Night Study by Maria V. Snyder

From Goodreads: "Ever since being kidnapped from the Illiais Jungle as a child, Yelena Zaltana's has been fraught with peril. But the recent loss of her Soulfinding abilities has endangered her more than ever before. As she desperately searches for a way to reclaim her magic, her enemies are closing in, and neither Ixia nor Sitia are safe for her anymore. Especially since the growing discord between the two countries and the possibility of a war threatens everything Yelena holds dear. 

Valek is determined to protect Yelena, but he's quickly running out of options. The Commander suspects that his loyalties are divided, and he's been keeping secrets from Valek...secrets that put him, Yelena and all their friends in terrible danger. As they uncover the various layers of the Commander's mysterious plans, they realize it's far more sinister that they could have ever imagined."

I pre-purchased this book because I knew I would love it.  I wasn't wrong.  Even though it took me nearly two (2) months to finish, I loved every second of it and it was well-worth it.

Night Study picks up right were Shadow Study left off (Thank the higher powers that be!) and I was immediately sucked into the dire situation that Yelena, Valek, Ari, and Janco faced.  The fact that this book took me so long to finish has nothing to do with the writing or the story line, I was just going through a reading slump soon after I picked up this book and didn't want to force myself to finish it simply to finish it.  I wanted to enjoy the story and have fond memories of the book so I would go back and read it again.

There were some plot twists that, when they first started out I didn't see coming, but as they progressed I was able to guess the ending, but Snyder did it so skillfully that it didn't seem awkward or clichéd.  Valek was wonderful, as always and had some delightful lines, as did the rest of the characters.  Some examples:

• "There will always be sharks in the water.  Nothing you can do about it except be careful where you swim."
• "I'm traveling with two assassins and a master swordsman.  How much trouble do you think we'll get in?" (Oh, Yelena. You still haven't learned by now?)
• "'Trying to outguess the enemy is all part of the fun, love.' 'Oh, so that's what we've been doing?  Having fun?  Who knew?' she teased.  'Gee, Valek, you ought to show your girl a better time if she doesn't even know what fun is,' Janco said.  'All right,' he agreed, getting into the spirit.  'Next time, love, I'll take you along on a raid.' 'Oh my.' Yelena fanned her face with a hand. 'Slow down, handsome, or I might swoon from all the excitement.'" (I just love these three so much.  Valek went from hardly ever joking around with anyone to openly teasing Yelena and the Power Twins.  Such wonderful character development!)
• "But that was the problem with grief.  No one ever asked for it.  It arrived with its bags already packed for an extended stay. It settled in your best guest room and demanded to be waited on all day long, and when it finally shuffled out the door, it left behind permanent scratches on your furniture."

I can't wait for Dawn Study!