The Stone and the Maiden

The House of Pandragore #1

by Dennis Jones

The Legend The myths name it the the place that contains all places, the moment that contains all moments. As enigmatic to the gods as to mortals, the sacred treasure is said to have appeared but thrice in forty centuries, always in a different form, and each time to vanish as suddenly as it came. Its purpose and powers, no one knows. Yet in a world threatened by an ancient and merciless evil, it seems the only hope--if it can be found. The Evil The barbarian Tathars cut a scarlet swath across the lands of the Ascendancy, led by Erkai the Chain, a master of the dreaded Black Craft. However, there exists a power that dwarfs even Erkai's the force known as Deep Magic, long ago banished from the world. But now Erkai has found a way to break the ban, and seize that terrible power for his own. The Destiny Defeating Erkai and the Tathar horde falls to Mandine Dascaris, heiress to the throne of the Ascendancy, and to the young soldier Key Mec Brander, an outlander from the distant lands of the Elthame. Together they embark on a secret, desperate search for the Signata. To fail means the ruin of their world--but the price of success may be no less than their lives.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction Fantasy, Adventure

432 pages, Hardcover

First published April 29, 1999

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Zelly B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ... I hesitate to give it a 5-star rating, and put it into my favourites shelf.

But, there you have it.

I first read this book ... maybe a year after it'd come out, a random find in the public library, and I absolutely loved it. I was really young and impressionable, and I was finding my own footing as a fantasy writer, and this book kind of made me really, really happy.

Then I bought a copy for myself a few years later, reread it, and gasped in horror at my taste.

It is a decent story, if wholly predictable, with some serious archetypal characters, and your stereotypical villain as well. It's just - nothing is really original, per se. And it's kind of simplistic.

And yet - it will probably always have a special place in my heart anyway.

[Renée Yoxon]

I read this when I was 15 because someone told me there was a sex scene in it. I was deeply disappointed by the mere paragraph of sex and was left with the feeling (which unfortunately foreshadowed much if my teenage sex life) "is that it?"

I'm sure I'd like this if I reread it now but there you have it.

[Yosini Devi · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I started reading this book it was a 5/5 for me. Mind you, this was my 2nd time reading the book. I read it when I was a teenager and I simply had to remember why I fell in love with it for the first time.

It was exciting and it reminded me exactly why I fell in love with fantasy novels. It was an imaginative story that was tastefully written. The different plots, the vast characters, and the different storylines merge into one big final epilogue.

Political intrigue, a diverse culture, intriguing mythology, spirituality, magical beings, an evil stepsister that is the usurper and a tyrant, a handsome soldier saving the queen-to-be in distress... Did I mention a few previously unknown creatures? Hippaxas, heamandra, pandragore and the tahthars. All of the above weaved in with faith, courage and truckloads of magic, the book was hard to keep down.

But I am a bit disappointed to say that the climax was a bit anti-climatic. Hence, the 3 stars rating. The entire time it was building up to something huge: you would expect a great battle or an emergence of a grand magical being. Alas, it was nothing but a battle of light over darkness. Also, the ending was rushed. It just ended abruptly. All the time and detail put into writing the first half of the book and none whatsoever for the ending. It was as if the author ran out of juice and wanted it to end.

In a nutshell, it was Game of Thrones all over again.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author's writing style improves as the book progresses. There is one sexual scene (wedding night). The story is of good vs. evil - black magic vs. 'white' magic. While it was an interesting and fun read, it was not a book I would read again. The evil characters are extremely vile, committing heinous acts against humanity, including skinning alive, sucking out souls, torturing, delighting in torture, etc. The good characters seem to be delivered from evil because others that can help are attracted to their goodness.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an incredibly quirky and odd story, with a side of entertainment and cliches. I suggest this for anyone who likes fantasy and random marriages that happen midway through the story. It's not a bad story- I found it very delightful (save for a few moments that dragged on and on).

[Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing fantasy world created by Dennis Jones that is reminiscent of Ancient Rome, and contains all the classic elements of the Trojan War but filled with magic and fantasy, the Stone and the Maiden will leave you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

[Dallas Nateweyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Company, c/o.

[Laura Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it! It is very approcable fantasy. The world created is new and has unique names, but not so indepth that you need to memorize a world map to follow along.

[theduckthief · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Theatana's palms were damp with suppressed excitement. She folded her arms, and with her fingertips stroked the brocading of her cloth-of-silver sleeves. Below the window where she stood, the small paved rectangle of the Penitential Yard lay cold and gray in the dawn. The courtyard was deep in the oldest part of the Numera, next to the prison beneath the Bucelon Ravelin, and in the courtyard's center stood a double gallows."

A horde of barbarians are invading The Ascendancy, an ages old kingdom ruled by Archates, an incompetent fool. His daughter Theatana is a power hungry wacko and Erkai the Chain, an evil sorcerer has just returned from the dead. Mandine Dascaris, Archates' other daughter and heir to the throne, must deal with all three. Only the Signata, a long lost magic that will help her defeat her enemies but she can't do it alone. With the help of Key Mec Brander, a knight, they will defend the kingdom and preserve The Ascendancy.

I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. I read it last year on the plane and found myself unable to put it down. It's very typical of your straight forward fantasy novel with good versus evil, ancient bloodlines, powerful bad guys and a complex mythology but I was entertained.

Mandine and Key make an interesting pairing. Their relationship slowly evolves throughout the book and is put to the test more than once. Their are also some interesting additions to the fantasy novel mythos such as the cataphract, a horse/cat/bull mix that serve as mounts for the knights of The Ascendancy. Jones does a good job of creating a full world with its own rules and inhabitants. Another positive that I noticed is that Jones is Canadian. Can-Con is always a plus in my book.

My problems with the book stem from the plot and characters. Key's background seemed too cliche in terms of his family history and frankly, I'd read it before in half a dozen books. He and Mandine just happen to get thrown in together and low and behold it was fated they should meet. As for the plot it starts with a punch but the tension starts to dissipate towards the middle. This series has definite potential and was an enjoyable read but the story needs to step it up in terms of tension and originality.

[Donniemo · Rating 3 out of 5]

no review at this time

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book. The writing is not always as tight as it could be, but the plot is exciting and cohesive, the characters are fun to follow, and the world is so richly and perfectly imagined that it makes up for almost everything else. Several cuts above bodice-ripper fantasy (you know, the shirtless guy and the dragon and the swooning damsel). Only criticisms: a) the romantic tension is well-done and properly understated, but its eventual replacement does not live up to its predecessor (e.g. a gratuitous sex scene only worsened by the author's attempt to make it into something spiritual), and b) the ending bothers me if I'm in the kind of mood that makes me look for things that I would rewrite if given the power. Still highly recommended for sheer imagination.

[Ds Oswald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solidly written and the romance is pretty fun. However the plot itself is so basic that it felt kind of unimaginative. Maybe this wasn't so overdone in 1999 when it was first published? But when you put that in with the dark-skinned people who with one exception are faceless minions for a minor villain and routinely described as savages, the woman MC who seems very promising but who becomes less and less of a character throughout the story, and the general weird implication that certain bloodlines are inherently tainted/noble and generally less/more fit to rule... the whole thing frustrated me. A well-executed tale but I wish that the story being told was interesting.

[Happy Bookaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe this book just came to me at the right time but I found it impossible to put down! It was thrilling, chilling, adventurous, and a little cliche. There was the typical ancient beings, a lengthy quest, "unexpected" backgrounds, fate, mystical beings, good vs. evil, etc. but Dennis Jones' telling of the tale was fresh and kept me on the edge of my seat. There are unexpected twists and turns, revenge, insanity, epic battles between good and evil, death, and true love.

Over all a very very good read. One of my favorites. Well done Mr. Jones.

[Lyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a classic "epic" fantasy. It had lots of adventure, angst, and magical elements. A great amount of fictional history (which is always enjoyable, if you ask me), and a good promise of a sequel. Obviously a first novel, with several cliches and some "easy" transitions, but overall, a good book.

[Lindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. It's straightforward fantasy with evil magical sorcerers and black magic and kings and princesses. A little predictable but fun nonetheless. If you're looking for a talented author tackle straight up fantasy this is a great book. I especially enjoyed Jones' writing style.

[Oscar · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first fantasy book that wasn't written for a younger age group. I absolutely adore it, and have a lot of nostalgia for it.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to come

[Janette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. I enjoyed it, but it was a fairly stereotypical fantasy tale.