Frost Like Night by Sara Raasch

Frost Like Night by Sara Raasch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The ending is so fantastic and satisfying that my initial impulse was to give this book a 5. Wow. That's the way to successfully wrap up a fantasy trilogy.

I have settled at a 4, just because there were some things in the first half that weren't quite as smooth for me. Overall, this is an excellent YA fantasy series, set in a fascinating and creative world, with plenty of dark magic to suit my dark side, and enough hope to please my often hidden light side.

It's a definite win, and I confess part of my confusion at the start might have been due to the gap of time from when I read the first two books. If you have time for a reread, I think that would be ideal. If not, definitely read a good summary or synopsis of the first two books before diving in, because it's a complex world with a lot of characters.

Pages: 496

Snow Like Ashes Trilogy by Sara Raasch

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is how YA fantasy should be written. If the world doesn't grab me by the throat and threaten to squeeze the life out of me with a dark magic that can rival or even exceed the good magic, then I probably am not invested in it the way I was with this story.

One of my favorite aspects of the fantasy genre, in general, is the internal struggle of characters trying to balance excessive power. I love to watch characters make hard choices and walk the fine line between good and evil, helpful and hurtful, necessary and excessive, privilege and sacrifice.

This story has the kind of characters I don't just want to read about, but instead want to journey with through any hardship.

Pages: 448


Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This YA fantasy is a strong sequel to SNOW LIKE ASHES. I am desperate for book 3, just to spend a little bit more time in this world, with these incredible characters.

This is the kind of series that blanks out the world around you, and suddenly, you realize you just drove 50 miles on autopilot, while listening to the audio, and you don't recall a second of the car ride but can remember every second of the characters' journey.

Read with care. ;)

Pages: 496

Book 3, FROST LIKE NIGHT, will be released on September 20, 2016.