William L. Stuart

author of The Gemstone Chronicles Series

Book Reviews, Thoughts, and Random Interesting Ideas

Dragon (Histories of Purga, #1) by Rustin Petrae – My Review

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Dragon (Histories of Purga, #1) – My Review!!

Dragon by Rustin Petrae Cover

Dragon (Histories of Purga, #1) by Rustin Petrae! I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. Since I like dragons, it was an easy thing to agree to! Having said that, I really liked the book. Rustin Petrae did an excellent job of blending sci fi and fantasy into a most enjoyable story.

The novel revolves around the technology loving Rooks and the nature loving Terraquois. A rebel element within the Rooks targets The Rooks’ king’s son, Rone,  for assassination. The attempt appears successful, and Rone crashes his transport in the desert near the Terraquois’ territory. He survives, though, and Keiara and her brother rescue him. This sets the scene for the story!

The book has a bit of romance between Rone and Keiara (the daughter of the head of the Terraquois). It also uses of technology well (especially the nanotech stuff which I personally find fascinating). Filled with intrigue, amazing abilities, and satisfying plot twists, Dragon (Histories of Purga, #1), is a nice entertaining read!

My rating: 4 Stars

Book Links for Dragon:

Amazon:

Smashwords:

Have you read Dragon (Histories of Purga, #1)? If you have, please consider leaving a review where you purchased the book. I know Rustin Petrae would appreciate it!

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Book Three: The Emerald (Now in Paperback)!!

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The Gemstone Chronicles Book Three: The Emerald Now in Paperback!

It’s official! I have just approved the third book in The Gemstone Chronicles series for publishing in paperback! The Gemstone Chronicles Book Three: The Emerald joins Book One: The Carnelian and Book Two: The Amethyst as both an ebook and a paperback.

The Gemstone Chronicles Book Three: The Emerald by William L Stuart Cover (Now in Paperback)
The Emerald Cover

Below is a brief description of Book Three: The Emerald:

Aidan, Maggie, Nana, Beebop, and their elven friends have recovered the first two of four gemstones stolen from the Elven Bow. With the second stone – the Amethyst – protected by the Elven Scouts Alatariel and Lotheth and on its way to Keeper for safekeeping, the rest of group heads deeper into Celahir to rescue Aidan and Maggie’s father, Mike, from the clutches of the witch Maeva and to recover the third gemstone – the Emerald.

After a fateful encounter at Maeva’s house, the witch turns everyone, except Aidan and Maggie, into stone statues to decorate her lawn. With the help of Dylan – a ghost boy they met in the village of Fearn – the children have to muster all of the courage and ingenuity they possess to find a way to retrieve the witch’s heart from its hiding place and trade it for their family and friend’s freedom. If they can do that, then they might be able to find the third gemstone by defeating the cockatrice…

That is enough of a teaser! If you want to read a longer sneak peek of The Emerald, find it at: https://www.williamlstuart.com/sneak-peek-the-gemstone-chronicles-book-three-the-emerald/

What’s next? I am working on the final book, called The Ruby! Expect it to be released in November 2013! In the meantime, read the first three books and enjoy the adventures of Aidan, Maggie, Nana, and Beebop! You won’t be disappointed!!

The Gemstone Chronicles Books One - Three

Links:

You can find The Gemstone Chronicles at the following links:

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008WV90JQ

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AR7UYGQ

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D8RH54Q

Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/214281

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/313213

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/323788

Have you read any of The Gemstone Chronicles series? If so, leave me a comment and let me know what you thought! If not, what are you waiting for? 🙂

Connect with me on social media on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, or email me at bill@williamlstuart.com or subscribe to the blog! I look forward to connecting with you!

The Elves of The Gemstone Chronicles!!!!!

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Elves!

Elves Yggdrasil Light Elf

The Gemstone Chronicles has elves! Good ones, bad ones, Light and Dark Elves, the series has them all. Where did that inspiration come from? Well, the real Aidan and I were out gem hunting one day and we were discussing the magical properties of gemstones. Aidan, who enjoys reading fantasy and sci-fi, said that I should write a book with gemstones and elves. I agreed and The Gemstone Chronicles series was born.

It took time to research elves and what I found fascinated me! Many of us know about the elves from Tolkien’s classic books, but they are deeply embedded in many traditions around the world. Santa Clause has his elves. They are pervasive in Norse mythology. In medieval times, the elves were intermingled with fairies and the terms became synonymous. Native American mythology has elven stories.  Indian mythology even has a version of elves, according to my research.

What about the names?

Being a fan of Tolkien, though, I found a Tolkien alphabet online and used that to translate family names into the names of the elves used in the books. Not only are my grandchildren are featured human characters in the books, but sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, and parents and in-laws are in them, too, only disguised as elves! Descriptions of the creatures were probably the hardest part of developing the characters. I wanted to stay somewhat true to the stereotypical version of the elves, but I wanted to put my own stamp on them. I wanted the Light Elves to be beautiful and regal looking. The Dark Elves (or Drow) are also beautiful, but with a somewhat sinister twist. Instead of immortality, though, I made them long-lived but mortal.

As with their appearances, I struggled a bit with personalities. I used some inspiration from the Vulcans of Star Trek fame and tried to make them somewhat emotionless. I want to let them develop more human characteristics as the story unfolds, You, the readers, will be the judge of whether I was successful!

Elves in The Gemstone Chronicles:

Now, I want to introduce you to my elven friends! The main elf characters in The Gemstone Chronicles series are:

Findecano Saralonde- the first elf that the humans meet. He was freed from his fairy cross prison by Aidan and Maggie.

Alatariel Lissesul – lead elven scout and brother of Luthien and Lotheth Lissesul

Luthien Lissesul – elven scout and sister of Alatariel and Lotheth

Valandil Lissesul – the greatest elf swordsmith and forger of the Elven Sword

Enelya Leralonde – Dark Elf and one of Findecano’s  captors

Elerosse Silimaure – Dark Elf and another of Findecano’s captors

Artanis Amandil – elven scout

Naesse Tasartir – leader of the Elven Council

If you want to find out more about these elves, their human friends, and their adventures, be sure to read The Gemstone Chronicles series.

The adventure begins with Book One: The Carnelian and continues in  Book Two: The Amethyst and Book Three: The Emerald! The final book of the series, Book Four: The Ruby will be released in late November 2013!

Find the Books:

Find The Gemstone Chronicles at the following links:

Book One: The Carnelian:

Amazon:

Smashwords:

Barnes and Noble:

Book Two: The Amethyst:

Amazon:

Smashwords:

Barnes and Noble:

Book Three: The Emerald:

Amazon:

Smashwords:

Barnes and Noble:

Connect with me:

You can connect with me at the following:

Facebook:

Amazon Author Page:

Goodreads:

Twitter:

Do you have a favorite elf character? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Everwud by Marilyn Dieckmann – My Review

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Everwud!

Everwud – My Review!

This book caught my eye and I had to read the blurb. In spite of the fact it is written for a young audience, I pick it up and added it the the TBR list. Here are my thoughts!

Everwud by Marilyn Dieckmann Cover

A boy, a talking dog, a tree, a treehouse, a castle, and a wonderful story! Everwud caught me by surprise and wouldn’t let me go!

This is a refreshing tale told through the eyes of a 10 year-old orphan. I thought it would be a children’s book, but the story has all the elements of a wonderful book for all ages. With a bit of mystery about Joey’s (our orphan hero) parents, some intrigue about another orphan who lives at the orphanage with Joey, magical charms that help a dog talk, an enigmatic parrot, Joey’s mother trapped in another realm and searching for him, and an all-around good guy who owns a pet shop, Everwud was a most satisfying, quick, and easy read.

Will Joey be able to help his friend and will he discover where his magic comes from? Will he ever be reunited with him mother? Lastly (and maybe most importantly) will they ever finish the treehouse? Read the book to find the answers to all those questions and more!

I recommend this one to middle grade readers, but I think parents will find this a fun and charming book for everyone. I can’t wait to read the next installment of the series!

Bravo Marilyn Dieckmann!!

My rating: 4.5 Stars!

Find Everwud at:

Amazon:

Barnes and Noble:

Connect with Marilyn Dieckmann:

Amazon Author Page:

Website:

Fairy Crosses – Did You Find an Elf?!!!

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A few days ago, I got a tweet asking me if the fairy crosses that are an integral part of The Gemstone Chronicles stories were real or a figment of my imagination. The truth is…they are REAL!!

Now, I don’t think there are any elves trapped inside the stones, but the fairy crosses I referenced in Book One: The Carnelian do exist. Let’s take a look at the crosses from the book.

Fairy Crosses – The Science:

If my readers recall, Aidan found a group of staurolite crosses by some mounds while Maggie and Beebop set up  the gemstone hunting equipment. Staurolite is the Georgia state mineral. Staurolite crystals naturally form into cross shapes – though we don’t really know why. There are three different types of the crosses. The most common cross is the prismatic  shaped and is a less-defined cross shape. The second most commonly found shape is a “X” known as the St. Andrew’s Cross. The Maltese Cross is perfectly formed and is therefore the rarest and most highly prized shape. The staurolite crosses are most commonly found in Georgia in Fannin County near the North Carolina and Tennessee borders, but they are also found in other places such as Virginia, New Mexico, Minnesota, Norway, and Switzerland.

The legends about Fairy Crosses:

Now that we know about the scientific aspects of fairy crosses, what do the legends say about them? In The Gemstone Chronicles Book One: The Carnelian, Beebop tells Aidan and Maggie two legends about the origin of the staurolite fairy crosses. The first legend was that the fairies, who lived in the beautiful north Georgia mountains, heard that the son of the Great Creator had been crucified. They wept in sorrow at the news and their tears fell to the ground and formed the crosses.

The second legend is part of one of the most heartbreaking realities in the history of the United States. Until 1828, most settlers stayed away from the north Georgia mountains. In 1828, gold was found in the mountains and soon after, the Georgia Gold Rush began. Suddenly, the mountains became the place to be. President Andrew Jackson forced the Cherokee from their ancestral lands and moved the nation to Oklahoma along the “Trail of Tears.” Because of this forced exodus, the legends say the Cherokee wept and their tears formed the fairy crosses found in the mountains today. As noted in the book, the play “Unto These Hills” is performed during the summer months in Cherokee, NC and depicts the tale of the “Trail of Tears.”

Fairy Crosses Types:

Here are the three types of staurolite fairy crosses:

First, the Maltese Staurolite Fairy Cross. isn’t it beautiful?

Maltese Fairy Cross

Secondly, the St. Andrew’s Staurolite Fairy Cross. Note the characteristic “X” shape.

St. Andrew's Fairy Cross

Lastly, the Prismatic Staurolite Fairy Cross. This type has a random shape. One thing to note about any of the crosses is that no two are identical.

prismatic fairy crosses

Despite the variety, none of the crosses above housed Findecano, the elf Aidan and Maggie freed from his stone prison. Findecano’s prison was a chiastolite, a different type of fairy cross. Chiastolite fairy crosses are not native to north Georgia. Chiastolite is a variety of andalusite and has carbon inclusions that form its characteristic black cross. Chiastolites are found in many locations around the world.  Prime locations are Spain, and California, Nevada, Maine, and Massachusetts in the United States. In the book, Beebop speculated the stone could have reached Georgia by trade among the native Americans, or by Spaniards exploring the New World .

Below is a picture of a Chiastolite Fairy Cross. Can’t you imagine an elf and a troll trapped in it just waiting for someone to smash the stone and free them?

chiastolite fairy crosses

I hope this post answers the questions readers have about Fairy Crosses. If not, please send them to me and I’ll try to find an answer!

I haven’t found one yet in my rock hunting trips, so I try to keep a sharp eye out for them. Besides, legends say wearing fairy crosses bring good luck, so if I happen to find one, I will be sure to keep it with me!

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Lantamyra: A Tapestry of Fantasy by Susan Waterwyk – My Review

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Lantamyra – My Review!!

Lantamyra A Tapestry of Fantasy by Susan Waterwyk Cover

Lantamyra: A Tapestry of Fantasy by Susan Waterwyk was a delightful read! Filled with ruling dragons, magical crystals, and humans possessing extraordinary powers, Lantamyra is an alternate world. Against this intriguing backdrop, Susan Waterwyk constructs her tale.

The story follows the journey of a grandmother and her granddaughter to Lantamyra. Marooned on Earth 40 years earlier due to an accident during which she lost her scepter, Lenora longs to return home. Her granddaughter, Tylya, and Tylya’s boyfriend Josh Hamilton, find the scepter, and it opens a portal to the dragon-ruled world. Josh hitches a ride back to Lantamyra with Tylya and Lenora, her grandmother, and is grudgingly accepted in the dragon’s world – unlike Tylya and Lenora, who are most welcome. From there, the adventures of all three begin as they try to find their places in this alternate reality.

Susan Waterwyk weaves an intriguing tale filled with nice elements of romance, sacrifice, and acceptance. She drops hints of a deeper mystery that gradually reveals itself. You’ll have to read the second book of the series to find out how it all ends!

As an amateur rockhound and collector of gemstones, I loved how they used crystals and the key role they play in the story. Since crystals allegedly have many mysterious properties, it was not a stretch imagining the awesome powers they possess in the book.

The only drawback to me was the pace of the story. It unfolded a bit slowly for my tastes, but that was a minor distraction.

All told, Lantamyra: A Tapestry of Fantasy was an easy and charming read. I recommend it for anyone who loves dragons, romance, love, new worlds, crystals, fantasy, science fiction, and a great story! Well done Susan Waterwyk!

My rating: 4.5 Stars

Find Lantamyra: A Tapestry of Fantasy  on Amazon! Please consider leaving a review, too! Authors always appreciate hearing from their readers!! It helps us become better writers when we receive feedback.

Connect with the Author:

Find out more about Susan Waterwyk on her Facebook Page or her Amazon Author Page! Leave her a comment and let her know what you think of her books! I know she will appreciate it!

Connect with me:

Find me on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Let’s connect! I welcome new friends!!