Review of The Gemstone Chronicles Book One: The Carnelian by
William L. Stuart
I reviewed a complimentary e-book version provided in return
for my fair and impartial review.
The problem some readers have with fantasy or urban fantasy
is the notion of suspension of disbelief. In our contemporary,
science-oriented, “I can’t believe it unless I see it” world, the notion of
elves, werewolves, shapeshifters, faerie, angels, and other supernatural or
paranormal (translate: NOT the usual) entities seem difficult to believe. But a
good writer of fantasy (think, for example, of Mercedes Lackey) can bring the
imagined world to life. Such is the case for this reviewer with this first
installment in “The Gemstone Chronicles” series. In “The Carnelian,” young
Aiden and Maggie, while helping grandfather Bebop rock-hunt near his home in
the North Georgia mountains, find “fairy crosses,” small stones which look like
crosses. But Maggie also finds a really different type of stone, and that
night, activated by a static electricity charge between Maggie and Bebop when
passing the rock, an Elf appears from it, followed the next morning (after
Aiden destroys the stone to free the Elf) by the Troll who has hunted him for millennia.
Trust me: you won’t even blink an eyelash, as these events seem to follow in
natural progression; no disbelief need apply.
Of course, the magical events don’t stop here (and you
wouldn’t want them to), so come on along, buckle up and enjoy the ride. Author
William Stuart has a deft turn with settings and dialogues, offering
explanations that fit in neatly (and believe me, he knows a whole lot more
about rock-hunting, preservation, and use than I ever did before, so it’s also
educational), and his characters are well rounded and elicit plenty of empathy.
I found this book so comprehensible I only wish I could travel to North Georgia
and hunt for fairy crosses too.
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