Audiobook Review: Roar (Stormheart #1) by Cora Carmack (Narrator: Soneela Nankani)

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Roar Book Cover Roar
Stormheart #1
Cora Carmack (Narrator: Soneela Nankani)
Young Adult - Fantasy Romance
Blackstone Publishing
June 13th 2017
Audiobook
13 hours and 25 minutes
Library

 

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.

 

Roar is book one in the Stormheart series by Cora Carmack. It’s interesting, different, and unique.

First let me just point out I love this cover. The cover is what pulled me in to try Carmack and this novel. This is my first taste of Carmack and I have to say I enjoyed. The world is a fantasy land, with kingdoms, rulerships, and magic.

In Roar we meet Aurora a storm princess with no powers. This novel is her self-discover, coming to age, maturity, and the consciences of her actions, plus a love interest that will keep your romantic heart swooning.

Aurora aka Roar is betrothed to a storm wielding prince who is not what he seams. Unfortunately, since she has no magic she is powerless to refuse the marriage much less protect her land and people from the deadly storms. Desperation and some surprising facts that she leans send her on the run in the hopes of finding another way to gain power and save her Kingdom.

I liked and disliked Aurora. She’s a teenager and I’m never to found of teenagers. Sometimes they are more mature, but for the most part not. When we meet Aurora she’s naïve and wishy washy, but this issue continues throughout the book. She does show determination in wanting to find out who she is (self-discover). I liked that and I felt her leaving was the best for her and her Kingdom. Now, I understand some of her naiveness, it’s due to her mother and others keeping things from her, but other times I just got frustrated with it. I also got frustrated with her showing this confidence and determination and then she would act the opposite and it’d be gone. It’s the way of teenagers and growing up, but still frustrating.

We do meet some interesting secondary characters and I liked them. The storm chasers are a cool bunch. Locke, her love interests is dark and broody and refuses the heroine in the beginning, but his true feelings are quite obvious.

Carmack did a good job with the world building. What I liked the most in Roar is the storm aspects of the story. I was intrigued on how the storms are connect to magic, souls, and the people that can control or wielded them. I found that to be quite interesting and unique. I also liked the legends about the lands and people.

Cliffhanger: I will say things were just getting good and started at the end, when what happens, we’re left with a cliffhanger. Ahhhhh!!! Now, if the next book was out I wouldn’t be so, Ah about it, but where we end the plot was just getting started. The story is to conclude or continue in the second book. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

Narration: I found the audio to be very enjoyable. Soneela Nankani did a great job with the voices and portraying the story. This is my first experience with this narrator and she kept the story moving along. I think if I had read this. I probably would’ve read a chapter or two and then stopped. It might’ve taken me a couple of days to get through this novel, but with the audio, it made things move quicker and when things got intense, I was kind of glued into listening on.

Rated: 3.5 Stars

Was this review helpful? If so, please consider liking it on Goodreads (Angela)!

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I'm an outdoor sun loving reader living near San Fransisco. I’m a mother, wife, animal & book lover. I'm the owner, reviewer & mind behind Angel’s Guilty Pleasures. My favorite animals are horses & dogs. As for reading I love all things paranormal & urban fantasy & my favorite shifters are dragons.

14 comments on “Audiobook Review: Roar (Stormheart #1) by Cora Carmack (Narrator: Soneela Nankani)

  1. I love that cover!!
    Alison F recently posted…Written With You ~ Release BlitzMy Profile

    • Me too!

  2. Interesting review. I don’t generally like cliffhangers, so it will probably be a while before I try this!

    • Cliffhangers can go either way with me, but I prefer to wait until the next book is released that way I don’t have to wait long to find out what’s next. Thank’s for visiting.

  3. I’ve been wanting to read this one for awhile. Time to move it to the top of my TBR pile.

    • Hope you enjoy. Thank you for stopping in.

  4. I love Carmack’s New Adult stuff, but I couldn’t get into this book. Great review
    Samantha recently posted…Hide Your Crazy by Lani Lynn ValeMy Profile

    • I haven’t checked out any of her other stuff. Sorry to hear this one didn’t work for you. Thank’s for stopping in.

  5. Excellent review Angela!! Shared on my socials!! ??

    • Thank you!

  6. I have this one but I still need to read it
    Melliane recently posted…The Girl in Red by Christina HenryMy Profile

    • Hope you enjoy! Thank you for stopping in.

  7. A good narrator makes all the difference with audiobooks. This book has been on my radar for awhile, so maybe after the second one comes out, I’ll read them. I’m not a huge fan of cliffhangers.

    • I agree a narrator can make or break an audiobook. I’m also not a fan of cliffhangers, so I wanted to let ppl know it’s got one. I had read a few other reviews when Roar came out, but didn’t see a note about a cliffhanger. Had I know I’d have waited for book 2 to be out too. I’m also not a big fan or YA, but this one was interesting and unique. It had enough to keep me going and I think the audio helped a lot too. Happy Reading and thank you for visiting!