Poison Study, by Maria V. Snyder

On the day Yelena is to be executed for murder she is offered a choice – continue with the hanging, or, become a food taster. Seems harmless right? Or not. She becomes the food taster, a.k.a. poison tester for all the drinks and meals for the Commander of Ixia.


As she becomes more comfortable in her role at the palace she begins to formulate her escape plan. But with internal plots, strange magical powers, and enemies out to get her…she might not ever be free again. Such an amazing (seriously, insanly amazing) book. I won't update the remainder of the trilogy *no spoilers here!* but suffice it to say - this is a MUST READ.