After suddenly awakening, completely alone and with mysterious injuries, Christine has no recollection of who or where she is. She finds herself pursued by dragons, rogue magicians, and an heiress hell-bent on revenge. Through her own instinct and intuition, Christine must try and piece together the story of her life. Who is a friend and who is a foe? Who had she been and who will she become? Sometimes it is only in our most vulnerable moments that we are able to find our true inner strength. [From Amazon.com]
My Review: I love graphic novels, so of course I jumped at the chance to read and review this. And it was definitely a quick and entertaining read. This is only an issue, not a full graphic novel, so it is much shorter than one might expect. And also, for that reason, it's hard to get a full grasp of the story because the more you get into it and the faster you flip through it - the end becomes a pained reminder that you'll have to wait for more.
That said, despite the length, this had a very entertaining and intriguing story. I wanted to know what was going on - it raised questions that had me curious, rather than annoyed like some issues of comics tend to do. And the art is truly beautiful. I love this style, the coloring - I'd gladly keep reading for the art alone, but the story holds its own against it as well.
I also want to throw in how much I appreciate the little shorts at the end. It added a bit of levity and humor right when I was getting a little sad that it was over so soon. Hopefully there will be more to come before long!
Cover Lovin': Very well done, attractive cover.
Recommendation: You'll be eager for the next issue!
Final Rating: THREE POINT FIVE out of FIVE stars (3.5/5)!! A very good start to what seems like it will be an entertaining series, but the length does leave something to be desired.
Get it from AMAZON today!
A fantasy novel of a modern-day American boy's journey back in time as the reincarnation of John Lennon.
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.
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 
