Roar by Cora Carmack

I’ve read many books in recent years with themes of magic and kingdoms, princesses and power.  However, something about Roar by Cora Carmack is unique and memorable.  I love the character of Aurora.  At first, she seems docile and easily manipulated, but quickly shows courage and strength.  Aurora is princess of Pavan, and her mother is queen, and they have descended from a long line of Stormlings who are able to control the tumultuous storms that besiege the land through their magic.  

However, Aurora hasn’t inherited this magical ability, and she and her mother have gone to great lengths to keep this hidden from the populous.  Storm season is approaching, and to secure their kingdom, Aurora must marry a powerful prince to help protect them from the storms.  She is soon betrothed to Prince Cassius from Locke, but she quickly suspects that Cassius is not who he seems to be.  

She discovers that a black market exists to sell magic to the ungifted, and that storm hunters who may not have been born with magic have become gifted. Maybe this would solve her problems by providing her with an alternate way of obtaining magic to protect her throne and people.  Aurora must gather her courage and determination to change the path of her life.  

I love the transformation Aurora makes through this novel.  At first, she is easily influenced and confused by her feelings, then as she gains confidence in who she is and what she is capable of, she becomes who she was meant to be.  

New library books!

Our first order of new fiction titles for the library has been cataloged, processed, and is now ready for checkout. I never get tired of the excitement and fun of new books in the library, and this year is no different! My to-be-read pile has grown significantly. I can't wait to read some of these new titles. I thought I would share some of the titles on my TBR list with you.

The Long Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is one of the first on my list. I loved The Fixer and can't wait to read this second title in this series.
Tess Kendrick's sister is a fixer of problems, making them disappear for powerful people in Washington.  Because of her sister's reputation, all the students at Tess's elite private school turn to Tess for help. In The Long Game, Tess is asked by one of the students to help her get elected as class president.  In the meantime, her sister is working a case that involves terrorism and a struggle for power in Washington, a dangerous mix!
The Bronze Key - Book 3 of the Magisterium by Holly Black & Cassandra Clare
I have enjoyed this fantasy series.  The targeted audience for the books are middle school students, so these titles are shorter reads than some fantasy novels.  The Magisterium is a school to train students who are gifted in magic how to control it.  The students, along with the mages, use magic to bring order to our world.  But in The Bronze Key, chaos is spreading and it's up to Call, Tamara and Aaron to try to stop the evil. 

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill 
This is a new title that caught my attention. The description sounds intriguing!  Every year, a baby is left as a sacrifice to the witch of the forest.  But the witch Xan is actually kind, and takes the babies to a new family on the other side of the forest, feeding it starlight as they go.  When one of the babies is accidentally feed moonlight, Xan decides to keep the child because she will be filled with magic and names her Luna. When she turns 13, Luna's magic begins to manifest.  Then a young man decides to free the village by finding and killing the witch. I'm really looking forward to this fairytale read!

There are many many more books on my TBR list, but I'll wait and share more on another day.  Happy reading!