Roar

Gr 8 Up—Princess Aurora is the only heir to the Pavan throne. She was born a Stormling, the youngest member of a family whose line carries the magic necessary to defeat the destructive magical storms that threaten her country during the Rage season. But Rora hides a terrible secret: she was born without the storm-fighting gifts. Now the young woman is faced with a marriage to a man who does not love her—but whose Stormling talents are meant to cover for her own lack. She strikes out to make her own way in the world and gives herself a new name: Roar. In the world of YA fantasy, Rora's lack of talent is a welcome change and allows the character's will and intelligence to take center stage. Carmack's background as a romance writer is evident in Rora's slow-burning scenes with her betrothed, Cassius, and her fellow storm-chaser Locke, but her prose is denser than that of many of her YA contemporaries. The story moves at a more leisurely pace; this book will appeal primarily to hard-core fantasy fans, although lovers of romance may also find a lot to enjoy.