Maria V. Snyder - Shadow Study

I love Maria V. Snyder's books especially her Study series so I was thrilled when I found out she was continuing it in another trilogy and bought it the moment I could find it.  Unfortunately, I was delayed in reading it because I was busy with other aspects of my life but I have had a chance to sit down and relax.

Shadow Study is the fourth book in Maria V. Snyder's Study series as well as the seventh in the first in the Soulfinders series, a new trilogy on its own, and The Chronicles of Ixia series; The Chronicle of Ixia series is the Study series which focusses on Yelena and her supporting cast and the Glass series which is a spin off from the Study series featuring Opal, a young girl who Yelena meets in the second book of the Study series.  The Study series focusses on Yelena Liana Zaltana, a young woman who becomes the Commander of Ixia's food taster after an offer made to her by the Commander's Chief of Security, Valek, after she murdered her former master a year ago; though she has opportunity to escape, Yelena is forced to stay in the castle under the pretence she is poisoned and has to have an antidote every day.  While working as the food taster, Yelena makes friends with at least two of the Commander's soldiers, Ari and Janco who help train Yelena to defend herself.  It comes to light that Yelena is in possession of some very strong magical powers which she doesn't understand which could threaten both her life (because of herself and because all of those who have powers in Ixia are killed by Valek) and the existence of magic if not learnt to control.  However, Yelena learns how to control her powers just enough so to help save the Commander's life when it is threatened by a magician who is working for one of the Commander's generals, bringing his soul back to his body, simultaneously learning the Commander's secret.  Due to magicians being banned from Ixia, Yelena has to escape to Sitia (and away from Valek who has become incredibly important to Yelena) with the help of a Sitian magician, Irys, so she won't be killed and returns home to a family she doesn't remember.  Once back in Sitia and in the Zaltana compound, Yelena is faced with family she doesn't remember and she receives mixed reactions to her reappearance - elation from her mother and father but hatred from an older brother she can't remember who believes she is an Ixian spy.  Before she can properly get to know her family again, she has to go to the Keep where all magicians are trained to control their power where she is met with fear from the First Magician and some of her fellow students.  Fortunately, she proves that she is not a spy or a danger to magicians everywhere when she stops another magician from sacrificing young girls to gain more power by using the unusual powers that she possesses.  Yelena is told that she is a Soulfinder, a rare type of magician who can help ferry souls on to the next part of their journey, a role she has to learn to accept with the assistance of not only the magicians of the Keep but her brother - Leif, Valek, and someone who says he is her Story Weaver, a guide if you will for her life when she is faced with the challenge of a Fire Warper, a magician trapped on another plain who threatens the existence of magic in the real world.

I have tried to sum up the first three books as much as I could in a condensed version, it was longer before I edited it down, but if you want all of the background, go read them.

Rating: 9

Recommended To: Maria V. Snyder fans; fantasy fans

Favourite Characters: 

Favourite Part: "Oh, my, you gave me such a fright!"  Petal ushered us inside.  "Come in, come in.  What kind of trouble are you two in now?"
"Seems like you have a reputation, dear sister," Leif muttered.
"I believe she was referring to you as well, dear brother." - Page 129

Good Points: Multiple point of views; Yelena and Leif; character development; twists and mystery

Bad Points: Ending seems rushed; really need to read the other books too