YA Novelties

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I read Touch of Power last year and loved it so much. It was my first Maria V. Snyder novel, the beginning of one of my latest obsessions. So when I saw Scent of Magic on NetGalley, I knew that I just had to read and review it! However, Scent of Magic failed to excite and thrill me as much as its predecessor did. My expectations for this book were so high, so I felt really let down by this book.

Scent of Magic immediately begins after the events we were left off on. Avry has discovered the cure for the disease plaguing her world, but can't fully utilize it because the concept is still quite sketchy. She additionally separates from Kerrick to hide, and meanwhile trains the army to fight against Tohon's zombies. As she stays around with the army, Kerrick tries the rally the army. Unfortunately, this is when we run into a problem: my description is exactly the same as the blurb, right? Yes, because that's all that happens!

Basically, everything I loved about Touch of Power is lost in this lack-luster sequel. The witty banter between Avry, Kerrick, and Kerrick's gang is gone when everyone is separated on their own missions to save the kingdoms. Avry seems to no longer try to take control of her life anymore, and instead leaves it up to the people that surround her; her sister, her commander and the soldiers she is around. In other words, this was incredibly boring to read.

I am hoping that this is just a filler book between an epic beginning and a grand finale. Of course I totally plan on reading the next book in the series, Taste of Death, but I sincerely hope that Maria V. Snyder will reach her A-game next time around, because honestly, Scent of Death was a scrambled jumble of events that left me feeling empty when I finished.

E-ARC courtesy of Harlequin MIRA via NetGalley. Thank you Harlequin and NetGalley!

Angie @YA Novelties