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The Soulstone Prophecy #1
Cradle of the Gods
A war among the gods has led to the downfall of humanity and the banishment of their god. A thousand years later, the remaining humans eke out an existence on the fringes of a vast dwarven empire.
In a human settlement known as the Cradle of the Gods, a young man named Ghile is preparing for a Rite of Attrition, used by the dwarves to seek out potential vessels for their god’s return. Meanwhile, Almoriz the Sorcerer and his apprentice Riff arrive in Ghile’s village for one of their annual visits, beginning a series of events that will change Ghile’s life forever. He is marked as the Stonechosen, and wields powers of the gods themselves.
But Ghile is not alone. Others chosen to fulfill the prophecy are also traveling to the Cradle to seek out and destroy him. The time of the Stonechosen has come.
First novel in The Soulstone Prophecy series, Cradle of the Gods is a well-crafted, gripping journey of fantasy, magic, discovery and peril.
In a human settlement known as the Cradle of the Gods, a young man named Ghile is preparing for a Rite of Attrition, used by the dwarves to seek out potential vessels for their god’s return. Meanwhile, Almoriz the Sorcerer and his apprentice Riff arrive in Ghile’s village for one of their annual visits, beginning a series of events that will change Ghile’s life forever. He is marked as the Stonechosen, and wields powers of the gods themselves.
But Ghile is not alone. Others chosen to fulfill the prophecy are also traveling to the Cradle to seek out and destroy him. The time of the Stonechosen has come.
First novel in The Soulstone Prophecy series, Cradle of the Gods is a well-crafted, gripping journey of fantasy, magic, discovery and peril.
215 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2013
166 people are currently reading
324 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Quinn Miller
8 books17 followersAt the age of thirteen Thomas read his first novel, Dune, by Frank Herbert. That was the spark that ignited his passion for reading. It was the popular fantasy Dragonlance novels by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis which cemented his love of fantasy. He feels if even one person reads his work and experiences that seed of excitement he still experiences from a good science fiction or fantasy read, it will all have been worth it.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 18, 2016
Yet another whiny self-blamer
If I never read a sentence like this again:
"It's all my fault he's dead!"
"He was trying to kill me/imitate me/betray me, but because I'm the reason he was trying to do whatever evil or stupid thing, it's all my fault he died in the process!"
Yeah, right. Makes total sense. Really it does.
Less competent authors make use of this type of emotional illogic in perhaps 75% of fantasy stories of all genres, and reading this garbage is far beyond tedious.
While the people who were hurt or died may have blamed the MC for 'giving them no choice but to ____, in fact, the actions and the choices were all their own and their inner justifications are simply that: self-serving attempts to evade their own responsibility for the experiences and events that led up to their deaths.
I'm beginning to wonder if authors use this trope (tripe) as a way to prove the MC is a good person--"See! He's such a nice guy he even blames himself for stuff that's the bad guy's fault! Isn't he just the best?"
No, that behavior doesn't make him a good guy, instead it makes him neurotic. He's crippled with doubt right when he most needs to be clearheaded, unable to make hard choices when other people are depending on him, and vulnerable to his own and other people's self-serving justifications for pawning their choices and responsibilities off on other people.
It also makes for blind MCs who have a hard time maturing and who make poor choices that get a lot of other people unnecessarily hurt or killed. How is any of that a good thing? Now, yes, many of us (especially women, as our cultures tend to set us up for it) do go through a stage when we need to learn how to identify what actually is our fault, as opposed to what isn't. Handled skillfully, that transition can be a very moving part of a character's growing up, and can indelibly mark both reader and character, but this depth of learning doesn't happen by means of the knee-jerk response/cookie-cutter dialogue with which authors too often bog down the story. In this case Miller has dug Ghile a hole in which to wallow, and the readers and everyone in the story is going to have suffer along with him until Miller finally writes him a way out.
I, in all events, have no intention of reading further.
This wasn't a bad book, overall, not counting the wallowing, whining MC. The universe was sufficiently distinct, and I liked the way the cultures were differentiated, along with the conflicting histories, prophecies and religions of each race, though the plot so far is somewhat incoherent and there are a number of info-dumps that interrupt the story's flow.
Characters were reasonably well-drawn (other than Riff, the smirking arrogant wizard's apprentice--a dime-a-dozen character in books like this), and the story began with a promising, well-written friction in the relationship between Ghile and his father, though the friction quickly comes to nothing. Gaidel the druid seemed to have the most interesting possibilities, especially in conjunction with her warder, Two Elks. There just wasn't much heard from her or any of the characters, save Ghile and Magister Obudar, the Dwarf Overseer of Laketown, as this book seemed mostly to be a setup for the next one, and too much time was spent on the backstory, including setting up the conflict between Magister Obudar and the Dwarf Knight-Justice Finngyr's religious order.
I'm not going to read further in the series because I just don't find Ghile appealing and the story seemed unexciting, perhaps because the hazards and opportunities weren't presented clearly enough. Ghile is a problem for me because when he's not wallowing in guilt or feeling stupid and clumsy, he's making threats and demands of the grownups (and everyone else seems like a grownup compared to Ghile, no matter their calendar age) that make him seem more like a three year old than someone who's turned eighteen and wants to be treated as a man. That's really not appealing, and Miller failed to convince me that either Ghile or the story as a whole has more and better to offer.
If I never read a sentence like this again:
"It's all my fault he's dead!"
"He was trying to kill me/imitate me/betray me, but because I'm the reason he was trying to do whatever evil or stupid thing, it's all my fault he died in the process!"
Yeah, right. Makes total sense. Really it does.
Less competent authors make use of this type of emotional illogic in perhaps 75% of fantasy stories of all genres, and reading this garbage is far beyond tedious.
While the people who were hurt or died may have blamed the MC for 'giving them no choice but to ____, in fact, the actions and the choices were all their own and their inner justifications are simply that: self-serving attempts to evade their own responsibility for the experiences and events that led up to their deaths.
I'm beginning to wonder if authors use this trope (tripe) as a way to prove the MC is a good person--"See! He's such a nice guy he even blames himself for stuff that's the bad guy's fault! Isn't he just the best?"
No, that behavior doesn't make him a good guy, instead it makes him neurotic. He's crippled with doubt right when he most needs to be clearheaded, unable to make hard choices when other people are depending on him, and vulnerable to his own and other people's self-serving justifications for pawning their choices and responsibilities off on other people.
It also makes for blind MCs who have a hard time maturing and who make poor choices that get a lot of other people unnecessarily hurt or killed. How is any of that a good thing? Now, yes, many of us (especially women, as our cultures tend to set us up for it) do go through a stage when we need to learn how to identify what actually is our fault, as opposed to what isn't. Handled skillfully, that transition can be a very moving part of a character's growing up, and can indelibly mark both reader and character, but this depth of learning doesn't happen by means of the knee-jerk response/cookie-cutter dialogue with which authors too often bog down the story. In this case Miller has dug Ghile a hole in which to wallow, and the readers and everyone in the story is going to have suffer along with him until Miller finally writes him a way out.
I, in all events, have no intention of reading further.
This wasn't a bad book, overall, not counting the wallowing, whining MC. The universe was sufficiently distinct, and I liked the way the cultures were differentiated, along with the conflicting histories, prophecies and religions of each race, though the plot so far is somewhat incoherent and there are a number of info-dumps that interrupt the story's flow.
Characters were reasonably well-drawn (other than Riff, the smirking arrogant wizard's apprentice--a dime-a-dozen character in books like this), and the story began with a promising, well-written friction in the relationship between Ghile and his father, though the friction quickly comes to nothing. Gaidel the druid seemed to have the most interesting possibilities, especially in conjunction with her warder, Two Elks. There just wasn't much heard from her or any of the characters, save Ghile and Magister Obudar, the Dwarf Overseer of Laketown, as this book seemed mostly to be a setup for the next one, and too much time was spent on the backstory, including setting up the conflict between Magister Obudar and the Dwarf Knight-Justice Finngyr's religious order.
I'm not going to read further in the series because I just don't find Ghile appealing and the story seemed unexciting, perhaps because the hazards and opportunities weren't presented clearly enough. Ghile is a problem for me because when he's not wallowing in guilt or feeling stupid and clumsy, he's making threats and demands of the grownups (and everyone else seems like a grownup compared to Ghile, no matter their calendar age) that make him seem more like a three year old than someone who's turned eighteen and wants to be treated as a man. That's really not appealing, and Miller failed to convince me that either Ghile or the story as a whole has more and better to offer.
June 25, 2017
I have a tendency to read several books at once, usually in different genres, at once. How much time I devote to a story in a given day depends entirely on how engaging I find it. I have discovered that fantasy stories like this often conflict with this approach to reading due to its complexity and the world the author has crafted. It really is hard to immerse yourself in a world unless you commit to it wholeheartedly. I think if I had done that with Cradle of the Gods, I would have enjoyed it more than I did. But that's on me, not the author, and I will not penalize the story for that.
Thomas Miller has crafted an interesting world in this story, a world where humans are seen as inferior beings by their dwarf overlords, who regularly have "cullings", wherein the eliminate (kill) any human who shows signs of being a vessel for a vengeful spirit named Huartu, whose return would bring about the end of their reign.
The main character, Ghile, is a young man struggling to find a place in this world. His older brother, Adon, was culled several years before, and he dreams of a life far away from his home village. But fate, as is wont to do, has other plans for him.
While I enjoyed the story and especially the world-building, I often found myself losing the story. I blame part of that on my four-chapters-a-day approach, but there were times that the pacing slowed down to a crawl and included vast amounts of backstory that wasn't quite as vital to the story as it could have been. Ghile is a good character, though he could have been stronger. I don't like that he insisted on blaming himself for things that were beyond his control, and for the actions of others. Should I decide to read the second half of the series, I hope that Ghile matures into a more well-rounded hero.
Overall, though, I would recommend this book to lovers of fantasy. Just do yourself a favor and don't try multitasking while doing it.
Thomas Miller has crafted an interesting world in this story, a world where humans are seen as inferior beings by their dwarf overlords, who regularly have "cullings", wherein the eliminate (kill) any human who shows signs of being a vessel for a vengeful spirit named Huartu, whose return would bring about the end of their reign.
The main character, Ghile, is a young man struggling to find a place in this world. His older brother, Adon, was culled several years before, and he dreams of a life far away from his home village. But fate, as is wont to do, has other plans for him.
While I enjoyed the story and especially the world-building, I often found myself losing the story. I blame part of that on my four-chapters-a-day approach, but there were times that the pacing slowed down to a crawl and included vast amounts of backstory that wasn't quite as vital to the story as it could have been. Ghile is a good character, though he could have been stronger. I don't like that he insisted on blaming himself for things that were beyond his control, and for the actions of others. Should I decide to read the second half of the series, I hope that Ghile matures into a more well-rounded hero.
Overall, though, I would recommend this book to lovers of fantasy. Just do yourself a favor and don't try multitasking while doing it.
September 6, 2017
I really enjoyed reading Cradle of the Gods, and following Ghile’s story as he discovered who he is and who he is to become.
With a Lord of the Ring’s feel, it’s set in a world where dwarves rule over humans, killing any who show signs of being a vessel for a god who was banished years before. Ghile is a human who live’s in the Cradle of the Gods and has been told he would be no more than a herder for the rest of his life. But when a sorcerer and his apprentice arrive, Ghile stumbles upon something that sends his life down a new path.
This adventure is full of fantasy and magic, and I loved the characters which were all well fleshed out as well as the well thought out world they lived in.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy, and look forward to watching Ghile grow as the series continues.
With a Lord of the Ring’s feel, it’s set in a world where dwarves rule over humans, killing any who show signs of being a vessel for a god who was banished years before. Ghile is a human who live’s in the Cradle of the Gods and has been told he would be no more than a herder for the rest of his life. But when a sorcerer and his apprentice arrive, Ghile stumbles upon something that sends his life down a new path.
This adventure is full of fantasy and magic, and I loved the characters which were all well fleshed out as well as the well thought out world they lived in.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy, and look forward to watching Ghile grow as the series continues.
August 10, 2017
I just finished Thomas Q. Miller’s Cradle of the Gods, and that means I’ll need to read the sequel. The world of the Cradle took a bit to emerge, but it is fascinating and echoes Lord of the Rings with worgs, goblins, dwarves and men. In addition, mages and druids as well as a Wyrm make an appearance. The writing is more simplistic and it took a while for me to understand the buildup but once there, I felt comfortable with the characters and the world Mr. Miller has created. I look forward to reading the next in the series.
July 10, 2016
A fine fantasy novel
I'd recommend this book for anyone looking for a solid, well-written, and engaging fantasy tale. Few points for innovative or cutting edge (which admittedly is very hard to find in this genre), but still a good read with plenty of action and interesting characters.
I'd recommend this book for anyone looking for a solid, well-written, and engaging fantasy tale. Few points for innovative or cutting edge (which admittedly is very hard to find in this genre), but still a good read with plenty of action and interesting characters.
February 20, 2015
Worth reading
I write very few reviews. The book has to be really good or really bad. I really enjoyed this story even though the author left us hanging more than is appreciated.
I looking forward to the next one in the series!
I write very few reviews. The book has to be really good or really bad. I really enjoyed this story even though the author left us hanging more than is appreciated.
I looking forward to the next one in the series!
October 30, 2016
Entertaining and well written. First of a two book series. I'll be looking for other works by this author.
June 21, 2017
A most enjoyable tale of fantasy and adventure.
February 8, 2023
Not at all bad. A coming of age novel (tick) wizards (tick) druids (tick) goblins, dwarves and (I think) elves (tick etc). So far so good. A few nice twists. Stones are involved. Strange gods are involved. A quick and entertaining read to help through a stressful week. So thanks for that. Maybe 4 stars after all...
August 15, 2023
A perfectly fine fantasy novel with some interesting ideas and elements, I just didn't feel compelled by the characters to have to know more about them or the world at large. I'm not sure what didn't connect entirely with me there - and I enjoyed it - but it wasn't one that I felt a need to go and pick up the next.
June 1, 2019
I loved this book. The characters are so well written I could picture them in my mind easily. I love the story of stonecraft. I am sad that his brother was dead though. I truly wished that at the end he found out he was alive and stuck in like a coma or something. I look forward to reading the next book.
December 19, 2017
Pretty good read!
June 13, 2018
Fun read and good pace.
Lot's of fun to read. I enjoyed the conflicts between races and character development. Some quirky wrd uses and errors but easily overlooked.
Lot's of fun to read. I enjoyed the conflicts between races and character development. Some quirky wrd uses and errors but easily overlooked.
January 10, 2020
5 stars
Great book, loving the characters and works building. I dont usually like books that bounce around to lots of characters, but I really like this one all the same.
Great book, loving the characters and works building. I dont usually like books that bounce around to lots of characters, but I really like this one all the same.
March 27, 2022
Interesting
After some confusion, the book started living up to the title. It is a good book and the characters are well written
After some confusion, the book started living up to the title. It is a good book and the characters are well written
March 19, 2015
In my opinion there were some weird pacing issues, they took a few chapters to describe a small part of one day but then completely skip over a couple days (The time between the wizard's arrival and the time they left last hamlet).
May 30, 2016
Stretching it at 3 stars. Not good enough to read the rest of the series!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews