Release Date: December 20th 2011
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Publisher: Harlequin Teen Australia
Source: Publisher for Review
Format: Paperback
Where to Buy: Amazon & The Book Depository
More Info: Goodreads
Summary from Goodreads:
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....
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....
My review:
Cover:
The small lights gathering around the girl is really gorgeous. I also love the girl's dress and hair plus the shiny feeling of the cover. The girl actually reflects Avry, with the healer's tattoon on her back. I can actually imagine myself living in the world of this book through the cover!
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| 4 Forget-me-not flowers for the cover! |
When you're the only one of your kind left, all you can do is survive...
Avry of Kazan is a healer. While healers are supposed to be honoured and respected, she is hunted. Healers are hunted because people believe that they cause the plague that has killed lots of people in different territories. When she is captured by the people after healing a little girl, a band of rogues rescued her and soon, she becomes close to them. They have no intention of killing her, yet asks her to heal a Prince who can bring peace once more to their lands. As Avry travels to seek the Prince, she finds herself caring for this group of people she is travelling with and this makes her task complicated, because saving the Prince means losing her life...
So this is my first Maria V. Snyder book and all I can say is WOW. JUST WOW! Maria, you've got one more fan! This book was very addictive. Touch of Power is written in Avry's POV, as she struggles with her identity secrecy of being a healer until the band of rogues rescued her and asks her to save the Prince who can bring peace once more to their lands. Set in a beautiful fantasy world, I can actually imagine myself living inside the world Maria has build in the story and taking the journey the characters are going through. Her descriptions of the lands, the people, the healers are very detailed and rich it makes everything comes to life. The storyplot was an exhilirating ride, with lots of actions and interesting thing happening on the way. There are plenty stuffs happening that I did not expect and things that particularly interests me such as the Death Lilys and Peace Lilys. The way Maria described them seems as if they are more than just plants, that they are almost like humans and I am having these wildest imaginations when there are scenes involving Death and Peace lilys. I also really enjoyed the romance in this book because although it wasn't the main focus, the romance are not sappy, it wasn't an insta-love because the characters grew to love each other and I loved reading about the time they spent together. Touch of Power has hooked me from the very first page until the end and I'm so glad it's not a cliffhanger because I HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER YEAR FOR THE SEQUEL!!!
Characters:
Oh Avry, what a spectacular heroine you are! I love reading about you, your thoughts, the way you want to help people with your healing skills and your feelings towards the 'gang' you are travelling with. She is someone who does not easily give up and tries hard. I love her and I was able to connect with her easily because I adore heroines like her!
Kerrick of Alga! Kerrick! Kerrick! All this hype going on about how awesome you are is just SO TRUE! Even though you're cold, a bit rude to Avry in the beginning, you become such a sweet character who I love even more. Your strength, powers, leadership, story makes you a very amazing character. When you call Avry with her name, I swear I actually melt! Oh, you have to take me with you on your journey! I have powers too! Like...swatting fleas? Pretty useful when you're on a journey right? Nevertheless, just take me with you!
Belen, Flea, Quain, Loren and just every single member of the group Avry is travelling with, you guys are awesome and loveable. I love how Maria gave you each a different personality and makes the journey seems more fun and exciting! If Kerrick won't let me join, then you guys have too! Deal?
Prince Ryne, I nearly forgot about you! Even though we actually get to read more about you closer to the end of the book, I actually love you! I've been wondering what character you're like since you're always in the conversation between Avry and the other 'gang' members and how Avry is not really convinced to heal you but you are actually such an awesome character. I believe you can bring peace and fight that evil Tohon!
Tohon, you are a very interesting twisted character. I think you're too obsessive with healers and such. And just for your information, Avry belongs to Kerrick so YOU STAY AWAY!
To summarize, all the characters are AMAZING, VERY WELL-WRITTEN and I LOVE THEM!
Overall:
Touch of Power will take you on an exciting journey filled with dangers and obstacles, set in a beautiful fantasy world and characters you'll love for their different personalities and awesome-ness. My first Snyder's book is COMPLETELY AWESOME and this makes me convinced that I have to read all her books! If you haven't read this book, what are you waiting for? A must read for all fans of fantasy!
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| 5 Forget-me-not flowers for Touch of Power! |
Thank you to HarlequinTeen Australia for the review copy!
I hope you're convinced to read this book because if you haven't got a copy, here's your chance to win the book! I'm giving away 2 copies of Touch of Power, thanks to HarlequinTeen Australia! Open to Australian and New Zealand mailing adresses only! Giveaway closes in 10 days so hurry up! Click HERE to be directed to the giveaway post.
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