Tl;Dr Super unique world premise and magic concepts, paired up with endearing characters you can't help but root for. An inspiring and downright charming YA fantasy. 
 The dedication to this book reveals that Raasch first started writing it when she was 12 years old and that just gave me a lot of feelings, because I was about the same age when I started toying around with ideas for the novel I have finally just started officially writing for realsies this time I mean it. There is always hope, ya'll! 
 And what is super cool and beautiful and charming is you can kinda still see the remnants of that. The plot and characters almost certainly got more complex over the years (unless she was a hella talented tween, which I'm not ruling out okay), but I can totally picture 12 year old Sara deciding that the kingdoms would be based on the seasons and each kingdom would only ever be the season it was named for because magic and everyone is mean to the Winterians because lets be honest Winter is by and far the least popular season, but those who love it REALLY love it. I don't mean this in a demeaning way at all; I genuinely really, really loved having that bit of insight. The premise is so beautifully executed in the end and I was just so excited for Sara Raasch past and present the whole time I was reading it. 
 I'm a sucker for an underdog story. Seriously all you have to do to get me emotionally invested in a character or group is to tell me they're being oppressed or bullied or anything of the sort and I am 100% on board. 
 Needless to say Snow Like Ashes was right up my alley in pretty much every way in this respect. If that's your thing to, read it immediately. 
 Meira is one of the more endearing characters I've come across. She is headstrong and confident in many ways while simultaneously feeling lost and hopeless. All she wants is to matter, to the people she loves and to the home she is too young to remember, and as much as this story is about the refugees trying reclaim Winter, it is also about Meira's journey to figure who exactly she wants to be and how she fits into the world she's been thrown into. On all accounts the pacing is really well done. 
 Like Red Queen this is also another example of a love triangle that I did not have issue with, I think because to me it was super obvious one was the better fit for her. I immediately knew which one I was rooting for, and not to brag but I think my guy is gonna win. Just saying. 
 Also like Red Queen, this would probably have been a 5 star for me if a careless blogger hadn't completely spoiled the ending for me when the book first came out last year. I waited an entire bloody year hoping I would forget so I could read it, but no dice. I still absolutely loved it, and the clues are very well done so I know I would have had my suspicions about the ending, but I so wish I could have experienced it for myself. Hoping to read Ice Like Fire very very soon to avoid the same thing happening twice!