Fire Study (Study, Book 3)
by Maria V. Snyder
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Book Reviews of Fire Study (Study, Book 3)
Book Review: Not Ready to Move On
Summary: 4 Stars
In a lot of ways, I just cannot believe this is the conclusion to the fantasy series that got me re-hooked on my breakthrough reading craze. I do credit Snyder with reeling me back into fantasy mainstream, my first reading love and passion. Reading Yelena Zaltana's journey's from Poison Study and now through her culmination in Fire Study has been, quite simply, an amazing journey. What a great, awe-inspiring series to reintroduce myself to one of my biggest passions in reading. For that, Ms. Snyder, thank you.
The first few chapters were a bit slow to start and as a result a little difficult to get into. They do pick up seamlessly though where Magic Study leaves off, with Yelena seeking out the Sandseed clan once again, whom she's related too. But fortune is ever unsmiling on this newly discovered Soulfinder (which she still has no inkling of what one can do), and her studies are exchanged for intrigue and danger-an all too reoccurring pattern. Yelena's still not completely in her skin yet, but she's as tenacious as ever and takes on challenges with the air of a natural leader that everyone around her begins to look up to. Thank goodness for her small circle of supporters too because Sitian and Ixian relation are as unbalanced as ever and a new threat is on the horizon. Outcast Sandseeds, known as Vermin, have joined forces with the villain form the last book, Ferde the Soulstealer, and Cahil, resident sorta-sorta-not-lost-heir-to-Ixia, who just won't give up the bone to rule that he's latched onto. Something stinks in the Sitian council too when Yelena and her brother are denounced as traitors, their arrests called for by Roze Featherstone, first Master Magician. Chaos ensues and suddenly Sitia is on the brink of declaring war with Ixia and as always, it's up to Yelena and her merry band of rag-tag magicians and her assassin lover to resolve the multiple dilemmas. Add in a diabolical and ancient Sandseed magic and suddenly a Fire Warper is out to make Yelena his. From the plains and Magician's Keep of Sitia, to the northern military ruled territories if Ixia, Yelena's got her hands more full than ever.
There's a lot going on in this book! There's no other way to put it and at times it was a bit confusing. Snyder's world building, while seemingly flawless, does get a bit hazy as Yelena struggles to discover her identity as a magician and Soulfinder. There's non-stop action from the first page till the last, as seems to be the norm now after two prior books, and it's not really till the end that we see once again that it's all actually vital to the climax of the series as a whole. Were there holes in the plot? Honestly - there well may have been, but this reader eventually was able to bypass the more muddled beginning and by about the fifth chapter or so, I was as hooked as I've ever been in Yelena's upside-down life. If there were holes, I blithely overlooked them in favor of a thoroughly intriguing story. At the end of Magic Study, we finally discover the driving force behind the tipsy-topsy snake path that's been Yelena's life from the moment she was kidnapped and stolen into Ixia as a young child. Snyder does an admirable job of detailing the previous two books enough so that we get a gist of Yelena's past as a child and as the former food taster to the King of Ixia, but without bogging down this latest installment with unnecessary info. It's woven seamlessly into the story...although there were a few points that were never resolved that I'd looked forward to reading.
Yelena...what can be said that hasn't been already in past reviews? She definitely experiences almost a full circle of development. Again, some of those unresolved issues might have hindered this. Her first person voice, no matter how tricksy things become, is so matter-of-fact and rational. And maybe that blunts some of the more horrific aspects that she deals with, but it also helped portray her as the leader some eventually look up to her as. I could go on and on but, well, Yelena rocks and the books are the evidence. If you enjoy first-person POVs then this here's the gal that can lead you on one interesting adventure after another through three satisfying books.
The book has a very satisfying ending, with Yelena discovering, FINALLY, who she really is and what her purpose is, but it did not really feel like the end of a series. So, good enough ending for this particular book, but I am left in major wanting of more from Yelena and her cohorts. Much more! Maybe, for a series ending, it was a tad too succinct and abrupt, not to mention too convenient. Yelena has finally come into her own, but there are too many of those unresolved issued with others like Cahil, the Sandseeds, and there's still a lot of turmoil to undo in the Fire Warper's wake. I was not ready to move on after this installment, though I thoroughly enjoyed it.
**Note** After posting a slightly different version on my blog, I received an update from a fellow blogger that Snyder has a spin off planned about Opal, the glassmaker that first made an appearance in Magic Study. Word is sometime next year.
Book Review: A poor conclusion to what could've been a great series
Summary: 2 Stars
I absolutely loved the Poison Study, drudged through the Magic Study, and could barely finish the Fire Study. At some point I couldn't believe that I was reading about the same extraordinary characters I adored in the first book. Personally, I would recommend reading Poison Study as a stand-alone novel and not going further. Here's why:
Protagonists - In Poison Study Elena was a resilient, loyal, intelligent and clever young woman. In Fire Study she became obtuse, fickle, rash to the point of foolishness, and just all together unlikeable. I still remember when she stood in Valek's study, half starved and dirty, and chose to become a food taster instead of being executed, saying `I'm no fool' with total poise and dignity. Where did that girl go? In this book Elena is afraid of her magic and is faced with a difficult task of defeating a malicious new clan that has threatened the country of her birth, and all those she holds dear. And what does she do? She pushes everyone away, rushes into impossible situations, gets caught and almost killed multiple times, putting everyone around her in even greater jeopardy. This especially applies to Valek, who continuously rescues her from perils and gets no thanks in return.
Both Valek and Leif have been portrayed poorly in this book. Leif doesn't seem to possess a backbone and a personality, other than his ever changing moods from playful to sulky. Valek, on the other hand, went from a rather mysterious assassin and a strong love interest to a supporting character that occasionally gets to rescue and bed Elena. I felt no emotional connection and no rationale for the continuous melodrama. Also he is supposed to be a master strategist, but the twenty year old Elena ends up making all the decisions.
I won't even mention the other supporting characters since they were even less developed here than Valek and Leif.
Antagonists - there are four different villains in this book and not a single one of them was well developed:
1. Daviians were two dimensional baby-killin'-blood-drinkin'-power-grabbin' tattooed monsters. Their takeover of Sitia was so far-fetched and implausible that I could barely read through those parts.
2. Cahil seemed to possess multiple personalities throughout the books. He made no sense most of the time and his behavior went through so many phases that if there were psychiatrists in Sitia he should've been committed.
3. Roze Featherstone is a special kind of crazy. Being a powerful magician and a seasoned leader she seems to lack both intelligence and common sense, not to mention that her blind `I-WANNA-KILL-ELENA' goal was irritating to say the least. There was also Gede, but considering that I learned practically nothing about him, I will place him next to his buddy Roze.
4. The Fire Warper stayed true to the previously described trend of poorly developed antagonists. His character seemed like a caricature of a super-villain jumping out of fires to rule the world Mua-ha-ha-ha-ha! Enough said.
World Building/Characterization - the two cultures being featured in this series are not well developed. In Poison Study world building took a secondary part to character development, which was a great way to start a series. But in the two following books, especially the Fire Study where Elena is supposed to be a liaison between Sitia and Ixia, the legislative structure of both countries should've been better explored. Yes I know that Ixia has military districts ruled by the Commander and his code of behaviors and Sitia has the Council of clans and four magicians who like to discuss everything to death - but that is just the layout, where is the substance? Both the Councilors and the Generals are cardboard cutouts and for that matter so are the Commander and the magicians. And what about the realms outside these two countries? Even a cursory mention of how other kingdoms/nations impact the world would have been useful.
Conclusion - I will not spoil the ending for those still planning to read this book, but let me say that it was not adequate. The author resolved all the plot points but the resolution made no sense. Elena's dialogue with Moon Man and even the Fire Warper was perplexing to say the least and her subsequent reunion with her loved ones lacked any feeling.
Overall, very unsatisfying read. The reason I gave this book two stars instead of one was due to some lingering fondness from the world Poison Study created.
Book Review: Fire Study concludes the Study trilogy with a highly emotional story
Summary: 5 Stars
Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques
A CK2S Recommended read!
Please note I am reviewing the audio version of this book. So I cannot guarantee all of my spellings are correct.
When word got out that Yelena Zaltana was a Soul Finder, the magicians in Sitia start to worry. (See Magic Study) Sitian history has only recorded one other case of a Soul Finder and that one had created an army of zombie warriors to take over Sitia. It's only natural they fear Yelena would be corrupted and attempt the same.
It's not long before Yelena uncovers a plot to force Sitia and neighboring country Ixia into war. The leader of the plot is the same magician, a Soul Stealer, that Yelena defeated once before. He escaped with the help of Cahil who has his own plans to take over Ixia. He also has the Daviian Clan who use blood magic to increase their powers and a mysteriously powerful Fire Warper, behind him.
It's up to Yelena to defeat her enemies once more. With the help of her loyal friends it should be easy, but who is friend and who is enemy? When the lines begin to blur, Yelena is in for the greatest magical battle of her life.
In Fire Study, the conclusion to the Study trilogy, we find Yelena really come into her own in the magical community. Be forewarned, this is not a series easily read out of order. Each preceding book leads into the next one and with each book, we learn many more intricacies about the lands of Ixia and Sitia, but especially about the magic that Sitia thrives on. Yelena continues to grow and adapt and learns how important it is not to abuse her gifts. Her fears are very real as she understands the immense responsibility she has to wield her powers appropriately.
All of our beloved friends from Ixia are back, from Ari and Janco to Commander Ambrose and of course, Valek. Iris is back too of course, Yelena's mentor and one of the few people in Sitia who truly understand Yelena. We are also introduced to more of the Zaltana clan, as well as visiting with those we've already met. One of Yelena's greatest strengths is the love and loyalty she shares with her friends and family and in Fire Study she needs them more than ever.
Fire Study is a highly emotional read. Yelena is really put through the paces and has to reach deep down inside herself to find her true power. She has several very difficult choices to make and as she struggles to weigh what must be done against what she wants. These struggles provide some very poignant moments, especially when she fears she may very well lose Valek and all she holds dear if she hopes to defeat the Fire Warper. I had tears in my eyes more than once, sometimes sad tears, other times joyful ones. As Yelena finally comes to understand what magic is capable of, we find some very powerful scenes. Be forewarned too, there are some mind blowing surprises revealed. A few you may have already guessed, but let me tell you, even the ones you think you know will shock you.
Make sure you have plenty of time to spend with Yelena and company. Once you start Fire Study, you won't want to stop until the final page is turned. What's so wonderful about this book is that while it is an ending of sorts, it is an even greater beginning... to the rest of Yelena's life.
Once more, Gabra Zackman has done an incredible job performing Yelena's story. As many different players as we find in the Study series, Zackman never ceases to amaze me with the depth of her talent. She brilliantly portrays each and every person in the story and the voices are distinct enough that you're never in doubt who is talking.
© Kelley A. Hartsell, April 2008. All rights reserved.
Book Review: I hope this is not the end of this wonderful series!
Summary: 5 Stars
I pined away waiting for Fire Study to be released. I enjoyed Poison Study and Magic Study so much that I re-read them waiting on this one.
There are many new concepts and characters introduced in this third installment - namely the "Warpers", who are renegade magicians and who gain power by killing and absorbing souls. So naturally, Yelena takes off in a fast-paced adventure to find and destroy them before they take over the world. The world that she encounters, which now has all kinds of evil and double-crossing agents in it, forces the story to a darker and more urgent place than the first two books did. I found myself having to re-read a few chapters to keep up with everything that was happening. And of course, Moon Man is back with more riddles than ever.
To nitpick - I found Yelena's inability to grasp one of the concepts that Moon Man was trying to teach her frustrating. Even her horse tried to get her to see what was happening and of course, we had figured it out long before. This is the only time in the three books where I felt that the plot dragged a bit. It was a minor annoyance and didn't diminish my overall love for the book, but it bothered me that with everything that had happened to Yelena, that she could disregard Moon man's advice and not even try to see what was happening.
The conclusion was satisfying. Once again, I was blown away by the author's ability to conclude a story as involving as this in a way that was realistic and very respectful to her characters. Not everything has a disney-ending and I appreciate that.
I highly recommend the "Study" series to anyone who likes a smart read with great character development and doesn't mind the absence of elves, ogres, and magic swords.
Yelena is a delight to follow as the herione, strong and yet vulnerable at the same time. Valek played a lesser role to some degree in this book and I thought that was appropriate. I would have liked Roze's character to have been developed more as it was hard to understand her motivation and how she grew to feel and act the way she did. I enjoyed that this book was primarily about the relationship between Yelena and Moon Man and how he was more integral to Yelena's discovery of herself than Valek was. This is not typical in a fantasy where there is a "romantic" angle and I was impressed that the author did not use the romance angle as a way for Yelena to grow. Her relationship with Valek was only a part of her self-discovery and everyone in Yelena's life, even Ari and Janco (my favorite characters) help her in her journy.
As an avid reader, I don't find many books that I enjoy in this genre. This is a shining example of fantasy adventure at its best. I found it completely refreshing to follow Yelena's journey. It is a story of a girl who finds herself in a highly problematic circumstance and how she uses her wit and skills to overcome and discover herself and her destiny.
Highly recommend this series, even if you do not typically read fantasy.
Book Review: Plenty of action and magic
Summary: 4 Stars
Life should be good for Yelena. She's proven her abilities, learned that she is a Soulfinder, and has a great lover. With her powerful allies, she seems to be in a good position to kick back and relax--even though ordinary magic, including spells as easy as lighting a fire, remain beyond her control. But an ancient magic, long-thought extinct, is moving once more. This old magic relies on blood, sacrifice, and betrayal, and Yelena's old enemies refuse to believe the threat. Her powers are real, but what hope does she have against the man in flames?
Yelena's guide (story weaver), Moon Man, and his people long ago confronted the blood magicians. But they need Yelena's help in order to defeat them now. Unfortunately, Yelena has a lot of other issues, especially issues with the senior magician in Sitia. One of Yelena's biggest issues has nothing to do with her enemies. Everyone tells her that every Soulfinder in history has turned evil, collecting souls to take power from them. Yelena wants to do good, but she could do so much more good with more power--and she fears she'll yield to the temptation.
With her clever talking horse (it only talks to her), her sometimes angry brother, the patient Moon Man who puts up with Yelena's constant complaints, and her trusty switchblade and bow [sic], Yelena rushes off into battle. At the back of her mind, though, she knows that the conflict is certain to bring in her former home, Ixia, Sitia's traditional enemy.
Although Yelena is so powerful that even the strongest magicians fear her, blood magic allows her enemies to multiply their powers. She can't use her abilities to control them or override their will they way she's been able to do with all of her other enemies. And fire, the element she cannot control, haunts her with visions of destruction--her own figure often leading the charge.
Author Maria V. Snyder continues her 'Study' series with an action-filled fantasy. With much less focus on the romance between Yelena and love interest Valek than in the earlier novels, we get to see Yelena (and her horse) as they deal with danger and enemies. This time, though, the biggest danger is Yelena herself. With her uncertainty about her own motives and her impatience with those who could actually teach her something, Yelena puts herself into danger before she is ready to face it, and ignores the obvious solution to her problem until almost too late.
There's a lot going on in FIRE STUDY and Snyder almost pulls it together. I thought Snyder missed some opportunties--by having important events happen off-stage and the resolution of the long-standing conflict between Yelena and Roze seemed a bit empty to me. Also, the incident that sent Yelena into motion, the escape of the evil Ferde, sort of vanished over the course of the story. I anticipated a more compelling plot point here. Still, the intriguing and conflicted character of Yelena, the wonderful character of Moon Man, and the conflicted Commander all add up to enjoyable story-telling.