Country vs Country - Healer

The order for this one is UK, US, Australian

Julie-Anne: I like all of these. The facial expression on the US cover is a bit weird, almost like she's pushing her chin out. I really love the Australian one, it's just so pretty - the colours and the smoky looking flower. Australia wins.
Danielle: I'm not loving the US cover here. I agree, her face looks weird. The UK cover is nice. She's facing the camera straight on, but I think the fact that she's looking down is enough to save it for me. The Australian cover wins, hands down though. Absolutely love the colours and the design.

J: The chick on the US cover kinda looks like Kristen (Kirsten?) Stewart - I can't even be bothered looking this up, the no expression chick from the Twilight movies. Again, I like all these covers but, also again, Australia is the clear winner for me.
D: She really does look like Kristen Stewart. I wonder if that was on purpose to try to gain the Twilight audience. Either way, I don't like it. I actually really like the UK cover here. I love the white. And if the Australians hadn’t made a cover, it would win. But, the Australians did make a cover, and it's once again spectacular. Love it. Clear winner again.

J: Are they the same women in the US and UK covers? It's hard to tell with the cup and smoke partially covering the face on the UK chick. I think it has to be Australia again. I just really like the designs the Australian publisher uses for the covers for Snyder's books.
D: I agree with everything you've said again. The UK cover is really nice here too. I like the colours and I like that she's partially covering her face. But that Australian cover is so sharp. Definitely Australia for me again too.

Julie-Anne: This is the first series from Snyder I've read that isn't based in the same world - Glass and Study series are all part of the Ixia chronicles. I really enjoyed this series, and even though it's not the same world it has a lot of the same elements so if you enjoy the Ixia books, then you'll enjoy this series.
Danielle: Again, I haven't read these, so I can't comment on the content. The covers are really nice though. That doesn't always happen with books anymore. They always seem to be the same cookie cutter styles. But these are unique, and I'm assuming flow well with the stories themselves.

Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder

Hunted, killed, survived?

As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomaniacal King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confidant, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.

Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon's opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon's most horrible creations yet: an army of the walking dead — human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.

War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible ... again.

Release Date 18th December 2012

Sequel to Touch of Power.

Avry has the blessing of having her enemies think she's dead, she uses this to infiltrate an enemy army of Tohon's. As she helps the soldiers train to walk silent in the forest, Kerrick is back at his home getting ready for his own battle with some invaders to his land. As they both worry about the other, they have to ensure they stay alive and hope that they'll meet again.

I love, love, LOVE Maria V. Snyder's writing. I loved her Study books and, even though I haven't finished it yet, I love her Glass books - I'm sure they're not the proper series titles, but it's what I've always called them.

Avry and Kerrick are just getting to know one another when they have to separate to different ends of the realms. We get to see a lot of Kerrick's homeland in this as he returns home, and Avry meets back up with the gang.

There's a nice surprise in this book that I don't want to spoil for anyone, but there is also some bad to balance the good. Snyder creates an amazing world with extremely loveable (and horrible) characters, but the fact you can love them or hate them is proof as to how well written they are. If you've never read anything by Snyder, you're missing out and I suggest picking something up.


Book Depository: Scent of Magic
Amazon UK: Scent of Magic

Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Fifteen Realms, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince — leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life....

Release Date 27th December 2011

I love Maria's Study series and her Glass series, if this book is anything to go by, I'm also going to love the Healer series. I haven't read any of the Glass or Study books in a while so I don't know whether this new series is set in the same world, although it does seem like the same world or at least a similar one.

Avry is just as intriguing a lead as Yelena (Study) and Opal (Glass) and promises to keep the reader enthralled for as long as Maria keeps the Healer series going. Maria seems to like trilogies so it wouldn't surprise me if this was one. And once again Maria manages to keep us hooked with a not-there romance, we just need the promise of one to be happy. I think I may be slightly in love with Kerrick, and he does remind me slightly of Valek (Study).

Definitely a must-read for all Maria V. Snyder fans, and if you've never read anything by Maria this would be a great starting point. Although I also recommend any of her books.


Book Depository: Touch Of Power
Amazon UK: Touch of Power