(Yelena is older than your typical YA heroine so there are sex scenes.) The story is interesting, Yelena grows in realistic ways, and there is a good transition to what would be the next book. I actually didn’t mind the romance, but I did object to the way the author brushes by Yelena’s trauma the first time she and Valek have sex.

He trains her on poisons and of course the two of them fall in love. Yelena is thrown in prison for the murder, and Valek, the Commander’s assassin, offers her a deal to become the Commander’s food taster. The author also mentions that using magic to influence another person’s mind, which happens to Yelena and others, is rape as well. The rape is depicted quite graphically and I found that unnecessary. She is taken in by one of the rulers of the military district, and tortured by his son to bring out her magical abilities. Yelena is an orphan, growing up in a country with a military dictatorship. The world building is gorgeous, the world that Yelena is a prisoner in is richly described even though Yelena’s view of it is limited. She studies, she learns, and she grows as a person.

She isn’t just suddenly amazing at everything.

The protagonist is a realistic heroine, Yelena has magical abilities, but in order to fight her way out of the terrible situation she is, she has to train. And I can see why someone would find this dear to them. I saw this book, Maria Snyder’s Poison Study, on display at my local library under a section of their librarian’s favorite books. Note: This review contains a discussion of violent acts against a woman, which is depicted in the book.

Poison study series in order