Title: Snow Like Ashes
Author: Sarah Raasch
Format: Audible Audiobook
Narrator: Kate Rudd
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
I’m ashamed to say I only just read this last month. I’ve had it on my digital shelf forever. If you have this book on your shelf, read it now. There is no need to be afraid of disliking this book.
The story follows refugees who escaped the destruction of their home, January. The Winter court lost their Queen, she gave up her life so they could live. The survivors fled, running for their lives though, and are now traveling the land trying to get the special locket back to revive their kingdom’s magic.
Meira was orphaned in the attack, and the General, Sir, rescued her and him and his wife raised her as their own. She is desperate to help in the missions to bring magic back, and give the Winterians their home back. Instead she’s never beaten Mather, her friend and future King, in a sparring match, so Sir refuses to let her go. Until one day when their numbers are dwindling extremely low, she convinces Sir to let her go. It is on this mission everything changes for Meira.
This story is full of twists and turns. I didn’t want to put it down, but since I have a full time job, I had to put it down at times; and I grudgingly did so. I also enjoyed the narrator, Kate Rudd. She does an excellent job of bringing Meira to life. There were times I forgot this was a book I was listening to, and thought it was someone telling me about their life, and the dangers they faced.
There is one twist I think is done right. It pertains to something that happens to Meira. I obviously can’t say much about this specifically without spoiling the story. All I’m going to say is I did not see that coming!
Overall, I gave this book 4.25 stars. It was almost excellent enough I thought it could pull me out of a slump. Honestly though, I’ve already started forgetting the characters, and it’s hardly been a month. While I listened though, I very much enjoyed this. I will definitely be picking up the next book in the trilogy.
