Roar by Cora Carmack Published by Tom Doherty Associates ISBN: 9780765386335
on June 13, 2017
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 352
Read it as: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
My rating:
Check it out in Goodreads
Synopsis
New York Times bestselling author Cora Carmack's young adult debut: Roar.
In a land ruled and shaped by violent magical storms, power lies with those who control them.Aurora Pavan comes from one of the oldest Stormling families in existence. Long ago, the ungifted pledged fealty and service to her family in exchange for safe haven, and a kingdom was carved out from the wildlands and sustained by magic capable of repelling the world’s deadliest foes. As the sole heir of Pavan, Aurora's been groomed to be the perfect queen. She’s intelligent and brave and honorable. But she’s yet to show any trace of the magic she’ll need to protect her people.
To keep her secret and save her crown, Aurora’s mother arranges for her to marry a dark and brooding Stormling prince from another kingdom. At first, the prince seems like the perfect solution to all her problems. He’ll guarantee her spot as the next queen and be the champion her people need to remain safe. But the more secrets Aurora uncovers about him, the more a future with him frightens her. When she dons a disguise and sneaks out of the palace one night to spy on him, she stumbles upon a black market dealing in the very thing she lacks—storm magic. And the people selling it? They’re not Stormlings. They’re storm hunters.
Legend says that her ancestors first gained their magic by facing a storm and stealing part of its essence. And when a handsome young storm hunter reveals he was born without magic, but possesses it now, Aurora realizes there’s a third option for her future besides ruin or marriage. She might not have magic now, but she can steal it if she’s brave enough.
Challenge a tempest. Survive it. And you become its master.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Since even before this book was published I’d been hoping to read it. And then I finally got it, and… it’s been months since that. I’m terrible.
Anyway, I finally read it, and actually, it was the perfect moment for it. I was bound to the couch due to my spinning debacle and it was the perfect opportunity to get some reading done. I ended up finishing the book in two days, which is not bad at all for the girl who took almost two months to read Children of Blood and Bone.
In short, I recommend it a lot to anyone who is looking for the next fantasy romance with which to get cozy.
Aurora is so fierce but vulnerable and precious
I’m an introvert and while I’ve discovered I do posess an inner strength that sometimes makes an appearance, I used to look up to those snarky and powerful YA heroines because I wanted to be like them. I still think they’re totally badass, but I’ve come to realize I appreciate them even more when we get to see them terrified, and genuinely doubting their worth and value. Because it’s all the more satisfying when they embrace who they are.
Aurora has felt inadequate her whole life for not having Stormling gifts. She’s even had to hide that fact from everyone, which resulting in her not having any connections with anyone. Her mother is the only one who knows -fortunately she doesn’t look down on her for it, she just worries. Aurora puts herself out there for someone and it doesn’t work out, but she’s determined to carve a place for herself in the world, and I’m living for it.
The romance has a great pacing
You gotta appreciate this romance. Although at first I was a bit confused, and I still have some lingering doubts about who the real love interest is. I’m pretty sure I know, but well, with books you never know. I’m hoping Aurora will stay with the one she ends up by the end of the book 😉 He’s great.
So we’ll focus on this guy for now.
There’s your usual attraction at first sight thing, which was entertaining. And then we have them getting to know each other and bickering and really getting on each other’s nerves. Super entertaining.
I love that moment in stories like this when after always fighting, the characters realize they can trust each other and that in spite of the flaws, they really care, and grudgingly begin truly falling in love then. Love it!
I’m living for the world-building
The land in this story is not the typical fantasy book one. Well, a little. But the interesting thing about the world is that it’s plagued by all kinds of storms. There’s the Rage season, when they get out of control and cities can be completely destroyed by them, and the Slumber season. I think this was a great concept to play with. It was interesting to see the consequences of the storms as Aurora traveled. Even she acknowledged the differences between how things were handled in her city in comparison with the outside world. She had to come face to face with devastation other people suffered.
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I really can’t wait for the second book!
Your review has made me want to add this to my tbr! <3
Darque Dreamer recently posted this awesome thing…Calendar Girls: Not Quite the End (Favorite Middle Book in a Series)
Yay! I was hoping I’d like it since another blogger’s review also swayed me to read it XD Hope you enjoy it as well!