Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

THEY DESTROYED HER WORLD. BUT SHE’S THEIR ONLY HOPE...
Avry’s power to heal the sick should earn her respect in the plague-torn land of Kazan. Instead she is feared. Her kind are blamed for the horrifying disease that has taken hold of the nation. When Avry uses her forbidden magic to save a dying child, she faces the guillotine. Until a dark, mysterious man rescues her from her prison cell. His people need Avry’s magic to save their dying prince. The very prince who first unleashed the plague on Kazan.
Saving the prince is certain to kill Avry – yet she already faces a violent death. Now she must choose – use her healing touch to show the ultimate mercy or die a martyr to a lost cause? From Goodreads

I am enjoying Maria V. Snyder's books. Avry is most likely the last of her kind and there is a death sentence for using her power. She is saved but in return has to heal a prince that she always thought was the enemy.  Another book where I already have the next book and want to read it soon.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge
Tower Teams Read 2013
Serious Readers 2013
2013 Ebook Challenge
2013 Women Challenge
2013 1st In A Series Challenge
Let Me Count the Ways Reading Challenge 2013 (396 pages)
2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge (magic/zombies)
2013 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge (nr. 98 on the List)

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

The first and only novel by Sylvia Plath, originally published in 1963.
When Esther Greenwood wins an internship on a New York fashion magazine in 1953, she is elated, believing she will finally realise her dream to become a writer. Instead she finds herself spiralling into depression and eventually a suicide attempt, as she grapples with difficult relationships and a society which refuses to take women’s aspirations seriously. From Goodreads.

Just after reading this book, I gave it 3 Polar Bears. Now after a few days I have decided to give it 4. It is a very well written book but it was not an enjoyable read because of the subject. Also the knowledge that Sylvia Plath actually did commit suicide made it an uncomfortable read. I will probably not read more by Sylvia Plath as she mostly wrote poetry and I don't read that.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge
Tower Teams Read 2013
Serious Readers 2013
Let Me Count the Ways Reading Challenge 2013 (213 pages)
2013 Ebook Challenge
2013 Women Challenge
2013 A-Z Reading Challenge
2013 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge (nr. 94 on the List)
2013 Literary Exploration Reading Challenge (Classics)
Quick fix Challenge 2013 (213 pages)

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Choose:
A quick death
Or slow poison...
Yelena has a choice – be executed for murder, or become food taster to the Commander of Ixia. She leaps at the chance for survival, but her relief may be short-lived.
Life in the palace is full of hazards and secrets. Wily and smart, Yelena must learn to identify poisons before they kill her, recognise whom she can trust and how to spy on those she can’t. And who is the mysterious Southern sorceress who can reach into her head?
When Yelena realises she has extraordinary powers of her own, she faces a whole new problem, for using magic in Ixia is punishable by death... From Goodreads.





I have had this book in my TBR pile since March 2012. I finally got around to reading it and I was not disappointed. There is a lot of action and also questions about who to trust. I am looking forward to the next two books in this series. Maria V. Snyder is one of my favourite authors at the moment.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge
Tower Teams Read 2013
Serious Readers 2013
Let Me Count the Ways Reading Challenge 2013 (409 pages)
2013 Ebook Challenge
2013 Women Challenge
2013 1st In A Series Challenge
2013 A-Z Reading Challenge
2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge
2013 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge (nr. 82 on the List)
2013 Literary Exploration Reading Challenge (Paranormal)

2013 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge Sign up

2013 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge hosted by Reading with Tequila.

The Rules:

• Challenge will run January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013. Participants can join anytime throughout the challenge.
• Create an intro post, linking back to this post.
• Sign up with the Linky below. Please link to your challenge intro post, not your blog home page.
• Chose your own books from the LIST. You can decide to read books only on the Top 25 list or from the entire recommendation list. You do not have to make a list of books before the challenge begins.
• All forms of books acceptable (audiobooks, eBooks, etc.)
• Rereads do not count towards the completion of the challenge. The challenge is about discovering books that are new to you.
• You don't need a blog to participate.
• Reviews, while always appreciated, are not mandatory.

The Levels:
Level I - Read 5 books from the 2012 Book Blogger Recommendation List
Level II - Read 10 books
Level III - Read 15 books
Level IV - Read 20 books
Level V - Read 20+ books

My goal is Level III - Read 15 books. I will be choosing from the entire LIST.
Update 30th of April: A while ago I discovered that all the links I have for this challenge just sends you to a new page by the host and I can no longer find any workable links to the actual challenge. I have fortunately copied the list before it disappeared so I might continue anyway.

I never continued this challenge.

Posts for this challenge will be HERE.

List of books:

1. Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder (82)
2. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath(94)
3. Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder (98)