Yummier than Pumpkin Spice Latte and Caramel Apples
Recently I was asked who my favorite book boyfriends are and IMMEDIATELY I was like Valek and Janco from Poison Study. That author suggested I write a review of just why those two are so yummylicious and, well, how could I resist gushing to you all about how delectable Valek is and how funny Janco is. Obvi I couldn't resist and so you here for your viewing pleasure I give you Valek and Janco from Maria Snyder's Poison Study trilogy.
Valek is Commander Ambrose's assassin and spymaster for the whole of Ixia (the northern country for those who haven't read the books) and he's resistant to magic. Well that's kind of misleading really it's not that he's necessarily resistant to magic so much as that he's got this permanent null shield that surrounds him and no I can't tell you why because that would give up the whole plot twist and I'm not that mean. Valek has piercing sapphire blue eyes and shoulder length curly black hair. He's described as being both tall and lanky and his nickname is the GHOST. If that's not enough to sell you on why Valek should make your top 10 of insanely hot book boyfriends here's one more clincher he's totally loyal to his people. He believes so much in the Commander and his country that he goes to great lengths to ensure the safety of everyone in Ixia. Valek is the heartmate of Yelena the main character in the Poison Study series and what he's willing to go through and what he does for her will make you swoon with ooo's and ahhh's.
One of my favorite Valek quotes to Yelena is:
“Yelena, you've driven me crazy. You've caused me considerable trouble and I've contemplated ending your life twice since I've known you." Valek's warm breath in my ear sent a shiver down my spine.
"But you’ve slipped under my skin, invaded my blood and seized my heart.”
“That sounds more like a poison than a person,” was all I could say. His confession had both shocked and thrilled me.
“Exactly,” Valek replied. “You have poisoned me.”
Maria V. Snyder, Poison Study
Janco my boy my favorite of the POWER TWINS he's the opposite of his best friend Ari, the other half of the power twins, and he's funny, mischievous, and he loves a good fight. Janco befriends Yelena after a military exercise where he and Ari are the only two of the Commanders soldiers to actually find and bring her back. Janco is witty and light footed and he LOVES to talk. One of the things that drew me to his character right off was his willingness to teach Yelena to defend herself when she was assigned as the Commander's poison taster. He didn't give one fig for what anyone else said about her or give any real credence to the castle gossip he saw a young girl who was asking for nothing more than the ability to protect herself from some pretty nasty people and him and Ari took her under their wing. Janco loves to rhyme out loud when he's sparring and some of the things he comes up with will have you in stitches they are that funny. Yelena figures out pretty early on that Janco does this to both throw his opponents off balance and to help him keep his rhythm while fighting. Like Valek, Janco is very loyal and though he may come across as a carefree guy who has no worries if you threaten one of his friends you'll end up on his black list and this man has some serious fighting skillz. He puts his own life in Yelena's hands on more than one occasion because he believes in her that much. Janco and Ari love Yelena like a little sister and respect her like a soldier respects his captain.
One of Janco's fighting songs that cracked me up to no end:
“One, and two, and three, four, five. Keep fighting like this and you will die," Janco sang.”
― Maria V. Snyder, Poison Study
“Before Kiki and I headed toward the Keep, I thanked my friends.
“For what? We didn’t do anything,” Janco grumbled.
“For caring enough to follow my guards. And the next time, I might need the help.”
“There better not be a next time,” Ari said, giving me a stern look.
“How touching,” Janco said, pretending to wipe his eyes.
“Get going, Yelena. I don’t want you to see me cry.” He faked a sniffle.
“I’m sure your ego can handle it,” I said. “Or will you need to beat up some trainees to feel like a man again?”
“Very funny,” he said.”
― Maria V. Snyder, Poison Study
The power twins were so popular as secondary characters in this trilogy Maria wrote them their own short story called Power Study. Here's what I imagine Janco looks like, tell me he's not swoon worthy.
I have lots of other book boyfriends I like to revisit on occasion but these two, le sigh, they've stuck with me throughout the long years. I read these books when they first came out almost 15 years ago and I have to say they just get better with age.
Valek is Commander Ambrose's assassin and spymaster for the whole of Ixia (the northern country for those who haven't read the books) and he's resistant to magic. Well that's kind of misleading really it's not that he's necessarily resistant to magic so much as that he's got this permanent null shield that surrounds him and no I can't tell you why because that would give up the whole plot twist and I'm not that mean. Valek has piercing sapphire blue eyes and shoulder length curly black hair. He's described as being both tall and lanky and his nickname is the GHOST. If that's not enough to sell you on why Valek should make your top 10 of insanely hot book boyfriends here's one more clincher he's totally loyal to his people. He believes so much in the Commander and his country that he goes to great lengths to ensure the safety of everyone in Ixia. Valek is the heartmate of Yelena the main character in the Poison Study series and what he's willing to go through and what he does for her will make you swoon with ooo's and ahhh's.
One of my favorite Valek quotes to Yelena is:
“Yelena, you've driven me crazy. You've caused me considerable trouble and I've contemplated ending your life twice since I've known you." Valek's warm breath in my ear sent a shiver down my spine.
"But you’ve slipped under my skin, invaded my blood and seized my heart.”
“That sounds more like a poison than a person,” was all I could say. His confession had both shocked and thrilled me.
“Exactly,” Valek replied. “You have poisoned me.”
Maria V. Snyder, Poison Study
Janco my boy my favorite of the POWER TWINS he's the opposite of his best friend Ari, the other half of the power twins, and he's funny, mischievous, and he loves a good fight. Janco befriends Yelena after a military exercise where he and Ari are the only two of the Commanders soldiers to actually find and bring her back. Janco is witty and light footed and he LOVES to talk. One of the things that drew me to his character right off was his willingness to teach Yelena to defend herself when she was assigned as the Commander's poison taster. He didn't give one fig for what anyone else said about her or give any real credence to the castle gossip he saw a young girl who was asking for nothing more than the ability to protect herself from some pretty nasty people and him and Ari took her under their wing. Janco loves to rhyme out loud when he's sparring and some of the things he comes up with will have you in stitches they are that funny. Yelena figures out pretty early on that Janco does this to both throw his opponents off balance and to help him keep his rhythm while fighting. Like Valek, Janco is very loyal and though he may come across as a carefree guy who has no worries if you threaten one of his friends you'll end up on his black list and this man has some serious fighting skillz. He puts his own life in Yelena's hands on more than one occasion because he believes in her that much. Janco and Ari love Yelena like a little sister and respect her like a soldier respects his captain.
One of Janco's fighting songs that cracked me up to no end:
“One, and two, and three, four, five. Keep fighting like this and you will die," Janco sang.”
― Maria V. Snyder, Poison Study
“Before Kiki and I headed toward the Keep, I thanked my friends.
“For what? We didn’t do anything,” Janco grumbled.
“For caring enough to follow my guards. And the next time, I might need the help.”
“There better not be a next time,” Ari said, giving me a stern look.
“How touching,” Janco said, pretending to wipe his eyes.
“Get going, Yelena. I don’t want you to see me cry.” He faked a sniffle.
“I’m sure your ego can handle it,” I said. “Or will you need to beat up some trainees to feel like a man again?”
“Very funny,” he said.”
― Maria V. Snyder, Poison Study
The power twins were so popular as secondary characters in this trilogy Maria wrote them their own short story called Power Study. Here's what I imagine Janco looks like, tell me he's not swoon worthy.
I have lots of other book boyfriends I like to revisit on occasion but these two, le sigh, they've stuck with me throughout the long years. I read these books when they first came out almost 15 years ago and I have to say they just get better with age.
Yummmmmm!!!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAll my best, stay cozy with your dreamy men!
SL Morgan