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The Darkeningstone #1
Trespass
Jake never liked urban myths. But this is not an urban myth. And it did not happen to someone else, but to him. He's set it down as best he can remember. Whether you believe it or not, is up to you. The Darkeningstone:Trespass combines gritty, edgy modern-day action with an adventure across time. Discovered over 5,000 years ago, the Darkeningstone affects everyone who finds it. So remember this: Somewhere, sometime, The Darkeningstone is waiting for you. A fast-paced adventure across time, with short chapters crammed with cliff-hangers. There's vengeance here and the threat of violence. There's a plot you can get your teeth into and characters you can believe in. Jake was too smart to believe the rumours about Scaderstone Pit, but now he's in more danger than he could ever have imagined. In 1939, as World War II looms, the lives of two men will be changed forever. Over 5,000 years ago, a hermit will keep the stone a secret. But someone is watching him - someone with murder in his heart. What will you see when you look into The Darkeningstone?
318 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 2013
47 people are currently reading
620 people want to read
About the author
Mikey Campling
26 books82 followersMichael (Mikey to friends) is a full-time writer living and working in a tiny village on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon. He writes stories with characters you can believe in and plots you can sink your teeth into.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 11, 2014
This book was so intriguing and well written I just couldn't put it down. I don't have much time for reading and so a novel will usually take me a few months to get through. I read this from cover to cover in five days because I just couldn't put it down! The style of writing is accessible and flowed nicely from chapter to chapter. The character development is strong and I could empathise with the protagonist because of the situations he was placed in. The different timelines and narratives give the book dimensions and keep the story interesting throughout.
Every chapter ends with a cliffhanger and I particularly enjoyed the chapters in the quarry, when the protagonist was trying to avoid a gang of local bullies. The author shows a good understanding of child psychology and was able to portray this in a really natural way.
And the ending was fantastic! Such an gripping way to finish the story. I can't wait to read book no.2!
Every chapter ends with a cliffhanger and I particularly enjoyed the chapters in the quarry, when the protagonist was trying to avoid a gang of local bullies. The author shows a good understanding of child psychology and was able to portray this in a really natural way.
And the ending was fantastic! Such an gripping way to finish the story. I can't wait to read book no.2!
March 24, 2016
Somewhere, sometime, the stone is waiting. The premise of Trespass is an interesting one. A mysterious stone exists outside of the space-time continuum and wrecks havoc on three different timelines. The book has a cliff-hanger, but unfortunately, I just don’t care about Jake throughout the book to raise the righteous indignation of the story having no conclusion. I found the Jake character boring, and his apparent cowardly behavior to be frustrating and annoying. This is not necessarily a bad thing. And Jake wasn’t even likable the way pre-super serum Steve Rogers was portrayed in the first most recent Captain America film. At least, Steve Rogers wasn’t going to quit no matter who kicked his scrawny butt.
As a reader, I want to connect with a character. I want to dislike the villains and cheer the heroes. Some books have made me cheer the villains and dislike the heroes. The hopping from time-to-time was fun, but I found myself wishing the Jake stories would hurry up so I could get to the true gems in this book: pre-war 1939 and 3,000 BCE.
Those two storylines were fantastic. I felt the 1939 characters a touch clichéd, but the Neolithic culture and story was top shelf. The 3,000 BCE story reminded me of Children of the Comet, by Donald Moffitt. I would be an eager reader of a sequel if the continuing adventures of those characters were continued. The saving grace for the 2010 timeline was the young female college student Jake meets in the quarry. If she’s not in the sequel, all bets are off. Which is saying a lot, since her character was only in a chapter or two.
The biggest complaint I have about Trespass is that there was a lot of head-hopping going on. More than once, I had to re-read a page or paragraph because the POV had shifted, and I was stuck in the previous POV. This broke down the flow and popped me out of the narrative. I think a bit of formatting would alleviate this issue.
I did read online that there is a prequel, and I’d likely be interested in reading that, as well as book 2 as long as my demands are met :-) I’d probably rate this a strong 3.5 stars, but I wouldn't bump it to four stars on Goodreads, but would on Amazon based on what the actual stars mean.
As a reader, I want to connect with a character. I want to dislike the villains and cheer the heroes. Some books have made me cheer the villains and dislike the heroes. The hopping from time-to-time was fun, but I found myself wishing the Jake stories would hurry up so I could get to the true gems in this book: pre-war 1939 and 3,000 BCE.
Those two storylines were fantastic. I felt the 1939 characters a touch clichéd, but the Neolithic culture and story was top shelf. The 3,000 BCE story reminded me of Children of the Comet, by Donald Moffitt. I would be an eager reader of a sequel if the continuing adventures of those characters were continued. The saving grace for the 2010 timeline was the young female college student Jake meets in the quarry. If she’s not in the sequel, all bets are off. Which is saying a lot, since her character was only in a chapter or two.
The biggest complaint I have about Trespass is that there was a lot of head-hopping going on. More than once, I had to re-read a page or paragraph because the POV had shifted, and I was stuck in the previous POV. This broke down the flow and popped me out of the narrative. I think a bit of formatting would alleviate this issue.
I did read online that there is a prequel, and I’d likely be interested in reading that, as well as book 2 as long as my demands are met :-) I’d probably rate this a strong 3.5 stars, but I wouldn't bump it to four stars on Goodreads, but would on Amazon based on what the actual stars mean.
June 25, 2015
Trespass flits between time zones as it tells a story of a stone discovered in a quarry.Set against a modern backdrop, 1939 and in 3500BC, Trespass shows the entwining stories of 3 individuals who encountered the darkenstone.
I would have to admit that the modern segment did not grip me as much as the other time zones. The character of Jake is well written and it certainly echoes modern school life but this is where it's weakness is. Jake is not a powerful character, he's bullied and a bit of an angry man... and occasionally hard to read.
Having said that however, the rest of the book is an interesting read. I enjoyed the segments written in BC. The characters of Waecan and Burlic springing off the page.
A well written, enjoyable read.
I would have to admit that the modern segment did not grip me as much as the other time zones. The character of Jake is well written and it certainly echoes modern school life but this is where it's weakness is. Jake is not a powerful character, he's bullied and a bit of an angry man... and occasionally hard to read.
Having said that however, the rest of the book is an interesting read. I enjoyed the segments written in BC. The characters of Waecan and Burlic springing off the page.
A well written, enjoyable read.
May 19, 2015
Mikey Campling might just be my new favorite author.
This is a story spanning 5000 years, in three different times. A hermit guards a precious stone slab that seems to have an entire world within. A young boy discovers the stone and grows mesmerized by it enough to risk running into the local gang of bullies, repeatedly. Even after being attacked. An old man remembers an old friend and a frightening experience at that very stone.
The driving theme is deliciously simple yet powerful. This is literary craftsmanship, not just storytelling.
When you see it... well you know.
This is a story spanning 5000 years, in three different times. A hermit guards a precious stone slab that seems to have an entire world within. A young boy discovers the stone and grows mesmerized by it enough to risk running into the local gang of bullies, repeatedly. Even after being attacked. An old man remembers an old friend and a frightening experience at that very stone.
The driving theme is deliciously simple yet powerful. This is literary craftsmanship, not just storytelling.
When you see it... well you know.
March 12, 2017
Why? Why the cliffhanger? I hate them so much. grrrr
Otherwise, I really enjoyed the story. I liked the mix of past and present. I liked the idea of the magic darkeningstone. I found the writing really clear, and I love, love, loved the Monty Python bit.
Just one question. Was Callie real or not?
Otherwise, I really enjoyed the story. I liked the mix of past and present. I liked the idea of the magic darkeningstone. I found the writing really clear, and I love, love, loved the Monty Python bit.
Just one question. Was Callie real or not?
October 13, 2016
this is a grand scale time traveling mystery and thriller. That keeps you guessing and on a adventure across time. will the answers be found? what will happen? find out in Trespass by Mikey Campling. You won't regret it. This book is brilliantly written.
June 17, 2017
Intrigue and Suspense! The story starts to unravel by bits, connecting the characters in the mystery of the darkening stone. I confess I'm intrigued with the origins, the whys and the meaning of the stone, and felt compelled to read the book in one go, so I could start with the next!
March 12, 2018
I’ve been meaning to check out Campling’s work for a while now but this is the first time I’ve finally bit the bullet and picked up one of his books. Unfortunately, I was a little bit disappointed.
Don’t get me wrong, the writing and editing are up to scratch and are pretty good for an indie release, although I did spot a few minor issues with the internal formatting. It’s just that the story isn’t the kind of story that I find interesting, and rather than the “tale of supernatural suspense” that was advertised on the cover, it felt like fairly typical YA fantasy.
Another thing that I wasn’t a fan of was the leaps through time. The story is basically taking place simultaneously in three different time periods and so sometimes you’re only really interested in one part of the narrative but you have to soldier through the other bit to see what happens. There’s occasionally a risk that the action suddenly slows to a stop to be replaced by exposition.
Still, you should take all of this with a pinch of salt because I’m not the target audience. I just worry that if you did belong to the target audience, you’d have read so many other books that are similar in style and substance that it wouldn’t feel as though it was necessarily new. It’s more like a new take on an existing style of story.
It’s also worth mentioning here that this is the first book in a series as well, although I personally won’t be continuing with it. But I’ve also read much worse indie books and there’s a lot here for people who like writers like Cassandra Clare and Holly Black. I was just expecting much more suspense and much less teenage angst, although maybe that’s my fault. You decide.
Don’t get me wrong, the writing and editing are up to scratch and are pretty good for an indie release, although I did spot a few minor issues with the internal formatting. It’s just that the story isn’t the kind of story that I find interesting, and rather than the “tale of supernatural suspense” that was advertised on the cover, it felt like fairly typical YA fantasy.
Another thing that I wasn’t a fan of was the leaps through time. The story is basically taking place simultaneously in three different time periods and so sometimes you’re only really interested in one part of the narrative but you have to soldier through the other bit to see what happens. There’s occasionally a risk that the action suddenly slows to a stop to be replaced by exposition.
Still, you should take all of this with a pinch of salt because I’m not the target audience. I just worry that if you did belong to the target audience, you’d have read so many other books that are similar in style and substance that it wouldn’t feel as though it was necessarily new. It’s more like a new take on an existing style of story.
It’s also worth mentioning here that this is the first book in a series as well, although I personally won’t be continuing with it. But I’ve also read much worse indie books and there’s a lot here for people who like writers like Cassandra Clare and Holly Black. I was just expecting much more suspense and much less teenage angst, although maybe that’s my fault. You decide.
August 31, 2016
I'm surprised I enjoyed this story as much as I did. I normally limit my reading to Sci Fi novels with Aliens, Plasma Blasters, Space Travel and Weapons, etc. While there wasn't any time travel, the story ranges from 3,500 BC, to 1939 and 2010. A mysterious Black Stone, with seemingly such perfect edges, corners and polished surface make it impossible to be "Man-Made" and obviously not "Natural" either. The surface is so smooth and the material so pure some are not only able to see into the Stone but are drawn into the Stone.
Where the Stone comes from and what it's purpose is remain a mystery to us. The power of the Stone to draw "and hold" certain people to it are such that the most recent character to come under it's "spell" is fourteen year old adolescent struggling with the break up of his parents. The Stone's power is such that it causes him to defy his Father's admonishment to never venture (again) into the abandoned quarry where the Stone is and, to enter again even after receiving a serious beating from one of the gang members whose turf is this quarry.
The story ends just as Jake, the teenager, narrowly misses another beating by the same older gang bully when the Stone draws him in. To where, we are left to wonder. Hopefully the author will be kind enough to share more with us and help us better understand the Stone, it's power's and purpose and where the heck did Jake go. Oh yeah, there's a gorgeous girl, Cally, who Jake has met by the Stone who seems to be willingly under the power of the Stone. Jake is surely under her power.
Review by THE HOLEY ONE
Where the Stone comes from and what it's purpose is remain a mystery to us. The power of the Stone to draw "and hold" certain people to it are such that the most recent character to come under it's "spell" is fourteen year old adolescent struggling with the break up of his parents. The Stone's power is such that it causes him to defy his Father's admonishment to never venture (again) into the abandoned quarry where the Stone is and, to enter again even after receiving a serious beating from one of the gang members whose turf is this quarry.
The story ends just as Jake, the teenager, narrowly misses another beating by the same older gang bully when the Stone draws him in. To where, we are left to wonder. Hopefully the author will be kind enough to share more with us and help us better understand the Stone, it's power's and purpose and where the heck did Jake go. Oh yeah, there's a gorgeous girl, Cally, who Jake has met by the Stone who seems to be willingly under the power of the Stone. Jake is surely under her power.
Review by THE HOLEY ONE
November 25, 2015
Mystery, history, and science fiction, all blended into a fascinating story that spans thousands of years. I like all of the characters, but I think my favorites are the ones tending the Darkeningstone five thousand years in the past. They are an interesting take on how early man may have viewed unfamiliar and puzzling objects. That stone certainly remains a puzzle, right into modern times. Is it an alien artifact? Some kind of wormhole? Maybe a time travel portal? The guesses are all equally unlikely, and yet, there the stone remains, waiting for someone to get too close.
The three stories all center around the stone and the quarry that contains it. Modern character Jake is fascinated by the stone, and dives deep into research trying to figure it out. No? Of course not! He’s a teenage boy! He meets a girl near the stone and is now looking for her. He’s not having much luck. I suspect there may be a fourth story, skillfully hidden as yet.
Excellent book! I want to read the next one, please.
The three stories all center around the stone and the quarry that contains it. Modern character Jake is fascinated by the stone, and dives deep into research trying to figure it out. No? Of course not! He’s a teenage boy! He meets a girl near the stone and is now looking for her. He’s not having much luck. I suspect there may be a fourth story, skillfully hidden as yet.
Excellent book! I want to read the next one, please.
May 27, 2015
I'm an independent reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock. I received Trespass from is author Mikey Campling and PRATR in exchange for my review.
At first I was not sure what to make of this story as I began reading reading it other than it was a Young Adult fiction book. Trespass storyline spans over 5,000 years and starts with a Young teenager who becomes enamored with a stone he finds to a hermit. Each time zone was detailed and explained to weave together so as to limit confusion for the reader. At times I admit I did have to remind myself which time period they were in but it all made sense the deeper into the book you got. The author is very well written and knowledgeable. Even with the cliffhanger at the end of the book which prompts the next chapter he's successfully completed in ensuring you will stay with him to ride the story out. I give this story 4 Fangs.
March 30, 2016
The set up of this novel was really good - we jump between first two and then three times: 2010, 3500BC and then 1939. All of the events occur in a quarry which contains a mysterious black stone which somehow links the time periods. The main story is told by a 14 year old boy who accidentally falls into the quarry and discovers the stone, but a lot of the book also follows Burlic, a neolithic man (who speaks great English...) whose own discovery of the stone has a terrifying effect upon him.
The story was definitely gripping, but I felt it was just a bit too slow. The author did a great job of building the tension, and building the tension, and...building the tension, but after 260 pages without even the hint of an answer, I started to get a bit tired. Of course I'd like to know more and I'd like to find out what happens, but I felt that perhaps the build up could have done with a bit more pace. Nevertheless, it was a really interesting and unusual idea.
The story was definitely gripping, but I felt it was just a bit too slow. The author did a great job of building the tension, and building the tension, and...building the tension, but after 260 pages without even the hint of an answer, I started to get a bit tired. Of course I'd like to know more and I'd like to find out what happens, but I felt that perhaps the build up could have done with a bit more pace. Nevertheless, it was a really interesting and unusual idea.
February 15, 2016
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book through READING DEALS so I could give an honest review. I really enjoyed this book and it's characters. I thought it was very well written and executed and looking forward into reading more from this author. This was my first book from READING DEALS and can't wait to read my next book from them.
This book is spread out over thousands of years between the years of 3500 B.C. and 2010 with the main subject being the Darkening Stones. This is a book I would recommend to others that enjoy reading fantasy and science fiction and young adults but actually for everyone that wants something to search for that can't be found outside of the Darkening Stones...
This book is spread out over thousands of years between the years of 3500 B.C. and 2010 with the main subject being the Darkening Stones. This is a book I would recommend to others that enjoy reading fantasy and science fiction and young adults but actually for everyone that wants something to search for that can't be found outside of the Darkening Stones...
February 13, 2017
Fascinating, well written first volume of a trilogy, August 8, 2016
This review is from: Trespass: A Tale of Mystery and Suspense Across Time (The Darkeningstone Series Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
Mr. Campling has written a complex, compelling novel with interconnected action and characters spanning thousands of years. This is not a novel for those who want a simple linear storyline. The story combines mystery, science fiction, fantasy, adventure and multiple characters into a mix of different but related viewpoints. Strong character development, good writing and plotting made this a fascinating read. I have added Mickey Campling to my list of authors whom I follow.
This review is from: Trespass: A Tale of Mystery and Suspense Across Time (The Darkeningstone Series Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
Mr. Campling has written a complex, compelling novel with interconnected action and characters spanning thousands of years. This is not a novel for those who want a simple linear storyline. The story combines mystery, science fiction, fantasy, adventure and multiple characters into a mix of different but related viewpoints. Strong character development, good writing and plotting made this a fascinating read. I have added Mickey Campling to my list of authors whom I follow.
September 9, 2015
A wonderful mystery. I greatly enjoyed this book. Good story with in depth, relate-able characters. Won courtesy of Goodreads Giveaway.
August 17, 2016
I thought a bit of a slow start but the story was engaging with a good set up for book two. A good read.
September 22, 2016
Great adventure, time travel, mystery...
February 28, 2019
As always in books by Michael Campling, this is very well written. The beauty of the language, visceral descriptive passages, and compelling characters are all trademarks of his writing. This complex plot follows the events surrounding a mysterious black stone through three different timelines, millennia apart at times, and still overlapping one another.
In modern day, Jake is a teen at a difficult time in his life. His parents have separated. His mother spends too much time away, at work and trying to have a social life. His father lives farther away, and often misses his weekend visits. Jake is not truly neglected, at least physically, but he is lonely.
Jake only has one real friend, but he is often busy with his own home life. Bored and roaming, Jake happens to be drawn into an abandoned quarry. There have always been rumors of dangers in the quarry, and there is a fence to keep people out. Jake is about to find out all the dangers, including the one no one else seems to know about, a mysterious black stone slab that has strange effects on those who venture too close.
In 1939 the quarry was still active. Bob while trying to shirk his duties, happens upon a strange slab of black rock. He shows the rock to his friend Vincent. When Bob stumbles onto the rock, the effects are disastrous for him.
In 3500 B. C. there is a keeper of the stone. He lives in the pit where his people get the stones to build their shelters, a place inhabited by Shades after sunset. His calling, both cutting building blocks and the black stone, were passed through his father down to him. But the current keeper has no son to pass his knowledge and responsibility on to. What will happen when this last keeper falls?
How does the stone draw all of these timelines together? What is the mystery of this stone?
Kindle Unlimited edition
In modern day, Jake is a teen at a difficult time in his life. His parents have separated. His mother spends too much time away, at work and trying to have a social life. His father lives farther away, and often misses his weekend visits. Jake is not truly neglected, at least physically, but he is lonely.
Jake only has one real friend, but he is often busy with his own home life. Bored and roaming, Jake happens to be drawn into an abandoned quarry. There have always been rumors of dangers in the quarry, and there is a fence to keep people out. Jake is about to find out all the dangers, including the one no one else seems to know about, a mysterious black stone slab that has strange effects on those who venture too close.
In 1939 the quarry was still active. Bob while trying to shirk his duties, happens upon a strange slab of black rock. He shows the rock to his friend Vincent. When Bob stumbles onto the rock, the effects are disastrous for him.
In 3500 B. C. there is a keeper of the stone. He lives in the pit where his people get the stones to build their shelters, a place inhabited by Shades after sunset. His calling, both cutting building blocks and the black stone, were passed through his father down to him. But the current keeper has no son to pass his knowledge and responsibility on to. What will happen when this last keeper falls?
How does the stone draw all of these timelines together? What is the mystery of this stone?
Kindle Unlimited edition
July 22, 2017
Kindle Unlimited good story basically but kept getting lost, tho that may be because my computer 'reads' to me so maybe missed some things not totally sure.
Nobody goes into the old quarry. Nobody. Until today.Three lives are intertwined across five thousand years, united by one deadly secret: Somewhere, sometime, the stone is waiting.
Trespass combines the action of a gripping thriller with a historical mystery set in the ancient past, and blends supernatural suspense with time travel.Discovered over 5,000 years ago, the Darkeningstone affects everyone who finds it.
Jake was too smart to believe the rumours about Scaderstone Pit, but now he's in more danger than he could ever have imagined.
In 1939, as World War II looms, the lives of two men will be changed forever. Over 5,000 years ago, a hermit will keep the stone a secret. But someone is watching him - someone with murder in his heart. But what will happen when these different worlds collide? How will the tales unfold?
Trespass: A Tale of Supernatural Suspense (The Darkeningstone Series Book 1)
Outcast (The Darkeningstone Series Book 2)
A Dark Assortment (Thoughtful Horror Book 3)
Breaking Ground - A Tale of Mystery and Suspense Across Time
Nobody goes into the old quarry. Nobody. Until today.Three lives are intertwined across five thousand years, united by one deadly secret: Somewhere, sometime, the stone is waiting.
Trespass combines the action of a gripping thriller with a historical mystery set in the ancient past, and blends supernatural suspense with time travel.Discovered over 5,000 years ago, the Darkeningstone affects everyone who finds it.
Jake was too smart to believe the rumours about Scaderstone Pit, but now he's in more danger than he could ever have imagined.
In 1939, as World War II looms, the lives of two men will be changed forever. Over 5,000 years ago, a hermit will keep the stone a secret. But someone is watching him - someone with murder in his heart. But what will happen when these different worlds collide? How will the tales unfold?
Trespass: A Tale of Supernatural Suspense (The Darkeningstone Series Book 1)
Outcast (The Darkeningstone Series Book 2)
A Dark Assortment (Thoughtful Horror Book 3)
Breaking Ground - A Tale of Mystery and Suspense Across Time
May 19, 2018
This story intrigued me from the first when I read the sample. I expected it to be much different, similar to the Chronicles of Narnia where the protagonist travels to a different world to have adventures. It wasn't like that at all, but I enjoyed the book. Jake was very real to me. He's a young man on the cusp of adulthood who still struggles with the expectations and angst of school while also dealing with parents who are so caught up in their own lives that they forget they have a son who needs them. Did he make stupid decisions? Yes, but who among us never did at that age? Does that make him weak? Yes, but again not fully adult and still has the fears of childhood too close to think things through properly.
I also enjoyed the very different method Campling used to tell this story. The different timelines all revolving around this one mystical stone were interesting and well thought out. It's not always easy to tell a story in the near past and keep it authentic, but it was well done in this book. I'll definitely been collecting the rest of the series.
I also enjoyed the very different method Campling used to tell this story. The different timelines all revolving around this one mystical stone were interesting and well thought out. It's not always easy to tell a story in the near past and keep it authentic, but it was well done in this book. I'll definitely been collecting the rest of the series.
January 6, 2021
You know the standard story structure, where there's a story climax where the protagonist faces the biggest test of his character arc? If you like that kind of payoff to your hours of reading, then this is not the book for you.
I felt cheated when the story simply ended on a cliffhanger with no resolution. I felt even more cheated by the Afterword, in which Campling explains that he believes that story endings should be surprising, and he likes to leave things to the readers' imaginations. So, he surprised us with a non-ending, because we all expecting a satisfying ending? He doesn't understand the difference between leaving things to the imagination and not having a plot.
I'm stunned by the positive reviews here. This book seems to be written solely to promote the next book, rather than to be a good story in itself. Apparently that doesn't bother many readers. If you like the idea of being surprised that the book suddenly ends without anything happening then you may enjoy this story fragment.
I felt cheated when the story simply ended on a cliffhanger with no resolution. I felt even more cheated by the Afterword, in which Campling explains that he believes that story endings should be surprising, and he likes to leave things to the readers' imaginations. So, he surprised us with a non-ending, because we all expecting a satisfying ending? He doesn't understand the difference between leaving things to the imagination and not having a plot.
I'm stunned by the positive reviews here. This book seems to be written solely to promote the next book, rather than to be a good story in itself. Apparently that doesn't bother many readers. If you like the idea of being surprised that the book suddenly ends without anything happening then you may enjoy this story fragment.
December 19, 2016
I won a copy of this on Goodreads Giveaways for an impartial review.
It has taken me a while to get to this book - I think mainly because the cover was a bit dull for my liking so it always got put to the bottom of TBR pile. I liked the idea behind it and the summary on the back sounded quite exciting.
However, I did not finish this book - I got to chapter 20 and had to give up as it was a little dull, confusing and there were too many characters introduced at the same time for my liking. I am sure that it will appeal to lots of other people but not for me sorry.
It has taken me a while to get to this book - I think mainly because the cover was a bit dull for my liking so it always got put to the bottom of TBR pile. I liked the idea behind it and the summary on the back sounded quite exciting.
However, I did not finish this book - I got to chapter 20 and had to give up as it was a little dull, confusing and there were too many characters introduced at the same time for my liking. I am sure that it will appeal to lots of other people but not for me sorry.
June 20, 2017
This is an interesting story. It reminds me of a Steven King novel. Lots of twist. Unique characters. Fast paced. A lot of back and forth in time. So you have to pay attention of the time sequence or it can be confusing. I recommend this book. You will enjoy it as I did. Thank you Mikey for a good read.
September 15, 2020
Be prepared for each chapter moving a particular character's story along all the while jumping from one time period to another. Any other time and I would have been peely rissed. But this style of writing makes sense here, and I really liked the denouement. All the characters have a connection to a black stone.
September 22, 2020
The concept is better than the execution.
There's a stone in a quarry, and it has a time travel aspect to it. A Neolithic man sees a boy from 2010, and the boy from 2010 and takes some items from a man in 1939.
An OK YA book, but I'm not going to continue the series. The plot is a decent idea, but lacking.
There's a stone in a quarry, and it has a time travel aspect to it. A Neolithic man sees a boy from 2010, and the boy from 2010 and takes some items from a man in 1939.
An OK YA book, but I'm not going to continue the series. The plot is a decent idea, but lacking.
January 8, 2019
Very interesting and exciting!
I loved the idea of the story weaving in and out of different periods of time in the lives of our characters, and the suspense was absolutely nail-biting!
I loved the idea of the story weaving in and out of different periods of time in the lives of our characters, and the suspense was absolutely nail-biting!
September 25, 2019
An excellent story, well written and engaging, full of thrilling action. Highly recommended reading!
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review
September 24, 2018
A singularly good read.
I was totally enamoured of this story after reading the prologue/prequel Breaking Ground and somehow time just disappeared as I read this. The characters are incredibly full of life, from the Neolithic, to those inhabiting England of WWII and 2012.
Really unusual plot, well crafted, compelling and impeccably edited. Could kick myself, this gem was sitting, ignored, on my iPhone for some time. Will be reading the rest of this series, and anything else from this author!
Highly recommended!
I was totally enamoured of this story after reading the prologue/prequel Breaking Ground and somehow time just disappeared as I read this. The characters are incredibly full of life, from the Neolithic, to those inhabiting England of WWII and 2012.
Really unusual plot, well crafted, compelling and impeccably edited. Could kick myself, this gem was sitting, ignored, on my iPhone for some time. Will be reading the rest of this series, and anything else from this author!
Highly recommended!
October 28, 2016
I know a lot of people like this book, but it didn't thrill me. I guess my feeling about it was, "Meh."
The concept is good, and maybe if I was or had ever been a pubescent boy I'd relate better to the modern-day character and his best friend. The time shifts changed a bit too frequently for me, and I couldn't really tell what was going on some of the time, especially in the oldest time period.
The ending is meant to make you jump to read the next book, but I think I'm going to skip it.
The concept is good, and maybe if I was or had ever been a pubescent boy I'd relate better to the modern-day character and his best friend. The time shifts changed a bit too frequently for me, and I couldn't really tell what was going on some of the time, especially in the oldest time period.
The ending is meant to make you jump to read the next book, but I think I'm going to skip it.
May 3, 2017
The story goes to several eras with characters for each era. It follows a special stone, the Darkeningstone. Where did it come from? Why does it affect people differently? Such a unique premise. The writing is really very well done. It's a good story. Each chapter takes you back and forth between the eras, slowly connecting you to the characters and the stone. This is a compelling read that draws you in more and more with each chapter. I'm looking forward to reading the next book to see where the story takes me.
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