Character Playlist: Snow, Part 2
Character art by Mr. K.
Snow was easily one of my favorite characters from the first book, so it’s kind of surprising that in the sequel, she’s the one most separated from the others, and left to carry the torch of the previous book’s plot while everyone else deals with the new hotness. And yet, for how little of the story she gets, I think They Split the Party really nicely continues the delving into Snow’s isolation and self-loathing that began in the first book.
There’s a very real difference between being forced to be alone, which is where she was in Book One, and choosing to be alone when there’s a clear option to not be. That’s the boat Snow’s in now, with the Starbreakers there as an option again, but one she can’t quite bring herself to take yet.
So here’s Snow, Part Two: Getting warmer, but still not thawed.
“bad guy” — Billie Eilish
The beautiful thing about Part 2 playlists is that I can include songs that barely made didn’t make the cut on the last time, and this song has been welded to my mental image of Snow basically since I heard it. And this time “idontwannabeyouanymore” isn’t here to edge it out.
“People I Don’t Like” — UPSAHL
Anyone who’s read Snowfall will know how perfect this song is for Snow’s origin story. The bored little rich girl fed up with parties full of people she didn’t care about, talking about things she cared even less about. I only regret that I didn’t discover it until after I’d already made Snow’s first playlist, because this absolutely would have gone on that one. Instead, the record must be corrected here.
“Anti-Hero” — Taylor Swift
There really is a lot more self-loathing buried in Snow’s whole shtick than I initially expected there to be, but to be honest I’m kind of here for it. Also, fuck, Midnights is so good.
“VICES” — MOTHICA
There’s a moment in Split where Snow has to take a good look at what she actually does with her time when she’s not out being a revenge-seeking assassin, and it turns out she doesn’t really like what she sees.
Unfortunately, she also has no immediate plans to unpack that.
“It Took Me By Surprise” — Maria Mena
Another song for Phoenix and Snow, this time focusing more on the bitterness in the break up itself, and the mess that led up to it. This was one of those songs where on a first listen I could instantly see the animatic of the characters set to it.
“Uncomfortably Numb” — Arrows in Action, Taylor Acorn
The Heart of Ice is, among many things, numbness. It numbs all sorts of pain and guilt, which is great for being an assassin. It also numbs everything else, which is less great for living the rest of your life.
“SKIN OF MY TEETH” — Demi Lovato
An asskicking song and a cry for help all rolled into one. Couldn’t ask for a better accompaniment to a Snow fight scene.
“Becky’s So Hot” — FLETCHER
One of the many niche topics character playlists afford me the chance to explore are crackships within my own story that won’t ever actually make it onto the page, but I still like.
Full disclosure, I considered ending this series with a thruple forming. But for a variety of reasons, that wouldn’t be the right call.
“Queen Of The Night” — Hey Violet
Speaking of ships that don’t get to show up in the books (yet?). A companion to Close to Me from the first playlist. Still may or may not be about who you’re thinking.
“Favorite Ex” — Maisie Peters
As far as end credits songs go, I really like the mood this one evokes, of a relationship that’s ended, a connection severed, but one that left good memories and meant enough to you to miss now that it’s gone.
Phoenix might be her literal ex, but the Starbreakers will always be the real heartbreak of Snow’s life.
I almost saved this playlist for release with Book Three or Four, but then I managed to find Queen of the Night, which replaced a song that would have been a spoiler. You’ll know which one that is once Snow’s Part 3 comes out.
Snow is one of the main characters of the Glintchasers series. The latest installement, They Split the Party, is releasing in June 27, 2023.