Kidnapped at age six and taken north to Ixia, Yelena is finally on her way home to the Zaltana Clan after 14 years. Sitia may be the home of her birth, but Yelena has no memories of the place and couldn't feel more alone. Although her parents immediately recognize and accept her as their own, things are very different with her brother. Leif is angry and still feels guilt where his sister's disappearance is concerned. He loudly and unabashedly spreads rumors to the effect that she is not his sister but an Ixian spy.

Yelena is slated to return to her mentor in a few weeks time and Leif is chosen to accompany her to the Citadel. Understandably, she's not at all comfortable with this plan. Yelena's worst fears are realized when she and Leif are ambushed. Initially, Leif feigns surprise at the attack, but it soon becomes apparent that he's well acquainted with the enemy. By all outward appearances, it would seem her loving brother has set her up.

Yelena's captor turns out to be King Cahil Ixia, presumptive heir to the throne, who unsuccessfully interrogates Yelena, and then threatens to destroy her mind with magic to get the information he needs to guarantee him his realm. Yelena journeys with Cahil and his men to the Magician's Keep where Yelena is anxious to prove once and for all she is not a northern spy.

Once in the Keep, Yelena's mind is violated by Roze, the First Magician, who is unhappy to confirm Yelena's innocence. Wishing she were anywhere but the Keep, Yelena nonetheless settles into her studies. Cahil is assigned to be her riding instructor and a tenuous and superficial relationship is born. Petty jealousies erupt within the Keep's walls, her magic is still a bit unfocused and it is not clear what her gift is to be. Time is running out for Yelena, who must find her gift and rely on her natural strengths to face down a killer harvesting souls and who's now targeting her.

MAGIC STUDY is a strong follow up to last year's POISON STUDY. There is one more book due out in the series in October 2007, FIRE STUDY. Snyder's descriptions of her world and the people bring her story to life. Her characters, compelling and multidimensional, come across as real people and carry the well-plotted story along to a satisfying conclusion. Yelena finds her strength and her gift and is still the strong, practical girl, now woman, we've grown to know and admire.