I loved that this book was set in the 1920’s, and it was full of all the things that make that time period seem glamorous: speakeasies, mobsters, and romance. And it had lots of mythical creatures. At first, I was unsure how about how the roaring twenties theme would work with the fantasy element, but the author seamlessly weaved the two together and created a magical story.

I like how the book alternates between the siren’s viewpoint and Colt’s viewpoint. Both are fully-developed, relatable characters, and I quickly found myself pulled into their story and rooting for them. I also liked the mystery surrounding both Colt’s and Eris’s past. It gave the story a bit of a noir film vibe.

Roaring by Lindsey Duga is a fantasy set in the early 90s. The story revolves around Colt Clemmons, an agent in a specialized division within the Bureau of Investigation. He is trained to catch a hold of snarkiest monsters. However, his life turns upside down when he is met with the last siren left in the world. I won't give away too much about the Siren because that's for you to read and find out! *chuckles*

The plot was really diverse and yet very gripping. It was quite charming on it’s own and did not have to depend on characters or any other elements to shine. I really was not expecting it to be one of those plot which would always keep me on my toes. But, I was proved wrong! The plot was extraordinary! Every twist and turn was unexpected! I don't have enough words to express how much I LOVED THE PLOT!

The characters were quite interesting as well. I liked the character developments throughout. It was quite smooth and well paced as well. Since I don't wish to give away spoilers, I will not go into details about the characters. But trust me, the character are well portrayed and will leave an impact on you. Honestly, I still cannot say goodbye to them.

The writing style of Lindsey Duga really surprised me! I mean I did not have much high expectations as usually many cannot really pull off the whole fantasy genre. But, I was proved wrong! I really admire her writing! And I can’t wait to see more growth in her writing style now! Also, can't wait to read her old works as well!!

“Eris, babe, you’s got a voice as rich and smooth as a glass o’ whiskey.’ I smile and dip my head in thanks, not speaking. Not ever saying a word.”

Roaring is perfect for historical fantasy lovers who like a little 1920’s gangster style combined with a Sirens song! Colt hunts monsters and Eris is a Siren in hiding at a Speakeasy, when Colt discovers her, he thinks she’s just another monster to hunt but soon the sparks are flying.

Lindsey combines multiple genres into a really unique concept that incorporate mystery, suspense, monsters and romance. Mob bosses creating monsters out of humans, hunters out to capture them and well, you know, hunter falls in love with monster and vice versa but it isn’t without some deception and angst first. My favorite enemies to lover’s romance trope is in high gear and the world building is fantastic. I enjoyed the dual narrative, it gives me great insight in to the characters and the twenties slang is pretty cool, my favorites: ‘Duck Soup’ meaning easy as pie, dizzy with the dame meaning in love and iron my shoelaces for when you need to head off to the bathroom! Great plot and fabulous characters with secrets to hide made this a refreshingly unique story that I really enjoyed.

My thanks to Entangled Publishing and author Lindsey Duga for providing me a DRC in exchange for my review.

Roaring by Lindsey Duga | e-ARC Review

AUGUST 9, 2020 ~ PHANNIEBEINGGINGER ~ EDIT"ROARING BY LINDSEY DUGA | E-ARC REVIEW"

Disclaimer: Background image is from canva.
Hello everyone and welcome back to the blog! How are you all today? I hope well and I hope that you are all staying hydrated and safe during these uncertain and very hot times.

Today I am back with a review for you guys. A copy of this book has been sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

And now without further ado, let’s start with the post.




Goodreads Synopsis:

Colt Clemmons is an agent in a specialized division within the Bureau of Investigation—one that hunts down not just mobsters, but also monsters.

For reasons that are kept top secret, Colt is the only person who can resist a siren’s voice. But he’s never had a chance to test this ability. The last siren left in the world mysteriously disappeared years ago.

Then one night, with a single word, she reveals herself. It seems too good to be true.

And it is. Because nothing about this siren—her past, her powers, or her purpose—is what it seems…

Add the book to your Goodreads to-read shelf
Title – Roaring
Author – Lindsey Duga
Publisher – Entangled Publishing (Teen)
Genre – Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Release date – August 3rd, 2020

Trigger Warning – violence, abduction, bullet wound, manipulation, blood
Version – ebook*
Pages – 422
Language – English



Roaring is a unique book about a siren set in the 1920s and the journey was quite amazing. I haven’t read many books about sirens before, so I was positively surprised by this one.

We follow Colt who is an agent and is specialized in capturing mythical creatures before they harm human people. His task is to capture Eris, a siren who is well aware of her powers but who never learned to control them. She also didn’t know that she was a siren, she only knew that she could control people with her voice.

I have to admit, that I did have some troubles at the beginning to be pulled into the story but after a few chapters the magic did its work, and I am so glad that I pushed myself to read “Roaring”. The writing style and world-building were quite unique. I loved how the author described the 1920s setting as well as the characters of the book. One thing I liked a little bit less was the fact that we had 2 points of view. I would have preferred to read only Eris POV as I found it to be more interesting. But that’s only my personal opinion.

The romance was on point and not too much. Since the beginning, the reader knows that there is going to be some romance at some point and it was the perfect amount of time. Not too much and it especially didn’t steal the main storyline.

Overall, “Roaring” is a unique fantasy book. If you love the 1920s setting, the language of that time and sirens, then this is going to be your kind of book.

Clot Clemmons is a specialized agent who hunts down not just mobsters but monsters too.

Eris is an ordinary singer in a speakeasy in Boston but her voice is nothing less than magic. But Eris can't speak or choose not to speak. But then one night with a single word she reveals herself. She is probably the last siren left in the world

Clot has to capture this siren and turn it to the government. But Eris is not what he expected. Everything from her past, present and her powers will leave Clot with more danger and more monsters to be encountered.

Review-

The story just dives right into action from the first chapter itself. The era, the characters, the world of monsters and hunters is too much at once but it doesn't confuse or overwhelms you anytime.

Characters and plot are very meticulously planned and executed. Every small character or every minute detail gets its closure at the end. Though you know how the story flows still you are always on the edge as to what will happen next.

The book was set in 1920's and author has perfectly captured the essence of it in terms of dressing, language and architecture. Even kudos to author for creating such unique and awestruck creatures and giving them fascinating powers.

Chemistry between the main lead is captivating. There is a perfect blend of romance between all the chase, murder and monsters. I totally ship Eris and Colt with all my heart.

It is an one sitting read. You won't be able to put down without reading it till the end. It has all the elements of a perfect YA Fantasy thriller. A world full of monsters, a hunter, a siren who can captivate people with her voice and a villain who is immortal. What else do you need?

First and foremost, Thank you to Entangled Teen for providing a copy.

Roaring was quite the surprise hit for me. This is a story about a girl, who is a siren, and she's hidden in a bar with a "found family" in hopes that no one will be able to use her siren abilities for evil. She appears to have selective mutism, because once she opens her mouth and uses her speaking voice, people around her do whatever she's says.

Enter Colt, a "monster" hunter who was assigned the role to find the last and only siren there is and bring her back to the BOI (Bureau if Investigation). However, he has a secret of his own that might change the nature of his mission.

The best thing about this book was that it had a bunch of tropes that I love--found family, reluctant hero, the quest---lots of good ones. I also am not a fan of historical fantasy, but the way Duga write this 1920s Jazz era was so mesmerizing and very fun to read. I found myself wanting to talk like the people did back then, which another thing that was awesome was the 1920s language list Duga gives before the first chapter.

Another thing that I loved about this book was the romance. Obviously, if you have a siren and then you have a person who has learned how not to be enticed by a siren, you're gonna have a love connection--because it's the only way this siren is going to find happiness! So I love Colt and Eris together and their love grows throughout the novel, so I never once though it was insta-love. They really do start off as "enemies" in a way.

I also loved the minor characters throughout the book and wish we would have followed some of them more because they all had very interesting aspects about them.

Some concerns that I had, which is why I didn't give this book a 5 star, is that I thought once the couple hits the Club where Gin is, and they find children to save, it got really slow for me. I found myself really struggling. Which then when the couple got to the convent, my attention was not there and I found myself having a difficult time concentrating, which stinks, because there is a scene at the convent that is REALLY important and I glazed over it. I had to go back and re-read that chapter when I finished the book. The villain was also not my favorite. I think his motivation was there, but I also feel as if he was sorta pedestrian and I really wanted the creator to be someone that we knew of. Other than that, the ending was great and the story concluded how I wanted it to.

I think the writing was very well done and I really enjoyed how the prose flowed throughout the action scenes, because I tend to get really confused during action scenes sometimes and I felt like with Duga's writing, it was easy to follow along with.

Overall, I really enjoyed this surprise hit and I would say that it was original, entertaining, and well plotted. I would definitely suggest this book!

Action packed historical fiction with a supernatural twist!
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for the opportunity to read and review Roaring by Lindsey Duga!
A siren, Eris, hides in a speakeasy in Boston during the roaring 1920’s. A bureau agent, Colt Clemmons, is sent to capture and bring her in because they believe she’s a monster. Eris sings with the band but refuses to speak to anyone since she doesn’t want to influence people, except when she can use her influence for good. Colt and Eris run and become involved in numerous acts of violence and danger, while falling for each other. They also discover a devious plot that no one suspected. I enjoyed the historical fiction aspect of the 1920’s setting and both the characters of Colt and Eris. The supernatural added a unique twist to the story and brought in a bit of science fiction also. Genre-bending story set in the 1920’s, 4 stars!

Colt is a special agent in the BOI, where he’s part of a specialized unit that hunts both monsters and mobsters. Eris is a waitress and singer in a speakeasy, and she just happens to be the siren Colt’s looking for. Colt has orders to turn her in and he’s immediately convinced that she’s as monstrous as the BOI has intimated her to be. Eris is also convinced that Colt is a heartless monster, willing to turn a woman over to an entity that either wants to kill her or use her, both very bleak prospects. But the more time he spends with her, the less he believes she’s a monster. And the more time she spends with him, the less she believes he’s a heartless prick.

“Why hadn’t he just let me die if he thought I was so dangerous? Why had I saved his life when he was trying to rob me of my freedom?”

ROARING hit so many high notes for me with its mix of mobsters, monsters, romance, and magic, all with a phenomenal backdrop of the roaring ‘20s. I also loved the exploration of monsters and the many forms they can take and how sometimes, humans are the most monstrous of all. All that being said, the highlight though was the enemies-to-lovers trope, and Duga delivered a fantastic one. I didn’t see how either one would be able to overcome their prejudice and preconceived notions of the other but when they did, sparks were flying. I absolutely adored these two.

Bottom line — ROARING was such a fun and danger-filled ride with plenty of action and romance. This is my first book by Lindsey Duga and if this one is anything to go by, she’s definitely on track to make it to my favorites list. 4.5 stars.

4 stars

What do you get when you cross mobsters and monsters?

Lindsey Duga makes the most of this immensely creative concept in Roaring. The idea to combine the underground world of speakeasies with the hidden horror of myth is so perfect. I'm honestly surprised that I've never seen it done before. You can tell that she has done a lot of research and has taken great care into creating this story, especially in the way she uses authentic 1920s slang. Equal parts crime drama, fantasy, and romance, it's an incredibly engaging book that can also reach a wide range of readers.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

Roaring is newest release from the very talented author, Lindsey Duga.
A spectacular young adult historical paranormal romance. That after reading you will suffer greatly from a book hangover.

Set during the probation era in america in 1929, Roaring is a completely unique historical paranormal fantasy. Let say this one of the best concepts in paranormal I have come across. The world building is phenomenal, with vibrant atmospheric imagery. Cleverly written the reader will feel submerged into the alternate world of Lindsey Duga, highly imaginative creation. The books dual POV’s voices adds wonderful insight into this fast paced action packed read.

The two main protagonist are Eris, last known Siren, who happens to work as singer in a speakeasy, and Colt who’s special expertise is highly needed, because he works for a bureau that hunts down monsters.

The romance is sizzling hot as the two main characters navigate through neck break speed that takes on adventures to different cities. This is one highly recommended books that grabbed my attention and held it fast. The characters are well developed and I really enjoyed the the sub characters as they added a lot of dimension to the storyline. The historical elements are wonderful as it during a time of speakeasies, and mobsters, with a magical realism aspect of monsters.

This well researched book opens with a listing of common 20’s slang phrases, so you can refer back to further your enjoyment.

Looking forward to reading more books from this very talented author.


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#roaring #bookreview #paranormal #paranormalromance

#roaring #lindseyduga #entangledteen #bookrelease #bookreview

Thoughts:

If you'd ask my why I signed up to read this book, I'd honestly tell you that I don't know. It may have been the cover or the fact that I've heard the author's name before, but whatever the reason, I'm glad I did.

This book just blew me away! Once I started reading, I couldn't stop and just kept on reading until I finished it.

As most of you know, characters are the central focus for me and I'm so glad to say that they were some of the best I've seen recently. Their wants and desires were shown quite well and the growth of them was just amazing. Their interactions seemed lifelike and not stilted like some other books I've read recently.

Normally, I don't read any books with mythological creatures but all the creatures caught my interest and some of them were one I never heard of before.

All and all, if you don't mind some language, (thanks Colt), then I'd recommend that you immediately find yourself a copy of this novel.



Rating: 5/5

Language: about 10 s***, a couple b****, about 20 d***, 1920s slang (both good and bad)

Romance: mentions a man who beat his girlfriend, some kissing

Spiritual: MC prays to God and is Christian, one doesn’t believe in God, refuge taken in a church

Violence: fighting, death, lots of violence but none of it gory

Note: MC works in a speakeasy (1920's illegal bar) but has never drunk a drop



*I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.

Review will be posted to my blog and Instagram on August 14, 2020 for the Favorite Pages Blog Tour.

Roaring was an entertaining paranormal story about a world where monsters exist and monsters that hunt them. I loved this time-period and Colt searching for the last siren at a speakeasy. Once he finds her, she learns that her powers don’t work on him because he isn’t really human and he has been sent to find her. This book opened up an amazing new world and I was lost in this wonderful imaginative world. Ms. Duga is such a talented writer and Roaring is one that you will definitely enjoy.

3.5 stars. This had a very interesting concept- sort of film noir late 1920’s (though some of the stuff in there made it feel more 30’s- 40’s). It was part light mystery/ thriller, part urban fantasy, and a light dash of romance. I love everything mermaids/ sirens, so this definitely held appeal. I liked how the author took commonly used Greek mythological creatures and made them her own. I also really liked Colt and Eris’ chemistry and how the story moved along at a good pace. I thought this was YA when I picked it up, but it’s really adult fiction, though it doesn’t matter, it was still an enjoyable read.

Left review on goodreads and amazon.

This is one of the most unique stories I've read in awhile. I received an ARC of book from @entangledteen @entangled_publishing @linzduga to read and review (thank you for the opportunity). It's a 1920's noir mixed with European folklore sprinkled with romance. I loved it. Colt is a special agent on the hunt for the missing siren. Eris is a singer at a speakeasy who's been told not to speak because her voice is too powerful. Once Colt and Eris meet truths start unraveling and they start to wonder who the monsters really are.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In this book we meet Colton who is a monster whot hunts other monster, he is the only who can resist a siren voice.
But the last siren disappeared years ago, until one day they found the last siren, and Colton has the task to hunt her.

But what he thinks and had be told about her might be a lie.

So...when I read that this book was about monster hunting other monster and also that we had a siren, I thought "I need to read this book, Now! ".

Sadly it wasn't what I was expecting, the beginning was quite interesting, but then everything happened so fast that doesn't allow you to have a connection whit the secondary characters, I mean, when something sad or bad happened I didn't feel sad for them, it was like I didn't know them.

Also it was more of a romance novel than a fantasy book, I was hoping to see a world full of crazy creatures and know more about it, but I only have the chance to see a little bit about this creatures and in a very superficial way.

Now lets talk about the romance in this story, for me it was so instalove, they don't know eacher other but in a few days they are in love, I mean "What" they change their ideals for someone whot dosent know, that's not credible.


I didn't like this book but if you want to read it, that's ok, maybe you'll love it.

Thanks to Netgally for allowing to read this Arc.

Roaring is a YA fantasy romance set in the 1920s that tells the story of an agent from the Bureau of Investigation and a siren falling in love when everyone and everything is working against them. This is my first time reading Lindsey Duga and I enjoyed her imaginative and vivid writing style. You can expect suspense, romance, and twists and turns.

Eris has always enjoyed singing and knows there is something different about her, but she can't put her finger on it. She sings at a speakeasy and meets agent Colt Clemmons. She is intrigued by him yet quickly finds out his true intentions. He is assigned to investigate her and bring her his bosses. He can't imagine that Eris is the siren but he is proven wrong.

Eris and Colt are both special and begin to form a bond as their journey becomes more dangerous. Eris learns that Colt is one of the only people immune to the siren song and it makes both of them question why that is.

I really enjoyed the adventure and romance of the story. Despite the obstacles that both are facing, Eris and Colt's connection can't be broken. Their love for one another runs deep and is highlighted during times of struggle and danger.

I give Roaring 4 stars. This is an interesting YA novel that romance, historical, and fantasy readers can enjoy. The way the author detailed the 1920s continuously drew me in. Eris and Colt are great characters that complimented each other so well. There are some revelations that I wasn't expecting yet made so much sense. If you enjoy YA reads, I recommend this book. Enjoy the adventure, the roaring 1920s, and the fascinating mythology.

There are two things you should know before I begin this review. First, I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Second, when I requested this book, I thought it was a paranormal adventure/mystery book, not a romance novel. This is my first ever romance novel, so I am not able to comment about how this book handles common romance genre tropes or plotlines. I also cannot say whether the amount of romance in the novel is enough for the average romance reader. Personally, I found the ratio of romance to action very similar to the ratio seen in Twilight.

Roaring follows Eris, the only siren known in existence, and Colt Clemmons, an agent for a supernatural division of the FBI, as they attempt to outrun people who are trying to capture or kill Eris. The story is set in the 1920’s at the height of prohibition and is told from both Colt and Eris’s point of view. Colt is tasked with bringing Eris in to the bureau after she is discovered in a speakeasy. However, after an attempt on Eris’s life while in Colt’s custody, he begins to warm to Eris and decides to help her escape and vanish into the countryside. They desperately try to stay ahead of the people hunting Eris – hunters sent by both the bureau and by an unknown nefarious entity.

Eris is an eighteen-year-old siren who works as a singer and waitress at The Blind Dragon, a speakeasy run by her adoptive mother Madame Helena Maldu. Because Eris’s voice enchants people and forces them to do exactly as she says, she tries not to speak. She is able to sing, however, as her voice has less of an effect on those around her – they are drawn to her, but do not compulsively obey her. Every time she slipped up and spoke while growing up, she and Madame Maldu packed up and fled town. Eris’s refuge is the makeshift stage the bartender Stan made for her at the speakeasy. On the stage, Eris can sing and fall into the music that calls to her without having to deal with the way her voice affects people. I both love and hate Eris. Her best moments are when she is demonstrating her strength: when she uses her voice to help an abused woman, when she chooses to sacrifice her own freedom so that she does not take away the freedom of others, when she continually escapes her captors, when she asks Colt to choose mercy rather than violence. Eris is an example of a character who is morally and mentally strong, and it is shown in the book as a strength just as valuable as physical strength. However, Eris oscillates between being a strong woman and considering herself weak and useless. It is incredibly frustrating when Eris constantly undercuts her own worth. If this just felt like insecurity, I would be fine with it. But every time Eris puts herself down, it feels odd and jarring in comparison to how she usually behaves.

Colt is a nineteen-year-old agent working for a supernatural division of the FBI who is able to resist the powers of most magical creatures. The source of his immunity is shrouded in mystery – he has abilities that seem magical in origin, but has no mark of a magical creature. My feelings towards Colt follow a negative-positive-negative trajectory. I found Colt a little boring in the beginning, but when the novel begins exploring his past and the source of his abilities I became much more invested in him as a character. As soon as he and Eris admit their feelings for each other, Colt loses much of the complexity of his character and almost feels like the archetype of a male protagonist in a romance novel. He becomes overly protective and mushy, saying things like “your kiss was my salvation”. Towards the end of the novel, Colt strongly reminded me of Edward Cullen from Twilight in terms of personality and strangely overprotective actions. Further, throughout the entire story I regularly forget that Colt is a nineteen-year-old and not a forty-year-old grizzled PI. Overall, Colt held my interest in the middle of the novel, but is less interesting than Eris in the rest of the book.

This book was both delightful and incredibly frustrating. It has a very rough start; it takes around 60 pages for the author to find the proper balance of period appropriate slang. The first few pages are overflowing with slang to the point where it becomes distracting. After about the 100-page mark, I became absorbed in the book. The world-building is absolutely fascinating. I know a lot about various mythical creatures, so I loved seeing how the author incorporated these into the seedy world of rum-running and corruption. The action and character development that happens in the middle portion of the novel is wonderful. However, my enjoyment tanks after the main characters get together. It felt like any character development vanished, and both Colt and Eris often felt wooden and one-dimensional. There were a few plot details that annoyed me – mostly surrounding the blood sample they need to deliver to a doctor – but I recognize that the level of my annoyance may be unwarranted for such small details. The ending was disappointing mostly due to the fact that the middle was so much better in comparison. If the novel had not had a mid-point high, the end might have bothered me less.

The romance is fine, but not anything spectacular. There is a definite case of insta-love, although I do find it sort of believable. Eris is a siren and essentially designed to be desirable. However, a large portion of her allure comes from her voice, and Colt does not hear her speak or sing during their first meetings at the speakeasy. Colt’s immediate attraction to Eris makes some amount of sense, but I do not completely buy it. Eris’s attraction to Colt, on the other hand, feels more believable. When Colt is attempting to con Eris to gain her trust, he is charming and entirely focused on her. From Eris’s point of view, Colt is a handsome gentleman who is interested in her for who she is, rather than being enticed by her voice. I do not have any issues with the progression of their romance. However, the tension and attraction between Eris and Colt is sometimes lacking. There are moments that are supposed to be charged, but I do not feel any of the emotion. I do take issue with the way both characters behave later in the novel, which I discuss in the spoiler’s section.

I love the mythical creatures and mythology surrounding them. These ‘magical creatures’ were once human and are now a part-human part-monster hybrid. At some point, these individuals had part of a magical creature grafted to their body and DNA, giving them some of the abilities associated with the particular magical creature. This process is usually done when the individual is young, because the body is better able to adapt to the changes and the person is more likely to survive. The rise of these monsters is mostly attributed to prohibition and mobs. The criminal underworld is composed of traditional mobs who create and employ monsters and of businesses catering exclusively to monsters. The bureau Colt works for is trying to stop mobs from creating more monsters by shipping in more mythical creature pieces from Europe. The grit of prohibition rum-running permeates the entire story, with the setting focused more on the criminal underworld of the ‘roaring twenties’ rather than the glitz, glam, and flappers associated with the era.

A good portion of my negative feelings about this novel come from the fact that the world-building is exquisite and not much is done with it. The author could easily take the world she built and write an incredible paranormal mystery or thriller. But this is a romance novel, so the focus is on the main characters’ relationship and not exploring the setting in the way a fantasy novel would. We meet werewolves, basilisks, cyclopes, vampires, sirens, gorgons, golems, dragons, manticores, etc. Yet we never get an in-depth look at how the process of creating monsters works or what changes it creates in a person. My absolute favorite creations are the cyclopes and basilisks; these monsters are more fleshed out and there is more nuance in how the myths are changed and how the monster characteristics are integrated into people. It is so interesting to have the addition of a cyclopes eye give someone the ability to see the future or communicate telepathically – it acts as a third eye and can have any of the abilities associated with that concept. I love the bit we see of how these myths are interpreted and altered, but we see so little of it. And I desperately want more.

I hate to go full ‘pretentious English major’, but there are several times in the book where the writing bothers me. Sometimes sentences are not grammatically correct. For example, “The heated porcelain of the mug warmed my hands. Rather, it was the still-steaming joe inside it that did the trick”. The use of ‘rather’ here is not correct. The first sentence does not set up the next sentence for this word; there is nothing that has been questioned that requires a phrase beginning with ‘rather’ to tell the reader what is actually happening. My other writing issue is the use of sensory details. The author often describes everything, to the point where it is overwhelming. I found myself regularly skimming these section, because it was just too much. Sensory details should be used either a) to set the scene so that the reader can picture it without needing to describe everything or b) to tell the reader something through inference. The details in this novel rarely fit in category ‘b’, and they go way past the point of setting the scene. It is not a huge issue, but it happened often enough that I feel the need to mention it.

Overall, I did not love this book, but I did not hate it either. Some of my frustration comes from the execution of the plot; the middle section of the novel shines, but the beginning and ending were often a rough read. Also, I went into this book expecting it to be an entirely different genre, and this did color some of my reading experience. I cannot recommend this book; the unstable characterization, weak romance, and plot problems were too much for me to overlook. But if you are looking for a romance novel set in the past with fantasy elements, maybe this will be your thing.

Read the spoiler section of this review on my website at https://theartistryofreading.com/roaring/

“‘Don’t wait for her to speak, Colt, because if she does, it may be the last thing you ever hear.’”

Roaring was such a fun, action-packed, and enjoyable read! It was fast paced and the perfect escape from *looks around* our current decade. The unique monster elements paired with a dazzling, dangerous 1920s setting was a killer combo I didn’t know I needed.

I was immersed so fully into this story that if someone in my house slammed a door or my phone rang, I would jump startled to find I wasn’t actually running with these monsters and mobsters through the East Coast. The lush descriptions of setting mixed with the 20s slang made this feel so authentic. I was pulled in and finished in two quick sittings.

Eris was such a kind soul, and such a sweet character to read about through it all. Colt? God he was charming. These two together were such a pair and I loved this opponent to lovers arc they had.

The constant twists of this story had me on the edge of my seat! Some elements were predictable but I was unable to guess the big twists, some of which had me completely stunned!

Overall, this was an enjoyably surprising book and a point blank great read.

**ARC provided by Entangled Teen and Netgalley, which in no way affected my review.

A fascinating and fast-paced story…
Roaring by Lindsey Duga is a high tension story of intrigue and unexpected romance set in the underground world of prohibition speakeasies and the mob ruled cities of America. Not only does the government’s Bureau of Investigation hunt down the criminal element that controls much of the illegal activities at this time but the actual monsters that the mob has, in many cases, created and then enlisted to their side. Since monsters are better fought with monsters the Bureau has their own division of specialty agents. Colt, who may be the only one immune to a siren’s voice, is one of those agents and the one assigned to find and bring in the lost siren. Eris has known she was different since she was little, the two people in her life she trusts have had to wisk her away to keep her safe. All she has ever wanted was to lead a quiet, rural life but instead she is the canary in a speakeasy, always ready to run when her “creator” threatens to catch up to her. Everything, what they have believed about themselves and thought about monsters, changes when Colt and Eris meet and they come to realize that being good or evil is more about what is in your heart than what you are on the outside.

Lindsey Duga has created a detailed and authentic world as the setting for Roaring, even including a glossary of words and phrases commonly used during the prohibition days of the 1920s. Colt and Eris are fascinating characters, whose personality and values are slowly revealed and pieced together for the reader as the story progresses. In the same way, their relationship develops through the course of events that have them questioning not only the things they have been led to believe but the course they thought their lives would take. They finally realize that they are better people individually when they have someone who sees them completely, both good and bad. It’s this knowledge that gives them the strength and motivation to fight and defeat the evil forces seeking to destroy them.

Roaring is a unique story with captivating characters; a quick, easy read that is action-packed, full of tension and suspense, and enjoyable for teens and adults alike.

I don't read many books in this time frame. The definitions in the beginning helped a lot. Unique story with a siren as the strong and caring female character. Her story as well as Colt's back story were interesting. Story was steady paced and ends well. Only change would be more of the romance between them.