ARC Review: Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder

Website | Goodreads
Publication Date: December 18th, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
ISBN: 0778314189
Age Group: Young/New Adult
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
Source: Provided by the publisher through NetGalley
Lootability: ****
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Hunted, Killed—Survived?
As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical 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 confident, 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.

About the book – beware, spoilers from Touch of Power

Scent of Magic is the second book in Maria V. Snyder’s  Healer series. Avry, the last healer in the Fifteen Realms, was kidnapped and forced into service in order to save Prince Rynn – except, somewhere along the way Avry and her kidnappers formed a comradery and Avry volunteered her healing powers in an effort to save her world.

Win a signed copy of Maria V Snyder's Touch of Power

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...

Thanks to Maria V Snyder, Raiding Bookshelves is hosting an international give away and you can win a signed copy of Touch of Power. Just enter using the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
- Open internationally to participants over the age of 13.
- The prize will be awarded randomly
- Open between 22/JUN/12 and 29/JUN/12
- Don't post your contact details on the post.
- If the winner doesn't respond within 72 hrs, a new winner will be chosen.

Author Interview: Maria V Snyder

Maria V Snyder is the New York Times best-selling author of the Study Series, which includes her first published novel Poison Study. 
Snyder grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she earned a Bachelor of Science (Meteorology) and she was working as a meteorologist until, as a young mother, she began writing down story ideas and produced Poison Study. Her skills as a meteorologist helped her to produce her Storm series, which began with Storm Glass.
Snyder has also released a two book sci-fi series, Inside Out and Outside In, and has a new series coming out at the moment, starting with her 2012 release A Touch of Power and a sequel Scent of Power expected out next year. 
She lives in Pennsylvania with her family, and a black cat named Valek.

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... 

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Publication Date: 20th December, 2012
Publisher: Mira Ink Books
ISBN: 0778313077
Original Language: English
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Fantasy/Romance/Adventure
Source: Library
Buy the Book: Amazon 
Lootability: Grab it and go.

The Glass Series by Maria V Snyder

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The Glass series follows Opal Cowan, a glass magician who can trap magic inside glass. She crafts glass messengers for Sitia and helps with a glass crisis. Until the Stormdance clans orbs shatter, killing Stormdancers and leaving the coastal residents in life-threatening danger. Opal must find the true recipe for the orbs and fix them - fast. But as one crisis ends another begins when Opal is kidnapped trying to rescue Kade, a handsome Stormdancers captured by evil warpers. Trapped on the northern ice sheet of Ixia, with a huge storm close behind them Opal comes to terms with her death. She is prepared to sacrifice herself to save Kade. The second in the Glass series, Sea Glass follows Opal as she defies the council and journeys to free her lover from a warper. With more warpers after her and a warrant for her arrest being made public, Opal has to fear for her life as she sacrifices more than she realises to save one she loves.

Synder strikes again with the reintroduction of Yelena's world, only this time the trilogy stars background character Opal Cowen and her amazing and powerful glass magic. Beginning with Storm Glass Opal learns the price of magic, power and trust are all tied together.

Study Series by Maria V Snyder

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From condemned prisoner to food taster for the Commander of Ixia, from apprentice to a charismatic assassin to warrior with ever-evolving magical powers, Yelena is a remarkable heroine like none you've ever experienced. Follow her amazing journey through Maria V. Snyder'sbreathtaking fantasy series. Bundle includes Poison Study, Magic Studyand Fire Study, and also includes as a special bonus, the online read written exclusively for eHarlequin.com, Assassin Study!

In her stunning YA series, beginning with Poison Study, Maria V Snyder has created a magical world to envy. Her trilogy, also containing, Fire Study and Magic Study follows the adventures of Yelena and her friends as they repeatedly save their homes from danger.

February Book of the Month: Poison Study

Poison Study was the first of Maria V Snyder's books that I have read. It ended up being the first of six, and I have plans to get my hands on her dystopian series Inside Out and Inside In. The reason Poison Study became Feb's Book of the Month was the intriguing way Snyder rethought the classic heroine and drew out the series. In truth, it was Snyder's Study series that gave Poison Study it's title, but the first book of the trilogy is still my favourite.

It had close competition in Matthew Reilly's Ice Station but Reilly can't claim the same sense of mystery that Poison Study gave me. Ice Station will always be one of my favourites, but this month Poison Study really stood out for me.

February's recommendation is Poison Study by Maria V Snyder. Expect a review this week.

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