Review: Touch of Power

Last day of junior year today! I'll be able to read and review books more often now. I love summer. <3 Anyway on to the review...

Touch of Power (Healer #1)

by Maria V. Snyder

Source: Finished copy from BEA

Release Date: December 2011

**This is actually an adult novel, since it's published by Harlequin and not HarlequinTeen. It does cross over, many people think it is a young adult novel. There isn't anything here you wouldn't be able to find inside a YA novel. 

Summary: 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...

Review: First I feel like I should let you know that I'm a HUGE Maria V. Snyder fan. The Poison Study Series and the Insider Series are just genius. I don't know how she creates the worlds that she does, but they are usually so beautiful, descriptive and just so easy to picture. However I had a few issues with Touch of Power. The story and characters didn't click with me like they usually do in Snyder's books. I did enjoy the story and plot twists but I feel that it could have been much better. 

One thing I love Maria's novels for are the spunk that her characters have. Their personality just flies off the pages. Those are characters I want to read about. However, Avry just didn't have that in Touch of Power.  She's a character that I never completely connected with. I also never saw her reasoning, for why she did the things she did. However the supporting characters were wonderful. They each had their own personalities and you learned more about them as you continued in the plot. Flea and Belen were my personal favorites, I think they made the whole book. However, the whole band of guys just had great chemistry together.

Another part of Touch Of Power that I  didn't particularly enjoy was the romance. The romantic lead, Kerrick was abusive and  mean in the beginning of the novel. I just couldn't get over the things he did to Avry. I would never support someone that started off so abusive. Also there was another guy, Belen who was so kind and gentle, you could tell he really cared about Avry. If I was her there would have been no competition. There was a good transition from enemies, to friends, to romance. Maria V. Snyder did do a great job with that. I just didn't care for the Kerrick, he did start to grow on me at the end. I just couldn't get passed how he treated Avry. 

While  Touch of Power did have it's faults, the story, plot and enchanted world that were all amazing, I had my ups and downs with the novel. I would still recommend it to fantasy lovers off all kinds, if you haven't read any of Maria V. Snyder's novels yet I would start with Poison Study. It's will forever be my favorite book by her. Tons of bloggers have loved this one, so while it might not be for me, check out a few more reviews. Who knows, it could be the perfect novel for you. 

The sequel comes out in 2013, so I'm glad I didn't read it earlier. The cliff hanger was not bad but I am eager to find out what happens to Avry next. Here's the cover, I think it looks much better more then Touch of Power. What do you think? 

--Danielle