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Dec 09, 2017PimaLib_ChristineR rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Ice Like Fire may have been tough to write as Raasch writes in her acknowledgements, but the work paid off. The first in this series, Snow Like Ashes, I had the problem of feeling that many of the characters had no development. They were interchangeable backdrops. In this book, all of Meira's compatriots in exile come into their own as full-fledged characters with relationships, opinions and actions all their own. Meira had saved the residents of the kingdom of Winter but things aren't alright. Help from Cordell feels more like occupation and the citizens of Winter are suffering from the memories of years in work camps, or for those born in the work camps, the feeling that they are returning to something that was never theirs in the first place. When Winter's miners find access to the original source of magic, Meira and Theron set off on a goodwill tour to try and gain allies. While their goals diverge as the tour proceeds, Mather stays in Winter where his own relationship with his father (William, aka Sir) and mother Allyson are strained to breaking. It's clear something must give and when it does it's like all hell breaks loose at once. I took a star off because I found some of the political machinations and conclusions to feel a bit off. There also a deus ex machina moment that was like "how convenient... " Overall still a worthy read and I'm looking forward to the next in the series.