Stone and Spring

by Brittany Erickson Tuttle

One wintry night in Wyoming, a group of men come calling to collect a debt—the life and service of Stone, the young woman at the center of this strange and mythical frontier tale. Stone was promised to the mysterious Wranglers as payment for her father’s debt, but when they come to take her on her 13th birthday, she escapes. Guided by the advice of three wise women, Stone and her friend Thomas set out into the wilderness on a journey to confront her father and uncover the truth about her origins. But the woods are filled with horrors the travelers could never have imagined. And there are powerful forces working to make sure they don’t succeed. How will Stone’s young life be transformed by her mystical quest?

Genres: Fiction

40 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 18, 2014

About the author

Brittany Tuttle is the author of ANGEL FOOD and Shebooks bestseller STONE AND SPRING. She grew up in Denver and now lives with her family in Los Angeles. She is most at home when she's on the road.

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This long short story or novella is a fable of sorts, in which a vaguely western area is filled with other-worldly influences. A young girl, having turned 13, learns that her father made a deal with the Devil, so to speak, on the day she was born, promising her to some rather beyond-normal others named The Wranglers. Thus begins a quest story fronted by a young woman.

I will not give any more details...it is a short story after all. But this was a nice read, atmospheric, true to itself and its story...no princesses allowed here. This is a hard world. Almost apocalyptic. Though the background is only sketchy, it's as complete as needed to learn Stone's story.

I am learning to like books I find through Shebooks. This is, I believe, my third selection and the third I've enjoyed. Each has been different from the last, entirely different, but has a woman, or teenage girl in this case, who is central to the story.

I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in return for a review.

[Colleen Oakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Tuttle's writing for a very long time, and this astonishing book did nothing to deter me from this path. The author is a poet at heart, and her literary style isn't for the faint of heart. If you don't ache for gorgeous description, brutal honesty and characters that won't fit into narrow boxes, than this book isn't for you. However, if you love a sentence you can taste on your tongue, if you like characters who embody emotional depth - however sad they may be - and most of all if you like a banging good story, than this haunting little novella is the book for you.

[Linda Hanson · Rating 2 out of 5]

These stars only reflect my enjoyment of the read. It was well written and fantasy fans might love it. It was too gruesome for me. I might have DNFed it if it had been a longer work.

[Gina Shoen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this magical, mystical story about a young girl who has to go on a quest to save herself from a trade her father made with otherworldly creatures when she was a baby.

All the characters are well written and play major roles, despite it being a short story. I look forward to more from this great author!

[Margi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A haunting story about a young woman standing on her own to save herself. Written in what can only be called creative prose, I read Stone & Spring using the Kindle app on my phone during breaks at work. I kept trying to find reasons to take a longer break so I could finish the story.

[Marie Wreath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Left me wanting much more, like twisting through a dream hitting only themes and high points. Beautifully told, visceral, and sad but with so many surprises and reliefs. This novella would make an excellent gully explored novel or series. Highly recommend.