Rating: 4.25/5
Summary: After the defeat of Angra, the evil King of Spring, Meira, Mather and the Winterians have returned home. Unfortunately they also brought Cordell & its soldiers with them. Thus begins the long process of healing Winter and repaying the staggering debt to Cordell. King Noam isn’t making it easier either. When Winterians stumble across the lost Chasm of Magic in one of the caves Meira & Theron embark on a quest throughout Primoria to find the keys to unlock it. However, Meira has no plans to actually unlock the Chasm, she’d much rather rid Primoria of magic since it spawned the Decay. While Meira is searching for answers, Mather remains in Jannuari helping with reconstruction and trying to train the sad Winterians into something that resembles an army.
This book is told in dual perspective of Meira and Mather, but it’s not split 50/50. It’s more like 3-5 chapters Meira for every one chapter of Mather. But I liked it that way. I was interested in seeing Mather’s struggle, but it wasn’t as important to the plot as what Meira was doing. I honestly struggled with this book until around chapter 18. The reason it dragged for me was Meira. She was consumed with trying to be a Queen that she wouldn’t let her own personality shine through. While I get the reason for it, I didn’t like it. I love Meira- the crazy and wild girl who will do whatever she needs to for her Kingdom. The Meira of Snow like Ashes. But she came back! Meira finally realizes that she can be a Queen and a Warrior. I was so happy it was like a veil of doom lifted from me and I enjoyed the book much more after that.
Okay romance wise this book isn’t a romance novel or really close. Mostly the characters are all too damaged from what happened in the end of SLA. We learn pretty early on that something happened to Theron in spring and it’s making him act weird. I remember I loved his character and I hardcore shipped Theron & Meira. I didn’t feel that way at all in this installment. I was so frustrated with Theron I wanted to punch him. He never seemed to listen to Meira and his goals were not the same as hers. Though I thought his peace treaty wasn’t a bad idea. Anyway, I definitely wanted to throw both Mather & Meira in a cell and force them to have a heart to heart because they need each other! Don’t they see that they are good for each other? Neither asked to be a monarch but that’s what Mather thought he was and now that’s what Meira is. They both know the stress of responsibilities that come from being a monarch. Team Mather all the way.
Okay so as I said earlier, the plot did kind of drag for me, but I also wasn’t in the best mood when I was reading so my frustration was amplified a bit. I loved seeing the other Kingdoms, I think my favorite might be Yakim though it does seem a little harsh. But hey libraries & universities sign me up! Around the time that Meira is leaving Yakim, I started to be more engaged with the plot and when they got to Ventralli, well well… shit hit the fan! The last 150 pages or so consumed me! I couldn’t stop reading and I didn’t want to. The ending of this book really saved the series for me and I’m glad because I loved SLA.
I’m super looking forward to Frost like Night. I want to see Meira SLAY- YASS QUEEN! I can’t wait. The last chapters of ILF I kept saying “savage” but in a good way! J Oh Meira I’m so glad my little warrior queen is back. Don’t leave again okay? Okay!