Snow Like Ashes
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3.8 • 29 Ratings
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
A striking fantasy tale of dark magic, dangerous politics, and discovering your true self—perfect for fans of Game of Thrones, An Ember in the Ashes and A Court of Thorns and Roses.
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. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, Winter's future king—she would do anything to help Winter 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—only to find 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.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Raasch's debut, an epic fantasy, the realm of Primoria is divided into eight countries sustained by magic governed by human political and social arrangements, accessible only by physical talismans. While this structure doesn't promise much subtlety, Raasch builds an enjoyable adventure-romance around it. Meira is one of eight free Winterians inhabitants of the Winter realm who survived the sacking of their capital by neighboring Spring. Other survivors are interned in work camps, while Meira's group lives as a rebel band, seeking the two halves of their magical talisman, which will enable Winterians to tap their rightful powers and regain their kingdom. Diplomacy is as crucial to this quest as spycraft and battles. Though Meira loves Mather, heir to the Winterian throne, he offers her in alliance to the crown prince of Cordell, for whom Meira also feels a reluctant warmth. But it is her own place in this endlessly shifting world that is most important to Meira, and it's through her slow realizations and lightning insights that Raasch's emerging talent makes its greatest appeal. Ages 14 up.
Customer Reviews
Very Cool
Beautiful world building, a spunky heroin that modern reads will love, magic, battles, secret plots, romance - Snow Like Ashes has everything you could want in an epic fantasy.
Snow Like Ashes reminds me of Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta, which I loved. It shares that same basic plot line - a kingdom destroyed and a group of survivors searching for a way to save their fellow refugees from work camps and poverty and to return to their lost kingdom. The action in this book is beautifully written and the romance is a sweet undercurrent to the main story of our heroine learning to find and value her worth. I saw the main plot twist coming (no, I'm not going to tell you want it is), but that didn't detract from this wonderful book. If you're not a fan of long fantasy series, you could easily leave this book where it finishes, but I for one can't wait to see where the story goes next.
Highly enjoyed and highly recommended.