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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
DNF at page 142. I’m really disappointed because I absolutely loved the first trilogy of the Study series. I really hoped this book would make me as excited as the first trilogy, but it didn’t. I just could not get into the plot, and I felt the story was all over the place with the changing POVs. I also felt like some of the plot points were being recycled from the previous trilogy, and I hoped this book would be something new, but set in the same world. It also kind of annoys me how Valek and Yelena are NEVER TOGETHER. Why can’t she write a story where they are actually working side by side?
Oh Shadow Study, how I enjoyed thee.
Whilst the gap between finishing my reading of the last book in the Glass series and the first book in the Soulfinders series was less than two weeks, it felt like much longer. I needed my fix of Ixia. I needed more of the world. I was in desperate need of information… hence why I jumped on this book as soon as it arrived. I needed to find out more. Moreover, my request to NetGalley to read Night Study had been accepted… so yeah, you could say I was excited.
I can assure you, I was not disappointed.
Shadow Study is a great addition to the Ixia series. Whilst I enjoyed Opal’s story, I always favoured Yelena’s story. Yelena interested me more, as she was a character I could relate to more easily. Opal’s story seemed to have too much romance, and it prevented me from truly loving it. Oh, I enjoyed it, but she was no Yelena. Ergo, I couldn’t wait to read more about Yelena. What happened to her after the end of Fire Study? What went on in her world? What about her friends? There were so many questions, so many answers I needed, and Shadow Study gave me all I could ask for.
Telling the story from multiple perspectives, Shadow Study gives us a much deeper storyline than we are given in the first six Ixia books. We follow the events as they take place across the realms, rather than being limited to just one perspective. We know what rescue attempts are in place. We know what troubles the other characters are facing. For me, this made the book much more interesting.
Moreover, such a thing allowed for more development of the characters. My favourite aspect of the Glass series was Valek’s development in the final book. He had always seemed like such a bland character to me, yet he developed more than I ever expected in Spy Glass. Fortunately, he develops even more in this book. We are finally given an insight into his life, making him a real character.
I admit I was slightly disappointed by the details of spy school. It was not what I was expecting… I expected more. It was fun, but it wasn’t quite enough for me. Nevertheless, it added depth to him and there are so many more possibilities open to us now.
My only real issue – and it’s really just a personal thing – is how every so often Yelena’s inner thoughts would sound far too much like Opal’s inner thoughts. There were phrases used that were very much Opal, not at all like Yelena, almost as though the author hadn’t switched back to her original character. It didn’t have an impact upon the story… yet it screamed out to me, and I found myself somewhat annoyed. It’s totally a personal thing, though.
Overall, it was a great addition to the series. It opened up so many possibilities, and it appeased my inner fangirl.
Whilst the gap between finishing my reading of the last book in the Glass series and the first book in the Soulfinders series was less than two weeks, it felt like much longer. I needed my fix of Ixia. I needed more of the world. I was in desperate need of information… hence why I jumped on this book as soon as it arrived. I needed to find out more. Moreover, my request to NetGalley to read Night Study had been accepted… so yeah, you could say I was excited.
I can assure you, I was not disappointed.
Shadow Study is a great addition to the Ixia series. Whilst I enjoyed Opal’s story, I always favoured Yelena’s story. Yelena interested me more, as she was a character I could relate to more easily. Opal’s story seemed to have too much romance, and it prevented me from truly loving it. Oh, I enjoyed it, but she was no Yelena. Ergo, I couldn’t wait to read more about Yelena. What happened to her after the end of Fire Study? What went on in her world? What about her friends? There were so many questions, so many answers I needed, and Shadow Study gave me all I could ask for.
Telling the story from multiple perspectives, Shadow Study gives us a much deeper storyline than we are given in the first six Ixia books. We follow the events as they take place across the realms, rather than being limited to just one perspective. We know what rescue attempts are in place. We know what troubles the other characters are facing. For me, this made the book much more interesting.
Moreover, such a thing allowed for more development of the characters. My favourite aspect of the Glass series was Valek’s development in the final book. He had always seemed like such a bland character to me, yet he developed more than I ever expected in Spy Glass. Fortunately, he develops even more in this book. We are finally given an insight into his life, making him a real character.
I admit I was slightly disappointed by the details of spy school. It was not what I was expecting… I expected more. It was fun, but it wasn’t quite enough for me. Nevertheless, it added depth to him and there are so many more possibilities open to us now.
My only real issue – and it’s really just a personal thing – is how every so often Yelena’s inner thoughts would sound far too much like Opal’s inner thoughts. There were phrases used that were very much Opal, not at all like Yelena, almost as though the author hadn’t switched back to her original character. It didn’t have an impact upon the story… yet it screamed out to me, and I found myself somewhat annoyed. It’s totally a personal thing, though.
Overall, it was a great addition to the series. It opened up so many possibilities, and it appeased my inner fangirl.
It has been a couple of years since I have spent time with Valek and Yelena. I didn't read the 'Glass' series, moving on, instead to the 'Healer' books. So, it was terrific to catch up with this pair of committed lovers, who always seem to be putting the political concerns of their countries before their own relationship.
It's set pretty much right after the end of [b:Spy Glass|7970273|Spy Glass (Glass, #3)|Maria V. Snyder|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339138596s/7970273.jpg|6940101]. Yelena and Valek get one night together before going off again to sort out various problems - Valek has his commander demanding he locate some smugglers, and Yelena to sort out herself. And though they are separate, the stories eventually intertwine.
There are three voices this time: Yelena in the first person narrative, Valek with a third person style and Janko his snarky, and casual voice filling in the third point of view. It works well. An added bonus are the flashbacks to the beginning of Valek the assassin. I found these added to my understanding of Valek and interestingly, the commander as well.
The plot twists and turns and the action never lets up. That's one thing about Snyder - she keeps readers wanting to keep going. And that ending. woah. (Although, also, not really a surprise).
I will be back for more.
Copy provided by publisher via Netgalley and received with thanks. Out (in Australia) February 24th.
It's set pretty much right after the end of [b:Spy Glass|7970273|Spy Glass (Glass, #3)|Maria V. Snyder|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339138596s/7970273.jpg|6940101]. Yelena and Valek get one night together before going off again to sort out various problems - Valek has his commander demanding he locate some smugglers, and Yelena to sort out herself. And though they are separate, the stories eventually intertwine.
There are three voices this time: Yelena in the first person narrative, Valek with a third person style and Janko his snarky, and casual voice filling in the third point of view. It works well. An added bonus are the flashbacks to the beginning of Valek the assassin. I found these added to my understanding of Valek and interestingly, the commander as well.
The plot twists and turns and the action never lets up. That's one thing about Snyder - she keeps readers wanting to keep going. And that ending. woah. (Although, also, not really a surprise).
I will be back for more.
Copy provided by publisher via Netgalley and received with thanks. Out (in Australia) February 24th.
I frickin' love Yelena and Valek.
I love how we get to see his backstory.
I got to the end and went "I knew it!".
I love how we get to see his backstory.
I got to the end and went "I knew it!".
This was great! I really liked having the different POVs, and insight into Valek's past. Can't wait to read the next one.
Oh, Yelena, I didn't think it was possible, but I had forgotten just how much I adore your adventures.
Shadow Study was the novel that fans like me have been waiting for since the conclusion of Fire Study several years ago. With the crazy antics Yelena and her friends just seem to be drawn into, this novel is both reminiscent of her old adventures as well as introduces some new ones.
First off, it's not totally necessary to have read the previous Study books or Glass books by Maria. However, with the huge amount of characters from both those series showing up in all sorts of roles in this book, it's definitely a bigger treat for you to read if you knew who they were. It still makes sense even without that context as Snyder worked hard to make it understandable for first time readers, so no worries if you don't wanna read all of that in one go.
Written with 3 POVs (I know, what a treat, right?), the story quickly develops from all different angles. Yelena is just a magnet for trouble, which starts literally from the first page. Her adventures in Sitia are constantly threaded with suspense as some unknown danger is out stalking her (once again cause honestly, when is she NOT in danger?).
Her and Valek, oh dear Valek, are separated (that's not a surprise there, either, huh?), but it doesn't feel so bad as with Magic Study or Fire Study because we get to see what he's up to in his own POV. Back in Ixia, something iffy is going on up there with the Commander. There are just subtle hints but you can totally tell something bad is brewing up in this country. Meanwhile, we finally get more than a glimpse into Valek's backstory. Oh my, how he became an assassin and how'd he met Ambrose. Oh, and how'd he fulfilled his duty as the King Killer. Fangirling here.
With all this intensity from both those POVs, good ol' Janco gets his own POV as well. I suppose out of the power twins, Janco is the funnier friend and so he makes for great comic relief. Snyder's characteristic sarcastic humour was at its highest with him, although the others also had their own moments.
Favourite cameos and secondary characters pop up throughout. My personal favourites were Yelena's brother Leif (he surprisingly has a very similar humour going for him as Janco) and the Sandseed Story Weavers. Those who loved the Glass series (unfortunately, not me) would appreciate the appearance of major characters like Opal and Devlen.
So with a fulfilling adventure in both Sitia and Ixia (back in Valek's memories), as-expected crazy action scenes, loveable characters and a sense of nostalgia, Shadow Study provided a great start to a new line of danger Yelena the Soulfinder has to face. It's no wonder I can't help but use Maria V. Snyder's works as my gold standard for fantasy adventures. They suck you in until you never quite want to leave it, and for good reason too. I'd say this made for a wonderful installment in the series, especially after so many years.
Overall Recommendation:
Shadow Study is the book that all you diehard Study fans are wishing for. It lives up to this claim, as even I, a long time fan, can't help but relive the wonders of being in the land of Ixia and Sitia. Yelena's adventures are just as crazy and dangerous, but good thing her good friends are always around to have her back. The characters still leap to life and the world building is familiar and well-developed. For first time fans, it's not completely necessary to read other books before it, but it definitely amplifies the experience by a lot. I definitely recommend you read this, especially if you loved the first three Study books. It's worth the wait after all these years.
------------------------------------------------
For more of my reviews, check out Down the Rabbit Hole:
Shadow Study was the novel that fans like me have been waiting for since the conclusion of Fire Study several years ago. With the crazy antics Yelena and her friends just seem to be drawn into, this novel is both reminiscent of her old adventures as well as introduces some new ones.
First off, it's not totally necessary to have read the previous Study books or Glass books by Maria. However, with the huge amount of characters from both those series showing up in all sorts of roles in this book, it's definitely a bigger treat for you to read if you knew who they were. It still makes sense even without that context as Snyder worked hard to make it understandable for first time readers, so no worries if you don't wanna read all of that in one go.
Written with 3 POVs (I know, what a treat, right?), the story quickly develops from all different angles. Yelena is just a magnet for trouble, which starts literally from the first page. Her adventures in Sitia are constantly threaded with suspense as some unknown danger is out stalking her (once again cause honestly, when is she NOT in danger?).
Her and Valek, oh dear Valek, are separated (that's not a surprise there, either, huh?), but it doesn't feel so bad as with Magic Study or Fire Study because we get to see what he's up to in his own POV. Back in Ixia, something iffy is going on up there with the Commander. There are just subtle hints but you can totally tell something bad is brewing up in this country. Meanwhile, we finally get more than a glimpse into Valek's backstory. Oh my, how he became an assassin and how'd he met Ambrose. Oh, and how'd he fulfilled his duty as the King Killer. Fangirling here.
With all this intensity from both those POVs, good ol' Janco gets his own POV as well. I suppose out of the power twins, Janco is the funnier friend and so he makes for great comic relief. Snyder's characteristic sarcastic humour was at its highest with him, although the others also had their own moments.
Favourite cameos and secondary characters pop up throughout. My personal favourites were Yelena's brother Leif (he surprisingly has a very similar humour going for him as Janco) and the Sandseed Story Weavers. Those who loved the Glass series (unfortunately, not me) would appreciate the appearance of major characters like Opal and Devlen.
So with a fulfilling adventure in both Sitia and Ixia (back in Valek's memories), as-expected crazy action scenes, loveable characters and a sense of nostalgia, Shadow Study provided a great start to a new line of danger Yelena the Soulfinder has to face. It's no wonder I can't help but use Maria V. Snyder's works as my gold standard for fantasy adventures. They suck you in until you never quite want to leave it, and for good reason too. I'd say this made for a wonderful installment in the series, especially after so many years.
Overall Recommendation:
Shadow Study is the book that all you diehard Study fans are wishing for. It lives up to this claim, as even I, a long time fan, can't help but relive the wonders of being in the land of Ixia and Sitia. Yelena's adventures are just as crazy and dangerous, but good thing her good friends are always around to have her back. The characters still leap to life and the world building is familiar and well-developed. For first time fans, it's not completely necessary to read other books before it, but it definitely amplifies the experience by a lot. I definitely recommend you read this, especially if you loved the first three Study books. It's worth the wait after all these years.
------------------------------------------------
For more of my reviews, check out Down the Rabbit Hole:
loved it! And thank you Maria Snyder for not ending in a horrible location. Some authors get this, she is one of them. Yes, she left you wanting the next book now, but at a reasonable spot. waiting for the next one!
I DIDN'T REALISE THIS WAS BOOK 1 OF THE SHADOW STUDY TRILOGY. I READ THIS AS IF IT WAS BOOK 4 OF THE POISON STUDY TRILOGY AND WAS SO CONFUSED.
Urgh.
Heads up - this is a totally different plot, and it's set in the future so the characters have matured somewhat and are thinking about children and retirement. There are also multiple POV's - Valek's was my favorite for obvious reasons. The ending was brilliant, but do we even need to read the future of these characters? Are we happier just imagining what their futures are? Does it take away the magic a little bit? I'm not sure.
Urgh.
Heads up - this is a totally different plot, and it's set in the future so the characters have matured somewhat and are thinking about children and retirement. There are also multiple POV's - Valek's was my favorite for obvious reasons. The ending was brilliant, but do we even need to read the future of these characters? Are we happier just imagining what their futures are? Does it take away the magic a little bit? I'm not sure.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes