Posted by DonnaRelease Date: November 19th, 2015
Finished Date: September 5th, 2015
Publishers: Balzer + Bray
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Source: For Review
Format: ARC
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Source: For Review
Format: ARC
Game of Thrones meets Graceling in this thrilling fantasy filled with shocking twists and heart-pounding action, the highly anticipated sequel to Snow Like Ashes.
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 on using 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.
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 on using 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.
The Review: Snow Like Ashes was easily one of my favourite reads last year and so of course I jumped at the chance to get my hands on the sequel, Ice Like Fire and I simply couldn't wait to start it. Meria is looking for a way for her people to be free after Cordell helped her take back her country but, she now has the bargain that she made with them breathing down her neck and so she has no choice but to try and fulfil her debt, even when her own country needs the money more than them. Not only that but, everyone is still searching for Primoria's lost chasm of magic and when it's found, everyone is at lodger heads about what to do with it. However, the King of Cordell has other ideas and is seeking to use Winter for his own purpose, so Meria leaves on a journey to try and gain Winter some new allies within the other Kingdoms. But her journey isn't just about gaining new allies, Meria is trying to find the keys for lost chasm before anyone else can because releasing all that magic out into the world, when there is already so much danger surely can't be good for her people? Can Meria find them in time to save Winter?
Ice Like Fire is told from alternative narratives which is slightly different from Snow Like Ashes because we've only ever saw Meria's point of view. This time we get Mathers, so you Mather's fan will definitely be happy with this change. It was nice to get to know him a little better because both Meria and Mather have different ideas for Winter - both on their own journeys, so it was a nice change to see what was happening to both characters and getting their own thoughts on the issues that arise in Ice Like Fire.
Ice Like Fire is definitely a book that sets everything up for the grand finale and in all honestly, as much as I wanted to love this just as much as Snow Like Ashes it was pretty hard not to because it was so painstakingly slow for the first three quarters of the book. That disappointed me because I wasn't expecting this and I found I kept having to push through. I did this because of how much I loved the first story and I just knew something epic awaited at the end of this story. And I was right - it did. But this was still pretty much a filler book in my opinion and definitely fell into the second-book syndrome category.
Even though I had issues with the story I still very much enjoyed parts, hence my 3.5 star rating. Meria, Theron & Mather will always be great characters for me. Even though they change a lot through this story and go through a lot of personal struggles, I still root for them to be the people I know they are destined to be. They have so much determination and are full of hope. I just hope that they learn from the mistakes they've made and move on from them.
Another reason I enjoy this series so much is because of the relationships/romance between the three characters but honestly, Ice Like Fire in my opinion is a turning point. It's clear now who should be with whom now but I'm still a little torn as to whose team I'm on, but like I've said before, I think I would be happy with either guy for Meria. It really just depends on what happens after the events in this book. Nail-biting!
In all, Ice Like Fire for me wasn't as good it's predecessor but it's still worth a read especially if you're invested in these characters and their story just as much as me.
3.5 flowers!
Thank you to Harper 360 UK for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.
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