Cora Carmack nailed it with her first foray into Young Adult Fantasy. I’ve been a fan of Carmack’s for years, as her New Adult books are everything I look for when I read NA. Roar, book one in the Stormheart, series is what I’ve come to love about YAF with a strong heroine, magical worlds, and things not what they seem.

The most important thing an author needs to do when writing fantasy is to create a world that the reader can connect with. Carmack does this nicely, bringing the people and dangers of Caelira to life. We live in a world where storms can kill and Carmack takes that a step further in this book, making storms an enemy that must be defeated and the people who can do it powerful leaders in more ways than one. When Aurora is born without the magic she needs to lead and protect her people, she’s forced into an arranged marriage, but when she discovers that magical abilities aren’t as cut and dry as she’s been taught, it changes everything and sets her on an adventure that alters her life.

Aurora is a heroine that I found myself loving as much as I did Katniss or Tris. Though naïve, she’s been taught to trust no one and to keep her emotions in check by her mother, the queen. She discovers an inner strength she didn’t know she had and acts on it, perhaps a bit impulsively, but as a young woman who has decided it’s time to take charge of her own life. A bit reckless for sure, Aurora nonetheless is determined to be the leader her country needs. I loved her spirit, ability to adapt, and her quick wit. But, perhaps it was her capacity for empathy that moved me the most.

The book opens with Aurora’s betrothal to Prince Cassius who, unlike Aurora, has the magic to protect the land of Pavan. Cassius is secretive, manipulative, and powerful, yet Aurora has no choice but to marry him if she wants Pavan protected from the coming storm season. Despite all this, she finds herself attracted to him, hopeful that their marriage can be a true partnership. His betrayal sends her literally into the arms of Locke, a storm hunter that holds the answers to Aurora’s prayers. Moody and a powerful hunter, Locke reluctantly takes Aurora under his wing. As Aurora learns of the world outside of Pavan, she and Locke fight their attraction to each other. Not quite a love triangle and not the insta-love I’ve seen some reviewers suggest, Aurora’s experiences with both Cassius and Locke felt natural to the story, something I’d expect from a young woman’s first experiences with the opposite sex.

Roar is filled with action that plays out in the mind of the reader as easily as it does on page. I loved the imagery of the hunters standing in the eye of the storm, reaching out to touch its magic. When we eventually see someone reach for a Stormheart, the soul of the storm and where it’s magic is centered, it’s gripping. I felt it as surely as if I were standing there myself. Aurora’s emotional reaction to the storms is just as powerful.

I really enjoyed Roar and my only complaint was that it got off to a slow start. I found that it took me awhile to really engage with the characters and I often found excuses to not pick it back up. Then, suddenly I couldn’t put it down, my heart was racing, and I might have shed a tear or two. Carmack surrounds the main cast of characters with a great supporting cast that I would’ve liked to get to know better. And, despite a big reveal, don’t expect all your questions answered. Roar ends in a cliffhanger as it’s book one in a trilogy.

This was the perfect YA debut for one of my all time favorite romance authors. It left me begging for more and I cannot wait to see where they rest of this story goes. You can see my full review on the blog.

For a more in-depth review watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF8xf...

I received an eARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Aurora is the Princess of Pavan and as such she is from a long line of Stormlings. Aurora's family has been able to hold onto their throne because of their ability to defeat storms that attack their kingdom. However, Aurora does not have this power. Aurora's mother, desperate to hide her daughter's deficiencies, has arranged a marriage with another Stormling family. As Aurora learns more about her fiance she begins to dread her marriage and desperate to find another way to protect her people discovers a group of hunters who have skills which allow them defeat the storms. Can Aurora learn the hunters secrets to save her kingdom and herself?

I had big expectations for this book because I am a fan of Carmack's other books but "Roar" just didn't work for me. I found the whole story to be very confusing. I never really understood what exactly the storms were and how they were sentient. The narrative bounced around and I was never quite sure who's point of view I was reading. Plus, the story is inundated with so many characters I found it difficult to keep everyone straight. The story is original and I haven't seen anything similar before but the characters and world building never lived up to the unique concept.

This book was amazing! The world that Cora Carmack has created is the most unique and fascinating one I've read this year.  I just loved the whole storm magic idea, both how they come into being and how the stormlings and storm hunters destroy them. I can't say much more than that without giving away some important plot points, but the world building was what kept me turning the pages late into the night. The writing was also well done.  Even though they have their own words for the storms in this world, you could understand exactly what they were about.  

The characters are also quite amazing.  Aurora, also known as Roar, was a little bit weak and annoying at first. She was a very sheltered princess because of her mother wanting to protect her and protect her secret.  But when she breaks loose from her life she truly comes into her own.  She is not afraid of taking risks when they are needed, and she knows how to take care of herself.  Her attraction to Locke, the storm hunter she runs away with, is also well done.  She is attracted to him but she doesn't let that interfere with her training or her thirst to really learn about her kingdom. Their romance does get pretty hot and steamy towards the end though.

Locke is also a strong character. He is charming and attractive and very protective of Roar, which gets him into trouble sometimes.  I really like how even though he isn't the head of the band of storm hunters, he is their leader when they are fighting the storms.  He is sensitive to everyone's moods and feelings and really works hard to keep the group together. 

The band of hunters is an interesting mix of misfits.  I especially liked Jinx, the Earth witch.  She has some fascinating powers including growing plants when they need to eat.  How cool is that?  I also liked, Duke, who is the oldest and the one that brought the band together and taught them how to hunt.  The rest of the group was were also fiercely loyal to each other and extremely brave when they were fighting the storms.

Prince Cassius was an interesting character.  He at times was devious and conniving, but I also think that he was trying to make things better.  His father and brother are the true villains in this part of the story.  I think there is more to Cassius than we know at this point. 

Although the romance plot line is pretty typical of this genre and the princess running away from a bad marriage is getting a little cliched at this point, the world that Cora Carmack has created overrides all of that.  This is a great read from beginning to end and I can't wait to see what happens next.

"Challenge a tempest, survive it, and you become its master." - The Tale of Lord Finneus Wolfram
Cora Carmack's Roar is churning with intriguing danger and crackling electricity like the storms it seeks to conquer in its pages. The idea of a world so wrought with storms that they must be challenged to be defeated, and that there are humans capable of wielding their power has a great promise for action and magic. And that's exactly what you get as this journey begins.

Aurora comes from a long line of Stormlings, who reign over lands as royalty and offer protection to its citizens. Rora, however, has no magic of her own and must marry a Stormling Prince from another land in order to preserve her family name. And if her secret, her familial shame of being born without magic is discovered before the marriage, all could be lost. A chance meeting changes Rora's story, the very possibility for being the princess that her mother and people have always needed her to be. Can she challenge a storm to gain her own power?

" And what you said earlier, about feeling like you were in the wrong life? I've felt that too. Felt it right up until the moment I decided to stop trying to run from storms and hunt them instead. I know what it looks like when someone finds the life they were meant to have."
This world immediately had me tangled into it's effortless dialogue, beautiful world-building and strained relationships. The storms themselves are mesmerizing in their description, being nearly sentient in their ability to seek out and destroy. Having lived to long in an area that has unpredictable, and at times extreme, weather... I could feel and appreciate the temperament of the different storms meandering through the pages. And all the while, I still felt a greater connection of the tempests with the plot itself. Each incident leads you to dwell on the delicious suspicions that surround their magic and Aurora's magic-less body. The aptly named Rage season exposes the readers to a gambit of emotions, from anger to despair, playfulness to wanting--it is a non-stop thrilling ride through the cities and wildlands of Caelira as Aurora seeks answers and confidence.

"Sometimes she was Aurora. Confident. Clever. Cultured. Sometimes she was Rora. Afraid. Alone. Ashamed. And more and more, she was Roar--bold, brash, and increasingly baffled by the situation in which she found herself."
I particularly enjoyed the multiple POV in this book as more and more interesting characters were introduced, including a stunning villain who wields terrible power and yet we have to wonder what their true motivation is... is their ill-will justified in some odd way? And can anyone stop the oncoming destruction? I feel like everyone has a back story in this world, and it is welcome. The more Roar, the better. 

I cannot wait to see how the rest of Carmack's series unfolds! This first book in the left me wanting more and more. Her practiced hand at building romantic tension shined in the later chapters, reminiscent of some other recent popular YA/NA crossovers (but without heading into NA territory). Highly recommended read for those who love fantasy, adventure and romance. Eagerly waiting for the next chapter.

Well! I'm pleased to report I really enjoyed this book. Not that I thought I wouldn't, but it was different to what I thought. Some of it good, some of it not quite so good.

This was an uncorrected proof copy in digital format so there were no divides within the chapters and that made things a tiny bit confusing, there's a few switches of POV but I kept missing the beginnings and having to go back again once I realised. Other than that they worked well, Though I found I wasn't that interested in what was going on in Pavan, not really. Of course, I am NOW, but unfortunately the book ended and I don't get to find anything else out until book 2...

This book has a sort of love triangle. Sort of, but not quite. I was really torn to start with too! Usually guy number 1 is just an obstacle and I never like him even when I'm meant to but I really felt for Cassius! I'm sure there's more to him than we see and I really felt that he wasn't as bad as he seemed and that given the chance we'd see a better side to him. I'm still holding out for that, he could be useful...

The other side of his triangle is Locke, which was so very odd. Prince Cassius is Cassius Locke because that is the name of his country. Locke is named so because that is where he was born so it was almost like they should be brothers and I found that a little distracting, to be honest. But I got over it quickly.
Locke (the person, not the prince or country) was an interesting character. I think I was expecting a lot from him as he's the love interest and I'm not sure he's done it quite yet. I'm hoping he'll pass the test, but with it coming at the start of book 2 it's likely he'll be a child about it....
I felt their relationship was a little cliche, they were attracted to each other so they argued etc etc. But I did like how Roar dealt with him after the firestorm! Too often that kind of situation is used to passify, instead she responds with "You still did not ask." and it was just fantastic.
Princess Aurora, Rora, Roar. It's true. she had a reason to have all the skills she did, the fighting was a little odd however as there were no women in the military - at least that we saw - but it still felt like she had a little too many. I'm not sure if I picked up on that because so many people complain about this now, or if it's because I felt it was actually a little too easy for her. She also went from really trusting to closed off quickly too, but then I guess there was a reason for that too. Other than that I quite liked her. It was subtle but I think she actually changed quite a bit and I'm looking forward to seeing where this new development takes her next. I kind of hope this is only going to be a duology, but book 2 done well could support a book 3, maybe.

There were a few odd things that went on that didn't quite make sense, things that happened that should have been noticed and weren't, favourite things missing etc that MAYBE were able to be explained away but maybe not. Also Nova's change in attitude seemed quite sudden too but her situation is a little dire so I can forgive her hat I guess.

This sudden new look at the world is really quite fascinating and I can't wait to find out more in book 2! I wonder how well it will go down and how well the people involved will hold their own and I hope book 2 comes out really soon because I need answers!!

The summary is quite comprehensive so I don’t need to explain the story even more. Aurora wants the best for her people, she has been protected all her life by her mother, and she hasn’t had any friends because nobody should know she had no powers. She now discovers another world that her mother probably knew. Aurora asks a lot of questions, about her future husband, the world outside the castle, about hunters and about magic.

I love Aurora, she’s naive at the beginning of the book but she knows how to defend herself and tries to learn all she can about magic. She isn’t afraid to train harshly and doesn’t let go by Locke. I like the way her mind works, I just have a little concern with her character because I like people to communicate between them and admitting the truth at some point. Hopefully this doesn’t spoil the next volume.

Locke is a storm hunter, he had no power and after chasing a storm everything changed. He was raised after the death of his parents by Duke, he taught him to become a storm hunter and now they are part of a hunter group consisting of Bait, Ransom, Jinx and Sly. I love Locke, he tries not to attach himself to Aurora but it is quite difficult for him. He cares and protects the people he loves.

Aurora has a trustworthy friend in the royal palace, Novaya, it’s she who will help Aurora to escape with the hunters. Novaya is a very interesting character, I appreciate her strength of character and I hope that her character will grow in the future.

Cassius is the future husband of Aurora, he hides many things and I don’t know yet what to think of him. I don’t think he’s naughty totally, I feel something good in him but am I right?

In any case one thing is certain, I loved this book, storm hunting is exciting, the characters are very well developed, I really managed to attach myself to them all and I cannot wait to read the second book and see what happens to everyone.

Cora Carmack has managed to write an exciting fantasy novel as I like and especially that we need right now to change our ideas.

Quick word: A book to read absolutely.

This book is fantastic! Just plain fantastic.

I've been meaning to try something by Cora Carmack for years because so many people rave about her New Adult books, but I just never quite got around to it. When I heard that she had a YA Fantasy coming out, I was immediately in. And I am SO glad I jumped onboard because this book was incredibly unique---lots of fantasy uses storm magic, but Carmack managed to come up with something fresh and new with this book. The storms are semi-sentient. And they are vicious. The only thing that keeps humanity alive is the existence of the Stormlings, who have magic themselves and are able fight back, sometimes dispersing the storms and sometimes capturing a stormheart and absorbing some of the storm's magic.

I adored Aurora (AKA Rora, AKA Roar), a princess who is desperate to hold onto her kingdom even though she has no magic herself. She has a fantastic combination of strength and vulnerability that makes her relatable. Her quest for magic is perilous, but she knows that her kingdom can't survive without it---and while she's willing to sacrifice her happiness for her people if she has to, if there's any other solution besides marrying Cas, she's desperate to find it. And then there's Locke, who's spent his whole life avoiding getting close to anyone because of a tragedy in his past. How could I not root for him and Roar to find comfort in each other? (By the way, I worried for a moment toward the beginning of the book that there would be a love triangle with Locke and Cas, but that isn't the case.)

There are some major twists along the way during this first book that made me incredibly excited to find out what's going to happen next. With its unique worldbuilding, action-packed plotting and complex characters, this series absolutely has me hooked!! I give this book 5/5 Stars!

Caelira is a land besieged by powerful storms and people's only hope of survival is to band together in towns protected by Stormlings, powerful magic wielders who are able to keep those storms at bay. As the princess of Pavan and heir to the throne it is Aurora's job to keep her hometown safe but even though she's from one of the most powerful Stormling families she has never been able to use magic against even the weakest storm. The queen has managed to keep Aurora's lack of magic a secret but in order to protect the future of their city she has arranged a marriage for her daughter to a powerful Stormling prince from a neighbouring kingdom. At first Aurora is resigned to the idea of marriage but the more she learns about her future husband the more she fears for her future. When she discovers that there may be a way to earn the magic she needs to protect herself and her city she knows she has to risk everything to follow her dream. If only she can be brave enough to face the storms she might be able to learn to control them.

As a fan of Cora Carmack's new adult romances and a lover of YA fantasy I added Roar to my wish list as soon as I heard about it. I was curious to see how she would do witting such a different type of story and I have to say I was really impressed. I'll admit I was a bit nervous when we were given not one but two serious cases of insta-lust in the early chapters but I was already hooked enough to look past that and I'm very glad I did. While Aurora does have a strong attraction to two very different guys thankfully the whole book doesn't revolve around a love triangle and there is much more going on than meets the eye.

When Aurora, or Roar as she comes to be know as, leaves everything she knows behind to go with the Storm Chasers she quickly starts to come into her own. In some ways she's led a very sheltered upbringing and is naive to the way people live outside her city but she's been trained from a young age to be a queen so she has a lot of knowledge and she's a very fast learner. She's also determined, she doesn't want to fail her queen or her people and she fights hard to be accepted by the Storm Chasers so that they'll teach her how to master the storms. No matter what challenges are thrown at her Roar never gives in and I really admired her spirit.

I also loved the Storm Chasers, they're a diverse group who have been together for a long time and work really well together. They're a well oiled team and some of them aren't too happy about adding a new member but they gradually come to respect Roar as they spend time together. I loved the banter between the whole group and the brotherly bond between Locke and Ransom. I'll tell you right now I'm totally on Team Locke and I'm going to be seriously unhappy if a love triangle forms in the sequel!

Although the attraction between Roar and Locke is pretty instant it takes time for them to open up to each other and become friends let alone anything more than that. There is lots of delicious flirting and they spend a lot of time at loggerheads but the chemistry is there right from the beginning no matter how hard they both try to deny it. Locke is that great kind of hero who is able to put is protective instincts to one side and help the heroine learn how to look after herself, he trusts Roar to hold her own and follow his lead in dangerous situations and allows her the freedom to make mistakes when her life isn't on the line. I think they make a fabulous couple and I'm definitely rooting for them even though I was disappointed that Roar wasn't more honest with him and the rest of the group a little earlier in their journey.

Obviously I love the characters but it was the world building that fascinated me most in this story. The idea of storms being practically alive and of being able to tame them by stealing their heart was totally unique to anything else I've read and the scenes where the Chasers are facing tornados or hurricane winds were incredibly well written. The plot is much more complex than you first think too, there are a lot of hints and I'll admit I guessed a few of the twists before they happened but there were plenty of surprises along the way and I'm definitely curious to see how things progress in the next book. Roar totally lives up to it's stunning cover and I can't wait to spend more time in this world.

This is the first book of Cora's that I have read and I loved it! I fell in love with all the characters and can't wait to see what happens next. I am going to go back to your first book and work my way thru.

Highly recommend!

Roar is the absolutely breathtaking latest release by Cora Carmack and is guaranteed to excite fans of Maria V. Snyder, Kristin Cashore and Sarah J. Maas! Readers will find themselves immersed in a thrilling world of magic, storms and powerful individuals, mingling romance and danger with exhilaration and excitement!

The land of Caelira is ruled by powerful and magical storms, capable of shaping or toppling cities. Aurora is the heir to the Pavan throne and is a member of one of the oldest and most powerful Stormling families, but for all her ancestors’ abilities, Aurora’s own powers are non-existent. Despite being brave, intelligent and having been trained to be the perfect queen, Aurora is missing the magic she’ll need to keep her people safe, leaving her only one option; Aurora will need to marry someone capable of fighting the storms that threaten Pavan. But Aurora’s betrothed is a dark, seemingly cruel man who cannot be trusted, and with the wedding only around the corner, Aurora loathes being manipulated. So when a chance encounter with a storm hunter in a black market that trades in storm magic sees Aurora discover a second option to her seemingly hopeless situation, Aurora decides the best way to avoid her arranged marriage is to obtain magic of her own….even if she’ll need to leave Pavan to do it…..

Having finished Roar, I find myself breathless. And still so lost within this bewitching tale. Cora Carmack so thoroughly drew me into this vivid and powerful world of storms and storm magic that I’m finding it hard to believe Rora and Lockes first tale has come to an end. Roar was everything I love about fantasy and has me completely sucked into the characters’ lives and their stories.

Introducing her readers to a striking and expressive land ruled by dangerous kinds of storms and inhabited by individuals able to tame them known as Stormlings, Cora Carmack really manages to entrance her readers. Everything you can think to love about a well written and well depicted fantasy tale is there; forbidden romance, electric chemistry, excitement, adventure, daring battles, witty humour and banter….it’s all there! Roar is fantasy at its best and I guarantee you’ll find something to love.

Utilizing some very unique and intriguing storm magic, Roar also features a stellar heroine in Rora; Roar, Rora, Aurora….however you wish to think of her in your mind. I think of her as Rora myself. Personally, I felt she was a strong main character and liked the fire we find within her. There are some aspects of life she is inexperienced and innocent too, but I like that she wanted to fight to help her people as well as find a better option to her own personal situation. She took chances and risks and was willing to venture into the unknown. A well balanced main character, I can only imagine where Cora Carmack plans to take Rora in the future!

Roar unfolds in the third person and follows a number of different characters, although Rora’s voice is the most prominent, alongside Locke’s, who is the male lead and Rora’s love interest in the novel. Locke is capable and commanding; a strong male lead who compliments the story and the heroine perfectly. Locke’s voice was enjoyable to follow and I find him very swoon-worthy—a good trait in a fantasy tale. He’s protective and caring while also managing to be confidant and occasionally arrogant and cheeky on occasion.

The romance between Rora and Locke is one of my favourite kinds of romance; slow building but electric with plenty of sexual tension and chemistry. It’s evident both characters are attracted to each other, and I loved watching Cora Carmack develop their relationship as they fought the attraction and feelings that were growing between them. I loved watching them begin to care about each other and fall in love over time. I don’t know where Cora Carmack plans to take the series, but I’m one hundred perfect behind Rora and Locke as a couple!

Vivid and magical in so many ways, Roar was a sensational start to Cora Carmack’s Stormheart series and filled with tangible characters, a mysterious and forward moving storyline and the best kind of forbidden romance, Roar cements itself as one of my favourite reads of 2017 and leaves me absolutely dying for more!

This world will make you a victim every chance it gets. Don’t let it.

Roar is the first installment in Cora Carmack’s Stormheart series. What a ride it was!

The land is filled with all types and ferocity of storms and it’s up to Stormlings to protect their close community of people. Aurora has lived a sheltered life in Pavan preparing for the time when she takes her rightful place as queen. The problem? She holds no magic. And there might be more outside her world than she knows.

Roar is at its heart a coming-of-age story. Aurora is seeking a place to belong and it’s not until her future begins to be designated for her that she follows her own path. Aurora is very clever, and she’s tough, and she has this inner reservoir that’s untapped until her journey begins.

This story starts in a similar vein to other YA dystopians but quickly morphs into something else, something different. There are tears and heartbreak but laughter and friendship and truth as well. Once I started, I didn’t want to put it down. I couldn’t.

There’s always a new challenge plot-wise, but also a new challenge for Aurora personally. Then there’s the side cast with secrets of their own driving them—other motivations and hopes and dreams and fears—that round this story out. It’s a wicked awesome story line that keeps giving and giving. You can feel these storms on the horizon. You can anticipate the chaos produced on all fronts.

This YA stands out. It ends on a cliffhanger so be aware that you’re going to want to get your hands on the next asap. Any lover of YA will find something they can relate with, fear for, or cheer alongside and that leaves this read immensely satisfying.

5 stars!

My recent fantasy obsession led me straight to this gorgeous book, and I was so excited to have the opportunity to read it. I tried not to get my hopes too high. Expectations have a way of dooming you to be disappointed when you let them run away with you. But when I started to flip through the first pages of this story, almost immediately I knew that I had something special in my hands. This tale of scheming royalty, courageous hunters, and the contest for power and survival will not be easily forgotten.

I was swept away to the fascinating Pavan Kingdom, where Aurora's powerful Stormling family rules and protects from the terrifying deadly storms that plague them. Storms that hold magic, and have the power to infect the mind, sending its stunned captors to their doom.

A Stormling Kingdom is seen as the only hope for survival in this brutal land. Stormling magic is passed along the rulers' bloodlines, it dispels the storms with the aid of Stormhearts. These are the stones and gems that amplify their power, or give them affinities. The more Stormhearts that are collected through the generations, the stronger their power is that they wield.

Rora is next in line to inherit the crown, and at eighteen, her time in seclusion has come to an end. For years, she and her mother, Queen Aphra have kept an alarming secret that threatens to tear their safety apart at its seams. Rora holds no magic, and unless she marries immediately, there will be no one to take over her mother's storm duties when she is succeeded.

She may have been young and sheltered, but that didn't mean she was unintelligent. She spent her childhood studying, training, and preparing herself to be a strong and self-reliant woman. It took great courage to face her uncertain future for her family and her people. Because no one was to be trusted with her secret, her only friends were her books for many years. She yearned for a grand adventure her whole life, but her upcoming nuptials would soon kill that dream stone dead. At least, that's what she thought.

After accidentally stumbling upon a black market filled with possibilities she wasn't prepared for, she hatches a daring plan to shake off the chains of matrimony and take the power back that had been lost to her for so long.

Locke is a nineteen year-old hunter, and at first very much against her joining them. She's inexperienced and naive to the dangers that she'd be up against, and he doesn't want her death on his hands. Tragic events from his past have made him a very protective person, and he knows this girl has trouble written all over her. He just doesn't know the depths of the mysteries that she conceals.

With any good fantasy book, you need exceptional world building, and an original plot. This book had those in spades. This world BLEW ME AWAY with it's uniqueness and violent beauty. The varied storms that could level an entire population in a heartbeat could also provide incredible power. The storm hunters that Rora encountered and joined were a very detailed, well developed group of secondary characters. Each with fascinating backstories and engaging personalities. It was action packed, with more than one chilling adversary pitting themselves up against the princess and her new friends.

The desire between these two provided just the right amount of kindling for this YA romance. Not too heavy, but it was smoldering throughout with angst and passion that you could really feel.

If you're looking for something different than anything you've read before, something that will keep you guessing, and completely addicted...look no further. This book had it all. In fact, my only complaint is that I now must wait in desperation for an undisclosed time until the next in the series. No news to speak of on when we can expect more. But you'd better believe I'll be first in line to take another exhilarating trip to the enchanting world of Caelira.

Roar was my first Cora Cormack read and I was blow away by her imagination with this fantasy read. It left me ready for, what I hope, turns into many more installments in this amazing series.
Aurora is our young royal heroine who, at just 18, is thrust into an arranged marriage with another royal family in the hopes that the storms that wreak havoc on their lands with be controllable. However, once she finds her betrothed in a situation that leaves her questioning his intentions she makes a decision that sends her, and by extension the reader, on a journey of emotion, self discovery and adventure. And for us romance fans, there is plenty of that too!
Fantasy novels are not usually my go to but I do enjoy them. And when I find a good one I’m always ready for more as soon as it’s done. Even though I wouldn’t call the ending a cliffhanger, it definitely left you wanting more and I can say that I am truly ready for more myself!
*Arc generously provided for honest review

Aurora lives in a world where towns are decimated by weather storms/beasts/creatures. She is the princess and set to protect her country, but she has never shown an affinity for magical powers or ability to control the storms. Rora is kept apart from others and is rushed into a marriage, to hide the fact that she doesn't have magic. Before the marriage goes through, she finds that her betrothed is using her and that she may be able to take some power for herself. Rora runs away and joins a band of storm hunters, where she becomes Roar, a young woman who will take her own power.

I was on the fence about this book, I wasn't a fan of the connections between romantic relationships and violence. However, there were several scenes and instances that were brilliant! The first scene when Aurora and her dress are described was amazing. The concept of Aurora and the stormhearts is fascinating. I am totally open to reading the next book in the series, though much of it didn't work for me....like all of the romance, I didn't feel pulled or compelled by any of the love interests.

This is a brand new young adult fantasy novel by an author that's new to me and after reading this I can definitely say that I'm a huge new fan of hers for sure! This one ends on a bit of a cliffhanger so I'm dying to find out what's going to happen next!

Roar is a character that I felt an instant connection with and I really enjoyed watching her grow tremendously as this story progressed. Locke isn't so bad himself and i liked him from the moment he and Roar first crossed paths. There are some pretty sinister forces at work here and more than one enemy is going to put Roar's strength and determination to the test. Luckily, she has a pretty amazing crew of friends so she won't be alone.

I really can't wait for the next book in this amazingly well written series and hope to see much more of the supporting characters as well. I highly recommend reading this to anyone and everyone and I look forward to much more from this author in the future.

4-4.5 stars

I have to admit that I haven't read the blurb but when I saw this pretty cover I wanted to read it so bad!Once I start it, I couldn't put it down.I was so entranced by the fantasy world Cora Carmack created!I love the story and the plot. I was surprised
by the direction that the story has gone ,keeping my interest all the time.

I fell in love with Aurora,she is a fantastic heroine and her story is simply unique,I have never read anything like this.There is chemistry between the characters,and the characters are so well developed that you can't stop yourself from loving them!

If you are looking for an original story ,in an interesting world and with a strong heroine this is perfect for you!

I, like so many, have been over eager to get my hands on this book, I am honestly still in a bit of disbelief that I was given the chance to review it early. Sufficed to say I was not disappointed, Roar was everything I had hoped it would be.

Cora's world building is elegant and carefully crafted. This is the type of world that you want to see on the big screen so you can fully take in the grandeur of it. It is a world that while fantasy leans to a dystopian look in my mind. We have the classic fantasy elements of an almost renaissance time period (oh and hey there may be a bit of steampunk thrown in there) but the idea of these storms that ravage the kingdoms, towns, and wild lands must create a bit of a silent deserted feel as well. A reader might look at that and thing it would be overwhelming but Cora blends these elements beautifully so that instead of this disjointed mashup you get a cinematic feel to the world that these characters inhabit.

Speaking of the characters, where does one even begin, well with our heroine of course:

Aurora/Rora/Roar, she is everyone of those those names rolled into a kick ass heroine who is fighting for her own destiny instead of accepting one that will keep her trapped in a world of secrets, lies, and deceit. Rora has spent her life trying to live up to the expectations of others while her heart and mind have cried for freedom and adventure. To protect her family and kingdom she has resigned herself to continuing that lonely path, hoping that she can find some joy in knowing that she is giving her 'freedom' to protect her home. Having been kept apart from building true relationships with people so that her secrets can remain safe her first encounters with her betrothed Prince Cassius turn sweet and romantic rather quickly and honestly you are going to fall for him too...but don't get too attached, sigh. It isn't long until Rora's fairytale falls apart and she discovers not one shocking truth but many, leading her to know that the only way she will ever be able to be happy, to be free, to be able to protect her home and her family is to go in search of her own power...she must step outside the safety of her kingdom, she must become Roar!

I loved how driven Roar is, how she doesn't back down from a fight, and proves to others over and over again that she is worthy of being more than a pampered princess in an ivory tower. She reminded me a lot of Scarlet from A.C. Gaughen's Scarlet series, which is also a series that I LOVED. These are both strong heroines, who refuse to give up, refuse to backdown when it comes to protecting the ones they love and those that rely on them. No doubt Roar (and Scarlet) has her faults, she is more than bit impetuous, overly untrusting, and perhaps a bit starved for attention, but all of these traits as well as her spirit, her drive, her heart build together to make a heroine we can all be proud of and find not only a bit of kinship in but someone who can be looked up to as a female character.

Prince Cassius, this was probably my biggest challenge in the book and no it is not because he was more than a bit controlling, no...it was because I grew to like him very quickly and then Cora yelled 'PLOT TWIST' and the nice little plan I had laid out in my head fell to ash at my feet very quickly. I honestly because concerned that we were headed down one of my most dreaded trope paths, the love-triangle but no worries that didn't happen, what did happen is that Prince Cassius kind of just becomes background noise. I wanted and still want so much more from him. I am assuming form the bits and pieces that we see of him through the remainder of the book that he is still going to play a large part in the entire story and I so hope we don't end up back with me worried about a love triangle again but I don't want him to just disappear either. In fact I had a brilliant idea this morning that maybe he and Roar's friend Nova could....well, anyway that gets into a bit of Stockholm Syndrome and I don't know how well that plays out in YA, but really Cora, think on that. Haha

Roar's *band of Merry 'Men'*

I loved this group of characters, so diverse in personalities and backgrounds. Their bonds are solid and their faith in one another strong. I really hope that we won't see a dissolution of this team anytime soon. I know that there are some among them who's faith may be wavering, but I think that person can be brought around.

I love the father figure in Duke, the joker in Bait, the rock that is Ransom, the friendship to be found in Jinx, the quiet watchfulness of Sly, and the strength of Locke.

I am more than pleased with the relationships that Roar builds with each of these characters in particular with Jinx and Locke. I love watching the friendship between her and Jinx unfold, love seeing two strong female leads come together with trust (though there are still secrets) and faith in one another instead of petty or cruel behavior which we sadly see in my opinion too often in Y.A.s.

Locke, well of course I loved him. He carries the weight of the world on his shoulder such like Roar. He is strong of body, heart, and mind. He is faithful, dependable, giving, caring, a task master but not a brute. He will push each person to find their personal best but he pushes himself twice as hard. He may come across as controlling, but he has the lives of his team, his family, in his hands and he will do anything to protect them and their way of life. He does not give Roar an easy time just because he has romantic feelings toward her, perhaps he actually pushes her harder because he doesn't know what to do with the feelings, but Roar does not back down, they both give as good as they get and I love that about their relationship. I also love that in the hard world of their lives they find the time to break away and find joy in being silly together. They may bond over their initial frustration with each other but they find more together in the moments of quiet and silliness that Cora gives us. It was a pleasure to watch them grow and develop their relationship into what they have at the end of he book. I won't say that there was an insta-love there, definitely insta-attraction, but the final relationship is built over time and through many trials and moments of happiness.

I don't think as a reader you will be surprised by several of the occurrences in the plot. Cora leaves a trail of little clues though out, but this book will most definitely keep you on the edge of your seat and turning pages. I finished it in one sitting because I simply couldn't put it down, much to my family's chagrin. The plot in Roar is so layered that everytime you peel one layer back you are hit with another so each time a 'surprise' is revealed it is easy to move through it and straight into the next adventure. You own't be shocked, you will simply just not be ready to ever have the story end.

I am so ready for book two, while you aren't left with a cliff hanger that will have you screeching in rage we are left with so much more to come, so many adventures to be had, battles to be fought, secrets to be uncovered, and relationships to be fulfilled. (Ahem, Cassius and Nova, Locke and Roar, Ransom and Jinx, the Queen and Duke....I know I am stretching her but Bait and Sly. *lifts eyebrow and smiles giddily at Cora's picture*

If you are a fan of YA, a fan of Fantasy, just a fan of a darn good book get this one in your hands and settle in for an amazing adventure. I am going to go do a re-read now and I never do re-reads, that's how much I loved this book!

This book was a great read and I loved the beautiful storm descriptions we get from the author. She takes you right into the heart of the storms and weaves this magical story about a heroine who is hiding that she even though a part of a magical history of people with magic when she is tested she found lacking in that department. Our heroine discovers that what she always knew about storms and their treasures are not all true.

In this world their is storm magic that some possess they can manipulate power of various storms, hurricanes, dust storms, thunderstorms etc. If these characters which are referred to as “stormlings” are powerful they can dispel storms and even take the storms heart and those are turned into gemstones. With these stones the royalty set themselves apart from those without magic. Here is where our princess finds that their are those who are called storm hunters who attempt to contain the magic of the storms and with dreams of gaining the heart of the storm. I would call them treasure hunters.

Of course we have a triangle romance as well where our princess has to pick the best political match for what will help her keep her secret. She ends up like most ya fanatasy she has a prince and of course someone below her station and that the storm hunter. Throughout the book our princess struggles with her secret, the truths she discovers, and what is best for the world. This is a great start to a unique story and if you pick it up ya won’t be let down.

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Roar was Cora Carmack’s first fantasy novel, and I was actually pretty surprised by how much I enjoyed it. However, it does have A LOT of typical YA fantasy tropes, so if you don’t like stuff like that then I’d say stay away. I enjoyed the tropes though. Sometimes if they’re plotted well and have an interesting world/background it makes up for it all.

This book follows a princess who’s supposed to have storm powers, but for some reason she wasn’t born with them (or so she thinks). Aurora, the main character, is to be married to a strong storm-powered family. One night though, she stumbles across a secret black market of sorts and realizes there’s a lot more to storm magic than she thought, and she didn’t have to be born with magic to use it. So she sets off with a band of people, and the ever-stubborn Locke, to discover her true power.

Like I said, this book has its typical YA tropes – 1) girl discovering that she has unique powers, 2) falling for the person you constantly argue with (angsty romance), 3) bad kingdom takes over good kingdom, etc. But, the world that the author created was so interesting for me that I didn’t care that they were recycled tropes. Basically, this world revolves all around storms. Storms attack people – twisters, thunderstorms, snowstorms, etc – they’re alive and people called “Stormlings” fight them because they are born with magic to fight them. Aurora is supposed to have powers but doesn’t, though she later finds out her power is a rare one. I just found the whole idea of storms attacking people so interesting. We find out a bit more about why and how – and again, that intrigued me. I won’t spoil it though!

Everyone knows I hate insta-love, and for once for a debut fantasy novel, I didn’t get that. Aurora & Locke’s romance develops as the book moves along and I absolutely loved them together. Of course, I did feel Locke was a bit too overprotective at times but I like the way they interact with each other. It’s adorable. I do wish though it didn’t officially happen this book, and maybe they perhaps got together in book two. I always get suspicious of romances that happen in the first book because so many authors change it up nowadays and it’s scary (examples – Sarah J Maas, Elly Blake….). However it was just a refresher to see a non-insta love for a debut sort of book.

I only have a couple of complaints — but they’re mediocre ones that only made me take off one star. The rest of the book was really awesome. One is probably due to the e-ARC format and the fact things haven’t been edited yet but I often couldn’t tell the difference between changing point of views. There was no break or anything so I was confused a lot and had to re-read. My second complaint was the fact not all that much happened in the book? I understand though that it’s the first in the series and it’s a refresher sometimes when not a lot happens in book one, but I felt like this one lacked some action. It still kept me intrigued because I honestly love the idea behind the world. And lastly I do wish I got to learn more about the side characters. They were sort of just there and we didn’t really get to know them all that much, only pretty much Aurora, Locke and Cas.

The first novel worked perfectly well to build a world and still leave us curious enough for more. I feel like it could have had more action and better pacing but I really think the word building makes up for this book. Fans of Elise Kova’s Air Awakens will enjoy this, as this book reminded me a lot of that series. If you’re looking for a fresh new fantasy I would highly recommend Roar! I look forwards to the sequels.