Reviews

Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder

kayexplores's review against another edition

3.0

Really a 3.75... This novel taught me to not read the reviews of a book you're going to read anyways before starting it. I put off this book because there were some bad reviews that it didn't live up to its predecessor. In fact, I throughly enjoyed it and like the first, couldn't put it down.

Side note: I really dislike the cover, both versions.

cosymilko's review against another edition

4.0

I would give this book about 4.5 stars.

The book pretty much picks up right where Poison Study left off. Yelena is in the South and learning about her magical abilities, her family, and how to survive in the South when she finds new trouble.
Someone is taking, raping and stealing the souls of young girls. Yelena will do whatever it takes to help bring this guy down.
The love interest for this book, Cahil, provides so much conflict it is ridiculous at times. He's no Valek, though. I'm glad to see my favourite cold hearted assassin again. Valek <3

I can't wait to jump into Fire Study.

frenchfrybri's review against another edition

5.0

if you need a young adult fantasy series to help you remember when you first fell in love with reading and devoured like 6 books a week and keep thinking about how good a book was after you’ve finished then grab this series. love the political intrigue it’s so fantastically done and well paced and i love the characters

callmelaura's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

ellesbells189's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

owlishbookish's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This entire series remains one of my favorite audiobook series. Gabra Zackman in particular is one of my favorite things about it. I really enjoy her narrations of Yelena, Valek, Irys, and Kiki. I just finished my second listen-through of this audiobook in tandem with the digital edition and the newly-released The Study of Magic and it made the experience even richer. I know a new edition with a new narrator has recently been released, but I find myself unable to let this one go. 

owlishbookish's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I've re-read this series a few times now, though my original review of Magic Study has been lost. Poison Study remains one of my all-time favorite books and the series grows more complex and more harrowing from there. Magic Study shows Yelena when she has left behind the life she has known and is re-introduced to the life that was stolen from her 14 years prior. She is even more unsure of herself than she was in Poison Study, though now she has more answers. What hasn't changed is her sheer obstinacy and her penchant for running into dangerous situations alone, much to the frustration of her teachers, her mother, and, of course, Valek. What I have always loved about Yelena and Valek's dynamic, though, is that even though he feels frustrated with her and even though he wants to keep her safe, he will still stand back and let her prove herself, which is honestly really nice to read.

The more frustrating aspect of the story is Yelena's frustrating dynamic with her long-lost brother, Leif. I had forgotten just how annoying he was in the beginning and just how misguided both he and Yelena are in regard to each other.

I think the real star of this show is Kiki, however. Kiki may be a horse, but she is the most loveable, fun character in this book, and that's really saying something. Overall Magic Study is a fantastic book and I'm really enjoying my re-visit of Ixia and Sitia. I'm already looking forward to re-reading Fire Study in a few months.

emilyseim25's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

4.0

phielanthropy's review against another edition

random banget cuma ketemu buku dua-nya tanpa tau buku pertama isinya gimana.

sophiepaige227's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75