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Shaheen

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Shaheen is Currently Reading

Shaheen is currently reading

Midnight Sun (Twilight, #5)

by Stephenie Meyer

bookshelves: currently-reading, 1-owned

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Oct 09, 2020 03:25PM

Shaheen is currently reading

Fire Study (Study, #3)

by Maria V. Snyder (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading, 1-owned

Reading for the 2nd time

read in June, 2012

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Shaheen said: " Having loved both Poison Study and Magic Study, I put off reading Fire Study because I didn’t want the series to end! But I must confess that I am disappointed with it. Fire Study lacks all my favourite elements of books one and two, but includes all Having loved both Poison Study and Magic Study, I put off reading Fire Study because I didn’t want the series to end! But I must confess that I am disappointed with it. Fire Study lacks all my favourite elements of books one and two, but includes all the things I didn’t enjoy in them. One of the strongest aspects of the previous books are the amazing characters and their relationships, but Fire Study is much too focussed on Yelena and doesn’t allow for the growth of the supporting cast at all.

I love the way Yelena tells her story – I have always enjoyed her ‘voice’. However, in Fire Study she becomes the leader of her group of rebels, and unlike in previous books, her friends don’t seem to ever have any advice to give her. So we have the unlikely situation of an untrained orphan-girl, with hither-to unexplained magical powers, leading a group of hardened and battle-tested warriors and trained magicians. Her leadership role causes Yelena to question the nature of her magic and eventually to fear it, until she can come to terms with being a Soulfinder and all that it entails.

This is the driving force behind the plot and I think that Yelena’s confusion is brilliantly brought to life. Although she vehemently opposed Roze, the First Magician, when in a leadership role she is forced into some difficult decisions and makes the same choices Roze did in the past, which makes Yelena question whether her powers are dangerous. The conclusion to the story is satisfactory and feels realistic: the issues between Ixia and Sitia aren’t solved but each country has an increased understanding of the other now.

I understood the separation of Yelena and Valek in Magic Study and thought it was skilfully handled. However, the conspicuous absence of not only Valek, but Ari and Janco for large parts of this novel made me skip over parts just so I could see if they ever made an appearance. Valek’s role has been further diminished from the strong warrior he was in Fire Study. He still performs some heroic acts but is so mellowed out that I have a hard time he can still inspire the fear he used to in others. The relationship between Yelena and Valek is still realistic, however, and I think the tension between them, caused by her magic, was well played out.

Over all I can safely say I enjoyed Fire Study the least out of the whole trilogy, but it is still a great book and concludes the series well. I will be reading the sequel trilogy as soon as possible!

You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic . ...more "

progress:

(page 120 of 441)
— Feb 29, 2020 07:24PM

Jun 29, 2012 06:29AM · see review

Shaheen’s Quotes

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

tags: encouragement, gandalf

10463 likes

“Well, you're expelling us aren't you?" said Ron.
"Not today, Mr. Weasley."
Snape looked as though Christmas had been canceled.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

2178 likes

“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
― A.A. Milne

4950 likes

“I can't believe they even bothered filling that faculty position again. They might as well rename the class Defense Against the Dark Arts. I mean, seriously, who would answer an ad for this job?”
― Rachel Vincent, Before I Wake

44 likes

“Dumbledore watched her fly away, and as her silvery glow faded he turned back to Snape, and his eyes were full of tears.
"After all this time?"
"Always," said Snape.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

tags: dumbledore, life, love, snape

19107 likes

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