Stormlings | A Stormheart Playlist

If you haven’t started The Stormheart series yet, you should! I’m getting so hyped for the release of Rage (book 2) and just finished a re-read of book 1, Roar, so decided to create a playlist for Aurora and all the different storms they face throughout the series. If you could be any type of weather, what would you be? What song would you use to describe yourself?

The Breakdown

I decided to pull together songs that reminded me of certain characters like Aurora, our princess turned storm hunter, but also songs that just gave of a “stormy” vibe. Check out some of my faves below, and why I chose them!

Come Clean, Hilary Duff

This song definitely screams Aurora at the beginning of Roar. She’s naive, secluded, and just wants to start fresh away from her mom and all the expectations that have been set for her. 

Notable Lyrics: “Let the rain fall down, and wake my dreams
Let it wash away my sanity. ‘Cause I wanna feel the thunder. I wanna scream
Let the rain fall down. I’m coming clean”

Thunder, Imagine Dragons

This song reminds me of the entire storm hunter crew that Aurora joins, but especially Locke. They all dream of bigger and better things, and use their powers to get what they want. Also, it’s a song about being like thunder, so if that doesn’t fit the bill, I don’t know what does.

Notable Lyrics: “I was dreaming of bigger things
And wanna leave my own life behind…
I was lightning before the thunder”

Roar, Kary Perry

If there ever was a theme song for Roar, it’s this. She goes from damsel to outright fighter/survivor by the end of book 1. And she is back and ready to fight for her kingdom.

Notable Lyrics: “I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter
Dancing through the fire
‘Cause I am a champion, and you’re gonna hear me roar”

Talk To Me

What did you think of my picks? What songs would you add? Do you have any playlists you’d want me to create?

Top 5 Tuesday | Favorite Fantasies

Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing Bionic Book Worm!

Today’s Top 5 is all about fantasy stories and it was so hard for me to choose only five because 98% of what I read is considered fantasy – lol. Here’s my attempt at choosing my faves…but just know this changes on a monthly basis depending on what I’m reading!

The Shadowhunter Chronicles by Cassandra Clare

SURPRISE. The Shadowhunter Chronicles is of course on my list of all time favorite fantasy series. The world is rich, unique, and so amazing. Angels, demons, mundanes. Vampires, Werewolves, Faeries. Magic. Battles. Death.

Harry Potter by JK Rowling

I don’t care if Harry Potter has been around for decades. It will never get old. The Wizarding World just has a tendency to make me feel at home and I will not stop waiting for my letters to Hogwarts (Or Ilvermorny or Beauxbatons). My wand and school regalia are prepped and waiting for the day.

The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven Cycle is urban fantasy, but I’m putting this on my list because I’m obsessed with the magical Virginia suburbs from this series. The main crew is dysfunctional, angsty, and full of pent up energy. They’re adapting this into a SyFy series and I literally can.not.wait.

The Remnant Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson

A doomed land, a magical prophecy, fierce lady heroes, swoon-tactic male leads. The world building in this entire series, as well as the spin-off books, is so rich and intense – and amazing. The first book is written in a very “whodunit/Clue” way, where you don’t know which character fits what role (prince or assassin?) and it’s UH-MAZE. Please read.

The Stormheart Series by Cora Carmack

So far only book one is out, but that first installment is filled with magical storms, hottie stormhunters, a runaway princess, and a very mysterious/eerie villain (like so creepy he lays with dead people for fun. WTF?) I can’t wait to read the sequel – it comes out August 2019!

Talk To Me

What did you think of my picks? Do we have any favorite fantasies in common? Any I should add to my list?

Review | Roar Has Got the Eye of Tiger, Is A Figher, & So Much More

Roar

By: Cora Cormack

Overall Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Summary

Aurora Pavan comes from one of the oldest Stormling families in existence. 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.

Legend says that her ancestors first gained their magic by facing a storm and stealing part of its essence. She might not have magic now, but she can steal it if she’s brave enough.

Theme Song

TL;DR:

This book is such a good series opener and I can’t wait for Rage. This is everything I would hope for in a book: a princess who ISN’T a damsel in distress, a heroine who’s smart, haughty and can (kinda) take care of herself, a love interest who is genuine and caring & an unseen, creeper villain who gives you chills. It’s Into The Storm/Twister with some Airbender Vibes and it’s so good.

The Good

Rora Can’t Be Tamed

She starts off as Aurora – weak, powerless, timid. She ends as Roar – powerful, confident and everything you want to read about. Of course there are cliches. She’s the princess without powers who needs to save her people but I still found her story intense and exciting. Haughty boss girls who just want to learn are my vibe.

Antagonists & Morally Gray Characters FTW

I love stories where the threats are looming and that foreboding feeling is stuck in the pit of your stomach because you can’t quite put your finger on who or what is the actual problem. Roar has a lot of issues to deal with including  a creepy storm lord who hangs around and talks to dead guys he’s just killed and Prince Cassius, who I LOVE even though I probably shouldn’t. The political drama is Game of Thrones level, without the blood and gore.

Locke, Where Have You Been All My Life?

I usually find myself stuck with the romantic, primpy guys or the rugged, seemingly feelingless men. Locke manages to be the perfect combo of them all – caring, rugged, stubborn, and to mention he chases magical storms for a living. WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR.

The Bad

I Want More

Honestly, the only thing I could think to put here is that I wish there was more to learn and dive into – about the Pavan family, about Storm magic, about everything. Here’s to hoping Rage will bring a lot of answers to my current questions.

The Ugly Truth

Read Roar! The magical world of Pavan is fresh, intriguing and Aurora will draw you in with her attitude and wit.

Talk To Me

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think of it? Will you be adding it to your TBR?