Fire Study (2008) by Maria V Snyder

SPOILER ALERT

The final book in the Yelena Zaltana series, as the young magician tracks down the elusive Soul Stealer, whilst battling the Fire Warper.

Yelena’s time in Sitia has not been the return to her homeland she wished for. Instead, she has been traipsing across the land in search of baddies, whilst facing the harsh scrutiny of the magicians at the Keep. Only her gung-ho attitude and ferocity have kept her alive so far, along with a handful of trustworthy companions. However, this final instalment will see her take on her biggest foe yet: magicians using Blood magic in order to harness greater powers to take over Sitia.

Friendships and loyalties will be put to the test, whilst Yelena must face her own destiny as the Soul Finder, and all that it entails.

Arguably the most frenetic of the three books, Fire Study is attempting too much in this story. The character of Yelena is sent through an endless string of punishing tasks, without any rest bite, seeing her in battle upon battle, fight upon fight. Her pursuit of Ferde and Cahil seems based on very little information, and yet she stumbles upon most of their plans with ease, making the plot seem a little thin.

This being said, Fire Study still embodies the thrilling aspects of Snyder’s writing: the wonderful fantasy, the captivating magical elements which seem original and heartfelt. Yelena’s journey, whilst mostly physical, also sees a lot of character development for herself, in particular about her fate, which adds depth to this book. Thematically, the story is quite unoriginal: a girl becoming an adult, the importance of friendship, courage versus cowardice.

Throughout the series, the bonds between the characters have strengthened, something which is important within fantasy literature. Also, Snyder has raised a larger question about societies: how the governing of a nation will inevitably be flawed. The two nations Sitia and Ixia are governed with extreme polarity: the former being a magical land with separate tribes/clans who make their own rules for their own people, whilst the latter is a military country, where a strict code of behaviour is followed. Rather than promoting one style of leadership, Snyder finds flaws and strengths within both, an admirable achievement.

An pleasurable series of books for those requiring a fantasy trilogy which will not keep you bogged down for months. The pages are turned fast, the twists and turns come quickly, and the story moves with increasing amounts of danger and peril.

Magic Study (2006) by Maria V. Snyder

SPOILER ALERT

The second book of the Yelena Zaltana trilogy, this time seeing the young magician travel to Sitia, the land of the magicians.

Having been banished from Ixia by the Commander at the end of the first book, Yelena is forced to flee the land with her magical friend Irys. They head to Sitia in the south, where Yelena will be reunited with her estranged family, whom she hasn’t seen since she was kidnapped and brought to Ixia when she was six. Alongside the awkward family reunion, Yelena will also have to begin her training as a magician, at the glorious Citadel, home to four Master Magicians (one of whom is Irys), as well as other students with magical gifts.

New enemies are brought into the fray, including Yelena’s brother Leif, who seems angered by his sister’s sudden return. Also, the son of a former Ixian royal emerges, claiming to be raising an army in order to attack, and reclaim, Ixia from the Commander. However, Yelena’s attention to these matters pails in comparison to her newest, and greatest, foe. A man killing and torturing innocent girls in order to steal their magic. With the help of some of her new and old friends, as well as her lover in Ixia, Yelena will take on this monster, whilst coming to grips with her own magic.

A worthy successor to the first novel, Snyder’s writing moves with fluency and pace throughout, meandering through the wondrous world of Sitia gracefully. New characters are instantly engaging, creating some fascinating development for Yelena, and the overarching battle between Ixians and Sitians is a very compelling theme. The magical elements are creative, making this world seem both exciting and dangerous.

Slightly on the shallower end of the reading pool, the Yelena Zaltana books are meant for pure fantasy enjoyment, not a challenging read. And while the pace is a positive factor in most places, sometimes in this book the story tends to move between action scenes too quickly, with little time for reflection. This aside it was a fun read, and the third book looks like it could be the most exciting of all three.

Poison Study (2005) by Maria V. Snyder

Enthralling fantasy, that should leave a good taste in your mouth.

The first instalment of a trilogy about Yelena Zaltana, a troubled nineteen-year-old girl, whose life is continuously placed within harms way. Beginning the book in a jail having killed the son of her former master, Yelena is due to be hung for her crimes. However, in the land of Commander Ambrose, her life may be saved if she agrees to become his food taster, a role only reserved for that of prisoners due to be executed. Thinking pragmatically, Yelena agrees, and is taken under the wing of one of the Commander’s generals, a legendary assassin named Valek.

Valek was essential to the Commander’s rise to power, orchestrating many assassinations of the former King’s men, and hunting the elusive magicians that roamed the lands. In Ambrose’s new nation Ixia, anyone with magical ability is to be killed.

As she and Valek perform a tug-of-war relationship, Yelena adjusts to her new role brilliantly. Being the food taster for the most important man in the country has its dangers though, and Yelena knows that her time on earth is only secure until the next assassination attempt. She therefore plans her escape from Ixia, hoping to go south where Ambrose has chased any of those disloyal to his cause, including any remaining magicians.

Quite an easy read, Snyder’s book is fraught with peril and disaster that will keep a reader hooked if you are a fan of dialogue and fast action. A far distance away from heavy fantasy that will bury you in mysterious syntax, Poison Study is a short and sweet story, in particular aimed at younger readers, or those wishing for a book between books.

The character development is typical of books for younger people, with very predictable consequences, and the division between enemies and friends becoming starkly evident from the onset. However, Snyder does create some interesting characters, without having to cast a whole host of other people to keep the story entertaining. There are only a few key players within the book, and this makes for a far more interesting read.

One to delve into if you like easy fantasy, and chapter climaxes.

The Leopard (2011) by Jo Nesbo

Crime thriller from respected Norwegian author Jo Nesbo, about a serial killer who uses a particularly horrendous contraption to murder his victims.

Starring Nesbo’s recurring protagonist, detective Harry Hole, The Leopard story takes place in several locations: Norway, the Conga, and Hong Kong. After Hole is retrieved from his hiding spot in the latter by a feisty detective called Kaja, he returns to a bitter feud between the police forces in Norway, who are fighting for supremacy over control in murder investigations. Hole’s indifference to politics and authority mean that he only cares about one thing, catching the killer.

Working with Kaja, and a small team, Harry soon uncovers a link between these seemingly random murders, which have something to do with a ski cabin. As he tries to piece together the evidence, and locate a suspect, the killer continues to prowl in the shadows.

Alongside the main story thread, Harry’s father is also lying in hospital, and Harry struggles with his anguish over this, as well as past losses. Also, as an avid alcoholic, Harry’s relationship with the demon drink becomes a worrying factor.

An engaging thriller, Nesbo has formed a story that represents a lot of Scandinavian writing: great on the detail, but cold with the description. Hole is a marvellous lead character, offering the flawed, edgy cop who refuses to play by the rules, but who we ultimately warm to for his awkward heroism.

The sideline characters, such as Kaja and even the killer, are explored with great detail, which is a refreshing experience. We are offered a lot of back story to peak our interest, but there still lies enough mystery to make them interesting.

A little too long, the book spans over 700 pages, which is unnecessary for a crime thriller, but the writing is tense and powerful throughout, offering some horrific scenes and unnerving consequences.

2nd Chance (2003) by James Patterson

An action-packed crime thriller, about a female homicide detective hunting a trained killer, who seems to be attacking black victims with a link to the police.

Opening with a horrific shooting at a local church, where one black choir girl was killed amongst all the flying bullets, detective Lindsay Boxer is put on the case after returning from a break in her tumultuous career. With the help of her three closest friends; a reporter, a medical examiner, and a lawyer, she hopes to find the killer known as Chimera before he can take his next victim.

Fast-paced throughout, Patterson writes with gripping ease, leading the reader through an exciting and dangerous cat and mouse plot. Lindsay is a brilliant protagonist, with complex issues about her family and career, and we see her develop as the story unwinds. Her relationship with her three close friends forms the foundation for this book, and while at times it seems a like a professional version of Sex and the City, it is quite a refreshing dynamic which works well to develop different subplots.

Playing out like a cop show, 2nd Chance does lack lengthy description, leaving some of the aspects of the story underdeveloped, but for those who enjoy a book which doesn’t bore you to tears in each chapter, this is a thrilling read.

Severed (2007) by Simon Kernick

Tyler is an ex-soldier, who served during the tumultuous years of the IRA. He now sells cars for a living in London, and has a pretty ordinary life. However, at the beginning of the story, Tyler awakes with no recollection of his past 24 hours, his girlfriend Leah lies beheaded next to him, and there is a video in the room that shows him decapitating her. Now, a voice over the phone forces Tyler into completing a series of dangerous tasks in exchange for the evidence of the beheading.

Tyler must delve deep into the seedy, criminal underworld of London streets in order to keep his blackmailers at bay, whilst trying to understand what has happened to him, and who is behind it.

A pulsating, action thriller this book gives absolutely no chance for the reader to breathe. It is a hurricane of a story, one filled with plenty of tense stand-offs and explosive near-misses, and the revelations come thick and fast as Tyler pieces together this insane plot against him. He moves through each stage barely, and the death toll rises with the tension.

Not too much character exploration, this book tends to stay in the shallow waters. One criticism would be that very little attachment is made to any other character in the book, and Tyler’s journey seems laden with misery and defeat with very little light at the end of the tunnel.

However, it is a brilliant read for fans of a lot of action, those who want a book to entertain rather than muddle through. Kernick’s writing is clear and concise, with very little dribble, and his penchant for building each dramatic scene is masterful.

The Devil's Feather (2005) by Minette Walters

Racing psychological thriller about a war correspondent who tries to hide in the South West of England after she is released from a three day abduction in Iraq.

Connie Burns is a successful journalist who was born in South Africa, and has seen some of the world’s most devastating conflicts. Working for Reuters via London, she reports on modern wars, and at the beginning of the book is working is Bagdad during the recent War on Terror. After looking into a spate of vicious attacks and murders against women, Connie finds herself investigating a man whom she knew from her life in Sierra Leone, a man calling himself McKenzie, who is a brutal ex-SAS soldier who is known for his violent outbursts.

Living in Bagdad has its immediate dangers, and one of the most prevalent is hostage taking. Many professionals, politicians and indeed journalists have been abducted by terrorist groups in order to send a message to the Allies, and Connie finds herself within this unlucky group, when she is snatched outside her hotel. Luckily though, she is released only three days later with no apparent injuries. Her escape comes as a huge relief to the watching world, but also an intriguing mystery; viewers want to know why she was so fortunate.

To avoid the bombardment of personal invasions, Connie rents herself a house in Dorset under a different name while the heat dies down. Once there though, she soon finds herself mixed up in a complicated family squabble involving the owner of the house she now rents, the spoilt socialising daughter who wants her inheritance, and a local farmer, whose complete inability to conform to social norms makes her very interesting to Connie.

So while Connie tries to uncover the secrets behind this house and those who have lived in it, she must also stay undetected by the world’s media, as well as the evil-doers who abducted her who are now seem to be wanting her dead. Her paralysing fear which resulted from the three-day confinement will be her biggest challenge.

It is a mild book, a few good twists and turns, but nothing remarkable. The story is nothing more than something you would find on daytime television thillers, and the actual evolution of the plot is seems timid and slow. Her writing style is great, and the flow of her words seem to make it an enjoyable read, but by the end, some viewers may find themselves thinking: why did I keep reading?

The threatening aspects of the book seem impotent compared to some of those in modern thrillers, and Walters seems unwilling to get her hands dirty with the really gutsy stuff. It is a book for people who don’t like anything too tense or dramatic, nothing that will make you squirm as you read, which definitely has its appeal to some readers…but not this one.