William L. Stuart

author of The Gemstone Chronicles Series

Book Reviews, Thoughts, and Random Interesting Ideas

Immortal by David Boiani – My Review!!

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Immortality. Would you accept it if offered? Not sure I would, but when David Boiani’s Immortal showed up in my recommendations, I wanted to read his take on it. Glad I did!

Immortal by David Boiani Cover

Synopsis (from the author):

What if the Fountain of Youth was real?

Humans have always been obsessed with aging and death. Throughout history, the quest for a way to remain forever young has consumed mankind. What if two men stumbled upon a way to ensure eternal youth? What if it changes their lives, not only for the better, but in ways they never could have imagined?

Immortal is a story filled with adventure, mystery, and thrilling twists. Follow these men as they stumble upon not only their greatest discovery, but possibly their ultimate undoing.

What I liked about Immortal:

Immortal had an interesting spin on the immortality quest. Not what I expected, but it entertained me throughout. The premise of finding a non-magical fountain of youth, plus insights into various philosophies, made for a good read. All told, it was an imaginative and thought-provoking novel!

What I didn’t like about Immortal:

Two things bothered me about Immortal. First, despite the main characters’ education, their language when they were at the bar plotting their adventures, was more suited to a locker room and seemed out of character for whom they were supposed to be. Secondly, Daniel’s wife, Madison, seemed to be completely fine with everything and didn’t ask questions as long as Daniel performed in the bedroom. Little things, but they didn’t add to the book for me.

Overall impression of Immortal:

Immortal was an enjoyable read! Interesting insights into philosophy, cool adventures, and an existential take on immortality added up to a thought-provoking novel. Good stuff!

My rating:

4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)

Connect with David Boiani:

Find David Boiani on his Amazon Author page, Goodreads page, or his website. Discover Immortal and his others books, consider leaving a review or a comment, and maybe buy a book or two!

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Aerenden: The Zeiihbu Master – My Review!!

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I read the first two books of the Aerenden Series by Kristen Taber and enjoyed both. I added Aerenden: The Zeiihbu Master (Aerenden # 3) to my TBR list after finishing Aerenden: The Gildonae Alliance. Here are my thoughts!

Aerenden The Zeiihbu Master by Kristen Taber Cover

Synopsis (from the author):

Separated and on opposite sides of the kingdom, Nick and Meaghan face different pursuits which could change the balance of power in Ærenden forever.

While Nick trains the villagers as soldiers, Meaghan and a small rescue party venture into Zeiihbu to find Faillen’s young son before Garon can use the boy’s power to destroy those still fighting against his rule.

Everyone knows Meaghan could be on a suicide mission, but when Nick stumbles upon a secret concealed in one of the southern villages, he realizes Garon might not be Meaghan’s greatest foe. The enemy most likely to kill her is someone who has also promised to keep her safe.

What I liked about Aerenden: The Zeiihbu Master:

As with the other Aerenden books I’ve read, this one didn’t disappoint. Megan and Nick are still working through their relationship, but this time far apart from each other. Megan and Nick both grow characters and leaders, while the turmoil in Aerenden grows in turn. The intrigue surrounding the prophecies and their interpretation added a nice background to the story. Overall, Aerenden: The Zeiihbu Master (Aerenden # 3) is an excellent addition to the series!

What I didn’t like about Aerenden: The Zeiihbu Master:

My only issue with the book is that Cal seems to be stuck as a character and overreacts to every situation.

Overall impression of Aerenden: The Zeiibhu Master:

Good writing, good characters, and a great story all combine to provide a fun fantasy read. If you enjoy fantasy, try Aerenden: The Zeiihbu Master (Aerenden # 3)! Of course, you’ll need to read the first two books, too, just to make sure you know the entire story!!

My rating:

5 Stars

Connect with Kristen Taber:

Find Kristen Taber on her Amazon Author Page, Goodreads Page, or her website. Find out what she up to and more about her books. While there, consider leaving a review or a comment and maybe buy a book or two!

Connect with me:

Find me on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Say hi and let’s connect!

Time to B.R.A.G. a Little (again)!

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My readers recall that The Gemstone Chronicles Book One: The Carnelian won its first award from IndieBrag when it received the B.R.A.G. medallion in 2015. This past October, I submitted Book Two: The Amethyst and guess what? It won as well, so it’s time to B.R.A.G (again)! I could not be prouder!

B.R.A.G. The Gemstone Chronicles Book Two: The Amethyst by William L Stuart Cover

What is IndieBRAG?

As a refresher, IndieBRAG, home of award-winning independent authors, awards the B.R.A.G. medallion. B.R.A.G. stands for Book Readers Appreciation Group and has as its mission is to discover talented independent authors and give their work the attention and recognition they deserve. According to their website, all books brought to their attention are subjected to a rigorous selection process. They screen the works to ensure they meet minimum standards for quality and content. If the book passes the screening process, IndieBRAG makes the book available to a global group of readers, who can select the book based on the genre.

B.R.A.G. Medallion:

IndieBRAG only awards 20-25% of the submissions a B.R.A.G. medallion, indicating the book is well-worth readers’ time and money. Now I have two! I plan to submit Books Three and Four at some point in the future and hope to have the entire series listed on the website just as The Carnelian and The Amethyst are!

In the market for good independently published books? Visit the IndieBRAG website and see what interests you. I’m reading a fellow B.R.A.G. medallion author’s book now and they are excellent! I’ll bet you can find your favorite genre there, too. As always, if you read a book, please consider leaving a review! It doesn’t take long. Your feedback is appreciated and welcomed by the authors.

Connect with me:

Find me on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Visit my Amazon Author page or find me on the IndieBRAG site. Stop by, check out The Gemstone Chronicles, and say hello!

Aerenden: The Gildonae Alliance by Kristen Taber – My Review!!

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Not long ago I read Aerenden: The Child Returns (Aerenden #1) by Kristen Taber and gave it 4.5 stars (rounded to 5 stars). I added Aerenden: The Gildonae Alliance (Aerenden #2) to my TBR list and now, it’s time for my review!

Aerenden: The Gildonae Alliance by Kristen Taber Cover

Synopsis (From the author):

The Mardroch army hunts the new King and Queen, destroying villages in its wake. And Meaghan and Nick, training for battle in a remote section of wilderness, are far from safe. Danger hides in shadows and behind innocent faces. Allies become foes. Each day is a fight to survive. But in the end, only one threat matters. And it’s a threat they never see coming

What I liked about Aerenden: The Gildonae Alliance:

As with the first book, I enjoyed the story. Meaghan continues to grow as a character and her relationship with Nick gets more complicated with each passing day. I also liked the way different powers manifested themselves in the individuals who possess them. The battle scenes entertained me. Lastly, the story flowed well and kept me turning pages. Overall, an excellent read!

What I didn’t like about Aerenden: The Gildonae Alliance:

 Like the first book, I thought Meaghan and Nick’s relationship was too choppy and undefined. Other than that, no issues for me.

Overall impression of Aerenden: The Gildonae Alliance:

Aerenden: The Gildonae Alliance (Aerenden #2) was a good continuation of the series. It built on the previous book and revealed a few new characters. With good battles scenes, intrigue, and a little bit of romance, the book kept me entertained. If you like fantasy, this is one to read!

My rating:

5 Stars

Connect with Kristen Taber:

Find Kristen Taber on her Amazon Author Page, Goodreads Page, or her website. Find out what she up to and more about her books. While there, consider leaving a review or a comment and maybe buy a book or two!

Connect with me:

Find me on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Say hi and let’s connect!

Aerenden: The Child Returns by Kristen Taber – My Review!!

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I decided to read a few of my fellow indie BRAG Medallion authors’ books. I started with Kristen Taber’s Aerenden: The Child Returns (Aerenden #1). Read on for my review!

Aerenden: The Child Returns by Kristen Taber Cover

Synopsis (from the author):

Murder. Monsters. Magic. To Meaghan, these words belong in newspaper articles and children’s stories, not her carefully planned life. Until the day she and her friend Nick witness her parents’ brutal demise at the hands of red-eyed creatures. They flee into the wilderness where Nick tells her the creatures, known as Mardróch, came from another world to kill her. He gives her a choice–face the Mardróch alone or escape through a portal into a distant kingdom.

It isn’t much of a choice.

Ærenden is a land more beautiful and sinister than Meaghan could have ever imagined. Vines attack. Monkeys freeze their victims with a glare. Soldiers create bombs from the air. Even Meaghan’s newly discovered empath power turns into a danger she cannot control.

But control becomes the least of her worries when she learns the truth behind the kingdom’s fifteen-year civil war–a long-buried secret that could cost Meaghan her life.

What I liked about Aerenden: The Child Returns:

I enjoyed the way Kristen Taber melded the modern world with a medieval feeling Aerenden. The action was good, and Meaghan and Nick made good characters. The Mardróch was sufficiently evil and Garon, as the ultimate bad guy in the story, made for a great villain. I liked the way the author wove magic into the story as well. Overall, an entertaining book!

What I didn’t like about Aerenden: The Child Returns:

Nick and Meaghan’s relationship was unnecessarily choppy and the transition from modern times to Aerenden was a little odd to me. Other than that, no complaints.

Overall impression of Aerenden: The child Returns:

Aerenden: The Child Returns was a good story! Good characters, nice pace, and a little romance kept me turning the pages. I recommend this one to fantasy readers of all ages!

My rating:

4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 stars)

Connect with Kristen Taber:

Find Kristen Taber on her Amazon Author Page, Goodreads Page, or her website. Find out what she up to and more about her books. While there, consider leaving a review or a comment and maybe buy a book or two!

Connect with me:

Find me on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Say hi and let’s connect!

Gemstones and Fluorescence – Who Knew!?

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I learned something new recently (at least new for me). I accidentally discovered, through an unrelated web search, certain gemstones exhibit fluorescence under ultraviolet (UV) light. Now, this may not be news to some of you, but it surprised me!

Fluorescence:

What is fluorescence and why do some gemstones exhibit it and others don’t? According to an article by Hobart M. King, PhD, RPG on Geology.com, certain minerals can absorb a small amount of light and then emit a small amount of light in a different wavelength. This change in wavelength appears as a color change to the human eye. Here is a link to the article so you can see more for yourself!

Additional research taught me fluorite, rubies, some emeralds, and diamonds fluoresce. What do I have from my many rock hounding trips to the North Georgia Mountains? Rubies and emeralds (no diamonds, but I may be headed to Arkansas later this year to see if I can find a diamond or two, but that will be another post)! No fluorite that I know of, though. To test my rocks, I asked for a UV flashlight for Christmas and I was lucky enough to get one.

Checking my rock collection:

After the Christmas festivities were complete (including a delicious prime rib linked here), I spent time examining my rock collection for signs of fluorescent stones. Guess what? I found some! The rubies show up well (chromium, which gives rubies their red color, is an activator for fluorescence) and a few of my better emeralds have a slight reddish glow. Who knew? I wondered why the sapphires didn’t fluoresce and discovered that iron can dampen fluorescence, even though the titanium can acts as an activator. Both of those elements give sapphires their blue color. Here are a few pictures to illustrate the change with the UV light. The first two are rubies under regular light and then under the UV light. I love the pink color!

Rubies without fluorescence
Gemstones Under fluorescence

The next two pictures are of a yellow rock that I really don’t know what it is, but it glowed a lovely pale green under the UV light.

Fluorescence Yellow Rock
Yellow Rock under Fluorescence

I realize using a long wave UV flashlight like I received at Christmas will not show the fluorescence on all the stones that possess the property. For that, I’d need a shortwave UV lamp. I may have to order one to see what the difference between the two devices is. If I can get one that is portable, I can take it with me and use it during my rock hounding excursions.

Safety First:

If you decide to use a UV light, make sure to use it safely. UV light is the same light that causes sunburn, so don’t shine the light on your skin. Don’t look into the light directly and don’t shine it on another person or a pet. Wear UV protective glasses, too!

Did you know about gemstones and fluorescence? Leave me a comment and let me know. I’d love to see some of your pictures. As I find more fluorescent stones, I’ll try to post pictures.

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Find me on the socials and let’s connect. I’m on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Say hi and let’s talk about rocks (or books)!