Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch - Paul's Pre Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Balzer + Bray on Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Snow Like Ashes
Author: Sara Raasch
Upcoming Release Date: October 14, 2014

Synopsis: A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

------------------------------------------------------------

Why?: I have heard amazing things about this book! I've seen authors and bloggers rave about it all over goodreads and twitter. The concept alone is also so interesting. A Kingdom of Winter? I'm in!

Expectations: I'm expecting an awesome fantasy adventure that takes place in an epic world. I've heard Raasch has been writing this book since she was 12 so she's had plenty of time to expand and explore this world and really fledge it out. 

Judging a book by its cover: I love this cover. It is simple and brings so many questions to me. I like how large the font of the title is. I like how we see two different seasons through the chakram that also reminds me of a yin-yang symbol. I kept seeing the cover on social media sites before I requested it or had read about it. The cover really grabbed me in.


--PAUL