Not worth it if you've read Poison Study

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Nope, because the main themes and even major parts of the story seemed to be repeats of "Poison Study": heroine about to be put to death, love-hate relationship between the two main characters, there was even another hide-and-seek game in the forest... all of which I enjoyed the first time I listened to Poison Study.

Have you listened to any of Gabra Zackman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I love Gabra Zackman and she's pretty much the only reason I was able to finish listening to this book. If it was anyone else I would have given up about halfway through.

Any additional comments?

I got this book because I loved, loved, LOVED "Poison Study" and thought this book would be as entertaining as that series. It's not as good - the story isn't as fleshed out, and frankly Avry was a little dense and her love interest wasn't that much better. All in all it’s a pretty meh read.

14 people found this helpful

Finding I love this author!

Another winner!

During the study series, it took me a bit to get used to Gabra Zackman as the narrator, but by the third book, I really started to appreciate her talent. In Touch of Power, she is AMAZING. There are so many subtleties to her voice to really draw the proper emotion. She is also great at consistent accents and tones for the different characters.

Maria V. Snyder did a great job with this story. Like one of the previous comments mentioned, there was a point in the story where I got a little impatient and thought, "okay, let's get on with it", but that only lasted for a moment and I was dragged right back in to the adventure. This story was meant to span a great amount of time, and she did a great job of relaying that long distance and passing of time without boring me. And the character development was definitely thorough, and appreciated.

When I first read the summary of this book (girl with the power to heal by drawing in others' sickness into her body), I was a bit hesitant and reluctant to download it, because I was worried the main character, Avery, was just going to be a wannabe Yelena from the study series. Not at all, as I discovered. Avery is an entirely different character, and holds her own. Despite what seemed like would be too much of a similarity, Avery's powers are unique and the story in Touch of Power is very original.

I definitely recommend this as a read. Now to wait for Book 2...

13 people found this helpful

Really, Really Good!

I am a big fan of her other books and I really enjoyed this one. The writing is good, the story is good, the characters are well developed. This is similar to her Glass and Study books, a touch of romance, mixed with fantasy and a bit of paranormal. (I'll read from that shelve all day) The story starts strong and does not let go. I was up half the night listening and waiting for a good stopping place. I totally recommend this one... the only bad thing is going to be the wait for the next book in the series, but I will not mind re listening to this one when book two comes out. Enjoy...

11 people found this helpful

Another Winner

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

One of my favorite authors is back with yet what looks to be another excellent triology. I can't wait for the next book in this new series! And, as always, Gabra Zackman is wonderful in her narration! This is truly a 5-star winner!

7 people found this helpful

False & misleading advertising & reviews - BORING!

I received an email from Audible. I mean who hasn???t gotten an email from them ???helping??? us to find books to spend our credits on? So it suggested some good romance books for me???cause that???s my area of interest. Like a stupid, blind, propaganda-following-fool, I put this book in my Wish List. The reviewers were raving about it and so, not having ever read this author, and wanting something new???I took the plunge???apparently into a toilet bowl of lies, melodramatic plant infested storylines and absolutely NO ROMANCE whatsoever. About three fourths of the way into the boring listening experience I wondered if there would ever be anything even remotely resembling a romantic scene. So I went to my local bookstore and found a copy of this book. Here it is people: There are 390 pages and the first kiss between the main characters starts at page 369. It???s so un-noteworthy that the ???sex??? scene is a whole three sentences long. I???m not into porn on earphones, but could I get a little bit more finesse in there that could possibly mollify me after hours of listening to the main characters being caught and released so many times I felt like I was listening to a fishing show? No. Absolutely damn not. Such a waste of a credit it makes me wanna hurl. All of you who gave this a good review need to go and get a clue. Audible needs to yank this thing out of Romance and put it where it belongs: In the sincerely-boring Fantasy section. I should have just listened to the radio. It???s free.

6 people found this helpful

I'm now a fantasy fan.

Wanting to broaden my scope by listening to something in the fantasy genre, I listened to Maria V. Snyder's Poison Study narrated by Gabra Zackman. I was HOOKED! The sequels were equally as delightful and I was missing them dearly when I finished. When Touch of Power was available, I immediately downloaded it and listened and was not disappointed. The story line is interesting and I found myself taking longer walks so I would not have to turn it off. The only bad thing is when they end. More please.

6 people found this helpful

Not a Romance book

I got this during a bogo romance special it was under supernatural romance. it started out good and I enjoyed the fantasy post apocalyptic story line but its not a romance. there's a little romantic tension throughout the book and a few kiss and romance in the last 16 minutes but other then that this was more a fantasy novel. the reader was a little monotone but I could be me (I don't like female readers) . the story could use a second book (lot of loose ends) but I did like the book overall.

so if you want to read a fun fantasy book I suggest it if you won't a romance book look else where.

5 people found this helpful

Fun fantasy!

I need to read more from Maria V. Snyder! She just tells good, easy-to-read stories.

This was great! I kept trying to squeeze in a few extra minutes before putting my earphones down. This has action, adventure, the barest touch of romance and some interesting world-building. I don’t know if it’s the author or the combination of the author and narrator or what, but the storyline maintains excitement without making you feel too anxious even during the more desperate moments. That’s what I mean by easy to listen to!

The setting is fantasy with a slight post-apocalyptic edge. (And yes, it is fantasy. The writing is feminine, but this isn’t a romance novel so be warned if that’s your preference! Every now and again this gets misclassified.) Avery’s constantly on the run for her life but there are people out there who know who she is, and now a new group (or two, or three!) has plans for her that may have far-reaching political implications. Needless to say, that's just the beginning and then things get complicated. Somehow I was a bit worried that a story about someone whose magic involved being sick or injured would be a bit of a downer, but it wasn’t at all. The male lead did slightly remind me of the male lead from Snyder’s Poison Study series, but fear not, this is very much its own storyline.

Overall, fun story with a few unexpected twists, engaging characters, and nice narration. I’ve already bought the next in the series and give this two thumbs up. Strongly recommended!

3 people found this helpful

Great story & fantastic narration.

PJV Quickie: I highly enjoyed TOUCH OF POWER from Maria V. Snyder, but what else can be expected with this author. Synder has a way of building tension, creating characters and painting a picture with every sentence.

Review: Avry of Kazan is a healer, by placing her hands on an injured or sick person she assumes their sickness, and her own advancing healing system heals her. It was once a respected profession, until the plague. Now, because of the devastation of the plague assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Avry is left to live a half-life, where she has to hide what she is and watch as people die around her. Unable to watch the young die from something that she could save, Avry gives in and the parents of a girl she saves turns her in. Healers are hated and feared. The regent of the territory has also put a big reward on a healer’s capture. But, before she can be killed she is “saved” by a group of men, who insist that she has to save their “friend.”

TOUCH OF POWER was a fun and fantastical listen. The narrator Gabra Zackman was very talented and unobtrusive. The book was classic Synder. Both Avry and Kerrick were characters that will resonate with me for a long time to come. The most poignant point of the novel is the transition of Avry, she is a great character. She goes from scared but still courageous to empowered and willing to take on the world for her new friends.

Then there was the world-building, a fantasy mixed with a dystopian, it was great. Plague destroyed world with rogues and magic. I was also a big fan of the relationship dynamic between the characters and the mystery surrounding the mission of the rogues and Avry. Everything was laid out perfectly. From Avry’s point-of-view the information was revealed as she discovered it and any withholding made sense and was expected.

How can I describe this perfectly? The story just unfolds as you read it. It lays before you, every little piece something to be appreciated. Kerrick the secondary character is the puzzle that is most intriguing and his character’s transition within the eyes of Avry is the reason I read books. I read to experience characters like this. But, don’t take my word for it. This is a highly recommended book and I urge you to experience it for yourself.

But, I know what you are thinking. Why only 4.5 stars PJ? Where did the but…come in? And quite frankly, it is because I read POISON STUDY. One of my all time favorite books. And in fact, I read POISON STUDY right before listening to TOUCH OF POWER. It is one of my favorite books to re-read and I wanted to experience it on audiobook, so I downloaded both POISON STUDY and TOUCH OF POWER. Because of this, I noticed similarities between the characters of Avry and Kerrick and Valek and Yelena. Mostly in the transition of the characters. While the similarities were annoying it did not distract from the overall story.

Recommendations: Recommended for Young Adult fantasy and lighter fantasy fans. Fans of POISON STUDY should really enjoy. This is a more mature young adult so it is recommended for older teens and in fact I would think of this more of an adult novel then young adult. I highly recommend to my readers that you pick up a Maria V. Snyder book if you haven’t already – they are truly an experience.

3 people found this helpful

STORY HAS NO DEBTH...NARRATOR LACKS EMOTION!

What disappointed you about Touch of Power?

The narrator was the primary disappointment but the story wasn't that spectacular either.

Would you ever listen to anything by Maria V. Snyder again?

I think I'm going to avoid Maria V. Snyder, unless her writing skills improve drastically.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Gabra Zackman, the narrator, is awful. She does not sound like a 20 year old and her voice is more masculine than feminine. Most of the narration was either unemotional or monotonous. It annoyed me that the narrator ended sentences by slightly raising her voice and making the story sound like a string of questions. For me, the narrator diminished what little power the story had...she made the story sound like baby-talk.

Any additional comments?

I thought I was listening to a children's book. First the narrator and then the story. The people, places, descriptions (actually lack of) are superficial, dull and barely interesting. The underdeveloped characters are simple, flat and not very memorable. On one hand Avry is introduced to us as one who is condemned to death because in her world such healers have been accused of spreading the plague. Avry heals people and actually welcomes other people's pain and injuries; but on the other hand, a deadly illness is just as deadly for her too. So here's the question. What's the real benefit of being a healer if Avry can only heal minor/healable illnesses...because these people could heal on their own and probably would anyways!?!Then there's Avry's love interest, Kerrick, who is a total jerk. He backhands, starves and exposes our heroine to the elements in the hope that some cold weather and shivering will break her will...really!?! (rolling my eyes). I do admit it...I am so sorry I purchased this audiobook.

3 people found this helpful