Snow Like Ashes (Snow Like Ashes, #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Apr 29, 2014 AH rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-edelweiss, young-adult, magic, fantasy, favorites, zzread-jan2015

I'm often hesitant to pick up a young adult fantasy novel, although for some strange reason many appear on my to-read list. I'm glad that I discovered Snow Like Ashes on my reading pile. From the first page to the last page, I was enthralled by the story of a spunky spitfire of a heroine Meira and the poor displaced people of Winter.

The world is intriguing - a realm of Seasons and Rythymn - each controlling magic through conduits and special tokens. The people of Winter have been conquered by S ...more

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Feb 21, 2014 cc marked it as nope

Shelves: 2014-published, love-triangle-ugh

Was gonna give this one a go but apparently there's a love triangle in the making ...

...yeah
...more

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May 30, 2014 Samina The Story Devourer rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, arc, fantasy

With all the raving month's before the release of Snow Like ashes, I had to read this book immediately. Meira is on the run, with a band of her fellow refugees who have been banished from their country by the evil King in the neighbouring kingdom. Their queen was dead but their hopes of getting their kingdom back is not. Meira has been trained as a child to train as a warrior in the incoming war but it seems she has a crush Mather, the heir to the throne but this is not the lest of her troubles. With all the raving month's before the release of Snow Like ashes, I had to read this book immediately. Meira is on the run, with a band of her fellow refugees who have been banished from their country by the evil King in the neighbouring kingdom. Their queen was dead but their hopes of getting their kingdom back is not. Meira has been trained as a child to train as a warrior in the incoming war but it seems she has a crush Mather, the heir to the throne but this is not the lest of her troubles. As King Angra's evil gets darker so does the urgency to get Mather to the throne and hence begins Meira's adventure.

I have no idea how to start writing this review as I have so much to say and yet it all boils down to a few pint. so I'll try to keep this as succinct as possible. The best thing I enjoyed about snow Like Ashes was the world building. The idea about eight kingdoms with four seasons and four rhythms was intriguing. I loved how the author gave physical features of it's resident in line with their kingdoms. For example, Winter was obviously wintery and it's people had silver blond hair and blue eyes, while residents of autumn has red hair and ochre eyes. This gave a wonderful visual to the reader and I was immediately sucked it.

Meira on the other hand was a little hard to like in the beginning as she was stubborn and difficult but as the story moves on we get to see the changes in her, how she matures over the course of this book.

Readers will be pleased to also know that even though there are two love interests, there is no love triangle. It is clear whom Meira want. she may not be very clear about her feeling but it's evident whom she really likes. Mather when first introduced was everything a YA hero should have and then Theron walks in and steals my heart. I can't say more as I don't want to give away the plot, but I will assure you, this book has everything you would ask of a fantasy and more.

Snow Like Ashes had a heroine who showed growth and development, a swoon worthy hero you can root for, a villain you will truly despise, world building which paints a vivid colourful palate for your eyes to savour, action that will have you holding your breath with a dash of romance and a a gripping mystery which unfolds towards the end. I'd recommend it for all YA fantasy fans who like their heroines with a bite and who can actually swing a sword and kick some serious butt.

Read more of my reviews at Escapism from Reality ...more

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Feb 12, 2014 Anna rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult, fiction

I saw the "twist" coming from the first 50 pages. But the story was intriguing enough for me to continue until the end.

When Meira was an infant her home, Winter, was invaded by the Spring Kingdom and their Queen killed and their magical locket broken. This left most Winterians on the run or enslaved by Spring without the magical power of their locket. Meira is one member of a small group of Winterians who have eluded Spring for 16 years with their heir to the Winter throne. When Meira finds the ...more

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Oct 28, 2016 Andrea (mrsaubergine) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Absolutely loved this. Very reminiscent of Game of Thrones with its season-based factions - I loved how the cities were named after months - and with fabulous characters, especially kickass Meira. Yes, there's a love triangle but I didn't mind it, especially since Theron is just so swoony. Although it's the first book in a trilogy, it can be read as a standalone, but I'll be very keen to see what Mather, Theron and Meira do next. Highly recommended and a wonderful debut. ...more

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