Mundie Moms

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Catching Up with Cassie


Cassie tweeted this just moments ago. There are so many delicious little extras on there. I need to peruse them myself to make sure I've read them all. My favorites are the alternate POVs. What are yours?

This also reminded me that a while ago, she had also tweeted that she had updated The Last Hours' pinterest board with some new pins. And oh, what tricky images! Have you checked them out?

Here are a few favorites of mine:



She also recently tweeted pictures of this adorable, new addition to her family. Meet Reginald! 


He is adorable! She shared more pictures of him here, and here

ICE LIKE FIRE by Sara Raasch / Book Review



By: Sara Rassch
Published by: Balzer & Bray
Released on: October 13th, 2015
Series: Snow Like Ashes #2
Purchase from: The Publisher | Amazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads
Rating: 4 Stars- I Enjoyed It
Source: arc from publisher / purchased book

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.


What a sequel! With less action, more politics, new characters, and some shocking twists, this sequel was a fantastic read. Yes, I said less action, but that doesn't mean the level of danger was any less. I felt like the first book was more physical, and this book was more about strategy, and learning to outsmart the very man who threatens to take WINTER away from Meira. Readers can definitely except more surprises as well as some expected growth and changes with the characters in this book. I loved the introduction to new characters into the story, seeing more of their seasons, and how they fit into Meira's story. 


Out of the characters, I continue to admire Meira, and the character she becomes. She has so many strengthens, and her weakness help shape her into the person she becomes. Being Queen means she makes a lot of sacrifices, and receives a lot of advice, whether she wants it or not. She struggles with being true to herself, while fulfilling her duty/role as Queen. She struggles to find herself, and who she's expected to be, while remaining true to the person she's becoming. I admired her strength in learning to shape the girl she once was into the women she has become, while fulfilling her role as Queen. I felt like I understood she struggles in finding her way, and her thought process through it all. 

Meira is not the only one who makes some changes. Theron changes in ways that really surprised to see. Though looking back from the first book to now, I shouldn't have been as shocked. I think his changes were more heartbreaking, yet at the same time they made sense to the Prince/man he has grown to become. Then there's Mather. Like Meira, he has grown a lot. He's figured out who he is, and knows what he has to do. He's learned and grown a lot. I really liked getting to see him man up more in this book. I also loved getting to understand his choices previously, and what he's learned from them. I am really looking forward to seeing more of his story in the next book. I think it's safe to say that I'm liking Mather more and more. I loved understanding the struggle both and Meira share with trying to figure where they stand, with their shared history, and the roles they both have now.

The world building continues to fascinate me. Raasch gives readers an in-depth look into the world of Primoria, the various seasons, and the monarchs who rule them. Raasch does more than just vividly describe these seasons. She allows her readers to visit them along side Meira, and I loved having that feeling have really getting to see these places. This added a whole new element to the story. I loved getting to meet the new characters, as much as I enjoyed getting a detailed look into the lands, and how they live there. My favorite was definitely Princess Ceridwen, from Summer. She proves she's just as fiery and witty as Meira and a fantastic friend to the Queen.

This book definitely does not suffer from middle book syndrome. It was just as fascinating as the first book. Sure, it may not have as many action scenes or all the romance (don't worry there's the subtle touches a kissy scene or two, or more), I loved about the first book, but it's still great. I enjoyed all this story gave, and then some. After that killer of an ending, I'm looking forward to diving right into FROST LIKE NIGHT. My word, those last few characters really picked up and then the ending left me hanging. I can only imagine what Meira's about to do. If you loved SNOW LIKES ASHES, be sure to pick up a copy of this book! 

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