Review: Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder

Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder

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.

Publishes in US: Dec 18th
Source: Healer series. 1st is Touch of Power (my review here) 3rd is titled Taste of Death and publishes Dec 2013 (And in other news, Maria has signed a deal for three more Study books, first of which will "probably release Fall 2014)
Series?



Find Maria Snyder online:
Site: http://mariavsnyder.com/
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/mvsfans
Blog: http://officialmariavsnyder.blogspot.com
Goodreads page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/445303.Maria_V_Snyder

Order:
Amazon.com,
Barnes & Noble,
Book Depository

    Maria has done it again. This next instalment of the Healer series is just as amazing as I've come to expect of her writing.
    I love the world that she's created. It has magic elements, but I can totally see myself a part of what she describes. There are beautiful descriptions as well as awesome emotional detail that pulls me in and has me invested in the characters. When something happens, whether it is tragedy striking or a moment of joy, I want to celebrate or cry right along with them.
    I loved being in Avry's head, and the use of 1st person POV. She has such a great voice and she amuses me with her wit and awes me with her intelligence. It is always a pleasure to watch her interact with Kerrick, Belen, the monkeys as well as some new and intriguing characters she finds herself surrounded by. She commands respect, even if it is not at first glance. She knows her craft, and I enjoy that confidence.
    We also get to be in Kerrick's head, and that is also quite a perspective. The only thing that threw me, was the switches in POV and perspective. It was fine mostly going from 1st to 3rd person, but in the arc, there was really no indication that it was switching and I would often be confused until I realized that the perspectives had switched. This is an easy fix, and I am hoping that the finished copy will have something more distinctive.
    Anyways, back to more of what I loved. There was so many things going on with the plot, and Avry kept finding new ways to get herself in the thick of action, "in trouble again." This book is in no way a filler, there was so many major events that happened, as well as new trials and plots that bring more to be resolved in the next book. Speaking of, I cannot wait to get it in my hands and find out what happens next.
   Bottom line: I love this series, the characters and Maria's writing. 

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Would you heal an enemy's soldiers or could you live with self letting them die?

(My take: This is so hard for me and I can totally relate with Avry's struggles over this. In battle, I could justify, but when they are sick and when they are not fighting me, it takes on a different hue. But then again, if they were healthy, and if I do heal them, what if they turn around and kill me or someone I love?)