Review - Magic Study

[wilderthan]

Magic Study is the follow-up to Poison Study. It features a whole new setting, a new country, which is just as thinly described, and Yelena unsurprisingly turns out to be Even More Special. No real surprises here, although there are some fun subplots added into the mix and some more of the kind of characters which could be good but don't quite make me care. It's disappointing that the characters I liked a lot from the last book aren't in this book so much, although they come into it again. Yelena's family are interesting, but again, I don't really feel any of it and I find Yelena's crying fits and her mother's tendency to hide up in trees slightly ridiculous.

There was also rather more sex in this book, and kind of pointlessly. Don't tell us they have a connection and make them have sex, show us the goddamn connection. Also, the magical healing powers of sex with one's true love to get over abuse and rape are amazing, but completely unrealistic. I actually find it somewhat offensive that Yelena's problems magically go away when she's with her man. Fuck that in the ear.

Also, it's unrealistic that Yelena is so special that everywhere she goes, people dislike her. So many of her problems are caused by that and it's ridiculous, when she hasn't done anything to arouse such hate. Case in point, Roze. What's with that?

Still, again, a couple of interesting new characters -- Kiki, Cahil, Lief -- and another quick and easy read. Fun enough.