Review: Assassin Study by Maria V Snyder

Assassin Study by Maria V. Snyder
Series: Study #1.5
Published by Mira Books
Published on 2008
Genres: Action & Adventure, Fantasy & Magic
Pages: 15
Format: eBook
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Yelena, the heroine of Maria V. Snyder's stunning debut novel Poison Study, is on her way to her ancestral homeland of Sitia to be reunited with her family and to learn more about her magical powers. An order of execution hangs over her head should she ever return to Ixia. But her true love, Valek, quickly learns that an assassin has taken it upon himself to make sure Yelena doesn't reach her destination.

As Ixia's chief of security, and a highly skilled assassin himself, can Valek track down the killer in time to save Yelena's life?

A short review for a short story found at http://www.mariavsnyder.com/assassinstudy.php

Yelena has left Ixia to return home to her long-lost family and learn to control her magic, but someone’s taken her execution order and is determined to follow it through. Can Valek, master assassin, save the love of his life without revealing himself?

I quite liked this story told from Valek’s point of view. I love his sense of duty and how he and Yelena have to separate for the betterment of each other. Valek’s quick and cunning, and this story was clearly written to be fan-influenced because at several points Snyder asks what Valek should do next – ie fight, surrender, trust someone – which I found really interesting, and I found the fan choices interesting as well. Snyder let her fans decide how Valek should react, and although I’m not sure I agree with all the choices he ‘made’, as some of them seem slightly out of character, Snyder is such a great writer that she managed to make it even the out of character choices work.

There’s no lover’s reunion: Valek works from the shadows and doesn’t want Yelena distracted knowing he’s nearby. However I am interested to see how his choices made in this short story impact Magic Study.

And can I just say: that cover. RAWR.

About Nemo

A lover of kittens and all things sparkly, Nemo has a degree in English Literature and specialises in reviewing contemporary, paranormal, mystery/thriller, historical, sci-fi and fantasy Young Adult fiction. She is especially drawn to novels about princesses, strong female friendships, magical powers, and assassins.