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Book #4: Magic Study, by Maria V. Snyder
Epic fantasy, girl-power, assassins, intrigue, politics, really obvious true love.
So. The first book was really good. And the whole poison thing was entirely new for me, so I am kind of enamoured with it.
This book had no poisoning, but what it lacks in threats in imminent death, it makes up for in political intrigue. It was fascinating and well developed, and even though there was NO FREAKING MAP, I still loved it.
Let me talk about the True Love. Because a fraction of a second, I was all "wait, she's totally being all 'Oh, I miss him'!" and I thought it was dumb...and then HE ANSWERS HER and GIVES HER MAGIC KIND OF RANDOMLY, and it's really great! So there's no whining or moaning and only a little bit of (totally justifiable) sulking after she has to leave him behind. I love it when relationships are functional in EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD. *hearts and flowers*
(OMG, and you have no idea how much I appreciate that there was NEVER a potential romance with Cahil. I am a freaking sucker for stability.)
Speaking of Cahil, that was a REALLY cool way of making all the politics make sense. And then it was all twisty and great. And there managed to be TWO twists that were, in hindsight, telegraphed, except they were both done in such a way that I DIDN'T NOTICE, because it was clever plotting, and I appreciate that a lot. *hearts*
Basically, this book managed to go forward and backward at the same time. I loved that Yelena's mother was both batshit crazy, and also really, really brilliant. But we also went further into magic and family and all sorts of semi-terrifying things.
I can't even talk about the Commander. I am just WAY TOO PUMPED ABOUT IT, and you should READ IT FOR YOURSELF.
8.5/10, on account of not being quite as original and therefore awesome as the first one, and on account of STILL NOT HAVING A MAP.
BEST. MAIL. EVER!
So. The first book was really good. And the whole poison thing was entirely new for me, so I am kind of enamoured with it.
This book had no poisoning, but what it lacks in threats in imminent death, it makes up for in political intrigue. It was fascinating and well developed, and even though there was NO FREAKING MAP, I still loved it.
Let me talk about the True Love. Because a fraction of a second, I was all "wait, she's totally being all 'Oh, I miss him'!" and I thought it was dumb...and then HE ANSWERS HER and GIVES HER MAGIC KIND OF RANDOMLY, and it's really great! So there's no whining or moaning and only a little bit of (totally justifiable) sulking after she has to leave him behind. I love it when relationships are functional in EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD. *hearts and flowers*
(OMG, and you have no idea how much I appreciate that there was NEVER a potential romance with Cahil. I am a freaking sucker for stability.)
Speaking of Cahil, that was a REALLY cool way of making all the politics make sense. And then it was all twisty and great. And there managed to be TWO twists that were, in hindsight, telegraphed, except they were both done in such a way that I DIDN'T NOTICE, because it was clever plotting, and I appreciate that a lot. *hearts*
Basically, this book managed to go forward and backward at the same time. I loved that Yelena's mother was both batshit crazy, and also really, really brilliant. But we also went further into magic and family and all sorts of semi-terrifying things.
I can't even talk about the Commander. I am just WAY TOO PUMPED ABOUT IT, and you should READ IT FOR YOURSELF.
8.5/10, on account of not being quite as original and therefore awesome as the first one, and on account of STILL NOT HAVING A MAP.
BEST. MAIL. EVER!