Night Study (Soulfinders #2) - Maria V. Snyder [Review]

Book: Night Study (Soulfinders #2)

Author: Maria V. Snyder 

Published: 26th January 2016 

Publisher: MIRA Ink
Source: eARC provided by Harlequin (UK) via NetGalley

Pages: 400

Rating: 5/5 stars

Based upon the previous book in the series - Shadow Study - I had high hopes; however I was slightly cautious that, alike a handful of second-in-the-series books, this novel would fail to impress.

I need not have worried. This book is truly fantastic, and an excellent follow up to the previous novel.

For a second installment in the series (if you discount the previous Chronicles of Ixia books), this novel is surprisingly fast-paced and a lot happens. This is great if, like me, you prefer a narrative that seamlessly flows throughout, without stagnation in the middle. Each chapter ends on a mini-cliff hanger, and this does well to sustain the tension, making this novel a real page-turner (I had much difficulty putting it down). 

This increased sense of tension was something I found to be slightly muted in the first novel in the series (and served as my only complaint), but throughout this novel the drama is really there - the stakes are high, and this is communicated well throughout the novel, allowing a deeper understanding of the purpose of the characters. 

Unlike the first novel, in which main characters Yelena and Valek spend a significant portion of their time apart, in this addition to the series, a good portion of the novel is dedicated to them being together and puzzling through as a duo, which allowed for many cute relationship moments between the two. If, like me, you're a fan of their relationship (and I hope you would be) then you will definitely appreciate this element. The amount of romance feels appropriate to the tone and pacing, and always compliments, rather than clouds, the story line. 

Another big pull of this novel is the character development. If you're a seasoned veteran of the Chronicles of Ixia series, you might feel pretty comfortable with the characters and understand a lot of their motivations and background. However, the writing in Night Study focuses on a good amount of background and personal story surrounding the characters; a key highlight for me was being able to read more about Valek's relationships and progression throughout the novel. Another bonus is that in this novel we get to read from the perspective of Leif (even if his sections did make me rather hungry with his constant talk of food). 

Ultimately, the story followed on nicely from the first book, and left things on an exciting note for the third installment in the series. I am very excited to get my hands on book three, as if Night Study is anything to go on, it will surely be a winner.