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Poison Study (Study, #1)

Maria V. Snyder

Discussion: Book Suggestions

Why we're reading this: While it is fantasy, it deals with the stigma around acceptance, women in power, and trans-gender.

Also I …more
[close] While it is fantasy, it deals with the stigma around acceptance, women in power, and trans-gender.

Also I think it might be good to include something from the fantasy genre, to show that it doesn't just have to be historical fiction or non-fiction to deal with these issues. If you look you can find them in any genre :)

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What Members Thought

Jan 28, 2010 Terri rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

Yelena was sentenced to death for murder. Right before her execution, she was given the choice of serving as teh Commander's food taster instead. A job she took. One that was to change her life in many ways. Yelena is a very interesting and strong character who has ruthless enemies and makes strong friends. I look forward to her continued adventures in the next book in the series ...more

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Sep 18, 2008 Carla rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: not-own, 2008

Sometimes book covers influence my choice. This was one of those cases. I thought the cover was pretty and the read a favourable review. I usually try to search for more opinions but, for this book in particular, the steps mentioned were enough for me to buy it. I'm glad I did it.

I don't usually buy books in English to keep them, since I'm Portuguese and I'm the only one who reads English written fiction at home (my mom doesn't understands English), I trade them using BookMooch. This book howeve Sometimes book covers influence my choice. This was one of those cases. I thought the cover was pretty and the read a favourable review. I usually try to search for more opinions but, for this book in particular, the steps mentioned were enough for me to buy it. I'm glad I did it.

I don't usually buy books in English to keep them, since I'm Portuguese and I'm the only one who reads English written fiction at home (my mom doesn't understands English), I trade them using BookMooch. This book however will be an exception. It's simply fantastic, or at least for those like the Fantasy genre, I also thought it as innovator. I'm used to those Fantasy books which seem to take you to a medieval setting, as Tolkien and George R.R. Martin, something that doesn't happen with this book. I associated it to a more modern time, an industrialized setting. Due to the authoritarian and military character of the setting, I associated it to Bismark's Germany, or at least to the idea I have of it, as I don't know much about this historical period. But getting to the plot...

The book tells us the story of Yelena to whom, though sentenced to death because of killing the son of the man who took her in as an orphan, is given one more chance to live. However, the proposal made by Valek, the Commander's (who rules over Ixia) trustful man, has a catch as she becomes the Commander's food taster, making her detect poisons in the food and drinks served to him. Despite her second chance on life, it remains threatened. So we follow Yelena on her taster training, while she makes friends, avoids enemies, reveal intrigues and discovers herself.

The world in which the characters move is a bit undeveloped, the reader only knows the essential to understand what is happening. The strong point is the characters. Just like what happened with Outlander, we see relationships evolve. You see friendships getting stronger consistently and even turning to romance. The main character is strong, although it has ghosts and you see her growing. I liked how the author gives you clues about Yelena's past and powers without giving all away. The same is true to the other characters: Valek, the Commander (whose story I really thought it was interesting), Irys...

You have action and intrigue in considerable amount, keeping you interested in the book and in what is going to come. Adding to this, you have magic and a bit of romance. For me it was a complete book, providing everything I ask from a book while reading it: it provided an escape to my daily life. ...more

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