I read Poison Study and Magic Study both a couple of years ago and at the end of '08 to prep for reading Fire Study. I loved them all. They're great fantasy with just a hint of romance. Yelena and her boss, Valek are such interesting and cool characters. Unfortunately, I think Fire Study is the last one, I've heard she's working on a new series that might be vaguely connected. I hope you check them out!

Forgive me for writing the same review for all three books in this series! But they're all awesome. ;-p

Magic Study meets up with Yelena as she reunites with her family and prepares to begin her magical training. Yelena meets resistance - many people fear she is a spy - and acceptance when she accomplishes things other magicians cannot. Still a feisty I'll-figure-it-out-on-my-own character, Yelena fell a little flat this time around. I liked her bumbling attempts to protect herself in 'Poison Study' and felt her a little too confident in this one. Which I guess is good since she has experience, it was just one of those things that drew me in the first book.The high point of the novel was the introduction of the Sandseed clan - a very powerful group with a different sort of magic. I hope book #3 will explore them more. I was also sad to see less of Valek. I think he was one of my favorite parts in book #1 and he gets too little screen time in this one. Also, the chemistry between Yelena and Valek (when it was there) was a little too forced at times? Not quite as natural this time around. So, I'll probably finish the series, but as so often happens - the second didn't live up to the first. *sigh Here's hoping for a promising finish. ( )

WoW! Another great story. Very creative and intriguing. Couldn't put it down. I really like Yelena and Valeck and the rest of the characters. Nothing I disliked about this story. ( )

Absolutely loved Magic Study. In fact, I preferred it to the first book, Poison study! ( )

This is the continuing story of Yelena. Once again I truly enjoyed this character, she is a strong woman who isn't afraid to take care of herself and be who she wants to be. In this book she is reunited with her family, who live in the treetops. Could explain why in book one she uses the treetops so well. Yelena has no memory of her family, when she was 6 years old and taken from her family. The magician that took also took her memories from her.

Yelena meets a Mother that clings(as if I wouldn't in that same situation), a Father that spends his time looking for curative powers in the plants of their jungle and a brother that seems to hate her. Yelena is not sure that she wants to know her family it is all so new to her, she is there with her parents taking the time to get to know then for the two weeks she was given before she has to leave to go to school to get her magic under control. Unfortunately her brother tells her they must leave early, the same one that hates her mind you.

Then the real tale begins. I am of the belief that where Yelena goes trouble follows. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Once again this book is a thrill ride. I reserved the next book at my bookstore and I am going to pick it up today. Ms Snyder weaves a tale and I just want to follow it along. The only problem is the next book is the last of the Yelena books, it kind of makes me sad. But there is hope there is a series that follows. ( )