It's unfortunate, but it doesn't seem like Avry or Kerrick or anyone else really grew or changed from the version shown of them in the first novel. While the characters can pick up some of the slack, there isn't a whole lot of evolution going on for them, either. They go their separate ways early on, and while I can see why Snyder's used multiple POVs to show the larger story at play, I will never be a fan of such rapid, and vastly different POV styles.įor all the POV headjumping, all the trekking around from one place to another, the endless woods-traininf and all the hidden identities and secrets and foul play, not much of note happens in Scent of Magic. I distinctly remember thinking, 'C'mon, Snyder, you're better than this.' Another irk for me was the POV shifts from Avry's first-person to Kerrick's third person. It feels like filler, and it doesn't help that in the first 120 EVERY CHAPTER, it must be stated how worried one is about the other - give me a break. There's a lot of Kerrick missing/worrying about Avry,Īnd her the same about him.

I was frustrated with so much of what doesn't happen over the duration of the book. Series, with these likeable, usually interesting characters, have a lot Inability to follow-up awesome first novels. I had to sit and think on this, but I seem to see a pattern with Snyder's I was bored for a lot of this read - and for a novel that clocks in at a hefty 416 pages, that's a lot of time to be bored. Where Scent of Magic fell apart for me was the slower pace, and the complete and utter lack of any actual plot momentum. All the keyĮlements are here - Avry, Kerrick, their chemistry, the monkeys, the new spin on magic. That this is a far cry from its action-packed predecessor. 3 stars? 2.5? I just split the difference and settled with 2/75. It took me a while to sort out how I felt about this novel after finishing it, especially deciding on the rating.

The first novel, Touch of Power, was a great introduction to the newest series by this prolific writer, but much like what happened for me with her Study series, the sequel left a lot to be desired. again.Ī swing and a miss for veteran fantasy author Maria V. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible. Including infiltratingĪ holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiersĪnd figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet anĪrmy of the walking dead-human and animal alike and nearly impossible to Though she should be in hiding, Avry willĭo whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his Winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from Position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longerĮxists. The last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique

Penelope's Daughter by Laurel Corona