Revisit Yelena & Valek

I have a very fun history with Poison Study. I remember finding the hardcover edition at Borders and deciding that I could eat cup of noodle for a couple weeks to afford it and the sequel Magic Study. Read them in one night, just in time to go to my first ever author signing a week or so later with Maria.

I was so nervous. I circled the store twice, books clutched in my arms, giddy but terrified to meet her and talk about how much I enjoyed the story of Yelena and Valek.

Now 17 years later I've read their atory multiple times across the entire Chronicles of Ixia series. Saw Yelena fall into an uneasy truce, then cautious interest before full tilt love. Saw their relationship flourish, even as they had multiple hardships and separations.

All from Yelena's point of view (aside from occasional short stories set around and during events).

And like many others I've wanted to see... not when Valek fell in love, exactly, more like wanting to see the same amount of uncertainty maybe. To see how he'd respond to her actions.

Also I really wanted to see what he was up to whenever Yelena wasn't around. Dude's job was security and he had a huge workforce. He had to be drowning in work.

What was surprising was seeing the Commander a little differently too. While I wouldn't say Ambrose became super soft around Valek, when they were alone, he definitely allowed more of his dry wit to come out. It was easier to see why Valek was getting more and more agitated over the Commander's gradual change.

And the amount of times Ambrose took Valek to task for either being too paranoid (gave him a medal for it!) or completely missing the point of what Ambrose was trying to tell him was amusing. You could see the friendship, respect and loyalty the two shared. A bond that likely never would have been equalled if Valek hadn't taken a curious interest in why a murderer had committed their crime. ( )