This being the second in the trilogy, I knew it might not live up to the first. While I LOVED Poison Study, Magic Study had an entirely new story and location, which was interesting in its own right. I love Yelena's character, and old favorites showed up while new characters were introduced too. We learn more about Yelena's family/past, which was nice. Her magical abilities continue to develop. Since it's been awhile since I read the first, I liked the small bits of info included that reminded me what happened in the first book -- but I would highly recommend reading the first book before this since I think as a stand-alone it might be confusing. I really enjoyed the story, and am looking forward to the third and final book, Fire Study. Also, I didn't realize Poison Study was classified as Young Adult, since I don't really read that genre...but I did notice Magic Study seemed to be a bit more geared towards YA. I'd say good for adults as well!

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I just LOVE this author!! This series (Poison Study is the first book) was my first attempt at science fiction (and if you look for them in the book store, they are in the teen section) and I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I was sucked in and disappointed when the book ended. Each chapter leaves you hanging and wanting to continue on and the endings are done perfectly so that you are eagerly awaiting the next one.

The third book, Fire Study, is now available ...

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This is the sequel to Poison Study, and even better than the first. I loved this one! Maybe I have a thing for stories involving schools for magic, but add that to a well-realized setting with a crazed killer on the loose and it's hard not to just sit back and enjoy! And I literally did just that, because once I got into this I didn't put it down again until I'd read all the way through. Great fun for fantasy lovers, and without a doubt the best Luna book I've ever read!



Since it isn't listed above with the book details, here's the basic plot description:

With her greatest enemy dead, and on her way to be reunited with the family she'd been stolen from long ago, Yelena should be pleased. But though she has gained her freedom, she can't help feeling isolated in Sitia. Her Ixian background has changed her in many ways, and her newfound friends and relatives don't think it's for the better.

Despite the turmoil, she's eager to start her magic training, especially as she's been given one year to harness her power or be put to death. But her plans take a radical turn when she becomes involved with a plot to reclaim Ixia's throne for a lost prince, and gets entangled in powerful rivalries with her fellow magicians.

If that wasn't bad enough, it appears her brother would love to see her dead. Luckily, Yelena has some old friends to help her with all her new enemies.

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Wow! I think that I liked this one even better than the first! It was much more unpredictable and who doesn't love a "talking" horse? This series is really great - I love the fabric of the land that Snyder has created. And the love affair between Yelena and Valek is just great. The Commander's character is certainly interesting too... I'm excited to learn more about that and Soulfinding in _Fire Study_. I must admit, I am disappointed that the next one seems to be the last one in the series. I read that she has a new book coming out in April, but it looks like it follows a different main character in the same land... I am not sure if Yelena will be in it at all all. Still, I am looking forward to reading it.
I certainly stayed up way too late to finish this book in one sitting and if I didn't have to get up in the morning, I would be starting _Fire Study_ right now! Even as late as it is, I am having trouble not "just reading the first chapter!"

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Really enjoyed finding out more about Yelena. Was incredible

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MAGIC STUDY is a worthy, though incomparable, successor to Maria Snyder's smashing success, POISON STUDY. In this second book, Snyder continues to effortlessly tell a good story while creating memorable and three-dimensional characters.

All of our favorite characters make an appearance, and new ones are introduced, to varying degrees of success. Fortunately, the people she meets at the Magician's Keep hold their own against the reappearance of old favorites. While character development may be a little sloppier and more inconsistent, that is because so much effort is devoted to setting up a complex magical world. Each chapter ends on a cliffhanger, which just begs you to read one more chapter, just one more, in a viciously delicious cycle, until you've finished the entire book in a blink of an eye. There is never a lack of action and intrigue for hardcore fantasy lovers.

While not as strong as the first book, MAGIC STUDY is still an impressive novel in its own rights. Maria Snyder is a master storyteller, and fans of the first book should not be too disappointed. I know that I am still eagerly looking forward to reading the third book in this spellbinding series.

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I found Poison Study so compelling because of Yelena being on the edge of death every day while dealing with the intruige and the growing romance with Valek. It was difficult not to compare Magic Study to the previous book, and while it was still well written and compelling, it didn't seem to be on the same level as Poison Study (I'm not sure it COULD be, because the same situations that made Poison Study such a page-turner can't really be repeated again in a second book). On the other hand there were relationships which were interesting (when she meets her brother for the first time, he hates her on sight and is sure she is a spy), and a magical serial killer on the loose, and Yelena is still learning her magic so there are enough things going on to keep me reading. It just didn't feel the same. Maybe because I wanted there to be more of Yelena learning her magic than running headlong into trouble and trying to save people, and there sure was a lot of disastrous situations happening one after another - it started to feel manufactured that as soon as one thing is dealt with, something else happens. The plot felt like a string of Yelena solving everyone's problems, and that made the story as a whole suffer, despite it being well written. In any case, the fact that there are grey characters that had competing views they had of the same situation and their attitudes change as they grow is something I liked. This still is a keeper for me.

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Again- just a fantastic premis! Not quite as good as the first book, but still one of the best ones I've read in a while!

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