Book Review // Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

Hello again!

I am so sorry for posting so infrequently right now. Things have been a little hectic with going back to school and everything, so I am hoping to get back into the swing of things in the next couple weeks. I have been reading pretty often, however, and am a little backed up on writing posts, so expect a few more than usual over the next few days.

Also, Megan and I are discussing a new posting schedule - one that is less restricting and will allow for more posts on the blog. This is the tentative new schedule:

Top Ten Posts // Tuesdays by both Caelyn and Megan (prompted from The Broke and the Bookish)
Reviews // Whenever a book is finished and simultaneously posted on Goodreads
Features and Misc. // Again, whenever we feel like it.

In addition, I am really trying to get our social media up and running. Thank you to those of you who have followed us there despite the lack of posts! I have been building up a collection of photos and have an idea as to how to conduct the social media in my busy life. 

Whew. It feels good to have that all out there. 

Okay, now onto what this post is actually about. A book review!

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

"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. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, Winter's future king—she would do anything to help Winter rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter's magic, Meira decides to go after it herself—only to find herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics—and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own. "

I really, really liked this book...not quite a five star review, but really, really close. Now, this could have something to do with the fact that my brain was rather muddled as I decided to get sick on my FREE WEEKEND after working for pretty much 2 WEEKS STRAIGHT AT SCHOOL (yes, that includes an entire weekend).

No, no. No problem there.

I read this book (at least the beginning part of it) very fast, which could be another reason I didn't give it five stars. It was one of those things where my brain was slightly switched off and was kind of skimming for part of the time, which made me not super involved in the plot. But I still really liked it.

Things I Loved:

• All the twists and turns of the plot. There were totally some things that I did not see coming! The whole plot enthralled me, and there was pretty much something happening at all times, which I really liked. 
• The relationship between Mather and Meira. I love how flawed it is because I am really looking forward to seeing how it progresses. This might sound like a weird opinion...but I see a lot of potential growth there. 
• I really love that feeling in a book where something completely unexpected happens and your jaw just drops and you start saying, "No...did that really just happen?" out loud and get weird looks from the people around you. It is also one of those things where your adrenalin spikes and you feel like you need to go release all of your energy by talking yelling about it with someone who has already read it. Or not. This book had a lot of that, and it was so enthralling that, just...I don't even have the words. 
• The full on girl power and female strength (go Meira!). Meira shows us that girls, too, can change the world and make a difference.
• I also loved the uniqueness of the world. Each kingdom is so different and amazing that it is easy to tell them apart.
• The ending.
• There was a lot more that I loved, but I finished it about a week ago and not I cannot remember what else I wanted to say about it. Darn my school-stuffed brain. But there are a lot more positives. Just trust me on this one.

Things I Didn't Love As Much:

• Some of the characters annoyed me from time to time (namely: Sir), but I know, I know. There was a reason for it. But still!
• I was slightly confused at some parts about the layout of the land. The kingdoms also confused me for a little while, but it became clearer in my mind as I kept reading. 
• This is something really small and nitpicky, but as a writer, some of the names bugged me. Not so much those of people, but mainly those of places. I felt like they were jumbled from everywhere and did not have a flow to them (such as all Anglican names for one place, African names for another, etc.). But this is a really small detail that I really don't think a lot of people would notice. I apologize for pointing it out...

Overall, this book was very good and I highly recommend it. I just finished reading the sequel, so stay tuned for a review on Ice Like Fire tomorrow or the next day. 

The final thing I would like to point out is that you should visit our new and improved quotes page. Feel free to repost any of the social media quote photos (but only if you give credit to us). 

Thank you so much for reading, and check us out on social media (Twitter, Instagram, and Bloglovin'). Our links are on the top right of the blog's homepage.

Feature // Highly Anticipated Upcoming Books

Let me just start off by saying this...I kind of suck at blogging.

At least I do right now, but I am kind of hoping that it is one of those things that you slowly get better about as you learn about all of the things that it has to offer. But just to sum it up for those of you who are new, here is a list of my blogging accomplishments:

• 2 posts on Twitter and reaching 4 (cough cough) followers
• Some impromptu "Oh my goodness I forgot to take pictures so let me just use my phone to snap a horrendous close up of these two books on my carpet..." posts on Instagram (refer below)
• A total of, oh I don't even know, three weeks without a post? Wait, I think I might have posted last week...or the week before...

You get what I'm saying. I'm not a complete slacker...homework reacher a new high for this year last week and I was swamped with one essay and six tests over the course of four school days. I even spent the entire weekend studying for an AP Euro test...but now that's over and life seems to be returning to its regular routine!

As for an update on building the blog, we added links to all of our social media pages on the "About Us" page and added a quotes page. Also check out our "Must Reads" page for inspiration on what to read next. (I couldn't remember if I included this in any other posts...so here it is anyway...)

Today, I am not bringing you our typical TV Thursday post, but instead I am compiling a list of my most anticipated books for the coming months. I might include a few books that *just* came out, mainly because, as you can probably tell, I am running behind in life. 

Yes, this might sound like something that I could do for a Top 10 Tuesday post, but I want to do it now, so sorry. Stay tuned for a school related Top 10 Tuesday post next week, as I have something in mind to commemorate the beginning of school. 

A Collection of Upcoming Books I Wish to Read (In Order of Release Dates)

The Reader by Traci Chee

"Sefia knows what it means to survive. After her father is brutally murdered, she flees into the wilderness with her aunt Nin, who teaches her to hunt, track, and steal. But when Nin is kidnapped, leaving Sefia completely alone, none of her survival skills can help her discover where Nin’s been taken, or if she’s even alive. The only clue to both her aunt’s disappearance and her father’s murder is the odd rectangular object her father left behind, an object she comes to realize is a book—a marvelous item unheard of in her otherwise illiterate society. With the help of this book, and the aid of a mysterious stranger with dark secrets of his own, Sefia sets out to rescue her aunt and find out what really happened the day her father was killed—and punish the people responsible.

With overlapping stories of swashbuckling pirates and merciless assassins, The Reader is a brilliantly told adventure from an extraordinary new talent."

For some reason, I love reading books about reading...it is always something that I can relate to. As soon as I read the description for this book, I knew that it was something that I wanted to read, and I am hoping that I can read it soon. I have a few books ahead of it on my TBR, but it is pretty high up there. 

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

"A Torch Against the Night takes readers into the heart of the Empire as Laia and Elias fight their way north to liberate Laia’s brother from the horrors of Kauf Prison. Hunted by Empire soldiers, manipulated by the Commandant, and haunted by their pasts, Laia and Elias must outfox their enemies and confront the treacherousness of their own hearts.

In the city of Serra, Helene Aquilla finds herself bound to the will of the Empire’s twisted new leader, Marcus. When her loyalty is questioned, Helene finds herself taking on a mission to prove herself—a mission that might destroy her, instead."

Now this book is an automatic read, one that is actually the next book on my TBR. I am currently rereading An Ember in the Ashes to prepare for this, and I am loving it just as much as I did the first time through. Someone please remind me to go and order this book RIGHT NOW!

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

"Three dark queens

are born in a glen,

sweet little triplets

will never be friends

Three dark sisters

all fair to be seen,

two to devour

and one to be Queen

Every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.

But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose…it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins. The last queen standing gets the crown."

Something about this book caught my attention. For one thing, look at that cover...I mean, just look at it! How gorgeous is it? I need to get this book and then take some beautifully creepy pictures of it for Instagram. But also I love how unique the story line is, and I love how it has QUEENS! Queens, not kings are the heirs to the throne.

A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess

"I am Henrietta Howel. The first female sorcerer. The prophesied one. Or am I?

Henrietta Howel can burst into flames. When she is brought to London to train with Her Majesty's sorcerers, she meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, young men eager to test her powers and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her. As Henrietta discovers the secrets hiding behind the glamour of sorcerer life, she begins to doubt that she's the true prophesied one. With battle looming, how much will she risk to save the city--and the one she loves?"

With a huge Harry Potter reread hangover, I need some magical books to quench my thirst for all things wonderfully and (literally) magically not real. What better book to read than one about sorcerers? Not only sorcerers, but Her Majesty's sorcerers. I'm in.

Replica by Lauren Oliver

"From Lauren Oliver, New York Times bestselling author of Before I Fall and the Delirium trilogy, comes an epic, masterful novel that explores issues of individuality, identity, and humanity. Replica is a “flip book” that contains two narratives in one. Turn the book one way and read Lyra’s story; turn the book over and upside down and read Gemma’s story. The stories can be read separately, one after the other, or in alternating chapters. The two distinct parts of this astonishing novel combine to produce an unforgettable journey. Even the innovative book jacket mirrors and extends the reading experience.

Lyra’s story begins in the Haven Institute, a building tucked away on a private island off the coast of Florida that from a distance looks serene and even beautiful. But up close the locked doors, military guards, and biohazard suits tell a different story. In truth, Haven is a clandestine research facility where thousands of replicas, or human models, are born, raised, and observed. When a surprise attack is launched on Haven, two of its young experimental subjects—Lyra, or 24, and the boy known only as 72—manage to escape.

Gemma has been in and out of hospitals for as long as she can remember. A lonely teen, her life is circumscribed by home, school, and her best friend, April. But after she is nearly abducted by a stranger claiming to know her, Gemma starts to investigate her family’s past and discovers her father’s mysterious connection to the secretive Haven research facility. Hungry for answers, she travels to Florida, only to stumble upon two replicas and a completely new set of questions.

While the stories of Lyra and Gemma mirror each other, each contains breathtaking revelations critically important to the other story. Replica is an ambitious, thought-provoking masterwork."

I love how unique this book sounds. A book that flips so that the stories intertwine together? That reminds me of a Snow White picture book I had when I was little. I also love the idea for the story. All in all, count me in!

Thank you all for reading this post, and I am sorry for neglecting to post recently. I am working on it, I promise!