Series: Stormheart, Book 2
Author: Cora Carmack
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: August 27, 2019
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Told: Third Person Multiple, Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (violence, heavy sensuality)
Format Read: ARC
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase: Azon | B&N | BookDepo | Indiebound
Summary:
Princess or adventurer.
Duty or freedom.
Her Kingdom or the Stormhunter she loves.
If Aurora knows anything, it's that choices have consequences. To set things right, she joins a growing revolution on the streets of Pavan.
In disguise as the rebel Roar, she puts her knowledge of the palace to use to aid the rebellion. But the Rage season is at its peak and not a day passes without the skies raining down destruction. Yet these storms are different—they churn with darkness, and attack with a will that’s desperate and violent.
This feels like more than rage.
It feels like war.
* * *
Series: This is the second book in the Stormheart series. You can read my review of the first book, Roar, here. Rage continues the story and characters of Roar and the books should be read consecutively.
Rage was an engaging if predictable fantasy sequel of fierce females and thrilling storms. A definitive middle book, it spent most of its time in search of answers to large questions from Book 1 and setting up final questions for Book 3. The beginning was rather quiet as the team struggled to acquire information and enter Pavan, but the strong writing made it a quick read until the intrigue and action kicked in. Aurora showed great courage and determination in the face of great adversity, and I applauded her unwavering conviction to rule and make Pavan a better place for everyone, especially the previously persecuted. Conventional emotional gender roles were flipped as women exhibited unflappable strength and surety while men displayed significant sensitivity and vulnerability, which created interesting reactions and interactions. The pairing of Jinx and Nova was a real delight, and I thoroughly enjoyed all their scenes together as Jinx helped Nova find her fortitude. Aurora and Kiran's romance continued to build to a sexual climax (thankfully fade-to-black), and while I still struggle a bit with their relationship I appreciated that she didn't let it break her during the stormy moments (and rather relished that it did break him).
There were sadly few surprises for me - I predicted the character twists since Roar and the plot twists at the beginning of Rage. But how they were reached and described still engaged me and I devoured the thicker book with ease. The end was, like with Roar, a little rushed with several sudden twists in the last few pages, but I'll definitely be interested to see how it ends for everyone in the final book.
Conclusion: Although it did exhibit some minor signs of Middle Book Syndrome, the strong writing, fierce female characters, and engaging magic made for an adventurous read I quite enjoyed. I look forward to finishing Aurora's story in the last Stormheart book, hopefully releasing next year. Highly recommend for fantasy lovers.
Scribble Rating:
3.5 of 5 Scribbles
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