Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder Review

Touch of Power (Healer #1) by Maria V. Snyder
★★★★★
Release Date: December 20, 2011
Publisher: Mira, Harlequin
Age: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Magic, Romance, Action, Adventure
Format: e-book
Source: Harlequin via Netgalley
Buy it: Paperback, Kindle, Nook
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 Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Territories, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos. Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life...

It's no secret that I love Maria V. Snyder's work. Poison Study is one of my top favorite books of all time, and Inside Out is up there as well (along with everyone of her other books). When I saw that Touch of Power was coming out I was giddy with glee. Thank goodness Netgalley had it and I didn't have to wait until release because I would have gone crazy with anticipation.

In the true fashion that is Maria's work, she creates some of the most beautiful and vividly captivating landscapes imaginable in Touch of Power. It's full of lush scenes and brilliant forestry that made me feel like I was with the characters throughout their journey. This book is set in the years following a plague that killed a lot of the population throughout the kingdoms. Famine is occurring, poverty, and on the brink of war no one knows who to trust.

Our main character, Avry, is incredibly powerful, smart, caring, and is also a healer, quite possibly the last. Healers were said to have caused the plague, which obviously didn't go over well. When Avry is captured by a group of men who need her to heal someone important, she doesn't go willingly even though they saved her from death. She can heal any illness with the touch of her hand, but there might be a catch, and is she willing to take the risk? She immediately clashes with their leader Kerrick, and puts up a fight throughout the story, she is strong willed and made me smile throughout the story with her banter and grievances, she never let her guard down. Avry, much like all of Maria's heroines (Yelena, Trella, and the others) is a very capable survivor. She stands up for herself, thinks for herself, and is over all one bad ass! I love it! Maria V. Snyder doesn't disappoint.

My favorite part of this book were Kerrick's "merry men". They bring comedy and love into this adventure tale, and they are all admiring in their own ways.

This book is action packed and there is something happening on every page, many many surprised take place, especially the love story that begins to unfold. It's now on the top of my favorites shelf and it's going to take a force of nature to bring it down!

So, was it as good as I was expecting? Better! Do I recommend it? Heck yes! I say it at least once a week it seems like but if you haven't read Poison Study, pick it up!! You don't have to read it to read this one, the two have nothing to do with each other, but it's an amazing book and worth a try!! Especially while waiting for the release of Touch of Power.