yelena is one of my all-time favourite heroines. She's just so fantastically strong and such a treasure. Despite everything she's had to endure in life, she perseveres. She pushes through her demons and always strives to do what she believes to be the right thing, even if it may be difficult for her. And my love for Valek is insane. I love how he grows as a character the more we get to know him. From ruthless and cold to caring and loving. I just can't with him. The secondary characters are also insanely fantastic. Ari and Janco are the best things since sliced bread. I really cherish Commander Ambrose. I think he's just such an incredible character.

I love how this book takes place over several months, which allows both the plot and the characters to grow organically. The development doesn't feel rush but rather is more of a very satisfying slow burn.

Ugh it's just so damn good and if you haven't read it yet then GET ON THIS MAN.

2009:
Oh. My. Goodness. This book has been on my To-Read List for quite a while and the other day I picked it up on sale (along with book 2 of the trilogy). It was amazing. From start to finish I could not put it down. Yelena is a strong, female lead character. She has fought tooth and nail and she doesn't give up. I admire her strength and courage. Valek is cold, but loving. I could sense his struggle between not caring for Yelena, and loving her. So many things I did not see coming, yet not much I would change. It has been a very long time since I have fallen so deeply for a book. I'm now anxious to begin reading Magic Study, and am already making plans to get my hands on Fire Study. AMAZING. ...more

10 likes · Like · see review

Nov 03, 2009 Sarah rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: magic, favourites, kick-ass-heroine, fave-authors

AWESOME! One of the best books I have read.

2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 05, 2009 Jaime West rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites, books-i-own, fantasy

Okay.. give me a sec.. this story doesn't let up.. I need to catch my breath.
I read it in a day and half!! I loved the characters, and the writing and the weaving stories.

From the first page you feel like you are running for your life with Yelena, short of breath. She is constantly being hunted down and I have to admit I was a little tense reading this, my neck hurts!
Yelena, that poor girl is paranoid - for obvious reasons, but despite everything against her she never gives up. and that makes m ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 21, 2009 Ashley Mayer rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

What a great book! The story of Yelena is so unique, and exciting! I loved this book! Oh, and Valek!!!

1 like · Like · see review

Feb 08, 2010 Katelyn rated it really liked it

Shelves: own

Oh how I love Maria V. Snyder's books, her writing, basically all things Maria V. Snyder. I totally and completely fell in love with the world she's created in the Study series and I just can't get enough of the whole kit and kaboodle. Yelena acts as our tour guide in this first novel and introduced readers to the territories of Ixia and the background of the turmoil between Ixia and Sitia, the neighboring territory. As a victim of bad circumstances its impossible to not immediately be on Yelena Oh how I love Maria V. Snyder's books, her writing, basically all things Maria V. Snyder. I totally and completely fell in love with the world she's created in the Study series and I just can't get enough of the whole kit and kaboodle. Yelena acts as our tour guide in this first novel and introduced readers to the territories of Ixia and the background of the turmoil between Ixia and Sitia, the neighboring territory. As a victim of bad circumstances its impossible to not immediately be on Yelena's team. Kidnapped as a child, held prisoner for the killing of said kidnapper/torturer, and that's only the highlights reel version.

We meet her as she's about to be executed and Ixia's chief of security, Valek offers her an out, of sorts. She takes the position of the commander of Ixia's food taster. Sounds great until you realize she's tasting for poisons and will be dead before she knows it if she isn't a quick learner. But I guess any chance is better than no chance at all, right? And she's got Valek, the best of the best as her personal tutor. So as she studies with Valek she still has to fend off anyone who could possibly detect her secret. Well one of them at least. She has magical powers developing and the penalty for magic users in Ixia is death. Like this girl doesn't have enough to stress her out!

But can we please now focus on Valek!!! I don't even know where to begin. I didn't expect to like him and ended up loving him and I don't know when or how that happened. He's talented, smarter than just about everyone and is fiercely loyal to the commander. He's definitely someone you want on your side and someone you don't double cross...unless you want to wind up killed. Let's not forget that when he sets his mind to something you can pretty much assume that he won't let it slip from his grasp. So is he determined to protect Yelena? Ixia? Or both? So after being introduced to these fantastic characters in this amazing world I was thrilled that there would be two more books in their story. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 08, 2010 Megan Sewell rated it it was amazing

Shelves: special, favorites

This book is seriously one of the best books I have read in a really long time. I got sucked in in the first 2 pages and just couldn't put it down. When I did put it down it wasn't willingly and all I could do was think about what was going to happen. I finished it in 2 days and was sad to close the book. It stays with you and you feel a need to share this book with everyone you know. ...more

Like · see review

Dec 08, 2009 Susan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book was amazing, I really must say that Maria can write a fantastic story

Like · see review

Feb 15, 2010 Inoli rated it it was amazing

Shelves: adventure, series, favorites, book-club-read, recommend

Very dark. Very exciting. Hard hitting (not a phrase I would have expected myself to use). Very imaginative premise. Very imaginative story. Do you want a strong female lead? I haven't finished this yet and I've rated it. I don't expect to have to change the rating. I'll be back.

Wow! I'm finished. It's very late. I was not going to sleep tonight until I finished this. Layers of complications kept on being added. Dramatic things kept catching me completely off guard. It all flowed so well. Nothin ...more

1 like · Like · see review