Customer Reviews

Touch of Power (Healer)

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(34)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Touch of Power is a terribly romantic political thriller set in a fantasy world filled with warfare, intrigue, and the kind of weak in the knees passionate romance that has one saying, I hate you because I love you to a point that unhinges my soul..... I just haven't realized it yet.

Avery has been on the run for years. The once revered healers of The Fifteen Realms have been slaughtered to near extinction. One mistake and Avery will surely join her fallen brethren. But that one mistake will fling her into the political underbelly of warring realms each posturing for power. And Avery's particular talents have become a much desired asset to the various factions. But only Avery has the right to decide who's worth saving, and her choices could determine the future of the realms.

Fans of Maria Snyder's Study Series and it's spin off spawn of Glass books will be extremely happy about her return to fantasy with Touch of Power. The first in what I hope will be a long series, runs along the same lines as the author's Study trilogy with it's similar tone, magical abilities, and world building. There were lots of wonderful personalities, set in an interesting world, and an amazing romance within an attention consuming plot.

Touch of Power is quite possibly my favorite MVS book yet. And I'm pretty much a slave to her words already. So look out fellow fangirls and boys because this one has a touch of enthrallment about it, compelling you to keep reading until the very end and even then it's just not enough. This is stalker worthy writing that will have you constantly checking for future releases.

The book starts with immediate action (my kind of beginning). It begins with Avry healing a little girl (with her special healer abilities), and knowing immediately that she must run away. In her world, there aren't many healers left. They've all been rounded up and killed for their supposed reluctance to heal plague victims. What the populace doesn't know is that healers couldn't help plague victims without dying themselves. One letter was misinterpreted and the whole world thinks healers banned together and just decided not save plague victims. People always need someone to blame.

The mother of the saved little girl catches on to what happened and helps to turn Avry in. Avry has been running for years, always having to leave town when she slips and saves someone (usually a child). Parents of these children are never as grateful as they should be. But more than the town's government (which will be rewarded in gold for the capture of a healer), others take notice of Avry's arrest. And soon everything is reversed. Avry turns from running away, hoping no one will notice her abilities, to running away from people who want to use her for her abilities.

She might be the last healer alive, and all the major kingdoms are soon to be at war for dominance of the post-plague world. They could all use Avry's help. She's resuced from her prison cell by a group of men (she soon starts to call monkeys), who want her to heal someone for them. She agrees, but soon learns they want her to heal a royal who has the plague. She doesn't say what that healing will do to her, but refuses to heal the royal because of his involvement in the destruction of all healers.

She goes along with the men any way, partially because when she tries to escape, Kerrick and his earth magic and can track her down faster than she can get away. She also kind of loves the guys. She teaches them about finding plants for medicine, about cooking with spices, and even how to juggle. They in turn teach her to throw knives and how to walk quietly in the forrest. There's a lot of hiding, fighting, healing, and laughter on this journey. Avry saves their lives and they save hers. And they all try to persuade her to save the king.

It becomes almost painfully apparent to readers how much Avry and Kerrick love each other, though they are both so stubborn that nothing happens till the end. And that's the best romance, the kind that builds and begins with friendship. Though, technically theirs started with hatred. There's hidden archives, underground prison cells, plenty of magic, zombies, economic downfall, family hardships, society dinners, man-eating flowers, plotting royals, and the only awesome fantasy element that was missing I think was dragons (and elves).

I loved Avry. She was just enough martyr, and just enough selfish to be truly believable. Her weakness was children because of the little sister she left behind to become a healer. She had to make a lot of decisions about who was worth saving (and running for), and who was worth giving up her life for. And the healing was awesome! She would take whatever anyone was suffering from and transfer it to herself. She would then take half as long to heal as the original person would have. And I like that it wasn't all magic. During one of her captures, she takes charge of the enemy's infirmary, and it's clear that a lot of her training was also in plants, medicines, and hygiene. It's not just about magic and the power of her touch.

Though, I wish I got more description for the magic part. It was always very brief, sometimes too brief. When she heals a friend toward the end, she just touches him for a second and that's it...I feel like that was almost too easy and anti-climatic. I want to know what it feels like to heal someone like that. I see how Avry suffers every time she heals someone, but I'm more interested in the healing itself. I also wish I got to know some of the monkeys better. I got to know about two of them, but the others were sort of just names, and I wanted more character development for them.

I loved the politics, all the double-crossing, the strategy, etc. And I really love the death lilies and learning about the plague that killed so many people. I found the story very believable. A sequel is in the works and I'm glad because I want to learn more about the plague, about what happened to Avry at the end, about the death lilies, and about the future of Avry's people (aka: who will win this war?).

Ms. Snyder does it again! I loved the beginning of this newest series as much as the magic series (although my favorite by her is still her study series).
She nails another set of characters, and appeals to me with a strong heroine. Avry has a great voice, and she draws me into her story. I care about what she's doing, and can empathize with her choices, and situations.
The secondary cast is also fantastic. Kerrick is wonderfully frustrating, and I want to strangle him often. I can understand his motivations to an extent, but she writes a tough character. I can't believe how far he goes with some of the things he does, but I also can see and love the melty side that is well hidden for quite a while.
The healing is always an interest to me as a main subject, and I love her use of the lilies in the story, and the twists that she incorporates.
I was on the edge of my seat, and disappointed any time that I was interrupted and had to put the book down. I'm very happy for the chance to read this one, and I can't wait for the release of the next.
Review from Blkosiner's Book Blog

Touch of Power is an exceptionally readable book. It zips along at a brisk pace with a good mix of adventure and inventiveness to keep it interesting. But I have to admit to being a little disappointed overall. I haven't read a book by Snyder in awhile, the last being "Poison Study," but I remember enjoying the story and thinking it had a well developed mythology. And in some respects "Touch of Power" has some of the same elements but only in a sketchy fashion.

Avry is the only character that is given any kind of a substantial history-- even her love interest is more of a set of characteristics than a well developed person with a fully realized history. Mostly the characters are presented in quips of dialog that make them likable but rarely elevates them beyond the roles they are meant to fulfill. Avry comes to love and respect her companions and there are plenty of sweet moments along the way, but I never felt a real personality was assigned to more than one or two characters.

But the most curious thing to me was the lack of detail to the world presented in "Touch of Power." Much of the story takes place in the forest but the sense of atmosphere that seems inherent to the setting is lacking. The descriptions consist of little more than the occasional pile of leaves or rocks. As the book progressed I found myself paying attention to how much detail was present and realized that I couldn't visualize the setting. On the whole I felt like there was a pervasive feeling of superficiality to the book that kept me from really connecting to the story.

Yet.. For all my critiques "Touch of Power" is a very entertaining book. It's clear that Snyder's strength lies in her ability to hit the right emotional chords to move the story. There's conflict-- but not in excruciating abundance-- and the resolutions follow a satisfying, if predictable, path. There are some bits of mystery and a nice dose of magic that give it a sense of originality. I feel like it's structured to appeal to female readers who can tap into the emotional content while leaving out the logic and detail that would draw in a wider audience-- which left me with a sense of enjoyment, but not fulfillment.

I have been meaning to read the Study series by Maria Snyder forever but haven't gotten around to it yet. This is my first book by Snyder and it was amazing!

The novel takes place in a fantasy world filled with magic and excitement. Avry is a healer on the run trying to escape from people who want her dead because of her powers. However, one day, she gets caught by a group of rogues who surprisingly, don't want her dead but want to use her power.

I liked Avry immediately! She's strong, independent and a survivor. She's also incredibly smart and able to think quickly on her feet without fear does not clouding her like it does most people.
Avry is also extremely kind and compassionate , healing people whenever she can instead of placing her needs ahead of theirs.

I usually tend to get attached to just one or two of the main characters of the book, but in Touch of Power, I liked all the characters, even the minor ones. The writing style is easy to get into and Maria's managed to develop Avry's character and environment simultaneously while keeping the story flowing smoothly. Like I said, Avry's always been alone, she does what she has to in order to survive but when she gets captured, she's forced into a situation where she has to spend time with others and it's pretty cool to see her character evolve because of her surroundings.

Maria Snyder has created an wonderful, gripping and adventurous fantasy world that leaves you wanting more. I didn't get bored even a single minute! It has been so long since I found a YA fantasy world that I really liked and Snyder's Healer series is the first book to meet the benchmark in years. I can't even begin to express how much I enjoyed Touch of Power, at least, not in words. If you're a YA Fantasy addict, this book's definitely worth checking out. It's an incredible read!

In this new series by Maria Snyder, of Poison Studies fame, we explore a world that has turned against healers. I've enjoyed all her other books so far - they have strong, principled heroines, who end up key to the battle between good vs. evil.

The Story: A terrible plague has wiped out large swathes of peoples across the country, and the kingdom has dissolved into several weakened states. Each healer who tried healing a plague carrier died in turn of the plague. With only 100 healers or so in the guild, the Healers Guild proclaimed that they would not heal the plague carriers, and instead tried to find the cure. However, this proclamation resulted in massive anti-healer sentiment, and began a wide scale persecution of the healers. Now only one healer remains - Avry.

Avry has been on the run, but now must choose sides in the war for the weakened states. The power plays between the various contending factions mean that a healer is a valuable piece on the board, and Avry's choice plays a key factor in which faction might eventually triumph.

Plus:Avry and other characters are really interesting to read, and their motivations unveil gradually as the plot develops. I'm keen to read more about them, if there are other books planned. She keeps her secrets to herself, which is a nice refreshing change from heroines that blurt them out to the first hero that comes along!

Minus: I'm seeing a lot of fantasy that has pages and pages dedicated to travel, travel rations and the countryside - it seems to be a staple of the genre, but I'd like to see something creative here!

Overall: A solid, engrossing tale.

Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for providing the review copy.

This book is wow-worthy. The main character, Avry, is clever, brave, and witty. She is the readers' guide through a world where healers are loathed and killed on sight. A healer herself, Avry will impress the reader with her depth of compassion and ability to put aside her own personal emotions-even if it means her life. This world created by Snyder is a harsh one; a plague has swept through the land, killing every single person it infects. Healers are powerless against this plague, dying in exchange for the plague-stricken person. Healers are reviled because the average person in this novel suspects healers of deliberately starting the plague.

The reader is taken right into the action of the story; the author provides background knowledge along the way. Avry is captured by people who intend to trade her in as a healer for a reward. Expecting death, Avry is instead captured by a group which has a specific purpose in mind for her. They demand Avry heal a plague victim-a prince. Avry knows better, she realizes that to do so would mean her life. What will Avry decide?

As a character, Avry was wonderful. She wasn't too perfect, but she was very endearing and completely likable. Kerrick, the love interest, will likely rub the reader the wrong way-he rubs Avry the wrong way much of the book as well. Stubborn, cruel at times, and unyielding, Kerrick is not a character the reader will take an instant liking to. The other characters of the motley band are interesting, they each have very different traits that the reader will find memorable.

The events are extremely fast-paced. The characters do develop along the way, they are very dynamic and thus more interesting and fun to the reader. Readers can be extremely happy when they put this book down-there is another book in the series to look forward to! This book is recommended to young adult/teen readers.

Maria V. Snyder is an author that no matter what she writes, I'll read. I love her stories that much. Poison Study is still my favorite, but Touch of Power her ninth book comes closest in the overall feel of Poison Study. Avry is a tough, smart heroine and is just so cool. I mean every time she decides to heal someone it's like a mini sacrifice that takes courage...and to do that for people you don't even know is amazing. Plus she doesn't let people order her around when it comes to healing.

One thing I really like about Ms. Snyder's writing is that she is able to make even her secondary characters so lovable and almost as important at the main characters. The bands of rogues in this book are so likable, and their eventual camaraderie with Avry is sweet. Most of the story takes place with them traveling through the forest, but it doesn't drag. The pacing is just right. The romance doesn't really kick in till the end, but the characters are just so interesting I don't even mind

The main villain, Tohon is someone you kind of want to feel sorry for until you realize he is just plain psycho. He acts like a deranged kid who just wants to win a popularity contest....or in this case gain all fifteen realms.

If you like fantasy, cool magic, a weird healing system, giant plants that eat people, zombies, knife throwing and juggling then yeah, you might like this book :)

I am a big Snyder fan (Poison Study is one of my top 5 books of all time) so it was a no-brainer that I would be picking up this book. And I ended up being so satisfied, getting a heroine with plenty of similarities to my beloved Yelena from Poison Study while being a completely different character.

In this world, Avry has tremendous power being a Healer; however she also has a bounty on her head, due to the anger felt by the populace against healers after a devastating plague wiped out most of the population while healers did nothing. Avry has been on the run for three years but is caught after healing a little girl; she calmly faces her execution only to be taken by a group who desperately need a Healer. The leader, Kerrick, demands Avry's assistance in healing Prince Ryne, someone she loathes. Despite her refusal, she is brought along, fending off mercenaries, rival leaders, and her own attraction to the dashing Kerrick.

I'm not really sure how to start this review because there was so much I loved. Maybe I could start with the writing, which flows so well and absolutely swept me away. I meant to read only a few chapters to get a taste but I ended up reading nearly half the book, sleeping while my Nook charged, and then diving back in to finish. I did not want to put it down; I just wanted to know what Avry would do next.

Of course the characters were a big reason for my loving the book. Avry was always proud to be a healer and it pains her so much to be unable to heal people; it's what she is meant for. Happily we get to see several instances when she does get to exercise her powers and it's so exciting to see her live the life she was meant to. Besides that, she is fiercely intelligent and eager to learn more, something I always support in a MC.

I also loved Kerrick, the brusque and competent leader of the pack. He takes good care of his men and is fiercely loyal to Ryne. Although he starts out exceedingly cruel to Avry, he begins to reform. I loved every instance when she challenged him, forcing him to consider other ideas (usually ones that were better!) The other men in the gang (Belen, Flea, Quain, and Vinn) were also great personalities. Belen is probably my favorite as the "poppa bear" of the group while Flea's irrepressible spirit brightens up the group; Vinn and Quain are also reliable supporters.

There are also a whole host of other characters as Avry remembers her family and mentor and we get a picture at the stakes. There are three major rivals for control over the fantasy land created here: King Tohon, a power-hungry mage with evil intentions; Estrid, the religious dictator; and Ryne, who could be a real player if he weren't in stasis to ward off death. Ryne is presented as the best choice while Tohon comes off as the worst. Estrid is somewhere in the middle and hopefully the second book will touch on her more.

As for the setting, we have a crazed world with so many dead and power vacuums. Much of the book is spent journeying around as they try to reach Ryne with lots of different locales and adventures. This contributed to my flipping the pages as I just had to find out what came next.

It sounds like I love this book, right? So why not a perfect 5? Well, I was very uncomfortable by one of Tohon's powers, which was the ability to force Avry's desire for him. He repeatedly kisses her and has the ability to make her want him such as she almost sleeps with him, if not for other interfering circumstances. If she had a genuine interest in him, I'd be okay but the element of coercion makes me so sick.

Overall: Highly recommended for fans of Poison Study!

Only one word can possibly describe this book, Amazing. This might be my favorite Maria V. Snyder novel yet. This novel is a perfect blend of action and adventure and romance. Avry is a likeable character from the very start of the book. She's strong, independent and doesn't take no for an answer. I love the fact that Avry does what she wants to do no matter the consequences. The characters she encounters throughout the novel are extremely interesting and compelling. I loved the relationship between Avry and Kerrick as it wasn't typical and it has a lot of conflicting and rocky moments. Even though Avry's power as a healer isn't what I would typically feel is a strong one for a heroine, she makes it her strength and I was definitely impressed by that. A lot of questions are answered in this novel but there are a few left unanswered in the end that leave me anticipating the continuation of Avry's story. This novel is a must read and I can't wait to read the next one!