Review of Roan

[Rose Lineani]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Roan" by E. R. Barr.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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There are few things more engaging than watching an ordinary person stumble into the world of magic anew, and with Roan: The Tales of Conor Archer, vol. 1 by E. R. Barr, I just did. Following the story of Conor Archer, a young man who was living a rather mundane life until he wasn’t. The story starts in Chicago, where he plays as a musician in a Celtic band. When Conor’s mother is on her deathbed, he meets several moving events and characters that lead him on a journey of identity. First, he met a biker who did something unexpected to him, and then he met a woman. What does the future hold for Conor Archer? Who are these people he met? Get a copy of this book to find out. 

The storyline is complex and full of various twists. When I started reading the novel, it seemed to be just a story about a young man who had been working in a bar, but as the story unfolded, there was more mystery to it, and I was pleased. The plot surprised me many times and made me question Conor’s motives and the events that were happening in the story. Conor’s journey from Chicago to Tinker’s Grove, Wisconsin, which is the family’s ancestral home, increases the tension of the plot in terms of tempo significantly.

I did not really like the beginning of the novel as it was slow because the author spent a great amount of time describing Conor’s life and introducing the main character before the world of the book becomes a little more magical. This is not enough for me to reduce the rating, though, because it is a minor negative aspect. Hence, I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars. I want to commend the author for the effort in making sure that the book was professionally edited, too.

I would personally recommend this book to lovers of urban fantasy who prefer their settings to be rooted in the present but feature ancient myths and legends. Those who enjoy coming-of-age stories will like this one too. 

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Roan
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