Review: Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch

Title: Ice Like Fire
Author: Sara Raasch
Series: Book Two in the Snow Like Ashes Series
Published By: Balzer & Bray (October 13, 2015)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Fantasy
My Rating: 5 Stars!


Book Description:
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 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 Januari—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 weaves 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.

*Amazon*B&N*

Fantasy has quickly become one of my favorite genres, something a year ago, I never would have imagined saying but, there you have it.

When I read the first book in the series. Snow Like Ashes, I knew the author had come up with something original and fun and I couldn't wait for more. In fact, it was one of my favorite fantasy reads of the year and so Ice Like Fire was one of my most anticipated reads for 2015.

This sequel crushed me. It tore me apart in some of the worst ways but also in some of the best.

It played with my emotions, stomped on them, laughed at their sorrow and then slowly built them back up with kind words, pretty gestures, and lovely smiles, only to start the process all over again.

To say I loved it, would be an understatement. This was everything I was hoping it would be.

Lies, deceit. Betrayals. Promises. Friendships, secrets. Gah! So much happens and I sadly can't talk about any of it. Meira grows so much in this. I adore her. She makes mistakes, she isn't perfect but she does it all for her people, for those she loves and cares about. She is fierce and determined but still loving and kind and that is why she is the true heroine of the story. I am so proud of the person she has become and the person she has yet to be. I am in love with this series and after all that transpired, I need more. I crave more. 

It is going to be a very long few months until the next. So I part with these final words, well done Ms. Raasch, well done. 

*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*