Review: Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder

Title: Scent of Magic
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Series: Healer, book #2
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Publication Date: December 18, 2012
Source: galley from publisher via Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Hunted, Killed—Survived?

As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.

Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.

War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible ... again.

I don't know where to begin with this review because all I really want to do is fangirl over Maria V. Snyder and say things like, "Ohmigawd...I love this book sososososososo much and you should totally read it."  And maybe that would get my point across, but that's not really my style.

Instead, I'm going to admit that I stalk the heck out of Maria on her blog, on her website, and anywhere else I see a mention of her or her books, and I read every snippet and excerpt I can get my hands on.  I have enjoyed every single one of her books that I've read, which is everything but the Glass series, and she is a master at world-building in her sci-fi and fantasy novels.  Which is kind of impressive considering she says, "I struggle with details. I tend to go light on details, preferring to focus on action and dialogue," in the FAQ section of her website.  It doesn't show.  While her stories aren't of the fantastical variety that become mired in details as some fantasy novels are wont to do, the lack of flowery descriptions doesn't cheapen the experience.  In fact, her focus on action and dialogue enhances the reading experience for me, rather than it being diluted by overly descriptive prose.

Scent of Magic is no different.  From the opening lines of the novel, I was immediately transported back to the Fifteen Realms, trekking through the forest with Avry and Kerrick and wondering what had become of Belen and the monkeys.  That's another thing about Snyder's writing...her phenomenal cast of characters.  No one character is too big or too small; they all have a role to play and they feel genuine while doing so.  I never even sense a betrayal until it's already happened.  I'm always caught off guard in her books, something I very much look forward to because I'm not easily surprised in my reading these days.

I wasn't, however, caught off guard by the romance that developed between Kerrick and Avry in the first book.  Like Belen, I'd watched them start out as enemies and then gradually grow to become friends and then ultimately something more.  That's my favorite way to watch a relationship progress.  And these two are so equally matched, in skill and in cunning, that it just makes sense for them to find comfort and companionship in one another.  These two are separated for much of the story this time around, but their thoughts are never far from the other and the love between them is plain as day.  Many of the characters meeting them for the first time even remark upon it.

I have never read a Snyder novel that felt like a middle book, and the tradition continues with Scent of Magic.  Touch of Power set up the nemesis and the fight between good and evil in the kingdoms, and Scent of Magic simply waged the war that had already been brewing.  There's a little bit of history thrown in -- we get to see where Kerrick grew up! -- and there are more characters added to the mix, but there is never a lull in the story and there is never even an opportunity for boredom to set in.  So much is going on in this story that you simply want to see it through to the end.

Speaking of the end, I think Snyder might just want to see all of us heartbroken before this is all over.  If you've read the first book (or even if you haven't) and you don't like cliffhangers, I suggest you wait until Taste of Death is released next year or you'll be waiting in agony like myself.  It's a great ending to the second book, but it's also one of those that will make you scream and want to tear your hair out because "no way is she going to leave it like that"...flips page, flips another and another...."Aaaaahhhhhh!  She is leaving it like that, the dirty rotten scoundrel!"  She's not...a dirty rotten scoundrel, that is, but she is devious.  J

Maria V. Snyder writes books that I want to read cover-to-cover in one sitting and then promptly re-read.  I never tire of her characters or their banter, even though they frustrate me at times, while making me laugh or cry the next moment.  This is the kind of fantasy series that might appeal to those who usually shy away from this genre, simply because it isn't grueling and there's just so much action to fuel the story.  It's not what I'd call fantasy-lite because magic plays such a huge role in the storyline, but I think your average non-fantasy buff would enjoy it.

Rating:   1/2