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rebeccaay99's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, and Torture
Minor: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, and Murder
savage_book_review's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Taken south to be reunited with her family, Yelena doesn't quite get the homecoming she expected. With her magical specialty still unclear and accusations of being an Ixian spy swirling around her, she must tread carefully and try to reconcile her southern heritage with the fact that her heart lies in the north.
At the outset, the reader goes in thinking they know what to expect; a family reunion followed by this world's version of Hogwarts. But my goodness there are a lot of directional changes in here! And trying to keep up with the zigs and zags of the storyline is enthralling and engaging, but also quite energy-sapping. It certainly keeps you on your toes, but you MUST be awake. So this isn't necessarily a book I'd recommend for bedtime reading. One character in particular jumps around in the reader's (and Yelena's?) estimations from villain to nice guy to maybe even potential rival love interest right back to villain again, with very little tangible reasoning for each shift. You get why, but it's all just feels a bit 'thin'. And when the story itself feels like a bigger version of this, you either want to read this in very small chunks so you can digest as you go, or read the whole thing in one go knowing that you have some time afterwards to take a breath and sort through everything in your head.
I'd say there's a lot more introspection on Yelena's part in this one. Parts of it are beautifully done, tying in with her learning about her magical abilities and bringing her northern mindset to the southern realm. And yet other aspects are less effective; for all of her thoughts about fitting in with her family, I'm not entirely convinced we needed her parents to be reintroduced. While they are lovely characters and have their parts to play, they don't feel like they make a huge difference - Yelena could just as easily have been a real orphan and the story would have worked just as well with a couple of tweaks.
While I wouldn't say this is any more graphic than the last book, it certainly deals with similar themes and they are a lot more prevalent - indeed, one of the main aspects of the story involves kidnapping, rape and murder. The suspense and mystery is very well handled throughout when seen through Yelena's eyes and the contrast between her methods and those employed by the southerners are a really interesting way to examine the story. Similarly, although it is very easy to understand why an outsider may view the way the north is run as a dangerous dictatorship, the juxtaposition between their insistence that their way of life is fairer and Yelena's treatment of the beggar children she encounters really makes you consider if their version of freedom is all its cracked up to be.
Recognisable tropes continue to make an appearance within, completed by the mind-link with a friendly animal. No dragons here, just a brilliant couple of horses! So simple, yet so effective, heartwarming and just a little bit funny to break the tension when you need it to.
Overall, I perhaps didn't enjoy the reading experience quite as much as the first book, but the story is great and I'm so glad I have the next book in the series ready and waiting!
At the outset, the reader goes in thinking they know what to expect; a family reunion followed by this world's version of Hogwarts. But my goodness there are a lot of directional changes in here! And trying to keep up with the zigs and zags of the storyline is enthralling and engaging, but also quite energy-sapping. It certainly keeps you on your toes, but you MUST be awake. So this isn't necessarily a book I'd recommend for bedtime reading. One character in particular jumps around in the reader's (and Yelena's?) estimations from villain to nice guy to maybe even potential rival love interest right back to villain again, with very little tangible reasoning for each shift. You get why, but it's all just feels a bit 'thin'. And when the story itself feels like a bigger version of this, you either want to read this in very small chunks so you can digest as you go, or read the whole thing in one go knowing that you have some time afterwards to take a breath and sort through everything in your head.
I'd say there's a lot more introspection on Yelena's part in this one. Parts of it are beautifully done, tying in with her learning about her magical abilities and bringing her northern mindset to the southern realm. And yet other aspects are less effective; for all of her thoughts about fitting in with her family, I'm not entirely convinced we needed her parents to be reintroduced. While they are lovely characters and have their parts to play, they don't feel like they make a huge difference - Yelena could just as easily have been a real orphan and the story would have worked just as well with a couple of tweaks.
While I wouldn't say this is any more graphic than the last book, it certainly deals with similar themes and they are a lot more prevalent - indeed, one of the main aspects of the story involves kidnapping, rape and murder. The suspense and mystery is very well handled throughout when seen through Yelena's eyes and the contrast between her methods and those employed by the southerners are a really interesting way to examine the story. Similarly, although it is very easy to understand why an outsider may view the way the north is run as a dangerous dictatorship, the juxtaposition between their insistence that their way of life is fairer and Yelena's treatment of the beggar children she encounters really makes you consider if their version of freedom is all its cracked up to be.
Recognisable tropes continue to make an appearance within, completed by the mind-link with a friendly animal. No dragons here, just a brilliant couple of horses! So simple, yet so effective, heartwarming and just a little bit funny to break the tension when you need it to.
Overall, I perhaps didn't enjoy the reading experience quite as much as the first book, but the story is great and I'm so glad I have the next book in the series ready and waiting!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Stalking, and Suicide attempt
jdt7625's review
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
falkenbsigrid's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Suicide attempt
jonita99's review against another edition
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, and Murder
jongseobxenvy's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Torture
mindsorceress's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
littlewishling's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Again, this is one of my favourites. I love the characters so much and the world Snyder has crafted.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Sexual assault
bunnypez's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Violence
racheldiep's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Objectively, this book is probably a 2 or 3, but bc of my affection for Poison Study and the speed at which I blew through Magic Study, I'll give it a 4.
The only good thing I really have to say about this book is that I flew through it. I'm still trying to figure out why and how lol. Probably just sentimentality for the old characters from Book #1.
Why is it bad?
- The character development: Yelena's strength and resolve from Book #1 is something shown to the reader over time. In this book, she suddenly becomes the MOST powerful magician EVER / Mary Sue trope, and it's such a disservice to her previous development. I like reading about strong female characters as much as the next person, but it's not earned here.
- The other side characters were bland AF (with the exception of Yelena's mentor and Yelena's horse. Yes, her horse.)
- Valek has been downgraded from Yelena's equal to Yelena's simp. Don't get me wrong, I love a good simp, and ofc I think Yelena can and should exist without a man. But so much of the intrigue in Book #1 was from their dynamic and partnershship, which is nonexistent in Book #2.
- The pacing. I.e., there is none. Truly, it's all over the place.
So....is Magic Study a good book? No. Did I enjoy reading it? Ehh sure, why not.
The only good thing I really have to say about this book is that I flew through it. I'm still trying to figure out why and how lol. Probably just sentimentality for the old characters from Book #1.
Why is it bad?
- The character development: Yelena's strength and resolve from Book #1 is something shown to the reader over time. In this book, she suddenly becomes the MOST powerful magician EVER / Mary Sue trope, and it's such a disservice to her previous development. I like reading about strong female characters as much as the next person, but it's not earned here.
- The other side characters were bland AF (with the exception of Yelena's mentor and Yelena's horse. Yes, her horse.)
- Valek has been downgraded from Yelena's equal to Yelena's simp. Don't get me wrong, I love a good simp, and ofc I think Yelena can and should exist without a man. But so much of the intrigue in Book #1 was from their dynamic and partnershship, which is nonexistent in Book #2.
- The pacing. I.e., there is none. Truly, it's all over the place.
So....is Magic Study a good book? No. Did I enjoy reading it? Ehh sure, why not.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Minor: Cultural appropriation