Guest Review: Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

Touch of Power 
(Healer Series book #1) 
by Maria V. Snyder
Adobe Digital Editions
Page Length: Approximately 400
Courtesy of NetGalley
Book Description : Goodreads

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs 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 Fifteen Realms, 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….

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Missie’s Thoughts & Description:


This is a wonderfully well written fantasy novel.  I give it a steam factor of 1 (PG-13) rating. It’s a clean and hauntingly memorable read that everyone can enjoy.  It has a touch of romance, which will warm your heart. It is actually a pretty good length, so it took a couple of days to read. I applaud the author, Maria V. Snyder, in her world building. The way she describes everything, and the way her words flow out of the story, you feel like you are actually there on a different world with all the different kingdoms.  Its utterly breath taking and scary at the same time.


Plot:
The story begins two years after a plague has stricken the land and the Healers have been blamed for causing it there is no actual proof, only speculation and racism against a people because of the unknown. We begin our epic journey through the eyes of our young heroine Avry of Kazan (Healer). She is Strong willed, clever and ultimately brave. She is in hiding and running for life, literally. A bounty of gold has been placed on the head of every healer.  Avry moves from town to town, changing her looks by cutting & dying her hair when the need arises, and tries her best to look normal and never heal anyone.  She has not seen another Healer since they all went into hiding.


The family Avry is staying with has a very sick child and she can’t stand by and let her die.  So Avry heals the little one, taking the sickness into her, knowing the risk she is taking on her life.  She heals quickly with her magic afterwards, but unfortunately not quick enough.  The mother of the little girl realizes what she is and turns her in. She is captured, imprisoned, and her death is on the horizon.


Kerrick and his band of four men, soon find Avry in her cell the night before her execution. They have been on a two year quest to find a Healer and save his best friend Ryne. He is a victim of the plague and has been put into a magical sleep. As a leader, He could possibly put an end to all the evil that has taken over all the lands in the realms. After breaking her out of prison they are now on a cross country run for their lives with mad men wanting the bounty on Avry's head, man eating flowers along their paths and running from the insane, power hungry King Tohon.


Needless to say, Kerrick and his band of men are not aware of the fact that by healing Ryne, it will lead to Avry's death. Will she escape her new captors or will she make the decision to end her life to save millions.


Avry's tale is amazing and the novel will pull you along for the fantasy adventure of a life time. The story pulls at your heart strings with the constant trials this poor girl has to endure.  I loved the way Maria V. Snyder created a world of political corruption that is very believable. I hated the people for fearing the Healers and wanting those dead; especially when Avry was willing to risk her life for these ungrateful people. I wanted to scream at my kindle and make them understand. Her healing abilities were so believable. It wasn't like other novels where at a mere touch the person was miraculously healed. When Avry healed, she would take the illness or injury into herself. She would have the same pain and symptoms that they had, but the magic inside her would make her heal faster than a normal person. But the downside was with the major injuries and the plague-stricken. If she healed them she would die in their place. She also used herbs and traditional techniques as well. This was a real page turner for me and I could not put it down until I finished it.  


The only cons I could find with this book were the ending.  It was so good that it left me wanting more of the story and not wanting it to end. I will definitely be putting the next book in this series on my TBR list.  I highly recommend this novel especially if you love fantasy.

Rating: 5 Wine Glasses