| Maria V. Snyder | |
|---|---|
| Born | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Residence | Pennsylvania |
| Education | Penn. State University,B.S Meteorology ; M.A. Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University |
| Occupation | Author |
| Children | 2, boy and girl |
| Website | |
| http://www.mariavsnyder.com/ | |
Maria V. Snyder is an American fantasy author best known for her Study Series of books. Her first novel, Poison Study was published October 2005, and won the 2006 Compton Crook Award for Best First Novel.[1]
Contents |
The first in the Study Series (originally the Yelena Zaltana Series), Poison Study, follows a young woman named Yelena. In prison awaiting a death sentence, she is given the choice of facing her immediate sentence, or becoming the food taster for the Commander of Ixia, ensuring his food is not poisoned.
The second in the series, Magic Study, is about Yelena's fight to find and accept her place in her native Sitia. Though she misses her lover, she pushes onward. However, magicians plan to kill her while an evil called 'blood magic' spreads throughout Sitia as the murders of young women continue. It's up to Yelena to stop this evil magician.
The third in the series, Fire Study, follows Yelena as she discovers her true place in Sitia. She learns she is a 'Soulfinder', able to capture and release souls. When an evil Daviian Warper (a user of 'Blood Magic') and his henchmen come looking for her, she decides to fight fire with fire.[2]
There are currently three short stories in this series as well; they are listed in the Short Stories section, below, with links to on-line copies.
Many of the characters from the 'Study Series' of books returned in Snyder's follow up series of three.
They follow protagonist, Opal Cowan, a glass magician who can trap magic inside glass. She crafts glass messengers for Sitia and helps with a glass crisis. Until the Stormdance clans orbs shatter, killing Stormdancers and leaving the coastal residents in life-threatening danger. Opal must find the true recipe for the orbs and fix them - fast. But as one crisis ends another begins when Opal is kidnapped trying to rescue Kade, a handsome Stormdancers captured by evil warpers. Trapped on the northern ice sheet of Ixia, with a huge storm close behind them Opal comes to terms with her death. She is prepared to sacrifice herself to save Kade. The second in the Glass series, Sea Glass follows Opal as she defies the council and journeys to free her lover from a warper. With more warpers after her and a warrant for her arrest being made public, Opal has to fear for her life as she sacrifices more than she realises to save one she loves.[3]
The third in the Glass series, Spy Glass was released 1 September 2010.
Maria Snyder has said that 'This is the last Study/Glass book for now. I do see potential in many characters in this world, including Heli (the young Stormdancer), Quinn and Fisk.'[4]
Touch of Power (Avry of Kazan - Book 1)[6]