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Magic Study (Study, #2)

Maria V. Snyder

Start date: June 1, 2020

Finish date: June 30, 2020

Discussion: Series

Why we're reading this: Won the poll for the Series Catch Up Month from 2016
[close] Won the poll for the Series Catch Up Month from 2016

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Series

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What Members Thought

May 18, 2018 Lesa Divine rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018, library, read-it

That ending got me ready to read book 3. I'm enjoying this series. I love books that's unpredictable and not just focus on love.
There's magic, deceive, killing, fighting, and more.
Yelena goes home meeting the family she was stolen from.
Then off to school to enhance her magic. But while there there's a serial killer.
Plus she's meeting people that don't trust she's who she claims to be. Saying she's a spy from Ixia.
Yelena magic improves a lot to the point the Masters at the school are amazed.

I enj ...more

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Jun 11, 2014 Sasha rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, poc

Magic Study is a wonderful return to the world that Maria V. Snyder created in Poison Study. The political machinations that were only hinted at in the first book are explored more fully, and the wonderful world-building and introduction of new and exciting plotlines and characters is a true treat to readers both old and new.

Poison Study gave us a glimpse of a world divided along magic and non-magic lines. As Magic Study opens, we return to Yelena, having just escaped to the southern, magic-frie Magic Study is a wonderful return to the world that Maria V. Snyder created in Poison Study. The political machinations that were only hinted at in the first book are explored more fully, and the wonderful world-building and introduction of new and exciting plotlines and characters is a true treat to readers both old and new.

Poison Study gave us a glimpse of a world divided along magic and non-magic lines. As Magic Study opens, we return to Yelena, having just escaped to the southern, magic-friendly country of Ixia, a place from which she originated before she was kidnapped as a young child and smuggled to the magic-fearing nation of Sitia. As Yelena is returned to the village and the family from which she was stolen, she finds herself stuck between two worlds: the only one she knows, and the one she years to belong to, with her family in Ixia.

From the moment Yelena sets foot in Ixia, the wheels are set in motion for political upheaval. Because of her powers and her investment in the futures of both Sitia and Ixia, Yelena becomes the target of political manipulation from all corners: from people wanting to seize the throne by force, from those back in Sitia who want to keep magic and non-magic separate at whatever cost, and from the people of Ixia itself who fear that Sitia will invade without warning. I really got a sense of the stakes in this book, and the action and intrigue was constantly ramped up and never seemed to slow down. Not to mention, danger lurked under every rock! Yelena always seemed to be making enemies or getting into trouble, as protagonists often do. Among those enemies was a faceless serial killer who planned to steal Yelena’s power for his own—this man was terrifying and gave me chills every time I read about him. The plot moved along at a fast pace and the antagonists were constantly in question, keeping me guessing as to who the real puppeteers were. Everything is revealed in the end in a shocking manner that upends everything you think you know about the book’s plot.

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Mar 10, 2009 Kaitlin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Loved it, loved it, loved it. Ok, the communicating with horses was a big piece for me, but it was really fun to see Yelena continue her growth and learn so much more about herself. The new characters were great, but the old characters coming back brought it all together. Can't wait to get Fire Study. ...more

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Dec 30, 2010 Cheer Papworth rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya

Almost as good as Poison Study! I love the characters and can't wait to read the last book. Fun and entertaining! ...more

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Sep 22, 2009 Angie Taylor rated it really liked it

This was a great continuation from the first book, and I think was written better. The plot from beginning to end flowed more smoothly than the first, without any hurried parts. A fun fantasy!

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