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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
I love Maria V. Snyder, I think she is a spectacular writer and this was on par with Poison Study as one of my favorite works of hers. I thought she wove a great atmosphere and I really liked the main character. The only problem for me was that I didn't quite believe the romance between Avry and Kerrick. They hate each other for 90% of the book and then boom, no explanation now build-up and they're in love. A great book aside from that and a definite must read- it stayed with me for days after!
More reviews at Rondo of a Possible World: YA Book Reviews
After reading Miss Snyder's Inside Out series I knew that her Healer series would have me growing attached but I didn't expect how much. Going from the Inside Out series and into the Healer series you can see the different in the lucidity of writing. Touch of Power is a beautiful tale of adventure, love, sarcasm, and kickass characters that will hold your attention for hours on end.
Entering into the novel you meet Avry, a healer during the times of a plague within the land of the Fifteen Realms, who is to be captured and killed for assumption towards her vocation being a harbinger of the plague that sweeps the land. From there she is rescued by a band of men in dire need of a healer to save a man who could save them from impending doom.
The distinctive properties of the healing in the book was intriguing for when Avry goes about completing her deeds, that who is healed leaves scot-free while Avry is left to tend to the wounds that she absorbed whether malignant or benign. The development of Avry and her choice to go through such torturous healing (obtaining scars and fevers and remain unconscious for days), and put her life on the line for the very men who begin to pull her heartstrings.
The action within this had stationed my attention for hours, never letting me leave the story, or even my room for that matter. I wanted to know what happened next. I wanted to watch the characters grow. I read and read and read until the very end, one that left me with a warm heart and anticipation for a sequel that brings Avry and Kerrick and the boys back into my life in the new year.
After reading Miss Snyder's Inside Out series I knew that her Healer series would have me growing attached but I didn't expect how much. Going from the Inside Out series and into the Healer series you can see the different in the lucidity of writing. Touch of Power is a beautiful tale of adventure, love, sarcasm, and kickass characters that will hold your attention for hours on end.
Entering into the novel you meet Avry, a healer during the times of a plague within the land of the Fifteen Realms, who is to be captured and killed for assumption towards her vocation being a harbinger of the plague that sweeps the land. From there she is rescued by a band of men in dire need of a healer to save a man who could save them from impending doom.
The distinctive properties of the healing in the book was intriguing for when Avry goes about completing her deeds, that who is healed leaves scot-free while Avry is left to tend to the wounds that she absorbed whether malignant or benign. The development of Avry and her choice to go through such torturous healing (obtaining scars and fevers and remain unconscious for days), and put her life on the line for the very men who begin to pull her heartstrings.
The action within this had stationed my attention for hours, never letting me leave the story, or even my room for that matter. I wanted to know what happened next. I wanted to watch the characters grow. I read and read and read until the very end, one that left me with a warm heart and anticipation for a sequel that brings Avry and Kerrick and the boys back into my life in the new year.
A Touch of Power is a fantasy adventure book featuring the heroine Avry who finds that after a plague wipes out most of the population in her world she is now the only one left of her kind. Avry is a woman gifted with the magical abilities to heal people by taking their injury or sickness into herself. And it is due to this gift that she is now the only one who can save the fifteen relms.
Man, when I started this book I devoured it quickly. It was exactly what I had been craving. An adventure that starts off running with a tough heroine, lovable characters, and a "touch of magic." But there were enough issues with this book that I couldn't give it a five star rating, though it did come close. First off, the writing is rushed at times. I do get bored of the drawn out world building and back stories of some books, but this book would deliver information like "oh and btw there are giant flowers that eat people, but you already knew that." At times it was refreshing to skip over the technical stuff and get to the exciting parts but then there were so many details about this world I had only a vague understanding of. Like, why is a curling iron a thing but running water is never before seen? what?? To what level of technology has this world developed?
Another problem I had was that it does start to drag in the middle, with a seemingly unnecessary pit stop or two. They spend most of the book talking about going over the nine mountains but they can't even get there! And when they do finally manage it it wasn't for very long. It was a lot of build up for not a lot of payoff.
Also the romance in this book goes from zero to fifty quite suddenly. It seemed to me the only romantic contender was Belen for most of the book since he and Avry had the biggest emotional connection. But when the romance did finally show up it wasn't bad, just not as strong since it had no buildup.
I will definitely read the rest of the series, and I really want to read Poison Study, I hear its one of Syder's best. A Touch of Power is a great fantasy adventure if you like your stories to be soft around the edges. High stakes but not a lot of heartache and some really endearing characters. I will now forever love Belen.
Man, when I started this book I devoured it quickly. It was exactly what I had been craving. An adventure that starts off running with a tough heroine, lovable characters, and a "touch of magic." But there were enough issues with this book that I couldn't give it a five star rating, though it did come close. First off, the writing is rushed at times. I do get bored of the drawn out world building and back stories of some books, but this book would deliver information like "oh and btw there are giant flowers that eat people, but you already knew that." At times it was refreshing to skip over the technical stuff and get to the exciting parts but then there were so many details about this world I had only a vague understanding of. Like, why is a curling iron a thing but running water is never before seen? what?? To what level of technology has this world developed?
Another problem I had was that it does start to drag in the middle, with a seemingly unnecessary pit stop or two. They spend most of the book talking about going over the nine mountains but they can't even get there! And when they do finally manage it it wasn't for very long. It was a lot of build up for not a lot of payoff.
Also the romance in this book goes from zero to fifty quite suddenly. It seemed to me the only romantic contender was Belen for most of the book since he and Avry had the biggest emotional connection. But when the romance did finally show up it wasn't bad, just not as strong since it had no buildup.
I will definitely read the rest of the series, and I really want to read Poison Study, I hear its one of Syder's best. A Touch of Power is a great fantasy adventure if you like your stories to be soft around the edges. High stakes but not a lot of heartache and some really endearing characters. I will now forever love Belen.
This book was great. Not amazing but great. If you liked Poison Study or the likes of Throne of Glass you will enjoy this. It may not be as cleverly written but I really enjoyed this world.
The story is good, the plot may be rushed slightly here and there but there is reasonable understanding to that as perhaps explain what happened in 10 days between events of just travel may have been boring or simply uneventful. The fellas are just captivating in this group. Their like a group of friends you would love to have, each one different in their own way and well structured for the story.
There were some ups and downs and some surprises. Some things may have been a little silly or a little cringe but hey, not everyone may think so.
I am glad however that the main character is well structured, she is not a typical heroin that you think will be amazing at everything. She is intelligent and has an interesting personality. She wasn't annoying or she was not written in the sort of "self indulging" way where you know she is gonna be "the chosen one" or "the only one capable to save us all" hero by the end of the story. Actually there are lots of very interesting question unanswered by the end of this book.
Over all I couldn't wait to read on so I bought the next one on Kobo Store and will be tackling it as we speak. This book was a nice change of pace to other novels I have read recently and been disappointed aka Firebolt (Dreadful!!!🙈😑😵). So if you want a nice book, quite addicting and filled with magic, decent world structure and some romance? Go for it. 😊😊
The story is good, the plot may be rushed slightly here and there but there is reasonable understanding to that as perhaps explain what happened in 10 days between events of just travel may have been boring or simply uneventful. The fellas are just captivating in this group. Their like a group of friends you would love to have, each one different in their own way and well structured for the story.
There were some ups and downs and some surprises. Some things may have been a little silly or a little cringe but hey, not everyone may think so.
I am glad however that the main character is well structured, she is not a typical heroin that you think will be amazing at everything. She is intelligent and has an interesting personality. She wasn't annoying or she was not written in the sort of "self indulging" way where you know she is gonna be "the chosen one" or "the only one capable to save us all" hero by the end of the story. Actually there are lots of very interesting question unanswered by the end of this book.
Over all I couldn't wait to read on so I bought the next one on Kobo Store and will be tackling it as we speak. This book was a nice change of pace to other novels I have read recently and been disappointed aka Firebolt (Dreadful!!!🙈😑😵). So if you want a nice book, quite addicting and filled with magic, decent world structure and some romance? Go for it. 😊😊
This book is so weird.
You know at the end of the Hunger Games series when they summarize a whole sequence of important events because Katniss was unconscious at the time? And it seemed very rushed and you wished that you could have seen the events actually unfolding? Yeah. That's what the entirety of this book is like.
But for some reason, its the only book I couldn't put down in a long time.
So I'm confused and kind of mad at myself....
Also *Spoilers* If you had the power to heal, but at the cost of your own health, wouldn't you resent it just a little? I know I would. But she's so happy to do it, every time. Like, hell no! You're cut is going to heal! I'm not taking it!
You know at the end of the Hunger Games series when they summarize a whole sequence of important events because Katniss was unconscious at the time? And it seemed very rushed and you wished that you could have seen the events actually unfolding? Yeah. That's what the entirety of this book is like.
But for some reason, its the only book I couldn't put down in a long time.
So I'm confused and kind of mad at myself....
Also *Spoilers* If you had the power to heal, but at the cost of your own health, wouldn't you resent it just a little? I know I would. But she's so happy to do it, every time. Like, hell no! You're cut is going to heal! I'm not taking it!
Whoa.
Okay, first of all, does anyone happen to have a little cospect on 10 differet loans in Estonia, elaborating the conditions and stuff explainimg exactly how you can get them... From the pov of 3 biggest banks in Estonia? Xd cause it's almost midnight and I postponed everything else in ordee to finish this gripping, captivating book I fell in love with from the first sentence. Ok, the first paragraph. :D
Snyder is one of the few writers (imo) who can bring such an independent and headstrong, yet caring character to life. Avry had this strong and somehow fulfilling personality. And all thw other charactees... None of them plain, every wingle one of them with their own unique voice and behaviour. They didn't collide with each other, they... Completed each other.
And you can rarely see a thing like thisaccomplished so well.
The pace was ongoing. It was interesting to read about their supposedly mundane doings while they were on the road for months. I loved the friendship and loyalty. It was inspiring in many ways. Reminded me the way Janco and this other guy whose name i can't recall at the moment were with Yelena from Study books. Although here even stronger bonds formed imo.
And though I pretty much knew what was going to happen with Avry in the end, I still enjoyed seeing as it worked out, dots connecting but still many points loose and without answers.
So, my overall point would be: READ IT if you're the slightest bit into fantasy and have enjoyed books like this before.
And if you've mad this far in the review, sorry for the possible typos - on my phone and we're not the best of friends with this qwerty touch screen. :D
And now off to do the unlikeliest of things: this horrid homework 'cause I'm more intimidated this teacers angry glare and bad words than I would of Kerrick's deathly glare, probably. :D
Okay, first of all, does anyone happen to have a little cospect on 10 differet loans in Estonia, elaborating the conditions and stuff explainimg exactly how you can get them... From the pov of 3 biggest banks in Estonia? Xd cause it's almost midnight and I postponed everything else in ordee to finish this gripping, captivating book I fell in love with from the first sentence. Ok, the first paragraph. :D
Snyder is one of the few writers (imo) who can bring such an independent and headstrong, yet caring character to life. Avry had this strong and somehow fulfilling personality. And all thw other charactees... None of them plain, every wingle one of them with their own unique voice and behaviour. They didn't collide with each other, they... Completed each other.
And you can rarely see a thing like thisaccomplished so well.
The pace was ongoing. It was interesting to read about their supposedly mundane doings while they were on the road for months. I loved the friendship and loyalty. It was inspiring in many ways. Reminded me the way Janco and this other guy whose name i can't recall at the moment were with Yelena from Study books. Although here even stronger bonds formed imo.
And though I pretty much knew what was going to happen with Avry in the end, I still enjoyed seeing as it worked out, dots connecting but still many points loose and without answers.
So, my overall point would be: READ IT if you're the slightest bit into fantasy and have enjoyed books like this before.
And if you've mad this far in the review, sorry for the possible typos - on my phone and we're not the best of friends with this qwerty touch screen. :D
And now off to do the unlikeliest of things: this horrid homework 'cause I'm more intimidated this teacers angry glare and bad words than I would of Kerrick's deathly glare, probably. :D
2013? You mean I have to wait a full year before the next book is out? Well shit. It'll be well worth the wait though.
This was awesome on so many levels. It resembled [b:Poison Study|60510|Poison Study (Study, #1)|Maria V. Snyder|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1170542921s/60510.jpg|1180409] a bit, but not so much that I felt like I was reading the same book with different character names. I was also reminded of [b:Graceling|3236307|Graceling (Graceling Realm, #1)|Kristin Cashore|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1331548394s/3236307.jpg|3270810] in a few places, but since that's one of my favourite books ever, I didn't mind at all.
Avry was everything a YA heroine should be: Brave, sensible, smart, compassionate, self-sacrificing without being a martyr, focused externally instead of indulging in endless hours of pointless navel-gazing, capable of thinking logically, able to stand up for herself without being a bitch, knew when to pick her battles, the list goes on. Despite his early examples of how to excel in the science of asshattery, Kerrick was a great character. It takes some time to warm up to him (especially after that backhanding incident), but once his background and motivations start to come out, I couldn't help but like and respect him. The secondary characters were rounded and well-thought out and added depth to the story.
The pacing was good, especially since it essentially takes place over four or five months. It's not all go, all the time, but the "lack" of action doesn't make for a slow story. Well, most of the time - there were a couple spots where I started to glaze over, but that could also be due to my desperate need for sleep. I'm just saying it's not a perfect book, but it's damn close.
And! No cliff-hanger! Yes, the greater story hasn't been wrapped up in a pretty bow, but there was a definite and natural stopping point at the end of the last chapter. So while I'm uber-excited about the next story, I'm not wanting to tear my hair out in frustration due to not knowing what happens to our characters.
This was awesome on so many levels. It resembled [b:Poison Study|60510|Poison Study (Study, #1)|Maria V. Snyder|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1170542921s/60510.jpg|1180409] a bit, but not so much that I felt like I was reading the same book with different character names. I was also reminded of [b:Graceling|3236307|Graceling (Graceling Realm, #1)|Kristin Cashore|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1331548394s/3236307.jpg|3270810] in a few places, but since that's one of my favourite books ever, I didn't mind at all.
Avry was everything a YA heroine should be: Brave, sensible, smart, compassionate, self-sacrificing without being a martyr, focused externally instead of indulging in endless hours of pointless navel-gazing, capable of thinking logically, able to stand up for herself without being a bitch, knew when to pick her battles, the list goes on. Despite his early examples of how to excel in the science of asshattery, Kerrick was a great character. It takes some time to warm up to him (especially after that backhanding incident), but once his background and motivations start to come out, I couldn't help but like and respect him. The secondary characters were rounded and well-thought out and added depth to the story.
The pacing was good, especially since it essentially takes place over four or five months. It's not all go, all the time, but the "lack" of action doesn't make for a slow story. Well, most of the time - there were a couple spots where I started to glaze over, but that could also be due to my desperate need for sleep. I'm just saying it's not a perfect book, but it's damn close.
And! No cliff-hanger! Yes, the greater story hasn't been wrapped up in a pretty bow, but there was a definite and natural stopping point at the end of the last chapter. So while I'm uber-excited about the next story, I'm not wanting to tear my hair out in frustration due to not knowing what happens to our characters.
Kinda flat and I prefer healers who don't take on the illness as they heal. That's so limiting!!!
3.5 stars.
A couple of years ago, I read Maria Snyder's 'Poison Study' series, and was very much into it. I decided to give this one a go, for old times sake (and it was a cheap iBook, which helped). I'm very happy that I did, because I finished it in one sitting. Could not put it down.
I thought the way the plot unraveled was interesting, and while some developments were pretty easily seen coming, that did not ruin the book for me. There were other plot twists that I did not see coming, and had me pleasantly surprised.
The plot itself centers around Avry, a twenty year old healer who is hunted by pretty much everyone, because it is believed throughout the kingdoms that healers like her started the plague that has killed more than half of the population. The story begins with Avry in hiding. Eventually, she is kidnapped by a man called Kerrick, who brings her to his merry band of misfits. He wants her to heal his prince, who is on the brink of death - but to get to said prince, they have to travel far, through lands with mercenaries, bounty hunters and dangerous beasts that go bump in the night.
For the first few chapters, I absolutely hated Kerrick. That was to gradually change, probably because I have a soft spot for asshole characters. The character I found the most enjoyable in the whole novel was probably Belen, and in many ways, I think he was the book's saving grace. I'm not sure I would have come around to Kerrick if it wasn't for Belen.
What I loved most about Avry also turned out to be what eventually made her annoying. She's portrayed as being intelligent, brave, selfless and kind. But throughout the novel, she keeps making the most dumb choices. Putting herself in unnecessary danger when there REALLY isn't a need for it. After a while, it got tiring. Luckily, I think her kindness saved my opinion of her, and I stubbornly trudged on (which I am happy that I did, because I did enjoy the ending).
The romance was okay. Due to an event early in the book, I kinda hated myself for being so into the possibility of Kerrick and Avry happening. But their kind of banter/enemy-to-lovers sort of thing is my ultimate weakness, so I could not resist.
I thought the concept of the novel was great, and the world building was decent. I wish there would have been more about the world itself, but I'm also grateful that there weren't any major info dumps because... those are not my thing. I thought the magic system was well thought out, though I would have loved to see more of the different types. And more non-healing magic used - I have my fingers crossed for the next installment.
I had a hard time rating this book. I really, really liked it (I'm the type to give up on books pretty easily, so if I hadn't enjoyed it... I would not have finished it), and read this in one sitting. I think what I enjoyed most was the plot, the enemies-to-lovers trope executed in a pretty decent manner, and the fantasy aspects of the novel. I'm giving it 3.5 stars because of the issues I've had with it, otherwise it would be a solid 4.
A couple of years ago, I read Maria Snyder's 'Poison Study' series, and was very much into it. I decided to give this one a go, for old times sake (and it was a cheap iBook, which helped). I'm very happy that I did, because I finished it in one sitting. Could not put it down.
I thought the way the plot unraveled was interesting, and while some developments were pretty easily seen coming, that did not ruin the book for me. There were other plot twists that I did not see coming, and had me pleasantly surprised.
The plot itself centers around Avry, a twenty year old healer who is hunted by pretty much everyone, because it is believed throughout the kingdoms that healers like her started the plague that has killed more than half of the population. The story begins with Avry in hiding. Eventually, she is kidnapped by a man called Kerrick, who brings her to his merry band of misfits. He wants her to heal his prince, who is on the brink of death - but to get to said prince, they have to travel far, through lands with mercenaries, bounty hunters and dangerous beasts that go bump in the night.
For the first few chapters, I absolutely hated Kerrick. That was to gradually change, probably because I have a soft spot for asshole characters. The character I found the most enjoyable in the whole novel was probably Belen, and in many ways, I think he was the book's saving grace. I'm not sure I would have come around to Kerrick if it wasn't for Belen.
What I loved most about Avry also turned out to be what eventually made her annoying. She's portrayed as being intelligent, brave, selfless and kind. But throughout the novel, she keeps making the most dumb choices. Putting herself in unnecessary danger when there REALLY isn't a need for it. After a while, it got tiring. Luckily, I think her kindness saved my opinion of her, and I stubbornly trudged on (which I am happy that I did, because I did enjoy the ending).
The romance was okay. Due to an event early in the book, I kinda hated myself for being so into the possibility of Kerrick and Avry happening. But their kind of banter/enemy-to-lovers sort of thing is my ultimate weakness, so I could not resist.
I thought the concept of the novel was great, and the world building was decent. I wish there would have been more about the world itself, but I'm also grateful that there weren't any major info dumps because... those are not my thing. I thought the magic system was well thought out, though I would have loved to see more of the different types. And more non-healing magic used - I have my fingers crossed for the next installment.
I had a hard time rating this book. I really, really liked it (I'm the type to give up on books pretty easily, so if I hadn't enjoyed it... I would not have finished it), and read this in one sitting. I think what I enjoyed most was the plot, the enemies-to-lovers trope executed in a pretty decent manner, and the fantasy aspects of the novel. I'm giving it 3.5 stars because of the issues I've had with it, otherwise it would be a solid 4.
This is very classic Maria V Snyder novel. I love her books especially the poison study series but there is a part of me that wants a touch more edge and a little more spice. I think that’s just me growing out of the YA genre though.
The world building in this one wasn’t quite as fleshed out as previous books in this series. The politics didn’t quite make sense but I still really enjoyed it. Am I going to read the next one? Maybe when I need a comfort read but I won’t be rushing to it.
All that aside though I just really consistently enjoy MVS books and will keep occasionally picking them up when I need a break.
The world building in this one wasn’t quite as fleshed out as previous books in this series. The politics didn’t quite make sense but I still really enjoyed it. Am I going to read the next one? Maybe when I need a comfort read but I won’t be rushing to it.
All that aside though I just really consistently enjoy MVS books and will keep occasionally picking them up when I need a break.