Shadow Study (Soulfinders #1) - Maria V. Snyder [Review]

Book: Shadow Study (Soulfinders #1)

Author: Maria V. Snyder 

Published: 12th March 2015

Publisher: MIRA Ink

Pages: 410

Rating: 4/5 stars

Following on from her widely successful Chronicles of Ixia series, this book takes readers back to the lands of Sitia and Ixia, and revisits the characters of Yelena and Valek (amongst others), following their progress since the events of the previous books.

Coming into reading this book, I was a bit daunted. I must confess - I had never read the Chronicles of Ixia series (Poison Study, Magic Study, and Fire Study, respectively) - I know, I regret my choices. So, starting this book, I wondered if I would be able to pick up the story successfully, and whether the characters would resonate with me, considering I had not had previous experience with reading about them. Would everything make sense, or would I find myself swimming in a sea of new names, places, backstories, subplots and be totally lost?

Well, if, like me, you have the same reservations when it comes to starting this series, I would strongly urge you to dispel your doubts. The book is definitely able to be read by a complete newbie to the series (like me) and the author very kindly reminds readers of the key events of the previous books in a way that is not overbearing or condescending - but rather, the writing helpfully relays key points which allows the reader to refresh their grasp on the series. I found myself picking up the story very quickly, which is a testament to the ability of Snyder to make this book accessible to all readers. 

When it comes to the characters, despite not knowing much about Yelena to begin with (completely my own fault), I found myself really liking her and she came across as a very real, and complex character. She's not your typical perfect-at-everything character, she has flaws, but not so many that you begin to question her actual competence. As for Valek, I really enjoyed reading his relationship with Yelena, and although there is romance in this book - between Yelena and Valek - this is not overbearing, and most of the book focuses on the characters in their own right. 

Some of my favourite parts of the book focused on the backstories of the characters - namely Valek - and I really enjoyed reading about his past and how he came to be where he is now. For someone who didn't know much about Valek going into this book, these sections really helped aid my understanding and added a multitude of layers to his character, which ultimately cemented him as my favourite character in the book. 

I also enjoyed the change of perspective - the story is told by three characters, and alternates between them - Yelena, Valek, and Janco. The perspective change helped to alter the pace and keep the story fluid without becoming stagnant or boring, which I especially appreciated. I also enjoyed the introduction of a few new characters (Onora was a highlight) and I am interested to see where the story will go in the next addition to the series. 

There was nothing major that I did not enjoy in this series, however the reason I am not awarding it 5 stars is that I feel like the story didn't grab me until perhaps half way through, although this is understandable as the writer has to set up the plot first, and I'm sure this will be resolved for the second novel in the series.

Ultimately, this is a very enjoyable read with two very likable lead characters, and an engaging story (once it gets going). It is easily accessible to readers who have not picked up the Chronicles of Ixia series before, and therefore receives a solid 4 stars.