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

Fairest: Levana's Story (The Lunar Chronicles #0.1) by Marissa Meyer - Paul's Review

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Title: Fairest: Levana's Story
Author: Marissa Meyer
Recent Release Date: January 27, 2015

My Fairest Pre Reading
My Cress (#3) Review
My The Little Android (#2.5) Review
My Scarlet (#2) Review
My The Queen's Army (#1.5) Review
My Cinder (#1) Review

Ashley's Cress (#3) Review
Ashley's The Little Android (#2.5) Review
Ashley's Scarlet (#2) Review
Ashley's The Queen's Army (#1.5) Review
Ashley's Cinder (#1) Review



Synopsis: In this stunning bridge book between Cress and Winter in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles, Queen Levana’s story is finally told.

Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Who is the fairest of them all?

Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her “glamour” to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story – a story that has never been told . . . until now. 

Marissa Meyer spins yet another unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death. This extraordinary book includes full-color art and an excerpt from Winter, the next book in the Lunar Chronicles series. 

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Review: I cannot get enough of Marissa Meyer's writing! Fairest may look like a fullsized book, but it's more like a hardback novella, being only 220 pages. The chapters are not numbered, but just breaks in the text. Cinder, the first book in the series, is 390 pages. And with each subsequent book, the length has increased. 

This was an originally unplanned book and although it is very enjoyable, it just adds some background to the main series. Fairest follows Levana's whole story from when her parents first passed until she rules over the moon as Queen. Seeing a villain's story is always interesting. 

I liked seeing how much of the Queen Levana in Cinder came from her environment and how much was just her. There's definitely a combination. I was prepared for a contrived sympathy-inducing story, but Levana's background matched her character very well. 

There are many references to the many characters of The Lunar Chronicles. It is cool to see them younger and to learn more about their origins. This book got me really hyped for Winter, which won't be out until November. 

The evolution of Levana's glamour was probably my favorite part of this book. 

I give this book a 4.5/5, only because I wanted more. The story seemed so short compared to the other books in the series. I didn't feel as close to Levana as I felt to each of the protagonists of the other books after reading them. I highly recommend this to fans of The Lunar Chronicles series, especially for those waiting for Winter so anxiously like I am. 


--PAUL

Fairest: Levana's Story (The Lunar Chronicles #0.1) by Marissa Meyer - Paul's Pre-reading

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Fairest: Levana's Story
Author: Marissa Meyer
Recent Release Date: January 27, 2015

My Cress (#3) Review
My The Little Android (#2.5) Review
My Scarlet (#2) Review
My The Queen's Army (#1.5) Review
My Cinder (#1) Review

Ashley's Cress (#3) Review
Ashley's The Little Android (#2.5) Review
Ashley's Scarlet (#2) Review
Ashley's The Queen's Army (#1.5) Review
Ashley's Cinder (#1) Review



Synopsis: In this stunning bridge book between Cress and Winter in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles, Queen Levana’s story is finally told.

Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Who is the fairest of them all?

Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her “glamour” to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story – a story that has never been told . . . until now. 

Marissa Meyer spins yet another unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death. This extraordinary book includes full-color art and an excerpt from Winter, the next book in the Lunar Chronicles series. 

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Why?: I have ABSOLUTELY LOVED every book in The Lunar Chronicles! An ensemble sci-fi YA series based on fairytales! There is nothing about that I dislike. This book follows Queen Levana. I'm super excited to discover her origin. Even though she is super villainous, I'm sure by the end of this book I'll be at least somewhat sympathetic. I think this will really contribute to the emotions of the last book Winter. 

Expectations:   I'm expecting a tragic origin story that lead Levana to who she is in the rest of The Lunar Chronicles. I'm sure I'll see Levana become more villainous from the events in this book. 

Judging a book by its cover: I love this cover. It is perfect. The inside flap is also perfect. 


--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

Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer - Paul's Review

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Title: Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Year Published: 2014

My Cress (#3) Pre-ReadingMy 
The Little Android (#2.5) Review
My Scarlet (#2) Review
My The Queen's Army (#1.5) Review
My Cinder (#1) Review

Ashley's Cress (#3) Review
Ashley's The Little Android (#2.5) Review
Ashley's Scarlet (#2) Review
Ashley's The Queen's Army (#1.5) Review
Ashley's Cinder (#1) Review


Synopsis: Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard. 

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army. 

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice. 

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

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Review: This series just keeps getting better. I really like how much of an ensemble story it has become. The main cast each have their own stories that take place in different locations, but everything connects in such a wonderful way. There really isn't a main character anymore. Cress of course takes the center stage for this book, but Cinder and Scarlet are still right there. I love how quirky the characters are. They're very Whedon-esque. Iko, Cress, and Thorne are three of my favorite when it comes to quirks. And I bet Winter is going to be even more unique!

I can't separate my love for Joss Whedon from what I love about this series. Everything I love about Whedon's works is present in this series. I always imagine the Rampion's insides as that of a Firefly-class starship. 

This is a retelling of the Rapunzel story. There are many very obvious references, but there are also subtle references to the original story. If you aren't familiar with the fairy tale and only Disney's version you may want to find a telling of it first. I think knowing the original story adds to this one, but it is not necessary. The story is its own, especially since all the other characters don't necessarily follow the retelling. But, some characters from past books take on unexpected roles in this book. I also love how Winter is being set up.

The ensemble cast is handled so well and I really enjoy how the characters interact with eachother. The couples don't only interact with their potential love interest, but with all the characters in unique and interesting ways. Cress and Wolf is one example. 

This was one of those books I couldn't put down, but never wanted it to end. I am glad these books are getting thicker. I hope Winter is even longer! I give this third book in The Lunar Chronicles a 5/5. I highly recommend this series.     


--Paul

Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer - Paul's Pre-Reading

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Year Published: 2014

My The Little Android (#2.5) Review
My Scarlet (#2) Review
My The Queen's Army (#1.5) Review
My Cinder (#1) Review

Ashley's The Little Android (#2.5) Review
Ashley's Scarlet (#2) Review
Ashley's The Queen's Army (#1.5) Review
Ashley's Cinder (#1) Review


Synopsis: Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard. 

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army. 

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice. 

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

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Why?: I have absolutely loved this series so far. It always reminds me of a Joss Whedon production. There are so many interesting characters and I'm loving how the main cast keeps increasing. I pre-ordered this book and because of work am only getting around to it now. I am so ready for this book. 

Expectations: I'm expecting a more ensemble feel in this book since a third main character is going to be introduced. I'm hoping for a very interesting retelling that plays off of the fairy tale, but in a completely original way. There's only one more book after this one so I am expecting the ending to leave me with so much momentum. I'm excited to see Thorne's interactions with Cress and I think we meet Winter in this one as well. 

Judging a book by its cover: I love how simple these covers are. There's always a red element that relates to the original fairy tale. I also am still a fan of the title font. 


--Paul

The Little Android (The Lunar Chronicles #2.5) by Marissa Meyer - Paul's REVIEW

Goodreads | Wattpad

Title: The Little Android (The Lunar Chronicles #2.5)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Year Published: 2014

My Scarlet (#2) Review
My The Queen's Army (#1.5) Review
My Cinder (#1) Review

Ashley's Scarlet (#2) Review
Ashley's The Queen's Army (#1.5) Review
Ashley's Cinder (#1) Review



Synopsis: The Little Android is a retelling of The Little Mermaid, set in the world of The Lunar Chronicles by New York Times-bestselling author Marissa Meyer.

When android Mech6.0, saves the life of a handsome hardware engineer, her body is destroyed and her mechanics discover a glitch in her programing. Androids are not meant to develop unpractical reasoning or near-emotional responses… let alone fall in love.

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Review: Unlike the other short stories in Marissa Meyer's The Lunar Chronicles, this story doesn't give us a new glimpse into a character we already know's life. I liked seeing a different part of the world. The story followed the original The Little Mermaid in a really cool way substituting the mermaid for an android. This is no Disney story. 

I liked seeing references to the world that we already know and love, but I wanted a stronger connection to the main story. Maybe these characters will appear later in the series. 

I give this short story a 4/5. I really enjoyed it and highly suggest it to anyone who has read the main books in the series. It is even free to read on wattpad. 

--Paul