Scent of magic

★★★★★
5.00 STARS 

I JUST SO FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK, EVERY SINGLE PART OF IT!!! AND EVEN IF THIS BOOK SHATTERED ME WITH THAT ENDING (OMG THAT ENDING 😭😭), I STILL LOVED THIS SO MUCH. I DON'T THINK I CAN WAIT FOR ANOTHER DAY TO START THE NEXT BOOK. I HAVE NO REGRET READING THIS TRILOGY, SO FAR!!

Sandra Tammaru

OMG I hated that ending!!!! Otherwise sooo good once more, love the worldbuilding and original ideas that are used! Loved the intricate schemes that were in play and all the characters! Cant wait to finish the series

Alexandra Mellas

Publication Date: December 18th, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
ISBN: 0778314189
Age Group: Young/New Adult
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
Source: Provided by the publisher through NetGalley
Lootability: ****

About the book – beware, spoilers from Touch of Power
Scent of Magic is the second book in Maria V. Snyder’s Healer series. Avry, the last healer in the Fifteen Realms, was kidnapped and forced into service in order to save Prince Rynn – except, somewhere along the way Avry and her kidnappers formed a comradery and Avry volunteered her healing powers in an effort to save her world.

Now Avry is on the move again, hidden in plain sight, Avry is practicing caution and keeping her healing powers concealed now that everyone believes the Healer is dead.

Meanwhile, Avry’s partner Kerrick, our stony hero from Touch of Magic, must let Avry walk away from him and return to his protect his own kingdom from a new threat – one that could threaten the success of Prince Rynn’s attack on the maniacal King Tohon’s undead forces.

My Thoughts
I’m a big Maria V Snyder fan, I did a happy dance earlier this year when she did an interview for Raiding Bookshelves (and offered a giveaway!), and I might have busted out some moves when I was given the opportunity to read an ARC of Scent of Magic.

I took to Scent of Magic with the same enthusiasm with which I’ve taken up any of her other books. Yet, I found Scent of Magic was lacking some of the fun I remember from Touch of Magic. The characters are just as real, Avry still has her ass kicking style, and Kerrick is as impassive but passionate as Mr Darcy (for whom women all over the world have a gigantic soft spot).

I had two problems, that I think explained my reticence when giving a review of Scent of Magic. Firstly, though they made an appearance, there was hardly enough show time for the Monkeys and Belen. That group of mischief making was a big factor in why I enjoyed Touch of Magic so much. They were Avry’s family and I missed the regular interactions between the group. Now that I think about it, I can’t recall all of them being together for more than a page (or two depending what you’re reading from). I needed more Monkey business.

Secondly, a lot happened in this story. There were storming armies, traps, dead and undead, telepathic flowers and deceptions left, right and centre. It was exciting and yet, when I finished, I was left with a sense of incompleteness (this is apart from the utter disbelief caused by the ending – but I’ll get to that). So much happened, and yet I don’t know that the narrative progressed that far.
It felt like Snyder used Scent of Magic to give her characters a good work out, but it didn't flow as well as Touch of Magic.

Enough Complaining – I really enjoyed it and plan on getting my hands on a paperback ASAP
Avry is becoming a much stronger character. She has an opportunity to grow beyond her identity as a Healer. Being a healer might be the focal point of her life, but she takes the opportunity to develop herself beyond the sickroom. She puts her survival skills to the test and comes up triumphant.
Kerrick becomes a more open personality. His time away from Avry allows him to reflect on his feelings, while his experiences with the children shows a sweet and protective side that will make all the girls say “awww”.

Get Reading
Scent of Magic is a worthy companion to Touch of Magic and has so many mini-cliff hangers (almost one per chapter), it literally kept me on the edge of my seat.
There is one amazing, soul filling surprise that will have Snyder fans everywhere doing fist pumps, as well as several heart wrenching moments and a closing scene cliff hanger that you will feel like a kick in the teeth.
Scent of Magic comes out December 18, 2012. Get excited and get reading because Touch of Death is promised for December 2013 and I'm already giddy with anticipation.

Sinead Heffernan

I loved this book if it wasn't for that ending and the fact that the next book is not out till December 2013. I think I'll go cry now.

Lacey

Also posted at Booklovers For Life

Maria freaking V. Snyder does it again! Scent of Magic is another excellent book in the Healer series, which I am totally in love with. Maria V. Snyder does fantasy so perfectly–if you’re looking to read a fantasy book, you must read Maria V. Snyder. And oh my, Scent of Magic was just too good.

To be honest, I was a bit worried, because in the blurb, it says “And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.” When I saw that, I went NOOOO, because I adore Kerrick, and I wanted more of him and Avry. They FINALLY got together at the very end of Touch of Power, and it made be so happy. But it’s not only the romance I love about them. The author writes them in a way that is so perfect–it’s the way they work together, how they’re so kickass and strong independently and together that really appeals to me. The Healer series is not a romance, but a fantasy book with romance in it. Which is perfect for me!

Okay, okay, back to me being worried. Was I worried? Yes. Did I need to be worried? Absolutely not. Imagine my surprise when I saw after chapter one the word KERRICK at the top of the page! Yes, we get Kerrick’s POV! Technically, it’s third person, but who cares? We get to see Kerrick’s side of the story, since he and Avry don’t get to physically be together. Avry is believed to be dead by everyone, and only Kerrick knows differently. And they have to use this advantage to fight against Tohon, the evil, intriguing megalomaniac. Avry must go back to find her sister while Kerrick must go to meet up with Prince Ryne to make battle plans.

I loved reading Kerrick’s POV, and learning more about him since we didn’t get very much in the first book. I like the way he thinks, the clever way he plans everything. He’s a very straightforward man, and his top priorities are Avry and helping Prince Ryne defeat Tohon. He makes me swoon so freaking hard. Love this man.

Avry is equally fantastic as well. While trying to make amends with her sister, Avry disguises herself and joins Estrid’s army (who is an ally of Ryne). She integrates herself into the soldiers’ lives, becoming familiar with them, and even developing friendships. Avry also has to teach these soldiers how to successfully move about silently while out on the battlefield. I was glad to see that Avry and Kerrick still managed to be grow independently, and does a lot of growth in this second novel. I admired her even more–she can heal people and fight people with her swords!

Scent of Magic is just divine. But fair warning, there is a KILLER cliffhanger at the end! Other than that, this book is definitely not a disappointment for fans of the first book. It’s an excellent sequel, and the plot is just brilliant! Twist after twist that I did not see coming, and there’s non-stop action.

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Katerina Thorson

4/5
**Reread from 5 years ago

Ugh, the nostalgia I am getting when I read these books. After rereading the second book, I realized that I did not like it as much the second time. Not because it was a "second-book" syndrome type of thing but more because it was a lot slower paced than what I thought it was (P.S if you don't know what "second-book syndrome" is definitely look it up). I mean, it has been 5 years since I last read it but I still remember most of the book...call it a talent XD. 

Once again we are thrown into the chaotic world of The Fifteen Realms. After escaping Tohron and laying destruction to his castle and being brought back to life with a Peace Lily of all things, our characters can't even catch a break in the beginning of the second book. Which, was one of the things I liked about Scent of Magic. While the rest of the book tends to slow down, I am grateful that the Author jumps right into where we left off. It makes it seem as if we never left the world. 


  "We need to work on your negotiation skills. Generally you don't goad the person holding the knife into hurrying."
"Your're still alive. Besides you weren't helping," I said. 
"I was keeping out of it."
"Uh-huh. You're welcome."


While I was grateful for the slow-burn romance in the first book, I was not too happy that our love-birds didn't really get much focus in this book. They were separated, doing their own saving the world thing, for most of the book until the last 5 pages. Which, honestly makes no sense. They barely got together in the last 5 pages of the first book, Touch of Power, and their relationship really didn't get to blossom in this second book. Which is why I stated in my review of the first book: "while I love the romance between Avry and Kerrick, it also isn't needed because both are such independent characters." If you are not going to at least give these characters a chance at developing the romance, than don't have them together. 

However, what lacked in love did not lack in character development. 

Avry while still full of light and love, now understands the cruelties of the world. However, it has not changed who she is. She is still filled with the need to help others. She just understands not everyone can be saved, nor wants to be saved. I love her character arch. 

Kerrick is still a character I would like to see evolve more. Yes, his first instinct is not to kill on sight. In fact there are many times where he asks his opponent just to walk away. And yes, he isn't as moody as the first book but there is still that bit of grumpiness lingering. However, I will say that I prefer him in the second book over the first book. 

As I stated earlier, while the plot was decent and there was amazing world building..the pace -after the first 50 pages - was dreadfully slow. The characters were just running around, looking for things, fighting bad guys in a very military tactful way...which I loved because it was very correct for the time period this story would have taken place in...however, with that realistic military tactile comes the slowness and drag on of a war. Which I was not too impressed with. I some places I just started flipping through the pages quickly because it felt like the same stuff I read in the other pages. 

All in all I still love Maria V. Snyders writing and her world building was phenomenal in this book. I just wish there was more fast paced action and less military tactics.

Scent of magic

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