Book Review | Roar

Roar (Stormheart #1) by Cora Carmack

Hardcover, 380 pages

Published June 13th 2017

5/5 STARS SOOOO HARD OMG!!!

ASDGOEPRNRKGJAEGA:REGOAEWHATISLIFE?!?!

What kind of wrapping paper do you think Cora Carmack prefers?

Gold and white stripes … or funky cats?
because…

I AM GIFT WRAPPING MY SOUL AND SENDING IT TO HER AS PAYMENT for this beautiful boooooook OMG!!

I.
Am.
Wrecked.

I STAYED UP LITERALLY ALLL FRICKING NIGHT!!! Like I have not gone to sleep … and it is 8:30am now … so … I will not be sleeping … again … and IT WAS WORTH IT ❤

I see spots and I don’t think they are real?! My eyes are rebelling.

BUT why do I have to wait for things?! I need book 2 now though … the universe owes me AT LEAST THIS!!!!!

PREPARE THYSELF … because this review is going to be a lot of random fangirling, poorly flowing points and epic gushing because I really adored this book!!!

Also I am running on a crazy lack of sleep right now … so the writing on this review is going to be awful … oops

The Story

(Goodreads synopsis):

“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.”

What I Liked

This is one of the coolest worlds I have ever read in a YA fantasy book! SO FREAKING COOL! I mean look at the map.

Ok, yeah … lot of YA fantasy books provide maps in the front of their books but far too often the stories end up taking place in only one location and maybe mentioning a place or two on the map. This book uses a huge percentage of it’s really cool world! Many cities are really well developed in this book, doing more than just mentioning them a time or two, but actually developing bits of culture and/or history for them. But the absolute best part of this world is hands down THE STORMS! Omg these wrathful mega storms and the entire concept of this aspect is so incredibly brilliant and well done … I JUST CAN’T! OMG SO AWESOME!!! SO FREAKING AWESOME!!! I mean the imagery is the most incredible thing I have read in a very long time! Ripping the hearts from the storms … wow … just wow!

This ties heavily into the magic system which is also one of the coolest things I have read in YA fantasy. Let’s be honest … I have been let down by storm magic and elemental magic in books quite a bit in the past. THIS BOOK DELIVERS! Again, well written, easily understood, Intricate, and did I mention SO FREAKING COOL!?!

And we have Stormlings, and storm hunters and I am actually quite bitter that I was not able to become a storm hunter in life to be honest. I feel like the Universe has some making up to do on this account because I feel cheated! These character concepts are so cool! And the characters themselves are fangirl worthy for sure! (which is convenient … since I fangirled a shit ton). There is not a single character in this book that I felt fell flat. I fell in love with basically everyone! These characters are really well developed with backstory, differing opinions/beliefs and identifiable personalities.

This book has one of my new absolute favorite female MCs of all time! Roar is an epic strong but imperfect female role model of an MC! And she is pretty badass! She is all the things Celaena Sardothien wanted to be and wasn’t (sorry ToG megafans but it’s true). I mean … she can protect herself … and says things like this when boys touch her …

“Excuse me.” She shoved him backward, Heat rising into her cheeks. “Perhaps ask before you put your hands all over a person.”

FUCK YEAH! Get it girl!

I mean she doubts herself from time to time, she has obvious faults and insecurities, this makes her human and I love her all the more for it!

And villians! Oh we have some of the coolest villains in this book!!! And I love them too. Again … developed, well written, unique, and intricate! And oh so dark which is the best part ❤

But not only were individual characters well developed in this book, but relationships between characters were as well! NOT TO MENTION ALL THE TENSION RIDDLED, AMAZING AS FUCK, WHY ARE MY EYES SWEATING SHIPPY GOODNESS OMG MY HEART!

Like … the romance is on point! I ship it so so so hard you have no idea! There were times when I just laid in the bed crying because I needed to quietly and emotionally fangirl for a moment alone. I NEEDED FANART SO MUCH that my bookish bestie sent me this to shut me up:

Yes those are muscles on his arms … not pool floaties. This is true friendship let’s be honest bahahahaha.

But seriously …

*MILD SPOILER* Cassius is so broody and every girl’s bad boy fantasy, a true morally gray character … and Locke is basically made from pure stardust from Heaven he is the most perfect character ever (yet still flawed and broken and real). Plus Locke says things like …

“If a man needs to hurt a woman to feel good about himself, he is not much of a man.”

PREACH SON! *END SPOILER*

I loved that while I THOUGHT this was about to be an insta-love connection … it took a turn that I did NOT see coming and totally kicked that assumption in the ass! There is not insta-love here … maybe the mildest bit of insta-lust which I am ok with because that’s a real thing. Again … what you think you know about the romance when you start this book … you don’t!

The plot is so freaking good too! I know a lot of people are over certain tropes and this book has one or two (not going to tell you which ones because no spoilers!), but they are so well done … who even cares?! While this book certainly fits the mold of a YA fantasy … it is unique enough to be extremely refreshing and enjoyable!

I kept waiting for this book to become another “meh” cliché YA fantasy book and … it never did!

This book was more than just a pretty face. It was extremely well written for one! Despite the unique magic and world building elements, this book had all of ZERO info dumps … and yet I do not feel lost or confused at all! This book also throws in a few really powerful messages throughout the story. I’m not going to give these away too much because I think letting them find you is so much stronger. There is a lot of powerful positive and empowering relationship moments in this book. Very supportive and beautiful. There are also a few tolerance messages throughout.

Speaking of diversity did I mention that we have several different skin shades represented here. But race is not really a huge discussion point.

But of course my favorite part of any book is HOW IT MADE ME FEEL! I love a book that wrecks me and this book did that so good I loved it. There was so much tension, my heart felt like it was on a wire about to snap! I cried so many times for everything from sadness to happiness … I was an emotional mess. Still am. And I have a pretty serious book hangover right now. But this book had me laughing a lot too! It was so fun omg!

In lieu of posting a what I did not like section … I am going to list the things I hope to see more of in the next book:

+More Cassius
+More knife throwing
+More backstories
+More strife/tension between a certain ship
+More of the same awesomeness this book delivered on!
+Don’t kill my babies … ok but seriously if everyone lives I will *eye roll* so hard so it’s a tough call
+Answered questions

In Conclusion

This book was the light at the end of the 2017 shitty book releases tunnel for me! This book saved my life in all honesty … maybe that’s a bit dramatic … no it’s accurate.

A brilliantly conceptualized and written world and story! I LOVE IT OMG SO FREAKING MUCH!

**MUSIC SUGGESTIONS**

Sparks After the Sunset by Cosmic Gate & Sarah Lynn

And as always … pretty much anything by Crywolf

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