Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder is the first book in a new series due for release December 27 2011. Fans of Snyder’s previous novels will delight in this new series. Avry of Kazan is a healer, a magic user in serious danger. Since a plague spread over the land people blamed the healers and most were killed in retaliation. Any healers left, including Avry, need to hide their nature in order to survive. But taking on a young girl’s illness and healing her instead of letting her die earns Avry nothing less than a death sentence. Then a band of rogues rescue her from her cell it is her healing ability that they prize her for, hoping that she will heal their prince. She is left with little choice, stay and die or travel with the men in order to save the life of a man that she despises. No matter the choice, Avry is certain that death is in her future. Power plays, mercenaries, unexpected friendships, and a crazed prince willing to pervert nature in order to rule the world make the decision easier to make but increasingly difficult to carry out.
Touch of Power Introduces readers to a new realm, and a new cast of characters. The world is the Fifteen Realms, unfortunately much of the world is devastated by a plague and attacks from leaders that want to increase their power. In this world there are eleven kinds of magic, including healing. Avry is a compassionate, strong and intelligent twenty year old. She has been through a lot, but is still willing to risk her life to save the lives of innocent children or just about anyone not harming others. The rogues that rescue her are Kerrick, Belen, Vinn, Quain and Flea. Kerrick is the leader of the group, and as intelligent and stubborn as Avry. They each have their roles, and each of the men trusts the sick prince and Kerrick completely. Bonds form, minds shift, and hearts open.
There is no insta love, like you might see in other books. The character growth and foundation of relationships happen at a slow pace, like they would in really life. But I expect nothing less from Snyder, she is wonderfully in developing characters and situations that feel real even when set in a fantasy environment. The villain of the story is as well developed as the rest of the characters, and just thinking about him still makes my skin crawl. He is not a flat character, he is given a back-story that lets readers glimpse into his childhood and teen years, though in the end it all just makes him for frightening. I do not want to tell too much about the actual journey or relationships because I really enjoyed taking the journey with the characters and want every reader to enjoy it as much as I did. Scheming, struggling, and journeys fill Touch of Power to the brim. My only complaint is that the story ended at all, I just wanted to continue reading. I am already chomping at the bit to get a look at Scent of Magic, book two of the Healer series.
I highly recommend Touch of Power to all fans of Snyder and anyone that loves well written fantasy. I am including adults and young adults in this, since the romance in the story remains within the same boundaries of her previous books. Snyder fans that have not loved other books as much as Poison Study can rejoice, Touch of Power holds the same intensity and addictive draw as Poison Study. I am looking forward to getting my hands on a paper copy and adding it to my permanent collection.