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Stone Bearers #0
The Stone Bearers
Fifteen-year-old Ashira just received the worst coming-of-age prophecy imaginable.
After years dreaming of oceans, princes, and fairies, she expected to hear the words that would finally whisk her away from her ordinary desert village. Instead she hears, “you will live a life of no renown."
Ready to choose her own fate, she discovers a djinni’s bottle and starts making wishes. When the djinni proves uncooperative and annoying, Ashira sets out to the great city of magicians to learn magic and free herself from an uneventful life as a potter's daughter.
But there is another prophecy being whispered in the shadows. It is said that among the great magicians, there is a demon on the rise with the power to destroy the world. The djinni might be Ashira’s only chance to become someone important, or he just might be the very demon that triggered the dark prophecy.
With the world on the brink of destruction, can Ashira fight her fate and stop the forces that threaten to upset the balance of the universe?
After years dreaming of oceans, princes, and fairies, she expected to hear the words that would finally whisk her away from her ordinary desert village. Instead she hears, “you will live a life of no renown."
Ready to choose her own fate, she discovers a djinni’s bottle and starts making wishes. When the djinni proves uncooperative and annoying, Ashira sets out to the great city of magicians to learn magic and free herself from an uneventful life as a potter's daughter.
But there is another prophecy being whispered in the shadows. It is said that among the great magicians, there is a demon on the rise with the power to destroy the world. The djinni might be Ashira’s only chance to become someone important, or he just might be the very demon that triggered the dark prophecy.
With the world on the brink of destruction, can Ashira fight her fate and stop the forces that threaten to upset the balance of the universe?
336 pages, Paperback
First published March 10, 2016
14 people are currently reading
876 people want to read
About the author
Jacque Stevens
40 books223 followersJacque Stevens wrote her first novel as a stress relief activity during nursing school. Now, as a USA-Today Bestselling Author, she has taken a step back from nursing so she can spend all her time writing stories filled with elves, fairies, and all things awesome. She also is a freelance editor.
Jacque lives in Arizona. New friends, enemies, and wandering visitors from cyberspace can contact Jacque here: sjacquebooks.com or sjacquebooks(at)gmail.com.
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Jacque lives in Arizona. New friends, enemies, and wandering visitors from cyberspace can contact Jacque here: sjacquebooks.com or sjacquebooks(at)gmail.com.
Sign up for the newsletter to get a free short story and other extras.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
March 8, 2016
An Epic Adventure that will make it hard to pause reading till the end.
Love the characters and the story line. It is well developed and filled with action sequences that will keep your interest in every chapter. There are some unexpected twists and the ending is really amazing.
I’m so glad to have read this book of fantasy genre and hope to see more of this author.
Note: I received an ARC from The Future House Publishing Team for review purposes.
Love the characters and the story line. It is well developed and filled with action sequences that will keep your interest in every chapter. There are some unexpected twists and the ending is really amazing.
I’m so glad to have read this book of fantasy genre and hope to see more of this author.
Note: I received an ARC from The Future House Publishing Team for review purposes.
March 10, 2016
Many thanks to Ryan Mendenhall from Future House Publishing for giving me an eARC of The Stone Bearers in exchange of an honest review.
The story is about a fifteen-year-old Ashira who just received her coming-of-age prophecy. She expected her prophecy would be something like "You will travel across the desert and there you will find your prince." But much to her dismay, her prophecy isn't anything like that.
After the events of learning how she will live her life in the future, with no prince, she threw a tantrum, somewhat run away from home and stumbled upon a bottle. But it's not an ordinary bottle but it's a djinni's bottle!! *ooh sparkly sparkly*
Little did they know that of all the things happening around, there is evil ... lurking in the shadows.
So what do they do? That is when Ashira started her adventures with the djinni.
I was hooked immediately after reading the prologue of the book. The storyline of this book is very unusual from the books I usually like to read but this book is surprisingly captivating. So I sacrificed sleep just to finish the book because this is definitely worthy! The book has a bit of mystery, some actions scenes, magic and high fantasy that I love.
I just love everything about this book: the plot, the characters and the main protagonist's character development. The plot itself is refreshingly new for someone like me who rarely read self-published books. This book rendered me speechless at the end. There were some twists and turns that can be easily predicted but the shock factor is still there. Ladies and gents, shock factor has a major role on how a book would make an impact to its readers. And daaaang, this book has indeed made an effect on me.
The characters were lovable especially the grumpy djinni. His endless banter with Ashira were hilarious that I always look forward to it. I just like everyone of them, well except for one.
The main protagonist is adorable ... in some way. Ha! Kidding. She is not! She is whinny, bossy and insensitive. It took me a while to set aside my frustrations because the need to know what happens to the story is far greater than my hate. It's a good thing that the plot kept me completely enthralled because if not .. I'll probably throw my phone away and burn it.
This is where the amazing character development comes in. I thought that the main protagonist will continue killing me slowly by being annoying but bit by bit she changed. Not only she changed because the author wants to but she changed in a way that it's still relevant to the story.
Overall, this book left me in awe. It is fun, easy and a quick read. Yes, there were some dull moments but Ms. Stevens found a way to bring back the attention of it's readers by her flawless writing style. I must say that Ms. Stevens did a great job in manipulating my emotions. I went from annoyed to amazed. Good thing I'm still sane. *whew* This book is perfect from ages 5-25. Hahaha. Kidding. This book is perfect for everyone who's looking for extraordinary adventures written in such a way everyone could understand.
The story is about a fifteen-year-old Ashira who just received her coming-of-age prophecy. She expected her prophecy would be something like "You will travel across the desert and there you will find your prince." But much to her dismay, her prophecy isn't anything like that.
You will live a life of no renown."
After the events of learning how she will live her life in the future, with no prince, she threw a tantrum, somewhat run away from home and stumbled upon a bottle. But it's not an ordinary bottle but it's a djinni's bottle!! *ooh sparkly sparkly*
Little did they know that of all the things happening around, there is evil ... lurking in the shadows.
So what do they do? That is when Ashira started her adventures with the djinni.
I was hooked immediately after reading the prologue of the book. The storyline of this book is very unusual from the books I usually like to read but this book is surprisingly captivating. So I sacrificed sleep just to finish the book because this is definitely worthy! The book has a bit of mystery, some actions scenes, magic and high fantasy that I love.
I just love everything about this book: the plot, the characters and the main protagonist's character development. The plot itself is refreshingly new for someone like me who rarely read self-published books. This book rendered me speechless at the end. There were some twists and turns that can be easily predicted but the shock factor is still there. Ladies and gents, shock factor has a major role on how a book would make an impact to its readers. And daaaang, this book has indeed made an effect on me.
The characters were lovable especially the grumpy djinni. His endless banter with Ashira were hilarious that I always look forward to it. I just like everyone of them, well except for one.
The main protagonist is adorable ... in some way. Ha! Kidding. She is not! She is whinny, bossy and insensitive. It took me a while to set aside my frustrations because the need to know what happens to the story is far greater than my hate. It's a good thing that the plot kept me completely enthralled because if not .. I'll probably throw my phone away and burn it.
This is where the amazing character development comes in. I thought that the main protagonist will continue killing me slowly by being annoying but bit by bit she changed. Not only she changed because the author wants to but she changed in a way that it's still relevant to the story.
Overall, this book left me in awe. It is fun, easy and a quick read. Yes, there were some dull moments but Ms. Stevens found a way to bring back the attention of it's readers by her flawless writing style. I must say that Ms. Stevens did a great job in manipulating my emotions. I went from annoyed to amazed. Good thing I'm still sane. *whew* This book is perfect from ages 5-25. Hahaha. Kidding. This book is perfect for everyone who's looking for extraordinary adventures written in such a way everyone could understand.
March 9, 2016
* I received a copy of this book for free from Future House Publishers in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. *
Imagine the excitement you would feel as a young 15 year old girl knowing that your prophecy is finally being revealed to you! You may be dreaming of exciting adventures, princes and fairies and lovely beauty all around you. Then reality of those dreams and thoughts being shattered to steer your life in a direction you weren't quite expecting to find. When the ordinary becomes the extraordinary and changes everything you ever knew up to that point.
The Stone Bearers is about a young girl named Ashira who discovers on her journey that things aren't always what they seem and we can't always trust those people in our lives that we encounter. She has a spunky, mischievous, indifferent dijinni to banter with along the way.... but is he all she thinks him to be or will there be another twist throughout? There are many beings met along the way, such as gods, bearers, friends, foes, family and demons and an interesting story line that intertwines them all. Will good win against evil beings or does good finally get defeated by evil?
The Stone Bearers creates a great story for young adult readers; although as an adult reader, I found myself wanting more. The book was a bit slow in developing the plot throughout and I was waiting for more to happen and unfold with the story line. There were a few characters along the way that could have been more developed with a bit more detail so the reader could feel a more personal connection with them; especially for several important scenes through out the book. It was a little undeveloped as far as the story line went because you are led to think something huge was going to occur and at the end I felt like there could have been more. Overall though it was an interesting story and still a good read. :-)
Imagine the excitement you would feel as a young 15 year old girl knowing that your prophecy is finally being revealed to you! You may be dreaming of exciting adventures, princes and fairies and lovely beauty all around you. Then reality of those dreams and thoughts being shattered to steer your life in a direction you weren't quite expecting to find. When the ordinary becomes the extraordinary and changes everything you ever knew up to that point.
The Stone Bearers is about a young girl named Ashira who discovers on her journey that things aren't always what they seem and we can't always trust those people in our lives that we encounter. She has a spunky, mischievous, indifferent dijinni to banter with along the way.... but is he all she thinks him to be or will there be another twist throughout? There are many beings met along the way, such as gods, bearers, friends, foes, family and demons and an interesting story line that intertwines them all. Will good win against evil beings or does good finally get defeated by evil?
The Stone Bearers creates a great story for young adult readers; although as an adult reader, I found myself wanting more. The book was a bit slow in developing the plot throughout and I was waiting for more to happen and unfold with the story line. There were a few characters along the way that could have been more developed with a bit more detail so the reader could feel a more personal connection with them; especially for several important scenes through out the book. It was a little undeveloped as far as the story line went because you are led to think something huge was going to occur and at the end I felt like there could have been more. Overall though it was an interesting story and still a good read. :-)
March 9, 2016
Ashira, just received the worst prophecy of all time. She, who longs for travel and adventure and maybe even a prince to marry, had all her hopes and dreams dashed when the Seer told her the best path for her would be a "life of no renown".
But how can life be so unfair? Her sisters had already received fantastic prophecies and were living much better lives than those of a potter's daughter should.
Determined to make her own destiny, Ashira volunteers to follow a Stone Bearer and learn more about the magic in the world. By living in the temples and learning about magic, Ashira does get to travel and have adventures. However with a demon on the way, has she wished for more than she can handle, and would she have been better off sticking with her life of no renown?
Stevens does a fantastic job of bringing the characters and the magic of the world to life. I was fully enveloped and by the third chapter was engrossed. The first few chapters are little slow and difficult to get into but are needed to set some of the foundation of the story. Stevens does manage to bring everything together by the end of the book and have everything make sense.
It is a definitely a good addition to my library of fantasy novels and is one that I can see myself reading again and again.
I have received this title at a discount in exchange for sharing my opinions.
But how can life be so unfair? Her sisters had already received fantastic prophecies and were living much better lives than those of a potter's daughter should.
Determined to make her own destiny, Ashira volunteers to follow a Stone Bearer and learn more about the magic in the world. By living in the temples and learning about magic, Ashira does get to travel and have adventures. However with a demon on the way, has she wished for more than she can handle, and would she have been better off sticking with her life of no renown?
Stevens does a fantastic job of bringing the characters and the magic of the world to life. I was fully enveloped and by the third chapter was engrossed. The first few chapters are little slow and difficult to get into but are needed to set some of the foundation of the story. Stevens does manage to bring everything together by the end of the book and have everything make sense.
It is a definitely a good addition to my library of fantasy novels and is one that I can see myself reading again and again.
I have received this title at a discount in exchange for sharing my opinions.
March 10, 2016
Thank you to Future House Publishing for giving me an eArc of The Stone Bearers in exchanged for an unbiased review.
The story follows the life of a fifteen-years-old girl name Ashira, who received news of her not so pleasant prophecy she was expecting. Instead of the “whisk away to a beautiful castle to be with a prince,” her bubble was burst to reality. Dang!
Finding out her future wasn’t matching her check-off list (no beautiful prince, no perfect life etc.) she does what every girl does—throws a hissy fit (don’t judge—I do the same)! So she runs away but something happens—her future brings her to something extraordinary. A Djinni’s Bottle! (Boom!) Remember, things can be deceiving. What she doesn’t know is evil is upon her and her choices.
I’m glad to hear others enjoyed the prologue. That part got me into the story. It was something that locked me in and made me feel like I was traveling with Ashira on this journey. The twist in the story was well put—the developments in the characters were strong, however, the main girl got a tad annoying. All-in-all, the story was very different than my normal reads, but I found it really enjoyable and refreshing. It did have a splash of shocking parts near the end which was really good to grab the reader’s attention. Definitely something to check out!
The story follows the life of a fifteen-years-old girl name Ashira, who received news of her not so pleasant prophecy she was expecting. Instead of the “whisk away to a beautiful castle to be with a prince,” her bubble was burst to reality. Dang!
Finding out her future wasn’t matching her check-off list (no beautiful prince, no perfect life etc.) she does what every girl does—throws a hissy fit (don’t judge—I do the same)! So she runs away but something happens—her future brings her to something extraordinary. A Djinni’s Bottle! (Boom!) Remember, things can be deceiving. What she doesn’t know is evil is upon her and her choices.
I’m glad to hear others enjoyed the prologue. That part got me into the story. It was something that locked me in and made me feel like I was traveling with Ashira on this journey. The twist in the story was well put—the developments in the characters were strong, however, the main girl got a tad annoying. All-in-all, the story was very different than my normal reads, but I found it really enjoyable and refreshing. It did have a splash of shocking parts near the end which was really good to grab the reader’s attention. Definitely something to check out!
March 7, 2016
I got to read early drafts of this to help critique, and I'm beyond excited to see it being published.
An epic fantasy with memorable characters and an ending you won't see coming.
Ashira is doing what many of us try to do: taking control of her own fate, no matter what the ill-fated prophecy says. Though set in a magical world, anyone who's wanted more out of life, wanted out of a small-town, or wanted to blaze their own trail, can relate to Ashira. The djinn she awakens is snarky and hilarious (and completely annoying to Ashira) while Ashira must also deal with the looming prophecy of a demon with the power to destroy the world. The threat of the prophecy permeates the book to create a sense of urgency and unease that will keep readers up well into the night.
A great read for anyone who likes female-led fantasy with rich, mythical world building.
An epic fantasy with memorable characters and an ending you won't see coming.
Ashira is doing what many of us try to do: taking control of her own fate, no matter what the ill-fated prophecy says. Though set in a magical world, anyone who's wanted more out of life, wanted out of a small-town, or wanted to blaze their own trail, can relate to Ashira. The djinn she awakens is snarky and hilarious (and completely annoying to Ashira) while Ashira must also deal with the looming prophecy of a demon with the power to destroy the world. The threat of the prophecy permeates the book to create a sense of urgency and unease that will keep readers up well into the night.
A great read for anyone who likes female-led fantasy with rich, mythical world building.
March 8, 2016
Stone Bearers is a nicely written fantasy novel, very suitable to give to your tween or teen children. There is magic in the story, used in a different way than many other fantasy books on the market. That, combined with the use of newly created mythological gods, create an appealing story that is easy to immerse yourself in. I was a little leery of reading an advanced copy, thinking that it might be rough, lots of mistakes, cheesy, etc. But it was not. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. I hope Jacque Stevens keeps writing! Disclaimer: I recieved this book free of charge for my honost review. All opinions and thoughts on it are my own.
March 11, 2016
I didn't know what to expect from this first time author, but I ended up really enjoying this book. Ashira is a girl who wants to live a life of adventure and will do anything to make that happen. When an opportunity arises to leave her village, she takes it. From there, it's a coming of age story. I liked the mechanics of magic in this world. There's a cleric for each God who are the main users of magic.
Received an advance copy from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Received an advance copy from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
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March 8, 2016I found this book very hard to get into. But once I was about 50 pages in, I was sucked in. I like her writing style and the story line was well thought out. I would definitely read a sequel.
November 27, 2016
3.5
Ashira, a teenage girl from the desert village of Saban with wild hopes and dreams for the future, receives the worst prophecy she could imagine:
However, when a stranger comes to her village, with said stranger comes a strange blue glass bottle: the bottle of a djinni. Ashira discovers this bottle and takes it for herself in hopes of changing her dreadful prophecy.
I really liked the idea of this book. There is no denying that its concept was interesting and unique.
Ashira was a realistic and relatable character who made a series of silly decisions like most people do.
However oftentimes I felt like it was dragging and some of the characters began blurring together a bit for me. There was something missing and I just can't put my finger on it. I didn't feel the spark between the book and myself. The events taking place weren't boring at all, but for some reason, I felt disconnected.
I think I would have enjoyed it more if college hadn't gotten so in the way, forcing me to read at a ridiculously slow pace. Seriously, it took me a little over two month to finish this book. TWO MONTHS!! That's like immortality in book years!
I would recommend this book because I think that there is a good chance you would have a much better time with it than I did.
Other than that, I notice a couple typos, and there was one point when I came across this.....
Also "elves" and "fairies" are used interchangeable throughout the book, even though they are not the same creature.
Thank you to InspiredKathy for giving me a free ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Ashira, a teenage girl from the desert village of Saban with wild hopes and dreams for the future, receives the worst prophecy she could imagine:
you will live a life of no renown
However, when a stranger comes to her village, with said stranger comes a strange blue glass bottle: the bottle of a djinni. Ashira discovers this bottle and takes it for herself in hopes of changing her dreadful prophecy.
I really liked the idea of this book. There is no denying that its concept was interesting and unique.
Ashira was a realistic and relatable character who made a series of silly decisions like most people do.
However oftentimes I felt like it was dragging and some of the characters began blurring together a bit for me. There was something missing and I just can't put my finger on it. I didn't feel the spark between the book and myself. The events taking place weren't boring at all, but for some reason, I felt disconnected.
I think I would have enjoyed it more if college hadn't gotten so in the way, forcing me to read at a ridiculously slow pace. Seriously, it took me a little over two month to finish this book. TWO MONTHS!! That's like immortality in book years!
I would recommend this book because I think that there is a good chance you would have a much better time with it than I did.
Other than that, I notice a couple typos, and there was one point when I came across this.....
Also "elves" and "fairies" are used interchangeable throughout the book, even though they are not the same creature.
Thank you to InspiredKathy for giving me a free ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2016
Today's the big day! The Stone Bearers is available for purchase and reading today. Yay! Grab your copy today from Amazon for only $0.99. It's only available at that price from March 10-16 so hurry fast.
Djinni's, seers, magical kingdoms, princes, elves, magical creatures, demons, visions & prophecies, destiny, good vs. evil, Gods/Goddesses, Ashira, Mordin/Jin, Sakhr, Raven, Kylta, Jade, Garrad, Laurel, Kit, Demoric.
Those are just a few of the people and parts of the book that await you in this new fantasy novel. The level and content I would recommend for anyone YA and older who enjoys reading about new worlds, fantasy, magic and adventures. There is no explicit language and is clean for all ages.
In the kingdom of Saban each person on the cusp of adulthood can receive their own prophecy foretelling of their future. Ashira is ready for knowledge of all the adventures and grandeur that awaits her as she receives her prophecy. Unfortunately it falls short of the mark of her aspirations. She refuses to believe that it is accurate, how can someone who dreams of a life away from her duties as a potter's daughter and who believes she is destined for great adventure receive such a prophecy? "You will live a life of no renown."
Ashira is angry and escapes the moment by running outside of her city to breathe and be alone. While sitting and contemplating the dread of being just a Potter, a lady appears out of nowhere next to Ashira. This lady(Laurel) has a creature on her shoulder and questions Ashira about the seer of the city. Ashira believes it is destiny having this lady appear when and how she did. Laurel leaves in search of the seer and it is then that Ashira finds a blue bottle lying close to where Laurel was standing. Ashira picks it up and opens the cork...poof, out comes the Djinni of the bottle. He is angry, tricky and unwilling to help or cast any spell directly. (Ok I didn't tell you about the prologue of the book which sets up who the Djinni is and how he was tricked into being in the bottle. So now you get to read it to figure that out). The Djinni, or Jin which is the nickname Ashira gives him, has no memories of his former life and how he came to be in the bottle. He tricks Ashira and names her princess of a black stone after she makes a very unspecific wish for her life to be grand and adventurous. The Djinni tells her he will eventually finish the wish and give her whatever she wants when she finally figures out what that is.
This angers Ashira and she corks the bottle and heads home. Once again she comes in contact with Laurel and discovers she is a stone bearer(someone who is connected directly to one of the Gods/Goddesses and has use of their powers through a stone they give to the bearer). Ashira, through some different events, is invited to go back with Laurel to her kingdom far away and be a student at the temples of the Gods to learn about being a seer and to help better her own kingdom.
That is really the main set up of the story in a nutshell. The big question and mystery throughout the novel is a prophecy that a demon is among the bearers and will bring more demons who will bring destruction. The bearers are trying to protect all the different kingdoms from storms and demons but are not unified as well as they can be. They don't want to scare the people so are withholding some information. Ashira ends up in the middle of all the turmoil. She wants grand adventures and believes that if she can hone her magic and become connected to the bearers somehow, and with the help of her Djinni, she will change her destiny and prophecy.
The world building in the book was really interesting and good. There were a few parts that I felt it didn't quite flow as smoothly as it could have and some of the explanations didn't quite fill in the gaps needed to understand everything. The characters were fun and for the amount that were important to the story the author did a good job helping the reader to remember them all. I think some of the characters could have been developed a little bit more but as I said there were several integral characters that it probably would have made it a much longer book.
If you're wondering about the demons in the book, they are nothing scary or dark. They are more just characters that add suspense and intensity to the story. They appear a few different times and the descriptions of them aren't something that would scare younger readers. The demons are being sent by Demonic who is in search of something of his. I don't like to give spoilers so that's all you'll get on that subject. I just wanted to let anyone know who was wondering if they should let their children read this or not. As a mother I'm selective in what I let my own children read and think they would really like this. If you've read the fablehaven series the demons in here are not scary at all compared to the dark magical creatures in there.
The ending was great and really brought all the prophecies throughout the book to a close. I kept wondering how Ashira's prophecy would pan out. Would she keep it, or would she be able to change her own destiny? Did she want to change her destiny after all that happened to her or did she want to stay a person of no renown. The author did a good job of showing the possibility of Ashira wanting either or and keeping the reader trying to guess which one she will ultimately choose.
Ashira and the Djinni's relationship is fun to watch develop. They learn through many mistakes, arguments and adventures of how to help each other. The Djinni is so grumpy and tricky to begin with that you don't really care for his character(especially after the prologue and setting up who he is). But your opinion of him might change throughout the novel.
I could go on and on I'm sure with all my thoughts so I'll end here before this review of a novel becomes a novel in and of itself. Definitely a fun fantasy novel and one I enjoyed reading.
I received a free copy from future house publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.
Happy Reading!!!
Djinni's, seers, magical kingdoms, princes, elves, magical creatures, demons, visions & prophecies, destiny, good vs. evil, Gods/Goddesses, Ashira, Mordin/Jin, Sakhr, Raven, Kylta, Jade, Garrad, Laurel, Kit, Demoric.
Those are just a few of the people and parts of the book that await you in this new fantasy novel. The level and content I would recommend for anyone YA and older who enjoys reading about new worlds, fantasy, magic and adventures. There is no explicit language and is clean for all ages.
In the kingdom of Saban each person on the cusp of adulthood can receive their own prophecy foretelling of their future. Ashira is ready for knowledge of all the adventures and grandeur that awaits her as she receives her prophecy. Unfortunately it falls short of the mark of her aspirations. She refuses to believe that it is accurate, how can someone who dreams of a life away from her duties as a potter's daughter and who believes she is destined for great adventure receive such a prophecy? "You will live a life of no renown."
Ashira is angry and escapes the moment by running outside of her city to breathe and be alone. While sitting and contemplating the dread of being just a Potter, a lady appears out of nowhere next to Ashira. This lady(Laurel) has a creature on her shoulder and questions Ashira about the seer of the city. Ashira believes it is destiny having this lady appear when and how she did. Laurel leaves in search of the seer and it is then that Ashira finds a blue bottle lying close to where Laurel was standing. Ashira picks it up and opens the cork...poof, out comes the Djinni of the bottle. He is angry, tricky and unwilling to help or cast any spell directly. (Ok I didn't tell you about the prologue of the book which sets up who the Djinni is and how he was tricked into being in the bottle. So now you get to read it to figure that out). The Djinni, or Jin which is the nickname Ashira gives him, has no memories of his former life and how he came to be in the bottle. He tricks Ashira and names her princess of a black stone after she makes a very unspecific wish for her life to be grand and adventurous. The Djinni tells her he will eventually finish the wish and give her whatever she wants when she finally figures out what that is.
This angers Ashira and she corks the bottle and heads home. Once again she comes in contact with Laurel and discovers she is a stone bearer(someone who is connected directly to one of the Gods/Goddesses and has use of their powers through a stone they give to the bearer). Ashira, through some different events, is invited to go back with Laurel to her kingdom far away and be a student at the temples of the Gods to learn about being a seer and to help better her own kingdom.
That is really the main set up of the story in a nutshell. The big question and mystery throughout the novel is a prophecy that a demon is among the bearers and will bring more demons who will bring destruction. The bearers are trying to protect all the different kingdoms from storms and demons but are not unified as well as they can be. They don't want to scare the people so are withholding some information. Ashira ends up in the middle of all the turmoil. She wants grand adventures and believes that if she can hone her magic and become connected to the bearers somehow, and with the help of her Djinni, she will change her destiny and prophecy.
The world building in the book was really interesting and good. There were a few parts that I felt it didn't quite flow as smoothly as it could have and some of the explanations didn't quite fill in the gaps needed to understand everything. The characters were fun and for the amount that were important to the story the author did a good job helping the reader to remember them all. I think some of the characters could have been developed a little bit more but as I said there were several integral characters that it probably would have made it a much longer book.
If you're wondering about the demons in the book, they are nothing scary or dark. They are more just characters that add suspense and intensity to the story. They appear a few different times and the descriptions of them aren't something that would scare younger readers. The demons are being sent by Demonic who is in search of something of his. I don't like to give spoilers so that's all you'll get on that subject. I just wanted to let anyone know who was wondering if they should let their children read this or not. As a mother I'm selective in what I let my own children read and think they would really like this. If you've read the fablehaven series the demons in here are not scary at all compared to the dark magical creatures in there.
The ending was great and really brought all the prophecies throughout the book to a close. I kept wondering how Ashira's prophecy would pan out. Would she keep it, or would she be able to change her own destiny? Did she want to change her destiny after all that happened to her or did she want to stay a person of no renown. The author did a good job of showing the possibility of Ashira wanting either or and keeping the reader trying to guess which one she will ultimately choose.
Ashira and the Djinni's relationship is fun to watch develop. They learn through many mistakes, arguments and adventures of how to help each other. The Djinni is so grumpy and tricky to begin with that you don't really care for his character(especially after the prologue and setting up who he is). But your opinion of him might change throughout the novel.
I could go on and on I'm sure with all my thoughts so I'll end here before this review of a novel becomes a novel in and of itself. Definitely a fun fantasy novel and one I enjoyed reading.
I received a free copy from future house publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.
Happy Reading!!!
March 22, 2016
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The Stone Bearers by Jacque Stevens Builds A Strong World of Fantasy
The Stone Bearers by Jacque Stevens is quite a powerful book to read
The Stone Bearers has been written in a magical way by Jacque Stevens
Jacque Stevens has built a strong world of fantasy in The Stone Bearers
The Stone Bearers by Jacque Stevens revolves around the protagonist Ashira who is just 15-year-old. A prediction about her future becomes a disturbing point in her life. She fears about what will happen to her if a divination about her isolated life becomes true. Somehow she starts preparing her to meet the reality, howsoever worse it may be. All her dreams about princes, fairies, oceans, palaces, luxury etc. go haywire. And one fine day she finds a djinn’s bottle that is powerful enough to make all her wishes come true. But the moment she started making her wishes, she finds that the magical bottle is not at all responsive. What is the use of such power in hand, she thinks. She decides to visit the great city of magicians to acquire some magical powers to get out of these unworthy and meaningless patterns of life. She decides to rediscover and redesign her life. But there is something more destined for her. She gets to know that one of the magicians is having bad intentions and is planning to destroy this world. And now she has some additional tasks to perform for which acquiring powers becomes more meaningful and necessary. She has to save the world from destruction.
I found The Stone Bearers by Jacque Stevens quite an interesting read. It is woven so powerfully to take you to a world full of fantasies raising so many curiosities all along, as you keep turning pages. The characters are lively, the writing style is impactful, and the story is created in an interesting manner so as to engage throughout. It is a good read for any age. There is, as such, nothing negative or annoying factor in the story or its presentation.
As far as my personal rating of The Stone Bearers by Jacque Stevens is concerned, it goes fairly high on the scale. I would rate it 4 on a scale of 5 based on its characterization, story, and presentation. Overall, it is quite an interesting and fast paced book to grab and enjoy.
The Stone Bearers by Jacque Stevens Builds A Strong World of Fantasy
The Stone Bearers by Jacque Stevens is quite a powerful book to read
The Stone Bearers has been written in a magical way by Jacque Stevens
Jacque Stevens has built a strong world of fantasy in The Stone Bearers
The Stone Bearers by Jacque Stevens revolves around the protagonist Ashira who is just 15-year-old. A prediction about her future becomes a disturbing point in her life. She fears about what will happen to her if a divination about her isolated life becomes true. Somehow she starts preparing her to meet the reality, howsoever worse it may be. All her dreams about princes, fairies, oceans, palaces, luxury etc. go haywire. And one fine day she finds a djinn’s bottle that is powerful enough to make all her wishes come true. But the moment she started making her wishes, she finds that the magical bottle is not at all responsive. What is the use of such power in hand, she thinks. She decides to visit the great city of magicians to acquire some magical powers to get out of these unworthy and meaningless patterns of life. She decides to rediscover and redesign her life. But there is something more destined for her. She gets to know that one of the magicians is having bad intentions and is planning to destroy this world. And now she has some additional tasks to perform for which acquiring powers becomes more meaningful and necessary. She has to save the world from destruction.
I found The Stone Bearers by Jacque Stevens quite an interesting read. It is woven so powerfully to take you to a world full of fantasies raising so many curiosities all along, as you keep turning pages. The characters are lively, the writing style is impactful, and the story is created in an interesting manner so as to engage throughout. It is a good read for any age. There is, as such, nothing negative or annoying factor in the story or its presentation.
As far as my personal rating of The Stone Bearers by Jacque Stevens is concerned, it goes fairly high on the scale. I would rate it 4 on a scale of 5 based on its characterization, story, and presentation. Overall, it is quite an interesting and fast paced book to grab and enjoy.
July 22, 2016
A new look of the world of Djinn
If you have been waiting for the chance to read a Djinn book then this is the one for you. I really enjoyed the blended Wizardry/ Aladdin take this book produced. The main characters have plenty of personality and stay true to form throughout the book. Of course I already have my favorites but I'll leave that a mystery and just say they have given me a new look on hero's/ heroine type roles most books produce. I was given a copy for a unbiased opinion and I have to say it is well worth the price to have this in your reading potentials list or read again list.
This book starts out with a girl getting her fate read and her seeking her own way to get the life she wants instead of letting the prophecy define her existence. She stumbles her way through obstacles and gains strength in her failures while continuing to strive more for herself. Each turn gives her more confidence and a new light on the way she previously thought, allowing her to change in ways she didn't think she could have before. She explores the world of magic and things she couldn't possibly comprehend from her own homeland. While some try to steer her astray, she finds her resolve in experiences and what she is comfortable with while finding the meaning behind the questions to the mystery of the temple and who her friends are. If this intrigues you then I think you found a winner.
If you have been waiting for the chance to read a Djinn book then this is the one for you. I really enjoyed the blended Wizardry/ Aladdin take this book produced. The main characters have plenty of personality and stay true to form throughout the book. Of course I already have my favorites but I'll leave that a mystery and just say they have given me a new look on hero's/ heroine type roles most books produce. I was given a copy for a unbiased opinion and I have to say it is well worth the price to have this in your reading potentials list or read again list.
This book starts out with a girl getting her fate read and her seeking her own way to get the life she wants instead of letting the prophecy define her existence. She stumbles her way through obstacles and gains strength in her failures while continuing to strive more for herself. Each turn gives her more confidence and a new light on the way she previously thought, allowing her to change in ways she didn't think she could have before. She explores the world of magic and things she couldn't possibly comprehend from her own homeland. While some try to steer her astray, she finds her resolve in experiences and what she is comfortable with while finding the meaning behind the questions to the mystery of the temple and who her friends are. If this intrigues you then I think you found a winner.
March 9, 2016
If you have been waiting for the chance to read a Djinn book then this is the one for you. I really enjoyed the blended Wizardry/ Aladdin take this book produced. The main characters have plenty of personality and stay true to form throughout the book. Of course I already have my favorites but I'll leave that a mystery and just say they have given me a new look on hero's/ heroine type roles most books produce. I was given a copy for a unbiased opinion and I have to say it is well worth the price to have this in your reading potentials list or read again list.
This book starts out with a girl getting her fate read and her seeking her own way to get the life she wants instead of letting the prophecy define her existence. She stumbles her way through obstacles and gains strength in her failures while continuing to strive more for herself. Each turn gives her more confidence and a new light on the way she previously thought, allowing her to change in ways she didn't think she could have before. She explores the world of magic and things she couldn't possibly comprehend from her own homeland. While some try to steer her astray, she finds her resolve in experiences and what she is comfortable with while finding the meaning behind the questions to the mystery of the temple and who her friends are. If this intrigues you then I think you found a winner.
This book starts out with a girl getting her fate read and her seeking her own way to get the life she wants instead of letting the prophecy define her existence. She stumbles her way through obstacles and gains strength in her failures while continuing to strive more for herself. Each turn gives her more confidence and a new light on the way she previously thought, allowing her to change in ways she didn't think she could have before. She explores the world of magic and things she couldn't possibly comprehend from her own homeland. While some try to steer her astray, she finds her resolve in experiences and what she is comfortable with while finding the meaning behind the questions to the mystery of the temple and who her friends are. If this intrigues you then I think you found a winner.
October 17, 2016
I got this book in exchange for an honest review. This is 3.5 stars for me.
This book is about a girl who lives in a desert country. On her 15th birthday she gets a prophecy that she will "live a life with no renown". Ashira is deeply frustrated and sad because she wanted a life full of adventures. When a person with magical powers shows up in her town, Ashira begs her to take her with her. So Ashira ends up in a foreign country at a school. Before she goes, she finds a magic bottle with a Djinni that will grant her one wish per day. With that Ashira is ready to change her prophecy.
At the beginning of the book I really liked Ashira. She was interesting and motivated to learn and experience as much as she could. The last 15% of the book I found that she turned very selfish and only cared about herself really. I honestly didn't care for her at the end. Raven was another very selfish character who used other people for her own gain. The character I liked the most was Kylta. I saw a lot of personal growth even in this short book. I think if the author writes another book in this universe, that Kylta should be the main character (also because Ashira basically shrugs off her duty and power). It felt like there were a lot of loose ends. Maybe for another book? Also saw a few spelling/grammer mistakes throughout the book.
This book is about a girl who lives in a desert country. On her 15th birthday she gets a prophecy that she will "live a life with no renown". Ashira is deeply frustrated and sad because she wanted a life full of adventures. When a person with magical powers shows up in her town, Ashira begs her to take her with her. So Ashira ends up in a foreign country at a school. Before she goes, she finds a magic bottle with a Djinni that will grant her one wish per day. With that Ashira is ready to change her prophecy.
At the beginning of the book I really liked Ashira. She was interesting and motivated to learn and experience as much as she could. The last 15% of the book I found that she turned very selfish and only cared about herself really. I honestly didn't care for her at the end. Raven was another very selfish character who used other people for her own gain. The character I liked the most was Kylta. I saw a lot of personal growth even in this short book. I think if the author writes another book in this universe, that Kylta should be the main character (also because Ashira basically shrugs off her duty and power). It felt like there were a lot of loose ends. Maybe for another book? Also saw a few spelling/grammer mistakes throughout the book.
March 10, 2016
What a great fantasy read. The Prologue had me hooked, I got a little distracted in chapter 1 after the great prologue because it flipped around on me( it don’t take much to confuse me), but it didn’t take long to grab me back. It’s a book filled with adventures of Young Ahira trying to leave her small village and the modest life of a potter’s daughter to going to the city with the stone bearer where she can find her prince and become someone so much bigger than her life now, meet and marry her Prince! But it is not all she thought it would be, The book is filled with magic, Djinni in his bottles, demons, powers in stones, Handsome Prince Mordin, Prophecies and so much more. My favorite thing was Djinni coming out of his bottle in his puff of smoke, never knowing what she would have in store for him with her daily wish. Ahira and Jin with their ranting with each other is almost comical. It’s almost like your one of the characters in the book while you are reading it. It did not end like I thought it would end but it left with me thinking there will be another book in the future and I will be looking forward to reading it also.
October 5, 2019
Ashira is so disappointed by her prophecy. She wants adventure in her life and all she gets is a "life of no renown." That is a far cry from marrying a prince.
At first, you think it is the genie in a bottle story but it is so much more than that. This book was longer than most of the Kindle books lately but that is because there is so much to this story. I would highly recommend it.
The characters are interesting and there are a few things that you will figure out as you go along. There is even a bit of romance in the air.
I don't want to give a lot away but if you like a jam-packed story you will love this one! I admit that the first few chapters take a little bit to get into but it is because you are getting used to the new names of the characters. Once you get used to the names and the surroundings get ready to be engrossed in the story. I would read the next one in line if there ever is one.
I received this book free in exchange for my honest review but I was not compensated in any way. #FutureHousePub
At first, you think it is the genie in a bottle story but it is so much more than that. This book was longer than most of the Kindle books lately but that is because there is so much to this story. I would highly recommend it.
The characters are interesting and there are a few things that you will figure out as you go along. There is even a bit of romance in the air.
I don't want to give a lot away but if you like a jam-packed story you will love this one! I admit that the first few chapters take a little bit to get into but it is because you are getting used to the new names of the characters. Once you get used to the names and the surroundings get ready to be engrossed in the story. I would read the next one in line if there ever is one.
I received this book free in exchange for my honest review but I was not compensated in any way. #FutureHousePub
March 9, 2016
The Stone Bearers is a wonderful book! I liked this a lot. It is a rather long book but well worth it! This is a story about a girl who after hearing a less than exciting prophecy about herself decides to go out and be more. She finds herself in a new land and makes a couple friends. She gets to mean elves and a djinni. There is a rumor of a demon going around and no one knows exactly what it means. I absolutely love the ending of this book!! It was great that everyone got what they really wanted in the end and Ashira discovered what she really wanted was not to be a princess after all.
**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest unbiased review. This has not influenced my opinions on the book.**
**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest unbiased review. This has not influenced my opinions on the book.**
March 9, 2016
15 year old Ashira is searching for her prophecy, trying to do anything to become someone important. Will the world be saved from destruction or will Ashira win against her faith?
I found this book to be well written a lot of fun to read. You can really see the story unfold, like you are in the book yourself. You really learn about Ashira and you see the pain and troubles that she goes through along the way. Whether it be, making wishes, or learning magic You really get to see how much heart she has along the way.
#FutureHousePub #sponsored I received this product in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion/review.
I found this book to be well written a lot of fun to read. You can really see the story unfold, like you are in the book yourself. You really learn about Ashira and you see the pain and troubles that she goes through along the way. Whether it be, making wishes, or learning magic You really get to see how much heart she has along the way.
#FutureHousePub #sponsored I received this product in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion/review.
March 9, 2016
Absolutely enthralling!
I absolutely loved this book, it was a pure joy to read! Packed with adventure, action and a hint of romance, it kept me hooked from the first page. The characters were intricate and believable without getting too deep into dramatic emotions. The storyline was fantastic and fast-paced without any dull moments. It was so hard to put this book down that I found myself reading at every chance I could get! It was a true pleasure indulging myself in this read and I'm left daydreaming about being in the story myself. I cant wait to read more by this author!
I absolutely loved this book, it was a pure joy to read! Packed with adventure, action and a hint of romance, it kept me hooked from the first page. The characters were intricate and believable without getting too deep into dramatic emotions. The storyline was fantastic and fast-paced without any dull moments. It was so hard to put this book down that I found myself reading at every chance I could get! It was a true pleasure indulging myself in this read and I'm left daydreaming about being in the story myself. I cant wait to read more by this author!
March 10, 2016
Poor Ashira… to be told she will amount to very little in life. When she comes across a precocious Djinni, she make a grand wish. There is a lot of mystery and a few demons (not real scary just weird). Now the Djinni makes her Princess of the stone. Until she figures that all out he will not grant her wish. This is an adventurous tale of destiny. I think the biggest question after travels and adventure would be will she still want her wish granted….. or will she be happy to live a life of no renown!?! This was well written and was pretty easy to read. I really liked the interactions between the main characters.
May 4, 2016
The Stone Bearers features an adventure-seeking girl from a small desert town and a prince who wants to escape his title. Ashira receives her prophecy, something every girl receives when they turn fifteen, and hers is so pathetic that she strives to change it. Ashira and Jin go through some crazy adventures as they try to figure out what the prophecy means and how they can stop it.
I enjoyed the story and liked watching Ashira grow as well as Jin. The other characters are fun and I can’t wait to see more and see what happens with Ashira and her stone and Jin.
I received this book, an unedited version, free from Future House Publishing in return for my honest opinion.
I enjoyed the story and liked watching Ashira grow as well as Jin. The other characters are fun and I can’t wait to see more and see what happens with Ashira and her stone and Jin.
I received this book, an unedited version, free from Future House Publishing in return for my honest opinion.
March 10, 2016
I was looking forward to reading this book and it delivered.
An epic fantasy full of memorable characters and an ending you will not be expecting.
I found myself reading though this story page after page till the end. Great story from start to finish and kept my interest all the way thru the book.
A good read for the young teen and also interesting for an adult read too. I will surely be giving a copy to my teen son to read as part of his required reading list.
I received a copy of the book for my honest review.
An epic fantasy full of memorable characters and an ending you will not be expecting.
I found myself reading though this story page after page till the end. Great story from start to finish and kept my interest all the way thru the book.
A good read for the young teen and also interesting for an adult read too. I will surely be giving a copy to my teen son to read as part of his required reading list.
I received a copy of the book for my honest review.
March 9, 2016
Ashira longs for an exciting life, but is told that she will never have it. Determined to change her fate, Ashira uses a djinni to try and wish her way out of her ordinary life. When that doesn't work, she runs away and tries to learn magic.
Ashira is a stubborn and determined girl and she wants more out of life. I liked the story, I thought it was well written and I would recommend it to readers who love fantasy and adventure stories.
Ashira is a stubborn and determined girl and she wants more out of life. I liked the story, I thought it was well written and I would recommend it to readers who love fantasy and adventure stories.
March 10, 2016
The life threads of these characters were skillfully and beautifully woven throughout this story into what will be an amazing memory whenever I think back on this book.
The reason for the 4 stars instead of 5 is because I did feel the book lag a few times but then something different and unexpected would happen and I would snap right back.
Give The Stone Bearers a try. I think you'll enjoy it!
I received a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
The reason for the 4 stars instead of 5 is because I did feel the book lag a few times but then something different and unexpected would happen and I would snap right back.
Give The Stone Bearers a try. I think you'll enjoy it!
I received a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
March 10, 2016
I received this book in an unedited form from #FutureHousepub in return for my honest review.
I love to read and was excited about this book as it is a fantasy fiction. A lovely book about changing your destiny, choosing your path and going in search of what you know you can be. Fantasy, fiction, magic, suspense and foreign lands. A great read for ages 12- adults.
I love to read and was excited about this book as it is a fantasy fiction. A lovely book about changing your destiny, choosing your path and going in search of what you know you can be. Fantasy, fiction, magic, suspense and foreign lands. A great read for ages 12- adults.
March 14, 2016
I was offered a copy of the Stone Bearers to review. The story starts quite inconspicuously but then bang and it unfolds in a most interesting way. I really enjoyed the read. Good pace, the characters are well developed and I especially had fun reading about the Jin in the bottle and his antics. I do not want to be a spoilsport so no more. This is definetely a good read.
#FutureHousePub
#FutureHousePub
January 10, 2018
This story really caught my attention because not only is original but it also played with my emotions from the beginning, as it was so realistic that I really put myself in Ashira's shoes. How would you feel if all your dreams depended on a prophecy? Would you settle for continuing living according to their standards? Or will you dare to follow your dream and reach your happiness in your own way? Settling down is sometimes more difficult than it seems, but what requires true courage is to make the decision to forge your own way only that for Ashira this could end in a way to its own destruction.
April 23, 2016
The Stone Bearers, is the story of Ashira, a young woman from the city of Ackman in the Saban region, finds herself stuck in a life with no direction other than becoming a potter’s wife. She wishes for a better life, one filled with excitement and adventure; instead, she finds a magic bottle with a Djinni inside. The Djinni grants her wishes but he is limited to only one wish a day. Through a series of events, Ashira is taken by a Stone Bearer to the temples to learn magic in place of the current diviner in Ackman.
Upon arriving at the temples she quickly befriends a wild young woman named Raven. Raven is working for an unknown force and setting into motion an event, which will rock the world. Without giving away any spoilers, the reader will find the Djinni is more that he appears. Ashira meets a variety of different people that help her grown into her own skin by the end of the novel. She wishes to find adventure and during the course of the book, Ashira will get more than she bargained for. She beings to think her prophecy may not have been so bad.
The Stone Bearers is a fantasy novel, filled with magic, epic fights and a healthy dose of romance. The concept is well thought out and I hope Stevens continues this book into a series. It is a fresh take on old fantasy tropes and full of intrigue and fun. Humor is punctuated frequently enough to prevent the story from traveling too far into darkness.
I did find, the story to be predictable in certain areas and surprising in others. It was a little disappointing to already know where the story was heading. If the story was injected with more bits of mystery, it would have left the reader guess. This is what leads me to conclude this story is aimed at a young adult. Additionally, I was a little confused by the continued use of a character’s name once their real name is revealed. It’s a fairly clean book and free of adult situations. Stevens doesn’t fill her book with tons of characters you will never remember. Rather she focuses in on the most important characters and details their evolution in the story. This creates a solid character driven novel. The time spent building the foundation of the world does not take away from story. In this case, it enriches the environment in which the characters live.
Jacque Stevens is a thoughtful writer with fresh talent, and she spins a tale that is sure to entertain an avid reader in the fantasy fiction genre. Her debut book is consistent, entertaining and full of enough twists and turns to make a labyrinth jealous.
If you are a fan of this genre, and enjoy books like The Foundling and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe you will love this book.
Overall, The Stone Bearers is an engaging novel, only suffering from a fair amount of predictability. Stevens focused her novel and created a book so fun and interesting it will keep you turning pages. I hope if she continues to write more stories in the series she will tone down the predictably and turn up the mystery. I can confirm Stevens is working on a short story due out this summer and possibly a 2nd book.
Upon arriving at the temples she quickly befriends a wild young woman named Raven. Raven is working for an unknown force and setting into motion an event, which will rock the world. Without giving away any spoilers, the reader will find the Djinni is more that he appears. Ashira meets a variety of different people that help her grown into her own skin by the end of the novel. She wishes to find adventure and during the course of the book, Ashira will get more than she bargained for. She beings to think her prophecy may not have been so bad.
The Stone Bearers is a fantasy novel, filled with magic, epic fights and a healthy dose of romance. The concept is well thought out and I hope Stevens continues this book into a series. It is a fresh take on old fantasy tropes and full of intrigue and fun. Humor is punctuated frequently enough to prevent the story from traveling too far into darkness.
I did find, the story to be predictable in certain areas and surprising in others. It was a little disappointing to already know where the story was heading. If the story was injected with more bits of mystery, it would have left the reader guess. This is what leads me to conclude this story is aimed at a young adult. Additionally, I was a little confused by the continued use of a character’s name once their real name is revealed. It’s a fairly clean book and free of adult situations. Stevens doesn’t fill her book with tons of characters you will never remember. Rather she focuses in on the most important characters and details their evolution in the story. This creates a solid character driven novel. The time spent building the foundation of the world does not take away from story. In this case, it enriches the environment in which the characters live.
Jacque Stevens is a thoughtful writer with fresh talent, and she spins a tale that is sure to entertain an avid reader in the fantasy fiction genre. Her debut book is consistent, entertaining and full of enough twists and turns to make a labyrinth jealous.
If you are a fan of this genre, and enjoy books like The Foundling and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe you will love this book.
Overall, The Stone Bearers is an engaging novel, only suffering from a fair amount of predictability. Stevens focused her novel and created a book so fun and interesting it will keep you turning pages. I hope if she continues to write more stories in the series she will tone down the predictably and turn up the mystery. I can confirm Stevens is working on a short story due out this summer and possibly a 2nd book.
September 6, 2016
Jacque Stevens's book The Stone Bearers is a tale of a 15 year old girl named Ashira who, like all young people in her town receives a prophecy on her 15th birthday, after which they are considered adults. Ashira expects to receive an exciting prophecy, just like her sisters did. However, the prophecy she receives is that she will live a life of no renown. Not surprisingly, this makes her extremely upset. She wants to travel and have adventures, so when a Stone Bearer arrives from the capital city, she volunteers to leave home and go to the temples to be trained in the proper use of magic. Before they leave, she finds a bottle that just happens to have a djinn in it who can grant one wish a day. She knows she must keep it a secret though because the stone bearers are cracking down on any magic that is performed by someone not trained in the temples. There has been a terrible prophecy revealed about demons coming to destroy the world, and also a threat from a magician in another area of the kingdom who is fighting against the outlying provinces and who seems to fulfill many areas of the prophecy.
After arriving at the temple complex, Ashira makes friends with her roommate Kylta and another new student Raven. She slowly begins her education and eventually discovers that Kylta is a bearer, while Raven is working for the younger prince to discover the source of the bearers' power. She begins drawing away from Raven because she is very uneasy about her goals, and also because her djinn tells her that the prince is dangerous.
Through several adventures, dangers, and surprises Ashira discovers that perhaps a life of no renown may not be as bad as she thought.
I liked this book because the characters were well developed and Ashira was easily relatable. Other characters, such as the djinn, Kylta, Raven, and Prince Mordin are equally well developed. There are also a lot of excitement and plot twists that kept me turning pages. This new world has several magical creatures, such as elves, sprites, a phoenix that can change into a sparrow, a doppelganger, and dragonets, all of which can communicate with humans. There are also bad guys and evil creatures. I enjoyed reading about the choices that the characters had to make and why they made those choices. The plot twists and storyline kept me interested and I stayed up reading all night because I just couldn't put the book down. I would love to see this made into a series because I'd love to find out what happened to the characters next.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, which I have provided to the best of my ability.
After arriving at the temple complex, Ashira makes friends with her roommate Kylta and another new student Raven. She slowly begins her education and eventually discovers that Kylta is a bearer, while Raven is working for the younger prince to discover the source of the bearers' power. She begins drawing away from Raven because she is very uneasy about her goals, and also because her djinn tells her that the prince is dangerous.
Through several adventures, dangers, and surprises Ashira discovers that perhaps a life of no renown may not be as bad as she thought.
I liked this book because the characters were well developed and Ashira was easily relatable. Other characters, such as the djinn, Kylta, Raven, and Prince Mordin are equally well developed. There are also a lot of excitement and plot twists that kept me turning pages. This new world has several magical creatures, such as elves, sprites, a phoenix that can change into a sparrow, a doppelganger, and dragonets, all of which can communicate with humans. There are also bad guys and evil creatures. I enjoyed reading about the choices that the characters had to make and why they made those choices. The plot twists and storyline kept me interested and I stayed up reading all night because I just couldn't put the book down. I would love to see this made into a series because I'd love to find out what happened to the characters next.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, which I have provided to the best of my ability.
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