While Sitia is not explored too deeply in this book (beyond the author explaining the Commander’s distaste for magicians and his wishes that the two lands remain separate), Ixia is described as a military land divided into military districts that are governed by generals and headed by the aforementioned Commander Ambrose.This take was interesting, particularly the “Code of Behaviour” that stipulates how citizens must act (ex: murder isn’t accepted, even in self-defense, and people must apply for formal papers if they wish to move, or build a house, or even travel). Yelena’s story takes place in the fictional land of Ixia, which shares its borders with the magic-rich Sitia. Though she may be trapped within the Commander’s palace, she learns as much as she can about poisons and trains her body in case a chance for escape comes. The plot drives forwards from the second she accepts the security chief, Valek’s, offer.Yelena is not passive about her fate, either. This is not a huge exaggeration, since Yelena ends up dodging haunts from her past, assassins after the Commander, and exiled magicians. Yelena has been held in the Commander of Ixia’s dungeons for over a year, awaiting her execution, when she is offered a job as poison taster instead. The security chief assures her the job is not much of a step up, since she will be playing with death every day. I do not recommend this book for anyone under the age of sixteen. Trigger Warning: this book contains disturbing and mild-to-graphic scenes of sexual assault. But this time the outcomes aren’t so clear. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can’t control. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly’s Dust-and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.Īs Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. She’ll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace-and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.Īnd so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. Our promise to you is to always disclose affiliate links/buttons.Ībout to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. We receive a percentage of commission from each purchase you make after following links provided on our site.

Goodreads Rating: 4.05 (of 34,373 ratings)īook Princess Reviews is a professional review site that receives compensation through affiliate programs (Barnes & Noble and Book Depository).

Poison study series