I received this ARC from The Regulator Bookshop.
Title: Snow Like AshesAuthor: Sara Raasch
Series: Snow Like Ashes
Publisher: HarperTeen/Balzer + Bray
Release: October 14, 2014
Characters: Meira (protagonist), Mather, Sir, Hannah, Theron, Angra (antagonist)
Of this list, my favorite character is Meira. She's imperfect, and in ways I can relate to. She doesn't always get things the first time, and wants to help in any way she can. When finally given that chance, she does everything possible to succeed. There are a couple other characters who I love who aren't one this list, but I don't want to say who they are due to spoilers. That said, I really enjoy the unnamed characters because they show immense strength in harsh circumstances and still manage to have faith.
First Impressions: 4/5
I started hearing about this book online, and started to get really excited for it. When I got an opportunity to get an ARC, I pounced on it. The book was a little hard to get in to, but once there, I really enjoyed it. At first, I thought the book was going in a certain direction, but about halfway through, I was very much proved wrong. I saw a few things coming, but that's not too much of a surprise.
Writing: 5/5 Very descriptive, yet getting to the point.
Plot: 4/5 A little disjointed in spots, but nothing too bad.
World Building: 5/5 There was a map, I love maps.
Characters: 4/5 Besides a few of the main characters, many characters felt too one-dimensional.
The setting of the novel was amazing. I love reading well-done high fantasy novels, and this was one of them. It actually reminded me a bit of a high fantasy version of a novel I'm writing, which was pretty cool, I have to admit. Although dubious at first, I really did enjoy this novel.
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.
Sara Raasch’s debut fantasy is a lightning-fast tale of loyalty, love, and finding one’s destiny.
You Can Find it At:
Book DepositoryAmazon
Barnes & Noble
Author Bio:
Sara Raasch has known she was destined for bookish things since the age of five, when her friends had a lemonade stand and she tagged along to sell her hand-drawn picture books too. Not much has changed since then — her friends still cock concerned eyebrows when she attempts to draw things and her enthusiasm for the written word still drives her to extreme measures. Her debut YA fantasy, SNOW LIKE ASHES, the first in a trilogy, comes out October 14, 2014 from Balzer + Bray. It does not feature her hand-drawn pictures.You Can Find Her At:
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Sounds exciting, I'm definitely going to do some more research to decide whether or not I'd read it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
Bayan @ The Booklicker