DNF at 45%

I feel pretty bad for putting this arc down. Look at that cover! That premise! It's not something I encounter that much. However, those were not enough for me to keep going. The romance aspect of this book ruined the whole thing for me. Every chapter, there seems to be a paragraph that is dedicated for our characters to lust over at each other. I mean, I GET IT, you guys are attracted to each other. This is undeniably an insta-love and not something that I can get over with, sadly.

I would definitely read more from Lindsey Duga, I really like her writing plus if she can come up with a world like this, I'm sure there are more amazing stuff she can write in the future and I'm excited!

A 1929 setting blended with mobsters, speakeasies, monsters and mythology. If that doesn't interest you then I don't know what to tell you! This was an unbelievably great read for me! I enjoyed the world, shipped the characters and lived for the drama.

This book follows Colt who is an agent for the Bureau of Investigation. He is tasked with taking down the lost siren, he expects to find a cruel monster, however he meets a young girl working in a speakeasy. Colt is a semi-naive character that quickly learns the truth about his world and himself. Eris is sassy siren who doesn't hold back. Both have some issues that hold them back, but together they storm the world.

I was invested in the characters, invested in the world and couldn't stop reading this beauty! I would highly recommend this book to many others to read. It was well-written, well paced and kept me intrigued.

This is not your typical fantasy, so be ready for a fun ride!

Review can also be found on *Milky Way of Books*

Paranormal creatures in the 1920s! Now this was something I loved to read! Lindsey Duga knows how to create a unique blend of characters and deliver a complete story in one go! I also enjoyed the dual POV od Eris and Colt as they navigated the secrets of the paranormal society, smuggling and sirens, agents and action!

If you want something unique and quick to read this book is for you!

Absolutely amazing book. One of the best I read in 2020. The story was unique and the world-building was perfect.

Let's start with this - Eris is a siren who sings in a speakeasy in the 1920s. How amazing is that? Seriously!

This is the story of Eris, who knows people do whatever she says, but she doesn't know why. Then there's Colt, who is a monster hunter who works for the BOI (Bureau of Investigation). The BOI has been looking for the last siren for years.

One night, at the speakeasy, one word gives her away. Colt, immune to the call of a siren, is sent to find her. Being the last siren, and incredibly powerful, she is now wanted by different groups and a cat and mouse game occurs as Eris tries to find answers to her many questions of her past.

This was such a fun read! I'm so sad that it took me so long to read it, because it's now one of my favorites. Mind you, there are a lot of books that are my favorites. There wasn't a moment of boredom in this plot. I loved both Colt and Eris so much. Colt is a brooding monster hunter and Eris a too sweet for her own good. The writing was easy to understand but not too simplistic.

I realize I've read a lot of five stars lately, but I'm not complaining. This one is another five stars from me.

*I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

After only having mediocre feelings about another book by this author, I was hesitant to request this one. But it just sounded so interesting, and I'm really glad that I gave it a chance--it was very good! Mobsters, monsters, prohibition, speakeasies, and smuggling in the 1920s sounds kind of strange, but it actually worked. Even though this book obviously is obviously sci-fi/fantasy/whatever, it somehow fit together in a way that made it believable. Like, sure, why couldn't there have been smuggling of monster parts used to turn people into human-monster hybrids? Why not?

I really liked main characters, Eris (18) and Colt (19). They made each other stronger and better, complementing each other well. Even separately, they were overall good people despite their flaws and mistakes. Supporting and minor characters were generally believable, as well. This may sounds strange, but one part that really stuck out to me was when Sister Adaline admitted her struggle in forgiving Eris. I found it . . . refreshingly real and true and human.

Speaking of refreshing, it's always nice to read a standalone book sometimes instead of always having to wait for a sequel. The book ended in a good place, and I liked it.

Note: Some swearing.

The story follows Colt Clemmons, an agent whose job is to hunt mobsters and monsters. Yes, monsters! Its 1920 and through a dispute, the long lost siren is found. Her voice while singing can capture the attention of the audience like no other. It can be rightfully termed as ‘extra-ordinary’ and ‘hypnotic’.

Despite all these, Colt has never been affected remotely but you can never be too sure of anything in a job such as this. Working in a specialized division, he has been through all sorts of crazies.

However, this felt different. Colt Clemmons knows about monsters and their working and this siren seem to have a different story. And inevitably gets draws to her. 

What happens when Colt is ambushed and all of a sudden everything is spiraling out of hand. 

Can Colt trust a monster, who is everything that he has been taught against off? Read and find out.

Roaring was an amazing book. The opening scene, itself was glorious. As a reader, I felt the 1920’s jazz and this era’s vibe and classic styles. The writing style is immensely captivating and I was completely living in the story. It was vibrant and atmospheric. A whirlpool of adventure and passion. As the story progresses there is a fast-paced escapade that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Honestly, I enjoyed every bit of this book, the whole plot, the characters, and engaging narration everything is spot on!

I was lucky enough to be given a free advanced readers copy from Net Galley to review. This books was not what I expected, but in the best way. I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting myself into, but I’m so glad I was able to read this book. I enjoyed it immensely.

My favorite part of this book was learning about all the magical creatures and how they became so. They are almost all based on mythology, which is something I very much love. But it is also quite scientific. The book is set in the roaring 20’s, and the process of how these creatures are created actually felt like it could really happen. The process felt really believable, and I felt like setting it during this time was a really good choice. The author has a really good grasp of this time period, and everything felt pretty historically accurate, which I appreciated.

One thing I will say that did hinder my experience a little bit, is that the writing is not fantastic. The reveals are a little cheesy, and you can kinda see what’s coming. There were some that did honestly surprise me, but some I could see a mile away. The romance also felt like it happened a little too quickly. Don’t get me wrong, I am there for it and I loved a lot of the scene between our main couple. But there is this sense of only really knowing each other for about a week, and then they’re madly in love. I did appreciate that a side character did call them out on it at one point, so I liked that the author was aware of the quick timeline she created. However, with all this said, I’m still really connected to these characters and was invested in what happened to them.

There are some things about this book and the writing that is not perfect. But I really did enjoy my time reading, and I can see myself recommending this to a good amount of people. Overall, a good experience and I’m really glad I got to read this.

This book is excellent. The premise alone is intriguing and the world building hits all my happy buttons!
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So I'd say this is a good read for lovers of YA Fantasy who like some romance mixed in too. Also enjoyed the roaring 20s aspect!

Roaring is like Ella Enchanted meets Shatter Me meets most all supernatural creatures that you could think of set in the 1920s.

I had read Glow of the Fireflies last year and fell in love with Lindsey’s writing and world building, so it was a no brainer that I wanted to read Roaring!

I’ll be honest, I’m not one who reads historical fiction books because it’s just not the genre that speaks spot me, but I do have a soft spot in my heart for the 20s for some reason, and reading this book transported me back to that era with the flapper dresses, weapons, language/behavior, and the description of the settings! Yet, the story felt fresh without making me think of it as a story that belongs in an old worn out history book.

Eris is a young girl who works speakeasy as a singer and bartender. She doesn’t speak because she knows that her voice takes a hold of people and gives her the power to make them do as she pleases. She’s only spoken a handful of times in the history of her memory (since she can’t remember much of her childhood) until one night when a group of young guys tries to shot the bartender that helped raise her.

Well the BOI (a government group that hunts down monsters), is able to find the lost siren and send Colt to collect Eris before she can “cause harm” to society.

Colt is expecting Eris to be seductive and cunning given that she’s a siren but what he doesn’t expect to find is this quiet girl trying to lay low and avoid using her powers at all cost. He has this struggle of following his boss’s orders to bring her in and trusting his gut once he starts to realize that she means no harm and just wants to be free from hiding.

Both Eris and Colt had a rough life growing up in orphanages just to be taken by scientists to be turned into things that they hate about themselves. They always feel like they can never be themselves in fear of their lives, and throughout the story they learn more about their becomings and the reasons behind it.

As they travel back to HQ in DC, secrets are unraveled about the upbringing of newly created monsters, and Eris is a person of interest of several people making her and Colt’s journey back to the capital difficult causing several detours along the way.

In their journey, they see that there is more than the black and white that many want to believe the world to be. They have to deal with parts of their pasts that they would rather stay buried, but they relive those moments to not only move forward in trying to solve this complex puzzle but for the blooming relationship that is growing with each plot twists!

Pros:
—Great Rom developlement
& bond between the characters
—The Premise was very ineresting & well executed
—The writing was pretty good overall

Cons:
—The story/plot got a little repetitive

I think my friends should read this book?:
—I would recommend this to friends that enjoy the genre.

I enjoyed reading this book, and really enjoyed the complete submersion into the 1920s. I thought that the world building was very good in this one. I enjoyed the fantasy but set in the real world, I wanted to live in this world.

But, I absolutely did not like the love story in this. Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite troupes, but this was rushed, and didn't make sense sometimes, and felt a little jumpy. I lost interest in the relationship which is unfortunate because it was a driving force of the book.

I love love the '20s! It is the perfect time period and I would go back to it if I could! So I was so excited to find a book that was set in the 1920s! This book was full of everything that you expect from the time period speakeasies and mobsters included.

What I loved even more about this book is the edition of mythical creatures - a lot of them! It worked really well together with the theme and the author seamlessly created one fluid story. I also love the conflicting POVs in this book that give it the perfect feel!

I can’t tell you enough how much I loved this book! I enjoyed seeing both sides of the story by The Siren and The Agent. I also love all the 1920s vibes and slang that Duga uses. Duga gives readers very detailed descriptions of the monsters so when you are reading the story, you can actually picture them in your head. I definitely recommend this book! If you love historical fiction, monsters, and all the 1920 vibes then this is the book for you! Thank you so much to @entangledteen @favouritepagesclub and @linzduga for letting me be apart of the this tour and for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

3.75/5 stars

This book is such a fun, unique, and romantic read! I really enjoyed reading it!

It’s 1929 - the age of speakeasies, crime lords, and… monsters.

Eris has been told her whole life she must never speak. For her words have a sort of magic, can make anyone do anything. Thus, she spends her days waitressing and singing in The Blind Dragon, a speakeasy owned by the woman who saved her when she was little and hid her away from those wanting to use her for her power. But no matter what, she must not speak.

Colt Clemmons is a special agent for the BOI - specifically, for the SOCD: Special Organized Crime Division. By that, they mean they hunt monsters. Because monsters are real: manticores, vampires, basilisks, gorgons, werewolves… even sirens. The SOCD has been hunting for the lost siren, and they finally found her. Colt, put on the job immediately, has trained all his life for this hunt, but what he discovers is not the evil monster he anticipates. To what lengths will he go to obey his orders? And at what cost?


SOOO I enjoyed reading this book a lot!! I’m not sure what I was expecting, exactly, but this book is thrilling, romantic, and unique. I loved the combination of 1920s glamour and crime with the idea that monsters are real and created with monster parts. It’s a super interesting take on history and monsters, one I thought Duga executed really well; the elements of crime and monsters are interconnected so that the actual existence of monsters in the 1920s doesn’t seem so bizarre. The concept is so unique and took the story to the next level.

I also felt connected to the characters, Eris and Colt, from the beginning, and I love their dynamic together. It is clear they were meant to meet each other; they show each other forgiveness and worth, and I really loved that. The goodness in Eris lights up the darkness in Colt, and Colt’s experience in darkness helps Eris stay in the light. It’s a really beautiful relationship actually, and they have some really sweet moments in the novel.

Personally, it bothered me a little how God and religion is treated in this book, which affects the romance as well. Eris believes in the existence of God and mentions that a couple of times, but she obviously doesn’t really care that much. Colt actively denies God, and if Eris says something like, “Thank God,” Colt would make a point of saying, “God has nothing to do with this,” or “Don’t bring God into this,” or something to that effect. At one point, they stay at a church, so God is obviously brought a few times in those scenes as well. But it rubbed me the wrong way whenever He was brought up, as if Duga was pushing some sort of agenda (though if she was, it wasn’t super clear). Again, I appreciated Colt and Eris’s relationship, how they fit together well in their respective walks of life, but it was clear they needed each other to feel as if they earned redemption, and often pointed out when they thought things were sins yet embraced them (e.g. when they kissed pretty… steamily, they kept referring to it as sin and that they didn’t care). It wasn’t the things they did that bothered me (I love Jesus but I don’t think kissing passionately is a sin 😂, and I can read books with characters who don’t believe in God, because that’s the reality of the world), it was how they were addressed; every time, there was always something said about sin or God or something, as if the author believes some would consider it a sin and wanted to bring awareness to it?? I’m not sure if I’m explaining this well, but the constant bringing it up felt blatant, like Duga was trying to push some sort of agenda about God, maybe that His so-called “rules” and “sins” are not real and that those shouldn’t be a judge on right and wrong… except it wasn’t thought-provoking, it just rubbed me the wrong way sometimes. Anyways, at this point I’m just rambling, so I need to move on 😂 But that was my main (and really only) problem with this book; it gave me icky vibes haha. I just wanted to be upfront that this was something that bothered me a little while reading.

Other than that, I really did enjoy this book. The plot is quick and dramatic - the characters are constantly testing allegiances and trying not to get caught. The romance is slow-burn and sweet (except that they can’t kiss without their tongues down each other’s throats, but whateva), and I really enjoyed the take on monsters and learning how the monsters of mythology and stories exist in the world of humans in 1920s America.

I think if you’ve read fewer YA books, you may enjoy this one even more than I did, because tone-wise it felt pretty similar to a lot of other YA books out there. However, I still enjoyed it, and I recommend it to readers looking for a unique and fun tale about a siren and a monster hunter against the world.



HUGE thanks to the Favorite Pages Book Club (@favoritepagesclub) over on Instagram for providing me with an advanced copy of Roaring in exchange for an honest review! Today was my posting day for the tour, so you can check that out on my bookstagram @ashton_reads! As always, have a good day, lovely readers :))

My Rating : 4🌟
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Kindle/ Netgalley/ August2020
#mabookyardchallengeAug20 #ARCaugust
#advancedaugreadathon
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Thank you @favouritepagesclub and Netgalley for the review copy, which lets me give you my unbiased opinion.
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This book follows out two main characters: Soft-spoken, heart of a gold, the most powerful monster alive aka Siren, Elis; and confident, kick ass agent, protective, one hell of a dragon, Colt. It's an enemies to lovers trope romance set in the historical America of 1929, with lots of gang wars, shootings, running and saving people.
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First, I absolutely loved the setting of the story. When I read the blurb and read about Siren, I immediately thought about pirates, sea creatures and deep ocean mysteries. But this book surprised me with a minimalist settings and it's character diversity (I'm talking in terms of the creature counts!). I loved how the book started out with character personalities being set with mundane scenes and a hint of mystery in the air to create curiosity. I was sucked into the world of uncertainty and fear of Elis, and the world of cut-throat decisions and death of Colt.
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Second, I absolutely loved the main characters Elis and Colt, and the side Characters tha mt made the story so much better. Both of them start off on a wrong foot, but slowly found their bearings and realize what they know might not be what they seek. It was a different thing to have a lot of paranormal creatures introduced as a part of the organization Colt worked for, and it created an air for mystery and huge consequences.
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Now coming to the plot and pacing, I feel like Stanley aka the best friend one could ever ask for, got an amazing twist with his character and I really liked how he was portrayed. I loved the character arc Colt got wrt the situation he was dealing with and how Elis got to explore and gain back her confidence when those she loved was at stake. At times, it felt like the pacing was off and the language spoken by the characters felt present day influenced. I have no idea how 1920's slang worked, but if I hadn't seen the year in the blurb, I wouldn't have guessed too. I also wanted to know more about the organization and the monsters working for it, or atleast some kind of explainations for them mentioned. It was confusing when you just read 'Oh he is a Basilisk and he can kill you by staring'. How and why? Maybe it's just my curious part of the brain, but I wanted more info! The way this book was wrapped up was wholesome and even though it left few questions to be answered, I wasn't bothered by it.
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Overall, this book had a lot of things I loved, amazing characters, interesting story, really good character arcs, amazing settings, paranormal creatures, enemies to lovers, and a very sweet ending!!

I went into Roaring with no expectations. I had not heard much about it, positive or negative, and requested in on a whim. Filled with action, romance, and fantastical elements, I was delighted to find Roaring to be extremely enjoyable and easy to read.

In this story, we are introduced to the main characters, Eris, the siren, and Colt, the agent, and they are immediately endearing. Eris is powerful but kind. Despite having the power to control others, she feels remorseful if she uses her power even for good. Throughout the story, we can see her inner struggle as she debates whether or not her power makes her a monster. Colt must go through a similar struggle but must unlearn everything he has been taught his whole life if he is to believe she is truly good. The romance between Eris and Colt was adorable! As they learn to accept themselves and each other, a super sweet romance develops. As I read, I could not help but root for them to admit their feelings.. Beyond that, they clearly respected each other and saw beyond the labels others put on them.

I found the world-building to be unique and compelling. Monsters and monster hunters in 1920s New York? I had never heard of anything like it before! The fact that the monsters were not common knowledge to society surprised me. For some reason, I thought it would be. It made me think of how monsters are secretly ingrained into society in the Percy Jackson series. Additionally, I thought the use of 1920s terms and slang (there is a glossary of them at the beginning of the book) was a nice touch. It helped to consistently immerse me into the setting and remind me of the time period.

I have no doubt that fans of YA fantasy/romance will love this book!

I loved that this book was set in the 1920’s, and it was full of all the things that make that time period seem glamorous: speakeasies, mobsters, and romance. And it had lots of mythical creatures. At first, I was unsure how about how the roaring twenties theme would work with the fantasy element, but the author seamlessly weaved the two together and created a magical story.

I like how the book alternates between the siren’s viewpoint and Colt’s viewpoint. Both are fully-developed, relatable characters, and I quickly found myself pulled into their story and rooting for them. I also liked the mystery surrounding both Colt’s and Eris’s past. It gave the story a bit of a noir film vibe.

Roaring by Lindsey Duga is a fantasy set in the early 90s. The story revolves around Colt Clemmons, an agent in a specialized division within the Bureau of Investigation. He is trained to catch a hold of snarkiest monsters. However, his life turns upside down when he is met with the last siren left in the world. I won't give away too much about the Siren because that's for you to read and find out! *chuckles*

The plot was really diverse and yet very gripping. It was quite charming on it’s own and did not have to depend on characters or any other elements to shine. I really was not expecting it to be one of those plot which would always keep me on my toes. But, I was proved wrong! The plot was extraordinary! Every twist and turn was unexpected! I don't have enough words to express how much I LOVED THE PLOT!

The characters were quite interesting as well. I liked the character developments throughout. It was quite smooth and well paced as well. Since I don't wish to give away spoilers, I will not go into details about the characters. But trust me, the character are well portrayed and will leave an impact on you. Honestly, I still cannot say goodbye to them.

The writing style of Lindsey Duga really surprised me! I mean I did not have much high expectations as usually many cannot really pull off the whole fantasy genre. But, I was proved wrong! I really admire her writing! And I can’t wait to see more growth in her writing style now! Also, can't wait to read her old works as well!!

“Eris, babe, you’s got a voice as rich and smooth as a glass o’ whiskey.’ I smile and dip my head in thanks, not speaking. Not ever saying a word.”

Roaring is perfect for historical fantasy lovers who like a little 1920’s gangster style combined with a Sirens song! Colt hunts monsters and Eris is a Siren in hiding at a Speakeasy, when Colt discovers her, he thinks she’s just another monster to hunt but soon the sparks are flying.

Lindsey combines multiple genres into a really unique concept that incorporate mystery, suspense, monsters and romance. Mob bosses creating monsters out of humans, hunters out to capture them and well, you know, hunter falls in love with monster and vice versa but it isn’t without some deception and angst first. My favorite enemies to lover’s romance trope is in high gear and the world building is fantastic. I enjoyed the dual narrative, it gives me great insight in to the characters and the twenties slang is pretty cool, my favorites: ‘Duck Soup’ meaning easy as pie, dizzy with the dame meaning in love and iron my shoelaces for when you need to head off to the bathroom! Great plot and fabulous characters with secrets to hide made this a refreshingly unique story that I really enjoyed.

My thanks to Entangled Publishing and author Lindsey Duga for providing me a DRC in exchange for my review.