The Water Stone

The Reign of the Elements #2

by Riley Carney

After successfully recovering the Fire Stone, fifteen-year-old Matt wants nothing more than to enjoy himself with his friends in the magical forest of Amaldan, home of the elves, but Matt knows that the evil elf Malik will never stop seeking the Stones of the Elements. And when a plague from ancient years resurfaces, threatening the lives of an entire city, the only way to ensure their survival is to find the second Stone of the Elements, the Water Stone, which possesses mysterious magical healing powers. Matt, Samsire, and their friends, set off on another quest, following the clues of a long-dead dwarf adventurer, as they desperately race against time and Malik's forces to find the Water Stone before it's too late. This is the second book in the riveting Reign of the Elements series, an adventure story brought to life by memorable, vibrant characters. Rooted in genuine adolescent thought and emotion, it is a journey of courage, friendship, and danger as a group of teenagers attempt to save their world.

310 pages, Hardcover

First published July 30, 2010

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book, with a gripping, fast-paced story, and Riley Carney's writing has improved from her already impressive debut, The Fire Stone. The characters are sharp and well-developed, and she dedicates more time in this entry to deserving characters like Arden, whose spunky personality and verve are more present in this story and bring about some memorable moments of character interaction in the story.

The plot itself is exciting and Carney manages to avoid any feeling of repetition from her first book, and her skill ensures that the story never seems to falter. Even during travel sequences that could have fallen into the trap of seeming to drag on, as parts of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows did, Carney's humor and excellent sense of timing mean that the story is exciting and enjoyable the whole way through.

I bought this originally for my son after he loved the first book, but once he was done I also read it. The Water Stone is a must-read for any fan of fantasy or generally entertaining writing. Filled with great characters and humor from start to finish, I highly recommend this book and look forward to Carney's other entries in her Reign of the Elements series and other future books.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Riley Carney has succeeded in writing an enormously entertaining tale. The Water Stone is filled with wonderful adventure and has a quick pace highlighted by a race against time. The tension is balanced with some terrific humor, and the continued development of the characters will delight those who've read the first book (The Fire Stone) in this series.

Writing a series is a challenge for an author as it's oftentimes quite difficult not to repeat prior tensions and scenes, but Riley Carney pulled it off brilliantly.

I won't put in a spoiler, but I will say that threaded within the adventures are subtle messages that young readers will recognize and appreciate, as will their parents. This is a terrific book, and the entire series would make an excellent gift for young readers as well as those who are simply young at heart.

[Richard Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, common themes, descent characters and story line, but horrendous grammatical errors. I believe the dedication thanked the author's mother for editing the book. It reminds me of a movie I watched at the theater a few years ago, where the boom microphones were visible at the top of the screen, scene after scene. Seriously, some pages have multiple, glaring errors. What a shame.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fantasy adventure story! Lots of action, great characters! It's marked as Middle Grade, but still found it very appealing as an adult. I really enjoyed it.

[Joey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It plays on well with The Fire Stone. I enjoyed how she kept moving along with the story. There were a few parts that I had a harder time understanding what was happening, but for the most part it went pretty well. I like how she gives us tidbits of information early in the story to help suck us in and stick with the story. I had a hard time putting down this book. The friendship in this story is strong and they will risk their lives to help the others. My compliments to the author. I can't wait for the next one.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll admit it; the story is starting to suck me in and I may have to look up the rest of the books in the series. All the problems I mentioned in my review of "The Fire Stone" still exist, but I am intrigued as to where this is going.

I hope that Riley Carney keeps writing, because I think she has a lot of talent and many good ideas. Her writing is juvenile, but that's not a bad thing when the author is also juvenile. As she matures, I'm hopeful that her writing will mature as well.

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book and very well-written. You have to read The Fire Stone to understand the entire story, but it's definetely worth it. I adored the characters and the climax is utterly amazing. Lots of swordplay, and the fight scene at the end was so exciting, I almost stopped breathing.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Considering the author's age she has done well. The book is meant for the juvenile reader but still it kept my interest. I do appreciate Riley keeping it clean and adventurous.

[Kendall Anne]

I don't know if I'm going to read this. I didn't like the first one very much. Maybe sometime in the distant future when I am in need of a book!