3.5 stars. The new third series in the study series did NOT disappoint! It is so rare that an author takes the sincere earnest wishes for a continuation and actually manufactures a KICK ASS BOOK. It just shows how talented Maria V Synder is. Her readers wanted the same character in the same world, just different plot and she delivered. That takes SKILL.
This book is written from 3 POVs: Yelena, Valek, and Janco. We also get reacquainted with Opal, Devlen, Ari, as well as get a whole slew of new characters. Someone has found a way to take away Yelena's magic and she seeks the help of the Sitian council and her brother Leif for help. On Valek's side, The Commander assigns him duty over busting a smuggling operation. However, things aren't so easy for poor Valek, with a new young assassin vying for his position at the Commander's side and the sudden lax security in Ixia.