Touch of Power

Touch of Power follows Avry, a healer in a world devastated by plague. She possesses the ability to heal others by absorbing their injuries and illnesses into her own body - a power that has made her kind hunted and persecuted by those who blame healers for spreading disease. On the run and in hiding, Avry encounters a group of men who need her healing abilities for a specific mission. Their leader makes her an offer that forces her to choose between her safety and her healer's oath to help those in need. This choice launches her into a journey across dangerous territories filled with mercenaries, hostile kingdoms, and political intrigue. The complex magic system centers on different types of magical powers, including healing, life forces, and death magic. The story explores how these powers interact and influence the relationships between characters while shaping the broader conflicts in their world. This fantasy novel examines themes of sacrifice, duty, and the price of power. The narrative raises questions about personal choice versus societal obligation, and the moral implications of using magic to help or harm others.

Readers praise the strong female protagonist Avry, her healing abilities, and the detailed world-building. Many reviewers highlight the unique premise of healers being hunted and persecuted. The romance develops gradually and feels earned according to multiple reviews. Common criticisms focus on pacing issues in the middle section and some predictable plot elements. Several readers note similarities to Poison Study, the author's previous series. A few reviews mention that secondary characters could use more development. Review Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (31,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (450+ reviews) Barnes & Noble: 4.4/5 (90+ reviews) Sample reader comments: "The magic system feels fresh and the consequences of healing others make for interesting moral dilemmas" - Goodreads review "Takes too long to get to the main conflict" - Amazon review "Strong start and finish but drags in the middle portions" - Goodreads review

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas A female healer-assassin navigates political intrigue while discovering her magic powers in a kingdom where magic users face persecution.

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder A condemned prisoner becomes a food taster for the Commander and develops magical abilities while uncovering conspiracies within the military government.

Green Rider by Kristen Britain A messenger with emerging magical abilities races against time to deliver crucial information while evading those who hunt her.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore In a world where certain people possess extraordinary abilities called Graces, a woman with the Grace of killing serves as the king's enforcer while questioning her role.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemisin A woman from an outcast branch of the ruling family is summoned to compete for the throne in a palace where enslaved gods serve as weapons.

🌿 The author, Maria V. Snyder, began her career as a meteorologist and has a BS degree in Meteorology from Penn State University before becoming a novelist. 🧪 The healing magic system in the book was inspired by the author's research into medieval medicine and the historical persecution of healers during times of plague. 💫 The book is the first in the Healer series but connects to Snyder's larger literary universe, which includes the Study series and the Glass series. 🌍 The deadly plague featured in the novel, the "Death Lily plague," was partially influenced by historical pandemics like the Black Death and their impact on society's treatment of healers and medicine workers. 📚 Before writing the book, Snyder worked extensively with a martial arts expert to accurately portray the fighting scenes and self-defense techniques used by the main character, Avry.