Poison Study is one of my Favourite books and only one of because it is the first in the trilogy. Yelena is still ranked as my number one favourite protagonist and her story is one I will not forget.

I could not put this book down and was a book that has truly rekindled my love for books it is one that I know if I get in a slum I can reread and it will put me back in the mood, easily one of my most read books of all time, Maria is also an author I now have blind faith in for how much I love her story's.

The book start's with Yelena being lock in a cell, she is being taken to the Commanders right hand man Valek before her exaction. They are in the Ixia which the Commander had taken power of some 15 or so years previous with the help of Valek, before this it was a corrupt country with a monarch and magicians in charge, since the take over everyone has a uniform and a job no one is hungry or in need of necessities, however if any child is seen to have magic powers they are put to death, a death ofter done by Valek, there is still land to the south which is where the magicians live but it is very different.

Once Yelena is brought to Valek's room she is offered an opportunity, the previous food tester for the Commander has past away and they need a new one, as by law the job is offered to the next person for execution Valek offered Yelena and optionally to die by the noose or to learn to taste poisons and taste the commanders food known that death is certain but not knowing when to expect it. She except's is proposal and is though into a new life, being a good student Yelena learns fast and easily but the poison is not what she should fear as the Father of the man she killed is in the castle and after her blood, not to forget the Hawk mistress that seems to want her dead.

Yelena's story is an exciting one full of twist and turns, she is an independent character who you quickly come to love just as you will the story, although there is romance it is understated and does nothing but add to the story.

I highly recommend Poison study even if you are not much of a read as it is just a generally fantastic book.