1.04.2017

Saying Goodbye: Dawn Study by Maria V. Snyder


Dawn study
Soulfinders trilogy, book 3
SOULFINDER SERIES #3 aka STUDY BOOK #6 aka Chronicles of Ixia #9
Coming 01/31/17
ISBN-13: 978-0778319856 // Publisher: MIRA // Pages: 384
Find it on: Amazon, Goodreads
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New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder brings her Poison Study series to its exhilarating conclusion

Despite the odds, Yelena and Valek have forged an irrevocable bond—and a family—that transcends borders. Now, when their two homelands stand on the brink of war, they must fight with magic and cunning to thwart an Ixian plot to invade Sitia.

Yelena seeks to break the hold of the insidious Theobroma that destroys a person's resistance to magical persuasion. But the Cartel is determined to keep influential citizens and Sitian diplomats in thrall—and Yelena at bay. With every bounty hunter after her, Yelena is forced to make a dangerous deal.

With might and magic, Valek peels back the layers of betrayal surrounding the Commander. At its rotten core lies a powerful magician…and his latest discovery. The fate of all rests upon two unlikely weapons. One may turn the tide. The other could spell the end of everything.

The original study trilogy
that introduced us to yelena & valek
this is the study trilogy:

 

About POISON STUDY: 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—.

THE glass trilogy
where we follow opal cowen
the two series become
the chronicles of ixia:


About SEA GLASS: New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder brings readers into a world of molten magic, where a magician's power can remain hidden…until challenged by enemy forces.

"I can drain a magician of his powers.

All I need is a glass orb in my hands…"

Student glass magician Opal Cowan's newfound ability to steal a magician's powers makes her too powerful. Ordered to house arrest by the Council, Opal dares defy them, traveling to the Moon Clan's lands in search of Ulrick, the man she thinks she loves. Thinks because another man—now her prisoner—claims Ulrick's desire for blood magic has eclipsed his passion for her.

In hostile territory, without proof or allies, Opal isn't sure whom to trust. And now everyone is after her special powers for their own deadly gain….

The soulfinder trilogy
in which we go back to yelena & valek:


About SHADOW STUDY (beware of series spoilers in description): New York Times bestselling author Maria V. 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 neutralizing her powers.

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

CONFUSED ABOUT THE READING ORDER OF THE STUDY/SOULFINDER/CHRONICLES OF IXIA/GLASS BOOKS?

You are not alone. With multiple publishers worldwide, there is lots of confusion about the preferred/proper reading order. Here's is the definitive list of books and stories (from first to last) that will give you the best reading experience:



  • POISON STUDY
  • POISON STUDY (Chapter 1 from Valek's POV - read it HERE)
  • ASSASSIN STUDY (short story - read it HERE)
  • MAGIC STUDY
  • FIRE STUDY
  • POWER STUDY (short story - read it HERE)
  • STORM GLASS
  • SEA GLASS
  • SPY GLASS
  • ICE STUDY (short story - read it HERE)
  • SHADOW STUDY
  • NIGHT STUDY
  • SHATTERED GLASS (eNovella - read an excerpt HERE)
  • DAWN STUDY (forthcoming January 31, 2017)

***Mild Spoilers Ahead! Readers Beware!***
When I met Yelena in the darkest, nastiest dungeon of the Commander's Castle in Poison Study, I had a feeling I was going to love her. When Valek offered her the choice between a hangman's noose and the lethal position as the Commander's food taster- I fell in love with them BOTH. 

A decade later and my feelings for them have deepened and strengthened with each new adventure. Their lovable and epic cast of rogues, magicians, spies, and thieves have become a part of my herd. It is the end of an era. A beautiful close to a rich and certainly EPIC fantasy. 

After the years that I've spent with Yelena, Valek, Ari, Janco & the whole damn cast, I thought it would be bittersweet to say my goodbyes. But it wasn't, it was pretty damn perfect, I could not have asked for a better sendoff. Sure there were some characters that I had forgotten- wait who are you- (there were some pretty deep cuts) but everyone you love is here. I don't know if there is a future in which the new generation will get their own stories told, I feel like the world is so rich and the characters are all there ready and waiting to tell us some amazing stories. But I can hope and I can dream that Maria will have some more stories down the line.