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

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

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

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

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

REVIEW of Snow Like Ashes

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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Why?: Snow Like Ashes was my TOP BOOK OF 2014! This is the sequel. I am super excited for this book! I loved the world building and the characters in the first book. I'm really hoping Raasch brings it in this one!

Expectations:   It seems like this will be two stories: Meira adventuring with Theron and Mather dealing with the people of Winter. I'm interested to see Mather's POV. I hope to see the kingdoms that weren't included in the first book. 

Judging a book by its cover: The cover is stunning. I love it! 


--PAUL

Paul's Top Books Read in 2014

2014 was another wonderful year for Young Adult books, especially in the Fantasy genre. I didn't meet my Goodreads Reading Challenge, but I did read over 50 books in 2014. I wanted to share a few of my favorites. First, I have my favorites that are not sequels. Then at the bottom I have listed my favorite sequels. Click on the titles or the cover pictures for links to my reviews!

TOP BOOK OF 2014

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

Runner Ups

                                   

The Wizard's Promise                                   No Place Like Oz

Honorable Mentions

                  

Here are some sequels that I loved in 2014:

                      

What were your favorite books of 2014? Check out my reviews of these books by clicking on the titles or the cover images.

-PAUL

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch - Paul's Review

*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

My Pre Reading

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.

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Review: This book was fantastic. This is the kind of YA fantasy I want more of! The world building is awesome. The magic is totally cool. The characters are interesting. The imagery is breathtaking. Everything about this book is just fantastic. 

There are 8 kingdoms. And although it may seem confusing at first to try and remember them, they all are unique and interesting. Four of them are Seasons and the others are Rhythms. The four Seasons represent each of the natural seasons and have the physical features that go along with that season always occurring. In Winter, it is always cold and snowing. I also really enjoyed the names of the cities within the Seasons. 

Each kingdom has a magic conduit in the form of a device like a locket or a sword. The history of these conduits is expanded on more and I found it really cool. 

Although there is a little bit of a love triangle, I felt that it was very well handled. It felt natural. One of the boys Meira has known all her life, while the other she has just met. 

I love when books hint at things to the reader that the characters don't realize until later. I felt like this was one of those books where the audience should have most of the pieces of the puzzle together, just waiting on the characters to figure it all out. All the reveals felt organic. 

I loved Sara's writing. There is a particular chapter that I thought was excellently written. Chapter 24. I won't spoil anything about the chapter, but I loved it. The imagery Sara paints with her words is wonderful. I loved the aesthetic of each kingdom. The "spring-in-darkness motif" of Agra's palace was captivating.  

Some of the characters have unusual names that may take some time to get accustomed to (Sir), but I was used to them a few chapters in. 

We are Winter!

I give this book a 5/5. I am so excited to continue this series. It is everything I like in a YA fantasy. It reminds me of Jodi Meadows's Incarnate trilogy and Rae Carson's Fire and Thorns trilogy. If you're a fan of Kristin Cashore, Leigh Bardugo, or Pearl North you should check this book out, too! I cannot give this book enough praise.  


--PAUL

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.

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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