Review ~ Night Study ~ Maria V. Snyder

Title: Night Study

Author: Maria V. Snyder

Published: 26th January 2016

By: Mira Ink

First line: Valek blinked at me.

Last line: "It'd be worth dying for."

Synopsis: Ever since being kidnapped from the Illiais Jungle as a child, Yelena Zaltana's has been fraught with peril. But the recent loss of her Soulfinding abilities has endangered her more than ever before. As she desperately searches for a way to reclaim her magic, her enemies are closing in, and neither Ixia nor Sitia are safe for her anymore. Especially since the growing discord between the two countries and the possibility of a war threatens everything Yelena holds dear. 

Valek is determined to protect Yelena, but he's quickly running out of options. The Commander suspects that his loyalties are divided, and he's been keeping secrets from Valek...secrets that put him, Yelena and all their friends in terrible danger. As they uncover the various layers of the Commander's mysterious plans, they realize it's far more sinister that they could have ever imagined.

I love reading Yelena's story.  As a reviewer I go through so many different stories, so many different characters and so many writing styles that, when I get another of Snyder's books in my mitts it's kind of like getting out my literary security blanket and wrapping myself up in it.  Snyder doesn't disappoint in this latest instalment of Yelana's story.

The second book in the majority of series is very often a prelude to the big finale but not so in this case.  We have an investigation going on with most of our main characters involved concerning a mutated plant whose results could be devastating and we have an increasing amount of political tension between Sitia and Ixia which makes for a dangerous world for Yelena and her friends.  Top that with Yelena's continued loss of her magic and the 'developments' in the relationship between Yelena and Valek and you're in for  one hell of a read!

This book revolved around the adaptations that its main protagonists have to go through, not only as their circumstances change but also as a result of their past, the latter referring to Valek moreso.  I love the multi POV aspect to this read, especially as there are so many major threads within this story. Getting the view fro each unique perspective really helps keep everything clear in my own mind as I'm reading.  The friendships and relationships between characters still provides the backbone to the Study series, with Janco still providing much needed humour, a must when there are so many potentially dark outcomes to this tale. 

I loved delving back into this world!  The final chapter leaves you with quite the cliffhanger so now it's just a case of waiting for 2017 and for the final instalment Dawn Study to land on my doorstep.  Can't wait!