Poison Study Review

Though I didn't find this book through traditional means, I'm so glad I found it! It's definitely a new favorite of mine.

---

Warning: The following review may contain spoilers for Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder.

---

Summary:

Choose: A quick death… or slow poison...

About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace—and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust—and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.

As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear...

---

My Review:

I picked this up because I read the Chapters adaptation of it and fell hard for Valek. It was totally worth it. While both Valek and the Commander have tough exteriors, they’re good men at heart. Yelena is not the typical protagonist. She’s witty, resourceful, and makes friends with both male and female characters. There’s no love triangle needed to spur the plot forward; it’s so good that the writing and characters alone compelled me to keep reading. Valek letting a man go instead of sentencing him to death was a pivotal moment that made me love his character. I screeched a little when Yelena and Valek finally kissed. The ending was satisfying, and this would’ve been perfect as a stand-alone or as a series. New favorite book!

---

My Favorite Line(s):

• “His movements were so graceful that I wondered if he had been a dancer, but his words betrayed to me that his fluid gestures were those of a trained killer.” Why do I always take interest in the crazy ones or the dangerous ones???

• “Valek looked at him in mock horror. ‘But then I wouldn’t be indispensable.’” Valek was as witty as he was ruthless. Though, I can’t wait to see the softer side of him!

• “‘My goodness, girl, just come in. You’re always welcome.’ Dilana put her sewing down, and patted the chair next to her. When I joined her in the sunlight, she exclaimed, ‘You’re as thin as my finest thread. Sit. Sit. Let me get you something to eat.’” Dilana is the kindest. I admire her character and her positive disposition.

• “The daily antidote to Butterfly’s Dust kept me alive. If I didn’t return to the castle by the next morning, they would be searching for a corpse.” The foreshadowing and build in this book is impeccable.

• “Besides, thinking kind thoughts about Valek could be extremely dangerous. I could admire his skills, and be relieved when he was on my side in a fight. But for a rat to like the cat? That scenario ended only one way. With one dead rat.” I want to cry! Yelena deserves happiness.

• “‘You hover on the edges, ready to take off if something goes wrong. But when you can knock the bow from Janco’s hands, and sweep my feet out from under me, you’ll be empowered.’ He paused, and then said, ‘If you feel you need to spend your time on something else, then do it…in addition to your training. Then the next time someone calls you Puker, you’ll have the confidence to tell her to go to hell.’” Ari always has Yelena’s back! He and Janco are so cool.

• “Valek wrapped me in his arms. ‘My love has been yours since the fire festival.’” This is the most romantic thing I've ever heard, goodbye.

• “Valek handed me the bloody knife. With an exhausted bow, he said, ‘My love, for you.’” THE BOW, THE WAY HE ADDRESSES HER, THE WAY HE WOULD DIE FOR HER AHHHH. EXCUSE ME WHILE I SOB.

• “I clung to Valek. He was right, I didn’t need him, but I wanted him to be with me forever.” I love that they chose each other. They don’t need love, they choose it.

---

Get In Touch With The Author:

Find out more about author Maria V. Snyder on her website here.