Poison Study is the first in the Study Series by Maria V. Snyder and is set in a medieval fantasy world where the sword is the weapon of the day, cloaks are 'in', and magic is possible.Sentenced to death for a murder she doesn't deny (which is refreshing), Yelena is awaiting her fate in a filthy prison cell in Ixia, when the unexpected happens; she is offered a last minute reprieve.
Offered the role of the Commander's food taster or the noose - the previous food taster died - Yelena chooses the role of food taster and immediately commences her study of poisons under her new Supervisor and Chief of Security, Valek.
I've always been fascinated by the role of the food taster in both history and fiction but I don't think my curiosity was sated reading this book. Yelena was a refreshing character, however; I would have liked to have spent more time on poisons.
Overall, Poison Study was a good YA read.
My rating = ***
Carpe Librum!
