Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder

"So far, I’ve managed to survive. Kidnapped as a child, I was raised in an orphanage in the Territory of Ixia's Military District #5. When I turned 16, I was forced to become Reyad’s laboratory experiment. After two years of torture, I ended up in dungeon awaiting execution for Reyad’s murder. Ready to hang, I was offered a choice instead. Become the new food taster or go to the gallows. I'm sure you can guess my answer. After all, I'm not a simpleton.

So you would think after dealing with all the dangers and problems of being a poison taster, I would have endured enough. But no. The discovery of my magical abilities—powers forbidden in Ixia—has resulted in another execution order on my head. My only chance to survive is to flee to Sitia, my long-lost birthplace.

Now Sitia is unfamiliar territory for me and meeting a family I don’t remember is scary. My homecoming is less than stellar. I'm treated like an enemy—even by my own brother. Plus, I don’t know how to control my powers. It would be nice to settle down and learn all about my magic, but there is no time.

A rogue magician has emerged in Sitia, and I’ve been targeted as his next victim. He has already killed eleven girls. One of the victims escaped, and my attempts to help her have alarmed the master magicians; they think I am a 'soulfinder' and now people don't trust me. Valek is in danger if he comes, and the Ixian delegation is arriving.

But I hoping my untested magical abilities will help me survive. No matter how bad things get, I just can’t give up, and there is always, always hope that tomorrow will be better."