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Eidolon Trilogy #1
The Singing Stones of Rendor
Endowed with a magical ability not seen since the ancient Rendor Empire, life for K’Las just turned dangerous—and he’s not even born yet.
His parents hide him in plain sight for several years until they learn of a plot to seize an heirloom and enslave the powerful magical voices that blend with the family treasure. The family manages to escape the clutches of cold-blooded zealots from the Grand Peer that chases them to one of Rendor’s mysterious great henges.
A wild and shrewd wizard who hides within the henge, learns of the family’s secret treasure and vanquishes one of the zealots, but not out of altruism. He too is covetous of the powerful treasure the family holds dear.
Trapped between a ruthless killer and a crazed wizard, K’Las must quickly learn to control his nascent skills to help his parents best their foes. If he can’t, it won’t matter which of their foes wins—his family will surely die. Even if he does succeed, the hostile and unstable world order will not permit such unrestrained magic.
His parents hide him in plain sight for several years until they learn of a plot to seize an heirloom and enslave the powerful magical voices that blend with the family treasure. The family manages to escape the clutches of cold-blooded zealots from the Grand Peer that chases them to one of Rendor’s mysterious great henges.
A wild and shrewd wizard who hides within the henge, learns of the family’s secret treasure and vanquishes one of the zealots, but not out of altruism. He too is covetous of the powerful treasure the family holds dear.
Trapped between a ruthless killer and a crazed wizard, K’Las must quickly learn to control his nascent skills to help his parents best their foes. If he can’t, it won’t matter which of their foes wins—his family will surely die. Even if he does succeed, the hostile and unstable world order will not permit such unrestrained magic.
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 18, 2014
9 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 13, 2015
Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite
The Singing Stones of Rendor is Book 1 from the Eidolon Trilogy by Neils Knudsen. When K’Las was born to tinkers, Willim and B’Tris Campanill, his aunt Haegatess transferred her potent magical powers to him before dying. His parents also possess this magic known as weaving, and can perform spells using their tuning forks that respond to music. The family go into hiding when Inquisitors of the Great Henge, who want to control weaving for their own selfish purposes, send Enforcers to kill them. An evil wizard covets B’Tris’ valuable fork to assert his authority over the Henge, but needs B’Tris’ melodious voice to make the fork work. However, one Enforcer decides to take matters into his own hands while some villagers form an alliance with the Campanills to stop the wizard. K’Las’ parents soon realize his weaving skills are greater than theirs, but his stubbornness and impatience to prove his worth often makes him act recklessly.
Neils Knudsen’s novel, The Singing Stones of Rendor, is a pleasant young adult fantasy. It is Book 1 from the Eidolon Trilogy with an eye-catching beginning. The author does not readily define a weaver or other magical terms used in the story, preferring to enlighten readers while the drama unfolds. The unique plot blends music into the magic to make spells work. A selection of interesting characters who display assorted personalities and intelligence levels make the story more entertaining. I think the story ended too abruptly, but nonetheless, it is a nicely written novel.
The Singing Stones of Rendor is Book 1 from the Eidolon Trilogy by Neils Knudsen. When K’Las was born to tinkers, Willim and B’Tris Campanill, his aunt Haegatess transferred her potent magical powers to him before dying. His parents also possess this magic known as weaving, and can perform spells using their tuning forks that respond to music. The family go into hiding when Inquisitors of the Great Henge, who want to control weaving for their own selfish purposes, send Enforcers to kill them. An evil wizard covets B’Tris’ valuable fork to assert his authority over the Henge, but needs B’Tris’ melodious voice to make the fork work. However, one Enforcer decides to take matters into his own hands while some villagers form an alliance with the Campanills to stop the wizard. K’Las’ parents soon realize his weaving skills are greater than theirs, but his stubbornness and impatience to prove his worth often makes him act recklessly.
Neils Knudsen’s novel, The Singing Stones of Rendor, is a pleasant young adult fantasy. It is Book 1 from the Eidolon Trilogy with an eye-catching beginning. The author does not readily define a weaver or other magical terms used in the story, preferring to enlighten readers while the drama unfolds. The unique plot blends music into the magic to make spells work. A selection of interesting characters who display assorted personalities and intelligence levels make the story more entertaining. I think the story ended too abruptly, but nonetheless, it is a nicely written novel.
December 12, 2014
Neils Knudsen has shown the whole new class of fantasy writers how it is done. The Singing Stones of Rendor is simply a wonderfully written young adult story of magic, politics, and family with enough action to satisfy the most adventurous of readers. This book in the series is obviously book one in a trilogy.
K’Lar is the child of traveling tinkers on a world where magic is intertwined with music and where magic is carefully controlled so only those in power can wield its power. He and his parents ply their trade around their planet, keeping their magical abilities hidden and keeping the magic key even more secret. Death will follow if they are caught with the key and if their true abilities to weave magic are discovered. Enforcers and inquisitors follow them at every step.
My only issue with this book is that it does end without any apparent conclusion, so abrupt that it almost stops in midsentence. Yes, it is a trilogy and the cover clearly gives us warning, but this book is all beginning and middle, with its end held in abeyance until later in the series. That is not to say that I do not recommend this book, just be prepared to buy the next book…soon. You will want to.
K’Lar is the child of traveling tinkers on a world where magic is intertwined with music and where magic is carefully controlled so only those in power can wield its power. He and his parents ply their trade around their planet, keeping their magical abilities hidden and keeping the magic key even more secret. Death will follow if they are caught with the key and if their true abilities to weave magic are discovered. Enforcers and inquisitors follow them at every step.
My only issue with this book is that it does end without any apparent conclusion, so abrupt that it almost stops in midsentence. Yes, it is a trilogy and the cover clearly gives us warning, but this book is all beginning and middle, with its end held in abeyance until later in the series. That is not to say that I do not recommend this book, just be prepared to buy the next book…soon. You will want to.
January 19, 2015
I love a good fantasy that has me turning the pages and this book has done just that. Knudsen’s music based magic system is unique and different enough from those I’ve seen before to be intriguing. His colorful cast of characters are everything from quiet and brooding to dimwitted and gregarious, with lots of variety in between. If you like unique magic, good vs evil, and coming of age books, you will like this book.
April 10, 2015
Great character development. Characters are more complex than initially presented, as is the plot; despite obvious foreshadow.
Eager to continue the story both in terms of the action and the characters
Eager to continue the story both in terms of the action and the characters
March 13, 2016
A few steps back to a forgotten era
This story was interesting even though it took some time to figure out the diction and verbiage. I really like A'wyn, a very strong women fighting in a man's world. Her quest to fight and get what she wants despite the perceptions around her makes her powerful even when she is at her weakest. This story was well written and I look forward to reading more.
This story was interesting even though it took some time to figure out the diction and verbiage. I really like A'wyn, a very strong women fighting in a man's world. Her quest to fight and get what she wants despite the perceptions around her makes her powerful even when she is at her weakest. This story was well written and I look forward to reading more.
June 14, 2016
This story was a little slow in the beginning and I felt Like I had to push myself to continue reading the story. But once I got a little less than a quarter into the story it just really took hold of me. I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed it. I'm just sad that it's a series because I want to keep reading. A great story.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews