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.

Country vs Country - Study and Glass (Chronicles of Ixia) by Maria V Snyder

This week is a little different. I've decided to combine both the Study and Glass series since they're both part of Chronicles of Ixia and I've also included the Australian covers since I saw them and thought they were so pretty.

The order of Study is UK, US and Australian

Julie-Anne: I like all the covers but I don't like US as much. I don't understand why there was a random UK cover (it's the one I've got so kinda mad that they changed it) but I prefer the 1st over the 2nd/ The US is nice and pretty but a bit boring. And the Australian one, while could be described as plain, is actually gorgeous - it's the colours. I think Australian wins for me.
Danielle: I think you've said every single thing I was thinking here. I agree on every aspect. Australia definitely wins for me too. Popped right out immediately for me. I love the colours, I love that it looks like poisonous flames. Beautiful. US is pretty, but makes me think more of a historical novel. I don't really like the 2nd UK cover much. It's all right, if it were the only one I wouldn't pass it over, but it doesn't stand out like the others. It almost reminds me of those books that get re-covered for the movie. I like the butterfly around the door in the 1st UK cover. Aussies win.

J: Again, I think US is my least favourite here. It's not as boring as Poison Study, the greenery saves it from that. I think I'm going to pick Australian again. I have noticed that the UK covers of all these series seem to follow the same theme - I like that. The blue in the Australian is really nice and stands out.
D: I like the US one here. I like the greenery. The UK again seems like it's re-covered for a movie. Aussie's win again for me. I love the colours and the pattern the colours make. Really beautiful.

J: US has went back to boring on this one. And as nice as the Australian one is, I prefer the UK one for this book. As soon as I bought this book, I thought it was very pretty - my favourite of all the UK covers for sure.
D: This is my favourite of the UK covers too. It looks far less like a movie cover. I still don't love it though. I agree that the US is not as nice. Boring, and again, they seem to have gone back to the historical look to me. I still love the Australian cover. Yes, it isn't as sharp as the previous two, but I still think it's really pretty. I pick Australia here again.

Julie-Anne: I really love this series. Yelena and Valek are a great leading couple, and happily Snyder just brought them back for another series. I'd recommend this series to any fantasy reader that's looking for a new series.
Danielle: This is a series I haven't read yet. I keep meaning to, but have never gotten around to it, even though it is so highly rated by my peers. Everyone I know who has read this series has loved it.




The Glass series is in the order of UK, US 1 & 2 and Australian

Julie-Anne: I really like all four of these! I'm having trouble picking a favourite - I may actually just try and remove my least favourite until I have one left. 2nd US with the face is my 1st least favourite. UK is my 2nd least favourite - not sure why, I just prefer the remaining two. 1st US is my 3rd and final least favourite so I guess Australian wins this one for me.
Danielle: I think I agee with you again. Australia definitely wins out for me without having to eliminate. It just really jumps out for me. I think I just don't like the hood on the UK covers. I haven't read this series though, so maybe the MC wears a hooded cloak, and this really fits in. I like the US the least as well, though I do love the (I'm assuming) glass design on it. Very pretty. But as I've said before, I really dislike full faces on covers, so that is a big strike against this one. I like the US probably second in this one. But Australia wins.

J: Again, I love all of these. And again I'm going to list them backwards. In fourth place is 2nd US again - it's the big face thing. In third place is UK again. In second place is Australian. Purely because I really like this image on the 1st US cover.
D: I'm torn between Australia and the first US here too. I really love all the Australian covers, but I do really like the US one here. Least favourite is definitely US#2 (full face, blah), and third place goes to UK. It just seems a little boring next to the Australian and 1st US cover. I think I'll pick the first US cover for this one, though I really did have to think on it.

J:Once again, I'm going to list them backwards because I really like them all. Fourth place is 2nd US again - her face is taking up too much of the cover. Third place is UK. 2nd place is 1st US - I think it's the colour. First place is Australian again.
D: Australian wins here for me. 2nd US is definitely last, and I actually like the UK better than the first US here. At least the first US has her face covered enough that it doesn't put images into your head. It does look like the models from the last book and this one are different. Are they not about the same girl? Australia wins for me. Though of the Aussie covers, this one is my least favourite.
J: Yes, different MC in this series. Although a lot of crossover does happen with characters.

Julie-Anne: This may be a first for me - a series that I like all the covers for all the books. Plus we have 2 US ones and Australian in there so there's more covers to choose from. Snyder's publication companies are good at covers! I love Snyder's work, I've still to finish this series but it's purely laziness on my part.
Danielle: Again, I have not read this series. I'll steal JA's words and say that it is pure laziness on my part as well. I really should read them, as everyone I know loves them. I also agree that this is probably the first time I've like all the covers from each of the countries.

Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder

Snyder wowed readers with Poison Study, the unforgettable story of poison taster Yelena. Now she's back with a new tale of intrigue.

Once, only her own life hung in the balance.

Oddly enough, when Yelena was a poison taster, her life was simpler. But she'd survived to become a vital part of the balance of power between rival countries Ixia and Sitia. Now she uses her magic to keep the peace in both lands and protect her relationship with Valek.

Suddenly, though, they are beset on all sides by those vying for power through politics and intrigue. Valek's job - and his life - are in danger. As Yelena tries to uncover the scope of these plots, she faces a new challenge: her magic is blocked. She must keep that a secret - or her enemies will discover just how vulnerable she really is - while searching for who or what is responsible for neutralising her powers.

Yes, the days of tasting poisons were much simpler. And certainly not as dangerous,

Release Date 24th February 2015

It's been a long time since I've read about Yelena and Valek; and Snyder didn't let us fans down with this new book. Technically the start of a new series but also carrying on from the Study series, Valek and Yelena are still juggling their lives in separate countries with their relationship. All seems well until Yelena gets attacked on the way to meet Valek and loses her magic, she has to find out what happened to her magic when something else comes out of the woodwork to keep them both busy.

Anyone that's read either the Study or Glass trilogies will know that Snyder has created a huge world with plenty of interesting characters and even with the long break Valek and Yelena are just as exciting.

The fun thing about this book is that we get to read from Yelena, Valek and Janco's perspective. There's also an intriguing storyline with the Commander that I can't wait to see continued in the next book, and how Yelena and Valek handle the ending should be interesting.

Definitely recommended, especially if you're a fan of Yelena and Valek and I can't wait for the next book to come out.


Book Depository: Shadow Study
Amazon UK: Shadow Study

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

Review

Storm Glass ~ Maria V Snyder



With her unique magical abilities, Opal has always felt unsure of her place at Sitia's magic academy. But when the Stormdancer clan needs help, Opal's knowledge makes her the perfect choice - until the mission goes awry.

Pulling her powers in unfamiliar directions, Opal finds herself tapping into a new kind of magic as stunningly potent as it is frightening. Now Opal must deal with plotters out to destroy the Stormdancer clan, as well as a traitor in their midst.

With danger and deception rising around her, will Opal's untested abilities destroy her - or save them all?

This is the first book in Maria V Snyder's Glass series, although Opal appeared in the last in the Study series, this is her first book. We also meet some familiar names from the study series.
It follows Opal Cowan, a glassmaker with budding magical abilities. She's struggled through her first four years at the magic academy. When the Stormdancer clan need help she's called in as a glass specialist.

The characters work well together and the story flows well. The action isn't too heavy and is spread apart sufficiently to keep your interest.
I definitely recommend it. It can be carried on from the Study series or read as a standalone.