A review by endemictoearth
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

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)
Expand filter menu Content Warnings