Poison Study

Murder, mayhem and magic… Locked in a coffin-like darkness, there is nothing to distract me from my memories of killing Reyad. He deserved to die-but according to the law, so do I. Here in Ixia, the punishment for murder is death. And now I wait for the hangman's noose. But the same law that condemns me may also save me. Ixia's food taster-chosen to ensure that the Commander's food is not poisoned-has died. And by law, the next prisoner who is scheduled to be executed-me-must be offered the position.

Fierce, determined, dangerous. No wonder her soul called to his. As Chief of Security of Ixia, Valek has spent the last fifteen years keeping Commander Ambrose and his citizens safe. With his complex network of spies, informers, and soldiers, it's his job to hunt down and capture criminals, including the intriguing Yelena. Sensing there is more to the story of why she killed a general's son, Valek arranges for Yelena to become the Commander's new food taster, training her in the delicate art of detecting poisons. As mysteries and a devious plot to harm the Commander unravel, Yelena's presence becomes crucial. Will her intelligence, stubbornness, and survivor instincts be a help to Valek's investigation, or a hinderance? A companion novel to Poison Study, The Study of Poisons reveals Valek's side of the story. Return to the world of Ixia and discover just how the lovely Yelena got Valek's cold heart pumping!

A lesson in loyalty-a master class in intrigue. So far, I've managed to survive. You would think after being kidnapped as a child, imprisoned in my teens and released to become a poison taster, I would have endured enough. But no. The discovery of my magical abilities-powers forbidden in Ixia-has resulted in an execution order. My only chance is to flee to Sitia, my long-lost birthplace. But Sitia is unfamiliar. I'm treated like an enemy-even by my own brother. Plus I can't control my powers. I want to learn about my magic, but there isn't time. A rogue magician has emerged and I'm targeted as his next victim. Will my magical abilities save me...or be my downfall?

The Apprenticeship is Over-Now the Real Test has Begun. When word that Yelena is a Soulfinder-able to capture and release souls-spreads like wildfire, people grow uneasy. Already Yelena's unusual abilities and past have set her apart. As the Council debates Yelena's fate, she receives a disturbing message: a plot is rising against her homeland, led by a murderous sorcerer she has defeated before... Honor sets Yelena on a path that will test the limits of her skills, and the hope of reuniting with her beloved spurs her onward. Her journey is fraught with allies, enemies, lovers and would-be assassins, each of questionable loyalty. Yelena will have but one chance to prove herself-and save the land she holds dear.

From condemned prisoner to food taster for the Commander of Ixia, from apprentice to a charismatic assassin to warrior with ever-evolving magical powers, Yelena is a remarkable heroine like none you've ever experienced. Follow her amazing journey through Maria V. Snyder's breathtaking fantasy series, which New York Times bestselling author Mercedes Lackey calls "engaging and entirely original...fascinating in its rich detail." Bundle includes Poison Study, Magic Study and Fire Study, and also includes as a special bonus, the online read written exclusively for eHarlequin.com, Assassin Study!