What I thought? It was fantastic. I think overall this is a very well-developed and compelling read, definitely one of the damn good books I read this year. Before this review though, I gave it a 4.5 but since goodreads don't have a 0.5 thing, I couldn't decide if it was 4 stars or 5 stars. I just don't know. I swear Poison Study was awesome but then again, I felt this can be more fast-paced, more ominous, maybe even sexier. |
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...
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...
Character wise, I mean like this is one of the best I read so far. Yelena and Valek pretty much hooked me right on, and I simply didn't want to stop. In the beginning, I didn't think Valek was a potential love interest. But after a while, it became obvious. And as much as he seem cold and detached, he was a very likable character. He was kick ass, sassy and loyal. After the recent terrible assassin I have read, someone who actually takes out their knife and points it at your throat in the middle of the night or at least have this quiet lethal vibe. Yes, I want that.
"It's a dirty way to fight, but I'm late for lunch." |
Valek wasn't invincible, but he is quick and smart. Assassins aren't invincible but they have to be quick and smart, they have to know the tricks in the book. They need to know when to back off. I liked that about Valek. We see him in action once in a while, but even as he walks, his lethal grace wants to make you back off.
The romance once again, had a wonderful build-up. The chemistry between them could cause an explosion. It was just freaking hot. It was well-paced and eventually they just became one pair I can't and won't want to see separated. I think everyone who read this book feels the same way, the romance just blew us off completely. (Though the confession part seemed a bit out of their characters and the build-up right before that didn't feel sufficient.) They didn't act on how they felt immediately and Yelena, most importantly, knew where she stood and how to play her cards. She could be reckless but she was a realistic character.
The romance once again, had a wonderful build-up. The chemistry between them could cause an explosion. It was just freaking hot. It was well-paced and eventually they just became one pair I can't and won't want to see separated. I think everyone who read this book feels the same way, the romance just blew us off completely. (Though the confession part seemed a bit out of their characters and the build-up right before that didn't feel sufficient.) They didn't act on how they felt immediately and Yelena, most importantly, knew where she stood and how to play her cards. She could be reckless but she was a realistic character.
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 liked her. But I didn't love her because at times she could get on my nerves with her spitfire personality with people she didn't like. At rather rare times, she say things she shouldn't say and take things into her hands like a know-it-all. It's a little unbelievable how she could even turn out to be such a kick ass fighter with mere months of training. The way she acted and thought, you would think she had the fighter instinct since a long time ago. One wrong move, I think she might even turn into a whiny Mary Sue but her character is still on the strong side and I'm glad that haven't happened yet. Really, if these things about her character were cleared up, I definitely would have given a 5 star rating.
That aside, I think the world and side characters have great potential to be developed fully in the sequels. What I hope to see is the setting becoming more uncanny and the plot with many dark twists. That really would have added on to my enjoyment level and this book could easily do so with such a premise. Unfortunately, I heard terrible things about the sequel. Before I started, I thought I could just stop at book one. But let's just admit it's tempting. More Valek and Yelena, it's very tempting, and I think I might take the chance.
That aside, I think the world and side characters have great potential to be developed fully in the sequels. What I hope to see is the setting becoming more uncanny and the plot with many dark twists. That really would have added on to my enjoyment level and this book could easily do so with such a premise. Unfortunately, I heard terrible things about the sequel. Before I started, I thought I could just stop at book one. But let's just admit it's tempting. More Valek and Yelena, it's very tempting, and I think I might take the chance.