Official Review: Poison Study (Study, #1)

[EmaliaAntonia]

I want to start off by saying (without revealing any spoilers) that this book contains and deals with some very dark and traumatizing things, despite being a YA novel. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone under the age of 16.

"About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace- and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia
As Yelena tries to escape her new dilema, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear..."

So my favorite series have almost all had the premise of the overbearing government and rebels rising to free their country (e.g. The Hunger Games, Red Queen, Throne of Glass, etc) which is a good story, but it has become so overused. Thankfully, the situation has been completely reversed. The rebels fighting to overtake the government are most definitely the bad guys. This isn't a matter opinion, these are EVIL people.

Yelena is a very intriguing character. Her past is haunting, her present is one assassination attempt after another. She's not useless, though what she lacks in she's constantly trying to improve. Her interactions with the love interest were full of chemistry and not forced, and while there was a possibility for a love triangle (YAWN!) it didn't come to fruition. What's more, SHE HAS GUY FRIENDS!! And they are hilarious! Such a great tension reliever 'cause this is an INTENSE book.

Overall, I give it 5/5 stars