Magic Studyby Maria V. SnyderMy only slightly negative comment about this series is that you can't really read the books as stand-alone novels. Magic Study takes up right where Poison Study leaves off and there isn't much summarizing of the previous book (which makes me happy I read one right after the other.) On one hand, I found that to be pleasant because I hate reading a sequel only to find that at least a quarter of it is a retelling of the previous book.Once more I found myself enchanted and enraptured by the story of Yelena and her journey to find out who she is and how to control her magic. Accompanied by Irys the Fourth Magician of Sitia, Yelena is reunited with the family she was stolen from 14 years earlier. Yelena is now Yelena Zaltana and a daughter, sister, cousin. Though her reunion with her brother Leif is less than joyous, as they travel together to the Citadel where Yelena is to be trained in magic, they are attacked and Leif convinces the attackers that his sister is really a spy from the North. Taken as a prisoner the rest of the way, Yelena is still regarded with suspicion even when the Master Magicians confirm her true reason for being there - training and once more she must fight for her life as she is constantly attacked and captured.I might have liked the first book more, but to be honest I am not entirely sure. Though I didn't like all the characters this time (Cahill was a bit of a brat and I thought the First, Second, and Third Magicians were slightly one-dimensional) I still loved those I met in Poison Study and was delighted when they reappeared further along in the story. The novel ends on a cliffhanger though so I am happy that I had the bookstore hold a copy for me. I just got back from picking it up and plan on doing nothing but  READ this evening.I don't actually know what the third book, Fire Study, is about because I tend to not read the summaries when it's a series that I already know. I'm not a person who generally stays away from spoilers, but sometimes I just like to be surprised as to where the story will take me.If you'll excuse me, I have some reading to do!