The Study of Fire

The Study Chronicles: Valek's Adventures #3

by Maria V. Snyder

“What happens if he returns to our world?”
“It will burn.”

There's just no rest for Valek, Ixia’s Chief of Security. Challenges are constant and new problems arrive daily, including a request to help Castletown’s watch solve the mystery of a string of nighttime disturbances, and keeping a close eye on the Commander’s food taster as she schemes her way back into business. As if that isn't enough, the Commander’s life is threatened.

Is the assassination attempt on the Commander a declaration of war by the Sitian Council, or is it a ruse by an unknown party to incite a war between Ixia and Sitia? Valek is sent to Sitia to discover the answer and deal with the threat.

Unfortunately, the problem turns out to be much bigger than even the council and the master magicians can handle. An unsanctioned clan with powerful warpers is plotting to take over both countries. As the danger heats up, Valek and Yelena must reunite and stop the group before they can set their entire world on fire.

A companion novel to Fire Study, The Study of Fire reveals Valek’s side of the story. Find out what problems Valek tackles in Ixia before he joins Yelena in fighting against a unstoppable enemy.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Audiobook, Romantasy, Magic, High Fantasy, Young Adult

348 pages, Paperback

First published November 26, 2024

About the author

When Maria V. Snyder was younger, she aspired to be a storm chaser in the American Midwest so she attended Pennsylvania State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology. Much to her chagrin, forecasting the weather wasn’t in her skill set so she spent a number of years as an environmental meteorologist, which is not exciting...at all. Bored at work and needing a creative outlet, she started writing fantasy and science fiction stories. Over twenty four novels and two short story collections later, Maria’s learned a thing or three about writing. She’s been on the New York Times bestseller list, won a dozen awards, and has earned her Masters of Arts degree in Writing from Seton Hill University, where she is now a faculty member.

Her favorite color is red. She loves dogs, but is allergic, instead she has a big black tom cat named…Kitty (apparently naming cats isn’t in her skill set either). Maria also has a husband and two children who are an inspiration for her writing when they aren't being a distraction. Note: She mentions her cat before her family.

When she's not writing she's either playing pickleball, traveling, or taking pictures. Being a writer, though is a ton of fun. Where else can you take fencing lessons, learn how to ride a horse, study marital arts, learn how to pick a lock, take glass blowing classes and attend Astronomy Camp and call it research? Maria will be the first one to tell you it's not working as a meteorologist.

Readers are welcome to check out her website for book excerpts, free short stories, maps, blog, and her schedule at http://www.MariaVSnyder.com.

Reviews

[Susi K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty much how I expected it. Not bad, but unfortunately also not great. Having read all the other entries in the series of course I knew the main story beats, but there still could have been a bit more tension and suspense.

For example when the commander sends Valek to Sitia to assassinate the council, it is immediately clear he doesn't want to do that. Even though I knew that would be the outcome, I would have enjoyed this much more if he actually would have started by planning it, figuring out how, and then maybe doubting the situation and reassess. It could have been a piece showing the beginning change in his relationship with the commander.

The tension between him and Yelena felt also more real in her PoV. I read Fire Study at least three times by now, and every time I go through the whole ups and downs of her emotions. Here it's all a bit flat.

Overall I think the companion novels suffer from feeling the need to recreate the shared scenes. And those were integral to Yelena's character arc, but don't feel as important to Valek.

Also for the shared chapters and parts, maybe focusing on some previously untold scenes and conversations would have been nice, and omitting the already told parts. As it is, the parts in between mostly feel rushed. When Valek nearly died in the burning stable, I didn't feel his panic. I got to see Moon Man's funeral, but it left me strangely emotionless.

I also expected to see more of the transition from being "the scourge of Sitia" to "the hero in the war against the fire warper". How does this affect him? How do people start seeing him? Pleasantly surprised? Uncomfortable? It could have also been nice to see Gale overcome supposedly widespread prejudices against him.

The novel fills the gaps between Fire Study scenes but I am missing its own arc.

[Xanxa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The overall story is good, containing the usual mix of dark gritty scenes interspersed with lighter comedic moments.

I have to admit, I found this book hard-going in places. I'm used to convoluted plots in fantasy novels, but this one seemed very muddled in the middle section. Also towards the end, some of the narrative read more like a summary/synopsis rather than the sort of narrative I would expect in a full-length novel.

[Suzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This wasn't my favourite of the 3 companion novels, although I still love being in this world.

The original trilogy will always hold a special place for me so these were a lovely addition, but definitely not required reading for the series.

[herdys · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one felt longer than the others. It also didn't help that I didn't remember much of the original one haha. I did like seeing Valen, Ari and Janco when Yelena wasn't around.

[aconstellationoftomes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Valek's adventures are far more engaging when there isn't a rehash of the events in Fire Study . Unfortunately, his PoV here brings nothing fresh to the table.

The story feels surface-level and flat overall and there are moments where I would have liked to see more emotional depth. While I appreciated seeing Valek’s PoV once Yelena was trapped in the fire world, it lacked the emotional depth I was hoping for. Still, it was nice to see the characters trying to pick up the pieces in her absence.

That said, Valek's unexpected moments of kindness in the opening chapters and his sharp sense of humour are highlights. It's always intriguing to see his life as one of the most believable Chief of Securities I've ever read about.

While there are a few moments of charm and intrigue, The Study of Fire fails to deliver the emotional impact or fresh perspectives needed to elevate the story. Ultimately, this book didn’t do much to change my negative opinion of Fire Study.

[Jessica (a GREAT read) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was happy to dive into Valek's point of view one last time in The Study of Fire, which is his story of what he was doing while Yelena dealt with her chaos in Fire Study! This Valek companion trilogy has truly been the best thing ever! I have loved every moment of it. I guess I never realize how much Valek was doing while Yelena had so much on her plate.

Valek had his own problems he was dealing with before he teams up with Yelena in the end. Trouble always seems to be happening in Ixia, and trouble means Valek continues to be very busy. He's dealing with a general hunting snow cats, which is illegal and then there's still Star who he had been training to be the next food taster, but she seems to be scheming something of her own. Then someone attempts to kill the Commander via poisonous snake, although Valek begins to suspect there's something odd about the attempted assassination as it seems like it was too easy to stop.

We once again get to see Ari and Janco in action, and I so love these two! They are like brothers in a sense as they get into mischief together and then also help pull the other through danger. They are truly a dynamic duo!

Valek is eventually led back into Sitia where there's nefarious plotting being done within the Citadel. Suspicions are turned onto Yelena, which Valek knows are false and he will do whatever it takes to save his love, luckily they have plenty of friends who are ready and willing to help as well. And soon we learn of an even darker plot afoot!

Needless to say this one kept me on my toes even though I know the story through Yelena's eyes, even if it has been awhile! But all the feels and love I had for the original Study trilogy was revived with reading the story through Valek's eyes. Valek was a very busy man, but I love seeing him in action as he's the resourceful badass one can't help but root for!

The intensity of the danger was very high in this one! Time has made my memory fuzzy but, some things still came back to me as the story went on. It does make it a little more fun as I can still be surprised in some ways. The ending was truly spectacular as I felt like this was that bonus epilogue that we were left wondering about at the end of Fire Study.

If you've ever wondered what Valek was thinking throughout the series, then his companion trilogy is one you will want to read! You're not getting the exact same story from his point of view, as he and Yelena are actually separated quite a bit, those moments may always seem small the first time around, but when you read the other side, you realize just how long it was! This series was just mind blowing and totally amazing! If you've been itching to return to the Study World, this is your chance!




Overall Rating 5/5 stars

[Eryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. Okay so I know I gave Fire Study a lower rating than the other books in this series, so logic would follow that this book would be rated lower as well. But what logic doesn’t account for is how much I love reading this story from Valek’s perspective. I love this series from his POV so much. Every book from Valek’s perspective adds depth, clarity, and further expands upon his relationship with Yelena. It’s also just fun to read about an assassin/spy master and his adventures related to those things.

I will say that this book also cleared up some things I was confused about in Fire Study. Sometimes things happen wayyyy to fast with Yelena and you don’t really have a second to process what’s happening, but since Valek is calm and calculating the books in his POV have a certain clarity that sometimes isn’t present in the other books.

I have no major complaints about this book, and this series continues to keep me engaged and entertained! I just wish the special editions I ordered from Fairy Loot of all the six main books were here so I could move on to Shadow Study asap 😩

[Barbara A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully plotted, exciting read!

Maria Snyder just gets better and better. What an enjoyable
book! I dashed through it in two days, despite the Christmas activities because I was so keen on finding out what was going to happen. Valek’s Adventures has been a great new take on the Study books. I am so glad I decided to give them a try. I was skeptical whether I’d enjoy doing the same series from a different perspective, but it has been super. It’s not a rehash of Yelena and Valek’s story, it is totally new material and, wow, it does not disappoint! Of course I strongly recommend you read the whole series or you’ll be pretty clueless as to what’s going on, but the whole series is so good, you’ll be glad you did. Top marks for all of them. Snyder’s talent at world building is really impressive.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I like most about this Valek's Adventures trilogy is the fact we get so much NEW material! Sometimes you get alternative POV books and it's like 80% the same and 20% new. In this case, since Valek and Yelena are separated for a majority of the book, it's really almost all new information. Like I really enjoyed the fight for second in command. I still enjoy his moments with The Commander, which gives you a completely different perspective. I mean, I just liked everything. I liked being in Valek's mind and how he thinks. It adds so much more to him.

I'm sad to be finished with these 3 and hope Snyder does the next 3!

[Maja Helena · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I liked it and found it to be a good book, I think I have to admit that this specific series wasn't really for me.

I think there's a reason Snyder originally had Yelena be the protagonist of this story. While I like Valek, I actually liked him more when I just saw him from Yelena's point of - I liked following him in The Study of Poison and it was fun to see the start of their relationship from his point of view, but the next two books were not all that necessary in my opinion.

[Chris Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This feels like it has a lot more of its own meat than the other ‘study of’ books, but still has the same flaw that the shared scenes are brushed over too quickly, which leaves the ending feel incredibly rushed and incomplete. It deserved to be retold in full, just with the emphasis switched slightly. As it is, it really feels like Ari and Janco just vanish, and other characters sacrifices don’t carry the emotional weight here that they deserve.
Still a very enjoyable and easy read, and I know I will be re-reading all the books of this world sometime in the future.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the last of Valek’s novels from the series, and it didn’t seem to add a huge amount of new perspective to the existing tale. If anything, due to the long span of time it’s been for me since Fire Study, this sort of muddied the waters. Yelena’s trials and tribulations are basically a mystery and not really recounted, and Valek didn’t get up to much that we didn’t already know or could infer. There are a lot of costume changes in here.
I still found it engaging and tore through the book, but I don’t think it’s one I’ll need to revisit.

[Susan Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story in this series.

The Study chronicles told through Valek’s point of view, are in every way equal to those told in Yelena’s point of view. In this instalment, tensions develop between Ixia and its neighbour Sitia, when a poisonous snake is sent to Ixia’s Commander, as a gift. Then an investigation by Valek reveals corruption and intrigue within Sitia’s ruling council. Yelena is under suspicion by her fellow magicians as her powers are so different and her being raised in Ixia doesn’t help her at all.

[Alexandra G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It gets 5 stars because I can't give any less for this amazing series ever.
I didn't enjoy this one as much, it felt rushed and Valek was like a cheerleader on the sidelines for Yelena. It was weird to read the pov of a character that felt so secondary.
Part of his appeal in Yelena's books was his mysterious nature.

No matter, I still liked this glimpse into this world that I love so much. Now I'm really tempted to read the next ones again.

[Tynga · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was the last book from Valek's point-of-view and I really enjoyed it once again. Of course Ari & Janco are also present in this book and they really hold a special place in my heart!
I strongly suggest you do the tandem read with the original Fire Study book so you follow both Yelena and Valek's adventures simultaneously while they are apart.
You can find the guide on Maria's facebook page, but also on my TT and IG as I wrote them :) @tyngabooks
Happy Reading!

[Tracee · Rating 5 out of 5]

No surprise here...I wish I could give The Study of Fire a million stars. Maria V Snyder never disappoints when writing Valek/Yelena stories. They are the 'Luke and Laura' of literature. (For those of you too young to know Luke and Laura, ask an 80's General Hospital soap opera fan to fill you in!) Loving the study series told from Valek's POV! Thank you, Maria, for the masterpiece of their love story.

[Mina Reads All Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Chronicles of Ixia. This companion series from Valek's POV is fun to read because we already know the story but get more bits and pieces. This one felt a bit longer than the others even though they are all around 340 pages. I love getting Valek's POV I didn't read the original 3 books before these because I wanted the story to be a bit fresh. I could remember the basic points of Fire Study to appreciate this book as a companion but enough that all this was fresh.

[Dahana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/4, rounded down.
It's been enjoyable seeing Valek's side of these books. I was really glad I didn't have to revisit Yelena's jerk-face phase she was having during most of Fire Study, since Valek and her were apart during most of that. However, I would have liked to see a bit more character growth for Valek other than just learning what he was up to and how his feelings keep growing for Yelena. I also just really, really want Ari and Janco to be gay for each other lol.

[A.L. Kaplan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic conclusion to the Study Of books. Ms. Snyder does not disappoint. Valek doesn’t get a break as he investigates strange happenings, assassination attempts, illegal businesses, and threats from international powerful magicians. All while the love of his life is miles away. At least he has help.

[Katie McConnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. I absolutely love the banter between Valek and the commander. I like to think that they are the brothers the other one doesn’t have. Reading about all the events in Fire Study from Valeks POV adds so much more to the story.

[Willuknight Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fire study was probably my least favorite of the study series, mainly due to a weak and confusing plot.

This is slightly better, but only slightly. Really it should be 2 stars, but I'm being generous.

[Alaina Braatz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always fun to get the book retold by Valek’s perspective. Adds so much more depth to the main storyline. As a standalone book it was eh. But contributing to the main storyline of this series I liked the elaboration on a new perspective.

[Ash P · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cherry on top

Finally getting to the bottom of Valeks side of things, the ups and downs, twists and turns. The emotion! Do yourself a favour and read this, along with anything else Maria has written, you will not be disappointed!

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, Fire Study was so good and this book was also very good but knowing what happens already, I felt the new things dragged on for a while. I was getting impatient to get to the new POV for the plot points I already knew.

[Rhiannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

having read all the chronicles of ixia books several times i thought I knew the story. seeing it from Valek's POV was just as exciting and emotional as Yelena's POV in Fire Study. Definitely a few tears shed along the way.

[Maria V. Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course I'm giving this 5 stars - I wrote it. ;) Wow - I didn't realize there would be so many series names attached to this book. This one was a ton of fun to write. I hope you enjoy!!

[✿~Danielle~✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

• 26/11/24 | (k)
___________________________
Valek

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, this was a fantastic read, I loved seeing events from his perspective, and it's a bit sad, that it's the end of the series!

[Daphne Pelgrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! If you are looking for an adventure, read this series!
Still the best book series I have ever read!

[Aydrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love getting more time in one of my favorite series, also love that it is a lot of new info that you don’t get in the original series!