From New York Times bestselling author Cora Carmack comes her debut young adult fantasy, ROAR! Now available in paperback, ROAR takes readers on an adventure filled with charismatic characters in an enthralling world sure to keep them turning the pages. Grab your copy today!
About ROAR (Stormheart #1):
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.
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EXCERPT
“This life is not glamorous,” Duke told her. “We travel
constantly. We sleep on the ground most nights. When we’re not in danger from
storms, we’re in danger in cities where we are considered criminals. This life
is not for the faint of heart.”
“There are things I do not know, things I will have to
learn. But I am capable. I am familiar with sacrifice. I know what it is to make
hard choices.”
“Tell me you’re not considering this,” Locke said to Duke.
The old man was silent for a long moment, both Locke and
Roar looking to him for support. Duke rubbed at his mustache, a habit of his
when he was thinking deeply. “Let’s think about this, Locke. She’s smart. And
determined.”
“She’s a child.”
Roar’s shoulders hunched in Locke’s peripheral vision, and
he swallowed back the guilt. He could apologize later. For now, it was
imperative that he won this argument.
“You were a child
when I brought you into the fold,” Duke said. “She’s a young woman with a good
head on her shoulders. And if this is what she wants, I’m inclined to at least
hear her out.”
Just like that, Roar’s shoulders straightened, and Locke
turned to watch a devastating smile bloom across her mouth. His weakness when
it came to her only made him more cross.
“What skills do you have?” he snapped at Roar.
“Skills?”
“Yes, skills. What can you do? Or do you just plan to tag along for the ride?”
A flush spread over her cheeks, and her voice was tentative
when she answered, “I’m good on a horse. Very good.”
Where in the world would she have learned to ride? He
quickly hardened his expression. “Horses are fine for travel, but they don’t do
well in storms. They, unlike you, have good survival instincts.”
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Locke could have
sworn he felt an updraft—the first sign that bad weather could occur—and he
knew that this time he had pushed too far.
Roar marched toward him, spearing a finger into his chest
and said, “I can read and write. I can speak Taraanese, Finlaghi, and
Odilarian. I can read maps. I know enough about grassland vegetation and
wildlife to survive without a market to buy food and drink. I’m good with
knives and a bow. I learn quickly, and I’m not afraid of hard work. And I’ve
spent my entire life reading as much about storms as I could get my hands on.”
For a moment, her voice cracked under the weight of her anger, but she took a
huffing breath and continued: “I’m good with numbers. It’s been a while, but I
think I can probably still draw the constellations from memory, which should
make me decent at navigation. I can—“
“Enough.” Locke’s voice came out in a deep rasp. He captured
her long, delicate finger in his fist before she could continue poking him. He
felt short of breath at the sight of her—livid and lovely. “Enough.”
The old Locke might have kept arguing, and Roar would have
met him toe-to-toe. But if becoming a storm hunter had taught him anything, it
was that fighting head-on wasn’t always the way to win. Sometimes strategy was
required. He met Duke’s eyes over her shoulder, and if he had thought Roar
looked smug before, she had nothing on his mentor. The man raised his eyebrows
in a challenge and asked, “You?”
He hated the idea of bringing someone into this dangerous
life, but if it was going to happen regardless, he sure as hell wouldn’t hand
her safety over to anyone else, not even Ransom. And at the very least, it
would give him the opportunity to change her mind. He gritted his teeth and
nodded his acceptance.
REVIEW
I actually listened to this on audiobook, and I enjoyed it so much that it got me back into reading YA Fantasy again after having not read the genre in a while. Aurora/Roar is a princess but still is relatable to anyone who's ever felt like a fish out of water, because she doesn't share the same storm magic that the royal line is supposed to have. I love the way Carmack writes about Roar's struggles with finding herself and discovering her own type of magic. Aurora is brave, smart, fierce, and never gives up, and is really a strong female lead to admire and look up to. The troup of storm- hunters she falls in with are also really intriguing, and there are some mysteries as to their pasts that aren't solved in this first book, which makes me excited to keep reading the series to find some answers.
There are elements of romance between Aurora and Cassius as well as between Roar and Locke, and I'm honestly not sure who I'm rooting for in the romance department. (That's not true - I'm rooting for Roar. She don't need a man to make her happy!) Then there are layers upon layers of intrigue, as well as phenomenal world-building. This book is just enchanting, and I cannot wait for the next installment.
And the Link:https://youtu.be/3fIxbHRHnGc
About Cora Carmack
Cora Carmack is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Since she was a teenager, her favorite genre to read has been fantasy, and now she’s thrilled to bring her usual compelling characters and swoon-worthy romance into worlds of magic and intrigue with her debut YA fantasy, Roar. Her previous adult romance titles include the Losing It, Rusk University, and Muse series. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages around the world. Cora splits her time between Austin, TX and New York City, and on any given day you might find her typing away at her computer, flying to various cities around the world, or just watching Netflix with her kitty Katniss. But she can always be found on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and her website www.coracarmack.com.
I am so in love with the covers on all of her books.
ReplyDeleteTHEY ARE SO GORGEOUS. :) I need them all RIGHT NOW.
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