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The Stone
The Chronicles of Quat is a trilogy that records the ancient and universal struggle between those who believe in Science and those who believe in the Unseen World. The highest achievement of a Scientist is to become a Quatist — someone who can change the rules of Science with their mind. The antithesis of Quatists are the Fae — those who, by using an Unseen, non-quantifiable power, are able to change themselves. The brothers, Tad and Etan, are thrust down different paths. Etan studies Quat Theory while happenstance sends Tad into the realm of the old faith. Or is it happenstance? Although the Quatists don't believe in prophecies, one makes them shudder— A resurgence of the old faith that would call the Quatists' very existence into question.
The trilogy begins with The Stone where Tad is sent on a mysterious quest by his secretive mother to find the Stone. He has no idea what it is or who to trust. He soon learns that men of untold power, the Quatists, want to destroy the Stone before it can take back its control over the world and that one of the most powerful Quatists that has ever lived, his father, is seeking to destroy him. Tad meets impossible characters who destroy the fabric of the Science he had always been taught as he finds himself caught up in the revolt against Quatist rule.
The trilogy begins with The Stone where Tad is sent on a mysterious quest by his secretive mother to find the Stone. He has no idea what it is or who to trust. He soon learns that men of untold power, the Quatists, want to destroy the Stone before it can take back its control over the world and that one of the most powerful Quatists that has ever lived, his father, is seeking to destroy him. Tad meets impossible characters who destroy the fabric of the Science he had always been taught as he finds himself caught up in the revolt against Quatist rule.
- GenresFantasy
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2014
1 person is currently reading
301 people want to read
About the author
Bryen O'Riley
4 books333 followersAlways with a notebook in hand growing up, everyone insisted that Bryen should become a writer. She refused. She wanted a “real” job— which by her teenaged definition, was a job that required a business suit. So she went on to study International Relations, interned at the Department of State and moved to the District of Columbia (a beautiful old apartment a few streets behind the Capitol) and got an 8 – 5. She even had to ride the metro to work! For a girl from rural Ohio, this was big city life! It didn't take long for the commute, the suit, and the hours to make her wonder what was so terrible about a job which could be done at home in pajamas and Bryen began to reconsider writing.
Her first foray into writing came in 2003 in the form of a screenplay. Several more followed. But while Bryen likes screenplays and movies in general her real love are books. She decided to try her hand at writing fiction.
Hearing that romance is the easiest genre to enter, Bryen started there and had a short story published under a pseudonym. But her favorite genre is fantasy and pretty soon she wanted to create her own worlds and systems of government (put that International Relations degree to some use!).
The Chronicles of Quat is her first fantasy series.
Her first foray into writing came in 2003 in the form of a screenplay. Several more followed. But while Bryen likes screenplays and movies in general her real love are books. She decided to try her hand at writing fiction.
Hearing that romance is the easiest genre to enter, Bryen started there and had a short story published under a pseudonym. But her favorite genre is fantasy and pretty soon she wanted to create her own worlds and systems of government (put that International Relations degree to some use!).
The Chronicles of Quat is her first fantasy series.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 23, 2014
Book one in the Chronicles of Quat was a page turner! I love the mystery behind the story! From the start you are aware that there is more to the story than meets the eye. Clearly there is a force of evil perusing Rynn & her boys. Who are "they" and what is their intention. Who can be trusted to help Tad on his quest? Is his best friend a safe choice? What about anyone that is met on his adventure? Can he trust the people of the Flatlands? What about Valeathum & Analiesa? As the story unfolds some questions are answered but more are reveled.
Can't wait for book 2 in this series!
Can't wait for book 2 in this series!
September 1, 2014
Attention, fantasy lovers. A new book is on the market (well, not so new anymore; it was released in April of this year--it's just new to me).
The first book in The Chronicles of Quat, The Stone is the first full-length book out by author Bryen O'Riley, and from what I understand, this is the first segment in a series.
Counting the stars: I give this book 3/5. (To clear up any confusion: I reviewed this book on both Amazon and Goodreads. I gave it 4 stars on Amazon, because you know when you hold your mouse over the stars and it gives you a measure by which to rate it? Amazon's "I liked it" was at 4 stars, whereas Goodreads equivalent was a 3. Just FYI.)
Ms. O'Riley certainly is a talented pen-wielder. Her characters are believable and thoroughly human (even if they're not necessarily of the human race in her fantasies), and I, as the reader, was able to identify with their struggles and the journeys they each took in their respective cases.
Though only a side character, Chet was a favorite of mine from the book. First, what a great name! I grew up devouring Hardy Boy Books, and Chet was my favorite character from those as well.
I digress. Chet plays the best friend in this book, loyal, trust-worthy, always staying by Tad's side, even when it means risking life, limb, and general comfort and ease. He brings out the boyish side in Tad, that if left untouched by friendship, would read a tad (get it?) dark for me.
I'm intrigued by Etan, Tad's older brother. There's some tension near the beginning of the book between Etan and his and Tad's mother, and sneaking suspicions wormed their way through my mind that maybe we might get to see a brother-against-brother climax. This didn't turn out to be the case, but Etan still remains shrouded in mystery, and O'Riley develops his character just enough that I'm pretty sure we're going to get some interesting twists on him in Book 2. We'll have to see.
Imagination! It was interesting to read some of the purely imaginative creations of Ms. O'Riley's pen. Short, flat people that lived, camouflaged, amid forest foliage, who, like Rumpelstiltskin, make deals with disastrous results for others. Blinders, not his real name, but as he said in the book, his real name was too difficult for simple humans to remember, so he goes by Blinders instead. He's a creature that can't be seen, even if you're standing nose to nose with him.
A drawback, at least for me, was the lack of romantic storyline. This diehard romantic found it hard to care much about the key relationships in the book (Chet and Tad made the longest inroads into my affections) when there was no "true love" for which to root.
If you haven't figured it out from reading my own books, I always keep a weather eye out for "true love."
By the end of the book, there is potential for one in later works, and I look forward to reading about that, but the lack of romantic tension in The Stone did tend to dry up the book a little for me.
Overall, this is a first book with lots of promise, both for the rest of the series, and for future works. I'm looking forward to reading more.
The first book in The Chronicles of Quat, The Stone is the first full-length book out by author Bryen O'Riley, and from what I understand, this is the first segment in a series.
Counting the stars: I give this book 3/5. (To clear up any confusion: I reviewed this book on both Amazon and Goodreads. I gave it 4 stars on Amazon, because you know when you hold your mouse over the stars and it gives you a measure by which to rate it? Amazon's "I liked it" was at 4 stars, whereas Goodreads equivalent was a 3. Just FYI.)
Ms. O'Riley certainly is a talented pen-wielder. Her characters are believable and thoroughly human (even if they're not necessarily of the human race in her fantasies), and I, as the reader, was able to identify with their struggles and the journeys they each took in their respective cases.
Though only a side character, Chet was a favorite of mine from the book. First, what a great name! I grew up devouring Hardy Boy Books, and Chet was my favorite character from those as well.
I digress. Chet plays the best friend in this book, loyal, trust-worthy, always staying by Tad's side, even when it means risking life, limb, and general comfort and ease. He brings out the boyish side in Tad, that if left untouched by friendship, would read a tad (get it?) dark for me.
I'm intrigued by Etan, Tad's older brother. There's some tension near the beginning of the book between Etan and his and Tad's mother, and sneaking suspicions wormed their way through my mind that maybe we might get to see a brother-against-brother climax. This didn't turn out to be the case, but Etan still remains shrouded in mystery, and O'Riley develops his character just enough that I'm pretty sure we're going to get some interesting twists on him in Book 2. We'll have to see.
Imagination! It was interesting to read some of the purely imaginative creations of Ms. O'Riley's pen. Short, flat people that lived, camouflaged, amid forest foliage, who, like Rumpelstiltskin, make deals with disastrous results for others. Blinders, not his real name, but as he said in the book, his real name was too difficult for simple humans to remember, so he goes by Blinders instead. He's a creature that can't be seen, even if you're standing nose to nose with him.
A drawback, at least for me, was the lack of romantic storyline. This diehard romantic found it hard to care much about the key relationships in the book (Chet and Tad made the longest inroads into my affections) when there was no "true love" for which to root.
If you haven't figured it out from reading my own books, I always keep a weather eye out for "true love."
By the end of the book, there is potential for one in later works, and I look forward to reading about that, but the lack of romantic tension in The Stone did tend to dry up the book a little for me.
Overall, this is a first book with lots of promise, both for the rest of the series, and for future works. I'm looking forward to reading more.
August 1, 2014
Two brothers live in a society dominated by scientific thought and reason called Quat. One brother is perfectly happy to follow such a path. The younger, Tad, finds himself on a quest at odds with this majority view. Sent by his mother with dire warning that their father (whom the boys have never met) is trying to kill them, he searches for the mythological Stone. In a world of science, such a thing as a magical stone shouldn't exist. Yet why are the masters of Quat trying to destroy it?
This first book of Bryen O'Riley was a page turner! Fantastical creatures populate the book unlike any found in any fantasy series. O'Riley shows great skill in world building and her characters are complex. A fantastic adventure worth the read. I will be buying the second book in this series when it comes out.
This first book of Bryen O'Riley was a page turner! Fantastical creatures populate the book unlike any found in any fantasy series. O'Riley shows great skill in world building and her characters are complex. A fantastic adventure worth the read. I will be buying the second book in this series when it comes out.
April 22, 2014
This is a great book: very well-written, mysterious, infused with a sense of foreboding. I can't wait for the next in the series!
February 4, 2016
I struggled at first with this book and I'm not sure why, but I am glad that I kept reading. It really picks up and becomes much more interesting. Tad comes off as much younger than he is, but I kind of liked his naiveté from growing up in a small village. I really enjoyed the concept of fantasy vs. science. What we know and what we can't see. It is worth reading, and if you feel it's slow at the beginning just keep reading. It gets much stronger.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews