by Maria V Snyder
“Sounds like she might be worth the effort. There might be plenty of rainy days, but those perfect ones will make all the memories of rain disappear.”
“Is this from experience?”
“Yes.”
- Page 155
Title: Fire Study
Author: Maria V Snyder
Publisher: Mira Books
Book: 3 of the Study series
Genre: Fantasy
Found: Series,
Rating: 4 Voodoos
The apprenticeship is over—now the real test has begun.
When word that Yelena is a Soulfinder—able to capture and release souls—spreads like wildfire, people grow uneasy. Already Yelena’s unusual abilities and past have set her apart. As the Council debates Yelena’s fate, she receives a disturbing message: a plot is rising against her homeland, led by a murderous sorcerer she has defeated before…
Honor sets Yelena on a path that will test the limits of her skills, and the hope of reuniting with her beloved spurs her onward. Her journey is fraught with allies, enemies, lovers and would-be assassins, each of questionable loyalty. Yelena will have but one chance to prove herself—and save the land she holds dear.
-Goodreads
My review of book 2 can be found HERE ( and the novella 1.5), That review will link to book 1.
Well, despite what I said before, I’d consider reading the Glass series, if I had enough time. I read them first. the first time (In the distant past, before goodreads and easily accessible reading orders) and while that caused a few issues it wasn’t problematic. Though I did dislike how things ended, I didn’t have the back story. I wonder how much more I’d dislike it if I had that? I’ve only read them once so far you see. But I’m on a schedule here! Maybe when the Soulfinders series is complete. Wait, that’s a plural…Does she make a friend?! No, I’ve been distracted. Very not good, back to the review.
We also learn more about the Commanders situation in this book that I’d clearly forgotten about. I wonder if he’ll decide and ask Yelena to help? Maybe that will be in the next series! Her explanation for Valek is interesting too and I look forward to learning more of that later.
Kind of felt like there were a whole bunch of fall outs for no reason, I didn’t see her being harsh and untrusting etc but then I guess she wouldn’t notice. Having said that, it didn’t seem to drag at all. I mean, I kept putting it down to do some tasks, but I picked it up again, I wasn’t reluctant to. Plus it took her long enough to work out what her power could do! Moon Man was pointlessly cryptic. And I hope she makes sure all the history books are changed, to protect and prosecute all the right people.
The big bad was a surprise though, I didn’t remember any of that, I was convinced it was someone else! And I was convinced there was catacomb sacrificing, but that must have been something else I read…
I do wish we got to see things from a few others POV’s, like Lief’s. His feelings have seesawed all over and I’d like to know how he’s feeling now. It doesn’t seem that the novellas are even about him!
Speaking of which, here’s another.
Title: Power Study
Author: Maria V Snyder
Publisher: Mira Books
Book: 3.5 of the Study series
Genre: Fantasy
Found: Series, HERE
Rating: 3 Voodoos
Ari and Janco deal with a Sandseed Story Weaver and a cocky young soldier while Valek is off helping Yelena.
-Goodreads
This is set after Fire Study, Valek is on the mission Yelena set him, but there’s a pretty big problem in Ixia! Luckily the Duo are around. I think the issue I have with these is that I need to read them on my computer, so I have to read them all at once and quicky before I go onto my next task.
This was quite nice, alternating between Ari and Janco we follow them on their quest. I liked Janco’s POV, there’s more to him than people give him credit for. I do wonder what happened to the artefact in the end though. That’s a scary thing.
