The Black Star of Kingston

Green Ember: Old Natalia Book #1

by S.D. Smith, Zach Franzen (Illustrator)

A century before Heather and Picket's adventures in The Green Ember, a displaced community fights for hope on the ragged edge of survival.

My place beside you,
My blood for yours.
Till the Green Ember rises,
Or the end of the world.

Whitson Mariner and Fleck Blackstar face old fears and new enemies, forging a legend that will echo through the ages.

Old wars haunt. New enemies threaten. An oath is born.

A hero rises.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Middle Grade, Audiobook, Childrens, Adventure, Christian Fiction

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

S. D. Smith is the author of The Green Ember Series, a million+ selling adventure saga featuring heroic #RabbitsWithSwords. The Green Ember spent time as the number one bestselling audiobook in the world on Audible. He is also the author of the madcap Mooses with Bazookas: And Other Stories Children Should Never Read as well as the touching throwback adventure, The Found Boys. Finally, he has co-authored two fantasy adventure novels with his son (J. C. Smith), Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key and Jack Zulu and the Girl with Golden Wings. Smith’s stories are captivating readers across the globe who are hungry for “new stories with an old soul.”

Though packed with old school virtue and moral imagination, Smith doesn't merely create "safe" stories, but bold, daring, truthful tales of light that help shape children who become dangerous—dangerous to the darkness.

Smith is a founder and owner of Story Warren, a publishing, events, and IP development house based in rural West Virginia. Story Warren exists to serve families as “allies in imagination.” 

S. D. Smith lives in Gran

Reviews

[Sara]

I am going to venture to guess that Chesterton would have liked this book.

Not because it is the most well written book. Not because it is the most artistic book. Not even that it is the best book of his offerings. But Chesterton and his wife Frances would have loved how much this book loves children and the fiction that feeds their souls.

S.D. Smith is remarkable. He is not the most complex, elegant or flashy writer I have loved but he has to be one of the most humble and honest storytellers I have come across. His writing style is beautiful. I see much CS Lewis in his writing. His stories come from a love of his audience and a skill honed by the classic authors who nourished his soul. And this absolutely works.

This is a story which bears the hallmarks of a love of Middle Earth but not the same intention or mission. I think that the Lord sent JRR Tolkien into his time and place to create Middle Earth to answer the need of that time. To inspire the readers of post-war Europe who were complicit in the eradication of the Shire and the values that dwelled there.

In SD Smith's books we see a related but different passion. His stories speak to the hearts of those of us who are watching the culture crash into our values and rage against the virtue of our children. His stories are told from a more tender point of view and therefore take up residence in the moral imagination of the children of this era and inspire them to love what is lovely, good and beautiful.

Black Star is smaller/shorter than The Green Ember and has a different feel. It is less developed than the Green Ember and the characters are not quite as well drawn. That said, the story arc is really engaging and very powerful.

This is, without a doubt, the kind of book which will support the good we are trying to do in our homes. It is the kind of story which lives in the imagination and continues to whisper truth to the readers long after the book has been returned to the shelf.

Bravo, Mr. Smith. Bravo and many thanks.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

"My place beside you, my blood for yours. Til the Green Ember rises or the end of the world!"

What a fantastic book! The Black Star of Kingston is another swashbuckling tale full of valiant heroes and daring adventures. But like Smith's debut novel, it is also full of truth, goodness, wisdom, and beauty. Rarely have I read an author who has a gift for inspiring courage and imagination in both children and adults, but S.D. Smith has done it again!

This book takes place about 100 years before the events in The Green Ember; and although it
gives us a peek at some of the heroes of Smith's first novel, this book also stands solidly on its own. Like The Green Ember, The Black Star of Kingston is filled with memorable, courageous, and sometimes frightening characters. We learn how Captain Blackstar became the loyal defender of King Whitson Mariner and his legacy as they forge through difficulty to create a homeland for their community. Once again, there is evil to overcome and there are battles to be fought--both internally and externally. Will goodness prevail?

I cannot recommend Smith's books highly enough. This is one that will be thoroughly enjoyed by children and adults alike. Five stars.

[Kevin Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun book by S.D. Smith. After reading aloud the Green Ember to my 7 and 5 year olds, they wanted more. Lucky we didn't have to wait too long.

They both loved The Black Star of Kingston. I asked my oldest what she liked about the book and said, "I like how the scariness and the happiness worked together perfectly!"

We look forward for more.

[Kate Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

So after I read The Green Ember and loved it to pieces, I began to try to stretch my Amazon money to buy a paperback copy of its prequel. The author, S.D. Smith, had done such an amazing job with his other story that I wanted more, more, more. ; ) And why not buy paperback while I was at it? While I was still in the stretching process, The Blackstar of Kingston became free on Kindle. Oh the temptation to pick it up! Then I found out Mom had picked it up. Oh the temptation to read it! Don’t ever look at the cover, table of contents, prologue, and first chapter of a book if you intend to wait on reading it. Confession: I read it in a day and a half.

The Setting:
Again set in the fantasy world of Natalia, this book has a lot of the same feel as its sequel but a whole new dimension of its own. Instead of a broken kingdom with a lost king, this time it is the beginning of a kingdom being carved out in a new land. And again, it’s so awesome that the characters are rabbits because it makes action and danger so different. This time it’s not just rabbits with swords—some of them have bows too which is good because they are being attacked from above! (And the rabbits look really cute with them in the pictures, but that’s beside the point.)

The Story:
This book was a lot shorter than The Green Ember which naturally made it more fast-paced. While it lacked the fabulous mystery of its sequel, it made up for that in brilliant action and inspiring moments. (I underlined so much in some places because I seriously couldn’t read a page without finding some gem!) ; ) The main lessons of the book were probably loyalty and hoping for the future. I loved reading about Heather and Picket’s heroes of old, finding out the significance of the green ember, and having something more to read about Natalia. ; )

The Characters:
I loved Fleck Blackstar. He was loyal, passionate, cautious, and heroic. Definitely one of the best rabbits ever. (He invented that really cool pledge!) Humble King Whitson Mariner, Massie, Burnley, and Gavin were also huge favorites of mine. And little Prince Lander is pretty cute. ; )

The Concerns:
Parents should have caution in considering this book for younger readers because of some intense un-graphic action. (Seriously, birds of prey with blades strapped to their feet and torches to set your ships on fire is really scary when you are a rabbit!) Other concerns include a young child/rabbit in danger, a destroyed town, and a rabbit who is so scared he is going crazy.

So, that’s the prequel I was longing to read. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to decide which book is better because this one is an action-packed story of their inspiring history and the sequel is a complicated, surprising mystery full of hope for the future. To make this decision even worse, the author is coming out with another book this spring. (I seriously cannot wait to see what happens to my most favorite rabbits ever!) Sigh.

[Sam (The Favorites Shelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

While reading the first book in the main Green Ember series, I found myself wanting to learn more about the heroic characters mentioned that make up the history of S.D Smith's rabbit world. This prequel/companion book gives a great bonus glimpse into that history.

I really enjoyed seeing Whitson Mariner, Prince Lander, and Captain Blackstar in action, courageously embracing adventure and standing strong against their foes. The story has a medieval/exploration feel, which I loved.

I also enjoyed the direct connection with book one in the main series. I loved getting the full story behind The Green Ember's prologue - although this certainly isn't necessary to understanding the main series. The events here actually take place long before Pickett and Heather's days and can be read/enjoyed on their own as well.

*Content to note*
Character shot with arrow (not graphic); character shows signs of intense shock/fear; high stakes battles with predators; brief mention of enemy spreading fire with "evil art" (whether this is magic or learned skill isn't specified).

[Lorelei Angelino · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read to my younger brothers. It's not particularly in the genre I prefer to read, but it's a nice short read for when you want a refresh. (Well-written children's fiction can be really refreshing!)

I gave it 3 stars because it's not really extraordinary, but definitely not boring. Maybe it appeals to someone else more than it does to me, and that's okay!!

[Barnabas Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lively prequel to "The Green Ember" with elements of courage, honesty, honor, friendship, and loyalty - all the right ingredients for a story. It's more of a novella than a full novel, but it sets the stage well and is a fun read.

[Morgan's Endless Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun to get a flashback to such epic heroes as Whitson Mariner and Fleck Blackstar!

[Alaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, I dove into this audiobook because it was available to download on libby and was quick to listen to. That being said, I enjoyed it and might jump into the sequel if the audiobook is available. If not, I do think it's on Kindle Unlimited.

[Andria Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun whimsical read vaguely reminiscent of Redwall and Lord of the Rings but with adorable rabbits and other animals as people characters. An absolutely delightful time.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised by how short this story was in comparison to the others...but it was a fun read. I was able to finish it during a sibling's math lesson. :)

[Jessica Gibbons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read aloud with kids. Mine loved it so much they didn’t want me to stop reading! We finished it in only 5 days.

[Diana Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have forgotten much of the Green Ember stories but this brought back sweet memories.

[Julia Burford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is much shorter than the Green Ember books, and as such is not quite as well developed. However, the ending is so well done and hopeful that it left me with a pleased feeling and erased the niggles that I had.

[Samuel Kassing · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is part of the back story to the main storyline. Another fun story of courage and sacrifice.

[Stephie · Rating 5 out of 5]

250+ high fives from the six-year-old.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is short and doesn't require much concentration which is just what I wanted. I still don't see rich symbolism in this series and the writing drives me batty at times, but it inspires me. I can't figure out why! Maybe I'll find out as I continue the series.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

"My place beside you, my blood for yours. Til the Green Ember rises or the end of the world!"

After reading The Green Ember, I added every other book written in the same world to my TBR list. This was the first one I have read since The Green Ember, and it is just as good.

Set a century before the events of The Greem Ember, we are introduced to new characters who belong to a community that has been displaced, and are struggling to find their place to thrive. With resources running low, King Winston authorizes Fleck to head up a crew and sail across the lake to find coal to mine and perhaps protect them from whatever might be in the mountains.

Though a shorter story, Smith did a wonderful job with the writing. I was immediately drawn into the story and cheering for every rabbit. From a somewhat benign storyline - go and find a mine - Smith has built a legend, and this is definitely a story that I will return to. While part of me wishes the story had been longer, if only to stay with the characters and the world for longer, at no point did the story feel rushed - well, okay, maybe during the action sequences, but they're supposed to be rushed - or as if parts were being skipped.

I definitely look forward to reading or listening to more of Smith's books in The Green Ember world, whether it's in that series or this one. As with The Green Ember, I listened to the audiobook. This one was narrated by Eric Fritzius, who did a wonderful job. His soft voice had the tenor of both a father reading a story to his kids at bedtime and a bard who has gathered the young townsfolk around to recite the tale of the town hero, and I definitely enjoyed it. When I return to this book, I will definitely listen to it, and I hope I have the opportunity to listen to the other Tales of Old Natalia as I continue to explore the world created by Smith.

[Aria Maher · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Black Star of Kingston is S. D. Smith's prequel to The Green Ember, part talking-animals book, part epic fantasy adventure. The Black Star of Kingston is, as far as it goes, a worthy prequel to Green Ember, but several flaws make it less enjoyable than it could have been. For starters, in both books, not just this one, Mr. Smith has problems with the pacing of his story. Some events happen extraordinarily fast, when it might be better to stop and savor them (my thoughts go to the final epic battle of The Green Ember. There was a long, slow build up and then the fighting was over before you could blink). Also, the repeated use of unvaried dialogue tags (he said, he said, he said) is so distracting that, while reading the book in print, I found myself paying more attention to the dialogue tags than to the story! All in all, I liked the plot and the characters, and Mr. Smith's fantasy world definitely has potential, but a little more attention to things like pacing and dialogue tags wouldn't be amiss.

[Jonathan Aman]

I read this aloud to my son. We were supposed to go outside, but he wanted me to read Blackstar. We were supposed to play board games, but he wanted me to read more Blackstar. He asked how long the dishes would take so that I could get back to reading Blackstar to him. Notice a pattern?
As I was finishing up the book, I noticed my son jumping onto chairs and couches and puffing out his chest. I recall doing the same as a boy when I was inspired by a story in a book or film. I suddenly felt I had the courage and skill of the hero I'd just witnessed perform his heroic acts, and I was swept away into imagining I was a part of that story.
May we have many more stories that sweep us away the way Blackstar did my son!

[Carol Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this is a children's story, this old grandma still enjoyed it. It is full of excitement and adventure. The book was well written for the most part. There was once or twice when I wasn't sure what was being said. I felt that children, the target audience, would not understand either. This book was written as a prequel to The Green Ember, but I didn't really get the connection. Both were about brave rabbits fighting against very powerful evil enemies. The crown and the Green Ember were in both books. Somehow that didn't seem like enough to call it a prequel. Also, I thought the book was way too short!

[Shannen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping for more, honestly. Is it an adventure book? Yes. Did my kids like the cliffhangers at the end of each chapter? For sure. But for some reason they weren’t all that excited each night to read it. One mechanic that was similar to the first book was that it started out with action, then spent time building characters and scenery, then went back to action. I guess it’s just not a format I connect with very well as I don’t feel attached to the characters as much as I do with other books.

We already have the second book (this being the prequel, not the 2nd book, in my mind) and I’m not certain if we’ll read it. For now we’ll switch to A Journey to the Center of the Earth.

[Iseult Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look into Natalia’s past

I love when fantasy books are about different times in the history of the world, and you see how things started, or how myth has changed from reality.

This is a sweet adventure from the early days of the rabbit settlement in Natalia. I would have preferred a bit more about the monsters and a bit less about coal mining, but I still enjoyed it.

[Mikayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading this little short prequel. It made the other books make even more sense. =) I loved the characters and seeing more of how the story started.

2021>> This book is even better the second time around. <3

[M.K. Laffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I LOOOOOVE the Green Ember books by this author but this one needed to be a little longer😂

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella was my first introduction to the world of Green Ember (simply because I was able to get this book from the library hold list first), and it has set the stage for what promises to be a compelling series. With strong themes of loyalty and brotherhood, "The Black Star of Kingston" is both simple enough for adolescents and intriguing enough for older readers. Despite some violence due to a battle, this is a clean read, and one I recommend for anyone looking for adventure and camaraderie.

[Altivo Overo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this. It's a good adventure that will appeal to young readers, and has a lot of virtues and values (perhaps a bit too many) on display. But it seems loaded with unnecessary and unexplained violence and death and may be a bit too "preachy" without providing a basis for the morality it professes. I notice that some reviewers compare it to C. S. Lewis, but Narnia (despite some similarities) is driven by love in most respects. This world seems instead to be filled with inexorable fates and insurmountable obstacles.

[Bethany Cousins · Rating 4 out of 5]

"He had always been wise enough to see and bold enough to act. Now he was becoming brave enough to hope."
This was another whimsical adventure in the world of The Green Ember series. Filled with more remarkable characters, brilliant writing and dangerous escapades.

[Michelle Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great short story by S.D. Smith in the Green Ember universe. We have loved this series. This book, like the others, is exciting with wonderful lessons woven naturally in about virtues like courage, sacrifice, love, loyalty and friendship.

[Kelly Hohenstern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful tale

Sabrina and I really enjoyed this story. Fleck is a wonderful character that was easy to love and route for. I can’t wait to read the next book. I would definitely compare these stories to a junior version of the Lord of the Rings.