I finished this book last weekend and I’ve really been thinking about what exactly I’m going to say about it… my mind is still full of awe and just a complete mess so I’m just going to go for it.
Poison Study is without a doubt the BEST book that I’ve read this year. It is so incredibly stuck in my mind; it’s all I’ve been thinking about since I finished it. If I’m being completely honest, I’ve even dreamt about it. It’s THAT stuck in my head and it’s so refreshing to feel this way about a book when the last couple I’ve read (or tried to) have been complete let downs. I only wish I had read it sooner, but alas, it’s exactly what I needed right now.
Yelena is on the verge of being executed for murder when she is given the opportunity to become the food taster for the Commander of Ixia in lieu of execution. She goes for it, and realizes that staying alive isn’t necessarily going to be easy when the Rebels are plotting to seize Ixia and she herself is developing magical powers that she’s unable to control.
Yelena herself is such a badass. She’s strong, stubborn, level headed, and doesn’t take anyone’s crap including the Valek, the Chief of Security. While her life is continuously threatened by the father of the man she murdered (among others), she doesn’t give in to her immediate reaction which is to run away as fast as possible. She has a hard time trusting anyone, and when you learn her entire story, it’s completely understandable. There are twists and surprises, and some things I definitely saw coming but in a way that I was anxious to see the events play out, not in a way that was old and tired. I rated it 5/5 on Goodreads and cannot wait to get the next book in my hands!
lifebetweenreads.com 
One thought on “Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder”