Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch | Book Review

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 is hopeful and excited—with this much magic, the world can finally stand against threats like Angra. But Meira knows that 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 Jannuari—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 is woven 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.

I just love sinking my teeth into a good long epic young adult fantasy book, especially when it involves returning to characters I already know and love. With a bit of a chilling bite in the air which was fitting, I began Sara Raasch’s Ice Like Fire, sequel to Snow Like Ashes, a book that I enjoyed quite immensely. Despite not being a huge fan of the covers (the chakram makes me think of a tire, sorry not sorry), I find myself being totally drawn into these books. They are perfect for a dark night with a spot of tea. Just take your phone and charge it on the opposite side of the room so there’s no temptation.

Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch opens up where Snow Like Ashes leaves off. Meira has defeated Angra, sort of, and freed her people to go home to Winter. So now Meira is queen and she’s also the conduit of magic for her people who are learning the taste of freedom again and also working in the mines. Meanwhile, the Rhythm nation of Cordell has an eye out for advantage in helping Winter out, including an exorbitant amount of products from the mines of the Klaryns which is the name of the mountains. One day, they discover that one of the mines holds the magic chasm that if opened will release magic so everyone can use it. Meira must find the keys and the Lustrate Order to make the choice whether or not to open up this chasm. And so, with Theron in tow, she leaves Winter on a journey to obtain allies as well as the keys regarding the chasm. She will visit Summer, Yakim, Ventralli and meet many people along her way, for good or for bad.

I think that Ice Like Fire is truly the story where Meira comes to reckon with being Queen of Winter. It’s where she realizes that she isn’t the same Meira back when she was simply an ordinary citizen who didn’t know what her true heritage was. There are certainly some growing pains along the way too. I love that in this book she learns to think more politically. She learns to think in terms of advantages and disadvantages as well as in terms of what will be best for her people. Further, she has to consider the matters of the heart, but even then, that does not take center stage with this book. I liked how Meira wrestles with the knowledge of magic and the decay and what to do in this book. It is certainly not an easy path she must walk and I appreciate the time it took to show that. I find Meira quite compelling because of her not so wonderful situation.

Aside from Meira, one of her love interests, Mather, has point of view chapters, but from third person as opposed to Meira’s first person chapters. Mather is the once King. So, essentially, he was raised thinking that he was the heir to Winter and would be king someday, but turns out, it is Meira who is the heir. Anyways, Mather is quite the angry young man. I can’t blame him. He’s returned to a nation where Cordellan soldiers are everywhere. His girl, Meira, is with Theon now. Or maybe it’s Theron anyways. He’s being kind of ignored by Sir William, his father. So, Mather does what he knows best, trains for fighting. He gathers together a group of other young men and well, slowly they become a trained army. Albeit, a very small one. At first, I won’t lie, I was annoyed with how Mather acts in Ice Like Fire.

One thing that I thought was cool about Ice Like Fire (see what I did there) was the world building. I liked seeing the different nations. I liked seeing why Summer is the worst (the temperature there is great, BTW), with the brothels and the slavery. I liked seeing the different inventions in Yakim. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the art in Ventralli. I am the sort of reader who loves strong world building and exploring different lands, so for me, this was a particular highlight. I find myself really looking forward to what comes next in book three which is untitled as of yet.

I will say, though, I was not hugely in love with the pacing of Ice Like Fire. There were parts of this book that I felt dragged out – particularly before they go on their “road trip”. Also, much of this book has nothing to do with romance, which is fine just fine, but you know me, I like books with some sort of kissing. In all, I did enjoy this book, just with the caveat that some parts are super wicked slow. OH AND THE ENDING. It is actually really awesome and there’s this bombshell sort of and you guys I am like jumping on the couch like Tom Cruise excited for book three.

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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