The Blood Stone

by Jamila Gavin

One diamond – a world of spies, death and deception.

In Venice, the diamond promises wealth and prestige to greedy Bernardo Pagliarin.

At the court of the Great Moghul in Agra, it holds the key to the throne itself.

For Filippo and his family, the stone is worth far more. It could bring their father back from the dead.

From the bustling markets of seventeenth-century Venice to the majestic palaces of Hindustan, acclaimed author Jamila Gavin takes the reader on an unforgettable quest across desert, sea and mountains.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult, Fiction, Historical

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Jamila Gavin was born in Mussoorie, India, in the foothills of the Himalayas, to an Indian father and an English mother. Jamila has written many books with multicultural themes for children and young adults. She won the Whitbread Children’s Book Award in 2000 and was runner-up for the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize. Her work has been adapted for stage and television. Jamila Gavin lives in England.

Reviews

[Emilie]

a good book but slightly hard to understand

[Jennifer Spiers]

An exciting adventure/voyage story. Suitable for a Year 6 class.

[Hollyanne]

The Blood Stone follows the story of a young boy who grew up never knowing his Father but due to many factors finds himself travelling across the world from his Venice home all the way to India in order to free his father from prison.

The book is well written with some lovely descriptive passages, the 'third eye' element is relatively believable and I liked the link to The Odyssey. The book was paced well enough to keep me interested but lacked that something that turns a good novel into a great one. The ending was a massive let-down in my opinion it felt rushed and wasn't a satisfactory conclusion.

[Yulia]

Great story that is well written. I loved it also because I have been to Agra and have seen the beautiful Taj Mahal.

[Marsha Valance]

With an ESP-inducing diamond embedded in his skull, young Filippo Veroneo leaves 17th century Venice for India to ransom his trader father.

[Sheila]

I'm not the target reader for this book, so I didn't want to award stars. Great storyteller, suitable for young people/children.

[Ella Oynx]

This book was mwah, I read it a few years ago probably yr4 or yr5 it was so good, I randomly rembered it and went on a hunt I can't wait to read it again.

[Alli]

This is what it is to get lost in a book. An exciting adventure across beautiful foreign lands, The Blood Stone is the dazzling story I've always wanted to read.

[Valerie Gray]

I wanted to like it, but the tense shifts and random first-person perspective really threw me. I found myself finishing the book out of spite.

[Salsabrarian]

Much intrigue and adventure in this story with a 17th century setting. Filippo has never met his father, a jeweler who set out on a business trip and never returned. The family is feeling threatened by the greedy Bernardo Pagliarin, its designated guardian while Geronimo Veroneo has been gone. A shadowy stranger visits and informs the family that Geronimo is still alive and imprisoned in Hindustan. A hefty ransom will free him. Filiipo is designated as the one to find his father and he takes a precious diamond, the Ocean of the Moon, to secure the ransom. He is accompanied by the stranger, the Mussulman, and in their lengthy, harsh journey, Filippo isn't sure whether he can trust the Mussulman or anyone else.

[Mrs Mac McKenzie]

This was a nice story, it wasn't an easy read due to some of the names and the plot and where the story was going, but it is an interesting mix of historical information with fiction. It all comes to a lovely conclusion.

[Liz]

Good. Man, I read this ages ago. I remember it being very exotic and interesting, as well as suspenseful. It was a little hard to get through, but I liked it enough to go and look for it again some little time later. But it seemed to have vanished into thin air.

[Patricia]

Initially, I really liked the book but the farther into the story I read, the less I liked it. This is one of those times when a fantasy writer asks me to suspend belief in order to see the "logic" of the make-believe world but I cannot 100%.

[Rebecca]

Quit on page 177!

I'm so bored! This is nothing like I expected! The Jewel is called The Ocean of the Moon, an unsubtle Titanic rip off which was the Heart of the Ocean! The rest is just really boring and I just don't care enough what happens to continue. What a disappointment!

[Sarah]

Reviewed at http://writingya.blogspot.com/2009/08...

[Lydia]

Venetian kid seeks his dad and justice. Epic quest book for kids. Predictable but entertaining. Protagonist is male but good female characters

[Hermione]

Grate book.I wish there is more Jamila´s books translated in my language.

[Jessica]

i need to read this book

[AJ Jama]

This book is full of adventure and puzzles. The book always leaves you on a cliff hanger. I would give this book to anyone who likes adventure and mystery.

[Aryan Mittal]

It a good one

[Abi]

I will read this again when I want to experience soul crushing disappointment and anger. Fuck this book

[Payal Agarwal]

It's excellent

If you love reading books and novels and still you haven't read this one then you truly have missed something!!