#Review - The Crimson Throne by Sara Raasch & Beth Revis #YA #Historical #Fantasy

Series: Spy and Guardian
Format: 368 pages, Hardcover

Release Date: October 7, 2025
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult, Historical, Fantasy

Outlander meets Holly Black in this enemies-to-lovers romantasy set in the dazzling and dangerous Scottish court where a fae guardian of the realm falls in love with a charming Elizabethan spy who could also be the key to her world’s undoing. From the New York Times bestselling authors of the Witch and Hunter duology, Sara Raasch and Beth Revis, comes an incredible historical romantasy duology. 

Nineteen-year-old Samson Calthorpe's father is a court favorite—but that alone won’t take him far without money and so many people depending on him. So when the opportunity arises to become a royal spy, he has to take it, using every bit of the skills and resolve he’s picked up on the streets of London to prove his worth in Queen Elizabeth’s court. 

Eighteen-year-old Alyth Graham has kept her eyes on Queen Mary's husband, Lord Darnley, for years—her eyes and her magic. She may be a member of the Scottish court, but she’s no lady. A bastard child of a fae prince and a human mother, Alyth is among the most powerful protectors in Scotland: guardians sworn to support the barrier keeping the Red Caps, a bloodthirtsy clan of fairies, away from the Fae Land portals. 

As Alyth and Samson circle each other in the volatile and glamorous Scottish court, both seek to uncover threats to their own countries. They have only one unifying link: their shared hatred and suspicion of Lord Darnley. Using secret codes, hidden messages, and a little bit of magic, Alyth and Samson unravel a plot centuries in the making. Lord Darnley is only a pawn, and in this game, the queen takes all. 

The Crimson Throne is the first installment in co-authors Sarah Raasch and Beth Revis' Spy and Guardian series. Eighteen-year-old Alyth Graham and Nineteen-year-old Samson Calthorpe are the main characters in this book, with appearances from Mary, Queen of Scotland, and Elizabeth, Queen of England. The story takes place mostly in Scotland. This novel has the appeal of romantic fantasy, a lush historical setting that is reminiscent of Outlander, and the evergreen topic of fairies. These authors previously came together to write Night of the Witch.

The story unfolds against the volatile backdrop of 16th-century Scotland and England, amid the rivalry between Mary, Queen of Scots, and Queen Elizabeth I. Samson Calthorpe, a street-smart Londoner burdened by a mysterious curse that isolates him from loved ones, seizes an opportunity to serve as a royal spy for Elizabeth. His mission: infiltrate the Scottish court, uncover plots (including potential assassination threats against Elizabeth), and perhaps break his curse in the process. 
On the other side stands Alyth Graham, a powerful fae guardian and bastard daughter of a fae prince and a human mother. Sworn to protect Mary Queen of Scots from both human and supernatural threats—including her own husband, Lord Darnley—Alyth maintains a magical barrier against bloodthirsty Red Caps and other fae dangers threatening the realm. When Samson and Alyth cross paths in the glittering yet treacherous Scottish court, mutual distrust sparks an enemies-to-lovers romance amid political scheming, magical threats, and questions of loyalty, duty, and destiny. 
The narrative weaves real historical tensions (the power struggle between the two queens, court favorites, and figures like Lord Darnley) with fae elements, portals, guardians, and folklore-inspired magic rooted in Scottish mythology. The intrigue and political scheming shine brightly. Court machinations, betrayals, and layered plots keep the pace engaging, with a solid mix of action, mystery, and emotional stakes. The fae magic adds whimsy and tension without overwhelming the historical foundation—many readers note it feels like a refreshing, liberally interpreted take on Mary vs. Elizabeth, enhanced by strong world-building and folklore details. 
The romance develops naturally from enemies to something more, fueled by distrust, shared dangers, and personal vulnerabilities. Character growth, particularly around duty vs. desire and the confrontation of insecurities, lands well. The pain, anger, and overconfidence of young adulthood feel authentically portrayed. If you enjoy historical fantasy with romantic tension, political scheming, and folklore-inspired magic—especially anything Scottish or Tudor-era—this is worth picking up. It may not reinvent the wheel, but it executes its premise with charm and enough heart to leave readers eager for the sequel, which will be the finale of the series since this is a duology.   

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#Review - Night of the Witch by Sara Raasch, Beth Revis #YA #Fantasy #Historical

Series: Witch and Hunter (#1)
Format: Hardcover, 416 pages
Release Date: October 3, 2023
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Historical

Magic and vengeance collide in this enemies-to-lovers historical fantasy from New York Times bestselling authors Sara Raasch and Beth Revis

Fritzi is a witch. The only survivor of a brutal attack on her coven, she’s determined to bring the hexenjägers—zealot witch hunters—to justice for the lives they ended.

Otto is a hexenjäger—but that’s just his cover. He and his sister, Hilde, have been planning their move against the witch hunters for years as a way to avenge their mother, who was wrongfully burned.

When Otto and Hilde take the first step in their bid to destroy the hexenjägers from within, Fritzi mistakes Hilde for an innocent victim, and her errant protection spell backfires, casting Hilde into the magical ether and painting Fritzi as an undeniable witch. Otto is forced to arrest her, his plan for revenge in tatters and his sister missing, while Fritzi is now a prisoner of the very organization she fears most.

Unwilling to trust each other, Fritzi and Otto can’t deny they have a common enemy. They team up to stop the hexenjägers and find Hilde. Their quest takes them from the oldest city in Germany to the heart of the Black Forest, through hidden aqueducts to magic wellsprings. As truths come to light and trust shifts, Fritzi and Otto uncover a far more horrifying plot at the center of the hexenjäger attacks . . . but their own growing feelings for each other may be the most powerful magic of all. 

Night of the Witch, by co-authors Sara Raasch and Beth Revis, is the first installment in what appears to be a duology called Witch and Hunter. Even though this is a fantasy, it's set in a world that reflects our own and it takes place in the Holy Roman Empire which means that a lot of history is strewn across the book. The story is fictionally based on real events that happened in Germany (1591) and later spread across Europe before finding a way to the Salem Witch Trials in what will become America. The story is told in a dual points-of-view.  

The only survivor of a brutal attack on her coven in Birresborn where she watched her mother and entire cover slaughter, she’s determined to bring the hexenjägers—zealot witch hunters—to justice for the lives they ended. She also has to make up for a fatal error which I will not spoil. Read the book! Otto is a hexenjäger—but that’s just his cover. He and his sister, Hilde, have been planning their move against the witch hunters for 10 years as a way to avenge their mother, who was wrongfully burned by their father as a witch.

When Otto and Hilde take the first step in their bid to destroy the hexenjägers from within, Fritzi mistakes Hilde for an innocent victim, and her errant protection spell backfires, casting Hilde into the magical ether (The Black Forest) and painting Fritzi as an undeniable witch. Otto is forced to arrest her, his plan for revenge in tatters and his sister missing, while Fritzi is now a prisoner of the very organization she fears most. But after a time, Otto realizes that Fritzi may be his key to rescuing hundreds of people arrested for being witches.

Unwilling to trust each other, Fritzi and Otto can’t deny they have a common enemy. An enemy that is as familiar to Fritzi, as her own face. They team up to stop the hexenjägers and find Hilde. Their quest takes them from the oldest city in Germany to the heart of the Black Forest, through hidden aqueducts to magic wellsprings. As truths come to light and trust shifts, Fritzi and Otto uncover a far more horrifying plot at the center of the hexenjäger attacks . . . but their own growing feelings for each other may be the most powerful magic of all.

*Thoughts*

While the story is entertaining, the final chapters of this book are the most revealing and leads to a stunning, but a wholly not unexpected ending since this is a duology. For years, Fritzi ignored the voice in her head telling her to let go and accept her destiny as a witch who uses wild magic. It isn't until she finds out that her own brother, Dieter Kirch, who has been killing innocent people to gain power for years, that she understands the severity of her own actions that led to her coven's ending. It is also at this point that she and Otto team up to become Warrior and Champion. It was absolutely a good idea to alternate narratives to fill in the blanks as each character is struggling to learn how to deal, and maybe, love the other. I understand that the next book comes out in 2024, but I will be patient in finding out how Fritzi, and Otto deal with what's coming for them. 

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#Review - Rise Up from the Embers by Sara Raasch, Kristen Simmons #YA #Fantasy

Series: Set Fire to the Gods # 2
Format: Hardcover, 352 pages
Release Date: August 10, 2021
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Epic

Avatar: The Last Airbender meets Gladiator in the conclusion of this exciting and fast-paced epic duology about two elemental gladiators whose powers could determine the fate of the world in an ancient war between immortals and humans—from Sara Raasch, the New York Times bestselling author of the Snow Like Ashes series, and Kristen Simmons, acclaimed author of Pacifica and The Deceivers. Perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes, And I Darken, and The Winner’s Curse.

Two gods are dead. The Mother Goddess has returned. War is rising.

Fleeing war-ravaged Deimos, Ash and Madoc sail across the ocean to their only possible allies: the water and plant gods. But when Anathrasa attacks on the way, Ash leaps to the defense—by using a power she didn’t know she had.

When Madoc made the fire and earth gods mortal, he inadvertently transferred their magic to Ash. Now, if Ash can get energeias from the other four gods, she would be powerful enough to end Anathrasa once and for all.

But not all the gods want the Mother Goddess defeated. To stop her, Madoc will have to become the obedient son his mother always wanted, and Ash will have to take a merciless place among the gods.

To defeat an immortal, Ash and Madoc must fight like gods—even if it means sacrificing their humanity.

 

Rise up from the Embers, by co-authors Sara Raasch, and Kristen Simmons, is the second installment in the Set Fire to the Gods duology. Set Fire to the Gods introduced readers to a world of corrupt immortals, kick-ass gladiators, and plenty of intrigue. This story begins about 2 weeks after the ending of the first installment. Once again, the authors alternate between Ash Nikau and Madoc, the son of the Mother Goddess who created 6 Gods and Goddesses and gave them powers over fire, water, plants, earth, and animals. 

Fleeing war-ravaged Deimos, Ash and Madoc sail across the ocean to their only possible allies: the water (Hydra) and plant (Florus) gods. But when Anathrasa attacks on the way, Ash leaps to the defense—by using a power she didn’t know she had. When Madoc made the fire (Ignitus) and earth (Geoxus) gods mortal, he inadvertently transferred their magic to Ash. Now, if Ash can get energeias from the other four gods, she would be powerful enough to end Anathrasa once and for all. But at what cost? Especially know what happened to her ancestor.

Not all the gods want the Mother Goddess defeated. Biotus (animals) and Aera (air) are firmly on Anathrasa's side knowing that if Hydra and Florus fall, they will win Hydra and Florus's people and territory. To stop her, Madoc will have to become the obedient son his mother always wanted, and Ash will have to take a merciless place among the gods. Ash and Madoc aren’t just fighting for their lives, they’re fighting to save all of humanity from the gods’ disregard for human life, as well from an even more dangerous ancient force. 

For the most part, Ash and Madoc spend most of the book on their own paths. Ash trying to control her new abilities, missing her mother, and finding a path forward with Tor who promised her mother he'd watch over her. Even though she's now considered a Goddess to her own people who are looking for hope and protection against Anathrasa and her gladiators, there's also the loss of not having Madoc to throw ideas back and forth. Madoc leaves Ash behind trying to get close to Anathrasa and see if he is able to collect the final pieces of the 6 powers that will be needed to defeat Anathrasa. 

I think that when all is said and done, Ash shows more growth than anyone in this book because of her choices in the end. I have to say that Hydra might be my favorite character in this story because she's truly magnificent trying to teach Ash about her abilities, and standing tall when it's time to go to war to humanity.

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#Review - Set Fire to the Gods by Sara Raasch, Kristen Simmons #YA #Fantasy

Series: Set Fire to the Gods # 1
Format: Hardcover, 432 pages
Release Date: August 4, 2020
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Epic

Ash is descended from a long line of gladiators, and she knows the brutal nature of war firsthand. But after her mother dies in an arena, she vows to avenge her by overthrowing her fire god, whose temper has stripped her country of its resources.

Madoc grew up fighting on the streets to pay his family’s taxes. But he hides a dangerous secret: he doesn’t have the earth god’s powers like his opponents. His elemental gift is something else—something that hasn’t been seen in centuries.

When an attempted revenge plot goes dangerously wrong, Ash inadvertently throws the fire and earth gods into a conflict that can only be settled by deadly, lavish gladiator games, throwing Madoc in Ash’s path. She realizes that his powers are the weapon her rebellion needs—but Madoc won’t jeopardize his family, regardless of how intrigued he is by the beautiful warrior.

But when the gods force Madoc’s hand, he and Ash uncover an ancient war that will threaten more than one immortal—it will unravel the world.

 

Set Fire to the Gods, by authors Sara Raasch, and Kristen Simmons, is the first installment in the authors Set Fire to the Gods duology. Avatar: The Last Airbender meets Gladiator in  in which two elemental gladiators (Madoc and Ash) must decide where their loyalties lie as an ancient war between immortals and humans looms on the horizon. Story takes place in a world like that of the Greco-Roman inspired world. Once there was a Goddess who ruled the world. She then made (6) Gods and Goddess that controlled the Six elements: Fire, Earth, Air, Water, Animals, and Plants. 

The gods of the elements separated the world into countries they govern. The gods came into power, protecting the humans from the Mother Goddess who grew jealous of the humans. The Gods teamed up together and destroyed her by combining their devine.  The Gods still go to war, but instead of invading each other’s lands, they select their best fighters and host Gladiator fights, betting their land and resources. The Gods created a class system between those who have a divine gift and those who are undivine.

Ash Nikau is a dancer grew up watching her fierce mother Char, a gladiator, fight for Ignitus, God of Fire. When Char's mother falls due to trickery to Geoxus, God of Earth's champion, it is Ash who is pulled into the Gods war after she interferes. The Gods who seem to be slowly tearing apart Ash's home. The Gods who seem to be working together to defeat Ignitus and take his land from him. Ash has a lot of resentment towards Ignitus. She blames him for how the people of Kula are struggling and how he keeps losing her country’s resources during the gladiator fights. Ash is determined to take him down. She cares about others but she has one goal in mind.  

Madoc grew up as an orphan after his father kicked him out of the house for not having any divine in him. He was taken in by Elias and Cassia's mother. Elias and Cassia are Devine, their mother is not. Madoc and Elias combine to fight in a ring against other gladiators. Madoc used his own strength and skills to fight, and the inane sense of understanding of his opponents, which sometimes feel as if it's more magical that simply reading body language. Then Madoc catches the eye of Lucius Pompino, Premier Gladiator sponsor in Deimos. Madoc will soon discover that he has been manipulated for a long time. He has a devine that hasn't been seen in a very long time.

Madoc is exactly what Ash needs but Madoc isn’t ready to risk it all to help the enemy. Madoc is trying to save his sister Cassia who has become a pawn in a much bigger game. By being one of the elite eight gladiator fighters, he can hopefully win her back. Ash and Madoc will end up unlikely allies. Pitted against each other in their god's war, the goal is to defeat the other. But when it starts to seem like there is more at stake than a war fought over a gladiator battle gone wrong, the two must team up to stop the gods from destroying both their countries.

The book took a few chapters to get really exciting, and for the authors to reveal what was up their sleeves. My only negative commentary is that I really, really wanted more gladiator fighting scenes. The whole idea of gladiators fighting for their Gods for their homes was the entire premise of this story. The stunning revelations at the end of the book, lead to an even more stunning cliffhanger ending that will lead into the finale Rise Up from the Embers.  

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#Review - These Divided Shores by Sara Raasch #YALIT #Fantasy

Series: These Rebel Waves # 2
Format: E-Galley, 560 pages
Release Date: August 27, 2019
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy

The thrilling sequel to These Rebel Waves—full of deadly magic, double crosses, and a revolution—from Sara Raasch, the bestselling author of the Snow Like Ashes series. 

As a child, she committed unforgivable acts to free Grace Loray from King Elazar of Argrid. Now Elazar’s plan to retake the island has surpassed Lu’s darkest fears: he’s holding her and his son, Ben, captive in an endlessly shifting prison, forcing them to make a weapon that will guarantee Elazar’s success. Escape is impossible—unless Lu becomes the ruthless soldier she hoped never to be again.

Vex failed to save Lu and Ben—and that torments him as much as his Shaking Sickness. With the disease worsening, Vex throws himself into the rebellion against Argrid. The remaining free armies are allied with the stream raider syndicates—and getting them to cooperate will take a strength Vex thought burned on a pyre six years ago.

Imprisoned, betrayed, and heartbroken, Ben is determined to end his father’s rampage. Watching Elazar sway the minds of Grace Loray as he did those of Argrid, Ben knows he has to play his father’s game of devotion to win this war. But how can a heretic prince defeat the Pious God?

As armies clash and magic rises, Lu, Vex, and Ben will confront their pasts . . . or lose their futures forever.

 

These Divided Shores is the second and final book author Sara Raasch's These Rebel Waves duology. The story picks up a couple weeks after These Rebel Waves. Adeluna "Lu" Andreu and Crown Prince of Argrid, Ben are being held captive by their respective fathers and being forced to work on permanent magic. Devereaux "Vex" Bell believes Lu is dead and decides to stage a jail break to free Kari, Lu’s mother and an important political figure on Grace Loray. 

The story itself digs deeper into the complicated history, religion, and politics of Grace Loray as well as the intense and tangled relationships of its people. This is a series filled with pirates, dangerous magic, double crosses, spies, and secrets that started with These Rebel Waves. As the tides of the war change allies must be forged in the strangest of places and as each island falls the fate of Grace Loray will be revealed. 
Readers will be dying to find out what happens next for Lu, Vex, and Ben—who will fall in love, who will be betrayed, who will die.

Adeluna “Lu” Andreu is a whip-smart, capable, and fearsome heroine. A former spy in her country’s revolution, a master of botanical magic, and a budding politician in her own right, she is an aspirational character with strength, agency, and passion. Lu has to deal with almost too much in this story. From her father's betrayal, to figuring out a way to stop the Elazar from crushing her beloved Grace Loray, to finding a way to let Vex into her heart and her life after so much suffering.

Devereux “Vex” Bell is the most dangerous stream raider in the world—but he has dark secrets and a mysterious past. Full of snarky wit, Vex is a talented rogue, the person who knows the rivers, geography, and hidden secrets of their world better than anyone else. Vex believes he failed to save Lu and Ben—and that torments him as much as his Shaking Sickness. With the disease worsening, Vex throws himself into the rebellion against Argrid. Along with Lu's mother Kari, the remaining free armies will have to ally together with the stream raider syndicates in order to stop Elazar from crushing Grace Loray and its people.

Imprisoned, betrayed, and heartbroken, Ben is determined to end his father’s rampage. Watching Elazar sway the minds of Grace Loray as he did those of Argrid, Ben knows he has to play his father’s game of devotion to win this war. But how can a heretic prince defeat the Pious God? Ben's constant companion, Gunnar, a Mecht Warrior, is his only real thing to hold onto. I don't talk much about Ben, because Ben isn't as bold and inspiring as Lu and Dex. 

Sara’s inspiration came from reading about the early days of America as a new nation, the Spanish Inquisition, and tales of pirates throughout history—along with all the rogues, scoundrels, and political intrigue of these events. The magic in These Rebel Waves is totally original and rich with detail—in this world, plants from the riverbeds of an island nation are the source of various magics. In different forms—pastes, powders, seeds, and more—different plants create many magical abilities: from wielding fire to being able to fly to knocking enemies out and more. Sara’s detailed and engrossing mythology is as believable as all the best fantasy.

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#Review - These Rebel Waves by Sara Raasch #YALit #Fantasy

Series: Stream Raiders # 1
Format:E-Galley, 480 pages
Release Date: August 7, 2018
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy

The thrilling new fantasy series—full of deadly magic, double crosses, and a dangerous quest in a new world—from Sara Raasch, bestselling author of the Snow Like Ashes serie.

Adeluna is a soldier. Five years ago, she helped the magic-rich island of Grace Loray overthrow its oppressor, Argrid, a country ruled by religion. But adjusting to postwar life has not been easy. When an Argridian delegate vanishes during peace talks with Grace Loray’s new Council, Argrid demands brutal justice—but Lu suspects something more dangerous is at work.

Devereux is a pirate. As one of the outlaws called stream raiders who run rampant on Grace Loray, he pirates the island’s magic plants and sells them on the black market. But after Argrid accuses raiders of the diplomat’s abduction, Vex becomes a target. An expert navigator, he agrees to help Lu find the Argridian—but the truth they uncover could be deadlier than any war.

Benat is a heretic. The crown prince of Argrid, he harbors a secret obsession with Grace Loray’s forbidden magic. When Ben’s father, the king, gives him the shocking task of reversing Argrid’s fear of magic, Ben has to decide if one prince can change a devout country—or if he’s building his own pyre.

As conspiracies arise, Lu, Vex, and Ben will have to decide who they really are . . . and what they are willing to become for peace.

 

Author Sara Raasch's These Rebel Waves is an action-packed start to a new duology full of pirates, dangerous magic, double crosses, betrayal, spies, and secrets. This new series is perfect for fans of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Heidi Heilig’s The Girl from Everywhere, and Alexandra Bracken’s Passenger. It is a story that alternates, via third POV, between three characters: Benat Gallego, Adeluna Andreu, and Devereux Bell. It is a story where secondary characters are just as important as the primary ones.

Adeluna “Lu” Andreu is the daughter of a famous revolutionary turned politician. She's whip-smart, capable, and fearsome heroine. A former spy in her country’s revolution, a master of the botanical magic, and a budding politician in her own right, she is an inspirational character with strength, agency, and passion. When an important cog in the peace treaty suddenly ends up missing, Lu and Bell team up with a group of Stream Pirates to rescue him before a new type of war hits the island of Grace Loray.  

Devereux “Vex” Bell is the most dangerous stream raider in the world but he has dark secrets and a mysterious past. He has refused to align himself with any of the Stream Raiders, and has his sights on retiring soon. Full of snarky wit, Vex is a talented rogue, the person who knows the rivers, geography, and hidden secrets of their world better than anyone else. Bell, who wears a patch over his eye, and his crew, which includes Nayeli, resident diver, and explosives expert & Edda, muscle and engine expert, have been running magical plants to various factions. Him being caught, rescued, and blackmailed by Lu is the last thing he thought would happen to him.

Benat Gallego is the son of the Elazar, King of Argrid, Eminence of the Eternal Church and the only outright gay character in this book. His father had his uncle and cousin condemned and burned as heretics and traitors. Traitors for giving money to the Grace Loray rebels like Adeluna who fought and won their freedom. He harbors a secret obsession with Grace Loray’s forbidden magic which his religious order wants to rid the world of. When Ben’s father, the king, gives him the shocking task of reversing Argrid’s fear of magic, Ben has to decide if one prince can change a devout country—or if he’s building his own pyre.

This is a curious world that Raasch has created. On one side you have the appearance that magic is really bad and believes in the religion of the pious one which encourages burning of heretics. While the other side, which pretty much includes all three of the main characters, believes that magic and magic via plants can cure the so called Sleeping Sickness which has taken so many lives. It's also curious that all of the magic that appears in this story is from an assorted plants, and Lu is perhaps the most read when it comes to the various ingredients. 

For those who thought you were going to get gay pirates, sorry. While there's one male character, and another female secondary character who are openly gay, this is really a story about politics, magic, and religion. Of all the things that could have happened, both good and bad, it had to happen in the final 1/3 of the story including the cliffhanger ending. Wow, the author went all Veronica Roth on readers. The positive is that this is a duology, and therefore readers will only have to wait until the next installment is released to see how the author handles her way through the muddle that she created.

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#Monday Review - Frost Like Night by Sara Raasch #YALit #Fantasy @seesarawrite @BalzerandBray

Series: Snow Like Ashes # 3
Format: Hardcover, 496 pages
Release Date: September 20, 2016
Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Angra is alive, his Decay is spreading—and no one is safe.

Meira will do anything to save her world. With Angra trying to break through her mental defenses, she desperately needs to learn to control her own magic—so when the leader of a mysterious Order from Paisly offers to teach her, she jumps at the chance. But the true solution to stopping the Decay lies in a labyrinth deep beneath the Season Kingdoms. To defeat Angra, Meira will have to enter the labyrinth, destroy the very magic she’s learning to control—and make the biggest sacrifice of all.

Mather will do anything to save his queen. He needs to rally the Children of the Thaw, find Meira—and finally tell her how he really feels. But with a plan of attack that leaves no kingdom unscathed and a major betrayal within their ranks, winning the war—and protecting Meira—slips farther and farther out of reach.

Ceridwen will do anything to save her people. Angra had her brother killed, stole her kingdom, and made her a prisoner. But when she’s freed by an unexpected ally who reveals a shocking truth behind Summer’s slave trade, Ceridwen must take action to save her true love and her kingdom, even if it costs her what little she has left.

As Angra unleashes the Decay on the world, Meira, Mather, and Ceridwen must bring the kingdoms of Primoria together…or lose everything.

Frost Like Night is the third and final installment in author Sara Raasch's Snow Like Ashes trilogy. As the story picks up, Queen Meira of the Kingdom of Winter, has escaped thanks to the help of Rares Albescu, a member of the Order of the Lustrate. We also get our first look at one of the more secretive countries called Paisly. Paisly is a country that doesn't have a King or a Queen. The order, who have been around for centuries, controls the country while keeping an eye out for someone with similar goals as theirs.

Rares and his wife Oana have one simple goal for Meira; Meira needs to learn how to control her magic in order to stop Angra from changing the world with his impure magic. Decay has swayed everyone from Theron, to other regents in Primoria and Angra won't stop until he has Meira under his control. Meira has known for awhile now that to defeat Angra, she would have to have her own Tris moment. In other words, she must throw herself on her own sword, and if she gets lucky, she'll take Angra and his filthy magic with him. 

Meira as a character grows leaps and bounds this time out. She understands that magic is her tool she needs to shut down magic once and for all. She needs to put away her past, and stop dwelling on the things she can't control. Even though Meira wears a heaven burden on her shoulders, she's not really alone. She has allies in Mather, and Ceridwen who have their own storylines that go along with Meira's. Let me say that I really liked out the story sussed out where Mather, Sir, and Meira are concerned. After all these three characters have been through, they really needed to be able to trust that Meira knew what she was doing.

I am happy that Ceridwen is given equal storyline along with Mather. I am not happy with the loss of life, and the number of characters who don't get to see their own happy endings, but thus is the challenges of fighting a war without having any consequences. I really loved Rares and his wife Oana. They've waited for years to see an end to magic, and now that Meira has come along, there is finally a hope for their future. I also loved Mather's Children of the Thaw. 

I know I am repeating myself from the previous installment, but these kids are definitely the bees knees and deserved their chance to fight for their country alongside Mather, Meira, and Sir. I am also going to jump on the bandwagon by saying that I am happy how the romance played out. I wasn't a fan of a certain characters, and while I do feel a bit for him, I don't hold water for those who jump feet first without first understanding the horrifying gravity for what they about to unleash.

If you are curious about the narratives, Meira's is first person, while Mather and Ceridwen's are third person. Sometimes, and it's only fair, Meira gets back to back chapters before we see one from Mather or Ceridwen's. Frost Like Night is filled with intrigue, action, betrayal, sacrifice, deaths, and romance. I would say that it is almost better to wait for all three books to be released before reading them. That way the wait between books doesn't negate remembering what happened in the previous installment. 

 

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#Tuesday Review - Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch (Young Adult, Fantasy) @seesarawrite @BalzerandBray

Series: Snow Like Ashes # 2
Format: Hardcover, 479 pages
Release Date: October 13, 2015
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

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

Ice Like Fire is the second installment in author Sara Raasch's Snow Like Ashes trilogy. The story picks up THREE months after Meira and her Winterians were freed from the clutches of King Angra of Spring after 16 years. But, Meira's Kingdom is so broke, that they can't pay their bills. They really are nothing more than a satellite colony under the control of King Noam of Cordell and his son Prince Theron. Noam wants to find the chasm where magic was supposedly lost, and he believes it lies in Meira's kingdom. This comes on top of the fact that Meira hasn't fully accepted her role as the Queen of Spring since she grew up believing she was nothing more than an orphan soldier under the guidance of Sir aka William.

This is a world where there are actually EIGHT separate countries. Four of them are seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter), Four of them are what's being called Rhythm's. (Yakim, Ventralli, Paisly, and of course, Cordell.) It is a world where the royals of each of these Kingdoms have been given Conduits. In Meira's case, she is her Kingdom's conduit thanks to her own mother's choices. After the magic chasm is discovering in one of Winter's mines, and Theron excitedly tells everyone of its discovery, Meira is forced into a trip to several countries looking for aid and support in tossing Noam out of her country.

This book can be called one of struggling personalities in the case of both Meira, and Mather who had once been told that HE was the King of Winter, only to find out that wasn't the case. While Meira is struggling with putting her kingdom back on its feet, Mather has to come to the realization that he needs to move forward, and not drag his feet. I loved Mather's Children of the Thaw. I see hopeful things coming over the course of the final book with these characters involved in the storyline. Surprisingly, Mather and the Thaw are more interesting than Meira.

I am happy that Meira found herself traveling to other countries like Yakim, Summer, and Ventralli. I am happy that the author introduces one of my favorite characters of this book in Ceridwen. Since I've already read the sequel, I can say that adding Ceridwen to this series was a brilliant strategic move on the authors part. She is much more of a leader than Meira in this book. Especially with how badly Meira acts and makes horrible mistakes that don't make sense after the first book. I liked Meira's supporting case, and truly do hope that she will rely on them more than she has in this book. 

The Bad: Well, I really, really, hate Theron. I hate his actions caused me to scream like some maniac. I hated that he feels as though he believes that he can control Meira while uniting Primoria, and I hate that Meira didn't catch on to his plans sooner rather than later when it all comes unglued. While I prefer Mather to Theron, I am not a fan of romantic triangles. Let's just make a choice and stick with it. Theron, in my honest opinion, is all wrong for Meira, and would only break her heart when she needs a sounding board to help her with things to come later. This book is definitely an example of a bridge book. It bridges Snow Like Ashes with Frost Like Night.

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