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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
WARNING: GUSHING
Oh, wow. Where do I even start?!
I was a latecomer to the Maria V. Synder bandwagon. She was one of those authors constantly on my tbr but I never seemed to get there. And when I finally did last year, ALL the books were already out. Or so I thought. The groundbreaking announcement of the new series and the return to the Ixia/Sitia world came soon after I finished Fire Study and brought my inner fangirl much delight.
I needed more Valek and Yelena.
My inner fangirl reared her #sorrynotsorry head when I got approved for an e-arc via Netgalley. She was shouting THANK YOU SO MUCH MIRA INK for all the world to hear. The neighbors were complaining? who cares!? more Valek and Yelena to go around!
Okay. The actual book. Right.
At first, I was a bit confused. The only first-person pov is Yelena's, while Valek and Janco's are told in the third person. It took me a couple of chapters to adjust to it, but once I did I was able to swiftly devour the book *insert evil laughter here*
I didn't even pause when references to events that happened in the short stories I haven't read popped up. While I had no idea who these characters were, Snyder did a great job filling in the gaps so I had no trouble grasping the gist of things. But if short stories are your thing, you might want to give them a shot before jumping into this one.
Now, I know you probably didn't hear a word I said after Valek's pov. But yes; the swoony master assassin (never thought I'd say that) and Yelena's heartmate lets us peek into his head in this installment. Which was just... incredible. We got to experience how much Yelena truly means to him and OH THE FEELS. We knew he loved her, of course, but my view of him was slightly affected by her belief that she would always be second to the Commander in his eyes. She is so wrong *melts into a pile of goo*
And did I mention we get to explore his past? Because we do. And if you say you're not intrigued by the events that turned him into the King-Killer then you're lying. In Shadow Study, we get all the juicy details; young Valek. Valek in training. Valek and the Commander meeting. And of course, the event that gave him his nickname.
Wait--What? Already gone to get the book? I didn't even get to the part about the emphasis on Valek's relationship with the Commander, a theme bound to continue to the second book at the very least. And let's just say I'm very curious about how it will proceed!
And of course... JANCO. If you don't love Janco, then... then... inconceivable! And if you do love him... he stars in this book, alongside a new character called Onora. Janco and Ari are always going to be the Power Couple of this universe, don't worry, but I kind of ship Little Miss Assassin and the Rhyme Master, ain't gonna lie.
And of course, there was Leif, Ari, Opal & Devlen, Reema, Kiki... there was no shortage of awesome characters, awesome interactions, awesome situations, and a great story-line that keeps you guessing and intrigued, with every chapter ending in a way that makes you need the next one.
And that ending... Let's put it like this: I KNEW IT and I am freakin' happy and excited!
Omg omg omg
This was soooo gooooood.... I thought that after all these years of waiting the story wouldn't be as good but boy was I glad I was proven wrong. .. I frigging loved Valek!!! And Yelena and sooo happy to have more Janco and Ari action it's just perfect! !!!
That ending thooooo I'm gonna be freaking til I get the next one
******when release date appeared***
Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh! !!! I've been waiting on this forever! !!!! Eeeeeepppppppp.... so excited!!!! I missed you Valek!!!
This was soooo gooooood.... I thought that after all these years of waiting the story wouldn't be as good but boy was I glad I was proven wrong. .. I frigging loved Valek!!! And Yelena and sooo happy to have more Janco and Ari action it's just perfect! !!!
That ending thooooo I'm gonna be freaking til I get the next one
******when release date appeared***
Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh! !!! I've been waiting on this forever! !!!! Eeeeeepppppppp.... so excited!!!! I missed you Valek!!!
adventurous
emotional
funny
What bothers me about series in general, is that, on the one hand, if the author is good (and Maria Snyder is very good) how can you not read all of the books? It would be like refusing to have news from a good friends. You want to know what happened to the characters that you have come to love.
On the other hand even the best series become repetitive or formulaic after a while. Or, in some case, the characters go through so much that you wonder how they can still be sane, and you want it to hand because another book would be others bad things happening to them (looking at you, Sookie!)
So I had to read Shadow Study, but I was a bit apprehensive.
I should not have been! This book made me fall in love with Yelena and Valek (and Janco, Ari...) all over again. I liked the chance to know more about Valek's past and how it put his relationship with the commander in perspective. The reasons for the new adventures make sense, the pace was good. I could not put it down, but was sorry it was really over.
My only problem was that I was just a bit confuse at the beginning, since the book mentioned some events that I could not remember, then I realized that the other published novellas on her web site that let to the events of Shadow Study. Once I read those, it was fine.
On the other hand even the best series become repetitive or formulaic after a while. Or, in some case, the characters go through so much that you wonder how they can still be sane, and you want it to hand because another book would be others bad things happening to them (looking at you, Sookie!)
So I had to read Shadow Study, but I was a bit apprehensive.
I should not have been! This book made me fall in love with Yelena and Valek (and Janco, Ari...) all over again. I liked the chance to know more about Valek's past and how it put his relationship with the commander in perspective. The reasons for the new adventures make sense, the pace was good. I could not put it down, but was sorry it was really over.
My only problem was that I was just a bit confuse at the beginning, since the book mentioned some events that I could not remember, then I realized that the other published novellas on her web site that let to the events of Shadow Study. Once I read those, it was fine.
This story was told from different characters' POVs, which can work but didn't here. Switching back and forth pulled me out of the story, particularly because Valek's chapters kept jumping back and forth between past and present. I didn't feel that the look into his past really added anything to the story here and I think this book would've been improved without it - that story could've made a decent novella. My other major issue with the book was that the big twist at the end is a) a lazy trope and b) SO OBVIOUS. Like it was SO OBVIOUS that that was why Yelena's magic was blocked. I'll keep reading the series but this was just an okay book in my opinion.
Poison Study is one of my favorite books, but no other book Snyder has written has managed to live up to it for me.
Spoiler
that creators often use when they don't know what else to do with a female characterPoison Study is one of my favorite books, but no other book Snyder has written has managed to live up to it for me.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4.5/5, and I was a little slow on the reading this week 😂
Despite my dislike of multiple-perspective, I liked that we got an inside look on Valek’s past. I’m hoping in the future books we get a peek into why Valek has immunity to magic. Also, I’m not sure if Janco’s perspective was totally needed, but...I love Janco so I don’t think I can really complain that much.
Overall, much better than Opal’s story in the Glass trilogy. I love Yelena’s character so much, and I’m so glad we’re back in the saddle with her! Even though the going was a little rough with me and reading this book, I can’t wait to pick up the next two!
Despite my dislike of multiple-perspective, I liked that we got an inside look on Valek’s past. I’m hoping in the future books we get a peek into why Valek has immunity to magic. Also, I’m not sure if Janco’s perspective was totally needed, but...I love Janco so I don’t think I can really complain that much.
Overall, much better than Opal’s story in the Glass trilogy. I love Yelena’s character so much, and I’m so glad we’re back in the saddle with her! Even though the going was a little rough with me and reading this book, I can’t wait to pick up the next two!
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I did not have the best time reading the Storm Glass Trilogy, so I was a bit scared of going into this trilogy but it was better then I expected.
I just need my original characters all the time to really enjoy the books in this series. It's just so great too that I get the POV's of Yelena, Valek and Janco and it makes me so happy.
I loved the plot of this book with Yelena mysteriously losing her powers and also having people trying to kill her. I liked seeing Yelena learning to live with the fact that everything isn't so easy anymore and that she can't rely on her magic to save her. She has only just started this journey and I can't wait to see more.
I loved being with Valek in the book. We got a really detailed story of how he became an assassin and found Ambrose and just his life story and I loved that. I also liked that he is thinking of retiring and how his allegiance has really started to slip between Ambrose and Yelena. There were also a heap of amazing reveals in his chapters that I did not see coming.
Janco is just precious. As well and Ari. But I loved that he just brought so much humor to the story and he has always been one of my favourite side characters.
It makes me sad though that Yelena and Valek only saw each other at the start and the end of the book. They have a seriously hecka long, long distant relationship. It was seasons before they saw each other and it's been like that for the past could of books and I just want them to be together all the time. It makes me sad.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and it's got me looking up for the next two.
I just need my original characters all the time to really enjoy the books in this series. It's just so great too that I get the POV's of Yelena, Valek and Janco and it makes me so happy.
I loved the plot of this book with Yelena mysteriously losing her powers and also having people trying to kill her. I liked seeing Yelena learning to live with the fact that everything isn't so easy anymore and that she can't rely on her magic to save her. She has only just started this journey and I can't wait to see more.
I loved being with Valek in the book. We got a really detailed story of how he became an assassin and found Ambrose and just his life story and I loved that. I also liked that he is thinking of retiring and how his allegiance has really started to slip between Ambrose and Yelena. There were also a heap of amazing reveals in his chapters that I did not see coming.
Janco is just precious. As well and Ari. But I loved that he just brought so much humor to the story and he has always been one of my favourite side characters.
It makes me sad though that Yelena and Valek only saw each other at the start and the end of the book. They have a seriously hecka long, long distant relationship. It was seasons before they saw each other and it's been like that for the past could of books and I just want them to be together all the time. It makes me sad.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and it's got me looking up for the next two.
adventurous
dark
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes