Amazon Editorial Review:

A Lesson in Loyalty --
A Master Class in Intrigue

Yelena is a survivor. Kidnapped as a child, held prisoner as a teen, then released to act as a poison taster, she is now a student of magic. But these magic skills place her in imminent danger, and with an execution order on her head, she has no choice but to escape to Sitia, the land of her birth.

But nothing in Sitia is familiar. Not the family to whom she is a stranger. Not the unsettling new facets of her powers. Not the brother who resents her return. As she struggles to understand where she belongs and how to control her powers, a rogue magician emerges -- and Yelena catches his eye.

Suddenly she is embroiled in a situation not of her making. And once again it will be her magical abilities that will either save her life . . . or be her downfall.




My Opinion:
I really liked this book - as well as the first of the series. It is quite a bit darker than some of the fantasy novels I've read so far. At least the heroine is not at all the happy-go-lucky-type that sometimes sets out on dangerous quests. She is rather troubled from the beginning and the route is more towards healing (yet still saving the world, of course ;) ).
The problems of coming home to a place and family that you can hardly remember are well described - and very believable.

The book will travel the 2nd ring in the English-Fantasy-Miniabo :)
(1st: Poison Study, 3rd: Fire Study)

- Since it's going to be an "abo", it would be good if each book would be read in a month (at the most). But even though they look somewhat bigger, it doesn't really take long. If for some reason you need longer, please write a short journal or pm, so I know it's allright.
- Please don't just write that the book arrived an traveled on but also note how you liked it. :)

Otherwise: Have Fun!


Way to travel:

1. moonysshadow
2. rotewoelfin
3. KillerPueppi
4. Lytante
5. sonnenscheinHD
6. sternenwolf
7. quak

8. Qantaqa
9. faerie-glen
10. Wibke
11. ?


Khirsah wollte vorher ausgelassen werden - viell. also nochma versuchen...


...und dann heim! :)

Arrived today, to my pleasure - nothing better than receiving a book in the mail after a stressful day. Thanks, sao-diego!

I'll do my best to read it before I leave for vacation end of next week. :)

I'd say this book was very similar to the first one in terms of quality. It's certainly a compelling story, with many unexpected plot twists that kept me reading.
However, characterisation remains Snyder's weak point. For the vast amount of traumatizing events Yelena goes through, she lacks depth, as do many other players in the story. There's just so much torture and abuse the characters have to endure, and all of it without true long-term consequence. Also, the many, many anachronisms (e.g. Wannabe King) were just too much for me.
Yet the story has so much potential, most of all the ability to captivate the reader, which is for the most important aspect of a novel, that I enjoyed reading the book nontheless.

I think a rigorous editor would have helped the story improve a great bit. It'll be in the post by Tuesday!

Woooohoooo! Took it out of the Packstation today... How mean ;) I think I have to read this one before some other rings which are waiting longer ;)

Finished the book yesterday. I liked it a bit more than the first one, mainly because I get to like Yelena more, I think. I also liked that she is not the strong self-confident heroine all the time. I liked the first get to know with her family and also the development of the relationship with her brother. Just Ari and Janco are a bit too perfect ;) I'm really lookin forward for the third part :)

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Schon mit der Hauspost gestartet :)

The book arived well :)

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

und weiter geht's...

Vorhin aus der Packstation geholt - danke fürs Verringen und Verschicken!

10.08.09
Phu, I made the one month limit. Actually I read the book(s) very quickly, during three days (had a free day). So you can see I enjoyed them quite a bit. Thanks for the ring ... looking forward to book number 3.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Gerade zur Post gebracht!

Gerade habe ich die beiden Bände aus der Post geholt, danke!!! Bin schon gespannt darauf wie mir diese beiden Bücher gefallen.

Update: Wer lesen kann ist klar im Vorteil *grummel* Jetzt habe ich tatsächlich den zweiten Band vor dem ersten gelesen... muss die Hitze sein. Dafür war die Story interessant und ich habe sehr erwärmt. Nun gehe ich in Retrospektive und forsche die Vergangenheit aus und wie es dazu kam, dass..... *haach*

Ich habe kirsah angefragt, da quak noch bis Septemberg in Urlaub ist.. die möchte gerne übersprungen werden.... also auf zur nächsten Stelle....

Die Bände reisen nun weiter zu sternenwolf!

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Gute Reise und viel Spass beim lesen! Immer dran denken, Poison study ist der erste Band *gggg*

Rescued it out of my postbox today with the prequel!
I'm Really looking forward to read this two books! Thanks for the Ring and for sending at Sao-Diego12548 and sonnenscheinHD!

I just finshed it and liked it even better then "Poison Study". The Story is interessting and the characters are likeable. In my opinion the story is far more gripping then the prequel's one. I've read it in two sessions.
I'really excited and looking forward to "Fire Study".


Edit 08.09.: On its way to quak!

Arrived today with the first volume. Thanks!

31.11.2009: I liked the second one also very much. Although I was a bit sad not to learn more about Ixia. I liked the new characters that were introduced. It seems to get very intersting in the third volume :)

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Auf dem Weg zur nächsten Station.

Arrived, thanks!

Arrived here today, together with its sister, Poison Study. Thanks for the ring and for sending, I'm really looking forward to reading this book!

I liked this book as much as the first, and read it just as fast. Altogether, it still stands true what I said about Poison Study: Some developments just happen too fast to be entirely plausible (and it's starting to annoy me that everyone turns from friend to foe and back again all the time, in the blink of an eye), yet the book was captivating and entertaining. It seems that the writing of Snyder gets better with time and practice; one more reason to look forward to Fire Study, and other books by the author.

Edit: Passed on to Annieselan!

Arrived today together with "Poison Study" and I´m looking forward to read it!

I liked Yelena´s second adventure even more than volume I, though I still think, she´s just too perfect sometimesm and her character development is too fast for the book. But the story was very catching, the characters are interesting and I liked the whole Sitian & Ixian set-up a lot. My favourite "person" was Kiki and I still like Yelena, Ari, Janko and of course Valek. The love story was sweet, though Valek didn`t play such a big part in this book. Also the sandseed people and the Zaltanas were quite cool!

I´m looking forward to read Volume III. Thank you for letting me join this wonderful ring, SaoDiego12548! I´ve sent you a PM!