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The Gemstone Chronicles #1
The Carnelian
Elves, magic, stolen gemstones, a quest to restore the balance between good and evil, and who is the mysterious Keeper???
When Aidan and Maggie find a fairy cross while rock hunting with their grandfather, it’s just an oddity. When they discover an elf imprisoned in the stone and free him, Dark Elves attack the siblings and their grandparents, forcing them to flee to Celahir, magical home of the Elves.
The family, with the help of their Elven friends, embarks on a dangerous adventure to find the first of the four stolen gems, the Carnelian. Without restoration of the stones, the balance between good and evil is slipping toward evil - in both Celahir and the human world…
When Aidan and Maggie find a fairy cross while rock hunting with their grandfather, it’s just an oddity. When they discover an elf imprisoned in the stone and free him, Dark Elves attack the siblings and their grandparents, forcing them to flee to Celahir, magical home of the Elves.
The family, with the help of their Elven friends, embarks on a dangerous adventure to find the first of the four stolen gems, the Carnelian. Without restoration of the stones, the balance between good and evil is slipping toward evil - in both Celahir and the human world…
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 12, 2012
42 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
William L. Stuart
4 books101 followersI am William (Bill) Stuart. I am a ten year veteran of the US Navy's submarine force (electronics technician and nuclear reactor operator), who now works in the animal health world. I am the father to a wonderful daughter (Laura), 2 extraordinary grandchildren (Aidan and Maggie), and the most wonderful wife in the world (Lana). Lana inspired me with her blog (http://www.lanascooking.com) to take a chance on publishing my books that were inspired by my grandchildren. In my spare time, I hunt for gemstones and prospect for gold in the north Georgia mountains, play softball, play golf (badly), and read - a lot.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
April 5, 2017
I love fantasy books, so the blurb on The Gemstone Chronicles Book One: The Carnelian by William L. Stuart caught my attention.
There were a few great things in this book:
– A strong family. More often than not, the hero or heroine are from a broken home or something tragic happens to a family member as the impetus for an adventure. Not in this book. I liked how Stuart placed a family with strong values and good relationships in the centre of his tale. It was neat to see how they worked together and leaned on each other.
– Light and Dark elves. It was an interesting premise and I like how the issues of today were explained by the “fall” of the light elven community.
The rest, I am sorry to say, I really didn’t enjoy. For me the story felt a bit long-winded at times, and not descriptive enough in other places. For example, the grandfather has a lot of knowledge about survival in the wild, and here Stuart goes into great detail. But when we are introduced to the elves, and other magical creatures, he leaves off the description and just gives names that are hard to pronounce.
I also felt that this book needs even more editing. I’m not talking about small grammatical errors that sometimes appear. The story is choppy with events happening at one point, and the necessary information to digest the event happening in a later chapter. We learn only near the end of the book that the grandfather was in the military and that’s how he knows so much. Also we learn only after the fact that the grandson knows karate.
I also found the name that had been given to the grandfather rather odd. I could not reconcile a skilled survivalist with the name Bebop. I just called him grandpa while I read. It is not until the end that we learn how he came to be called Bebop – from his Grandkids. But the whole time he refers to himself as Bebop, and I couldn’t take him as a character seriously.
As this book wasn’t to my liking I very much doubt I would read the rest in the series.
Reviewed by Lindsay on www.whisperingstories.com
There were a few great things in this book:
– A strong family. More often than not, the hero or heroine are from a broken home or something tragic happens to a family member as the impetus for an adventure. Not in this book. I liked how Stuart placed a family with strong values and good relationships in the centre of his tale. It was neat to see how they worked together and leaned on each other.
– Light and Dark elves. It was an interesting premise and I like how the issues of today were explained by the “fall” of the light elven community.
The rest, I am sorry to say, I really didn’t enjoy. For me the story felt a bit long-winded at times, and not descriptive enough in other places. For example, the grandfather has a lot of knowledge about survival in the wild, and here Stuart goes into great detail. But when we are introduced to the elves, and other magical creatures, he leaves off the description and just gives names that are hard to pronounce.
I also felt that this book needs even more editing. I’m not talking about small grammatical errors that sometimes appear. The story is choppy with events happening at one point, and the necessary information to digest the event happening in a later chapter. We learn only near the end of the book that the grandfather was in the military and that’s how he knows so much. Also we learn only after the fact that the grandson knows karate.
I also found the name that had been given to the grandfather rather odd. I could not reconcile a skilled survivalist with the name Bebop. I just called him grandpa while I read. It is not until the end that we learn how he came to be called Bebop – from his Grandkids. But the whole time he refers to himself as Bebop, and I couldn’t take him as a character seriously.
As this book wasn’t to my liking I very much doubt I would read the rest in the series.
Reviewed by Lindsay on www.whisperingstories.com
September 18, 2016
This is an exceptionally vivid and beautiful written story. The story of Beebop, Nan, Aiden and Maggie and their adventure into the fairy world of Celiher. I enjoyed this so much. I can tell that each book will cover the recovery of each gemstone and I love that idea. The characters are bright and they each have their own personality which adds to the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Finedecano and all the other fairies, elves, and even the dwarves,
A middle-grade book that has all the adventure without all the bad words, additional graphic violence and other things that make it for an older reader. The love of the family is so apparent and so important to the story. Truly this is a lovely read no matter what your age.
Dangerous creatures, spells, magic and evil power hungry dark elves are prevalent throughout the book and keep the reader on their toes. It is a really fun and well-written story.
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Finedecano and all the other fairies, elves, and even the dwarves,
A middle-grade book that has all the adventure without all the bad words, additional graphic violence and other things that make it for an older reader. The love of the family is so apparent and so important to the story. Truly this is a lovely read no matter what your age.
Dangerous creatures, spells, magic and evil power hungry dark elves are prevalent throughout the book and keep the reader on their toes. It is a really fun and well-written story.
June 5, 2013
**This Book Was Given For Me In Exchange For An Honest Review**
Let me start by saying this for me was a difficult book to review. I could see what the author was going for and the story idea was a great one. I flew through the book so it was definitely not a challenging book to read but there was definitely some things that didn't quite work for me.
The idea of an Elf being trapped in a stone and freed by children was genius. It had all the makings of a "Harry Potter" esque adventure that would appeal to children and adults alike. Sadly the characters just failed, for the most part, to come to life. There were flashes of inspiration that showed me what the book could have been like when Aidan misremembers a tip from his dog training classes that saves the day but not in the way he envisioned but for the most part I found that I didn't connect with any of the cast.
I think one of the biggest problems was the speech. There were practically no contractions which, whilst we would all love to think everything should be written out properly, unless you are writing a period novel, this just doesn't work. A lot of the time when the characters started speaking it felt so "wrong" that it actually pulled me out of the story which was a shame and for future books would be an easy fix.
The other problem I think this book had was pacing. I think at some points the author was so excited to get to the next bit he raced through what really needed a little more exploration. He obviously did his research when it came to magic and stones and that was really appreciated but sometimes I think he forgot that the readers hadn't created this world and didn't know as much as he did. I think some of the younger readers that it would be suitable for may struggle with some of the unexplained terms (there were a couple I had to Google), and the rushing through what are rather crucial parts to the story.
On the plus side there were a few things in the book that makes me think that there are better things to come from this author as he learns his craft and gets more experienced. A lot of the negativity would be things that could be easily fixed with the right editor because the hardest part about writing, in my opinion, is having a good story, and that is not a problem here.
Overall I give it 3 Stars but would still be intrigued to see where the story goes.
V""V
*Original Review Posted at http://www.kainas.com/?p=693
Let me start by saying this for me was a difficult book to review. I could see what the author was going for and the story idea was a great one. I flew through the book so it was definitely not a challenging book to read but there was definitely some things that didn't quite work for me.
The idea of an Elf being trapped in a stone and freed by children was genius. It had all the makings of a "Harry Potter" esque adventure that would appeal to children and adults alike. Sadly the characters just failed, for the most part, to come to life. There were flashes of inspiration that showed me what the book could have been like when Aidan misremembers a tip from his dog training classes that saves the day but not in the way he envisioned but for the most part I found that I didn't connect with any of the cast.
I think one of the biggest problems was the speech. There were practically no contractions which, whilst we would all love to think everything should be written out properly, unless you are writing a period novel, this just doesn't work. A lot of the time when the characters started speaking it felt so "wrong" that it actually pulled me out of the story which was a shame and for future books would be an easy fix.
The other problem I think this book had was pacing. I think at some points the author was so excited to get to the next bit he raced through what really needed a little more exploration. He obviously did his research when it came to magic and stones and that was really appreciated but sometimes I think he forgot that the readers hadn't created this world and didn't know as much as he did. I think some of the younger readers that it would be suitable for may struggle with some of the unexplained terms (there were a couple I had to Google), and the rushing through what are rather crucial parts to the story.
On the plus side there were a few things in the book that makes me think that there are better things to come from this author as he learns his craft and gets more experienced. A lot of the negativity would be things that could be easily fixed with the right editor because the hardest part about writing, in my opinion, is having a good story, and that is not a problem here.
Overall I give it 3 Stars but would still be intrigued to see where the story goes.
V""V
*Original Review Posted at http://www.kainas.com/?p=693
December 21, 2016
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Carnelian is a fun, family-centric story about two grandparents (Nana and Beebop) going on an unexpected adventure with Aidan and Maggie, their grandchildren. Reading this book was kind of like how I imagine things would be if I one day discover magic existed. While spending summer vacation with their grandparents, certain circumstances lead Aidan and Maggie to Celahir, a world with elves, trolls, kelpies, and more. Finding themselves suddenly involved with trouble from opposing sides, the main characters learn magic and escape their pursuers while trying to find their way home.
My favourite things about this book were exploring Celahir and seeing the different creatures that inhabited it. I found the gemstones quite interesting too, specially when it came to powers associated with each one. The carnelian is specifically known to impart courage and that was evident in the story as the characters faced obstacles and challenges during their adventure.
As much as I liked the story, there were a few things that dampened my enjoyment. The first book of any series is always at risk for having many info dumps and The Carnelian was no exception. I sometimes found these info dumps too long and would have preferred it if some of the information wer discovered by the characters during their quest. The Carnelian also had moments of repetitiveness when characters relayed previous events to others.
Another thing I had difficulty with was connecting with the characters. Although I could sympathize with their struggles, I didn't feel the emotions they expressed. Some of the dialogue felt flat and pulled me away from the story but I do feel this can improve by better balancing descriptions relating to events vs ones relating to the characters. If a little more time were spent on building up a character's thoughts/feelings about a certain character/event, the reader may be more likely to feel the gravity of their emotions later.
Overall, I found The Carnelian to be an entertaining read. There is a lot of potential in this story as more of the gemstones are discovered and our characters develop. I can also see this book working well as a bedtime story with kids anticipating how the story progresses with each chapter.
The Carnelian is a fun, family-centric story about two grandparents (Nana and Beebop) going on an unexpected adventure with Aidan and Maggie, their grandchildren. Reading this book was kind of like how I imagine things would be if I one day discover magic existed. While spending summer vacation with their grandparents, certain circumstances lead Aidan and Maggie to Celahir, a world with elves, trolls, kelpies, and more. Finding themselves suddenly involved with trouble from opposing sides, the main characters learn magic and escape their pursuers while trying to find their way home.
My favourite things about this book were exploring Celahir and seeing the different creatures that inhabited it. I found the gemstones quite interesting too, specially when it came to powers associated with each one. The carnelian is specifically known to impart courage and that was evident in the story as the characters faced obstacles and challenges during their adventure.
As much as I liked the story, there were a few things that dampened my enjoyment. The first book of any series is always at risk for having many info dumps and The Carnelian was no exception. I sometimes found these info dumps too long and would have preferred it if some of the information wer discovered by the characters during their quest. The Carnelian also had moments of repetitiveness when characters relayed previous events to others.
Another thing I had difficulty with was connecting with the characters. Although I could sympathize with their struggles, I didn't feel the emotions they expressed. Some of the dialogue felt flat and pulled me away from the story but I do feel this can improve by better balancing descriptions relating to events vs ones relating to the characters. If a little more time were spent on building up a character's thoughts/feelings about a certain character/event, the reader may be more likely to feel the gravity of their emotions later.
Overall, I found The Carnelian to be an entertaining read. There is a lot of potential in this story as more of the gemstones are discovered and our characters develop. I can also see this book working well as a bedtime story with kids anticipating how the story progresses with each chapter.
January 16, 2013
The Gemstone Chronicles is definitely written at a children's level, but even so it is a magical read for adults as well. I loved the characters and enjoyed following them on their adventures and will definitely read the next book when it comes out. I have even recommended it to my friends who have children in grade school because it's a series that kids could easily become addicted to, and we all know that it's important to get kids interested in reading :).
July 2, 2014
This review was originally published on Blogs of a Bookaholic.
Fun fantasy for all the family. Magical Elves, terrible trolls and mysterious gemstones.
Beebop, Nana, Aidan and Maggie are your stereotypical loving family, they don’t have to worry about anything except school and what they might be having for dinner. Yet when Beebop and the kids go rock hunting they come across a mysterious stone in the shape of a cross. Intrigued, they take it home with plans to study it further. But there is something unusual about it, and one evening before Maggie goes to sleep a spectral figure appears begging to be released. Alarmed, Nana insists they get rid of the stone, but the children cannot quell their curiosity. They smash it freeing an elf named Findecano, he tells them of a word of magical creatures, feuding clans and ancient gemstones. The family cannot believe their ears, but when their house is ransacked by an angry troll they are forced to accept that the stories are true. Findecano, worried for the families safety, leads them back through the veil to the elven world where they will embark on an epic journey to restore the balance of power between the two worlds.
This book is so fun and cute in every way! But lets start with the writing.
Stuart has a great style that lends itself really well to the fantasy genre, it actually reminded me a little of Neil Gaiman’s Stardust. Everything has an air of lighthearted fun and magic, settings and people are described with an almost childlike wonder that makes the story feel fresh, and you can’t help but get swept up within the first few pages. The book is aimed at youngish children and the writing reflects this, it’s simple and easy to understand but without talking down to the reader or becoming patronizing.
There are however, a few issues that need to be ironed out that I’m sure will come naturally with practice. I found some of the descriptions difficult to follow at points, specifically in reference to the gemstones. This was probably because the author knew exactly what he was talking about, but to me as a reader with almost no knowledge of them I did get confused with some of the terminology. There was also a lack of contractions during dialogue(hey check me out, I learnt a new word!). For example “We are all sleeping in here. I will stay up and keep an eye on things," this would be totally normal for description, but as speech it’s quite jarring as most people don’t speak like that during everyday life. We’re lazy, we like our apostrophes’! I also felt that changing this could make the distinction between the humans and elves more prominent.
The final issue I had was the lack of synonyms at certain points in the novel. The majority of the book was very well written and flowed perfectly, yet there were some passages sprinkled throughout that were overly repetitive. While in theory this may not seem like a big issue, each time it happened I found myself catapulted out of the story because it didn’t flow, and this was quite frustrating.
I thought the plot of this book was excellent! I’m not sure why I had a preconceived idea, possibly because the book was aimed at children, but it was detailed and complex! All the storylines were well thought out and the world building was impressive. I loved the idea of gemstones with different properties, strength, protection, etc. and Stuart’s own additions to elf mythology. The concept of elves living as long as it took them to fulfill their purpose whether 20 years or 200 was intriguing to me and the feuding clans made a great backstory. Equally the Celtic folklore on the Kelpie (a magical beast in the form of a horse that lures travelers onto its back and drowns them) was a really interesting as I had never heard of it before, and I’m always interested in discovering new mythical creatures! The parallel’s with the human world and the idea that an unequal balance of dark and light on the elves side was affecting our world in the form of natural disasters and global warming felt really innovative too.
What I loved best about this book though was the characters. They were all so crystal clear in my mind that I could picture exactly what they looked like and how they would sound, not from their physical description but from their personality which is how it should be. Beebop an ex navy submarine operator makes the perfect grandfather with his sense of humor and quirky hobbies. He is always finding ways to entertain his grandchildren from rock hunting to teaching them how to drive. His wife is probably the most badass nan I have ever come across. Not only does she blog, she also knocks out a troll with a frying pan without a moments thought. Go Nana! I also liked the fact that the two grandchildren, Aidan and Maggie although not as developed, were given strengths in different areas. While Aidan relied on muscle during the book Maggie’s power laid with her mind, but both showed large amounts of courage in the face of adversity.
Findecano the elf was also a very entertaining character, and his interpretations of the human world and their customs often made me chuckle!
The Gemstone Chronicles: The Carnelian is a fun book that would make perfect family bedtime reading. As an ideal audience I would recommend it to children ages 7-13, as the characters Aidan and Maggie will reflect their own secret fantasies, wishes and dreams. However, this book does not have limited appeal, as a teenager I really enjoyed it, and I think many adults would enjoy it too! I am looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book. While there are a few writing issues that need to be sorted, this book is getting a happy 4 stars because my heart says so. :D
*Please note: This was originally reviewed on Blogs of a Bookaholic and was offered to me in exchange for an author interview, book giveaway and an honest review.*
October 8, 2013
*I received a free copy of this book from the author through Shut Up and Read in exchange for an honest review*
When an ordinary family release a trapped elf from a stone, they find themselves in the middle of an Elf War and join a quest to find legendary gems of power that will win the war for the good elves. However the dark elves and dangerous creatures seek to stop the quest at any cost.
The thing I really liked about this book is that grandparents get a starring role as adventure heroes, which makes a nice change. I liked the idea of the quest for the gemstones with the elf war and dangerous creatures chasing the group. I also liked Nana and Beebop as the adventure couple despite her dodgy back, and the cast of characters were interesting especially Keeper, who I would want to see more of. He was intriguing and interesting. I liked the story of the Kelpie as well. I would have liked to have seen the dangerous confrontations developed a bit more instead of being quckly solved or escaped from. Overall it was an entertaining magical adventure story that will appeal to adults and the older YA.
There were, however, niggles that caused this to be 3 star rather than a higher mark. The first thing I would comment on are the frequent and often complicated info dumps, some of which younger readers might not understand. It is also a bit repetitive. We get the action happening through the eyes of characters and a few pages later, those characters tell the others what happened pretty much word for word. That gets pretty boring and for me it isn't really necessary. We also get told about every meal they have and every bedtime routine, even though it is virtually the same every time. There is a lot of description in the book which also wasn't necessary. By this I mean that we got a full description of every room in Beebop's house, his vehicles, his rock hunting equipment and how he uses it, his tools and how he uses them to make his gems-and then most of the book is spent in another realm! We didn't really need so much detail of a place we see very little of. I also felt that every escape from the bad guys was just too easy and convenient. Every time they were trapped, a family member instantly developed a new skill, thought or spell to get them out of it with minimum effort. It was just a bit too easy for my liking.
The children annoyed me a bit with their immaturity. I expected Maggie to break the rules and not do what she was told, but Aidan was worse. He was the most immature 14 year old I've read about! He never does what he is told and never seems to think of the consequences of his actions ie levitating the spit, freeing the elf etc. I found him pretty annoying but that is a personal thing. The entire family fail to follow advice for their safety ie don't use magic or they'll track us and the next thing Maggie and Nana are out-Yodaing each other in the forest! Still, I don't blame the author for the faults of the characters though, as he is doing that to create more dangerous situations for the reader to enjoy.
It was still a good read and if the opportunity arose, I'd probably read the rest of the series. If you like magical adventure stories, this one might interest you. No sexual content or bad language.
When an ordinary family release a trapped elf from a stone, they find themselves in the middle of an Elf War and join a quest to find legendary gems of power that will win the war for the good elves. However the dark elves and dangerous creatures seek to stop the quest at any cost.
The thing I really liked about this book is that grandparents get a starring role as adventure heroes, which makes a nice change. I liked the idea of the quest for the gemstones with the elf war and dangerous creatures chasing the group. I also liked Nana and Beebop as the adventure couple despite her dodgy back, and the cast of characters were interesting especially Keeper, who I would want to see more of. He was intriguing and interesting. I liked the story of the Kelpie as well. I would have liked to have seen the dangerous confrontations developed a bit more instead of being quckly solved or escaped from. Overall it was an entertaining magical adventure story that will appeal to adults and the older YA.
There were, however, niggles that caused this to be 3 star rather than a higher mark. The first thing I would comment on are the frequent and often complicated info dumps, some of which younger readers might not understand. It is also a bit repetitive. We get the action happening through the eyes of characters and a few pages later, those characters tell the others what happened pretty much word for word. That gets pretty boring and for me it isn't really necessary. We also get told about every meal they have and every bedtime routine, even though it is virtually the same every time. There is a lot of description in the book which also wasn't necessary. By this I mean that we got a full description of every room in Beebop's house, his vehicles, his rock hunting equipment and how he uses it, his tools and how he uses them to make his gems-and then most of the book is spent in another realm! We didn't really need so much detail of a place we see very little of. I also felt that every escape from the bad guys was just too easy and convenient. Every time they were trapped, a family member instantly developed a new skill, thought or spell to get them out of it with minimum effort. It was just a bit too easy for my liking.
The children annoyed me a bit with their immaturity. I expected Maggie to break the rules and not do what she was told, but Aidan was worse. He was the most immature 14 year old I've read about! He never does what he is told and never seems to think of the consequences of his actions ie levitating the spit, freeing the elf etc. I found him pretty annoying but that is a personal thing. The entire family fail to follow advice for their safety ie don't use magic or they'll track us and the next thing Maggie and Nana are out-Yodaing each other in the forest! Still, I don't blame the author for the faults of the characters though, as he is doing that to create more dangerous situations for the reader to enjoy.
It was still a good read and if the opportunity arose, I'd probably read the rest of the series. If you like magical adventure stories, this one might interest you. No sexual content or bad language.
December 30, 2016
The Carnelian is an entertaining fantasy story full of adventures and fun family moments. It's directed mostly to children and teenagers, but I think it can be enjoyed by whole families.
As Aidan and Maggie go on a rock hunt with their grandfather Beebop, they find a strange stone. Soon they discover that there's an elf imprisoned inside it but when they set him free, together with their grandparents, Aidan and Maggie are thrown into a big adventure in the magical world of Celahir.
The Gemstone Chronicles: The Carnelian has that feel of classic fantasy. The world created by the author was truly interesting and made me want to learn more about it and experience it more. Light and dark elves, and various other magical creatures, they were all fun to read about. It was great that the story was loosely based aroung the celtic mythology and I enjoyed learning about various gemstones. Another thing that I really liked about it was the choice of the characters. I think that it's the first time that I read a story were some of the main characters, apart from children, were grandparents. They played just as big part in it as the two young siblings and I enjoyed seeing their interactions and how they grew and changed through their adventures.
However, there were also a few things that influenced my rating and my decision to give this book three stars. The story had a bit too many descriptions and too few dialogues. Oftentime the author would describe things like daily routine, that weren't really crucial to the story and didn’t bring anything new. I also noticed a lot of repetitions, mostly with the usage of characters' names, which could easily be replaced with pronouns or descriptive words. It made the flow of the story and the dialogues rather rigid at times. The humans, especially the grandparents tend to talk a lot like the elves too, which made them feel slightly out of character. As the story went on, there were less long descriptions, so the pacing got better and I was happy about it. The idea and the feeling of the story was right, so I could definitely see the author becoming a lot better as he improves his skills.
To sum up, The Carnelian is a promising debut, an intriguing start to the new series and a fun magical story perfect for the readers who like to travel to other worlds A little sneak peek at the end of the book shows what's next in store for Aidan, Maggie, Nana and Beebop and I'm sure all children and parents will love it!
I have kindly received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The review also appeared on my blog.
As Aidan and Maggie go on a rock hunt with their grandfather Beebop, they find a strange stone. Soon they discover that there's an elf imprisoned inside it but when they set him free, together with their grandparents, Aidan and Maggie are thrown into a big adventure in the magical world of Celahir.
The Gemstone Chronicles: The Carnelian has that feel of classic fantasy. The world created by the author was truly interesting and made me want to learn more about it and experience it more. Light and dark elves, and various other magical creatures, they were all fun to read about. It was great that the story was loosely based aroung the celtic mythology and I enjoyed learning about various gemstones. Another thing that I really liked about it was the choice of the characters. I think that it's the first time that I read a story were some of the main characters, apart from children, were grandparents. They played just as big part in it as the two young siblings and I enjoyed seeing their interactions and how they grew and changed through their adventures.
However, there were also a few things that influenced my rating and my decision to give this book three stars. The story had a bit too many descriptions and too few dialogues. Oftentime the author would describe things like daily routine, that weren't really crucial to the story and didn’t bring anything new. I also noticed a lot of repetitions, mostly with the usage of characters' names, which could easily be replaced with pronouns or descriptive words. It made the flow of the story and the dialogues rather rigid at times. The humans, especially the grandparents tend to talk a lot like the elves too, which made them feel slightly out of character. As the story went on, there were less long descriptions, so the pacing got better and I was happy about it. The idea and the feeling of the story was right, so I could definitely see the author becoming a lot better as he improves his skills.
To sum up, The Carnelian is a promising debut, an intriguing start to the new series and a fun magical story perfect for the readers who like to travel to other worlds A little sneak peek at the end of the book shows what's next in store for Aidan, Maggie, Nana and Beebop and I'm sure all children and parents will love it!
I have kindly received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The review also appeared on my blog.
June 10, 2018
I very much love a good fantasy book and feels as if it's been ages since I've read one. When I came across this book, I snatched it up. The bonus? It's book one in a series of four. You guessed it. I also love a really good fantasy series.
The Good:
The human portion of the main characters was made up of a strong, loving family. They protected, supported, and encouraged each other every step of the way and it was really great to see. On the other side of things, I also enjoyed the mystical creatures in the story and how things were loosely based upon Irish mythology. I also loved the character of Keeper and would love to learn more about him.
The Bad:
There are a few things, so let me break it down...
Grammar - I lost track of the number of times I was pulled out of the story due to a missing word, a lack of commas, or in at least one case, the author using the wrong pronoun to describe one of his characters. All of this could be corrected with a good proofreader and I hope that the author does so and releases a new edition.
Descriptions - The book got a bit repetitious at times and yet, at others, descriptions that should have come far earlier in the book were left until nearly the end.
Characters - While I really did enjoy most of the characters, I found Aidan a bit disconcerting at times. Don't get me wrong, I know that 14 year old boys can be headstrong and will at times do just what they want and not necessarily what they were told, but Aidan did this on a frequent basis and as someone who is represented as loving and respecting his grandparents, his actions didn't often back that up.
The Summary:
I am truly on the fence as to whether or not I want to purchase the second book in this series. I think that the premise is fantastic and that the story telling itself was, for the most part, really enjoyable. However, the lack of having a good editor or at least a proofreader really has put me off. It's tough to read a book where every few pages you're thrown out of the story. So, my recommendation? Give this one a try and then decide for yourself where to go. For $2.99 on Amazon, you're out less than a cup of coffee at Starbucks if you don't enjoy it.
May 6, 2013
William Stuart has proven beyond a doubt with his children’s fantasy, The Gemstone Chronicles Book One: The Carnelian that Grandparents Rock and the hero worship young children give them is well deserved! The adventures young Aidan and Maggie went on with Beebop and Nana were definitely more exciting than the latest electronic game! As the story begins, Aidan and Maggie go rock hunting with their grandfather. The kids come across a most unusual stone that contains a magical elf from another world. What do the grandparents do? They offer the elf a place to stay, food, all without the huge hoopla that we all KNOW parents would have shown! Findecano, the elf, is being chased by an ugly troll who has been after him for eons and who shows up the next day through a hidden ‘barrier’ between our world and the magical world of Celahir. The group, grandparents, elf and kids must travel to Celahir through the barrier and their magical adventure truly begins as they go racing through the perils presented by so many magical creatures! If not for Nan’s ability to be unflappable and Beebop’s “MacGiver-like” brains and ingenuity, the four of them would never have stood a chance! Aidan and Maggie witness firsthand what keeping a cool head can do, learning valuable lessons along the way. But, will they be back home before their parents come to get them? Would their parents even believe what happened to them? This could be one time that what happens at Grandma’s STAYS at Grandma’s!
William Stuart has created a beautiful escape for children, filled with awe inspiring wonder. His descriptions of a world so different from our own invite the imagination to run wild! What I especially liked was how he allowed his characters to ask about and learn of our world, too, through Beebop, Nana and even the kids. A well-done adventure for children of all ages to share!
Thank you for sharing your imagination with us!
William Stuart has created a beautiful escape for children, filled with awe inspiring wonder. His descriptions of a world so different from our own invite the imagination to run wild! What I especially liked was how he allowed his characters to ask about and learn of our world, too, through Beebop, Nana and even the kids. A well-done adventure for children of all ages to share!
Thank you for sharing your imagination with us!
August 6, 2017
I received this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.
While rock hunting with their grandpa, Aidan and Maggie discover an odd fairy cross stone. It turns out that a real life elf's been imprisoned inside it for the last 200 years and they decide that they need to set him free. Before they know it, Aidan, Maggie, and their grandparents, Beebop and Nana, are being attacked by Dark Elves and they have no choice but to flee with Findecano, the Light Elf who had been imprisoned in the stone, into the magical realm of Celahir. In Celahir with Findecano, the family has no choice but to go on a quest in order to recover the stolen gemstones from the Elven Bow, a magical artifact of the Light Elves. Without the recovery of the gemstones, the balance between good and evil in both Celahir and the human world could tip irrevocably toward evil.
If you're looking for an epic older MG/ younger YA adventure fantasy novel, you really should try The Carnelian, which is book one of William L. Stuart's The Gemstone Chronicles. The world-building is well imagined and the cast of characters feel quite real. As much as I loved Aidan and Maggie, I really appreciated the fact that their grandparents, Nana and Beebop, have such a great role in the adventure. On that note, I also enjoyed the magic via gemstone aspect. Plus, we even get to see kelpies, aka water horses, which don't show up often enough in fantasy, in my opinion anyway. It's refreshing to see something different for a change. Also, I just have to say that I totally had Drizzt in the back of my mind for the Dark Elves, aka the Drow.
Are you a fan of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis? Then you absolutely need to to try this fun series opener. I am certainly looking forward to trying book two, The Amethyst. Thanks again, Mr. Stuart, for giving me this opportunity!
While rock hunting with their grandpa, Aidan and Maggie discover an odd fairy cross stone. It turns out that a real life elf's been imprisoned inside it for the last 200 years and they decide that they need to set him free. Before they know it, Aidan, Maggie, and their grandparents, Beebop and Nana, are being attacked by Dark Elves and they have no choice but to flee with Findecano, the Light Elf who had been imprisoned in the stone, into the magical realm of Celahir. In Celahir with Findecano, the family has no choice but to go on a quest in order to recover the stolen gemstones from the Elven Bow, a magical artifact of the Light Elves. Without the recovery of the gemstones, the balance between good and evil in both Celahir and the human world could tip irrevocably toward evil.
If you're looking for an epic older MG/ younger YA adventure fantasy novel, you really should try The Carnelian, which is book one of William L. Stuart's The Gemstone Chronicles. The world-building is well imagined and the cast of characters feel quite real. As much as I loved Aidan and Maggie, I really appreciated the fact that their grandparents, Nana and Beebop, have such a great role in the adventure. On that note, I also enjoyed the magic via gemstone aspect. Plus, we even get to see kelpies, aka water horses, which don't show up often enough in fantasy, in my opinion anyway. It's refreshing to see something different for a change. Also, I just have to say that I totally had Drizzt in the back of my mind for the Dark Elves, aka the Drow.
Are you a fan of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis? Then you absolutely need to to try this fun series opener. I am certainly looking forward to trying book two, The Amethyst. Thanks again, Mr. Stuart, for giving me this opportunity!
March 27, 2013
Review of The Gemstone Chronicles Book One: The Carnelian by William L. Stuart
5 stars
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.
5 stars
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.
April 20, 2013
The Gemstone Chronicles Book One: The Carnelian by William Stuart tells the story of two kids, Aidan & Maggie, who are spending the summer with their grandparents, Nana & Beebop. During the summer, they discover a fairy cross stone and see a vision of an elf. After releasing the elf, Findecano, from the stone a friendship develops and they go across the barrier to the magical world of Celahir and embark on an epic adventure. Along the way they make new friends and also a few enemies. They discover that they can use magical powers related to their birthstones and they also go through some self discovery.
I had a hard time getting into the story at first because the author spent a lot of time
describing things and presenting the back story. But soon, I found myself hooked and the action really picked up. And then I couldn't put the book down.
William Stuart has managed to create a world where all of our myths are real. The author's descriptive writing style made it easy to picture the magical fantasy world that the characters found themselves in and the strange creatures that they came across. Mr. Stuart also managed to create realistic and likeable characters with unique personalities. The main characters of Aidan, Maggie, Nan, Beebop, and Findecano were outstanding...but even the secondary characters really came to life. I particularly liked the character of The Keeper and I have a feeling that he may become a more important character as the series progresses.
This book would be great for young readers because two of the main characters, Aidan & Maggie are both young and relatable. I loved how these two young children found inner strength and bravery throughout the story. But this story isn't just for young readers, it is a fun read for fantasy lovers of all ages.
This is the first book in a series, but it was a complete story and did not end in a cliffhanger. I can tell you that I will definitely be reading the rest of the series.
I had a hard time getting into the story at first because the author spent a lot of time
describing things and presenting the back story. But soon, I found myself hooked and the action really picked up. And then I couldn't put the book down.
William Stuart has managed to create a world where all of our myths are real. The author's descriptive writing style made it easy to picture the magical fantasy world that the characters found themselves in and the strange creatures that they came across. Mr. Stuart also managed to create realistic and likeable characters with unique personalities. The main characters of Aidan, Maggie, Nan, Beebop, and Findecano were outstanding...but even the secondary characters really came to life. I particularly liked the character of The Keeper and I have a feeling that he may become a more important character as the series progresses.
This book would be great for young readers because two of the main characters, Aidan & Maggie are both young and relatable. I loved how these two young children found inner strength and bravery throughout the story. But this story isn't just for young readers, it is a fun read for fantasy lovers of all ages.
This is the first book in a series, but it was a complete story and did not end in a cliffhanger. I can tell you that I will definitely be reading the rest of the series.
July 12, 2015
A good series starter
An interesting first book of a middle-grade series, The Carnelian, The Gemstone Chronicles Book One, starts with a rural Georgian family (U.S., not Russian) and takes the reader on a fantasy adventure that moves along at a subtle pace. The main characters—grandparents and two grandchildren—end up on a journey in a non-cartoon fantasyland within our world where they meet all manner of beings and creatures from Elves, downward. (Reminiscent of many of the inhabitants of LOTR.)
Mr. Stuart has a credible imagination, and tells the story with a smooth and interesting voice. Its pacing is almost perfect for the young middle grade readers. I think this is a perfect novel to get any 11-15 year old off on the road to fantasy and science fiction.
Good luck with the rest of the series, Mr. Stuart.
An interesting first book of a middle-grade series, The Carnelian, The Gemstone Chronicles Book One, starts with a rural Georgian family (U.S., not Russian) and takes the reader on a fantasy adventure that moves along at a subtle pace. The main characters—grandparents and two grandchildren—end up on a journey in a non-cartoon fantasyland within our world where they meet all manner of beings and creatures from Elves, downward. (Reminiscent of many of the inhabitants of LOTR.)
Mr. Stuart has a credible imagination, and tells the story with a smooth and interesting voice. Its pacing is almost perfect for the young middle grade readers. I think this is a perfect novel to get any 11-15 year old off on the road to fantasy and science fiction.
Good luck with the rest of the series, Mr. Stuart.
August 23, 2016
A day's rock hunting with their grandfather- Beebop yields a good haul of precious gems for Aidan and his sister, Maggie. They also find some unusual rocks of a crystalline nature- fairy crosses. That night Maggie brings one of the rocks with her into her room and the family are awakened by her screams. Trapped in the fairy cross is an elf and when the children free him, much to their grandparents dismay they find themselves hurtling into an adventure involving trolls, dark elves and magical realms on a crusade to recover gems in order to restore the balance of good and evil in the world.
A lighthearted, children's story full of Celtic myth and magic and a good smattering of the author's knowledge of gemstones.
A lighthearted, children's story full of Celtic myth and magic and a good smattering of the author's knowledge of gemstones.
August 3, 2015
This book was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review.
This story makes me feel like a little kid again, it's so cute and full adventure. This story follows Aidan and Maggie who are going to spend their summer with their grandparents. Magical adventures ensue with some amazing characters. This story is prefect for young kids and even an adult who's young at heart. It will appeal to fans of The Chronicles of Narnia. They both have the same vibe. This story is all it's own and just so much fun. I also think that even grandparents can get into this story. It also shows that grandparents rock! I think anyone would have a great time while reading this book!
This story makes me feel like a little kid again, it's so cute and full adventure. This story follows Aidan and Maggie who are going to spend their summer with their grandparents. Magical adventures ensue with some amazing characters. This story is prefect for young kids and even an adult who's young at heart. It will appeal to fans of The Chronicles of Narnia. They both have the same vibe. This story is all it's own and just so much fun. I also think that even grandparents can get into this story. It also shows that grandparents rock! I think anyone would have a great time while reading this book!
May 4, 2016
Battle against evil in a magical world.
There are a lot of threads in this book, and a lot of sudden changes of point of view that sometimes left me in a tangle. That said, I really enjoyed the rock-hunting and gemstone setting to the story. The mix of main characters, youngsters and their grandparents, is unusual, but it did make Aidan and Maggie very human, no mean feat in a fantasy.
There are a lot of threads in this book, and a lot of sudden changes of point of view that sometimes left me in a tangle. That said, I really enjoyed the rock-hunting and gemstone setting to the story. The mix of main characters, youngsters and their grandparents, is unusual, but it did make Aidan and Maggie very human, no mean feat in a fantasy.
May 13, 2020
In Short: This is a sweet, action-packed story that even though it’s fraught with danger it has a warm feeling overall. You’ll be transported to a fantasy realm where mythical creatures exist and must be outsmarted and defeated using newly discovered magical powers. Overall, I enjoyed this book and am glad I read it. It had a solid conclusion while also leaving a lot more story to be told in the rest of the series.
“Accepting a gift honors the giver.”
Pros: The characters feel very real. They each have their own personality and feel very rooted in reality even when they’re in Celahir. Despite our age difference I related the most to Nana. We both have sweet husbands who are Navy veterans and just like her my goal would have been getting my (grand)kid(s) back the safty of our world. The family is full of love and that is a huge ongoing theme that will lighten your mood and make the read feel like a real pleasure. They consistently work as a team to overcome terrifying odds and always forgive each other for their mistakes. The information about the different gemstone’s, their properties, and the way they gave the characters unique magical abilities was really interesting and constantly evolving. If you like fantasy novels about magical lands inhabited by elves, and gemstones awakening hidden powers, you’ll want to check this series out!
“If an elf dies before fulfilling their purpose, their life is considered a failure.”
Cons: My only complaint is that it could have been trimmed down a little with editing. Some phrases are reused enough times for it to be noticeable. Some scenes were repeated as a character relayed what happened to another character that missed the action. For the reader, it wasn’t necessary and could have been summarized to avoid being redundant. The upside of this would be for children working on reading comprehension skills it gives them more of a chance to catch all the details of an event while practicing their reading skills.
I was given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
“Accepting a gift honors the giver.”
Pros: The characters feel very real. They each have their own personality and feel very rooted in reality even when they’re in Celahir. Despite our age difference I related the most to Nana. We both have sweet husbands who are Navy veterans and just like her my goal would have been getting my (grand)kid(s) back the safty of our world. The family is full of love and that is a huge ongoing theme that will lighten your mood and make the read feel like a real pleasure. They consistently work as a team to overcome terrifying odds and always forgive each other for their mistakes. The information about the different gemstone’s, their properties, and the way they gave the characters unique magical abilities was really interesting and constantly evolving. If you like fantasy novels about magical lands inhabited by elves, and gemstones awakening hidden powers, you’ll want to check this series out!
“If an elf dies before fulfilling their purpose, their life is considered a failure.”
Cons: My only complaint is that it could have been trimmed down a little with editing. Some phrases are reused enough times for it to be noticeable. Some scenes were repeated as a character relayed what happened to another character that missed the action. For the reader, it wasn’t necessary and could have been summarized to avoid being redundant. The upside of this would be for children working on reading comprehension skills it gives them more of a chance to catch all the details of an event while practicing their reading skills.
I was given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
December 26, 2017
It started innocently enough, a day like any other spent with their grandparents. While out with Beebop, and her brother Aidan, Maggie found an unusual stone amidst a scattering of Fairy Crosses. But it wasn't until later that night they would come to learn what she truly possessed. A strange apparition appears begging to be released from the prison in her possession. Throwin vaution, and their grandparents warnings to the wind Maggie and Aidan choose to do as this figure asked. But there was more to the stone than they knew, and something else was released. Elves were an ancient race, forever engaged in conflict between the Light and Dark Elves. A long time ago the Drow had set four gemstones in both a sword, and a bow, one for the Dark the other for the Light, but these eight stones served a greater purpose. Findecano, the Light elf imprisoned within the stone, had been on a quest of epic proportion. The bow have been stolen, tipping the balance of power between the races and weakening the magical barrier between worlds. Their involvement with Findecano brought this family's existence to the attention of the Dark Elves, leaving them no choice but to flee across the barrier and aid Findecano with his quest to restore the stones to the bow.
The Carnelian is the first book in The Gemstone Chronicles by William Stuart. It is a great starting point for a children/teenage fantasy series and weaves a tale of family bonds, friendship, and overcoming difficulties. The addition of humour and twists add to the author's fun style. There is some great imagination woven into the story, and some gripping action as their quest unfolds. Definitely a good start to the series.
The Carnelian is the first book in The Gemstone Chronicles by William Stuart. It is a great starting point for a children/teenage fantasy series and weaves a tale of family bonds, friendship, and overcoming difficulties. The addition of humour and twists add to the author's fun style. There is some great imagination woven into the story, and some gripping action as their quest unfolds. Definitely a good start to the series.
October 31, 2018
Beebop, Nana, and their two grandchildren Robin and Maggie, are about to set off into a fantastic journey into a world of elves, orcs, trolls, and the occasionally dwarf. While Robins and Maggie’s parents are off on a trip, the four go rock hunting and discover a very rare gemstone. When a vision of an elf appears from stone asking for help, the family doesn’t know what to think and tries to dismiss it. But Robin decides to rescue the elf by breaking the stone open. Nothing is the same after that.
This is a very cute and fun story and I loved seeing grandparents working with their grandkids. I enjoy fantasy and I thought the setup of how the magic worked was well done. The world building was okay, but often felt derivative.
I think a good content and line editor (or editing software) would have served the author well as there were several instances where the same phrase or word was repeated in a single paragraph numerous times. The story also lost momentum when an event we had already witnessed was repeated in minute detail to another character who had not been present. (This did get better in the second half of the book.) There were also the constant POV switches and some were within the same paragraph.
The characters were enjoyable, but I was hoping for better defined character arcs. Hopefully, we’ll see that in the later books.
This series has lots of potential as a family friendly adventure.
This is a very cute and fun story and I loved seeing grandparents working with their grandkids. I enjoy fantasy and I thought the setup of how the magic worked was well done. The world building was okay, but often felt derivative.
I think a good content and line editor (or editing software) would have served the author well as there were several instances where the same phrase or word was repeated in a single paragraph numerous times. The story also lost momentum when an event we had already witnessed was repeated in minute detail to another character who had not been present. (This did get better in the second half of the book.) There were also the constant POV switches and some were within the same paragraph.
The characters were enjoyable, but I was hoping for better defined character arcs. Hopefully, we’ll see that in the later books.
This series has lots of potential as a family friendly adventure.
January 29, 2018
I enjoyed this story. The information about the gems and their powers was a nice touch. For the most part, the story flowed along nicely, with plenty of action. Early on, however, there were times when characters repeated details and events that had already been talked about. As the story progressed, these were handled better in summary form, rather than repeating all the details. Despite this, the story itself was entertaining and a pleasure to read. I liked the introduction of the kelpie and the information regarding what it was and all the other details about it.
February 25, 2018
I’m a big fan of metaphysical tales and fantasy, and especially of those that involve elves and fairies. Although I usually prefer a more metaphysical approach to this subject, I was not left disappointed by this novel. The story is fresh, flowing and the fantasy world very well established. I also love gemstones so I appreciated the author’s research and knowledge of the minerals. I also liked the characters and their relationship as there is a nice tone to their connection. This really is a family adventure and I think both kids and their parents can enjoy the read.
December 6, 2017
Fun story that the whole family can enjoy
This is a sword/sorcery fantasy centred around a strong close-knit family who function well together and support each other in times of struggle and adversity. Some of the characters could be developed more and it may be these will come through in subsequent books but in this book some characters have had a light touch. I also stumbled over some of the unusual names/titles and that interrupted my reading. The writing is fine but could do without repetition/recalling of events already told. That said, the book provides a great adventure in a quest to recover stolen four gemstones and restore them to the Elven Bow and bring back Light and Good to the World. It's a fun story with good twists and turns that the whole family can enjoy. Recommended.
This is a sword/sorcery fantasy centred around a strong close-knit family who function well together and support each other in times of struggle and adversity. Some of the characters could be developed more and it may be these will come through in subsequent books but in this book some characters have had a light touch. I also stumbled over some of the unusual names/titles and that interrupted my reading. The writing is fine but could do without repetition/recalling of events already told. That said, the book provides a great adventure in a quest to recover stolen four gemstones and restore them to the Elven Bow and bring back Light and Good to the World. It's a fun story with good twists and turns that the whole family can enjoy. Recommended.
April 9, 2016
An imaginative fantasy that the entire family can enjoy, THE CARNELIAN is the first book in author William L. Stuart's THE GEMSTONE CHRONICLES. Children in middle grades through teen years will especially take to this series, but it is suspenseful and exciting for adult readers as well.
Based on Celtic lore, THE CARNELIAN follows a close-knit family, grandparents Nana and Beebop and grandchildren Aidan and Maggie, as their ordinary rock-hunting expedition takes an amazing and eerie turn, revealing a hidden, magical world. When the children free the gallant elf Findecano from his enchanted rock prison, the family resolves to join him in his quest to restore Light and Good to his world, Celahir. The theft of four gemstones from a sacred Elven Bow has allowed Dark forces to gather and gain power over the magical land, and it is up to Findecano and his four human friends to set things right.
Each of the books in the series involves a quest to retrieve one of the powerful gemstones from a magical and fearsome creature. THE CARNELIAN is guarded by a terrifying kelpie, a Celtic water beast able to shift from its own, naturally gruesome form to that of a human or horse. (Some claim the Loch Ness Monster is a kelpie.) The family, armed only with their power-channeling birthstones, must somehow not only survive the kelpie's attacks, but outwit and control it long enough to retrieve the carnelian. It seems an impossible task, and might very well be a deadly one!
I very much enjoyed the twists and turns in the story, as well as the warm, loving, and often humorous relationship of the children and their devoted grandparents. The children are resourceful and courageous, but they behave like real children might in such fantastical circumstances. Aidan can be cocky and headstrong, and tenderhearted Maggie's very innocence sometimes leads her into dangerous situations.
There are some sections in the story that drag a bit due to too much exposition or too much recap of what we've already read, but it's a minor flaw. There is quite enough action and suspense to keep things moving along. Older children who enjoy series such as Harry Potter, Narnia, Charlie Bones, Nanny McPhee, and so on will enjoy THE GEMSTONE CHRONICLES, and their parents will, too!
Based on Celtic lore, THE CARNELIAN follows a close-knit family, grandparents Nana and Beebop and grandchildren Aidan and Maggie, as their ordinary rock-hunting expedition takes an amazing and eerie turn, revealing a hidden, magical world. When the children free the gallant elf Findecano from his enchanted rock prison, the family resolves to join him in his quest to restore Light and Good to his world, Celahir. The theft of four gemstones from a sacred Elven Bow has allowed Dark forces to gather and gain power over the magical land, and it is up to Findecano and his four human friends to set things right.
Each of the books in the series involves a quest to retrieve one of the powerful gemstones from a magical and fearsome creature. THE CARNELIAN is guarded by a terrifying kelpie, a Celtic water beast able to shift from its own, naturally gruesome form to that of a human or horse. (Some claim the Loch Ness Monster is a kelpie.) The family, armed only with their power-channeling birthstones, must somehow not only survive the kelpie's attacks, but outwit and control it long enough to retrieve the carnelian. It seems an impossible task, and might very well be a deadly one!
I very much enjoyed the twists and turns in the story, as well as the warm, loving, and often humorous relationship of the children and their devoted grandparents. The children are resourceful and courageous, but they behave like real children might in such fantastical circumstances. Aidan can be cocky and headstrong, and tenderhearted Maggie's very innocence sometimes leads her into dangerous situations.
There are some sections in the story that drag a bit due to too much exposition or too much recap of what we've already read, but it's a minor flaw. There is quite enough action and suspense to keep things moving along. Older children who enjoy series such as Harry Potter, Narnia, Charlie Bones, Nanny McPhee, and so on will enjoy THE GEMSTONE CHRONICLES, and their parents will, too!
November 4, 2013
The Gemstone Chronicles Book One: The Carnelian, by William L. Stuart is a young adult tale of magic on a fantasy world of Celahir, where elves rule and many other strange and magical creatures inhabit. The elves are similar to Tolkien's elves--tall, graceful, long-living.
Four humans from a contemporary southeastern American family find themselves swept away to Celahir, where they must assist an elf named Findecano on a quest to retrieve stolen magical gems. Two grandparents, Beebop and Nana, and their two young grandchildren, Aiden and Maggie, soon discover they too possess magic powers that they can channel through their own birthstones. The adventures come quickly and often as they struggle against the evil forces that stole the elven gemstones.
Stuart's voice has a warm fireside quality to it that captures the reader quickly and keeps them turning pages. Interwoven in the story are lessons of life for Aiden and Maggie and scenes of strong family bonding with the unwavering love of the grandparents. It is an imaginative story that fantasy lovers of all ages should enjoy. However, there are some paragraphs that read with the precision and clarity of military manual and tend to slow the pace a bit. But hey, the storyteller is a veteran (as is Beebop), so I didn't mind it. Nevertheless, the pace quickly picks up again, and the next adventure soon unfolds.
Here is an excerpt (one of my favorites) that vividly describes one of the dangerous magical creatures of Celahir:
"The beast, stripped of illusion, was about seven feet tall. Its forelegs, instead of ending in hooves, ended in fearsome three-toed claws. The eyes were glowing red as if they burned from within. The mouth, complete with razor sharp fangs, was currently open in a snarl. The face was something out of a nightmare...."
I recommend THE GEMSTONE CHRONICLES: THE CARNELIAN to lovers of fantasy. It's a book the whole family can enjoy. I look forward to the rest of the books in the series.
October 12, 2013
Aidan and his sister Maggie are visiting their grandparents Beebop and Nana in North Georgia home. Aidan loves spending time with his grandparents probably because of Nana's cooking and freedom he enjoys while visiting. Beebop is a rock-hunter, who makes interesting jewelry with his finds, always searching for the next interesting rock. Nana has food blog with family tested recipes some new and old. While out rock-hunting with Beebop, Maggie finds unusual stone giving it to Beebop. None of them ever expected what's about to happen next though. A projection emerges from the rock showing a man asking for help. Beebop and Nana think it's best to leave the rock alone. But Aidan and Maggie against Beebop and Nana's wished smash the rock freeing the man. The man introduces himself as Findecano Saralonde is in fact an elf magically trapped for the last two hundred years. Findecano has some information that his homeland needs to know about The Elven Bow doesn't hold it's rune carved gemstones any longer. The four magical gemstones especially The Carnelian for courage. Everything is not as it seems in Findecano's homeland much has changed over the past two hundred years not all of it good. Findecano is determined to retrieve and return gemstones to their rightful place. What is amiss in Findecano's homeland? Will Findecano complete his task? Will Aidan, Maggie, Nana, and Beebop help? Your answers await you in The Gemstone Chronicles Book One:The Carnelian.
A very charming beginning to series. I really enjoyed many aspects to the characters, history, and backgrounds. I found the concept fascinating and unique. A great read for young adult. I will definitely check out the next book in the series.
A very charming beginning to series. I really enjoyed many aspects to the characters, history, and backgrounds. I found the concept fascinating and unique. A great read for young adult. I will definitely check out the next book in the series.
August 15, 2015
Book Cover/Title - My publisher says that a book title helps sell a book. I'm not sure if this title would be a selling point, but it certainly fits the nature of the story. The picture on the cover also depicts the story, as it represents the Elven Bow, and the four gems that were stolen from the bow. 4 feathers.
Characters - The biggest problem I had with the characters, was, I couldn't tell which one was supposed to be the main one. Since it's a book written for young adults, I assumed it would be either Aidan or Maggie, but I think it ended up being Beepop. But, Aidan and Maggie had their share of saving the day, and causing problems, as they slowly learned their powers. I just felt it was Beepop that the story really revolved around. BTW, I love the name Beepop, and I wish I'd had a grandpa like him. I thought the characters were well-developed, even the elves and other mythical creatures. 4 feathers.
Plot/Story line - This isn't actually an original story line as there are numerous books and movies about crossing over a barrier to a fairy world. Our history is rich with these types of tales. But, the story was presented well, and at a good pace. Of course, knowing this was Book One, you knew nothing was going to happen to the small group of adventurers, so no plot twists there. 4 feathers.
Editing/Formatting - There were some missing words, and a lack of commas, which I see all the time in indie books. A good editing would resolve this problem, plus help with some of the sentence structures. 4 feathers.
This was an enjoyable book, and I think young adults & older adults will like this story. I'm curious at what transpires to drag the children and grandparents back into another adventure. I give it 4 feathers.
Characters - The biggest problem I had with the characters, was, I couldn't tell which one was supposed to be the main one. Since it's a book written for young adults, I assumed it would be either Aidan or Maggie, but I think it ended up being Beepop. But, Aidan and Maggie had their share of saving the day, and causing problems, as they slowly learned their powers. I just felt it was Beepop that the story really revolved around. BTW, I love the name Beepop, and I wish I'd had a grandpa like him. I thought the characters were well-developed, even the elves and other mythical creatures. 4 feathers.
Plot/Story line - This isn't actually an original story line as there are numerous books and movies about crossing over a barrier to a fairy world. Our history is rich with these types of tales. But, the story was presented well, and at a good pace. Of course, knowing this was Book One, you knew nothing was going to happen to the small group of adventurers, so no plot twists there. 4 feathers.
Editing/Formatting - There were some missing words, and a lack of commas, which I see all the time in indie books. A good editing would resolve this problem, plus help with some of the sentence structures. 4 feathers.
This was an enjoyable book, and I think young adults & older adults will like this story. I'm curious at what transpires to drag the children and grandparents back into another adventure. I give it 4 feathers.
December 30, 2015
I had this book sitting in my to-be-read list for a long time, and I am glad that I finally set to reading it. It is a sweet, wholesome story perfect for pre-teens who love fantasy. I am not a youngster, but I enjoyed it very much. It’s very clean with not a bad word or even a hint of sexual content.
The main characters are Beebop and Nana (grandparents) and their grandchildren Aidan and Maggie. The setting is the mountain region of northern Georgia where Beebop and Nana have retired to their dream home and Beebop takes his vacationing grandchildren “rock hounding” in the mineral-rich area. They find a special rock where an elf has been magically imprisoned for 200 years, and thus begins the adventure.
True to genre, this tale contains elves, trolls, evil drow, and lots of adventure. Like in all fantasy tales, there is a quest in which a magic artifact must be found, and the prerequisite theme of struggle between good and evil is also present. I liked the connection made to Celtic mythology and Irish legend. The story is told in simple language which will make it easy for even younger children to enjoy.
Something I would have changed is the re-telling of things that happen each time a character gets separated from the group and returns. This could be handled with a simple "Beebop explained how he escaped from such and such, and then they sat down to eat." I also felt that the relationship between the grandparents and the kids was too idealized, making the story too sugary for older kids who are rather sophisticated these days and require a little more "reality" in their literature.
In summary, I liked the story very much and highly recommend it. I am looking forward to reading the next installment.
The main characters are Beebop and Nana (grandparents) and their grandchildren Aidan and Maggie. The setting is the mountain region of northern Georgia where Beebop and Nana have retired to their dream home and Beebop takes his vacationing grandchildren “rock hounding” in the mineral-rich area. They find a special rock where an elf has been magically imprisoned for 200 years, and thus begins the adventure.
True to genre, this tale contains elves, trolls, evil drow, and lots of adventure. Like in all fantasy tales, there is a quest in which a magic artifact must be found, and the prerequisite theme of struggle between good and evil is also present. I liked the connection made to Celtic mythology and Irish legend. The story is told in simple language which will make it easy for even younger children to enjoy.
Something I would have changed is the re-telling of things that happen each time a character gets separated from the group and returns. This could be handled with a simple "Beebop explained how he escaped from such and such, and then they sat down to eat." I also felt that the relationship between the grandparents and the kids was too idealized, making the story too sugary for older kids who are rather sophisticated these days and require a little more "reality" in their literature.
In summary, I liked the story very much and highly recommend it. I am looking forward to reading the next installment.
April 24, 2013
Aiden & Maggie are spending their summer with their Grandparents; Beebop & Nana.
While hunting rocks and gemstones they happen across a fairy cross stone. It’s a strange looking rock that Beebop is unsure about so they take it home to look up on the internet.
They discover an elf named Findecano is trapped inside. Aiden & Maggie agree to release him.
With this new freedom there comes a price, they four of them are forced to flee their home and escape to the magical land of Celahir setting themselves on a quest with Findecano to restore order to both of their realms.
This was such a fun book to read. At first I thought it would be a book written at a level for children but was surprised at how much it became a fun book for adults to enjoy too.
I was immediately taken in by Beebops character, his enthusiasm and almost childlike behaviour is addictive to read.
His character contrasts well with Nana’s character she is strong and loveable, very protective of her Grandchildren.
The children are strong characters and very brave.
Such a brilliant family combination described perfectly.
The plot is intriguing, the idea that the problems in a magical realm could directly affect the lives of the people in our world.
The magic in this book is not only on the pages but inside the imagination of the reader when they picture everything that happens in this story.
Thoroughly enjoyable for all ages I will recommend this book to anyone who wants a magical escape.
Copy Supplied For Review.
While hunting rocks and gemstones they happen across a fairy cross stone. It’s a strange looking rock that Beebop is unsure about so they take it home to look up on the internet.
They discover an elf named Findecano is trapped inside. Aiden & Maggie agree to release him.
With this new freedom there comes a price, they four of them are forced to flee their home and escape to the magical land of Celahir setting themselves on a quest with Findecano to restore order to both of their realms.
This was such a fun book to read. At first I thought it would be a book written at a level for children but was surprised at how much it became a fun book for adults to enjoy too.
I was immediately taken in by Beebops character, his enthusiasm and almost childlike behaviour is addictive to read.
His character contrasts well with Nana’s character she is strong and loveable, very protective of her Grandchildren.
The children are strong characters and very brave.
Such a brilliant family combination described perfectly.
The plot is intriguing, the idea that the problems in a magical realm could directly affect the lives of the people in our world.
The magic in this book is not only on the pages but inside the imagination of the reader when they picture everything that happens in this story.
Thoroughly enjoyable for all ages I will recommend this book to anyone who wants a magical escape.
Copy Supplied For Review.
January 19, 2015
Reviewed on behalf of Readers' Favorite
The Carnelian is the first book in The Gemstone Chronicles by William L. Stuart. Maggie and Aiden come to stay with Nana and Beebop, their grandparents, for spring break. Their time is spent usually jet skiing, rock hounding, and four-wheeling. On one of the rock hounding expeditions with Beebop, Maggie finds an oddly-shaped rock in the shape of a cross. That night, a mysterious human-like shape appears in her room beseeching them to free him from his prison. Beebop determines they must return the stone to the woods, but Maggie and Aiden have other ideas. They break the rock, freeing a Light Elf by the name of Findecano. He was imprisoned by evil forces of the Drow, a mysterious evil power of his world. The four humans are drawn into an adventure to seek out the missing stones of the Elven bow and put a stop to the evil spreading his world. Will they manage to make it through the first quest alive?
Mr. Stuart is a very clever storyteller. I liked all the factoids about gemstones and their various protective elements. His twist on Elven mythology was also very unique. I found the characters entertaining, especially Maggie. She had to be my favorite out of the group, especially with her ferret, Lucy. I felt that the book could use a second editor’s eye to tighten up some of the sentences and remove excess word usage. Other than that, I found The Gemstone Chronicles: Book One: The Carnelian compelling and I am looking forward to reading the continued adventures of the group!
The Carnelian is the first book in The Gemstone Chronicles by William L. Stuart. Maggie and Aiden come to stay with Nana and Beebop, their grandparents, for spring break. Their time is spent usually jet skiing, rock hounding, and four-wheeling. On one of the rock hounding expeditions with Beebop, Maggie finds an oddly-shaped rock in the shape of a cross. That night, a mysterious human-like shape appears in her room beseeching them to free him from his prison. Beebop determines they must return the stone to the woods, but Maggie and Aiden have other ideas. They break the rock, freeing a Light Elf by the name of Findecano. He was imprisoned by evil forces of the Drow, a mysterious evil power of his world. The four humans are drawn into an adventure to seek out the missing stones of the Elven bow and put a stop to the evil spreading his world. Will they manage to make it through the first quest alive?
Mr. Stuart is a very clever storyteller. I liked all the factoids about gemstones and their various protective elements. His twist on Elven mythology was also very unique. I found the characters entertaining, especially Maggie. She had to be my favorite out of the group, especially with her ferret, Lucy. I felt that the book could use a second editor’s eye to tighten up some of the sentences and remove excess word usage. Other than that, I found The Gemstone Chronicles: Book One: The Carnelian compelling and I am looking forward to reading the continued adventures of the group!
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