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Secrets of the Star Stone Society #2
The Pilgrimage
Professor Josiah Craft and his Star Stone Society colleagues face more challenges after discovering the origins of the Star Stone. A comet swarm threatens earth and fear and panic is building globally. Craft discovers that the Star Stone is one of three meteorite fragments that fell to earth as a comet broke up upon entering earth's atmosphere in ancient times. Where are the other two fragments? These other two stones must be found. Craft disguises himself as a Mameluke to make a pilgrimage to Mecca in the 16th century to assist the Star Stone in connecting with the second stone while a colleague pursues the fate of the third stone in the Aegean amidst the ruins of one of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World. Even more mysterious is the question of why does knowing the origins of these stones matter? The secret to earth's survival may lie in finding and reconnecting these three fragments.
254 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 2013
150 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 13, 2014
"The Pilgrimage" which I won through Goodreads Giveaways is the second book in the Secrets of the Stone Society that begins with Professor Josiah Craft and his colleagues working with the STOPP Committee to contain the global fear and panic from the predicted devastation of the Comet Swarm Hydra in 2022 CE. The threads of the story combine the emotional global impact of the impending comet swarm, protection of Rhyly Raincrow from the Grey Oil Company who wounded her, as well as an attempt to locate and communicate with two other parts of a meteorite that fell to earth thousands of years ago. With the three fragments the team hopes to build a magnetic network to deflect the danger.
The plot is slow and heavily infused with cultural history and detailed technical information. The storyline didn't seem to flow as smoothly as I would have liked and I found I lost interest in sections when the emphasis was focused not on the adventure but on simple events like KC and her romp with the wolves that produced a litter of pups. Perhaps the author thought that by blending in natural predicaments it would make the story more realistic. For me the entertaining and enjoyable part was Professor Josiah Craft's struggle to keep the world from unravelling with a predicted early arrival of the comet swarm and his travel back in time to Mecca. Although there was some action and adventure, the plot was lacking in a buildup in intensity or intrigue.
Of the characters I found Professor Craft to be logical and brave, while Reddy Burton was observant, detailed and reserved. But I found that most of the personalities in the story lacked complexity and realism.
However the concept of this novel is fascinating and with a little rework would be mesmerizing especially with its aspects of time travel and saving the world with the help of the three lost fragments. I have rated it a 3.0 but feel it's closer to a 2.5.
The plot is slow and heavily infused with cultural history and detailed technical information. The storyline didn't seem to flow as smoothly as I would have liked and I found I lost interest in sections when the emphasis was focused not on the adventure but on simple events like KC and her romp with the wolves that produced a litter of pups. Perhaps the author thought that by blending in natural predicaments it would make the story more realistic. For me the entertaining and enjoyable part was Professor Josiah Craft's struggle to keep the world from unravelling with a predicted early arrival of the comet swarm and his travel back in time to Mecca. Although there was some action and adventure, the plot was lacking in a buildup in intensity or intrigue.
Of the characters I found Professor Craft to be logical and brave, while Reddy Burton was observant, detailed and reserved. But I found that most of the personalities in the story lacked complexity and realism.
However the concept of this novel is fascinating and with a little rework would be mesmerizing especially with its aspects of time travel and saving the world with the help of the three lost fragments. I have rated it a 3.0 but feel it's closer to a 2.5.
December 19, 2014
2.0 – Quasi-Adventure Time Travel, Interesting But Not Fully Engaging.
This was a sometimes interesting, other times more methodical story involving the search for relics, time travel and saving the world. As an Indiana-Jones-like tale it’s okay, but without the same level of quality, adventure and excitement; more like “The Librarian” compared to the IJ series (my apologies to any “Librarian” fans out there).
The story goes slowly early on, but got more exciting halfway in when the time travel started. With that came some interesting forays into different myths and religions, especially of Muslins and their traditional pilgrimage to Mecca. I liked learning about that, as well as admired David Marshall Hunt’s plot and characters pursuing the ideal that international “cooperation of diverse people’s [sic] is possible.” On a lighter note: Elvis, really? Pink Floyd – yeah. Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam – oh, yeah! But Elvis? Come on, you can do better than that ;-)
I found Hunt’s writing to be fairly plain, matter-of-fact and methodical, with somewhat stilted dialogue to go along with what at times read like a business report (even with a table of contents and author’s notes at the end). I don’t know quite how to describe it, but his way of conveying info felt awkward and made it harder to follow all the details of people, places and events. There was not as much characterization as just a chronological listing of actions and events (e.g., the MC formed a STOPP Committee and its business meeting, proceedings, dynamics, and dialogue didn’t seem natural or feel authentic). Going along with this was that I didn’t feel that emotions were conveyed well. Even the relationship between the two MCs (Josiah & Matte) wasn’t romantic – no sparks, kind of an unemotional description, so much so that it took me a while to realize they were a couple (but then again, I hadn’t read book 1).
In general, this second in the series works okay as a stand-alone, with some interesting elements of time travel and cultures. But it also didn’t emotionally engage me, having an artificial, Andy Hardy feel of a “let’s put on a show,” only it’s “let’s save the world.”
This was a sometimes interesting, other times more methodical story involving the search for relics, time travel and saving the world. As an Indiana-Jones-like tale it’s okay, but without the same level of quality, adventure and excitement; more like “The Librarian” compared to the IJ series (my apologies to any “Librarian” fans out there).
The story goes slowly early on, but got more exciting halfway in when the time travel started. With that came some interesting forays into different myths and religions, especially of Muslins and their traditional pilgrimage to Mecca. I liked learning about that, as well as admired David Marshall Hunt’s plot and characters pursuing the ideal that international “cooperation of diverse people’s [sic] is possible.” On a lighter note: Elvis, really? Pink Floyd – yeah. Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam – oh, yeah! But Elvis? Come on, you can do better than that ;-)
I found Hunt’s writing to be fairly plain, matter-of-fact and methodical, with somewhat stilted dialogue to go along with what at times read like a business report (even with a table of contents and author’s notes at the end). I don’t know quite how to describe it, but his way of conveying info felt awkward and made it harder to follow all the details of people, places and events. There was not as much characterization as just a chronological listing of actions and events (e.g., the MC formed a STOPP Committee and its business meeting, proceedings, dynamics, and dialogue didn’t seem natural or feel authentic). Going along with this was that I didn’t feel that emotions were conveyed well. Even the relationship between the two MCs (Josiah & Matte) wasn’t romantic – no sparks, kind of an unemotional description, so much so that it took me a while to realize they were a couple (but then again, I hadn’t read book 1).
In general, this second in the series works okay as a stand-alone, with some interesting elements of time travel and cultures. But it also didn’t emotionally engage me, having an artificial, Andy Hardy feel of a “let’s put on a show,” only it’s “let’s save the world.”
September 8, 2014
The Pilgrimage was an okay story about a team of colleagues trying to save the world.
I had not read David Marshall Hunt’s first book in this series, but I thought this second one was fine as a stand-alone. But I may have missed out on some of the plot and character development of some of the team, because I thought the latter in particular was a bit light in this story. I liked the MC (Josiah), but didn’t get to know him in depth, and especially not the others. So I didn’t get too wrapped up in the story or characters.
Some of the more enjoyable parts for me were the mixing in of some cultural history and the time travels (the pilgrimage and the archeological dig). I liked the philosophy of trying to unite the world through cooperation, but the execution of that (in terms of Hunts style) and the plot didn’t seem real. In fact, the story telling was a bit too straightforward and emotionally detached, just going from one event to the next. There was some action, and although Hunt tried to drum up some urgency, I just didn’t get the feel of a fast-moving, true adventure.
Overall, this might appeal most to those who like time travel adventures, and maybe those who want to learn a little about the Muslim culture. (2.0 Stars)
(I'm excited to have won this as a Goodreads First Read – so thanks, David!)
I had not read David Marshall Hunt’s first book in this series, but I thought this second one was fine as a stand-alone. But I may have missed out on some of the plot and character development of some of the team, because I thought the latter in particular was a bit light in this story. I liked the MC (Josiah), but didn’t get to know him in depth, and especially not the others. So I didn’t get too wrapped up in the story or characters.
Some of the more enjoyable parts for me were the mixing in of some cultural history and the time travels (the pilgrimage and the archeological dig). I liked the philosophy of trying to unite the world through cooperation, but the execution of that (in terms of Hunts style) and the plot didn’t seem real. In fact, the story telling was a bit too straightforward and emotionally detached, just going from one event to the next. There was some action, and although Hunt tried to drum up some urgency, I just didn’t get the feel of a fast-moving, true adventure.
Overall, this might appeal most to those who like time travel adventures, and maybe those who want to learn a little about the Muslim culture. (2.0 Stars)
(I'm excited to have won this as a Goodreads First Read – so thanks, David!)
December 9, 2014
Disclaimer: I received this book through GoodReads FirstReads program.
Maybe my rating and my review would have been differed had I read this first book - but i found this one to be confusing.
The inserting of the backstory to catch the reader up on what has already happened seems awkward - there is no flow to the story it seems the author has inserted footnotes instead of actual story line.
The talking between characters can get confusing - and long winded. Answers to questions posed by other characters often read like mini stories themselves.
While we are left to figure out the relationships between characters - it sometimes works and other times it doesn't. The multitude of characters makes it somewhat difficult.
The leaps in time are also confusing - there is sometimes not even a chapter break before we are being propelled years and decades into the future.
I am giving it a three though as the writing is very good - with the above noted exceptions - and my review may have been more favorable with having read the first novel.
Definitely not a stand alone.
Maybe my rating and my review would have been differed had I read this first book - but i found this one to be confusing.
The inserting of the backstory to catch the reader up on what has already happened seems awkward - there is no flow to the story it seems the author has inserted footnotes instead of actual story line.
The talking between characters can get confusing - and long winded. Answers to questions posed by other characters often read like mini stories themselves.
While we are left to figure out the relationships between characters - it sometimes works and other times it doesn't. The multitude of characters makes it somewhat difficult.
The leaps in time are also confusing - there is sometimes not even a chapter break before we are being propelled years and decades into the future.
I am giving it a three though as the writing is very good - with the above noted exceptions - and my review may have been more favorable with having read the first novel.
Definitely not a stand alone.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews