Touch Of Power

By Maria V. Snyder

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honoured 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, the 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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Jan 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781460804421

Maria V. Snyder

Maria V. Snyder is the New York Times bestselling author of the Study series, the Glass series, the Healer series, Inside Out, and Outside In. Born and raised in Philadelphia, she earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Meteorology from Penn State and a Master of Arts degree in fiction writing from Seton Hill University. Unable to part ways with Seton Hill, Maria is currently a teacher and mentor for the MFA program. Find her on the Web at MariaVSnyder.com.

Book preview

Chapter 1

The little girl wouldn’t stop crying. I didn’t blame her. She was dying, after all. Her lungs were so full of fluid she’d drown in another few hours. Tossing and turning on my thin mattress, I listened to her cries as they sawed through the floorboards and through my heart, cutting it in two.

One piece pleaded for me to save her, urging me to heal the girl with the bright smile and ginger curls. The other side pulsed a warning beat. Her family would thank me by turning me in to the town watch. I’d be hanged as a war criminal. No trial needed.

The horrors from the dark years of the plague were still fresh in the survivors’ minds. They considered those times a war. A war that had been started by healers, who then spread the deadly disease, and refused to heal it.

Of course it was utter nonsense. We couldn’t heal the plague. And we didn’t start it. But in the midst of the chaos, no one listened to reason. Someone had to be blamed. Right?

The girl’s screams pierced my heart. I couldn’t stand it any longer. Three years on the run. Three years of hiding. Three terrible years full of fear and loneliness. For what? My life? Yes, I live and breathe and exist. Nothing else.

Flinging my blankets off, I hurried downstairs. I didn’t need to change since I would never sleep in nightclothes or without my boots on. When you were on the run, the possibility of being surprised in the middle of the night was high. There was no time to waste when escaping, so I wore my black travel pants and black shirt to bed every night. The dark color ideal for blending into shadows.

Another trick of being on the run involved finding a second-floor room with both front and back doors and no skeletons. They were hard to find as most towns had burned the plague victims’ homes in the misguided attempt to destroy the disease. And many victims died alone. My current hideout was above the family with the dying child.

I knocked on my downstairs neighbors’ door loud enough for the sound to be heard over the child’s wet wails. When it opened, her mother, Mavis, stared wordlessly at me. She held the two-year-old girl in her strong arms, and the knowledge that her child was dying shone in her brown eyes. Her pale skin clung to her gaunt face. She swayed with pure exhaustion.

Underneath the sheen of tears and red flush of fever, the little girl’s skin had death’s pale hue. In a few moments, she wouldn’t have the breath to scream.

I held out my arms. Mavis, go to sleep. I’ll watch…Fawn. Finally, I remembered her name. Another rule to being on the run was to avoid getting close to anyone. No friends. But I needed to earn money, and I had to make a few acquaintances in order to keep up with the gossip. I’d stayed with Mavis’s children on occasion, which helped with both.

Panicked, Mavis pulled Fawn closer to her.

The rest of your family needs you, as well. You should rest before you collapse or get sick.

She hesitated.

I will wake you if anything changes. I promise.

Mavis’s resistance crumpled and she handed me Fawn. Well beyond lucidity, the little girl didn’t notice the change in the arms around her, but my magic sprang to life at the touch, pushing to be released from my core. Fawn’s skin burned and her clothes were damp with sweat. I cradled Fawn as I sat in the big wooden rocking chair in the living room. The lantern burned low, casting a weak yellow light over the threadbare furniture. This family hadn’t looted from their neighbors, which said much about them.

Next to the window I had a clear view of the street. A half-moon illuminated the burned ruins of buildings huddled along a dirt road. Rainwater had filled the holes and ruts. The plague had killed roughly six million people—two-thirds of the population—so there was no one left to attend to minor tasks like fixing the roads or clearing away the debris. The fact that this town…Jaxton? Or was it Wola? They all blurred together. Either way, having a local government town watch, basic commerce, no piles of skeletons and a tiny—a few hundred at most—populace was more than many other towns could claim.

I rocked Fawn, humming a tune my mother had sung to me years ago. Tendrils of my magic seeped into Fawn’s body. Her cries lost the hysterical edge.

Mavis watched us for a few minutes. Did she suspect? Would she take her child back? Instead, she heeded my advice and went to bed. Waiting for Mavis to fall into a deep sleep, I rocked and hummed. Once I was certain enough time had passed, I stopped the chair. Concentrating on the girl in my arms, I allowed my full power to flow into Fawn until she was saturated with it. The release of magic sent a ripple of contentment through me. This was my area of expertise. What I should be doing.

Then I drew it back into me, cleaning out the sickness inside Fawn. My lungs filled with fluid as hers drained. I broke into a fever as hers cooled.

She hiccupped a few times, then breathed in deep. Her body relaxed and she fell into an exhausted sleep.

The sickness nestled in my chest, causing me to suck in noisy wet breaths. I couldn’t pull enough air into my lungs. Goose bumps raced across my skin as a sliver of fear touched my heart. I hadn’t healed anyone this sick before. Would I be strong enough? Had I waited too long to help Fawn? My own cowardice would kill me. Fitting.

The effort to breathe consumed my energy. Black and white spots swirled in my vision as I fought to stay conscious. Even though my body healed ten times faster than a regular person’s, I was quite aware that it might not be fast enough.

Luckily, this wasn’t that time. The crushing tightness around my ribs eased a fraction. I concentrated on the simple act of breathing.

Mavis woke me in the morning. I had fallen asleep with Fawn still in my arms.

How did you get her to sleep? She hasn’t stopped crying in days, Mavis said.

Still groggy, I searched for a good explanation. My tuneless humming must have bored her. My voice rasped with phlegm and set off a coughing fit.

Uh-huh. She peered at me with a contemplative purse on her lips.

Her fever broke last night, I tried between coughs.

Unconvinced, Mavis gently lifted Fawn and transferred the girl to her crib. You should rest, as well. You look…

I waved off her concern. Nothing a couple of hours of sleep won’t cure. But my legs betrayed me as I staggered to my feet. Moving with care, I headed toward the door.

When I reached for the knob, Mavis said, Avry.

I froze and glanced over my shoulder, waiting for the accusation.

Thank you.

Nodding, I hurried from the room. The climb to my place drained all my strength. I hacked up blood as the sweat poured from my body. I needed to grab my escape bag and leave town. Now. But when I bent to retrieve the knapsack from under the bed, a wave of dizziness overwhelmed me. Instead of fleeing, I collapsed on the floor.

A part of my mind knew I only required a few hours of sleep to recover, while another part planned the quickest route out of town. A third part still worried. With good reason.

A fist pounded on the door hard enough that I felt the vibrations through my cheek. Waking with a jolt, I scrambled to my feet. A male voice ordered me to surrender. Darkness filled the room and pressed against the windowpane. I had slept all day.

Unfortunately, this situation wasn’t new to me. I scooped up my escape bag and exited through the back door. Pausing on the landing, I scanned the area. Moonlight lit the wooden steps. No one blocked them. Hurrying down, I shouldered my pack and ran through the empty alley that reeked of cat urine.

A figure stood at the alley’s southern exit so I turned around. Except the northern route was also blocked. The only way out was through the tight space between buildings to the street where there would no doubt be more town watchmen.

The crash of a door echoed off the bricks. Upon my landing, a man called, Do you have her?

The two in the alley closed in. Guess I would take my chances. I darted through the narrow opening and right into a waiting town watchman’s arms.

Voices yelled, Don’t touch her skin.

Take her pack.

Cuff her quick.

The drowning sickness had rendered me too weak to put up much of a fight. In mere seconds, my hands were manacled behind my back. My three years on the run had ended. It was hard to tell if fear or relief dominated. At this point, both had equal sway.

The captain of the watchmen yanked my shirt off my right shoulder, exposing my healer tattoo to the crowd. It appeared as if the entire town had gathered to witness my arrest. As expected, they gasped at the proof of the monster in their midst. And to think, I had once been proud of the symbol of my profession—a simple circle of hands. From a few feet away, it resembled a daisy with hand-shaped petals.

I scanned faces as the watchmen congratulated themselves on their catch. Mavis and her husband stood among the gawkers. He glared and approached me, dragging Mavis along. She wouldn’t meet my gaze. Little Fawn clung to her mother’s leg.

It doesn’t matter that you saved my girl’s life, the husband said. Your kind is responsible for millions of deaths. And the gold your execution will bring this town is sorely needed.

True. Tohon of Sogra placed a bounty of twenty golds for every healer caught and executed. I suspect the plague killed one or more of his loved ones. Otherwise, why would a powerful life magician care? The disease certainly didn’t care, eliminating people without rhyme or reason.

Right before I was escorted to the jail, Fawn waved bye-bye to me. I smiled. My empty, pointless life for hers. Not bad.

Inside the town watch’s station house I endured endless rounds of questions. They wanted me to turn over my healer cohorts. I almost laughed at that. I hadn’t encountered another healer in three years. In fact, I’d guessed they had been smarter than me and had found a nice refuge to hide in while they waited for this current madness to pass.

I refused to answer their ridiculous queries, letting their voices flow past me as I concentrated on Fawn’s healthy face. Eventually they removed the manacles, measured me for my coffin and locked me in a cell below ground level, promising tomorrow would be my last day. I had an appointment with the guillotine. Lovely.

At least the guards left a lantern hanging on the stone wall opposite my cell—a basic cube with iron bars on three sides and one stone wall. Equipped with a slop pot and metal bed, I had the space to myself. And no neighbors in the adjoining cells. The bedsprings squealed under my weight. My lungs wheezed in the damp air thanks to Fawn’s stubborn sickness.

I wasn’t as terrified as I had imagined. In fact, I was looking forward to my first solid night’s sleep in three years. Ah, the little things in life.

Too bad, I didn’t even get my last wish.

Chapter 2

A low cough woke me from a sound sleep. Instincts kicked in and I jumped to my feet before I realized where I was. In jail, awaiting execution.

Easy, a man said. He stood near the door to my cell. Although armed with a sword, he wasn’t wearing the town watch’s uniform. Instead, he wore a short black cape, black pants and boots. The lantern’s glow lit the strong and familiar features of his face. I remembered him from the crowd that gawked at my arrest.

I waited.

Are you truly a healer? he asked.

You saw the tattoo.

For a town on the edge of survival, twenty golds is a considerable sum. I’ve learned that desperate people do desperate things, like tattoo an innocent person. Is that what happened to you? He leaned forward as if my answer was critical.

Who wants to know? I asked.

Kerrick of Alga.

I’d thought he was a town official, but the Realm of Alga was north of the Nine Mountains. If he wasn’t lying, then he had traveled far from his home. Well, Kerrick of Alga, you can go back to your bed and rest easy. The watchmen caught the right girl…and by tomorrow this town will be safe once again. Which wasn’t entirely true. At twenty years of age, I wouldn’t call myself a girl, but woman sounded too…formal.

What is your name? he asked.

Why do you care?

It’s important. He sounded so sincere and he stared at me as if I held his fate in my hands.

I huffed. What did it matter now? Avry.

Of?

Nowhere. It doesn’t matter. Not anymore.

It does.

Of Kazan. Happy?

Instead of answering, Kerrick clutched the bars with both his hands and leaned his forehead against them for a moment. I had thought he felt guilty about my impending execution, but his recent behavior failed to match.

When he knelt on one knee, worry replaced curiosity. He withdrew long metal picks from a pocket. I backed away as fear swirled. Should I yell for the guards? What if he already had knocked them out?

He unlocked the cell. The door swung open. By this time, I had reached the back wall.

Straightening, he gestured. Come on.

I didn’t move.

Do you want to be executed?

Some things are worse than death, I said.

What… Oh. I won’t hurt you. I promise. I’ve been searching for a healer for two years.

Now I understood. You want the bounty for yourself.

No. You’re worth more alive than dead. He paused, knowing he had said the wrong thing. I meant, I need you to heal someone for me. Once he’s better, you can go back into hiding or do whatever you’d like. Although muffled, raised voices and the sounds of a commotion reached us. Kerrick glanced to his left. But if you don’t come right now, there won’t be another chance. He held out his hand.

I hesitated. Trust a complete stranger or remain in jail and be executed in the morning? If he was sincere, Kerrick’s offer meant I would have my life back. My life on the run. Not appealing, but that survival instinct, which had spurred me on these past three years, once again flared to life. What if he was lying? I’d deal with it later. Right now, it didn’t matter; living suddenly took precedence over dying.

I grabbed his hand. Warm calloused fingers surrounded mine. He tugged me down the corridor. I hadn’t been paying close attention when I had arrived, but I knew this way led to more cells. There was one door into the jail. And loud noises emanated from that direction. Fear twisted. Crazy how a few hours ago I hadn’t cared if I lived or died, but now a desperate need to live consumed me.

Our way dead-ended, but Kerrick pushed open the last cell’s door. Moonlight and cold air streamed from a small window high on the stone wall.

Kerrick whistled like a night robin. A young man poked his head though the opening. What took you so long? he asked, but didn’t wait for an answer as he reached both hands out.

Grab his wrists, Kerrick said as he boosted me up.

I clasped wrists with him. He pulled me through the window with surprising speed and strength for a skinny kid. His feat was due to the two men holding his legs. He reached in for Kerrick and I noticed the window had been covered with iron bars at one time. The stumps of the bars appeared as if they had rusted right through.

Glancing around, I understood why these men had used this window. The back of the jail faced a pasture and stable for the watchmen’s horses. Since the jail marked the edge of town, there were no other buildings behind it. Just the well-used north-south trade route.

Kerrick joined us. A crash echoed, a man cursed and then the pounding drum of many boots grew louder, heading toward us.

Belen. Kerrick sighed the name.

Flee or fight? the young man asked.

Kerrick glanced at me. Flee.

After hopping the pasture’s fence, we raced to the woods. The herd of watchmen behind us sounded as if they would tread on my heels at any moment. The last remnants of the drowning sickness impeded my breathing and I gasped for air. For a second, I marveled that Fawn had lived as long as she had.

When we reached the edge of the forest, Kerrick shouted, Become one with nature, gentlemen. We’ll meet at the rendezvous point. He snatched my hand.

Kerrick led me through the dark woods, but my passage sounded loud compared to his. However, my stumbling noises became undetectable when the watchmen chasing us burst into the woods. The cracks of breaking branches and crunching leaves dominated.

They soon settled and moved with care, pausing every couple of minutes to listen for us. Holding their lanterns high, they spread into a line. I counted twenty points of light. Kerrick stopped when they did, but our progress remained agonizingly slow. I feared my recapture was imminent unless we encountered a Death Lily first and it consumed us. I shuddered at the thought. I’d rather go to the guillotine than be snatched by a man-eating plant.

There they are, a voice called.

I froze, but Kerrick seized my shoulders, ordered me to stay quiet and flung us to the ground. We rolled through the underbrush. A strange vibration pulsed through my body. The sounds of pursuit approached. Convinced they would trample us, I clung to him as my world spun. We halted with me flat on my back.

Kerrick covered me from view. He kept most of his weight on his elbows. He peered to our right. Shadows bounced as boots stepped near us. A few watchmen came within inches.

My throat itched with the need to cough. I suppressed the overwhelming desire to squirm, to yell, to scratch. Then the rustling of leaves and tread of boots faded. I relaxed, but Kerrick kept his protective position.

Once they realize they lost us, they will come back, he said.

So I remained still despite the cold dampness from the recent rains soaking into my clothes. Despite Kerrick’s warm body pressed against mine. Despite his intoxicating scent tickling my nose. He smelled of living green, moist earth and spring sunshine. Two of the three made sense, since leaves and dirt covered his clothes as well as mine. I couldn’t explain the sunshine. The fall season was in full swing. I suspected my lack of sleep played a role in altering my senses.

To distract myself from my uncomfortable position and his closeness, I watched the moon descend through the trees. It would set soon, leaving us in total darkness for a few hours.

As Kerrick had predicted, the watchmen returned. Light swept dangerously close. Footsteps crunched nearby. My heart thumped so loud, I swore it would give us away. And just when I wanted to scream, they were gone.

We waited for a while, listening for many nerve-racking minutes…hours…days. Or so it seemed. Finally, Kerrick stood and pulled me to my feet. I swayed. Icy air clawed at my skin through my wet clothes.

He scanned the sky. We need to put as much distance between us and Jaxton before sunrise, he said. Can you keep up?

I drew in a deep breath, testing my lungs. The drowning sickness had finally gone. Yes.

Good. He took my hand.

A tingle spread up my arm. I debated breaking his hold, but Kerrick moved through the forest with confidence. Once the moon set, the trail disappeared. Kerrick slowed our pace, but otherwise he continued on as if he could see in the dark, leaving me stumbling in his wake.

By the time the sun rose, I had lost all sense of direction, I was frozen and exhausted. Trusting this stranger seemed like a good idea in the middle of the night, but in the light of day, I questioned my judgment. What would stop Kerrick from turning me in for the bounty after I healed his friend? Nothing. His promise not to hurt me hadn’t included his accomplices. Still, for now, my head remained attached to my shoulders. A positive thing. I decided to stay alert and stick to my own survival instincts—taking it one problem at a time.

As daylight lit the red, yellow and orange colors of the forest, Kerrick increased his pace. I dug in my heels and tried to extricate my hand from his, but he wouldn’t let go.

Stopping to glance at me in annoyance, he asked, What’s the matter?

I need to rest. Healers are not indestructible. If I’m too weak, I won’t be able to cure your friend.

While he considered, I studied him. The color of his eyes matched the forest—russet with flecks of gold, orange and maroon. Blond streaks shot through his light brown hair. Most of his shoulder-length locks had escaped a leather tie. He was five inches taller than my own five-foot-eight-inch height. And I guessed he was five to ten years older than me.

It’s too dangerous to be out in the open. We’re not far from the rendezvous point, he said.

How long?

Another hour. Maybe two. If you’d like, I can carry you.

No. I’ll be fine.

He quirked a smile at my quick reply, causing his sharp features to soften just a bit. Some women might think him pleasing to the eye in a rugged way. Four thick scars—two on each side of his neck appeared to be bite marks from some beast.

As he pulled me along, I wondered what animal had had its teeth around Kerrick’s throat. The ufa were reported to be thriving and breeding like rabbits. Feeding off the plague victims’ dead bodies, the large carnivore possessed the strength and pointed canines to rip open a man’s throat. Packs of them lived in the southern foothills of the Nine Mountains.

After another hour of hiking, I lost all feeling in my feet. I stumbled. Kerrick grabbed my arm, preventing me from falling.

Another two miles, he said.

Just…give me…a minute, I puffed while he didn’t have the decency to even appear winded. Aren’t you tired?

No. He gazed at the surrounding forest. In the past two years, I’ve walked thousands of miles, searching for a healer.

No horses?

No. They’re too big to hide. Seeing my confusion, he added, We didn’t want anyone to know about our mission. Healers are skittish.

Most prey are.

True.

How many healers did you find in those two years? I asked.

He met my gaze. One.

My heart twisted. But you heard of others. Right?

Yes. Pattric of Tobory, Drina of Zainsk, Fredek of Vyg and Tara of Pomyt.

Tara had been my mentor. I had lost track of her whereabouts during the awful plague years. And? I dreaded the answer.

Executed before we could reach them.

Even though I’d braced for it, the news slammed into me. I sank to the ground and covered my face with my hands. My little delusion that the healers had been holed up together burst. They hadn’t deserved their fate. Grief rolled through me, jamming at the base of my throat.

When the waves settled, I asked, Anyone else?

Just you.

How did you find me?

Later. We need to keep moving. It’s not far. He pulled me to my feet.

In a daze, I followed him. My hands and feet were numb. It was a shame I couldn’t say the same for my heart. There hadn’t been many healers before the plague—about a hundred. When my family had learned that Tara agreed to take me in as her student, we’d all been excited. My tattooing ceremony had been the best moment of my life.

Kerrick’s voice jerked me from my memories.

In here, he said, gesturing to a narrow opening between two oversize boulders.

I glanced around. The stones were part of a larger rock fall, resting at the base of a steep cliff.

Kerrick grabbed my wrist, tugging me along as he squeezed through the gap. Probably afraid he’d lose me. I guess I couldn’t blame him. If I had been searching so long, I’d be extra-protective, as well.

We entered a dark cave. The wet smell of limestone mixed with the acrid odor of bat droppings. Lovely. Kerrick paused to let our eyes adjust. After a few minutes, I noticed a yellow glow coming from our left. He turned in that direction and soon we arrived at a small chamber.

A campfire burned in the center of a ring of stones. The two leg-holders from last night’s rescue sat beside it. They scrambled to their feet with wide smiles when they noticed us.

Loren, why didn’t you post a guard? Kerrick asked the man on our right.

The men exchanged a glance.

I did, Loren said.

Kerrick flung me at him. Watch her. Quain, you’re with me. He pulled his sword and left with Quain right behind him.

In the tense silence, Loren studied me. I’m watching. Are you going to do any tricks?

I searched his expression, gauging if he was serious or not. I can juggle.

Interest flared in his blue eyes. How many balls?

Five.

Impressive. Anything else?

Six scarves, but it can’t be windy. And three daggers.

Ohh. That would be something to see. Too bad Kerrick would never allow it.

Why not?

You might cut yourself.

So? I’m a healer.

Exactly. You’re the last one. From now on, our sole purpose is to protect you.

The last one. Loren’s words sliced through me. Hard enough to be a healer, but to be the sole survivor increased the pressure and the fear. At least these men appeared to be safeguarding me. After all, they had rescued me from certain death. Loren’s pleasant expression seemed genuine. He was older than Kerrick. Maybe thirty-five. His black hair had been cut so short, the strands stood straight up.

"What happens after I heal your friend?" I asked.

You’ll be a hero, he said.

Chapter 3

Everyone hates healers, so why would healing your friend make me a hero? I asked Loren.

We don’t hate you. And when he’s better, he’s going to—

Loud voices interrupted him. Kerrick and Quain returned with the young man who had pulled me from the jail between them. The boy’s long brown hair hung in his eyes, but it didn’t cover his chagrined expression.

What happened? Loren asked.

He fell asleep, Kerrick said. Why would you assign him first shift?

He offered.

He’s sixteen, Loren. He’s been awake all night.

And so have we.

Yet you were still awake when I arrived. Why’s that? Kerrick’s flat tone was scarier than if he’d been shouting.

We couldn’t sleep. We were concerned about you and the healer, Loren said.

So was I, the young man said.

Yet you were fast asleep, Kerrick said. You’re growing, Flea. Don’t volunteer for the first shift until you’re twenty. Understand?

Yes, sir.

Kerrick glanced around the chamber. Has Belen arrived?

No, Quain answered. He swept a hand over his bald head as if he could smooth away the lines of worry etched into his brow. He had no visible weapons, yet Kerrick had taken him as backup. Perhaps the thick muscles barreled around his chest, shoulders and upper arms were all the weapons he needed. I guessed he was close to my age.

Everyone get a few hours’ sleep. Flea, make sure our…guest is comfortable. I’ll stand guard, Kerrick said. He strode from the room without waiting to see if his orders were obeyed.

Flea shot me a lopsided grin. Between the locks of unkempt hair, humor sparked in his light green eyes. Would you like to sleep on the right or left side of the fire, ma’am? he asked.

There’s no need for formalities. My name’s Avry. I stood near the fire, letting my hands and feet soak in the warmth.

Oh, I know, Flea said. Avry of Kazan Realm. We’ve been looking for you for ages.

The three men stared at me. Should I juggle now? I asked Loren.

He laughed, breaking the awkwardness. Sorry, but it’s hard to believe that we caught up to you. That you’re standing here. With us. We’ve been following your, ah, adventures for almost a year.

I hadn’t suspected. That alarmed me. How?

Rumors, mostly, Quain said. We’d hear about a child being healed in various towns across the Fifteen Realms. By the time we’d arrived, you were gone. A couple of times you were spotted leaving so we at least had a direction to follow. Sometimes we just had to guess which way you’d go.

Pure luck we were in Jaxton when you were arrested, Flea said.

Not really, Loren said. Kerrick started catching on to her pattern a few months ago.

My pattern?

Heading generally northwest, and stopping only in the bigger settlements. You’d last about…six, maybe eight weeks before healing a child and taking off. Loren settled on his bedroll next to the fire.

When I thought about it, he was right. A zing of fear traveled up my spine. If I survived this mission, I would have to be extra-vigilant.

We’re really surprised you weren’t caught by the locals sooner, Quain said. He unrolled his blankets.

Why? I turned my back to the flames, hoping to dry my damp clothes.

We had a list of healers, Loren said. But by the time we learned of their location, they’d been executed. We always heard the same gossip. That they had been caught by doing something stupid.

Like healing a child, I said. My obvious weakness. Although I’d tried hard to avoid it by keeping to myself and limiting how much time I spent with other people.

Not that at all. Flea fussed with his bedroll. You’re the only one who was smart enough to take off after you healed a kid. The other healers figured the grateful person or parent wouldn’t turn them in. They didn’t bother to disguise themselves like you, either.

I tucked a short strand of blond hair behind my ear. Some disguise. I cut my hair and dyed it. I still used my own name. It was amazing I hadn’t been arrested sooner. But then I remembered what Loren had said. How did you get a list of healers?

He shrugged. Kerrick had it. He probably raided one of the old town halls for the records. Didn’t the healers have a guild before?

Before always meant pre-plague. Yes. But my name shouldn’t have been on it.

My apprenticeship with Tara had started when I turned sixteen—mere months before the first outbreak. Once the sickness raced across the Realms,

Reviews for Touch Of Power

[4leschats · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Avry, a healer on the run after a plague nearly destroyed several cities, is captured by Kerrick who wants her to heal his former king, Ryne, now in stasis. As the group moves towards Ryne, they encounter deadly opposition from Ryne’s foes, especially Tohon, who has a reanimated dead army. Much like her Study and Glass series, this book is full of action and insight into the characters.

[mlleehreen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I picked up TOUCH OF POWER with mixed feelings. I adored POISON STUDY. I liked FIRE STUDY. But I thought MAGIC STUDY was awful, and I stopped reading Snyder’s books after I finished it. It was like a bad breakup or something; I didn’t want to be disappointed by the author of POISON STUDY, which I’d loved so much.

The conflict in TOUCH OF POWER is airtight, a perfect lock. Avry is a Healer. The mechanics of her skill are pretty clever all on their own (the worldbuilding here is generally excellent): she heals the sick by transferring their ailments to herself. She suffers the same pain as those she soothed, but Healing magic increases her self-healing ten-fold or more and allows her to live where others would die or malinger. Still, a very severe injury can outpace her ability to heal and kill her.

So Avry lives in a world devastated by a terrible plague. Healers could take on the plague victim’s illness, but they couldn’t heal themselves and inevitably died from the plague, a one-to-one exchange of life. When the Healers refused to heal plague victims, they were blamed for the epidemic, hunted down, and killed. After three years on the run, Avry might be the last Healer alive...and then, in the first chapter, she's found and sentenced to hang.

Kerrick, leader of a merry band of outlaws, saves her from the gallows because he has a use for her skill. He wants her to heal his prince, Ryne. Avry has good reason to hate Ryne, who helped fuel the mob-driven persecution of Healers, and she doesn’t want to trade her life for his. But as Kerrick and his band lead her to their fallen leader, Avry realizes that Ryne might indeed be the world’s last best hope.

Avry's life on the run had been empty; she’s not afraid to die. But she slowly learns to love the members of Kerrick’s merry band, and her antagonistic relationship with Kerrick himself develops into grudging respect and then something more. She learns to love life again, right at the moment when she’s asked to sacrifice herself for the greater good.

TOUCH OF POWER moves along at a brisk pace. The backstory is interesting and the three political powers emerging after the plague's devastation each have interesting pros and cons. The magic system is pretty fascinating, too, and I liked all the main characters. Avry’s compassionate nature and leadership skills shine through naturally, and I really enjoyed watching Avry and Kerrick grow closer by slow degrees. The ending to the novel is really satisfying and wraps up one of the main plot lines but left me wanting to read on and find out what happens next.

On the downside, TOUCH OF POWER felt short on description. I didn’t feel connected to the places and characters with my senses; by the end of the novel, I still had no idea what some of the major characters looked like. The technology level seemed roughly medieval, but characters tossed around concepts that had a very modern feel – references to “fragile male egos” for example, or works of art on the wall that wouldn’t fit in a medieval or even Renaissance setting.

TOUCH OF POWER didn’t have that special spark that would make it a great book instead of a good book; I won’t be thinking of it months down the line and wishing I could read it for the first time again, like I did with POISON STUDY. But it’s a good, solid, satisfying book and I wouldn't mind continuing with the series.

[a_reader_of_fictions · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Oh my goodness. You're going to need to let me gush right now. I just love, love, love this book. Having finished, I almost want to go back to the beginning and start over or read every book Snyder has ever written. Almost from the first pages, I have just devoured this story, living in fear of the ending coming too soon (which of course it did). Book two should be out now! Waiting will be so, so painful.

Okay, I will try to be a little bit more helpful in my review now and explain why I am such a fan girl about this book. Like the main character in the Inside Out series, the only other books I've read by Snyder thus far, Avry is an incredibly strong woman (she's 20, so a bit older) with some serious emotional scarring. Unlike her counterpart, though, Avry has a much more likable personality by nature. She is vibrant, incredibly bright and stubborn as anything (I wonder why I identify with her so much, haha).

Another consistent factor in Snyder's writing is that she is completely stellar at building up romantic tension. Without resorting to any sort of torrid descriptions of the physical reactions every time the hero does so much as touch the heroine, Snyder makes the reader swoon for the heroes as they live vicariously. Honestly. The romance sections are just so amazing, even though she doesn't go into serious detail, you feel and imagine everything.

I also love the fantasy world she created. I mean, princes magic dystopian background almost cannot go wrong. And she did it well. Her world feels really well thought out. The different kinds of magic, the way they interact, and the fact that science in its way remains important despite these higher powers completely blew me away with the awesome.

The drama has only just begun, and, as you already know, I will be first in line to read book two. I recommend this highly to fans of The Goose Girl, Kristin Cashore, or Snyder's other books.

[nicola26 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

While I would not feel right giving this book more than three stars, I also don't really think there was much wrong with it. It's a pretty well written book with lots of detail. I personally thought it was too long, though. It just seemed to go on forever and really dragged at points. I would have liked it more had it been a hundred pages shorter.

I was completely intrigued by the premise of this book. It is unlike anything I have read before so I was very excited! Plus I also think the cover is gorgeous. I really did love parts of this book. Sometimes I would be completely engrossed in the story for about thirty or so page, and then it would just slow down and I'd be yanked back out and it would take a while for it to get going again. I found that annoying. I would just starting to question why I had liked this book at any point and then it would get good again!

I thought the characters were well developed. They felt very real to me and they all had very distinct personalities. I really enjoyed the idea of the healers and would have preferred if they had been explained more, instead of spending so much time on things which didn't hold my interest! The world itself I found a bit hard to picture and it didn't have a constant feel to it.

Overall, this book was not amazing but it held my attention enough for me to want to read more. I am going to try out some more of Snyder's work but I'm not sure if I'll continue with this particular series.

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I quite enjoyed this but occasionally the echoes of Poison Study were occasionally a bit loud. There were enough differences to make it interesting but at the same time it felt sameish.Avry is a healer in a world where there's a bounty on their heads, where she lives in fear of being caught and killed, but where also her healing gifts almost compel her to heal. The bounty is there because the healers couldn't control the plague that swept through the world and killed many people. Avry is rescued by a group of people determined to get her to help them heal their prince but what they don't know is that she heals by taking on the illness and healing it quicker than most. However the plague has killed healers, she may have to choose between her life and a better future for others and she's not sure who to trustI liked it, I liked the characters and I'm really curious about the Death Lilies which will mean that I will be reading more in this series.

[msjessie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Though I've often heard Maria V. Snyder's name bandied about as an author to watch out for in both fantasy and young-adult genres, Touch of Power was my first novel from the author. I did not immediately fall in love with this novel - it took about seventy-five pages before I entrenched in Avry's story, with no urge to extricate myself. I have to admit I was so taken with this young-adult fantasy novel that the day I finished it, I went out and bought Ms. Snyder's entire first published series, and by far the most popular of her four. Touch of Power does have a few minor and not-so-minor problems that keep it from my "best-of-2011" lists and from being "great" instead of just "really good", but this was a thoroughly delightful fantasy read. Touch of Power is definitely a young-adult fantasy novel: the themes and "magics" used are basic, if interesting, though I can see easily that this would be a novel that held appeal for other, older fantasy-genre lovers out there.Avry of Kazan is the main character, and while she may not top my lists of all-time favorites for characters (or even favorites for this novel itself coughBelenFleacough), she is genuine and occasionally very likeable. Her reticence to ever explain her motivations/beliefs got wearying, especially when it was revealed Avry was justified in said action/nonaction/thought- it just took too long to explain why and ended up costing the character some affection from me. In particular, I think that her reasons, besides health-wise for her aversion to Ryne, in particular, felt like they should've been divulged much earlier in the narrative. Avry's hounded life for the three years since the devastating plague that ruined the Fifteen Realms is left largely to the imagination, but what details are supplied only add more valid reinforcement to Avry's world-weary attitude. She might veer into misery and self-importance a bit too often for me to love her, but as the last Healer in her world, it's not un-understandable. She's a fairly grounded character, for all the guilt, worry and fear stacked upon her shoulders. If I didn't exactly love her, I certainly felt more than a semblance of a rapport with the dry, wry twenty-year old. The supporting cast is what got to me first, before Avry or Snyder's deceptively readable prose. From the bear-like Belen to the, well, flea-like Flea, this varied group were lovable, amusing and perfect comedic timing for Avry's downcast perspective (the monkeys!) I defy you not to find either Belen or Flea or Quain or Vinn at least mildly amusing. This is a group with definitely chemistry and the book works best when all the gang, with leader Kerrick of Alga, is together. While Kerrick took longer than the others for me to invest in as a character, especially with his overdone and sadlyy obvious Mystery Man Who Is Clearly More Than He Seems act, but I liked the no-bullshit attitude he had, as well as his harder-to-find gooey center. I also liked the dynamic between Kerrick and Avry: two supremely stubborn, smart people refusing to give into the other - it allowed for some amusing and revealing dialogue, especially on the long treks the company partook. Belen is definitely my over-all favorite; Poppa Bear may not be the most developed character, but what is shown is more than enough to cement me in his fanbase. I did wish there was more than one female character traveling in the marauders, in order to contrast with Avry, but this a very male dominated novel.I wish that the world-building of the Fifteen Realms had been as strong, even if flawed, as Avry is presented. For a fantasy novel, I found the almost complete lack of world-building to be a major flaw in Ms. Snyder's design. Besides basic information, like the Fifteen Realms title for the continent, barely any details about the cities, history, etc. are meted out for the reader to digest. I was thoroughly disappointed in the lack of atmosphere, setting, information Ms. Snyder failed to provide - there is a lot of potential in this vibrant world with its mix of monarchies, presidencies, republics - and the grey areas are detrimental to the colorful world otherwise in existence. Thankfully for the Fifteen Realms themselves, and happily for me as an insatiable reader, there are to be sequels in this series and world, and I have confidence that the next one (Scent of Magic due out 2012), will pick up certain areas of laxity that were present in the first. I also hope that included along in the more detailed information about the realms, Scent of Magic will explain some of the seeming anachronisms present in the novel. In a novel that comes across as mostly/vaguely medieval, word-drops like "president", "syringe" ,"toxins", and "sociopath" don't seem to fit within the vernacular of the world. It disoriented me when Avry would so casually reference a scientific advancement and no explanations left me frustrated with the where and the when of the novel.Touch of Power is fast-paced, action adventure. It - and Mrs. Snyder - don't hesitate to throw the characters into many and varied adventures as they race the clock: events such as jailbreaks, rebellions, plagues, and a myriad of magical problems dog the heroes all the way across the Nine Mountains. Even characters beloved and clsoe to my ehart sadly weren't safe, though their losses were effecting and overall necessary to the plot. I can also say I was impressed with the seemingly-random plotlines, events, ideas that Ms. Snyder managed to pull together almost effortlessly. Everything works for this novel, plot-wise: event plants I had assumed irrelevant came back later int he novel with genuine twists and turns I never saw coming. I had no issues with Ms. Snyder's easy, readable style in Touch of Power, in particular her deft and descriptive hand for fight scenes and combat keep the stakes high without overdoing the bloodshed and deaths. I wished for more depth from the villain of the novel, as well. First off-screen and whispered about, then on-screen and somewhat chilling, Tohon of Sogra is a capable big bad, but I find his motivation for everything to be rather. . . simplistic. He's explained and introduced as such a smart, devious, creepy man that I expected much much more for the raison d'etre of his madness and his plans. Like with other, previously mentioned details, it just seemed less than the potential the character had. Don't get me wrong: he's very effective and entirely believable in his role how he is presented, I just felt there was an opportunity for more. I just couldn't buy his too-easy reasons.Touch of Power wraps up its action-packed pages with a decent, nice ending - definitely not the most riveting, but ensured my full attention and worry. Various prevalent and mysterious elements from the story were combined believably, without coming off as a deux-ex-machina. I ended this novel practically itching to get my hands on the next - and I think that is the most telling thing about this novel. As frustrated and irritated as I was over some bits and parts, I NEVER considered not continuing this series the minute the next book is available. I can't wait to join Avry, Kerrick, Belen and the monkeys as they continue their adventures all over the Fifteen Realms.

[keristars_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Once again, Snyder has created a rather interesting setting for a story that is fairly lacking. My instinct when I was in the middle of reading Touch of Power was that it was too awful to finish - and yet, I couldn't bring myself to put it down and immediately started on the sequel when I finished it. So there is definitely something about it that is compelling!But the setting is interesting, and some of the rules of magic in it. It's a pity that Snyder doesn't so much foreshadow as she does shout with a bullhorn for future plot developments. Likewise, there is a romance between the main character Avry and her savior Kerrick that I thought was completely unnecessary, besides which it felt like it was shoved in without a lot of subtlety or anything. (I suppose that's a requirement for writing for the Harlequin MIRA/Teen lines?)I also feel like the major villain was a little to cardboard - even compared to the flatness of many of the other characters - and that too much emphasis was placed on his sexual villainy. I'm not sure how else to put it, but he continually threatens to rape Avry and often uses his magic to compel her to do things she wouldn't normally do (kissing him, for example). (Actually, I don't even know how his type of magic allows that to happen - one of several unexplained plot points that may as well be plot holes. You see, there are a dozen different flavors of magic that can only affect certain things - healing, the living plants of the forest, rocks, air, earth/dirt - and villain Sohon has "life" magic.)This is a common complaint in Snyder's books, though, that she relies too much on certain types of violence to make the worlds dangerous for her characters, but it's a brute sort of violence that comes across as haphazard attempts to be "grimdark".Anyway, for all my complaints, I did read the book fairly avidly (even if I whined about how awful it was the entire time), so I'm not sure what that says about my review. I can't recommend the book to anyone, but dang did I have fun hate-reading it. (And also I did like the universe that Snyder built.)

[les121 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Touch of Power wasn’t as good as Snyder’s debut effort Poison Study, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It’s fast-paced and entertaining, and I like the strong protagonist as well as the new, magical world Snyder creates. I was a bit thrown off by the occasional plot hole (e.g. Avery’s disappearing tattoo or the plague’s sudden non-contagiousness) and the modern phraseology (calling fashion “so last year,” for example) that seemed out of place in the sword-and-sorcery setting. But once you get past these issues and the somewhat predictable plot, Touch of Power is a fun, romantic fantasy that fans of Snyder’s Study series will surely appreciate.

[cats57_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Color me confused…is this a novel for pre-teen/teens or a novel for adults? Because as I read this book I’m finding myself thinking that if I were some years younger I might have enjoyed this more. There is nothing to this novel but a simple back and forth of the same plot device used over and over. The heroine is hiding – the heroine is caught. The group is chased…the group is caught…over and over. The heroine heals someone, the heroine almost dies. If the heroine does what her new friends want her to do she will almost certainly die (not!) The characters certainly act more like children than the adults they are supposed to be. There is no emotion to them, no character or passion, even what are supposed to be exciting bits of this story read more like a cliché than anything else. To add more confusion into this read, we cannot really be sure just what kind of world this is supposed to be. Is it a future world? A past world? One on a galaxy far, far away? Perhaps a parallel world? The world is a simple one with no technology…they have magic. However, some of the ideas, solutions, mechanics and problems are of the 21st century. The language the characters use is 21st century slang which for some readers mayl just pull you out of the story and make it a very uncomfortable read. It is a fantasy novel filled with modern colloquialisms and sarcasm. The part of the evil Tohon was played ( in my imagination) by a mustache twirling Simone Legre and he never started or ended a sentence without adding “my dear” when he was talking to Avry. He is such a clichéd ‘bad guy’ that I couldn’t help laughing at most of the ending.Yes, there are interesting bits, but not enough to make this book worth the time or the price

[coffee5is5yum · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely loved this book up until the end. It really felt like it was written by an entirely different person--maybe Snyder didn't know how to end the book so she wrapped everything up in a nice little bow, everyone smiling and cheering, jokes being tossed around and the curtain goes down. Audience applauds.Despite the ending being tucked in a neat little package, with the characters seeming oddly forced to appear happy, it was a let down. But I won't let that affect my opinion of the overall book. The book was very good and Avry is a very likable character. Kerrick, the main male lead, was a little annoying. He has some serious mood swings, and near the end of the book he changed so dramatically without any real path from point A to point B. He just kind of BAM! changed. Pretty good book, overall.

[hscherry · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved it! Couldn't put it down & really don't want to have to wait for the next one!!! Snyder does it again! :)

[seekingflight · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very readable young adult novel about a young woman, Avry, who had only recently begun her training as a healer when a plague broke out. Healers were accused of spreading this disease, and have since been hunted mercilessly. Avry is captured and scheduled for execution, when she is ‘rescued’ by a second group of captors who demand that she heal their prince, who she believes responsible for much of the hounding of her people. Ultimately, she must decide who to trust, and who she is willing to risk using her powers for.

[ncrainstorm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book! It's the first time I've read anything written by the author, Maria V. Snyder, and I must say I truly appreciate her style of writing! Fantasy is one of my favorite genres and Ms. Snyder did not let me down.The characters are developed nicely. Each has his or her own quirks that makes them unique individuals. Yes, there's a romance, but it doesn't get in the way of the story.The story is well-paced, without being rushed, so it's easy to keep up with the action. It's an interesting premise, healers who may be guilty of spreading the plague. They must sacrifice all to heal anyone stricken with it. It reminded me of one of my favorite original Star Trek episodes where the alien species can heal, but must learn to not be afraid of the pain they take from the sick and wounded. Will Avry heal the prince? Find out for yourself, I'm not telling! It's definitely worth the read!

[damarisgcr · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Avry is a healer, and in the world she lives in healers are hated and executed. A plague has killed most of the population and all healers are blamed. Avry has been living on the run for three years and has done an excellent job at surviving. It’s isn’t until she decides to help her neighbor out, that she is discovered. While in prison waiting for her sentence, she meets Kerrick. Kerrick offers to get her out of prison if she agrees to help him heal a friend. He’s been searching for a healer for two years and has finally found Avry. Avry doesn’t know if she can trust him or not, but her survival instincts kick in and she jumps at the chance. She believes she can somehow escape him once out, so why not use him? Well, Avry quickly found out how serious Kerrick was and how badly he wants her help. I hated Kerrick in the beginning of the story. He was rude, obnoxious, and didn’t care who he hurt as long as Avry healed his friend. There were parts of the story where I just couldn’t believe Kerrick took it that far. There were a lot of raw moments and some really suspenseful ones, where I was biting my lip just waiting for the worst. Somewhere down the line though, Kerrick sneaks into your heart. It was unexpected and a nice twist. Avry is also a kick-ass heroine. She wanted to survive and would do anything to make sure she did, but it just seemed like no matter what she did, she just couldn’t catch a break. She goes through a lot in this story. Touch of Power is my first novel by Maria V. Snyder, but it definitely will not be my last. I will now be purchasing all of her other books.Touch of Power was a wonderful and super entertaining read. It’s fast paced, full of magic and lots of unexpected moments. Maria V. Snyder really knows how to pull her readers in and hold their attention. She doesn’t waste anytime jumping right into the action. I loved this book and I am looking forward to the sequel, Scent of Magic. A Good Choice for Reading!! 5 out 5 stars!!

[vivalaerin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I thought this book was great. I read it in one sitting, yesterday! Maria Snyder consistently creates worlds and characters I can like immediately, and Avry was one of those. She's very selfless, without thinking that makes her better than others, which makes her likeable. But she's also pretty spunky and tough. She reminded me of Yelena a bit so maybe that's part of why I like her. There is a lot of action and politics hidden in this little book, and I very interested to see what happens next with Tohon, the Peace/Death Lilys, and Avry and her boys.

[celinenyx · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've always wanted to read on of Maria V. Snyder's books, so when I got the opportunity to read Touch of Power for review, I jumped on it. I wanted to know what I've been missing.Touch of Power is the story of Avry, a healer in a world where healers are despised. They get the blame of causing the plague that has killed thousands of citizens. When she meets Kerrick and his gang of outcasts, she wants nothing to do with them. But what if she is the only person that can save someone that can save her country?This is a solid fantasy read. It has an interesting magic system (consisting of healers, forest magic, earth magic, life magic, death magic, etcetera) that has a lot of potential, and there is an interesting conflict. I really liked the concept of this book, but I felt there was something missing.It felt a bit like it was mixed with a bad paranormal romance. You know, the kind with an excuse of a plot and two characters that are nothing more but cardboard puppets. With a romance that seems unlikely and petty problems that keep them apart. Sometimes I felt a bit of this bad paranormal romance shining through. I didn't absolutely hate the love interest, but I didn't like him either. I guess I'm just not the person for hate-to-love kind of stories. I was rooting for the big teddy guy, but he never stood a chance.I also feel like at times there are some plot holes. My main one annoys me quite a bit. When someone has the plague (which is highly contagious) they don't take any precautions to not attract the plague. They just act like nothing is wrong at all. I can't imagine that a person that has seen dozens of people die of the same illness can just stand next to someone that has that contagious disease. I don't know, doesn't seem plausible to me at all.The reason I give Touch of Power a high rating even though I didn't really like the love interest and was a bit irritated by the holes in the story, is that it is a very engaging read. You just have to know what will happen next, because anything can happen. I also enjoyed as a person that has read her fair share of fantasy, that it offers a different take on something that has been done countless times.The story doesn't end on a cliffhanger, but there are more than enough story lines to make a second book in this series. I'm looking forward to read that one, and to see if the problems I have with this book are just a one time thing, or something structural.

[foggidawn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Avry is a Healer -- the last of the Healers, in fact. When a plague broke out which the Healers were unable to counteract, a rumor spread that the Healers had caused the plague. Now, there is a bounty on the head of any Healer, and Avry lives on the run, rarely using her gift. When she risks healing a sick child, she is caught and imprisoned. She's rescued by a man named Kerrick, who needs her to heal Prince Ryne, a man Avry detests. Kerrick, however, believes that Ryne is the only man who can stop the evil tyrant who is trying to gain political control in the wake of the plague. Saving him could mean saving the lives of thousands. And Ryne has the plague . . . which means that, if Avery heals him, she will be killed by the disease instead.The story held together well enough, but I felt like a lot of the suspense in the plot stemmed from Avry and Kerrick keeping secrets from each other, and assuming that they knew what the other person was thinking or feeling. This is by no means uncommon, particularly in romance plot lines of any genre, so it's not exactly a deal-breaker for me . . . just something I tend to notice. Also, one small detail irritated me the whole way through. A particular plant, the Death Lily, plays a major role in the story -- and for some reason, the author chose to pluralize it as Death Lilys, not Death Lilies. It's consistent throughout the book, so not a typographical error, but I can't imagine why one would choose to do that. As I said, a small thing -- but it took me right out of the story pretty much every time I ran across it.If you think you can get past the niggling details that bothered me, I'd recommend this book. It's set in a different fantasy world than Snyder's Ixia/Sitia novels, so knowledge of her other books isn't necessary.

[readingbeader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the inaugural book of a new series, (I guess there is no way to avoid them anymore,) so other reviewers complaining of slowness must not have appreciated the world building. I like this book. Set in a world devastated by a disease that wiped out much of the population, leaving starvation and lawlessness in this wake. Several people are struggling for control of the world, not content to secure a small area; each wants the whole of the former 15 realms. Avry, a healer, has been on the run for the last three years, hiding her gift, because healers were accused of starting the plague. Kerrick has spent two of those years searching for her. After rescuing her from execution, he expects her to heal his friend from the plague, even though it will kill her.Since this is the start of a series, a lot of people are introduced only briefly. I expect we’ll see more of Estrid, Jael, Daneen, and Sepp later. The bad guy only shows up at the end of the story. While the story/romance put forward in this episode does have a real wrap up, plenty is left for more novels. I’m looking forward to more. Harlequin Teen, magic, survival, series, romantic, healers, Avry- healer- on the run for 3 years, 20 years oldKerrick of Alga- wants Avry to heal his friend Ryne of plagueBalen-“poppa bear”-Kerrick’s body guard/friend, protective of AvryVinn & Quinn-friends, fellow seachersFlea—youngest of group-rescued by “gang”, Avry teaches him to juggle

[leannesf_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another great start of a series by Maria Snyder! Snyder knows how to write a strong female heroine in Avry, but with her own compassionate personality and healing gifts, different from her Study and Glass series. Can't wait to see what happens in the second book!

[theepicrat · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Hi, I am the(EPIC)rat, and I have a fantasy problem. I read Touch Of Power a while back, and it has tipped me into a full-blown addiction for fantasy of a similar ilk. Since I am unable to find anything that matches that sort of fantastic and romantic and sarcastic, I am undergoing some serious withdrawal until I find the next fantasy fix!THE GOOD BITS{Fans of Sharon Shinn: READ THIS} I love me some Sharon Shinn and totally fell in love with Troubled Waters! I did not think another author could reach that level of awesome, but Maria V. Snyder has nailed it with Touch Of Power. It reminded me of Mystic And Rider with a group of characters traveling to reach a certain destination. As I begin to dip my toes more often in the fantasy pool, I realize that there are some similar elements that float from one book to the next: a widespread plague that also targets the royal family, forbidden magic, an underdog who holds all the answers, etc. They may all start blending together, but Maria V. Snyder wove the story into something that felt all brand new and exciting.{Group dynamics} I have never met a more enjoyable group of characters! They were funny, heroic, and downright temperamental when the scene called for it. Sparks especially flew for Avry and the leader Kerrick as they exasperated each other every step of the way, and I ate every bit of it up!{Strong female lead} Avry kicks some serious ass! She may not ace the test on stealth and steel, but she can keep her wits about in the face of danger. None of this fainting and wimpering for this girl! No, ma’am. Quick on her feet, quicker to think and learn, and quickest to do the right thing, I think Avry may give Alanna a good run for her money. What really sealed the deal for me is that, underneath all that tough exteriour, Avry has a wicked sense of humor :)THE BAD BITS{The cover} I wish the US cover looked less girly and went more along the lines of the UK one. I think the cover does the story a disservice because it makes Avry seem all rainbows and starshine, but she is actually full of throwing knives and healing powers.{Left me sad and lonely} I wish this story could have went on longer – and I am not sure how soon Touch Of Power will turn into a series. Answer: NOT SOON ENOUGH.THE OVERALLSeriously? GO READ THIS BOOK NOW for the love of all things fantasy. I have not been THIS enthusiastic about a fantasy book since Troubled Waters, and I admit that I can be a hard egg to crack! Fans of Sharon Shinn and Tamora Pierce who are searching for a new “it” fantasy to stalk, be prepared to eat this book up and ask for seconds.

[bookratmisty · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have this goal of taking notes on a book when I finish it, to make reviewing it easier. I know myself; I will jump straight into the next book, and things will get muddled, and then I'll forget half the things I want to say if I don't take notes. Sometimes my note-taking is really lax, but sometimes I love my nerdy, essay-writing self for being a note-taker, because then when I'm being a lazy ass and putting off writing a review (for no other reason than, say, a Firefly marathon. Again.), I'll at least have something to look over to refresh my memory and make me actually write the damn thing.My review for Touch of Power is one of those, a thank-god-for-notes review. Why? Because I read it just before Christmas, all gung-ho about another Maria book and wanting to get up a review asap. But I mean, hello? Christmas and New Years, it's not like I was going to get anything done. And, um...now it's May. So that's how that works out for me. But it was funny to me a bit when I looked back over my notes. Sometimes things get a little crappier in hindsight, and sometimes they get a little rosier. I think Maria's books tend to get rosier for me, and that's because I always have issues with the beginnings of them. I mean, take Poison Study, her debut and one of my favorite books, period. A friend recommended it to me, and within the first 30 pages or so, I was emailing her and asking her whyyyyy and was about to take it back to the library, until suddenly - it clicked. And I loved it rabidly from then on out. And I look back on it now as nearly flawless. The bumpy beginning never even happened. Looking over my notes for Touch of Power, I'm discovering that I've done it again. Or Maria has. She's made me forget that in the beginning, I was writing myself notes like this: Maybe I've been watching too much Community, but Avry's narration is reminding me of Abed. It feels...almost meta-fictiony, like a cheesy voice over. It's not natural.or this: Maria said Poison Study took her about a decade, and I think it shows. I think she needs that length of time to stew and perfect and produce something with depth and originality. None of the others have come close to matching PS, and each seems to get farther from it...God, I was a bitch fussy-pants. But here's the thing - the as-I-go notes stop after that. All the rest are post-book, and that's because I didn't put it down to make a note after that point. Like Poison Study, it clicked and suddenly everything was magic. Now don't get me wrong, I think the decade Maria spent on PS still shows and it is my favorite of her works without a doubt. Touch of Power doesn't quite measure up to that, but I'm okay with that. I don't expect other books to measure up to my favorites. Poison Study was fresh to me, and this is never not predictable. It skews younger and simpler, but I don't necessarily find this a bad thing. I'm okay with a foregone conclusion because sometimes it just makes sense. This was still well told and engaging, even if you could see what was coming, and even if there was a bit of a mustache-twirler-type villain.The simple fact is, Maria writes an engaging story with rootforable characters and engrossing world-building. Always. I shouldn't doubt that because she's shown me time and again that if I just quit being a bitch fussy-pants and give in, I will be entertained and I will be very eager for the next installment of whatever it is she's writing. Ever. Period. Her romances are stomach-fluttery and swoony without being sickening; her heroines are kick-ass by human. Her tension is - my god, it's tense. Everything is always so tense! I love it! I'm using exclamation points!Maybe she's some kind of wizard. I really don't know. But whatever it is, she's got it, and even if it doesn't always shine as brightly as one may hope, it still always shines. She writes books that make you want to recommend them to people, books you talk about and push. That says a lot to a book-lover.So if you haven't picked up one of her series yet, you should.You just should.

[bookswithbite · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This girl got some spice in her! I loved this book. What captured me the most is about this book is Avery's life and her selflessness. I loved reading stories about people who do something brave for someone and get paid back badly. Avery is a healer. And is not appreciated. Her people are being hunted down one by one. Healing someone is very risky and will be death if she gets caught. The story of Avery's life is a journey the reader is unable to get out of. Sucked in a maze of wars, death and prejudiced, Ms. Snyder's writing will draw you into a world you will never forget.Let me start off by saying the characters of this book are WOW! They all have a unique voice that screams at the readers. Especially Avery. These characters just screamed excellence! I loved her back round history to the characters with the uncertain future of what lies ahead for her. I don't think that once I started this book did I take my eyes off of it. Yup, this book is so going on my shelf.The love interest in this book play out really different then what I thought. I was for sure it would go one way but totally fell the other. This is nice cause the author caught me by surprise. I did however like how this love started off with a strong dislike and for using each other purposes. After seeing the two characters bicker and fight along the journey, I knew they were meant to be. It definitely gave the reader a much more deeper connection to the characters.So, whats the verdict. Read this book! Seriously go now and read it. It will amaze and capture you. With Avery's spicy attitude and a know it all man, it's so simple to fall into the story.

[truly_bookish · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I'm a fan of Maria V. Snyder. Poison Study and Inside Out are two books I absolutely love so I was excited to see that she has a new fantasy series for me to get lost in. Touch of Power is classic Snyder and it does not disappoint.No doubt, Snyder is a master at world building. The plague ravaged Fifteen Realms is in shambles and the political leaders that are left alive are scrambling to grab as much power and territories as they can. Avry, who has been hiding and on the run for years, becomes a pawn in this political game. Throw in characters with special magical abilities and carnivorous flowers big enough to swallow a person whole and you have an unputdownable book that will keep you absolutely engaged to the end.Speaking of characters with special abilities, Avry's healing is very cool. She is also snarky and having the story told from her perspective is a treat. My only complaint is that at times, Avery's narration is a bit too modern and out of place with the rest of the fantasy setting. Still, I love Avry, she is definitely another wonderful and memorable character that Ms. Snyder has created.Kerrick is a huge jerk at the beginning of the book. He's a brooding kill-joy and a bit of a bully at first, but thankfully, he fully redeems himself by the end. While I know I shouldn't, I did compare him to Valek from Poison Study and while I don't love him as much as Valek, Kerrick does have his own kind of awesome going for him. The secondary characters are very well written as well. Kerrick's men are so lovable and the bad guy is especially pervy and awful. He is definitely the guy you love to hate.As an escapist reader, I really enjoyed getting lost in another of Maria Snyder's fabulous worlds. I highly recommend this book to fantasy lovers everywhere, and even if you don't usually read fantasy, you should try Touch of Power. It's that good!Content: Kissing, sexual situations, implied sex (no detailed descriptions) and violence. This is not a YA novel and most of the characters, including Avry and Kerrick, are in their twenties. I don't think it is appropriate for younger teens but older, more mature teens should be fine.

[l_manning · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Avry has spent the last few years on the run. In a world with filled with magic, her particular brand of talents are feared. Healers are hunted and put to death for their response to the great plague that has swept the lands. Avry cannot escape the call of helping though, and is soon imprisoned when she is caught healing a young child. Much to her surprise, Avry is broken out of jail by a band of men who seem to have their own reasons for freeing her. Now Avry has to decide whether her freedom and even her life are worth saving someone who may be able to save the world.I have heard of Maria V. Snyder from other people, but I never read one of her books. Wow. That is all I can say. I was drawn into this book from the start, and I probably wouldn't have stopped reading if I didn't have other things to do. Everything was just so beautifully done. The pacing was fantastic- lots of action, but plenty of chances to breath and get to know the characters some more. There were moments that were hilarious, and moments that just break your heart. The world was so well developed, and that really helps you get lost in it from the very beginning. There were a couple of twists and turns, and I was definitely left wanting more in the end.I am keeping this review a little shallow on purpose. There were so many things that I loved about this book, but a lot of the fun was in discovering them. Just know that I highly recommend this book, and it's probably in the top of the books I've read this year. I am definitely adding more books by Maria V. Snyder on my to-read list. This book was so absorbing, I didn't even know where the time had gone. It is a great book, and I can't wait to see what the next one in the series holds!Galley provided for review.

[bkwormblogger · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book. Many reviews have so far questioned the character building or world building but for me the main pulling power was the overall story. Avry is interesting as a female protagonist. A 20 year old, on the run due to her ability to heal, and running out of options. One night she heals a baby suffering from the plague that has hit the town but the parents turn her in. From then on Avry has the biggest of adventures, but the underlying truth is that she’s going to die, so it’s what she does with the time that she has that matters.The characters are all enjoyable. You notice a softer side to Kerrick occasionally but want to slap him most of the time. Only because you understand how he feels about Avry before he does. The lads in the gang are all fun. I felt bad when Flea died and suffered as they did.The introduction of Tohon was interesting. I would have liked a little bit more development on his part because I wanted to believe that underneath all the evil there might be someone worth saving (from himself).The ending was a little sudden but still enjoyable and I’m glad Avry found two more healers in the end.Based in a fantasy/medieval world Touch of Magic was a great read. I found the flow easy and non-jerky, and loved the modern language of it all. Sometimes other books in this genre are bogged down with too much description but Snyder has the steady pace and descriptions in equal measure.Definitely read it. It’s well worth your time. Now I want to read more from her!

[thelostentwife · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I’ve come to expect awesome things from Maria Snyder. She writes about strong females, the perfect touch of magic, action, a little bit of romance – basically everything that makes the teenager in me giggle with delight. Her latest book, Touch of Power, provided all those things.Seriously, if you want to lose yourself in a good book, and know you have an entire day to allow yourself to get lost in it, you cannot fail with picking up one of Snyder’s books. With Touch of Power, I found myself trapped away in this world where healing is not considered to be a good thing, and the young heroine is on the run…constantly. So much so, in fact, even I was out of breath reading it!The imagination of Snyder is to be envied. The Death Lilies were magnificent – so incredibly interesting. The choice having to be made by Avry was heart-breaking .. how would you choose? The combination of interesting characters, rough situations, and action scenes kept me reading from beginning to end in one sitting. And that, my friends, is fun reading.

[virginiagill · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As always Maria V. Snyder's latest does not disappoint. I found the main character's constant struggle to not use the gifts she was born with thought provoking and the politics well written. One character was truly offensive to me and I found myself mentally yelling at the author for including him...I'm sure you'll be able to guess who he is as you read... Overall I loved the book and cant wait to see where the story goes next.

[robreads · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I love Snyder's world-building. Toward the end, though, I was annoyed by the amateur-ish writing of the dialogue between two lovers. In fact, several times throughout the novel the dialogue seemed out of sync with the characters and the setting.

[highflyer_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The world created by Snyder is both amazing and very cruel. The characters that live within this book are deep; each character has many layers to them. What you see on the surface isn't always what the character really means, wants or they might not be telling you the truth. It's really hard to tell because you have to slowly peel away each layer of each character to figure out their motives.Avry, our main character and healer is a very likable character. It's hard not to feel for her as she's already had a rough life. Then you add being a wanted healer into the mix and it makes everything worse because she's constantly on the run and she knows nothing of what happened to her family or Tara, the woman that taught her how to heal in the first place.It's easy to become attached to the group of men that rescue her from her newest plight because they too are likable characters even if they each have their own issues. It's so easy to be pulled into this world. I was instantly pulled into the story line. However some portions of the story were a little lacking, but this was mostly towards the end. I'd love to read more about this world!

[kskye_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Maria V. Snyder is an author that no matter what she writes, I’ll read. I love her stories that much. Poison Study is still my favorite, but Touch of Power her ninth book comes closest in the overall feel of Poison Study. Avry is a tough, smart heroine and is just so cool. I mean every time she decides to heal someone it’s like a mini sacrifice that takes courage…and to do that for people you don’t even know is amazing. Plus she doesn’t let people order her around when it comes to healing.One thing I really like about Ms. Snyder's writing is that she is able to make even her secondary characters so lovable and almost as important at the main characters. The bands of rogues in this book are so likable, and their eventual camaraderie with Avry is sweet. Most of the story takes place with them traveling through the forest, but it doesn’t drag. The pacing is just right. The romance doesn’t really kick in till the end, but the characters are just so interesting I don’t even mind.The main villain, Tohon is someone you kind of want to feel sorry for until you realize he is just plain psycho. He acts like a deranged kid who just wants to win a popularity contest….or in this case gain all fifteen realmsIf you like fantasy, cool magic, a weird healing system, giant plants that eat people, zombies, knife throwing and juggling then yeah, you might like this book :)And Flea, I still have hope….