Reviews with content warning for Sexual violence - Poison Study

I knew Rand was going to betray her at some point because of how Valek described him, but wow. I like that despite being portrayed as the bad guy there was still depth to the chatacter.

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nova42's review

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adventurous dark hopeful tense 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? N/A

5.0

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poetsofsweetpea's review against another edition

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medium-paced

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

2.5

The story premise is good but it almost reads like a rough draft. We get told rather than shown what happens. The narration was also flat and the strange music at the end of every chapter break pulls you out of the story and at times seems to mock the story itself. if you are interested in this series, I hear there is a revision coming. Listen to that one instead. its probably better done and the story itself isn't bad.

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endemictoearth's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.0

After talking animatedly at my spouse for ten minutes about this book and reading some 1 and 2 star reviews, I think I can say a few things. I agreed most with the sentiments of the 2 star reviews. Because I did mostly enjoy the first 75% and I was drawn in and along for the ride as we learned about this world and the role Yelena had within it. Valek was kind of a dick, but didn't do anything so egregious that I couldn't ship them. But the closer we got to the end of the book, there were so many threads, I knew they wouldn't all be woven in or tied up satisfactorily. I know this is the start of a series, but I do believe every book should have a beginning middle and end, even if some elements are carried over. This book did have some resolutions, but the execution of the last 20% or so really let me down big time.

Lots of convenient magic-related things popped up (previously hinted at, but lazily executed), and the villains became even more cartoonish as the story went along (and the

Mogkan/Kangom

stuff, even if it's pointed out as being unoriginal was SO obvious and kind of stupid). I also thought that the inconsistent presence of the ghost of the man she killed was convenient to the plot, as well.

The love story went from 2 to 11 out of nowhere; we definitely needed more moments between Yelena and Valek before they start

banging (in a fade to black sort of way). Their romance could have been drawn across the series, instead of cramming it in and giving us this whole “the Commander who you saved but has still ordered your death needs me more than you do right now; we’ll be reunited someday” is BULLSHIT. If it leads to pining letters in book 2, that could work (not that I'll ever know.)

There was just 20 pounds of plot in a 5 pound sack in the last part of the book, and all the intrigue and potential that had been built up just evaporated in a tornado of Things Happening Abruptly. Not to mention the clumsy handling of the Commander's

trans identity

. I understand this is 2005 YA, so it could have been a lot worse, but it was very ham-fisted and confusing and kind of pointless? Unless it plays into something later in the story, it was mostly just baffling.

(I will say I liked Ari and Janco, both their relationship and how they remained loyal to Yelena (and that they’ll accompany her to Sitia); they were my favorite characters and I could have read a whole book of them)

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jamby4546's review against another edition

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adventurous funny tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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maevebillings's review

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adventurous dark emotional fast-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

4.5

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stephaniemcuervo's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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kesbooks's review against another edition

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4.5

When I first started this book, I didn’t expect to give it a high rating but by the end it was closer to a 5 star than any fantasy this year.

The Story follows Yelena, a woman set to hang for murder, receive an offer she can’t refuse. Die or become the food taster for the Commander and leader of Ixia. She takes the deal but there is a catch. She must take a poison every day to insure she doesn’t attempt to escape with the only antidote being in the hands of a trained assassin and head of security for the Commander.

Yelena is a character you will root for. Healing. Found family. Love. This book was so good! It's been so long since I have felt generally sad for a book to end. The second book can’t get here fast enough!

*Please look up TW if needed. This book is dark. *

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