The Pebble

by Paul Guildea

In the dawn of a Winter Solstice, two sets of lovers caressed. One caressed lips and skin in a hidden forest, the other, a sun caressing stone carvings inside the burial chamber of Newgrange. And both lined eternity with their actions.

One day an orphan found her family, and soon discovered wings, Hybrid blood and a hidden chest of inner talents. Talents so dark, they could stop a breath.

In the world of creations, a half-angel, half-human Hybrid played the air with her fingers like a classical pianist. Entangled between her fingers, on laced strips of leather, hung red Pebbles that could unlock whole worlds.

Alex tumbled into a snow lapped graveyard. Wounded, bloodied and now lost in her identity. She could but make one choice, one decision. However, how far would she go to find herself, and what would it cost?

The cost would be more than she ever dreamed!

292 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 11, 2012

About the author

Paul Guildea works as a novelist and freelance writer in Donore, Ireland, with published articles in national magazines and web based media. He released his first novel The Pebble in 2012.
An award winning youth worker, Paul has long sought to write more than just creative fiction, but rather, in a unique way, bring both late teen and adult readers into a story and while there, tease their thoughts on a number of levels. He is a member of the LimeTree Creative Writers Group.
He lives in the historical Boyne Valley with his wife, three kids and varying amount of pets.

Reviews

[Heather Alexander · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book begins with the a mother and her baby being hidden. It doesn't work, whoever is after them finds and kills the mom and gravely injures the baby. Years later the baby, Alex, is in the system, a bit of a troublemaker with a secret friend. Mimi, who is very real, and very evil. She doesn't like Mimi, but has no choice in whether he is there or not, he just is. Mimi forces Alex to make some horrible choices, he has someone pulling his strings and is double crossed. Alex thinks she has no family, she finds out that she indeed has a father named Kimick, and he is a leader of a faction of fallen angels. He broke protocol by allowing her mother, Diana, to live after Alex's birth. He tells her who killed her mother and proceeds to train her in the ways of an assassin, so that she may avenge her mother. Throughout the story there is a mystery guy that pops in and out, her best friend from childhood Dolores, her boyfriend Jan and a score of other characters that may or may not have her best interests at heart. Alex will have to figure out what The Pebble is for and who she can and can't trust. She is being played like a puppet on strings and the shocker comes when she finds out who is actually orchestrating everything. Her biggest choice is going to be will she be good or evil. This is what I would consider to be in the fantasy genre, I found the story good at times, and really confusing at times. If the author makes the background of the items and storyline a bit simpler to follow, it would have had a better rating from me. I did enjoy the book, I am not a huge fan of having to work to follow the plot of a book. Hardcore fantasy lovers will definitely enjoy this unique story as it definitely has it's merits.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say at first I was not sure of this book. Irish fantasy and mythology all wrapped into a modern story seemed too much. However from the first few chapters I was hooked. It moved at a fast pace and the Irish feel of the story was in my experience quite unique.

The story is about a girl called Alex, an orphan who discovers that the supernatural trail of events of her teenage years lead her to discovering the true identity of her father, a fallen angel called Kimick. THE PEBBLE is a stone that is broken into six pieces and lies around the necks of her mother's murderers, and this collection of THE PEBBLE and need to avenge her mother's death is something Kimick tutors his newly found daughter in as he brings her to the fantastical world of THE ASSEMBLY. From there on in the story is a colorful blaze of angel blades, assassins and supernatural thrills.

I really enjoyed the message behind the story too, and the multitude of building sub plots ( I am sure there will be more in this series) make this like a movie on pages! At times the writing is sometimes a bit heavy and stiff, and there are times you need to pause to take it all in, but overall the imagery is superb.

The author is new, and I am sure will get better, but for a first novel this was impressive and I am sure there is much more to come from the author Paul Guildea!
Keep an eye out, his style is rather intriguing and gripping.