Touch of Power - Maria V. Snyder

Title: Touch of Power (Healer #1)
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 396
Date read: August, 2014

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.


Maria V. Snyder's books are somewhat formulaic, but they are readable enough that I don't really mind, and so far I've enjoyed every book I've read by her. This was no exception, and I actually really loved how magic was defined here. I'm eager to see where the next books take us.