Snow Like Ashes

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raach

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, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again. {goodreads summary}

Snow Like Ashes has been on my tbr since I first saw the cover; it was too beautiful to ignore. The picture above really doesn't do it justice. 

“Even the strongest blizzards start with a single snowflake.”

Meira's kingdom has been defeated and enslaved for the majority of her life, and she'll do anything to help rescue her people. She's desperate for a chance to prove herself, learning to balance what is best for herself with what is best for the people who depend on her. 

“Holding on to some part of your past even if it means also holding on to the pain of never again having it. That pain is less horrible than the pain of forgetting.”

I loved the twists and turns in this novel; it didn't always go in the direction I was expecting and I often found myself looking at how many pages I had left, wondering how everything would be resolved in time. 

"Someday we will be more than words in the dark."

The world building was a real strength, with the kingdoms and their magic fully worked out. I felt really immersed in Meira's world and am looking forward to hopefully finding out more about the other kingdoms in the rest of the series. 

“Sometimes placing our belief in something bigger than ourselves helps us get to a point where we can be enough on our own, magic or no magic.” 

Meira was a fantastic character. I loved watching her develop as the novel progressed, weighing up how the decisions she makes affect not only her own life, but those of the people she cares about. There are interesting observations on selfishness and selflessness, courage and resilience, throughout the novel. I'm really interested to see how her character will progress in the next novel.