Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Poison Study is one of my favorite books. So much so that I own three copies of the book currently. One audio version on my MP3 player, one hardback copy with the dust jacket, and one hardback copy w/o the dust jacket! :-) My library has recently added the whole Study Series to the collection as well. I'm so excited to share this fun series with my students.

The story starts with Yelana, our main character, in the dungeons waiting to be executed. Instead she is brought to a man who gives her a choice: continue on to be executed and know your death, or become the Commander's Food Taster and await possible death by poison. She takes the job and that's just the beginning of her problems. The whole story line really grabbed me. I enjoyed the ups and downs as Yelana made friends and enemies while trying to stay alive and gain her freedom.

Yelana's adventures continue in Magic Study and Fire Study.