Yelena was snatched from her family’s arms as a young child and was forced into slavery by an evil man intent on draining her of her magic. Through sheer strength of will and with the assistance of an unexpected ally she escaped and was sent on a quest to learn how to control her untapped magic. Yelena is now traveling with her friend and teacher Irys to return the other stolen children to their rightful homes. As a slave she had all of her memories from before her abduction wiped clean. She is in the uncomfortable position of meeting family members for the first time. She does not remember her mother, father, or her brother, but they all remember her.

In the midst of this reunion she is recalled to the Citadel and her brother is ‘volunteered’ to escort her. Ambushed by an exiled king and labeled a spy, Yelena is forced to hone her magic by experience instead of schooling. Can she find a place of true belonging? Can she find one place where she does not have to worry about others’ reactions to her and her newfound powers?

I normally will not pick up a book mid series, but I am extremely happy that I did in this case. Magic Study is a poignant look into the life of a woman who has had a miserable life and has made the best of what she’s been given. The world that Maria V. Snyder has created is awesome. The intricacies of the different countries’ interactions and the magic laws are simply amazing. I laughed, I cried, and I lived through Yelena’s triumphs and agonies. Told through first person narrative, Magic Study is a book that draws you in and makes it hard to leave the characters behind. I will be buying the first book in the series, Poison Study, and look forward to seeing how this series began.

Reviewed by: Serena