Poison Study

**Poison Study** is a fantasy book that was released on August 5, 2019.

## Summary

You’re about to be executed for murder. He offers you a second chance at life. You’d be a fool not to take it— right?

## Chapters

#### **Chapter 1: Belladonna**

> *You're about to be executed for murdering the man who destroyed your life. Your only shot is a stone-cold assassin with an offer you can't refuse. You'd be a fool not to accept it... right?*
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#### **Chapter 2: Wolfsbane**

> *You've escaped the noose... for now. But as lessons with Ixia's infamous spymaster begin in earnest, you have to wonder— how long will your good fortune last?*
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#### **Chapter 3: Hemlock**

> *Friends and enemies emerge from the woodwork as your intensive training continues. In a world where every bite could be your last, who can you really trust?*
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#### **Chapter 4: Flame Lily**

> *Valek takes you to meet Ambrose, the Commander of Ixia and the man who holds the key to your salvation. You've trained for this moment— will you deliver?*
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#### **Chapter 5: Snakeroot**

> *Your past comes back to haunt you as General Brazell makes an appearance at the Commander's war table... and he's out for blood.*
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#### **Chapter 6: Foxglove**

> *Valek pays you a visit as you recover from a near-lethal dose of My Love. He wasn't exaggerating when he said there were no days off!*
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#### **Chapter 7: Pennyroyal**

> *Rand pays you a visit, determined to spice up the monotony of your stint in the infirmary—but a certain spymaster isn't pleased by your budding friendship with the cook...*
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#### **Chapter 8: Hydrangea**

> *The day of the test dawns bright and early. How about it— will you pass Valek's poison test, or die trying?*
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#### **Chapter 9: Strychnine**

> *Enemies abound, and your biggest one seems to be Margg. But you're not about to be scared into silence by the sour-faced housekeeper...*
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#### **Chapter 10: Moonseed**

> *Just when you thought you were settling into a routine, Valek turns your world upside-down. Will you ever catch a break?*
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#### **Chapter 11: Black Locust**

> *The day of the fire festival arrives, and the castle is alive with excitement for the coming festivities— but you have more to worry about than dresses and cake-baking contests.*
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#### **Chapter 12: Devil's Snare**

> *You're determined to enjoy the festival despite the hidden dangers, but some problems are much too big to ignore...*
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#### **Chapter 13: Poison Ivy**

> *Truths about your past come to light as you and Valek struggle to figure out why you're being targeted by a southern magician.*
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#### **Chapter 14: Lily of the Valley**

> *The fugitive exercise is off to a running start. Will you evade capture long enough to impress Valek and the Commander... or will you die trying to flee to Sitia?*
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#### **Chapter 15: Autumn Crocus**

> *When the southern magician's appearance interrupts the fugitive exercise, all bets are off. But this time, she doesn't want your death—she wants you.*
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#### **Chapter 16: Jack-in-the-Pulpit**

> *As Valek runs off to investigate a caravan's mysterious cargo, you make your way back to the castle— and to Commander Ambrose.*
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#### **Chapter 17: Death Camas**

> *In an effort to discover the source of the mysterious pods, you break into Valek's office— only to find much more than you bargained for.*
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#### **Chapter 18: Winter Cherry**

> *After four days gone, Valek returns with some troubling news about the pod-carrying caravans.*
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#### **Chapter 19: Buckthorn**

> *When Valek discovers your secret training session with Ari and Janco, you're prepared for the worst. Will Valek let you continue, or are your efforts doomed before they can come to fruition?*
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#### **Chapter 20: Poinsettia**

> *As you dive into training and research, dark forces take shape in the shadows. Are you ready to face them?*
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#### **Chapter 21: Hogweed**

> *Margg's the rat— the truth you suspected all along is confirmed. But what are the chances that Valek will believe you without proof?*
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#### **Chapter 22: Stinging Nettle**

> *With your rendezvous with Margg's contact looming on the horizon, there's one last thing you have to do— tell Valek the truth about his "loyal" maid.*
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#### **Chapter 23: Azalea**

> *You continue your training, but enemies are hiding behind every corner. It's time to put that training to the test— or die trying.*
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#### **Chapter 24: Rhododendron**

> *The day of your secret rendezvous has arrived. But the truth is unlike anything you could have predicted.*
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#### **Chapter 25: Oleander**

> *The truth about Rand rattles you to your core— but you have more pressing things to worry about as the Commander's long-awaited feast begins.*
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#### **Chapter 26: Mistletoe**

> *You head back to Valek's quarters, your mind reeling with the revelations of the night. But the brandy flowing through your blood emboldens you in a way you never expected.*
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#### **Chapter 27: Poison Sumac**

> *New enemies come to light as Mogkan's mysterious influence over the Commander grows. When the time for escape comes, will you be able to leave Valek behind?*
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#### **Chapter 28: Wild Parsnip**

> *The Sitian delegation has arrived... and you're shocked to find a familiar face among them.*
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#### **Chapter 29: Angel's Trumpet**

> *As you recover from your second dose of My Love, you make a startling discovery about the strange beans— and confront the betrayal of a man you once called your friend.*
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#### **Chapter 30: Rosary Pea**

> *As the Commander prepares to leave for Brazell's mansion, your double down on training.*
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#### **Chapter 31: Doll's Eye**

> *The full extent of Rand's betrayal burning in your mind, you gear up to fight for your life.*
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#### **Chapter 32: Yew**

> *As you approach Brazell's manor, dread mounts like a slowly tightening noose. Without Valek, what chance do you have?*
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#### **Chapter 33: Baneberry**

> *You flee Brazell's manor, intent on finding the one man who can help— Valek.*
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#### **Chapter 34: Chokecherry**

> *As you and Valek await sentence in Brazell's dungeon, the effects of Butterfly's Dust take hold. Will you survive the night?*
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#### **Chapter 35: Heliotrope**

> *As death crouches in the shadows, the truth finally comes to light. How does Valek really feel about you?*
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#### **Chapter 36: Henbane**

> *Your plan is underway. But your foes are not to be underestimated, and soon you find yourself in a tooth-and-nail struggle for survival as your final defenses crumble to dust.*
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#### **Chapter 37: Bittersweet**

> *You prepare for your journey to Sitia to take control of your magical powers, but there are a few loose strings that need to be tied up—and a few bittersweet goodbyes.*
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## Author

The original author of the story is **Maria V. Snyder**. Her welcoming message for readers of the book is:

> *Meteorologist turned novelist, Maria V. Snyder's been writing fantasy since she was bored at work and needed something creative to do. Over a dozen novels later, Maria's been on the New York Times bestseller list, won a half-dozen awards, and has earned her Master's degree in Writing from Seton Hill University where she's now part of the MFA faculty. She also enjoys creating new worlds where horses and swords rule, although she's been known to trap her poor characters in a giant metal cube and let them figure out how to get out.*
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## Gallery

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## Trivia

* It's the first book of the *Poison Study* series.

* This was the longest book that's been released, with a total of 37 chapters until it was surpassed by Alpha Mates which has 40 chapters an few years later.