Fire Study (Study #3) Review

Author: Maria V Snyder
Publisher: Mira (08)
Paperback length: 448

The apprenticeship is over-- now the real test has begun.

Since the back cover description contains a spoiler for Magic Study, I already knew the truth before I read Magic Study. So I won't put that description here, in case readers haven't read Study #2. Briefly here is the overview:

Yelena has offered to act as a liaison between Ixia and Sitia, meaning she will be spending a little more time with the Master magicians. While trying to learn about her new role in the magical world, she is feared and even hated by some who would do her harm. She has to set feelings aside however when the magic she thought she defeated comes back, and really hits home.

Okay, so, I'm really not sure how I felt. On one hand, I will always be a lifelong fan of this series and was really rooting for it. On the other, this book was nowhere near the caliber of its predecessors. For one, there is nothing new at all until the end. Its the same weapons, the same fight scenes, the same characters you dealt with in the second book, save a few exceptions. It was almost boring. I really wanted there to be some shocking twist or something, which there was, at the end.

Also, Yelena is different. Now she is predictable and does outright stupid things that you know are going to turn out badly for her. In the beginning she was resourceful, headstrong, and powerful. Fire Study is basically a compilation of passing-out scenes after she gets too tired.

Now, toward the middle, there is a very cool scene involving a crate and some curare that was reminiscent of old Yelena, and its uphill from there (not just because Marek finally comes in!). But with a few ups and downs, it gets much better.

I love Snyder's characters! They're what carries the story. She really has talent, and even though this book fell short of some of my expectations, I did enjoy the read. If you've read the first two, you obviously have to read this one, because it closes things out nicely, in my opinion. If you haven't read the Study series, DO IT!!!!! It was sooooo amazing, I wanted to die!

It is also worth noting that my mom read the third shortly after myself, and liked it a lot. She's got great taste, so I bet a lot of readers loved this book. Don't be too discouraged!

3/5

Happy snow day!
--Shay-la