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A review by kimbongiorno
Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch
5.0
I'm reviewing the whole SNOW LIKE ASHES trilogy because you're not going to stop at book one and all of them are out so let's not play around, okay?
WHAT IT'S ABOUT:
(Book 1, SNOW LIKE ASHES)
16yo Miera is one of 8 survivors of her Winterian kingdom who escaped when it was overthrown, its people enslaved. She lives on the run as a refugee, training to be a soldier and fighting her love for the future king (16yo Mather) who has been raised as her constant companion. When she learns the location of a locket that could help get their people their power back, she leaps at the chance to prove she's more valuable than she's been made to feel, and discovers in the process that her role in their world of magical rules and slippery politics is bigger than she ever imagined.
(Book 2, ICE LIKE FIRE)
In her new role, Miera decides to keep certain information close to her chest in the hopes that it will be best for her people. Mather struggles with the decisions he made in book one, and what his next move should be. A third party has deep faith in their lofty goals, and wants Miera to help make them happen. Their story lines weave and pull in a way that exposes deceptions that none could expect.
(Book 3, FROST LIKE NIGHT)
All the proverbial you-know-what hits the fan. You will not breathe for about 350 of the 480 pages.
WHAT I THOUGHT:
It is rare that a series has equally strong books throughout, but this is one is a star. The first book hooked me, the second committed me, and the third lit me on fire. I WAS NOT OKAY FOR A LOT OF BOOK THREE. [breathes into paper bag]
I'm a fan of solid storytelling with realistic character development (for the better and worse), vibrant visuals, and emotional tethers. This hit all those notes, plus had great love stories, from romantic to familial to friendship.
Sometimes I find fantasy books with the word "politics" in the descriptions to be too complex, have way too many characters or locations to keep track of, but this is so, so well done. Everything felt concise and purposeful. The author did not hold back, did not take the easy road when it came to following through on her characters' decisions or whether they survived the battles. Keeping a reader who has read quite a bit within a certain genre on their toes isn't an easy task, but she did it in spades. My toes. Are. Exhausted.
If you're a fan of books like THRONE OF GLASS, DEFY, EMBER IN THE ASHES, SHADOW AND BONE, and the like, then grab this, immediately.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT:
(Book 1, SNOW LIKE ASHES)
16yo Miera is one of 8 survivors of her Winterian kingdom who escaped when it was overthrown, its people enslaved. She lives on the run as a refugee, training to be a soldier and fighting her love for the future king (16yo Mather) who has been raised as her constant companion. When she learns the location of a locket that could help get their people their power back, she leaps at the chance to prove she's more valuable than she's been made to feel, and discovers in the process that her role in their world of magical rules and slippery politics is bigger than she ever imagined.
(Book 2, ICE LIKE FIRE)
In her new role, Miera decides to keep certain information close to her chest in the hopes that it will be best for her people. Mather struggles with the decisions he made in book one, and what his next move should be. A third party has deep faith in their lofty goals, and wants Miera to help make them happen. Their story lines weave and pull in a way that exposes deceptions that none could expect.
(Book 3, FROST LIKE NIGHT)
All the proverbial you-know-what hits the fan. You will not breathe for about 350 of the 480 pages.
WHAT I THOUGHT:
It is rare that a series has equally strong books throughout, but this is one is a star. The first book hooked me, the second committed me, and the third lit me on fire. I WAS NOT OKAY FOR A LOT OF BOOK THREE. [breathes into paper bag]
I'm a fan of solid storytelling with realistic character development (for the better and worse), vibrant visuals, and emotional tethers. This hit all those notes, plus had great love stories, from romantic to familial to friendship.
Sometimes I find fantasy books with the word "politics" in the descriptions to be too complex, have way too many characters or locations to keep track of, but this is so, so well done. Everything felt concise and purposeful. The author did not hold back, did not take the easy road when it came to following through on her characters' decisions or whether they survived the battles. Keeping a reader who has read quite a bit within a certain genre on their toes isn't an easy task, but she did it in spades. My toes. Are. Exhausted.
If you're a fan of books like THRONE OF GLASS, DEFY, EMBER IN THE ASHES, SHADOW AND BONE, and the like, then grab this, immediately.