Review of Roan
Posted: 05 Mar 2024, 22:29
[Following is a volunteer review of "Roan" by E. R. Barr.]
Imagine a book with a musty smell and stained pages and the extraordinary possibilities it contains shrouded in darkness and unheard of. This sentiment characterizes "Roan," the first novel by ER Barr featuring alluring concepts as well as resonant world-building; sadly, it is not enough for the delivery to be successful because of its undercookedness.
"Roan" is the title of a book, and it's definitely not another ordinary account of an urban fantasy story. The text strands of Celtic and Native American mythology are intertwined to produce a textile that elaborates the story using information from different cultural sources and provides it with the mysterious aura of folklore. This particular mixture forms an exciting canvas, which represents the unknown planet with hidden knowledge and uncharted realms to discover.
The main character of the story is Conor Archer, a kid who is familiar only with the torn-down brick school and trees where he used to play but never imagined the existence of a place like this. Through his ability to subtly convey his feelings of sadness at his mother’s death and the turmoil of not grasping his new powers, Barr can engrave inside the reader a profound sense of what these two cause to a young person who is trying to find his place, which is occupied by something uncomprehended to him. Readers will find it extremely relatable to be in Conor's shoes and go through the turmoil he is going through, making his story as a whole more captivating.
While the early chapter expresses a strong realization about the story, a slow pace might be something to consider. Although Conor represents a strongly drawn main character, some of the others get somewhat overlooked. They usually don't possess the nuance and detail that would amplify the complex emotional factor and generate more character involvement in the plot.
This book gets 5 out of 5 stars because it may have its shortcomings, but still, "Roan" does have lots of potential. The psychic-spy thriller mix, a clever universe construction, and a relatable hero make it an allurement, immersive series. The editing was excellent, and I can’t think of any minor drawbacks. If the author can handle the issue of pacing and devote more time to developing the non-main characters in future works, "The Tales of Conor Archer" can become a very comprehensive fantasy series.
******
Roan
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Imagine a book with a musty smell and stained pages and the extraordinary possibilities it contains shrouded in darkness and unheard of. This sentiment characterizes "Roan," the first novel by ER Barr featuring alluring concepts as well as resonant world-building; sadly, it is not enough for the delivery to be successful because of its undercookedness.
"Roan" is the title of a book, and it's definitely not another ordinary account of an urban fantasy story. The text strands of Celtic and Native American mythology are intertwined to produce a textile that elaborates the story using information from different cultural sources and provides it with the mysterious aura of folklore. This particular mixture forms an exciting canvas, which represents the unknown planet with hidden knowledge and uncharted realms to discover.
The main character of the story is Conor Archer, a kid who is familiar only with the torn-down brick school and trees where he used to play but never imagined the existence of a place like this. Through his ability to subtly convey his feelings of sadness at his mother’s death and the turmoil of not grasping his new powers, Barr can engrave inside the reader a profound sense of what these two cause to a young person who is trying to find his place, which is occupied by something uncomprehended to him. Readers will find it extremely relatable to be in Conor's shoes and go through the turmoil he is going through, making his story as a whole more captivating.
While the early chapter expresses a strong realization about the story, a slow pace might be something to consider. Although Conor represents a strongly drawn main character, some of the others get somewhat overlooked. They usually don't possess the nuance and detail that would amplify the complex emotional factor and generate more character involvement in the plot.
This book gets 5 out of 5 stars because it may have its shortcomings, but still, "Roan" does have lots of potential. The psychic-spy thriller mix, a clever universe construction, and a relatable hero make it an allurement, immersive series. The editing was excellent, and I can’t think of any minor drawbacks. If the author can handle the issue of pacing and devote more time to developing the non-main characters in future works, "The Tales of Conor Archer" can become a very comprehensive fantasy series.
******
Roan
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon