Ice Like Fire (Snow Like Ashes #2) by Sara Raasch - Paul's Review

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

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Title: Ice Like Fire (Snow Like Ashes #2)
Author: Sara Raasch
Upcoming Release Date: October 13, 2015

REVIEW of Snow Like Ashes

PRE-READING of Ice Like Fire

Synopsis: It’s been three months since the Winterians were freed and Spring’s king, Angra, disappeared—thanks largely to the help of Cordell.

Meira just wants her people to be safe. When Cordellan debt forces the Winterians to dig their mines for payment, they unearth something powerful and possibly dangerous: Primoria’s lost chasm of magic. Theron sees this find as an opportunity—with this much magic, the world can finally stand against threats like Angra. But Meira fears the danger the chasm poses—the last time the world had access to so much magic, it spawned the Decay. So when the king of Cordell orders the two on a mission across the kingdoms of Primoria to discover the chasm’s secrets, Meira plans to use the trip to garner support to keep the chasm shut and Winter safe—even if it means clashing with Theron. But can she do so without endangering the people she loves?

Mather just wants to be free. The horrors inflicted on the Winterians hang fresh and raw in Januari—leaving Winter vulnerable to Cordell’s growing oppression. When Meira leaves to search for allies, he decides to take Winter’s security into his own hands. Can he rebuild his broken kingdom and protect them from new threats?

As the web of power and deception weaves tighter, Theron fights for magic, Mather fights for freedom—and Meira starts to wonder if she should be fighting not just for Winter, but for the world. 

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Review: In Snow Like Ashes, there was one chapter I absolutely loved everything about. That was Chapter 24. In Ice Like Fire, Chapter 30 blew me away! I loved everything about it. Raasch is an amazing storyteller and worldbuilder. This book expands the world introduced in the first book. You get to visit many places that were only mentioned in the Snow Like Ashes. 

I experienced culture shock with the characters as they traveled between kingdoms. The details that go into each different society are great. I am so looking forward to searching tumblr for fanart. 

Not only are the new locations colorful, the new characters are vibrant too. They're are great contrasts among the characters. We get to see many different ways kingdoms can be maintained. The styles of the kingdoms are great, too. 

Meira has great growth in this novel. Two parts of her are battling: the warrior and the queen.

Magic is a big part of this series and in this novel we learn more about the system. I enjoy when a magic system is set up only to be broken. Establish the rules and then amaze me with how they can be broken. It is done in a way that makes sense and excites. 

Math and Alysson's relationship was done really well. I definitely had the feels. 

I really enjoyed this book and can't wait until book 3! I give this novel a 5/5!


--PAUL