From the Bookshelf of Addicted to YA…

Snow Like Ashes (Snow Like Ashes, #1)

Sara Raasch

Start date: February 1, 2015

Finish date: February 28, 2015

Discussion: Series

Why we're reading this: It won the poll for the themed BOTM
Theme: Adventure
[close] It won the poll for the themed BOTM
Theme: Adventure

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Series

* New Series- One Dark Window
By Bailey · 18 posts · 87 views

last updated Oct 28, 2025 05:06AM

* Continuing Series- Fearful by Lauren Roberts
By Bailey · 2 posts · 32 views

last updated Oct 15, 2025 04:49AM

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What Members Thought

Jul 23, 2015 Rachel rated it really liked it

I had a really good reading weekend. Three books due to an incredibly long train ride, but the bright side...three books! This was the third. The other two I loved, so I went into this thinking, "It has to suck, right? No way I can go 3 for 3." And at the beginning, I felt that way: excessive eye-rolling, glancing, smiling...do you ever think about smiling? No, you just do it! But Meira's like a fungus. She grows on you, and by the end, I wanted more. ...more

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May 11, 2014 Angie Taylor rated it it was amazing

I loved this book! It is so fun to find fantastic fantasy. This story had everything I live in fantasy: an awesome heroine, beautiful world building, mesmerizing magic, fantastic battle scenes, and the endearing romantic love triangle. Sara Raasch is a fabulous story teller, and I'm so happy I could get lost in her world. I'm excited for book two. ...more

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Apr 15, 2015 Lindsey Learn rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult

Snow Like Ashes is compared to Game of Thrones, and though I don’t know too much about GOT, I do know that it has many kingdoms, and everyone is fighting for ultimate authority. Snow is just that, and Meira is determined to be important to the cause—rescuing Winter’s people from slavery and restoring Winter’s kingdom. I liked Meira’s determination. As often as she’s told she’s not good enough, she never wavers in her resolve. The Winterians seem like a hopeless cause; most of the population ensl Snow Like Ashes is compared to Game of Thrones, and though I don’t know too much about GOT, I do know that it has many kingdoms, and everyone is fighting for ultimate authority. Snow is just that, and Meira is determined to be important to the cause—rescuing Winter’s people from slavery and restoring Winter’s kingdom. I liked Meira’s determination. As often as she’s told she’s not good enough, she never wavers in her resolve. The Winterians seem like a hopeless cause; most of the population enslaved by Spring, only Meira and seven others escaped and survived to live as fugitive refugees. They also have no magic, which puts them at a major disadvantage. However, it’s partly Meira’s fortitude (and a well-kept secret) that changes the fate of her people.

There are many things I appreciated about Sara Raasch’s story. I thought she designed a creative world and a compelling story. Using the seasons as kingdoms immediately created innate identities, easy to understand and remember among a large cast of players. I also really enjoyed the pace of the story. There’s a battle in the middle of the book, which could have been a final act in a slower version of the story. I’m so glad it wasn’t. I reveled in the excitement and anticipated the next discovery. Though Raasch’s story was a little predictable, I still enjoyed the journey. I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll be brief. Another thing I liked–the romance! The triangle, which I usually can’t stand, was tolerable and short lived (hopefully?). Thankfully, we also don’t have to wait long for the sequel; Ice Like Fire comes out this October.

Would I let my teen read this book?
This is a great option for teens who like fantasy. Sometimes it’s hard to find books like this that aren’t graphically violent. There is violence, but it doesn’t get drawn out in detail. When dark magic is mentioned, you never know how dark it’s going to be. Snow Like Ashes has dark magic on what I call the surface level–dark because it’s literally a dark cloud and it can encourage people to do bad things. I recommend this book for kids 14 and up, and even for mature middle schoolers.

Age recommendation: 14

Language – mild

Drugs & Alcohol— none

Sex – One kiss; (and some admiration of bare chests)

Violence – War-related violence; sword and weapons combat; throats slit; guts stabbed; boy gets whipped; two characters are tortured by getting ribs broken and healed multiple times in a row

For more reviews with an emphasis on age-appropriate content, visit FickleLit. ...more

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