Although I had been handed this book in Chapters and told I must read it, I hadn’t planned on reading Poison Study for a while. In fact, there were quite a few books before it in my TBR pile. But after hearing so many people saying how good this book was, it managed to get bumped to the front of the line.

Yelena is awaiting execution for murdering a General’s son when she is given a choice – an immediate death, or the chance to work as the Commander’s food taster, where death could always be hovering just around the corner. Like any normal person would, she chose not to be executed, but being the food taster brings problems of its own. She has to learn how each poison tastes and smells – thus subjecting herself to deadly poisons which could potentially kill her. Then, of course, the General isn’t happy with the fact that Yelena has escaped execution and is trying to kill her himself. Because, really, how good can a book be without at least one attempt at the hero’s life? ;)

This was an enjoyable book – one of the better ones I’ve read that Luna Books has published. And I did have a hard time putting it down. It was a bit predictable, but the characters were enjoyable. I loved Valek’s role in the whole book, and Yelena was enjoyable, but how I loved Ari and Janco.

The story also could pull you in. While it’s not taking place in a king’s court, it still has that feel to it. And there were so many different things going on – attacks on Yelena, Yelena pretending to escape, as well as her discovering magical abilities…

I may read the second book in this series; I am undecided at the moment.