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The Crown of Stones #1
Magic-Price
Ian Troy is one of the Shinree, a fallen people with an inherent addiction to magic. Scorned and reviled for the deadly side of their spells, the Shinree are bred as slaves. Their magic is suppressed by drugs and used only as it serves the purposes of the other races. Descended from a long line of soldiers, Ian is conscripted into the Rellan army and made to fight in their longstanding conflict against the ruthless Langorian invaders. The downfall of Rella imminent, Ian goes against orders and turns to the Crown of Stones, an ancient Shinree relic of untold power. Ignorant of its true purpose, Ian uses the crown to end the war, and pays a terrible price. A decade later, still tortured by the aftermath of that day, Ian lives as a bounty hunter in self-imposed exile. Having renounced his magical heritage, he curbs his obsession with a steady stream of wine and regret. He struggles to put it all behind him, until a fateful encounter with a pretty assassin brings Ian’s past crashing into the present. Targeted by a rogue Shinree, and a ruthless old enemy, Ian is forced to use magic again. His deadly addiction is rekindled and his life of isolation is brought to a swift end. With the land he gave up everything to protect once more in jeopardy, and his people’s future at stake, Ian becomes embroiled in a violent race for control of the Crown of Stones. To save the realms and those he cares for, Ian must embrace the thing he fears most: his own power.
482 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 9, 2013
240 people are currently reading
2738 people want to read
About the author
C.L. Schneider
15 books822 followersBorn in the Midwest, I live in New York's scenic Hudson Valley Region with my husband and two sons. A huge reader since childhood, I penned my first full-length novel in high school on a typewriter in my parent's living room. That was when my dream of becoming a published author was born. Life happened, and it took a while, but I can honestly say: it's the best job ever.
If you're looking for puppies, rainbows, and sweet romance, you won't find that here. My stories tend to run dark, gritty, and adult, full of action, magic, intrigue, antiheroes, mysteries and monsters.
You can learn more about me and my work at clschneiderauthor.com where you can read reviews, excerpts and sneak peeks, subscribe to my newsletter, and join my Street Team. Connect with me on social media, where I'm often found chatting about the wonderful roller coaster of a writer's life.
If you're looking for puppies, rainbows, and sweet romance, you won't find that here. My stories tend to run dark, gritty, and adult, full of action, magic, intrigue, antiheroes, mysteries and monsters.
You can learn more about me and my work at clschneiderauthor.com where you can read reviews, excerpts and sneak peeks, subscribe to my newsletter, and join my Street Team. Connect with me on social media, where I'm often found chatting about the wonderful roller coaster of a writer's life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews
February 27, 2014
Wow...I had been looking through books on Amazon similar to another I had just finished. Saw the cover, and thought of Geralt of Rivia (the Witcher) and Drizzt Do'Urden, they just popped into my mind. So I clicked on it and decided to check out the plot.
"Ian lives as a bounty hunter in self-imposed exile" - this line right here made me buy it, along with the rest of course, but I love a good protagonist who's a bounty hunter. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down, shut the door to my office, set my Lync to "In Meeting" and away I went.
Solid first book and I can't wait for the second one, great writing and little to no mistakes with grammar or spelling that I noticed. Truly CL is on her way to becoming a great writer (if not one already).
The world presented in the book, the way its shown to us through Ian's eyes leaves nothing out. Not only that, the magic system in this book is one I've yet to see in the books I've read...truly interesting. So much to build on. The action is so well done as well, and come on, who doesn't love a duel wielding warrior.
A few things that did bother me, but not so much to take me out of the story...slight spoilers the main character gets used by so many people, why he keeps trusting people I don't know, also he seems to lose his mind a bit over a beautiful woman (then again, who doesn't), lastly quite a few side characters who I would have enjoyed a bit more kept ending up as bait, needed saving, or were just plain using him for their own ends.
All in the book was great and I'm sure book 2 will continue the trend. Hopefully he'll be a hardened version of the character from book 1.
But seriously, buy this book. Its a Good Read...heh.
Love saying that.
"Ian lives as a bounty hunter in self-imposed exile" - this line right here made me buy it, along with the rest of course, but I love a good protagonist who's a bounty hunter. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down, shut the door to my office, set my Lync to "In Meeting" and away I went.
Solid first book and I can't wait for the second one, great writing and little to no mistakes with grammar or spelling that I noticed. Truly CL is on her way to becoming a great writer (if not one already).
The world presented in the book, the way its shown to us through Ian's eyes leaves nothing out. Not only that, the magic system in this book is one I've yet to see in the books I've read...truly interesting. So much to build on. The action is so well done as well, and come on, who doesn't love a duel wielding warrior.
A few things that did bother me, but not so much to take me out of the story...slight spoilers the main character gets used by so many people, why he keeps trusting people I don't know, also he seems to lose his mind a bit over a beautiful woman (then again, who doesn't), lastly quite a few side characters who I would have enjoyed a bit more kept ending up as bait, needed saving, or were just plain using him for their own ends.
All in the book was great and I'm sure book 2 will continue the trend. Hopefully he'll be a hardened version of the character from book 1.
But seriously, buy this book. Its a Good Read...heh.
Love saying that.
April 10, 2014
I caught sight of this book on an advertisement and the cover drew me right in. I wasn’t disappointed. This book had a good amount of action and character development that kept me hooked throughout.
First, I loved how the magic was handled in this book. It was different, developed, yet not fully unearthed by the characters. It grew along with the story, which was quite nice.
I found the interaction of the races very interesting. I won’t spoil it, but there’s some great meanings in there if you pay attention. The world was developed nicely and had a good feel of fullness and history. The writing itself was very enjoyable.
So, fast-paced read, good writing, and nice world. How about those characters?
I will say that Ian and Malaq were my favorites. The other characters were a wide range and had flaws as well as admirable traits. It was a diverse cast and one I immensely enjoyed. Malaq had a fun, suave personality to him. I liked his humor and all around demeanor. I think I was drawn to Ian because 1) he was a magic user and I tend to like mages 2) he had a tortured side to him which is always alluring to me 3) he could be a badass! He was also a vulnerable character, one who was caught up in something bigger than himself and kept messing up because of it. I liked that he didn’t have all the answers, that he made mistakes. I will say, he had a huge weakness for women. Not a bad thing, it just started feeling... I don’t know, too predictable maybe? It wasn’t like it was the same girl that kept duping him, it was several. So it lost something there for me. Not sure how else to explain it. It wasn’t horrible by any means, it was just something I grew to expect. Oh, there’s a girl? You’re in trouble, Ian.
There were a few surprises at the end. I loved that I learned of the world as Ian did. I never rolled my eyes through a boring history lesson. It was worked in nicely to the conversations, musings, and interactions of the characters. For me, this is a huge bonus.
Overall, great read for anyone who likes epic adult fantasy. I’ll definitely be picking up the second book and following any future works by Schneider.
First, I loved how the magic was handled in this book. It was different, developed, yet not fully unearthed by the characters. It grew along with the story, which was quite nice.
I found the interaction of the races very interesting. I won’t spoil it, but there’s some great meanings in there if you pay attention. The world was developed nicely and had a good feel of fullness and history. The writing itself was very enjoyable.
So, fast-paced read, good writing, and nice world. How about those characters?
I will say that Ian and Malaq were my favorites. The other characters were a wide range and had flaws as well as admirable traits. It was a diverse cast and one I immensely enjoyed. Malaq had a fun, suave personality to him. I liked his humor and all around demeanor. I think I was drawn to Ian because 1) he was a magic user and I tend to like mages 2) he had a tortured side to him which is always alluring to me 3) he could be a badass! He was also a vulnerable character, one who was caught up in something bigger than himself and kept messing up because of it. I liked that he didn’t have all the answers, that he made mistakes. I will say, he had a huge weakness for women. Not a bad thing, it just started feeling... I don’t know, too predictable maybe? It wasn’t like it was the same girl that kept duping him, it was several. So it lost something there for me. Not sure how else to explain it. It wasn’t horrible by any means, it was just something I grew to expect. Oh, there’s a girl? You’re in trouble, Ian.
There were a few surprises at the end. I loved that I learned of the world as Ian did. I never rolled my eyes through a boring history lesson. It was worked in nicely to the conversations, musings, and interactions of the characters. For me, this is a huge bonus.
Overall, great read for anyone who likes epic adult fantasy. I’ll definitely be picking up the second book and following any future works by Schneider.
April 28, 2015
Ian Troy has spent the last ten years trying to forget the war - the choice he made and the countless lives he took. But things are coming full circle as an old enemy strikes again, forcing Troy to embrace the darkest parts of himself to fight back.
Ok, I really enjoyed this. As you may have guessed from the high rating.
Crown of Stones was one of the books in Indie Book Club's March group read. Yes, I realise that it's almost May. First of all, my inability to be on time for anything is infamous. Secondly, I've had a lot of time-sensitive reviews taking up my time lately, and I was enjoying Crown of Stones too much to rush it.
Believe it or not, I wasn't convinced during the first couple of chapters, as you follow Troy in his role as bounty hunter and self-imposed exile. It was really confusing, and with Troy being a major loner, it was hard to get to grips with his world.
I think it was only with the arrival of Malak and Jarryd that I felt the story come to life, and I was hooked!
Malak and Jarryd are great characters. Malak in particular leaves you guessing where his loyalties lie. And it was interesting to watch Jarryd the puppydog become more aware of the dangers of the world around him.
The friendship between them builds slowly, and you are left with the feeling that they are all going to have important roles to play later in the series.
And the main guy - I'm just going to pause for a moment and say - this sword-fighting, magic-wielding, legend and walking disaster is called Ian. I don't know why that fact makes me so happy, but it does. Perhaps because it's such a contrast to all the other fantasy books where the main character has a name that immediately picks them out as a King; or all the other names that are found in this fantastical land. We have Ian.
I felt Ian Troy was a perfect balance of everything that made him - the addict; the hermit; the overly-emotional one; the stubborn mule...
The world that Schneider has created is both impressive, and flawed.
She has created different races, a full history that is touched upon just enough to educate, without drowning out the plot. There is conflict between nations that has lasted an eternity. There are enemies, but no entire race is painted as evil, they all have their morals and traditions, their own reasons.
The flawed bit... you're thrown into this world, and it takes a while to start to understand all the rivalry and name-calling, the insults and reactions. I find it a common problem in fantasy books, where authors are so familiar with the worlds they have created, they sometimes forget what it's like for newcomers.
Related to this, despite having in-depth history for all the different races, they all seem to merge into one. There is nothing to distinguish between them in language, or daily behaviours.
The other problem I had was the lack of any likeable female characters. I got the feeling that women were simply there to feed the men and provide somewhere warm to sleep. Even the Queen, and the all-powerful Sienn - there were moments when I held my breath that they might actually become strong characters.... nah, let's be submissive and let the men handle it instead. The only time any woman got assertive was when she (doesn't matter which she, there were dozens) tried to jump on Troy's dick. Which must be very magical indeed, with how in demand it is.
Ok, on that interesting note, I'm leaving it there!
All-in-all, a good book, and a series I'll definitely be continuing.
Ok, I really enjoyed this. As you may have guessed from the high rating.
Crown of Stones was one of the books in Indie Book Club's March group read. Yes, I realise that it's almost May. First of all, my inability to be on time for anything is infamous. Secondly, I've had a lot of time-sensitive reviews taking up my time lately, and I was enjoying Crown of Stones too much to rush it.
Believe it or not, I wasn't convinced during the first couple of chapters, as you follow Troy in his role as bounty hunter and self-imposed exile. It was really confusing, and with Troy being a major loner, it was hard to get to grips with his world.
I think it was only with the arrival of Malak and Jarryd that I felt the story come to life, and I was hooked!
Malak and Jarryd are great characters. Malak in particular leaves you guessing where his loyalties lie. And it was interesting to watch Jarryd the puppydog become more aware of the dangers of the world around him.
The friendship between them builds slowly, and you are left with the feeling that they are all going to have important roles to play later in the series.
And the main guy - I'm just going to pause for a moment and say - this sword-fighting, magic-wielding, legend and walking disaster is called Ian. I don't know why that fact makes me so happy, but it does. Perhaps because it's such a contrast to all the other fantasy books where the main character has a name that immediately picks them out as a King; or all the other names that are found in this fantastical land. We have Ian.
I felt Ian Troy was a perfect balance of everything that made him - the addict; the hermit; the overly-emotional one; the stubborn mule...
The world that Schneider has created is both impressive, and flawed.
She has created different races, a full history that is touched upon just enough to educate, without drowning out the plot. There is conflict between nations that has lasted an eternity. There are enemies, but no entire race is painted as evil, they all have their morals and traditions, their own reasons.
The flawed bit... you're thrown into this world, and it takes a while to start to understand all the rivalry and name-calling, the insults and reactions. I find it a common problem in fantasy books, where authors are so familiar with the worlds they have created, they sometimes forget what it's like for newcomers.
Related to this, despite having in-depth history for all the different races, they all seem to merge into one. There is nothing to distinguish between them in language, or daily behaviours.
The other problem I had was the lack of any likeable female characters. I got the feeling that women were simply there to feed the men and provide somewhere warm to sleep. Even the Queen, and the all-powerful Sienn - there were moments when I held my breath that they might actually become strong characters.... nah, let's be submissive and let the men handle it instead. The only time any woman got assertive was when she (doesn't matter which she, there were dozens) tried to jump on Troy's dick. Which must be very magical indeed, with how in demand it is.
Ok, on that interesting note, I'm leaving it there!
All-in-all, a good book, and a series I'll definitely be continuing.
March 2, 2015
Book review
The Crown of Stones: Magic-Price
by C. L. Schneider
5 star.
This is a rare piece of magic indeed, it put its spell on me from page one, big action to start leading to a very personal first person experience.
The story is told through the perspective of Ian Troy, of the magic wielding race, the Shinree, enslaved and drugged they trudge through their life of hell. Answering to whatever master holds their chains. The story is not his fight for freedom as you might’ve expected, but a fight for his master’s kingdom and freedom from their oppression.
The writing is first class, apart from some spelling mistakes and odd words missed out, it is in-depth and fast pace. The characters are exceptionally well written and Troy has you throwing your arm in the air with fury at his self-doubt and loathing, shadows of Thomas Covenant.
This book ranks up with the best fantasy I’ve read, and that’s a lot.
I’ll be reading the rest in the series for sure.
Jeremy Poole
The Crown of Stones: Magic-Price
by C. L. Schneider
5 star.
This is a rare piece of magic indeed, it put its spell on me from page one, big action to start leading to a very personal first person experience.
The story is told through the perspective of Ian Troy, of the magic wielding race, the Shinree, enslaved and drugged they trudge through their life of hell. Answering to whatever master holds their chains. The story is not his fight for freedom as you might’ve expected, but a fight for his master’s kingdom and freedom from their oppression.
The writing is first class, apart from some spelling mistakes and odd words missed out, it is in-depth and fast pace. The characters are exceptionally well written and Troy has you throwing your arm in the air with fury at his self-doubt and loathing, shadows of Thomas Covenant.
This book ranks up with the best fantasy I’ve read, and that’s a lot.
I’ll be reading the rest in the series for sure.
Jeremy Poole
December 30, 2022
Grim & great
In the throes of war an artifact of immense power is unleashed. Leading to annihilation of thousands. Enemies of the past now resurface & converge on a tormented exile.
Wow! Relentless action. Conniving villains & a bad ass lead! As great as it’s cover!
This reminded me a lot of Rob J. Hayes War Eternal series. Which I adore. I’d say if you like that this should be right up your alley.
In the throes of war an artifact of immense power is unleashed. Leading to annihilation of thousands. Enemies of the past now resurface & converge on a tormented exile.
Wow! Relentless action. Conniving villains & a bad ass lead! As great as it’s cover!
This reminded me a lot of Rob J. Hayes War Eternal series. Which I adore. I’d say if you like that this should be right up your alley.
October 31, 2019
The Crown of Stones: Magic-Price by C.L. Schneider is right up my alley and a wonderful start to the series. I really enjoyed her other series Nite Fire, I love a good fantasy story (it’s my passion and what got me hooked on reading, but I digress) which CL did a great job of writing this one. It’s dark overtones and unique magic, just made it more interesting. It is intricately woven and has many layers but the joy in the read was peeling back those layers to reveal the heart of the story and the characters. The story has everything you need and to make it a great, there is plenty of danger and action, drama and magic, intrigue and suspense, and the usual light vs darkness. I really enjoyed the unique twist used in Ian’s magic. CL gives us a world that you can easily imagine due to her writing and world building.
Ian has been living in fear of his magic and using it for a long long time. Having to live with the deaths of so many makes his life a living hell. When he stumbles upon a new threat, with its heart purely on destroying everything and anything to get what it wants, Ian is forced back into using the one thing he hates most.
If you love fantasy you need to read this.
Ian has been living in fear of his magic and using it for a long long time. Having to live with the deaths of so many makes his life a living hell. When he stumbles upon a new threat, with its heart purely on destroying everything and anything to get what it wants, Ian is forced back into using the one thing he hates most.
If you love fantasy you need to read this.
September 8, 2025
I think 3.5 stars? Not sure yet…
February 25, 2014
Ian troy is a shinree ,and like elric of melnibone, he is a relic from the past.For shinree, magic is the most potent drug..and the price is always payed by life.Not the wielder's life..shinree magic leeches from life around the wielder.A cataclysm in the past swallowed almost the entire race of shinree. And the remnants were reduced to mindless slaves,subjected to kayn'l the drug that seals the magic.
Ian is perhaps the only free shinree.A warrior who ended a war in a single stroke.And he will judge himself,always based on that moment,when he leeched the magic-price from the battle field around him.Like lena's rape scars thomas covenant's life for ever,Ian's soul is paying the magic price for ever.
The story is about how the past,that he payed such a hefty price to bury returns ,and changes the world as he knew while changing him.
This is without doubt, the best debut of the year.The narration is excellently paced and the way she unveils the secrets is so cool.We will be immersed in Ian's psyche or his insatiable libido(!) that we will feel like slapped when she comes up with another twist.It's a roller coaster ride that keeps throwing surprises till the very end.And the villains are really diabolic.Some times, we may think why he made that choice..but most times when i backtracked i found that they villains were too clever for our trusting guilt-driven soul.Especially the one near the climax is so insidious..every word was a suggestion while seemingly meaning one thing pushing him in the opposite..
The less convincing part was the camaraderie between Ian,malaq and the archer boy.It seemed forced rather than natural.And the scene where Ian had bad guy in his hand and still bowed to malaq's choice.
The journey was a dark one,it was one slow descent to hell.It portrayed the flaws of humanity.Its a soul shattering account of a man,whose life has been sculpted and shaped and made into a gullible weapon.A man who's whole life was a lie..
Ian is perhaps the only free shinree.A warrior who ended a war in a single stroke.And he will judge himself,always based on that moment,when he leeched the magic-price from the battle field around him.Like lena's rape scars thomas covenant's life for ever,Ian's soul is paying the magic price for ever.
The story is about how the past,that he payed such a hefty price to bury returns ,and changes the world as he knew while changing him.
This is without doubt, the best debut of the year.The narration is excellently paced and the way she unveils the secrets is so cool.We will be immersed in Ian's psyche or his insatiable libido(!) that we will feel like slapped when she comes up with another twist.It's a roller coaster ride that keeps throwing surprises till the very end.And the villains are really diabolic.Some times, we may think why he made that choice..but most times when i backtracked i found that they villains were too clever for our trusting guilt-driven soul.Especially the one near the climax is so insidious..every word was a suggestion while seemingly meaning one thing pushing him in the opposite..
The less convincing part was the camaraderie between Ian,malaq and the archer boy.It seemed forced rather than natural.And the scene where Ian had bad guy in his hand and still bowed to malaq's choice.
The journey was a dark one,it was one slow descent to hell.It portrayed the flaws of humanity.Its a soul shattering account of a man,whose life has been sculpted and shaped and made into a gullible weapon.A man who's whole life was a lie..
April 30, 2014
The Crown of Stones was a fun and episodic read with lots of action and adventure. The author creatively plots and structures narrative events, making it hard to put the book down. The Crown of Stones is a complex and rich story world. All the characters are well-developed and I enjoyed learning about their back stories, especially the main character Ian Troy as the lonely figure. As a fantasy novel, I felt that I was transported to another world. Yet, I think this book refers to our current moment in the Internet age in terms of time and space, given that certain characters can transport through magical doors as well as fuse and connect directly with each other’s consciousness. Very cool and impressive book.
February 5, 2024
I wasn't really knowing what to expect from this one,but I was really surprised how much I enjoyed this.
CL Schneider has set out a wonderful world that builds and builds and has you hooked from the start.Troy is such a great character that you begin to feel for him straight away.
Looking forward to getting my hands on Book 2, to see where we go next.
CL Schneider has set out a wonderful world that builds and builds and has you hooked from the start.Troy is such a great character that you begin to feel for him straight away.
Looking forward to getting my hands on Book 2, to see where we go next.
March 10, 2015
I need the second one now!
October 30, 2019
5 Stars
Magic Price is the first book in The Crown of Stone Series by C.L Schneider. It is a really well thought out and intricately woven, action-packed high fantasy- with sword fighting, magic, adventure, intensity, drama, originality, brilliant world building, surprising developments, intrigue, suspense, and so much more. I loved Ms. Schneider’s Nite Fire Series, and I am a sucker for epic fantasy, so it was a no brainer when I discovered this series- grabbing a copy and immediately diving in. The story is darker than I had initially expected, with a raw grittiness that really gave this story an extra element of interest. It is also a very imaginative and original take on epic fantasy- especially with the lore of magic being so unique to this book/series.
Ms. Schneider brilliant world building skills are really highlighted here- as the world is ‘alive’ and entirely realistic and believable- so richly painted with attention to detail to all the different races, histories, and culture/s.
Ian Troy is a bounty hunter living a life of self-imposed exile. Living with the ghosts of the past which haunt his days and invade his nights. He single-handedly ended a war- but has been paying the price ever since. But when the past returns with a new threat against him, the land, and his people- Ian has no choice but to wield magic again. There is much at stake- but what will the price be this time?
This is a fantastic story/series- really is epic, intriguing, unique and very creative. Ms. Schneider proves her storytelling prowess with this book and series.
I really recommend this book/series to anyone who loves an epic, action-packed fantasy!
Thank you, Ms. Schneider!
Magic Price is the first book in The Crown of Stone Series by C.L Schneider. It is a really well thought out and intricately woven, action-packed high fantasy- with sword fighting, magic, adventure, intensity, drama, originality, brilliant world building, surprising developments, intrigue, suspense, and so much more. I loved Ms. Schneider’s Nite Fire Series, and I am a sucker for epic fantasy, so it was a no brainer when I discovered this series- grabbing a copy and immediately diving in. The story is darker than I had initially expected, with a raw grittiness that really gave this story an extra element of interest. It is also a very imaginative and original take on epic fantasy- especially with the lore of magic being so unique to this book/series.
Ms. Schneider brilliant world building skills are really highlighted here- as the world is ‘alive’ and entirely realistic and believable- so richly painted with attention to detail to all the different races, histories, and culture/s.
Ian Troy is a bounty hunter living a life of self-imposed exile. Living with the ghosts of the past which haunt his days and invade his nights. He single-handedly ended a war- but has been paying the price ever since. But when the past returns with a new threat against him, the land, and his people- Ian has no choice but to wield magic again. There is much at stake- but what will the price be this time?
This is a fantastic story/series- really is epic, intriguing, unique and very creative. Ms. Schneider proves her storytelling prowess with this book and series.
I really recommend this book/series to anyone who loves an epic, action-packed fantasy!
Thank you, Ms. Schneider!
April 21, 2018
First Impression: A cover full of emotion an an exciting magical premise.
Characters: Ian Troy narrates his painful journey of confronting his past to fight for his future. His family, friends, and enemies are well thought out and often relatable. I was saddened how all characters seem to be hopeless addicts to either magic or power. Although I don't like Troy very much, there are redeeming supporting mates to cheer on such as Jarryd. The connections and relationships are tangible and complex, making for a compelling story.
World Building: Rella and the surrounding world are from a simpler time before techonology and industry. The magic addiction and oppression, slavery, and obsession are difficult and heady themes throughout. Magic is written as something addictive and unpredictable with severe consequences - something not often considered in the fantasy genre so in love with the idea of magic.
Writing Style: Schneider weaves magic with words, like a song on the wind. No part of this story was boring or rushed, which is no easy task at 500 pages.
What I Enjoyed: The author has a gift for writing, and the characters are unique and dimensional. Ian's interactions with his companions felt authentic. It's not always clear who the "bad guys" are, which is often true in life. Whomever records history has the perspective of virtue.
Deal Benders: The sexual themes throughout this first book could definitely trigger some readers. I would rate it R for adult content, which seemed to be added simply as a show of violence. These themes felt cheap and egregious, as if the author was trying too hard to impress a lustful audience. I think there are better ways to create tension than to describe sex scenes in detail, as it usually detracts from the story. The violence, torture, and other themes made for a very bleak read.
Overall Rating: 3 stars - I enjoyed many parts of this book, so this was a tough one. I would have given another star for the excellent writing and characters if there was less extreme violence and a little bit of hope.
For Fans Of: Game of Thrones
Characters: Ian Troy narrates his painful journey of confronting his past to fight for his future. His family, friends, and enemies are well thought out and often relatable. I was saddened how all characters seem to be hopeless addicts to either magic or power. Although I don't like Troy very much, there are redeeming supporting mates to cheer on such as Jarryd. The connections and relationships are tangible and complex, making for a compelling story.
World Building: Rella and the surrounding world are from a simpler time before techonology and industry. The magic addiction and oppression, slavery, and obsession are difficult and heady themes throughout. Magic is written as something addictive and unpredictable with severe consequences - something not often considered in the fantasy genre so in love with the idea of magic.
Writing Style: Schneider weaves magic with words, like a song on the wind. No part of this story was boring or rushed, which is no easy task at 500 pages.
What I Enjoyed: The author has a gift for writing, and the characters are unique and dimensional. Ian's interactions with his companions felt authentic. It's not always clear who the "bad guys" are, which is often true in life. Whomever records history has the perspective of virtue.
Deal Benders: The sexual themes throughout this first book could definitely trigger some readers. I would rate it R for adult content, which seemed to be added simply as a show of violence. These themes felt cheap and egregious, as if the author was trying too hard to impress a lustful audience. I think there are better ways to create tension than to describe sex scenes in detail, as it usually detracts from the story. The violence, torture, and other themes made for a very bleak read.
Overall Rating: 3 stars - I enjoyed many parts of this book, so this was a tough one. I would have given another star for the excellent writing and characters if there was less extreme violence and a little bit of hope.
For Fans Of: Game of Thrones
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December 14, 2016
Enchanting, Magnificent, Unbelievable, Brilliant and a Masterpiece. I couldn’t imagine how C.L. Schneider crafted the world building because I was awestruck with how she built it and introduce it to her readers slowly and amazingly on the novel. I was lost in the world of Troy. I could imagine that I can feel his pain real time. The struggles he fought, the guilt that he tries to hide and his courage, it was outstanding, outrageous and passionate.
Aside from the world building, the another thing to look forward to this book is the magic system. My God. This. Is. The. First. That I completely fall in love with the magic system. I could imagine what is happening when I was reading the book. I could see the fighting scenes and how the incantations of spells work with every details page after page. It feels like diving and drowning and trying to survive all it once while embarking on the lonely and painful journey of Troy.
“..you can only outrun a debt for so long before it bit you in the ass.”
1It left me breathless, suffocated with every fighting scenes, panicking on every near death experiences and shocked on every revelation. Let me tell you this, this book is full of revelations that will give you a moment of silence to absorb of what was happening. There are some unfortunate events because of misplacement of loyalty, there are some because of different beliefs and what hurts the most? There are some because you are the reason someone is dead and that someone is the one person you loved the most. Give me a moment to feel my emotion and cry this one out.
This book tore me apart, into little ashes, to pieces of hollow. Gods, Troy is so selfless. He would do everything for what he thinks is right. It is fair enough, indeed. Fair enough to make himself vulnerable, transparent and crazy. But do you know what? I find it too painful, knowing what Troy just had, what just people trade for what he just fight for. They easily barter that moment for every effort and power of Ian just sacrifice for. This book is a manifestation of the endless cycle of pain.
3
I couldn’t imagine how or what was running through C.L. Schneider’s mind when she was writing this book. It was epic! One of the greatest read I’ve ever read this year. Perhaps, even more on what I read in the past. I love the concept that she puts and I believe, she was one of those talented authors who really did give justice to her characters. And she’s damn amazing writer!
From loving to sacrificing, to fighting and believing, to trusting and being accepted, and to finding who he really is are just a few of the hints on the book. For 2fantasy readers out there, you will love this book unconditionally and no questions asked. This book exceeded my expectations when I was just halfway through. And it blew my mind when I finished it. Fascinating, Interesting, and a major Cliffhanger.
Manipulative, Enchanting, Magical. Few words. Just a few words to describe the unlimited boundaries of The Crown of Stones: Magic-Price. I was succumbed by the beauty of this novel. It feels real. It is real. And I don’t know how to describe my experience with this book. Simply, stunning and extraordinary!
MY RATINGS: 5 STARS!
Aside from the world building, the another thing to look forward to this book is the magic system. My God. This. Is. The. First. That I completely fall in love with the magic system. I could imagine what is happening when I was reading the book. I could see the fighting scenes and how the incantations of spells work with every details page after page. It feels like diving and drowning and trying to survive all it once while embarking on the lonely and painful journey of Troy.
“..you can only outrun a debt for so long before it bit you in the ass.”
1It left me breathless, suffocated with every fighting scenes, panicking on every near death experiences and shocked on every revelation. Let me tell you this, this book is full of revelations that will give you a moment of silence to absorb of what was happening. There are some unfortunate events because of misplacement of loyalty, there are some because of different beliefs and what hurts the most? There are some because you are the reason someone is dead and that someone is the one person you loved the most. Give me a moment to feel my emotion and cry this one out.
This book tore me apart, into little ashes, to pieces of hollow. Gods, Troy is so selfless. He would do everything for what he thinks is right. It is fair enough, indeed. Fair enough to make himself vulnerable, transparent and crazy. But do you know what? I find it too painful, knowing what Troy just had, what just people trade for what he just fight for. They easily barter that moment for every effort and power of Ian just sacrifice for. This book is a manifestation of the endless cycle of pain.
3
I couldn’t imagine how or what was running through C.L. Schneider’s mind when she was writing this book. It was epic! One of the greatest read I’ve ever read this year. Perhaps, even more on what I read in the past. I love the concept that she puts and I believe, she was one of those talented authors who really did give justice to her characters. And she’s damn amazing writer!
From loving to sacrificing, to fighting and believing, to trusting and being accepted, and to finding who he really is are just a few of the hints on the book. For 2fantasy readers out there, you will love this book unconditionally and no questions asked. This book exceeded my expectations when I was just halfway through. And it blew my mind when I finished it. Fascinating, Interesting, and a major Cliffhanger.
Manipulative, Enchanting, Magical. Few words. Just a few words to describe the unlimited boundaries of The Crown of Stones: Magic-Price. I was succumbed by the beauty of this novel. It feels real. It is real. And I don’t know how to describe my experience with this book. Simply, stunning and extraordinary!
MY RATINGS: 5 STARS!
December 10, 2015
So. I’ve started this review a half dozen times and haven’t been able to come up with the right words to convey how I feel about Magic-Price (and the Crown of Stones series in general). I’ve read other reviews, seen how eloquently they talk about execution and pacing and plot, and wonder if I’ll ever be able to do this right.
Sigh.
Okay, so I’m just going to be real. I was drawn to Magic-Price when I saw the cover roll through my Twitter feed. Being a person who loves earth tones and gritty cover appeal, I promptly added it to my “Awesome Cover Art” board on Pinterest and then went straight to Amazon to read the prologue.
I was sucked in from the very first paragraph. I’m not typically a fantasy fan, although I do love Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones (for completely different reasons). But the author’s writing style and the main character’s thought process immediately drew me into the story. I read as much as Amazon would allow and then downloaded the whole thing to my Kindle for Mac.
What do I love about this book? I don’t know that I can put my finger on it, just that whenever I pick it up, I can’t stop reading. Something about it resonates with me. The writing style is clear and descriptive (without being overly detailed). The concept is fascinating, and Schneider’s action scenes are so vivid that I don’t have any problem picturing them in my head. Sentences flow one to another in a way that keeps me reading…and reading…and reading.
I also enjoy the dialogue and interaction between characters. They're believable and easy to relate to. In particular, Ian Troy has a cocky, swaggering way of thinking and speaking that sort of takes my breath away. He’s full of reckless passion and anger that draws him to women (and them to him) and gets him into more trouble than any book character I’ve ever read about. I didn’t know whether to fall in love with him or just fantasize about him night and day. I’m rarely so intrigued by an MC, but this one captured my interest so much that I often found myself thinking about him. Wondering which woman he truly loved, which one he’d end up choosing (if any), how he would handle his addiction to magic, and if he would ever kill the man he hated so intensely.
Needless to say, this book gets 5 stars, though I wish I could give it more for speaking so deeply to my imagination. I devoured it and went on to the sequel (which is even better, OMG). All I can say is that I will read anything C.L. Schneider writes. I love the way her mind works, the characters she creates, her fluid and vivid writing style, and her world-building techniques.
Simply put, I’m hooked.
Sigh.
Okay, so I’m just going to be real. I was drawn to Magic-Price when I saw the cover roll through my Twitter feed. Being a person who loves earth tones and gritty cover appeal, I promptly added it to my “Awesome Cover Art” board on Pinterest and then went straight to Amazon to read the prologue.
I was sucked in from the very first paragraph. I’m not typically a fantasy fan, although I do love Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones (for completely different reasons). But the author’s writing style and the main character’s thought process immediately drew me into the story. I read as much as Amazon would allow and then downloaded the whole thing to my Kindle for Mac.
What do I love about this book? I don’t know that I can put my finger on it, just that whenever I pick it up, I can’t stop reading. Something about it resonates with me. The writing style is clear and descriptive (without being overly detailed). The concept is fascinating, and Schneider’s action scenes are so vivid that I don’t have any problem picturing them in my head. Sentences flow one to another in a way that keeps me reading…and reading…and reading.
I also enjoy the dialogue and interaction between characters. They're believable and easy to relate to. In particular, Ian Troy has a cocky, swaggering way of thinking and speaking that sort of takes my breath away. He’s full of reckless passion and anger that draws him to women (and them to him) and gets him into more trouble than any book character I’ve ever read about. I didn’t know whether to fall in love with him or just fantasize about him night and day. I’m rarely so intrigued by an MC, but this one captured my interest so much that I often found myself thinking about him. Wondering which woman he truly loved, which one he’d end up choosing (if any), how he would handle his addiction to magic, and if he would ever kill the man he hated so intensely.
Needless to say, this book gets 5 stars, though I wish I could give it more for speaking so deeply to my imagination. I devoured it and went on to the sequel (which is even better, OMG). All I can say is that I will read anything C.L. Schneider writes. I love the way her mind works, the characters she creates, her fluid and vivid writing style, and her world-building techniques.
Simply put, I’m hooked.
January 24, 2015
I had heard good buzz about this work, and though I rarely commit to high-fantasy I felt drawn in by the spell its cover cast upon me. But, as I delved beyond the fancy façade, I found that spells come with a heavy price. The only race able to use magic are the Shinree, and each time they cast they must pay with some measure of life from their surroundings. It is at times a devastating trade-off, one which the story's broken protagonist Ian Troy has sworn off due to its addictive properties...and his own guilt. At the onset, Ian uses a powerful artifact known as the crown of stones to end a bloody war. A decade on, this single act has polarized the world and wracked Ian with guilt. The ripple effects of this have shaped the world's borders and political climate, the scars reopening each time Ian Troy shows his face. Though he believes he has successfully evaded his past, Ian abruptly finds himself drawn back in to the magic game as puppet to a powerful spell caster. Reluctantly setting out on a mission to free himself Ian finds friends, lovers, buried secrets of his people and bloodshed, all the while barreling down a twisted road toward a seemingly inevitable end. However, the conclusion is satisfying and anything but predictable, and one I found fitting due to Ian's blinding temper and painful indecisiveness.
I'm not saying I was not let down at times, but at some point I had to realize (as many other reviewers of this book fail to do) that this work was not tailored to my own personal tastes. I was taken with just how deep the author's grip of the male psyche goes (and I mean beyond Ian's sexual frustration...and boy is he frustrated!). Overall, CL Schneider spins a captivating tale which, in lieu of borrowing, learns from some of our favorite fantasy authors. The result is a professional and engaging story well worth the price tag. I have heard talk of a possible movie or television show based on this series, and I hope it gets the treatment (can you say binge watch?). The Crown of Stones: Magic Price is a surprising, refreshing read. 5 stars for a job well done. The second installment has just been released, and I will be reading it soon!
I'm not saying I was not let down at times, but at some point I had to realize (as many other reviewers of this book fail to do) that this work was not tailored to my own personal tastes. I was taken with just how deep the author's grip of the male psyche goes (and I mean beyond Ian's sexual frustration...and boy is he frustrated!). Overall, CL Schneider spins a captivating tale which, in lieu of borrowing, learns from some of our favorite fantasy authors. The result is a professional and engaging story well worth the price tag. I have heard talk of a possible movie or television show based on this series, and I hope it gets the treatment (can you say binge watch?). The Crown of Stones: Magic Price is a surprising, refreshing read. 5 stars for a job well done. The second installment has just been released, and I will be reading it soon!
August 25, 2016
C.L. Schneider is a masterful storyteller. She was able to tell a tale that was unique, superbly written, and full of adventure. I absolutely loved the originality of the story, as it was unlike anything I had ever read before. In many ways, it was like experiencing magic in a new and refreshing way, which was very exciting.
The story certainly held my interest throughout. I really liked the idea of how the protagonist, Ian Troy, was ultimately a dark, flawed character. For example, Ian was deeply tormented by the brutal consequences of engaging in a battle against his enemies and was, therefore, forced into self-imposed exile. Then, many years later, he reemerged with his deadly addiction to magic reawakened. The reasons for his reemergence were intriguing, as Ian found himself in a bloody race to control an object of great power, the Crown of Stones, and, ultimately, to save his people.
The Crown of Stones: Magic Price is an unbelievable first novel. I highly recommend this book to all lovers of fantasy. I’m really looking forward to the next installment in the trilogy and many more great reads from this talented author.
The story certainly held my interest throughout. I really liked the idea of how the protagonist, Ian Troy, was ultimately a dark, flawed character. For example, Ian was deeply tormented by the brutal consequences of engaging in a battle against his enemies and was, therefore, forced into self-imposed exile. Then, many years later, he reemerged with his deadly addiction to magic reawakened. The reasons for his reemergence were intriguing, as Ian found himself in a bloody race to control an object of great power, the Crown of Stones, and, ultimately, to save his people.
The Crown of Stones: Magic Price is an unbelievable first novel. I highly recommend this book to all lovers of fantasy. I’m really looking forward to the next installment in the trilogy and many more great reads from this talented author.
December 30, 2014
A great fantasy book. Love the cover too.
One of the things that makes a great book is to take something common, and put a new twist on it. C.L. Schneider puts a new twist on magic, making it an addictive and painful burden to its users. It's a brilliant new perspective on magic using, and Schneider nurtures and develops this unique concept brilliantly.
The world she has created is vast, colorful, engrossing, and most importantly, believable. Schneider is a master at creating entertaining and believable inter-relationships between her characters; at one point when a character met their demise early in the story, I was truly left wanting more, and that was just from one character.
Schneider has put into play another great fantasy world, with great concepts and characters, that will lead all of us into its yet to be told tales, and I cant wait to read them.
One of the things that makes a great book is to take something common, and put a new twist on it. C.L. Schneider puts a new twist on magic, making it an addictive and painful burden to its users. It's a brilliant new perspective on magic using, and Schneider nurtures and develops this unique concept brilliantly.
The world she has created is vast, colorful, engrossing, and most importantly, believable. Schneider is a master at creating entertaining and believable inter-relationships between her characters; at one point when a character met their demise early in the story, I was truly left wanting more, and that was just from one character.
Schneider has put into play another great fantasy world, with great concepts and characters, that will lead all of us into its yet to be told tales, and I cant wait to read them.
April 1, 2015
First off, I very much enjoyed this book. I love a good fantasy and while I have not always gotten on with first-person perspective this kept me engaged throughout. I very much enjoyed the magic system, the ideas resonating with me because of similarities to a series I wrote myself in days gone by. The protagonist (more of an anti-hero rather than a good guy) was frustrated, prone to addiction, and weak at a very fundamental level because of both of these traits. This made me most interested in what was going to happen throughout the story. I must confess I do love an author who makes their characters suffer. They have to EARN their protagonist tag. Ian Troy definitely earns his.
June 27, 2015
A solid and good book. Well thought out magical system, quality world building, interesting characters, fast paced action, fluid conversation, all tied up together in an interesting page turner of a story. I'll post more on my website but suffice to say I did enjoy this book and look forward to the sequel.
August 22, 2014
This was a Goodread. The magic in this was worthy and well played through out the story. There is a consequence for its use. Enjoyed this tale and look forward to the next book.
July 25, 2014
I am definitely reading the next book!
March 6, 2019
This story is powerful and complex, with all the trappings of good dark, epic fantasy: comprehensive world building, interesting characters, nasty villains, violence, smut, brutal warfare and all such ugliness. It doesn’t pull any punches. But my favorite element of this book is the protagonist, Ian Troy. I’m admittedly partial to tormented characters, particularly warriors, warlocks and the like, and Troy did not disappoint. Reckless, passionate, pissed off and stubborn to a fault, he is one miserable bastard with a host of ancestral demons, a well-described addiction to magic, and an almost heartbreaking sensitive side that lands him into one trap after another in a world where any and every weapon is fair game. I went from cheering him on for doing some ugly thing that just needed to happen—and wanting to grab him and slap him around for being such an idiot. Kept me properly engaged. This was a great read and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book.
March 9, 2020
This is rather long but will keep you entranced. Twists and turns galore as Ian Troy attempts to find out who he really is and how to control the magic he inherited as a Shinree--a full blooded Shinree. He is a slave to the Queen who wants to be at war without him using magic. He finally tires of it all--finds a crown of jewels--and uses it--everyone on both sides dies. He swears off magic after this for 10 years, which is incredibly difficult for a Shinree.
Along his journey he meets several very interesting characters! I can't say too much more or give everything away. There is some romance-some thrills and chills and a lot of traveling. At the very end I found myself hitting that arrow that takes you to the next page------nothing there--guess I'll have to read the next in the series to see what occurs next in this fantasy novel.
Along his journey he meets several very interesting characters! I can't say too much more or give everything away. There is some romance-some thrills and chills and a lot of traveling. At the very end I found myself hitting that arrow that takes you to the next page------nothing there--guess I'll have to read the next in the series to see what occurs next in this fantasy novel.
March 18, 2022
This book was recommended to me by a friend who said it was very good and she thought I might enjoy it. She was not wrong! What an incredible read this was. Plunging you straight into the action, the pace barely lets up for a moment as we take an extraordinary journey with the infamous Shinree soldier, Ian, whose discovery of the fabled Crown of Stones is the catalyst for a massacre that ended a brutal war.
Superbly written, the author has created a believable world of warring nations uneasy with a peace thrust upon them. Hostility and racism bubble beneath the surface waiting to erupt, and once again Ian is in the thick of it.
So strong are the Witcher vibes in this book, that the whole time I was reading it I was “seeing” Ian as the main character from the hit Netflix show – so, if you like The Witcher, you’ll love this!
A powerful and expertly crafted tale, I’m glad I have the rest of the series ready to read.
Superbly written, the author has created a believable world of warring nations uneasy with a peace thrust upon them. Hostility and racism bubble beneath the surface waiting to erupt, and once again Ian is in the thick of it.
So strong are the Witcher vibes in this book, that the whole time I was reading it I was “seeing” Ian as the main character from the hit Netflix show – so, if you like The Witcher, you’ll love this!
A powerful and expertly crafted tale, I’m glad I have the rest of the series ready to read.
November 21, 2021
I loved everything about this book! The author has created so much depth in the story, I was sucked into the world created within. Suspense, Action, Drama and Magic- it has all the necessities for a perfect fantasy novel and written beautifully. I love the intrigue and mystery put into the main character Ian, and his development over the course of the book. Definitely a must read for Fantasy lovers.
June 4, 2021
Some excellent writing and a well-woven story, even if it did not fully succeed in drawing me in. Read my full thoughts on the blog: https://www.ajnorfield.com/book-revie...
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January 30, 2020
A unique magic
Schneider has created a unique magic system and thrown in a cast of great characters, lead by an outcast and reprobate Ian Troy. World building is solid and the plot cracks on a pace.
Great tale. Ready for book 2.
Schneider has created a unique magic system and thrown in a cast of great characters, lead by an outcast and reprobate Ian Troy. World building is solid and the plot cracks on a pace.
Great tale. Ready for book 2.
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