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A review by savage_book_review
Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I absolutely adore the premise of this series, but it feels like we have strayed quite a long way from the story that was seemingly set up in 'Poison Study'. The world just feels too big; like the author had a lot of genuinely brilliant ideas, but tried to include them all in one trilogy rather than sifting through them to streamline the story. As a result, we have more zig-zagging in the narrative and, again, it can be very difficult to keep on top of. An example is the fact that Yelena was meant to be going to the Magician's Keep to learn about her magic and how to control it. But by my count she's actually had maybe half a dozen lessons in her whole time there? In this book alone, she is assigned to two different teachers for lessons, but she only has one interrupted lesson with each of them thanks to other aspects of plot getting in the way! So it does raise the question, what was the point of introducing the 'Magic school' anyway?
Likewise, it become really frustrating when characters seem to change allegiances at the drop of a hat! This could be a brilliant plot device, adding to the tension as you can't be sure whether the character is being genuine or not. But some of the changes come from no-where, and it's done so many times over the course of the series that it rather loses its effect, and just adds to level of concentration you have to muster to keep everything straight in your head.
The characters introduced in 'Poison Study' continue to be interesting and a joy to read about - their relationships are well established and they give off a great 'found family' vibe. I do love Valek in particular, but he's just another example of where the story seems to have gotten away from the author... there needs to be a hell of a lot more of him! What's the point in an established love interest if he only pops up to stage a daring rescue and then disappears again?! The relationship between him and Yelena is lovely, but I just need two or three chapters of them together, alone, being a couple. It would add to the jeopardy and the tension at crucial moments if you had had the chance to watch their feelings bloom in closer quarters, with Ari and Janco in the background being the annoying big brothers.
On the other hand, the supporting cast didn't add a huge amount of value for me. Yelena's real family and the others that she encounters on her travels seem to be missing that depth altogether and come across as fairly generic. And there are a couple of characters that are just left hanging around. I know there are more books set in this world and so I'm hoping that the author chooses to elaborate a bit more, but the most disappointing thing for me is the lack of follow through on the set up of Commander Ambrose. Had potential to be so, so good, but again that storyline just seems to peter out.
The series is definitely worth a read, and I will be picking up the follow ups as and when they reach the top of my WTR list. Although I may try and find the little short stories that fill in the gaps between these books in the meantime.
Likewise, it become really frustrating when characters seem to change allegiances at the drop of a hat! This could be a brilliant plot device, adding to the tension as you can't be sure whether the character is being genuine or not. But some of the changes come from no-where, and it's done so many times over the course of the series that it rather loses its effect, and just adds to level of concentration you have to muster to keep everything straight in your head.
The characters introduced in 'Poison Study' continue to be interesting and a joy to read about - their relationships are well established and they give off a great 'found family' vibe. I do love Valek in particular, but he's just another example of where the story seems to have gotten away from the author... there needs to be a hell of a lot more of him! What's the point in an established love interest if he only pops up to stage a daring rescue and then disappears again?! The relationship between him and Yelena is lovely, but I just need two or three chapters of them together, alone, being a couple. It would add to the jeopardy and the tension at crucial moments if you had had the chance to watch their feelings bloom in closer quarters, with Ari and Janco in the background being the annoying big brothers.
On the other hand, the supporting cast didn't add a huge amount of value for me. Yelena's real family and the others that she encounters on her travels seem to be missing that depth altogether and come across as fairly generic. And there are a couple of characters that are just left hanging around. I know there are more books set in this world and so I'm hoping that the author chooses to elaborate a bit more, but the most disappointing thing for me is the lack of follow through on the set up of Commander Ambrose. Had potential to be so, so good, but again that storyline just seems to peter out.
The series is definitely worth a read, and I will be picking up the follow ups as and when they reach the top of my WTR list. Although I may try and find the little short stories that fill in the gaps between these books in the meantime.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Rape, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Transphobia, Excrement, Vomit, Trafficking, and Alcohol