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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
Ahhh! Fantastic! I loved getting back to Yelena and Valek's story, with the characters just as vibrant, fun and engaging as always. It was fun to remember where they'd come from and learn a bit more about Valek's backstory as well, even if occasionally it was a slightly clunky lead-in. Can't wait to read the rest!
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After finishing up Night Study about a month ago I decided to go back to the very beginning of the series and reacquaint myself with the world of Ixia and Sitia, including the Glass series I'd been avoiding for the past few years, and I have say I was glad that I did.
The first time I read this book a little over a year ago, I remember being slightly confused. I'd been away from this world for a few years now and at first I felt like I just didn't remember some of the names and incidents that seemed so obvious. Like who was Ben Moon? What was the Ice Moon? When did this person try to kill Yelena? Since when was Leif married to Mara? Who on earth were Reema, Teegan and Delven and why did this little girl call Yelena, Aunt Yelena? Why was Opal immune to magic like Valek? What's a magic detector? Wait, Opal isn't the one making the glass messengers? There's only two Master Magicians? Valek can be trapped by a null shield? My list of questions seemed like it was endless but at the time I was so focused on my theory of Yelena being pregnant right from the get go that I just wanted to get to the end to see if I was right and ignored my ignorance.
But now reading this for the second time, having gone back and read not only Synder's short story, Ice Study but the Glass series as well, I feel like a veil of foggy glass has been lifted off my vision. Everything I didn't seem to understand the first time around makes so much more sense now. The big gape of time between Fire Study and Shadow Study had finally been filled and it allowed me to actually enjoy the story and understand the nuances I'd clearly missed before.
The first were the subtle hints in the text and dialogue. Some of them I'd picked up on during the first read. Like immediately I connected the disappearance of her magic with a pregnancy. It didn't make sense to me that it would take almost a day and half for a poison to start working after being shot. Most of the poisons Synder has made up have been quite immediate with their effects - but than is a terrible theory to go off of. I've learned to expected the unexpected when it comes to her - and the symptoms she exhibited reminded me of the sudden temperature flashes a woman goes through in pregnancy, just sped up at a rapid fire pace. But there others I found on my second time around that seemed to just solidify my theory. Like the very pointed time Healer Hayes gave her the moon potion and her little conversation with Midnight Son in the middle of the plains. He obviously knew just what was wrong with her but as a Story Weaver, he wanted her to figure it out on her own. I especially as amused by the bit of dialogue when explained he explained how her magic was blocked but she could still be affected by magic... for now. It certainly alluded to what happens in Night Study. But also took note of the small bits about the Commander. When I first read the book, it didn't register to me that the Commander was dealing with curare, even though it was obviously laid out right in front of me. It didn't seem like the type of thing the Commander would do, not because he doesn't want to equal the playing field with Sitia but because of his extreme distaste for magic. Something tells me Owen Moon has been influencing the Commander for quite sometime, probably since he "decided" not to kill him. Part of me isn't sure if the Commander bluntly keeping information from Valek and his plans that first assassination attempt on Yelena, was his own doing or one of Owen's. The Commander trusts Valek with his life and it seems quite foolish to one, risk angering Valek but hurting his heart mate and two, not involving his head of security in a scheme that clearly involved the security of Ixia. But time will have to tell. I'm sincerely hoping he's been influence. The Commander remains one of my favorite characters for his logic, thoughtfulness and sense of fairness. I don't like to think he's become the villain in this situation.
But the most important bit of information I discovered, was regarding the title. Reading Night Study I spent half the time puzzling over why on earth it was called Night study and got frustrated when I couldn't figure it out. All her other book titles had obvious links to story and I felt like an idiot for for understanding what was probably so obvious. But as soon as I read the title of the school Valek attended to become an assassin, The School of Night and Shadows, it made perfect sense. The first part of the Soulfinder series was about Yelena, what she needed to learn or "study" and how she did so. It only made sense for the second part to be about Valek. For the majority of Shadow Study, in his POV, we spend a lot of time learning about his past and how he killed the old King of Ixia, or in short terms, how he learned to become an assassin. And I have to say it was something I certainly enjoyed. I knew bits and pieces from what he'd told Yelena about his past but to hear it told from his POV was something I hadn't known I'd wanted until I was reading it. It was crucial to understanding exactly why Valek is the way he is and just how truly extraordinary it was that Yelena managed to get past his emotionless and calculative defenses and have him trust her with his heart. He's always been my favorite character in the series and I love the idea that these books aren't just about what Yelena is going through but Valek's journey into better understanding himself and what he wants from his life. In the earlier study books it felt like he always had a sense of stability. He had a job and a place to go back to and feel safe, regardless of what happened with Sitia. And a place with Valek in Ixia was always an option open to Yelena if she wanted it. But now Valek's stability that he's known for the majority of his adult life is starting to slip away and he has to figure out how to handle it. It feels like Shadow Study was a lesson in his past, Night Study was directed at his present, and if my theory is correct, Dawn Study will focus on his future. The link to past, present, future with Shadow, Night and Dawn still eludes me but maybe another read of Night Study and the coming Dawn Study will help clear things up for me again.
I've learned after eight books not to try and predict how Synder might end things, but I can't help myself from trying. There are so many clues and tidbits left for us to find and whether any of my predictions are right or not, I still enjoy trying to puzzle this all together.
The first time I read this book a little over a year ago, I remember being slightly confused. I'd been away from this world for a few years now and at first I felt like I just didn't remember some of the names and incidents that seemed so obvious. Like who was Ben Moon? What was the Ice Moon? When did this person try to kill Yelena? Since when was Leif married to Mara? Who on earth were Reema, Teegan and Delven and why did this little girl call Yelena, Aunt Yelena? Why was Opal immune to magic like Valek? What's a magic detector? Wait, Opal isn't the one making the glass messengers? There's only two Master Magicians? Valek can be trapped by a null shield? My list of questions seemed like it was endless but at the time I was so focused on my theory of Yelena being pregnant right from the get go that I just wanted to get to the end to see if I was right and ignored my ignorance.
But now reading this for the second time, having gone back and read not only Synder's short story, Ice Study but the Glass series as well, I feel like a veil of foggy glass has been lifted off my vision. Everything I didn't seem to understand the first time around makes so much more sense now. The big gape of time between Fire Study and Shadow Study had finally been filled and it allowed me to actually enjoy the story and understand the nuances I'd clearly missed before.
The first were the subtle hints in the text and dialogue. Some of them I'd picked up on during the first read. Like immediately I connected the disappearance of her magic with a pregnancy. It didn't make sense to me that it would take almost a day and half for a poison to start working after being shot. Most of the poisons Synder has made up have been quite immediate with their effects - but than is a terrible theory to go off of. I've learned to expected the unexpected when it comes to her - and the symptoms she exhibited reminded me of the sudden temperature flashes a woman goes through in pregnancy, just sped up at a rapid fire pace. But there others I found on my second time around that seemed to just solidify my theory. Like the very pointed time Healer Hayes gave her the moon potion and her little conversation with Midnight Son in the middle of the plains. He obviously knew just what was wrong with her but as a Story Weaver, he wanted her to figure it out on her own. I especially as amused by the bit of dialogue when explained he explained how her magic was blocked but she could still be affected by magic... for now. It certainly alluded to what happens in Night Study. But also took note of the small bits about the Commander. When I first read the book, it didn't register to me that the Commander was dealing with curare, even though it was obviously laid out right in front of me. It didn't seem like the type of thing the Commander would do, not because he doesn't want to equal the playing field with Sitia but because of his extreme distaste for magic. Something tells me Owen Moon has been influencing the Commander for quite sometime, probably since he "decided" not to kill him. Part of me isn't sure if the Commander bluntly keeping information from Valek and his plans that first assassination attempt on Yelena, was his own doing or one of Owen's. The Commander trusts Valek with his life and it seems quite foolish to one, risk angering Valek but hurting his heart mate and two, not involving his head of security in a scheme that clearly involved the security of Ixia. But time will have to tell. I'm sincerely hoping he's been influence. The Commander remains one of my favorite characters for his logic, thoughtfulness and sense of fairness. I don't like to think he's become the villain in this situation.
But the most important bit of information I discovered, was regarding the title. Reading Night Study I spent half the time puzzling over why on earth it was called Night study and got frustrated when I couldn't figure it out. All her other book titles had obvious links to story and I felt like an idiot for for understanding what was probably so obvious. But as soon as I read the title of the school Valek attended to become an assassin, The School of Night and Shadows, it made perfect sense. The first part of the Soulfinder series was about Yelena, what she needed to learn or "study" and how she did so. It only made sense for the second part to be about Valek. For the majority of Shadow Study, in his POV, we spend a lot of time learning about his past and how he killed the old King of Ixia, or in short terms, how he learned to become an assassin. And I have to say it was something I certainly enjoyed. I knew bits and pieces from what he'd told Yelena about his past but to hear it told from his POV was something I hadn't known I'd wanted until I was reading it. It was crucial to understanding exactly why Valek is the way he is and just how truly extraordinary it was that Yelena managed to get past his emotionless and calculative defenses and have him trust her with his heart. He's always been my favorite character in the series and I love the idea that these books aren't just about what Yelena is going through but Valek's journey into better understanding himself and what he wants from his life. In the earlier study books it felt like he always had a sense of stability. He had a job and a place to go back to and feel safe, regardless of what happened with Sitia. And a place with Valek in Ixia was always an option open to Yelena if she wanted it. But now Valek's stability that he's known for the majority of his adult life is starting to slip away and he has to figure out how to handle it. It feels like Shadow Study was a lesson in his past, Night Study was directed at his present, and if my theory is correct, Dawn Study will focus on his future. The link to past, present, future with Shadow, Night and Dawn still eludes me but maybe another read of Night Study and the coming Dawn Study will help clear things up for me again.
I've learned after eight books not to try and predict how Synder might end things, but I can't help myself from trying. There are so many clues and tidbits left for us to find and whether any of my predictions are right or not, I still enjoy trying to puzzle this all together.
Okay for me there was a drastic drop in me need to continue reading this book. It wasn't awful but I felt like there was too much going on and the back and forth between characters could have melded better together. All in all Yelena is still one of my favorite female protagonist, I just needed to feel like there was still a reason for me too care about her as much as I do.
I love this story. I love the characters and Poison Study has been a great discovery for 2016. The story in Shadow Study is solid, interesting, intense, and has a little twist (though I saw it coming a mile away). So why the low rating?
The editing.
The way this book is edited highlights a peeve of mine which I know others share as I have discussed it with them. I am not an editor and not a grammar guru, but I am a reader. As such, awkward sentence structures are distracting and take away from the my reading experience. That said, if you can read this dialogue (completely made up by me), then this book shouldn't be a difficult read:
"You've a solution?"
"Yes, and I've every reason to think it will work," he said.
If " 've " is an acceptable way of saying "have" in written word and is not distracting for you, this book will read just fine. For me, it's a peeve that I just cannot seem to get over. I know it might seem petty and I know that it's a pretty silly thing to give a book such a low rating for, especially since I admit to liking it and I don't even know if it's acceptable grammar (if anyone does know, please let me know in a comment). However, it was way too distracting for me to read and I would be embarrassed recommending it to my well-read friends because of the grammar.
The editing.
The way this book is edited highlights a peeve of mine which I know others share as I have discussed it with them. I am not an editor and not a grammar guru, but I am a reader. As such, awkward sentence structures are distracting and take away from the my reading experience. That said, if you can read this dialogue (completely made up by me), then this book shouldn't be a difficult read:
"You've a solution?"
"Yes, and I've every reason to think it will work," he said.
If " 've " is an acceptable way of saying "have" in written word and is not distracting for you, this book will read just fine. For me, it's a peeve that I just cannot seem to get over. I know it might seem petty and I know that it's a pretty silly thing to give a book such a low rating for, especially since I admit to liking it and I don't even know if it's acceptable grammar (if anyone does know, please let me know in a comment). However, it was way too distracting for me to read and I would be embarrassed recommending it to my well-read friends because of the grammar.
I was sooo happy when I found out there was more about Fire Study! Though I thought the ending to Fire Study was perfect, I can't say no to more Janco, Ari, Leif and magical mayhem that follows Yelena.
I loved getting Janco and Valek's perspective in this novel.
AND I love Valek's backstory. I was so engrossed!
Love it all.
Great cliffhanger at the end-- lucky for me, I already bought and started #5 Night Study.
I loved getting Janco and Valek's perspective in this novel.
AND I love Valek's backstory. I was so engrossed!
Love it all.
Great cliffhanger at the end-- lucky for me, I already bought and started #5 Night Study.
A pleasant continuation of the original trilogy
The story has all our main characters back again several years after the original trilogy and it is a quite pleasant read if not a bit predictable. I did enjoy the story quite a lot though and look forward to reading the next one.
The story has all our main characters back again several years after the original trilogy and it is a quite pleasant read if not a bit predictable. I did enjoy the story quite a lot though and look forward to reading the next one.