Find my reviews on Blogger ~ Reviews by Bookish Sarah 
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 This is the first book I've ever read by Maria V. Snyder. Surprise! Poison Study will be my next one, since I am apparently late to the party on that one. ;) I very much enjoyed Touch of Power! 
 In this story, we follow Avry of Kazan. Avry is a healer, and she's being hunted by almost everyone. Healers are blamed for a plague that wiped out millions of people, and brought the 15 realms into a chaotic state. There are now 3 people battling it out to become supreme ruler over the remaining realms. All of them want Avry for themselves - for they know she is the most valuable weapon they could possess in the war for supremacy. 
 Healers are murdered for what they are, and after three years on the run, Avry is finally caught and thrown in a cell to await execution. While sitting in her cell, a man who calls himself Kerrick, comes to her. He offers to break her free, and in return she must heal a prince who has come down with the plague and is now in a magical stasis. After Kerrick and his men have helped Avry escape, she finds out that the prince is someone she would rather die than heal (and little do her companions know, the plague is the one sickness that will kill a healer when taken from a victim), she tries to escape only to be caught and held against her will. 
 These events happen all within the first few chapters. After that, we follow this group all over the place, dodging mercenaries, being captured, fighting for their lives... Avry learns many things on this journey: Things are not always black and white, the accusation of the healers being responsible for the plague may not be completely unfounded, members of her family may still be alive after the plague, Kerrick has powers of his own, and the men who've abducted her may end up being the closest friends she's ever known. 
 As each potential-ruler tries to steal Avry away to their side, she learns that her decisions could directly shape the fate of all the realms and the people who inhabit them. 
 OKAY. Let me talk about my small complaints first. 
 1.) I would have liked some more character development. 
 2.) It became a little bit repetitive. Travel, kidnapped, rescued, repeat. 
 That's really it for complaints. 
 I loved the story overall. The concept wasn't like anything I've read before. I noticed some of the reviews compared this story to other books; but since I haven't read those yet, I guess my perspective is a little different. I also can't compare it to Poison Study as many have seemed to. 
 The world this story took place in was described pretty well, and not all at once. That is something I like. When it's all described at once, the possibility of forgetting some of it is imminent. It was spaced out throughout the book, so I found it very easy to create the picture in my head. 15 realms, 11 different kinds of magicians/magic wielders - you'd think that'd be too much to remember or grasp, but it wasn't. It was explained and shown to us in such a way that it wasn't overkill. 
 Even though the character development wasn't the best, I still adored the characters. Avry was a little bit dense, but she was lovable. Her powers make it nearly impossible for her not to heal someone. It's described as a "pull" - but for Avry, it's more than that. She cares what happens to people that deserve it. Like children, for example. They're innocent and she just cannot let a child suffer if she can do something about it. Healing people is personal to her. 
 Kerrick is cold in the beginning, and gradually comes out of his hard shell. We learn that he has been burned in the past, many times, by many people. He has his reasons for being the way he is, and his hardness is actually quite sexy. Who doesn't love a tortured hero? :) 
 The supporting characters, such as Belen and Flea, each touched my heart in their own special way. Even the villains had me captivated for various reasons! 
 Something else I noticed in some other reviews is the complaint for lack of romance. I disagree with this opinion. There was not a lack of romance at all! It just wasn't "love at first sight" or "destiny". I do not like insta-love! I always prefer it to seem more real. In my eyes, subtlety in the romance department does not equal temperance in the intensity department! If done well and correctly, it is just as good, if not better than the insta-love deal. Come on now. ;) 
 There was lots of action and something was always happening. I do not remember even one dull moment in this entire book. It was a solid, engaging story. I am looking forward to reading more from Snyder. 
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 ARC source: NetGalley.com, publisher Harlequin.