Ice Like Fire Sara Raasch by Sara Raasch 9780287851236, 0287851230 instant download after payment.

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 is hopeful and excited—with this much magic, the world can finally stand against threats like Angra. But Meira knows that 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 Jannuari—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 is woven 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. **

Gr 8 Up—This sequel picks up right where Snow Like Ashes (Harper, 2014) left off. Indeed, the novel makes no effort to refresh background from the first book. The world we are in (a map is included) is divided into provinces, which are categorized as Seasons or Rhythms. Meira, the protagonist, has been placed in an arranged marriage unifying her seasonal province, Winter, with a Rhythm province. Despite the romantic sparks between the couple in the previous volume, the embers here are neglected, as the two teens work against each other to recapture the magic in the kingdoms. The magic for each province is housed in a conduit (necklace, crown, etc.). If the item is destroyed, then the sovereign becomes the conduit. Meanwhile, there is additional untapped magic housed in secret chasms, which are tricky to find and trickier to open. Magic can be used for ill, like duping all the slaves in a province to think they are content. In the first installment, Meira is presented as a tough chakrum-master. In this entry, she struggles with trying to act like a proper sovereign. However, readers who hang in there will be treated to an epic showdown as the tough girl returns. This sequel is ambitious and assumes a great deal of background knowledge; even the characters are difficult to keep straight. That being said, hard-core fantasy fans will eat this up and clamor for the conclusion. VERDICT A required purchase anywhere the first was popular.—Leah Krippner, Harlem High School, Machesney Park, IL

“Will have readers awaiting the third book and hoping that it brings Meira and her people peace at long last.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Hard-core fantasy fans will eat this up and clamor for the conclusion.” (School Library Journal)

“Lush and poetic” (Booklist)

“Will have readers needing the next one, now.” (Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA))

Praise for SNOW LIKE ASHES: “Snow Like Ashes is a thrilling story with unforgettable characters set in a stunning fantasy world that had me quickly turning pages. I want more!” (Morgan Rhodes, New York Times bestselling author of Falling Kingdoms)

Praise for SNOW LIKE ASHES: “The plot and writing are superlative...Highly recommended.” (School Library Journal)

Praise for SNOW LIKE ASHES: “A satisfying read.” (Kirkus Reviews)

Praise for SNOW LIKE ASHES: “An enjoyable adventure-romance.” (Publishers Weekly)

Praise for SNOW LIKE ASHES: “A new society, a grand adventure, and a first romance, all rolled into one big fantasy epic.” (Booklist)