Status
Available
Call number
Series
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Publication
Mira (2012), Paperback, 400 pages
Description
Fantasy. Young Adult Fiction. HTML: Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Fifteen Realms, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos. Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince--leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life....… (more)
Media reviews
Library Journal
The author of the Study (Poison Study; Magic Study; Fire Study) and Glass trilogies (Storm Glass; Sea Glass; Spy Glass) launches a new series, blending fantasy adventure, romance, and intrigue. Recommended for her many readers as well as fans of Ilona Andrews and Robin D. Owens.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Cats57
Color me confused…is this a novel for pre-teen/teens or a novel for adults? Because as I read this book I’m finding myself thinking that if I were some years younger I might have enjoyed this more. There is nothing to this novel but a simple back and forth of the same plot device used over and
To add more confusion into this read, we cannot really be sure just what kind of world this is supposed to be. Is it a future world? A past world? One on a galaxy far, far away? Perhaps a parallel world?
The world is a simple one with no technology…they have magic. However, some of the ideas, solutions, mechanics and problems are of the 21st century. The language the characters use is 21st century slang which for some readers mayl just pull you out of the story and make it a very uncomfortable read. It is a fantasy novel filled with modern colloquialisms and sarcasm.
The part of the evil Tohon was played ( in my imagination) by a mustache twirling Simone Legre and he never started or ended a sentence without adding “my dear” when he was talking to Avry. He is such a clichéd ‘bad guy’ that I couldn’t help laughing at most of the ending.
Yes, there are interesting bits, but not enough to make this book worth the time or the price
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over. The heroine is hiding – the heroine is caught. The group is chased…the group is caught…over and over. The heroine heals someone, the heroine almost dies. If the heroine does what her new friends want her to do she will almost certainly die (not!) The characters certainly act more like children than the adults they are supposed to be. There is no emotion to them, no character or passion, even what are supposed to be exciting bits of this story read more like a cliché than anything else. To add more confusion into this read, we cannot really be sure just what kind of world this is supposed to be. Is it a future world? A past world? One on a galaxy far, far away? Perhaps a parallel world?
The world is a simple one with no technology…they have magic. However, some of the ideas, solutions, mechanics and problems are of the 21st century. The language the characters use is 21st century slang which for some readers mayl just pull you out of the story and make it a very uncomfortable read. It is a fantasy novel filled with modern colloquialisms and sarcasm.
The part of the evil Tohon was played ( in my imagination) by a mustache twirling Simone Legre and he never started or ended a sentence without adding “my dear” when he was talking to Avry. He is such a clichéd ‘bad guy’ that I couldn’t help laughing at most of the ending.
Yes, there are interesting bits, but not enough to make this book worth the time or the price
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LibraryThing member LeanneSF
Another great start of a series by Maria Snyder! Snyder knows how to write a strong female heroine in Avry, but with her own compassionate personality and healing gifts, different from her Study and Glass series. Can't wait to see what happens in the second book!
LibraryThing member highflyer
The world created by Snyder is both amazing and very cruel. The characters that live within this book are deep; each character has many layers to them. What you see on the surface isn't always what the character really means, wants or they might not be telling you the truth. It's really hard to
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tell because you have to slowly peel away each layer of each character to figure out their motives.Avry, our main character and healer is a very likable character. It's hard not to feel for her as she's already had a rough life. Then you add being a wanted healer into the mix and it makes everything worse because she's constantly on the run and she knows nothing of what happened to her family or Tara, the woman that taught her how to heal in the first place.It's easy to become attached to the group of men that rescue her from her newest plight because they too are likable characters even if they each have their own issues. It's so easy to be pulled into this world. I was instantly pulled into the story line. However some portions of the story were a little lacking, but this was mostly towards the end. I'd love to read more about this world! Show Less
LibraryThing member BookAddictDiary
Maria V. Snyder returns to the fantasy world with another wonderful novel for young readers with an excellent mix of fantasy, romance and action that Synder's fans have come to expect from her. This time, though, Snyder breaks away from her well-established world explored in her Study series and
Young Avry of Kazan is a Healer with the ability to assume the wounds and diseases of others, a rare gift. Because of this, she is hunted, and some accuse Healers of spreading a deadly plague across the country that killed thousands. While trying to hide, Avry is abducted by a group of rogues who decide to utilize her healing abilities for their own means, and she must decide who to heal at the expense of her own life.
Though Touch of Power isn't Poison Study, Snyder still infuses this new adventure with her signature magic and enchantment. Avry is as spirited and fans would expect and the world of Healer is as engaging and complex as Study. While an enjoyable book overall, I did feel like some character traits and pot elements were slight re-treads of previous Snyder material, but these were so minor that it probably won't even be noticed by most readers. While I wasn't flipping pages as quickly as with Study, Touch of Power is another great novel that Snyder fans will approve of.
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Glass series and forges into the unknown with something new, different and great to read.Young Avry of Kazan is a Healer with the ability to assume the wounds and diseases of others, a rare gift. Because of this, she is hunted, and some accuse Healers of spreading a deadly plague across the country that killed thousands. While trying to hide, Avry is abducted by a group of rogues who decide to utilize her healing abilities for their own means, and she must decide who to heal at the expense of her own life.
Though Touch of Power isn't Poison Study, Snyder still infuses this new adventure with her signature magic and enchantment. Avry is as spirited and fans would expect and the world of Healer is as engaging and complex as Study. While an enjoyable book overall, I did feel like some character traits and pot elements were slight re-treads of previous Snyder material, but these were so minor that it probably won't even be noticed by most readers. While I wasn't flipping pages as quickly as with Study, Touch of Power is another great novel that Snyder fans will approve of.
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LibraryThing member CelineNyx
I've always wanted to read on of Maria V. Snyder's books, so when I got the opportunity to read Touch of Power for review, I jumped on it. I wanted to know what I've been missing.
Touch of Power is the story of Avry, a healer in a world where healers are despised. They get the blame of causing the
This is a solid fantasy read. It has an interesting magic system (consisting of healers, forest magic, earth magic, life magic, death magic, etcetera) that has a lot of potential, and there is an interesting conflict. I really liked the concept of this book, but I felt there was something missing.
It felt a bit like it was mixed with a bad paranormal romance. You know, the kind with an excuse of a plot and two characters that are nothing more but cardboard puppets. With a romance that seems unlikely and petty problems that keep them apart. Sometimes I felt a bit of this bad paranormal romance shining through. I didn't absolutely hate the love interest, but I didn't like him either. I guess I'm just not the person for hate-to-love kind of stories. I was rooting for the big teddy guy, but he never stood a chance.
I also feel like at times there are some plot holes. My main one annoys me quite a bit. When someone has the plague (which is highly contagious) they don't take any precautions to not attract the plague. They just act like nothing is wrong at all. I can't imagine that a person that has seen dozens of people die of the same illness can just stand next to someone that has that contagious disease. I don't know, doesn't seem plausible to me at all.
The reason I give Touch of Power a high rating even though I didn't really like the love interest and was a bit irritated by the holes in the story, is that it is a very engaging read. You just have to know what will happen next, because anything can happen. I also enjoyed as a person that has read her fair share of fantasy, that it offers a different take on something that has been done countless times.
The story doesn't end on a cliffhanger, but there are more than enough story lines to make a second book in this series. I'm looking forward to read that one, and to see if the problems I have with this book are just a one time thing, or something structural.
Touch of Power is the story of Avry, a healer in a world where healers are despised. They get the blame of causing the
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plague that has killed thousands of citizens. When she meets Kerrick and his gang of outcasts, she wants nothing to do with them. But what if she is the only person that can save someone that can save her country?This is a solid fantasy read. It has an interesting magic system (consisting of healers, forest magic, earth magic, life magic, death magic, etcetera) that has a lot of potential, and there is an interesting conflict. I really liked the concept of this book, but I felt there was something missing.
It felt a bit like it was mixed with a bad paranormal romance. You know, the kind with an excuse of a plot and two characters that are nothing more but cardboard puppets. With a romance that seems unlikely and petty problems that keep them apart. Sometimes I felt a bit of this bad paranormal romance shining through. I didn't absolutely hate the love interest, but I didn't like him either. I guess I'm just not the person for hate-to-love kind of stories. I was rooting for the big teddy guy, but he never stood a chance.
I also feel like at times there are some plot holes. My main one annoys me quite a bit. When someone has the plague (which is highly contagious) they don't take any precautions to not attract the plague. They just act like nothing is wrong at all. I can't imagine that a person that has seen dozens of people die of the same illness can just stand next to someone that has that contagious disease. I don't know, doesn't seem plausible to me at all.
The reason I give Touch of Power a high rating even though I didn't really like the love interest and was a bit irritated by the holes in the story, is that it is a very engaging read. You just have to know what will happen next, because anything can happen. I also enjoyed as a person that has read her fair share of fantasy, that it offers a different take on something that has been done countless times.
The story doesn't end on a cliffhanger, but there are more than enough story lines to make a second book in this series. I'm looking forward to read that one, and to see if the problems I have with this book are just a one time thing, or something structural.
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LibraryThing member NCRainstorm
I really enjoyed this book! It's the first time I've read anything written by the author, Maria V. Snyder, and I must say I truly appreciate her style of writing! Fantasy is one of my favorite genres and Ms. Snyder did not let me down.
The characters are developed nicely. Each has his or her own
The story is well-paced, without being rushed, so it's easy to keep up with the action. It's an interesting premise, healers who may be guilty of spreading the plague. They must sacrifice all to heal anyone stricken with it. It reminded me of one of my favorite original Star Trek episodes where the alien species can heal, but must learn to not be afraid of the pain they take from the sick and wounded. Will Avry heal the prince? Find out for yourself, I'm not telling! It's definitely worth the read!
The characters are developed nicely. Each has his or her own
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quirks that makes them unique individuals. Yes, there's a romance, but it doesn't get in the way of the story.The story is well-paced, without being rushed, so it's easy to keep up with the action. It's an interesting premise, healers who may be guilty of spreading the plague. They must sacrifice all to heal anyone stricken with it. It reminded me of one of my favorite original Star Trek episodes where the alien species can heal, but must learn to not be afraid of the pain they take from the sick and wounded. Will Avry heal the prince? Find out for yourself, I'm not telling! It's definitely worth the read!
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LibraryThing member DamarisGCR
Avry is a healer, and in the world she lives in healers are hated and executed. A plague has killed most of the population and all healers are blamed. Avry has been living on the run for three years and has done an excellent job at surviving. It’s isn’t until she decides to help her neighbor
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out, that she is discovered. While in prison waiting for her sentence, she meets Kerrick. Kerrick offers to get her out of prison if she agrees to help him heal a friend. He’s been searching for a healer for two years and has finally found Avry. Avry doesn’t know if she can trust him or not, but her survival instincts kick in and she jumps at the chance. She believes she can somehow escape him once out, so why not use him? Well, Avry quickly found out how serious Kerrick was and how badly he wants her help. I hated Kerrick in the beginning of the story. He was rude, obnoxious, and didn’t care who he hurt as long as Avry healed his friend. There were parts of the story where I just couldn’t believe Kerrick took it that far. There were a lot of raw moments and some really suspenseful ones, where I was biting my lip just waiting for the worst. Somewhere down the line though, Kerrick sneaks into your heart. It was unexpected and a nice twist. Avry is also a kick-ass heroine. She wanted to survive and would do anything to make sure she did, but it just seemed like no matter what she did, she just couldn’t catch a break. She goes through a lot in this story. Touch of Power is my first novel by Maria V. Snyder, but it definitely will not be my last. I will now be purchasing all of her other books.Touch of Power was a wonderful and super entertaining read. It’s fast paced, full of magic and lots of unexpected moments. Maria V. Snyder really knows how to pull her readers in and hold their attention. She doesn’t waste anytime jumping right into the action. I loved this book and I am looking forward to the sequel, Scent of Magic. A Good Choice for Reading!! 5 out 5 stars!! Show Less
LibraryThing member theepicrat
Hi, I am the(EPIC)rat, and I have a fantasy problem. I read Touch Of Power a while back, and it has tipped me into a full-blown addiction for fantasy of a similar ilk. Since I am unable to find anything that matches that sort of fantastic and romantic and sarcastic, I am undergoing some serious
THE GOOD BITS
{Fans of Sharon Shinn: READ THIS} I love me some Sharon Shinn and totally fell in love with Troubled Waters! I did not think another author could reach that level of awesome, but Maria V. Snyder has nailed it with Touch Of Power. It reminded me of Mystic And Rider with a group of characters traveling to reach a certain destination. As I begin to dip my toes more often in the fantasy pool, I realize that there are some similar elements that float from one book to the next: a widespread plague that also targets the royal family, forbidden magic, an underdog who holds all the answers, etc. They may all start blending together, but Maria V. Snyder wove the story into something that felt all brand new and exciting.
{Group dynamics} I have never met a more enjoyable group of characters! They were funny, heroic, and downright temperamental when the scene called for it. Sparks especially flew for Avry and the leader Kerrick as they exasperated each other every step of the way, and I ate every bit of it up!
{Strong female lead} Avry kicks some serious ass! She may not ace the test on stealth and steel, but she can keep her wits about in the face of danger. None of this fainting and wimpering for this girl! No, ma’am. Quick on her feet, quicker to think and learn, and quickest to do the right thing, I think Avry may give Alanna a good run for her money. What really sealed the deal for me is that, underneath all that tough exteriour, Avry has a wicked sense of humor :)
THE BAD BITS
{The cover} I wish the US cover looked less girly and went more along the lines of the UK one. I think the cover does the story a disservice because it makes Avry seem all rainbows and starshine, but she is actually full of throwing knives and healing powers.
{Left me sad and lonely} I wish this story could have went on longer – and I am not sure how soon Touch Of Power will turn into a series. Answer: NOT SOON ENOUGH.
THE OVERALL
Seriously? GO READ THIS BOOK NOW for the love of all things fantasy. I have not been THIS enthusiastic about a fantasy book since Troubled Waters, and I admit that I can be a hard egg to crack! Fans of Sharon Shinn and Tamora Pierce who are searching for a new “it” fantasy to stalk, be prepared to eat this book up and ask for seconds.
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withdrawal until I find the next fantasy fix!THE GOOD BITS
{Fans of Sharon Shinn: READ THIS} I love me some Sharon Shinn and totally fell in love with Troubled Waters! I did not think another author could reach that level of awesome, but Maria V. Snyder has nailed it with Touch Of Power. It reminded me of Mystic And Rider with a group of characters traveling to reach a certain destination. As I begin to dip my toes more often in the fantasy pool, I realize that there are some similar elements that float from one book to the next: a widespread plague that also targets the royal family, forbidden magic, an underdog who holds all the answers, etc. They may all start blending together, but Maria V. Snyder wove the story into something that felt all brand new and exciting.
{Group dynamics} I have never met a more enjoyable group of characters! They were funny, heroic, and downright temperamental when the scene called for it. Sparks especially flew for Avry and the leader Kerrick as they exasperated each other every step of the way, and I ate every bit of it up!
{Strong female lead} Avry kicks some serious ass! She may not ace the test on stealth and steel, but she can keep her wits about in the face of danger. None of this fainting and wimpering for this girl! No, ma’am. Quick on her feet, quicker to think and learn, and quickest to do the right thing, I think Avry may give Alanna a good run for her money. What really sealed the deal for me is that, underneath all that tough exteriour, Avry has a wicked sense of humor :)
THE BAD BITS
{The cover} I wish the US cover looked less girly and went more along the lines of the UK one. I think the cover does the story a disservice because it makes Avry seem all rainbows and starshine, but she is actually full of throwing knives and healing powers.
{Left me sad and lonely} I wish this story could have went on longer – and I am not sure how soon Touch Of Power will turn into a series. Answer: NOT SOON ENOUGH.
THE OVERALL
Seriously? GO READ THIS BOOK NOW for the love of all things fantasy. I have not been THIS enthusiastic about a fantasy book since Troubled Waters, and I admit that I can be a hard egg to crack! Fans of Sharon Shinn and Tamora Pierce who are searching for a new “it” fantasy to stalk, be prepared to eat this book up and ask for seconds.
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LibraryThing member highflyer
The world created by Snyder is both amazing and very cruel. The characters that live within this book are deep; each character has many layers to them. What you see on the surface isn't always what the character really means, wants or they might not be telling you the truth. It's really hard to
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tell because you have to slowly peel away each layer of each character to figure out their motives.Avry, our main character and healer is a very likable character. It's hard not to feel for her as she's already had a rough life. Then you add being a wanted healer into the mix and it makes everything worse because she's constantly on the run and she knows nothing of what happened to her family or Tara, the woman that taught her how to heal in the first place.It's easy to become attached to the group of men that rescue her from her newest plight because they too are likable characters even if they each have their own issues. It's so easy to be pulled into this world. I was instantly pulled into the story line. However some portions of the story were a little lacking, but this was mostly towards the end. I'd love to read more about this world! Show Less
LibraryThing member coffee.is.yum
Absolutely loved this book up until the end. It really felt like it was written by an entirely different person--maybe Snyder didn't know how to end the book so she wrapped everything up in a nice little bow, everyone smiling and cheering, jokes being tossed around and the curtain goes down.
Despite the ending being tucked in a neat little package, with the characters seeming oddly forced to appear happy, it was a let down. But I won't let that affect my opinion of the overall book. The book was very good and Avry is a very likable character. Kerrick, the main male lead, was a little annoying. He has some serious mood swings, and near the end of the book he changed so dramatically without any real path from point A to point B. He just kind of BAM! changed. Pretty good book, overall.
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Audience applauds.Despite the ending being tucked in a neat little package, with the characters seeming oddly forced to appear happy, it was a let down. But I won't let that affect my opinion of the overall book. The book was very good and Avry is a very likable character. Kerrick, the main male lead, was a little annoying. He has some serious mood swings, and near the end of the book he changed so dramatically without any real path from point A to point B. He just kind of BAM! changed. Pretty good book, overall.
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LibraryThing member foggidawn
Avry is a Healer -- the last of the Healers, in fact. When a plague broke out which the Healers were unable to counteract, a rumor spread that the Healers had caused the plague. Now, there is a bounty on the head of any Healer, and Avry lives on the run, rarely using her gift. When she risks
The story held together well enough, but I felt like a lot of the suspense in the plot stemmed from Avry and Kerrick keeping secrets from each other, and assuming that they knew what the other person was thinking or feeling. This is by no means uncommon, particularly in romance plot lines of any genre, so it's not exactly a deal-breaker for me . . . just something I tend to notice. Also, one small detail irritated me the whole way through. A particular plant, the Death Lily, plays a major role in the story -- and for some reason, the author chose to pluralize it as Death Lilys, not Death Lilies. It's consistent throughout the book, so not a typographical error, but I can't imagine why one would choose to do that. As I said, a small thing -- but it took me right out of the story pretty much every time I ran across it.
If you think you can get past the niggling details that bothered me, I'd recommend this book. It's set in a different fantasy world than Snyder's Ixia/Sitia novels, so knowledge of her other books isn't necessary.
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healing a sick child, she is caught and imprisoned. She's rescued by a man named Kerrick, who needs her to heal Prince Ryne, a man Avry detests. Kerrick, however, believes that Ryne is the only man who can stop the evil tyrant who is trying to gain political control in the wake of the plague. Saving him could mean saving the lives of thousands. And Ryne has the plague . . . which means that, if Avery heals him, she will be killed by the disease instead.The story held together well enough, but I felt like a lot of the suspense in the plot stemmed from Avry and Kerrick keeping secrets from each other, and assuming that they knew what the other person was thinking or feeling. This is by no means uncommon, particularly in romance plot lines of any genre, so it's not exactly a deal-breaker for me . . . just something I tend to notice. Also, one small detail irritated me the whole way through. A particular plant, the Death Lily, plays a major role in the story -- and for some reason, the author chose to pluralize it as Death Lilys, not Death Lilies. It's consistent throughout the book, so not a typographical error, but I can't imagine why one would choose to do that. As I said, a small thing -- but it took me right out of the story pretty much every time I ran across it.
If you think you can get past the niggling details that bothered me, I'd recommend this book. It's set in a different fantasy world than Snyder's Ixia/Sitia novels, so knowledge of her other books isn't necessary.
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LibraryThing member Bookswithbite
This girl got some spice in her! I loved this book. What captured me the most is about this book is Avery's life and her selflessness. I loved reading stories about people who do something brave for someone and get paid back badly. Avery is a healer. And is not appreciated. Her people are being
Let me start off by saying the characters of this book are WOW! They all have a unique voice that screams at the readers. Especially Avery. These characters just screamed excellence! I loved her back round history to the characters with the uncertain future of what lies ahead for her. I don't think that once I started this book did I take my eyes off of it. Yup, this book is so going on my shelf.
The love interest in this book play out really different then what I thought. I was for sure it would go one way but totally fell the other. This is nice cause the author caught me by surprise. I did however like how this love started off with a strong dislike and for using each other purposes. After seeing the two characters bicker and fight along the journey, I knew they were meant to be. It definitely gave the reader a much more deeper connection to the characters.
So, whats the verdict. Read this book! Seriously go now and read it. It will amaze and capture you. With Avery's spicy attitude and a know it all man, it's so simple to fall into the story.
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hunted down one by one. Healing someone is very risky and will be death if she gets caught. The story of Avery's life is a journey the reader is unable to get out of. Sucked in a maze of wars, death and prejudiced, Ms. Snyder's writing will draw you into a world you will never forget.Let me start off by saying the characters of this book are WOW! They all have a unique voice that screams at the readers. Especially Avery. These characters just screamed excellence! I loved her back round history to the characters with the uncertain future of what lies ahead for her. I don't think that once I started this book did I take my eyes off of it. Yup, this book is so going on my shelf.
The love interest in this book play out really different then what I thought. I was for sure it would go one way but totally fell the other. This is nice cause the author caught me by surprise. I did however like how this love started off with a strong dislike and for using each other purposes. After seeing the two characters bicker and fight along the journey, I knew they were meant to be. It definitely gave the reader a much more deeper connection to the characters.
So, whats the verdict. Read this book! Seriously go now and read it. It will amaze and capture you. With Avery's spicy attitude and a know it all man, it's so simple to fall into the story.
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LibraryThing member l_manning
Avry has spent the last few years on the run. In a world with filled with magic, her particular brand of talents are feared. Healers are hunted and put to death for their response to the great plague that has swept the lands. Avry cannot escape the call of helping though, and is soon imprisoned
I have heard of Maria V. Snyder from other people, but I never read one of her books. Wow. That is all I can say. I was drawn into this book from the start, and I probably wouldn't have stopped reading if I didn't have other things to do. Everything was just so beautifully done. The pacing was fantastic- lots of action, but plenty of chances to breath and get to know the characters some more. There were moments that were hilarious, and moments that just break your heart. The world was so well developed, and that really helps you get lost in it from the very beginning. There were a couple of twists and turns, and I was definitely left wanting more in the end.
I am keeping this review a little shallow on purpose. There were so many things that I loved about this book, but a lot of the fun was in discovering them. Just know that I highly recommend this book, and it's probably in the top of the books I've read this year. I am definitely adding more books by Maria V. Snyder on my to-read list. This book was so absorbing, I didn't even know where the time had gone. It is a great book, and I can't wait to see what the next one in the series holds!
Galley provided for review.
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when she is caught healing a young child. Much to her surprise, Avry is broken out of jail by a band of men who seem to have their own reasons for freeing her. Now Avry has to decide whether her freedom and even her life are worth saving someone who may be able to save the world.I have heard of Maria V. Snyder from other people, but I never read one of her books. Wow. That is all I can say. I was drawn into this book from the start, and I probably wouldn't have stopped reading if I didn't have other things to do. Everything was just so beautifully done. The pacing was fantastic- lots of action, but plenty of chances to breath and get to know the characters some more. There were moments that were hilarious, and moments that just break your heart. The world was so well developed, and that really helps you get lost in it from the very beginning. There were a couple of twists and turns, and I was definitely left wanting more in the end.
I am keeping this review a little shallow on purpose. There were so many things that I loved about this book, but a lot of the fun was in discovering them. Just know that I highly recommend this book, and it's probably in the top of the books I've read this year. I am definitely adding more books by Maria V. Snyder on my to-read list. This book was so absorbing, I didn't even know where the time had gone. It is a great book, and I can't wait to see what the next one in the series holds!
Galley provided for review.
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LibraryThing member bkwormblogger
I really enjoyed this book. Many reviews have so far questioned the character building or world building but for me the main pulling power was the overall story. Avry is interesting as a female protagonist. A 20 year old, on the run due to her ability to heal, and running out of options. One night
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she heals a baby suffering from the plague that has hit the town but the parents turn her in. From then on Avry has the biggest of adventures, but the underlying truth is that she’s going to die, so it’s what she does with the time that she has that matters.The characters are all enjoyable. You notice a softer side to Kerrick occasionally but want to slap him most of the time. Only because you understand how he feels about Avry before he does. The lads in the gang are all fun. I felt bad when Flea died and suffered as they did.The introduction of Tohon was interesting. I would have liked a little bit more development on his part because I wanted to believe that underneath all the evil there might be someone worth saving (from himself).The ending was a little sudden but still enjoyable and I’m glad Avry found two more healers in the end.Based in a fantasy/medieval world Touch of Magic was a great read. I found the flow easy and non-jerky, and loved the modern language of it all. Sometimes other books in this genre are bogged down with too much description but Snyder has the steady pace and descriptions in equal measure.Definitely read it. It’s well worth your time. Now I want to read more from her! Show Less
LibraryThing member TheLostEntwife
I’ve come to expect awesome things from Maria Snyder. She writes about strong females, the perfect touch of magic, action, a little bit of romance – basically everything that makes the teenager in me giggle with delight. Her latest book, Touch of Power, provided all those things.
Seriously, if
The imagination of Snyder is to be envied. The Death Lilies were magnificent – so incredibly interesting. The choice having to be made by Avry was heart-breaking .. how would you choose? The combination of interesting characters, rough situations, and action scenes kept me reading from beginning to end in one sitting. And that, my friends, is fun reading.
Seriously, if
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you want to lose yourself in a good book, and know you have an entire day to allow yourself to get lost in it, you cannot fail with picking up one of Snyder’s books. With Touch of Power, I found myself trapped away in this world where healing is not considered to be a good thing, and the young heroine is on the run…constantly. So much so, in fact, even I was out of breath reading it!The imagination of Snyder is to be envied. The Death Lilies were magnificent – so incredibly interesting. The choice having to be made by Avry was heart-breaking .. how would you choose? The combination of interesting characters, rough situations, and action scenes kept me reading from beginning to end in one sitting. And that, my friends, is fun reading.
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LibraryThing member VirginiaGill
As always Maria V. Snyder's latest does not disappoint. I found the main character's constant struggle to not use the gifts she was born with thought provoking and the politics well written. One character was truly offensive to me and I found myself mentally yelling at the author for including
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him...I'm sure you'll be able to guess who he is as you read... Overall I loved the book and cant wait to see where the story goes next. Show Less
LibraryThing member VivalaErin
I thought this book was great. I read it in one sitting, yesterday! Maria Snyder consistently creates worlds and characters I can like immediately, and Avry was one of those. She's very selfless, without thinking that makes her better than others, which makes her likeable. But she's also pretty
There is a lot of action and politics hidden in this little book, and I very interested to see what happens next with Tohon, the Peace/Death Lilys, and Avry and her boys.
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spunky and tough. She reminded me of Yelena a bit so maybe that's part of why I like her. There is a lot of action and politics hidden in this little book, and I very interested to see what happens next with Tohon, the Peace/Death Lilys, and Avry and her boys.
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LibraryThing member Lavinient
Avry is on the run because she is a healer. She can take a sickness or injury into herself and heal at a super fast rate. Her kind have been hunted down because they are blamed for the plague that devastatingly swept through the land. But she can't stop herself from continuing to heal children.
Snyder has a way of creating a world that is simple and non-convoluted, but still fascinating and lovely. This is the second book I have read by Snyder, and in both she has strong female leads. I like Avry. She has a lot of tough choices to make. She was able to fend for herself for three years and after her capture she continues to do what she feels is right, even when it seems all of her choices are taken from her.
I liked the magic system. We only really get to witness how it feels to use the magic through Avry, but I thought Snyder did a great job of creating and explaining it. Avry can heal, but that power is not without its limits. She cannot heal someone who is very close to death; her own body, even with its faster healing, would not have enough time to heal itself. She could heal someone close to death, but then it would be considered a self sacrifice.
Also, giant flowers that can kill you. Reminded me of a little of Triffids, though Snyder's flowers can not move from where they are rooted. And there is something more to these flowers beyond killing.
Very nice beginning to the Healer trilogy.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
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This time she is not able to get out of town fast enough after the healing and she is imprisoned and sentenced to death the next day. But during the night she is rescued by a band of men who need her to heal someone very important of the plague. Avry is conflicted because of the nature of the disease and because of who the man is. The leader of her captors, Kerrick, does not want to give her a choice. Hiding and alone for three years, Avry now finds herself in the middle of politics and a brewing war among those who would use her to gain rule of the 15 Realms.Snyder has a way of creating a world that is simple and non-convoluted, but still fascinating and lovely. This is the second book I have read by Snyder, and in both she has strong female leads. I like Avry. She has a lot of tough choices to make. She was able to fend for herself for three years and after her capture she continues to do what she feels is right, even when it seems all of her choices are taken from her.
I liked the magic system. We only really get to witness how it feels to use the magic through Avry, but I thought Snyder did a great job of creating and explaining it. Avry can heal, but that power is not without its limits. She cannot heal someone who is very close to death; her own body, even with its faster healing, would not have enough time to heal itself. She could heal someone close to death, but then it would be considered a self sacrifice.
Also, giant flowers that can kill you. Reminded me of a little of Triffids, though Snyder's flowers can not move from where they are rooted. And there is something more to these flowers beyond killing.
Very nice beginning to the Healer trilogy.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
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LibraryThing member Truly_Bookish
I'm a fan of Maria V. Snyder. Poison Study and Inside Out are two books I absolutely love so I was excited to see that she has a new fantasy series for me to get lost in. Touch of Power is classic Snyder and it does not disappoint.
No doubt, Snyder is a master at world building. The plague ravaged
Speaking of characters with special abilities, Avry's healing is very cool. She is also snarky and having the story told from her perspective is a treat. My only complaint is that at times, Avery's narration is a bit too modern and out of place with the rest of the fantasy setting. Still, I love Avry, she is definitely another wonderful and memorable character that Ms. Snyder has created.
Kerrick is a huge jerk at the beginning of the book. He's a brooding kill-joy and a bit of a bully at first, but thankfully, he fully redeems himself by the end. While I know I shouldn't, I did compare him to Valek from Poison Study and while I don't love him as much as Valek, Kerrick does have his own kind of awesome going for him. The secondary characters are very well written as well. Kerrick's men are so lovable and the bad guy is especially pervy and awful. He is definitely the guy you love to hate.
As an escapist reader, I really enjoyed getting lost in another of Maria Snyder's fabulous worlds. I highly recommend this book to fantasy lovers everywhere, and even if you don't usually read fantasy, you should try Touch of Power. It's that good!
Content: Kissing, sexual situations, implied sex (no detailed descriptions) and violence. This is not a YA novel and most of the characters, including Avry and Kerrick, are in their twenties. I don't think it is appropriate for younger teens but older, more mature teens should be fine.
No doubt, Snyder is a master at world building. The plague ravaged
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Fifteen Realms is in shambles and the political leaders that are left alive are scrambling to grab as much power and territories as they can. Avry, who has been hiding and on the run for years, becomes a pawn in this political game. Throw in characters with special magical abilities and carnivorous flowers big enough to swallow a person whole and you have an unputdownable book that will keep you absolutely engaged to the end.Speaking of characters with special abilities, Avry's healing is very cool. She is also snarky and having the story told from her perspective is a treat. My only complaint is that at times, Avery's narration is a bit too modern and out of place with the rest of the fantasy setting. Still, I love Avry, she is definitely another wonderful and memorable character that Ms. Snyder has created.
Kerrick is a huge jerk at the beginning of the book. He's a brooding kill-joy and a bit of a bully at first, but thankfully, he fully redeems himself by the end. While I know I shouldn't, I did compare him to Valek from Poison Study and while I don't love him as much as Valek, Kerrick does have his own kind of awesome going for him. The secondary characters are very well written as well. Kerrick's men are so lovable and the bad guy is especially pervy and awful. He is definitely the guy you love to hate.
As an escapist reader, I really enjoyed getting lost in another of Maria Snyder's fabulous worlds. I highly recommend this book to fantasy lovers everywhere, and even if you don't usually read fantasy, you should try Touch of Power. It's that good!
Content: Kissing, sexual situations, implied sex (no detailed descriptions) and violence. This is not a YA novel and most of the characters, including Avry and Kerrick, are in their twenties. I don't think it is appropriate for younger teens but older, more mature teens should be fine.
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LibraryThing member rhonda1111
5 STARS
I really like Avery. She risks her life over and over to do what she feels needs to be done. Avery cares about others and worries about them and does not give up. Avery is 20 years old healer who has been running and hiding out. She has a price of 20 gold coins if she is caught and turned in
The people of the fifteen realms has been wiped out by a plaque that some people feel the healers started and that they don't want to heal anybody from it. What the people don't know that when they first started to treat plaques a lot of healers died.
Avery knows that the two year old downstairs is dyeing and she has to save him. Avery does and then is really sick from it and before she can run the grateful father turned her over she is to be hung in the morning. But Avery felt healing the 2 year old worth her life.
Kerrick for the past 2 years has been looking for a healer and with his gang rescues Avery and plans to take her to a far land and have her heal Prince Ryne from the plaque. Avery holds him accountable for the deaths of her father and brother. She doesn't want to heal him and die herself.
Kerrick plans to make her heal Ryne. So why he is treating her bad they are also running from the town guards and mercenaries. Trying to convince her that Ryne might be able to stop all the wars and killings.
It has a lot of action, fun, magic, heroes and bad guys. It flows from one action to another but their is also humor,love,friendship and sorrow. We get to know a little about each character a little bit at a time. I hope their will be more books from this series because I don't want it to end.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review from Netgalley.
I really like Avery. She risks her life over and over to do what she feels needs to be done. Avery cares about others and worries about them and does not give up. Avery is 20 years old healer who has been running and hiding out. She has a price of 20 gold coins if she is caught and turned in
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as a healer.The people of the fifteen realms has been wiped out by a plaque that some people feel the healers started and that they don't want to heal anybody from it. What the people don't know that when they first started to treat plaques a lot of healers died.
Avery knows that the two year old downstairs is dyeing and she has to save him. Avery does and then is really sick from it and before she can run the grateful father turned her over she is to be hung in the morning. But Avery felt healing the 2 year old worth her life.
Kerrick for the past 2 years has been looking for a healer and with his gang rescues Avery and plans to take her to a far land and have her heal Prince Ryne from the plaque. Avery holds him accountable for the deaths of her father and brother. She doesn't want to heal him and die herself.
Kerrick plans to make her heal Ryne. So why he is treating her bad they are also running from the town guards and mercenaries. Trying to convince her that Ryne might be able to stop all the wars and killings.
It has a lot of action, fun, magic, heroes and bad guys. It flows from one action to another but their is also humor,love,friendship and sorrow. We get to know a little about each character a little bit at a time. I hope their will be more books from this series because I don't want it to end.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review from Netgalley.
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LibraryThing member sithereandread
TOUCH OF POWER, by Maria V. Snyder, is the best fantasy books I have read this year. Touch of Power is packed with adventure, intrigue, and a budding romance that will make you swoon. Snyder has created an intricate world full of danger at every corner and her heroine is thrown into the middle of a
When I finished the book only punctuated words were uttered from my lips. Breathtaking. Fantastic. Incredible… I first loved Maria's writing in her Inside Out series so I was definitely more than willing to read her new fantasy series. For those who are fans of the Inside Out series just be aware that the Healer series is very different. Where IO was science fiction and fast-paced, TOP is more of a fantasy adventure and a little slower paced but not in a negative way at all. In the TOP world, traveling by foot over months is the main movement of the book. But each day the reader gets more and more information about the characters and world that Avry resides in. I never felt the story dragged because each day I learned more about the amazing characters or the environment they lived in.
I loved Avry! Being a Healer she is genuinely concerned about the heath and well-being of those around her without question of what it does to herself. I thought her powers were so creative and unique and amazed at the detail Snyder put into her characters along with the world they lived in. I really liked the constant banter between Avry and Kerrick. I normally roll my eyes at the love-at-first-sight thing so I was happy when their relationship started off (and continued for some time) rocky. Both of them can be stubborn and I enjoyed reading how they slowly chipped away each other's protective walls. Also, the connection between their different powers were really amazing to watch and I hope to see more of that in future books.
I could go on and on about this book until I am blue in the face, but the fact is I would highly recommend this book to fantasy readers so seriously go out there and get it!!
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huge war between important political figures. Avry uses her intellect and healing powers to survive among her kidnappers and decide her path through life.When I finished the book only punctuated words were uttered from my lips. Breathtaking. Fantastic. Incredible… I first loved Maria's writing in her Inside Out series so I was definitely more than willing to read her new fantasy series. For those who are fans of the Inside Out series just be aware that the Healer series is very different. Where IO was science fiction and fast-paced, TOP is more of a fantasy adventure and a little slower paced but not in a negative way at all. In the TOP world, traveling by foot over months is the main movement of the book. But each day the reader gets more and more information about the characters and world that Avry resides in. I never felt the story dragged because each day I learned more about the amazing characters or the environment they lived in.
I loved Avry! Being a Healer she is genuinely concerned about the heath and well-being of those around her without question of what it does to herself. I thought her powers were so creative and unique and amazed at the detail Snyder put into her characters along with the world they lived in. I really liked the constant banter between Avry and Kerrick. I normally roll my eyes at the love-at-first-sight thing so I was happy when their relationship started off (and continued for some time) rocky. Both of them can be stubborn and I enjoyed reading how they slowly chipped away each other's protective walls. Also, the connection between their different powers were really amazing to watch and I hope to see more of that in future books.
I could go on and on about this book until I am blue in the face, but the fact is I would highly recommend this book to fantasy readers so seriously go out there and get it!!
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LibraryThing member kmartin802
Maria V. Snyder has created an extraordinary fantasy world filled with characters we can care about. Avry is on the run. She is a healer in a world that blames healers for the plague that devastated the world killing a huge number of the people and leaving the remaining people in a state of
When she is broken out of jail by a group of men that wants her to heal someone, she is at first reluctant to go along. She had reconciled herself to dying and was just tired of the constant running. But her will to live kicks in and she goes with them. Than she finds out who they want her to heal. Ryne is the ruler of one of the realms. She has met him before when he tried to coerce her mentor into healing his sister and who spread the rumor that healers caused the plague when she refused. He is also the one who owned the mine where Avry's father and older brother worked until the mine collapsed killing them. She refuses to heal him.
The leader of the band who freed Avry from jail is determined to bring her to Ryne and is willing to do anything to get her to heal him. He doesn't know that healers don't survive healing someone with the plague. Avry does. Avry and Kerrick begin their relationship badly. She hates him and he doesn't care for her either beyond being a means to an end. They are constantly sparring verbally. But at the same time, Avry does become close to Kerrick's band of rogues. It is the first time she has allowed herself to care for anyone since the plague ruined her life.
Avry gradually becomes aware of the bigger political situation which she didn't care about when her only care was to survive. Now she becomes involved in the whole political mess. Kerrick supports Ryne who is opposed by Tolon. Tolon is using his magic to create an army of the dead and is a really scary sociopath. Kerrick, Ryne, Tolon and a few other characters have all known each other since they were sent to the boarding school where the children of rulers went to learn to rule. They were fierce rivals there and now the rivalry has gone beyond children's games to playing with real lives. Avry decides to heal Ryne even at the cost of her life because he is the best hope for the survival of the world.
The mystical aspect of this story has to do with some people with magical gifts - Avry who can heal by taking the illness or injury into herself, Tolon who can reanimate the dead, and Kerrick who has forest magic and the ability to sense anyone in a forest and to camouflage himself within it. It also has to do with some semi-sentient plants called Death Lilies and Peace Lilies whose role in the world is just beginning to be known.
I recommend this story to fantasy lovers and will be looking forward to Avry's second story - Scent of Magic - which is coming in 2013.
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political chaos. When she heals a little girl and is turned in by the girl's father, she is scheduled to be killed by guillotine. When she is broken out of jail by a group of men that wants her to heal someone, she is at first reluctant to go along. She had reconciled herself to dying and was just tired of the constant running. But her will to live kicks in and she goes with them. Than she finds out who they want her to heal. Ryne is the ruler of one of the realms. She has met him before when he tried to coerce her mentor into healing his sister and who spread the rumor that healers caused the plague when she refused. He is also the one who owned the mine where Avry's father and older brother worked until the mine collapsed killing them. She refuses to heal him.
The leader of the band who freed Avry from jail is determined to bring her to Ryne and is willing to do anything to get her to heal him. He doesn't know that healers don't survive healing someone with the plague. Avry does. Avry and Kerrick begin their relationship badly. She hates him and he doesn't care for her either beyond being a means to an end. They are constantly sparring verbally. But at the same time, Avry does become close to Kerrick's band of rogues. It is the first time she has allowed herself to care for anyone since the plague ruined her life.
Avry gradually becomes aware of the bigger political situation which she didn't care about when her only care was to survive. Now she becomes involved in the whole political mess. Kerrick supports Ryne who is opposed by Tolon. Tolon is using his magic to create an army of the dead and is a really scary sociopath. Kerrick, Ryne, Tolon and a few other characters have all known each other since they were sent to the boarding school where the children of rulers went to learn to rule. They were fierce rivals there and now the rivalry has gone beyond children's games to playing with real lives. Avry decides to heal Ryne even at the cost of her life because he is the best hope for the survival of the world.
The mystical aspect of this story has to do with some people with magical gifts - Avry who can heal by taking the illness or injury into herself, Tolon who can reanimate the dead, and Kerrick who has forest magic and the ability to sense anyone in a forest and to camouflage himself within it. It also has to do with some semi-sentient plants called Death Lilies and Peace Lilies whose role in the world is just beginning to be known.
I recommend this story to fantasy lovers and will be looking forward to Avry's second story - Scent of Magic - which is coming in 2013.
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LibraryThing member yearningtoread
Pages: 394
Release Date: December 20th, 2011
Date Read: 2011, December 1st - 15th
Received: NetGalley
Rating: 4/5 stars
Recommended to: 17+
SUMMARY-
Avry is hunted, a criminal on the run. Except, she's done nothing wrong. She is a healer, a woman who can take sickness onto herself, completely removing it
MY THOUGHTS -
I really enjoyed this book! Based on rave reviews, I hoped for something a bit more...refined. But I was pleased with the end result!
My few issues:
Everything (especially in the first half) felt a bit too fast. Not the pace of the story - the actual events. They happened in the blink of an eye. I felt like this took away from the emotion and depth of the story. Toward the middle, one character dies and everyone's sad - and then suddenly it seems as thought they've gotten over it. I'm sorry, I felt it needed a bit more time to dwell on things.
Which leads me to the writing. It was...ok. There were some good descriptions, but for the most part the writing was quick and short-sentenced, leaving very little room for anything more than sparse description. For the most part this wasn't a bad thing; actually, I would say a lot of the quickness to it came from Avry's character, who is a to-the-point kind of girl. The rest of tit, however, made me think the word "lazy" more than once.
Oh, and what was with the dialogue? I mean, it wasn't terrible, but it felt weird...out of place. It had some spunk to it, and made me laugh with all the funny sarcasm and bantering, but I guess it was one of those things I was expecting to be refined. It was super slang-y.
CHARACTER NOTES -
I loved a lot of these characters; others, I just didn't get. Avry, Kerrick, Jael, Daneen, Winter, Sepp, Flea, Ryne, and a few others all sat well with me. They were fun to read about and created a great atmosphere.
However, Quinn and Vain (for the first half), Belen, Tohon, and so on - they fell short. They were either cheesy formula characters or hard to envision. I wanted to like Belen so badly, and I did to some extent, but he just wasn't believable.
And, I must say, what was with Tohon? Womanizer with a slightly feminine edge? Really?? I was slightly...confused. But whatever. Getting passed that, I did think he was a great bad guy, and his plans made me grimace in pain. He's a scary person! :/
Avry herself - so great. Kicks some butt; doesn't let herself be taken by emotion, but is capable of loving greatly; has an incredible gift and the heart to bestow it upon others; she is totally relatable. I felt like a friend, for sure. Not a bestie, but definitely a friend.
Kerrick - phew! What a jerk - at first. My gosh I wanted to slap his face SO many times. But by the end...man, I loved him. He'd been so hurt, you can't really blame him. I seriously loved every moment with him - good and bad!
STORY NOTES -
Boy, do I love a slow-moving romance. One that takes months of hardships and getting to know one another. One that creates beautiful tension. One that heals broken hearts. One like this. Avry and Kerrick's romance made me sooo happy. Every step of the way I rooted for them to be together. I loved their pride-fights, their cold glares, their working together - and their warm embraces. it was so amazing - gave me butterflies and made my eyes prickle with tears.
The rest of the story, despite its slightly too-fast pace, was very fun and intense and crazy. Just crazy. Fascinating action and really neat ideas about magicians and magic in general. The death and peace lilies were so original and I hope there's more about them in the second book!
Avry's journey definitely awed me. Her purpose, her need to heal this man she'd never met. She affect she would have on the kingdoms. Really, really neat!
SUMMING IT UP -
It sparked my imagination - and my emotions. A fun read in a fascinating fantasy world!
FOR THE PARENTS -
Language scattered throughout. (B**t**d, d**n, and a few others.) Some sensual comments/scenes, especially involving Tohon. There are a few details. He uses magic to make her desire him - she expresses that "emotional Avry" wants things that are quite awkward (she says a few times what she wants and how he has her at his mercy). Besides that - Kerrick and Avry kiss and have sex toward the end of the book. Literally 3 paragraphs cover this scene (in future pages, it's referenced that they sleep together multiple times in the following days) but even in such a small amount a lot is said. A few physical details, but mainly emotional. Kind of unrealistic, as she is (spoiler!) dog sick with the plague at the time. Recommended 17+
Release Date: December 20th, 2011
Date Read: 2011, December 1st - 15th
Received: NetGalley
Rating: 4/5 stars
Recommended to: 17+
SUMMARY-
Avry is hunted, a criminal on the run. Except, she's done nothing wrong. She is a healer, a woman who can take sickness onto herself, completely removing it
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from its host. She and her kind are on the run, hunted for something Avry is sure they didn't do. After being caught and almost killed, she is rescued by a band of men who want her healing powers for themselves to save an old friend. As they begin their journey through the forest, hiding from mercenaries and soldiers, encountering magicians of all kinds, Avry discovers more about what happened during the plague when she was separated from her family. She also suspects the men - Kerrick, Belen, Flinn, and the others - have more to their request than meets the eye. And with armies rising on all sides, kings being overthrown, and the world going hungry, Avry, Kerrick and the other men may have to sacrifice more than they bargained for the well-being of all.MY THOUGHTS -
I really enjoyed this book! Based on rave reviews, I hoped for something a bit more...refined. But I was pleased with the end result!
My few issues:
Everything (especially in the first half) felt a bit too fast. Not the pace of the story - the actual events. They happened in the blink of an eye. I felt like this took away from the emotion and depth of the story. Toward the middle, one character dies and everyone's sad - and then suddenly it seems as thought they've gotten over it. I'm sorry, I felt it needed a bit more time to dwell on things.
Which leads me to the writing. It was...ok. There were some good descriptions, but for the most part the writing was quick and short-sentenced, leaving very little room for anything more than sparse description. For the most part this wasn't a bad thing; actually, I would say a lot of the quickness to it came from Avry's character, who is a to-the-point kind of girl. The rest of tit, however, made me think the word "lazy" more than once.
Oh, and what was with the dialogue? I mean, it wasn't terrible, but it felt weird...out of place. It had some spunk to it, and made me laugh with all the funny sarcasm and bantering, but I guess it was one of those things I was expecting to be refined. It was super slang-y.
CHARACTER NOTES -
I loved a lot of these characters; others, I just didn't get. Avry, Kerrick, Jael, Daneen, Winter, Sepp, Flea, Ryne, and a few others all sat well with me. They were fun to read about and created a great atmosphere.
However, Quinn and Vain (for the first half), Belen, Tohon, and so on - they fell short. They were either cheesy formula characters or hard to envision. I wanted to like Belen so badly, and I did to some extent, but he just wasn't believable.
And, I must say, what was with Tohon? Womanizer with a slightly feminine edge? Really?? I was slightly...confused. But whatever. Getting passed that, I did think he was a great bad guy, and his plans made me grimace in pain. He's a scary person! :/
Avry herself - so great. Kicks some butt; doesn't let herself be taken by emotion, but is capable of loving greatly; has an incredible gift and the heart to bestow it upon others; she is totally relatable. I felt like a friend, for sure. Not a bestie, but definitely a friend.
Kerrick - phew! What a jerk - at first. My gosh I wanted to slap his face SO many times. But by the end...man, I loved him. He'd been so hurt, you can't really blame him. I seriously loved every moment with him - good and bad!
STORY NOTES -
Boy, do I love a slow-moving romance. One that takes months of hardships and getting to know one another. One that creates beautiful tension. One that heals broken hearts. One like this. Avry and Kerrick's romance made me sooo happy. Every step of the way I rooted for them to be together. I loved their pride-fights, their cold glares, their working together - and their warm embraces. it was so amazing - gave me butterflies and made my eyes prickle with tears.
The rest of the story, despite its slightly too-fast pace, was very fun and intense and crazy. Just crazy. Fascinating action and really neat ideas about magicians and magic in general. The death and peace lilies were so original and I hope there's more about them in the second book!
Avry's journey definitely awed me. Her purpose, her need to heal this man she'd never met. She affect she would have on the kingdoms. Really, really neat!
SUMMING IT UP -
It sparked my imagination - and my emotions. A fun read in a fascinating fantasy world!
FOR THE PARENTS -
Language scattered throughout. (B**t**d, d**n, and a few others.) Some sensual comments/scenes, especially involving Tohon. There are a few details. He uses magic to make her desire him - she expresses that "emotional Avry" wants things that are quite awkward (she says a few times what she wants and how he has her at his mercy). Besides that - Kerrick and Avry kiss and have sex toward the end of the book. Literally 3 paragraphs cover this scene (in future pages, it's referenced that they sleep together multiple times in the following days) but even in such a small amount a lot is said. A few physical details, but mainly emotional. Kind of unrealistic, as she is (spoiler!) dog sick with the plague at the time. Recommended 17+
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LibraryThing member summerskris
Reading this book reminded me why I love fantasy stories. Maria V. Snyder has crafted a beautiful, damaged land that has suffered from a plague of unknown origins. The imagery is rich and vibrant with details that bring the world to life. Along with the delightful cast of characters, I was absorbed
Avry, Kerrick, and his men are all so different and special in their own ways, and somehow they come to resemble a family of sorts. Avry a strong young woman with a survival instinct sharpened from years on the run, hunted because of the bounty offered for Healers. She is intelligent and a quick learner. Initially, she and Kerrick tick each other off because he keeps trying to give orders that she won't follow. Belen is the benevolent father figure, Quain and Vinn are the troublemakers, and Flea is the kid trying to prove a man of himself.
The peace of the world is at stake. With Avry as the last known Healer, only she can heal the one man Kerrick believes can prevent war from breaking out and destroying the order. However, Avry will lose her life in the process, something that Kerrick doesn't seem to care about. You would think that it would be impossible for the two to come to like each other. I wouldn't like him if I were in Avry's position, and it wouldn't appear that Kerrick could come to care for her either. It was interesting to watch their relationship progress.
I am so glad that Touch of Power is the first in a planned series. One book is not enough to tell the full of this story. War is imminent, and there is a mystery that comes up at the end that needs solving.
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in the story from start to finish.Avry, Kerrick, and his men are all so different and special in their own ways, and somehow they come to resemble a family of sorts. Avry a strong young woman with a survival instinct sharpened from years on the run, hunted because of the bounty offered for Healers. She is intelligent and a quick learner. Initially, she and Kerrick tick each other off because he keeps trying to give orders that she won't follow. Belen is the benevolent father figure, Quain and Vinn are the troublemakers, and Flea is the kid trying to prove a man of himself.
The peace of the world is at stake. With Avry as the last known Healer, only she can heal the one man Kerrick believes can prevent war from breaking out and destroying the order. However, Avry will lose her life in the process, something that Kerrick doesn't seem to care about. You would think that it would be impossible for the two to come to like each other. I wouldn't like him if I were in Avry's position, and it wouldn't appear that Kerrick could come to care for her either. It was interesting to watch their relationship progress.
I am so glad that Touch of Power is the first in a planned series. One book is not enough to tell the full of this story. War is imminent, and there is a mystery that comes up at the end that needs solving.
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LibraryThing member litaddictedbrit
If you have read and enjoyed either Ms Snyder's Study series or Glass series, you'll love this. It is that simple. Go buy it now; you are dismissed (although I'd rather you stayed, of course...).
If you haven't read either, let me convince you.
The story starts with Avry on the run. As one of the
It seems that Ms Snyder has a great way with creating strong female characters. The main reason I loved her earlier work so much was that both series focus upon a girl/woman who are intelligent and powerful in their own right. Avry of Kazan is no exception. I adored her for caring enough to still fight to heal people in spite of their fear and hatred, for continuously standing up for herself against people that wanted to control and manipulate her and for her honesty. YA fiction could do with a lot more female characters like her.
The characters that surround her are no less well created. Kerrick, Belen, Quain, Vinn and Flea are the band of men that feature the most and are great additions. Belen, in particular, was a favourite of mine in his role as 'friendly giant'. Kerrick is as charming as someone who smacks you in the face can be, which is of course not very much. I did really enjoy watching his character develop, though. Quain, Vinn and Flea are very much like little brother figures (I imagine - seeing as I have a younger sister, I can't say for definite). Their capering and banter provides some much-needed light relief along the way and really helped the dynamic of the group and the pitch of the book as a whole. Kudos also to Avry for being able to banter with the boys!
I loved the intrigue that surrounded the plague, based in part on the Black Death. Where did it come from? Why can't it be healed? How does it spread? Obviously in many ways it differs from the Black Death as that would be decidedly light on the intrigue, being fact and history and all...
Oh, the BAD guys! There are plenty of nasties to create some danger and plights for the plucky healer, ranging from man-eating plants to other magicians to...other things that I won't spoil for you. Suffice to say, this book is not light on action and some of it is unexpected and creepy.
You probably won't be surprised to know that there is a touch of romance. However, you might be surprised to know that it is sufficiently subtle that it doesn't detract from the main plot and that Avry manages to keep a level head, act with dignity and stay true to herself. I know, an independent woman that can be in love and act like rational human being all at the same time; who'd have thought it?
The only (very minor) downside in this book for me was the occasional use of an usual narrative technique more usually used in plays. I am referring to the us of an 'aside' comment where the audience are addressed by a character in the play, while other characters remain oblivious. I regrettably didn't highlight the "worst" example on my eReader and now can't find it but something scary and unpleasant was going on and Avry interrupted the narration by saying something like "I know, scary right?" as though she was talking to the reader, rather than for their benefit. It was so strange and out of the blue that it did kill the moment a little for me. Since part of what makes this book great is how engaging Avry is, I can't complain too much but I did found that it jarred occasionally and the more pedantic among you should be warned. Also, if you don't like the word "guys", be warned - it's used in abundance. It grew on me after a while because it fits the characters and the story but it did annoy me slightly at first. (I must have been feeling ultra picky this week, sorry!)
Overall: I couldn't get enough of this book - there is enough detail for it to be a fantastic and well-rounded story but enough secrets for me to end the book desperate to get the next one and find out what happens next. Despite much frantic searching of the internet, I have only managed to come across the title of the second (Scent of Magic) and a hint that it might be released in 2012. (Hence my previous rule not to start series that aren't finished...I am impatient...). It can't come soon enough.
If you haven't read either, let me convince you.
The story starts with Avry on the run. As one of the
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last healers, she is forced to hide from those who believe her responsible for the spreading of the plague that has decimated the population of each Territory. When I say "the story starts", I really do mean it. Within the first few pages, Avry has risked her life to heal a dying child and faces execution as a result. There's a sense of urgency that starts on the first page and is sustained for the entire book and that made it nearly impossible to put down. So absorbed in this book was I that I grabbed at it whenever I could, often with embarrassing consequences (nearly bursting into tears on the bus being one...). It seems that Ms Snyder has a great way with creating strong female characters. The main reason I loved her earlier work so much was that both series focus upon a girl/woman who are intelligent and powerful in their own right. Avry of Kazan is no exception. I adored her for caring enough to still fight to heal people in spite of their fear and hatred, for continuously standing up for herself against people that wanted to control and manipulate her and for her honesty. YA fiction could do with a lot more female characters like her.
The characters that surround her are no less well created. Kerrick, Belen, Quain, Vinn and Flea are the band of men that feature the most and are great additions. Belen, in particular, was a favourite of mine in his role as 'friendly giant'. Kerrick is as charming as someone who smacks you in the face can be, which is of course not very much. I did really enjoy watching his character develop, though. Quain, Vinn and Flea are very much like little brother figures (I imagine - seeing as I have a younger sister, I can't say for definite). Their capering and banter provides some much-needed light relief along the way and really helped the dynamic of the group and the pitch of the book as a whole. Kudos also to Avry for being able to banter with the boys!
I loved the intrigue that surrounded the plague, based in part on the Black Death. Where did it come from? Why can't it be healed? How does it spread? Obviously in many ways it differs from the Black Death as that would be decidedly light on the intrigue, being fact and history and all...
Oh, the BAD guys! There are plenty of nasties to create some danger and plights for the plucky healer, ranging from man-eating plants to other magicians to...other things that I won't spoil for you. Suffice to say, this book is not light on action and some of it is unexpected and creepy.
You probably won't be surprised to know that there is a touch of romance. However, you might be surprised to know that it is sufficiently subtle that it doesn't detract from the main plot and that Avry manages to keep a level head, act with dignity and stay true to herself. I know, an independent woman that can be in love and act like rational human being all at the same time; who'd have thought it?
The only (very minor) downside in this book for me was the occasional use of an usual narrative technique more usually used in plays. I am referring to the us of an 'aside' comment where the audience are addressed by a character in the play, while other characters remain oblivious. I regrettably didn't highlight the "worst" example on my eReader and now can't find it but something scary and unpleasant was going on and Avry interrupted the narration by saying something like "I know, scary right?" as though she was talking to the reader, rather than for their benefit. It was so strange and out of the blue that it did kill the moment a little for me. Since part of what makes this book great is how engaging Avry is, I can't complain too much but I did found that it jarred occasionally and the more pedantic among you should be warned. Also, if you don't like the word "guys", be warned - it's used in abundance. It grew on me after a while because it fits the characters and the story but it did annoy me slightly at first. (I must have been feeling ultra picky this week, sorry!)
Overall: I couldn't get enough of this book - there is enough detail for it to be a fantastic and well-rounded story but enough secrets for me to end the book desperate to get the next one and find out what happens next. Despite much frantic searching of the internet, I have only managed to come across the title of the second (Scent of Magic) and a hint that it might be released in 2012. (Hence my previous rule not to start series that aren't finished...I am impatient...). It can't come soon enough.
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Language
Original publication date
2011-12-11
Physical description
400 p.
ISBN
1848450923 / 9781848450929
Local notes
Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honoured for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Territories, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.