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Powell's Q&A, Q&A | December 10, 2009

Sam Stephenson: IMG Powell's Q&A: Sam Stephenson

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Describe your latest book/project/work. I've been studying the life and work of photographer W. Eugene Smith for 13 years. My first book (Dream... Continue »
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    The Jazz Loft Project: Photographs and Tapes of W. Eugene Smith from 821 Sixth Avenue, 1957-1965

    Sam Stephenson and W. Eugene Smith
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Poison Study

Poison Study Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace- and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dusté and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.

As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear—.

Synopsis:

In this impressive debut novel, the first in a series, Yelena escapes execution in exchange for tasting the food of the Commander, ruler of Ixia. But some people are too impatient to wait for poison to finish her off.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 2 comments:
Jvstin, July 7, 2009 (view all comments by Jvstin)
About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace--and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

Yelena, you see, has been chosen to be the Commander's new food taster. And the Commander has so very many enemies. As does Yelena...

Poison Study is the first in a trio of novels by Maria Snyder, telling the story of Yelena. Set in a fantasy kingdom which has recently been taken over in a puritanical military dictatorship which reminded me of Cromwell's England. Yelena's crime, the murder of one of the sons of the military officers, is not easily forgiven by the grieving father. In addition, that father has plans of his own for the future of Ixia. And what of the strange abilities that Yelena is slowly starting to manifest?

Poison Study is definitely a character driven book, focusing on the motivations, character, and growth of Yelena. As such, Snyder creates a complex, three dimensional protagonists with strengths, flaws, hopes and dreams that grows and changes throughout the novel. There are hints of some interesting world building going on here, too.

Its a solid, good novel, and I look forward to reading the remainder of the series.
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nytwlkr, May 9, 2008 (view all comments by nytwlkr)
started reading by accident. loved it. have also read the next two,loved them also. now waiting for the fourth.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780778324331
Publisher:
Mira Books
Subject:
Fantasy - General
Author:
Snyder, Maria
Author:
Snyder, Maria V.
Subject:
General Fiction
Subject:
Magic
Subject:
Imaginary places
Subject:
Fantasy fiction
Edition Description:
Trade paper
Publication Date:
March 2007
Binding:
Paperback
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Pages:
409
Dimensions:
8 x 5.13 in
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