Review by Ferdinand_otieno -- Roan by E. R. Barr

Ferdinand_Otieno · Post by **Ferdinand_Otieno** » 13 Jan 2019, 06:23

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

4 out of 4 stars

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Roan by E. R. Barr is the perfect blend of a science fiction and fantasy novel. Rarely have I found a science fiction book that captivated me for the entirety of the book, but this book was a refreshing exception for me. The book has unique aspects of scientific research and ancient Celtic mysticism. The book was Published by Telemachus Press in 2012. The book was a nominee for the Next Generation Indie Book Awards Nominee for Science Fiction/Fantasy (2013).

Normally, a bad night in an Irish pub in downtown Chicago meant getting hassled by the boss for coming in late, but on his last day in the DerryAir, Conor Archer had what could only be described as a cursed night. While playing with a Celtic band, Conor sees a stranger, a biker, walk into the pub. When the stranger offers him a drink and asks him to follow him, Conor assumes nothing strange about it. Suddenly, the biker bites Conor's hand and welcomes him to the family in the same breadth.To make matters worse, he meets a strange lady by the Buckingham fountain who assures him he will die this night if he does not go to a town called Tinker's Grove. When he gets home, he tells his dying mother about the strange night. She agrees that he must go to Tinker's Grove. She tells him that she will die that very night. With a fever building from the bite and his mother dead, Conor sets for Tinker's Grove. When he gets there, his presence causes a ripple throughout the town. He gains two friends in Jace and his sister, Beth. Strange things begin to occur and an ancient evil, Piasa, takes notice of him. Piasa resides in the river and has allied itself with the McNabbs. Conor Archer is changing, but he does not know what he is changing into. He shares certain physical characteristics with some people in the town called the "dark ones." With a genetic company, Diogene, setting up in town and taking an interest in the dark ones, Conor finds himself in the middle of a deadly plot. Will Conor Archer accept the changes happening to him and embrace who he is turning into? Will he have to face Piasa and the McNabbs? What is Diogene planning against the dark ones? All these questions will be answered in this amazing book.

The author uses many themes to make the plot captivating and memorable. The main theme I encountered was secrecy. The residents of Tinker's Grove have no idea what is happening in their town. The abbot, Emily, Rory, and even Cate McNabb all have secrets. Another major theme I encountered was greed. The McNabbs are all eager to harm others just to gain power. They build Diogene as a means to use the residents of Tinker's Grove for their own profit. Another major theme I encountered was family. Cate McNabb recruits her sons to work for Piasa. Jace and his twin sister, Beth, decide to fight for Conor when they first meet him. We also learn that Conor has family in Tinker's Grove, his aunt Emily O'Rouke. I encountered themes like friendship, loyalty, trust, love, heritage, mysticism, and grief. The author used these themes effectively to make the plot highly addictive.

The character development in this book was written masterfully. At the beginning of the book, the author paints a vivid picture of the river and the mist moving in. He describes Walter Johnson and his encounter with Piasa. Conor is sceptic about the mystic world. The author shows the road he takes to come to believe that he is changing. Piasa was an excellent antagonist in this book. The author does an incredible job of not only creating a vivid image of the scenes but also drifting into the characters voices and thoughts. This made the characters relatable. I liked following the thoughts of the protagonist and those of the antagonist. It built the suspense and anticipation of their supposed conflict.

I rated the book 4 out of 4 stars. This is because the story flowed effortlessly. I could not put the book down until I finished it. The plot was fast-pacing and never had a dull moment. The protagonist went from one crisis to the next. I did not encounter a single spelling or grammatical error. This led me to believe that the book was professionally edited. I did not find anything that I disliked about this book.

I would recommend this book to science fiction and fantasy fans. The author used a unique writing style where he followed the perspectives of various characters. This kept me enthralled since I tried to foresee which characters would get along and those that would not. I enjoyed reading this book. I hope I get to read a book as well written as this was.

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Roan
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sarahmarlowe randomeducator · 21 Jan 2019, 10:16

Wow! This sounds like my kind of book! I love science fiction, especially when it is mixed with action. Thanks for a thorough review!

Ferdinand_Otieno · Post by **Ferdinand_Otieno** » 22 Feb 2019, 11:18

I think you will enjoy the supernatural aspect of this book. I really hope that the author de ides to write the sequel. This book is worth the wait.

Ferdinand_Otieno · Post by **Ferdinand_Otieno** » 22 Feb 2019, 11:22

I find myself still debating, Archer's parentage in the supernatural abilities sense. What has his real abilities, a list of them? What are his limitations and Is he part angel or part elf?