Review: Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch

Ice Like Fire (Snow Like Ashes #2) by Sara Raasch

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.

Publishes in US: October 13th 2015 by Balzer + Bray
Genre: ya fantasy
Source: Harper Teen via Edelweiss
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC (advanced review copy). I am not paid for this review, and my opinions in this review are mine, and are not effected by the book being free.
Series? Snow Like Ashes #2
my review of
 #1 Snow Like Ashes

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    I wanted to read Ice Like Fire because I enjoyed the first book. I remember liking Meira as a main character, how strong she was and how much she was doing to help save her kingdom. The romance was okay for me because of the love triangle type set-up. 

   I remembered a bit, and there was basic recap, but there were things mentioned that I had forgotten about. Now, I know that I have a bad memory, but there is usually a recap that catches us up on the big moments. But it felt like she just started writing and assumed that everyone would have good memory or had a chance to read back to back. 

   That aside, I finally was able to get into the romance a bit, and that helps. Meira and Theron seemed like they had a good thing going, even though their engagement was called off. He still wanted to protect her and be with her. He was being a strong protector but still managing to respect the power and strength she has all on her own. 

   We see Meira's people beginning to recover in some ways, but her heart goes out to them because Cordell is pushing hard for the mines, and discovering the magical chasm. That would make him even more powerful than she already is, and Meira is keeping the secret that she is the conduit, its not an object, its her. This is actually one of the things that was recapped and triggered some memory. 

   I don't remember if it is this way in the first, but the point of view is split between Meira and Mather. It is interesting to get his view since in this one of course, the triangle shifts again. 

   Ice Like Fire was slower paced, and I found myself skimming at times. There were some action and character development but the politics was just slower for me, and there was a lot of maneuvering as Meira tries to gain allies, and find out the keys to the chasm before it comes in the wrong hands. Towards the end of the book, it picked up and the plot really moved along. 

    I am not sure if I will be finishing the series, but I am curious how it will go. 

Bottom Line: Slower, case of middle book maybe?

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Could you clash with your fiance in order to keep magic a secret?