It's summer, which means I'm in the mood for light, easy reading. Between the summer job, weddings, visiting family members and a busy baby at home, I don't want to read anything that's going to require much thought. So I'm rereading Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder. It's an old one - 2005- but very enjoyable. One of my summer goals was to catch up on a few series. I read this a few years ago and the sequel, Magic Study, was on my TBR list (To Be Read) but when I picked it up, I had forgotten too much of the story to enjoy it. Time to revisit!
What I liked about Poison Study is that it has some subtle fantasy elements, but they aren't totally in your face. I think the second and third in the trilogy will have more magic, but the first is something that will appeal to fantasy fans as well as those who prefer a story that's more grounded in reality. It's about a young woman who is about to be hanged for murder when she is given the opportunity to become a food tester for the society's leader. Immediate death by hanging or the endless uncertainty of tasting food for poisons? Which would you choose?