What do you think?
Rate this book
Alastair Stone Chronicles #10
The Other Side
Librarian's note: This an alternate cover for: B073C7M1LZ
Dark desires.
Alastair Stone and fellow professor Edwina Mortenson go together like punk rock and patchouli. So when an unwilling Stone is ""volunteered"" to participate in a paranormal TV reality show with her, neither of them is thrilled about it - even if the ghost town they’ll be filming in is supposedly the site of a powerful curse.
As if dealing with Mortenson, the show’s overbearing producer, and its prima-donna star weren’t bad enough, Stone soon uncovers evidence that the town’s curse is very real - and it’s resurfacing again, more deadly than ever. Miles from civilization, cut off by a freak storm and a washed-out road, Stone must race to find the origin of the curse and stop it before it settles its malignant grip over everyone in the town.
Meanwhile, Jason and Verity head off to tackle their first case on their own in Las Vegas, where a search for a missing family man takes them down a dark path - and leads Verity to make a desperate choice that forces her to question everything she thought she knew about her magic.
Dark desires.
Alastair Stone and fellow professor Edwina Mortenson go together like punk rock and patchouli. So when an unwilling Stone is ""volunteered"" to participate in a paranormal TV reality show with her, neither of them is thrilled about it - even if the ghost town they’ll be filming in is supposedly the site of a powerful curse.
As if dealing with Mortenson, the show’s overbearing producer, and its prima-donna star weren’t bad enough, Stone soon uncovers evidence that the town’s curse is very real - and it’s resurfacing again, more deadly than ever. Miles from civilization, cut off by a freak storm and a washed-out road, Stone must race to find the origin of the curse and stop it before it settles its malignant grip over everyone in the town.
Meanwhile, Jason and Verity head off to tackle their first case on their own in Las Vegas, where a search for a missing family man takes them down a dark path - and leads Verity to make a desperate choice that forces her to question everything she thought she knew about her magic.
- GenresUrban FantasyFantasy
561 pages, ebook
First published June 25, 2017
194 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
R.L. King
68 books332 followersR. L. King is the author of the Amazon-bestselling urban fantasy series The Alastair Stone Chronicles.
When not doing her best to make life difficult for her characters, she works as a software technical writer for a large Silicon Valley database company.
She also freelances for Catalyst Game Labs, publisher of the popular roleplaying game Shadowrun, where she's contributed fiction and game material to numerous sourcebooks and one full-length adventure, "On the Run," which was included as part of the 2012 Origins-Award-winning "Runners' Toolkit."
Her first novel in the Shadowrun universe, "Borrowed Time," was published in Spring 2015. She's working on her second Shadowrun novel, "Veiled Extraction," which will be released in late 2016 or early 2017.
When not writing or working, she enjoys hanging out with her very understanding spouse and her small herd of cats, and watching way too much Doctor Who.
When not doing her best to make life difficult for her characters, she works as a software technical writer for a large Silicon Valley database company.
She also freelances for Catalyst Game Labs, publisher of the popular roleplaying game Shadowrun, where she's contributed fiction and game material to numerous sourcebooks and one full-length adventure, "On the Run," which was included as part of the 2012 Origins-Award-winning "Runners' Toolkit."
Her first novel in the Shadowrun universe, "Borrowed Time," was published in Spring 2015. She's working on her second Shadowrun novel, "Veiled Extraction," which will be released in late 2016 or early 2017.
When not writing or working, she enjoys hanging out with her very understanding spouse and her small herd of cats, and watching way too much Doctor Who.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 21, 2017
This is actually 2 separate stories. One is an Alastair Stone magical mystery paranormal adventure and the other is a paranormal detective story featuring Jason and Verity. I did not like switching story lines and POVs every other chapter so after a few chapters, I read only the Alastair Stone story up until the last chapter and then I went back and read the Jason/Verity story and finished the stories with the last chapter.
I enjoyed the Alastair Stone story much more than the Jason/Verity story because I read the books to read about Alastair Stone not Jason and Verity. It isn't that I do not like their characters, but I like them as side kicks to Stone.
There are more emotion scenes in these stories which always helps to connect the reader to the characters. Those involving Stone were much more impactful for me than those with Verity but it could be because I am partial to the Stone character.
Taking the book as a whole it is good. Separately, the Jason/Verity story gets 3 1/2 stars, but I feel that Stone's story is much better than simply good and it is his story that gets 5 stars.
I enjoyed the Alastair Stone story much more than the Jason/Verity story because I read the books to read about Alastair Stone not Jason and Verity. It isn't that I do not like their characters, but I like them as side kicks to Stone.
There are more emotion scenes in these stories which always helps to connect the reader to the characters. Those involving Stone were much more impactful for me than those with Verity but it could be because I am partial to the Stone character.
Taking the book as a whole it is good. Separately, the Jason/Verity story gets 3 1/2 stars, but I feel that Stone's story is much better than simply good and it is his story that gets 5 stars.
July 5, 2017
The Other Side: a Novel in the Alastair Stone Chronicles (#10)
by R. L. King.
Ms. King has outdone herself in this novel, which is, for all intents and purposes, two novels in one. She handled it in style, with the majority of the book alternating chapters between the adventure Jason and Verity were having and the adventure Alastair was having. It certainly kept this reader reading for long sessions, trying always to find out what was happening with both teams.
Good editing and proofreading. I only made 4 notes, and none of them included a misspelling or grammar error, and only one was about what seemed an incongruous time reference. Mostly they were just personal comments I wanted to record.
In this novel, Verity is trying to make up her mind what she wants to do next. She as been studying with Edna for over a year, is about to turn 21, and has just another year or so to go in her apprenticeship. Jason is studying and working with a local P.I. hoping to be able to take the test to become a licensed investigator sometime in the next couple of years. Verity thinks she would like to return to the Bay area to resume her studies with Alastair, but hates the thought of being so far away from Jason.
In the meantime, Alastair has stumbled into a TV appearance on a paranormal reality show called "The Other Side." It isn't something he really wants to do. Edwina had been scheduled to be the sole consultant from their university until the producer met Alastair, and feels very resentful that she will be taking a lesser role to accommodate involving him in the episode. But the Occult Studies department stands to get a very generous donation from the owner of the house which will be featured, he really has no choice but to accept. The shoot for the show will take place in an abandoned gold rush town which is rumored to be under a curse that has twice caused the town to become a "ghost town."
And while Alastair is doing that, Verity is going to Las Vegas with Jason, to help with a case of a man who was supposed to be in one place for a business event, but ends up dead 300 miles away in Vegas. His family wants some answers and Jason wants a chance to prove to his boss that he can do the job. Once there they are once again involved in magical doings that are life-threatening, as they close in on a child sex trafficking ring. The elusive Trevor Harrison shows up briefly, and although he does not have an active role in the Jason/Verity adventure, his assistant, Mr. Nakamura, does. Another active player in that storyline is Mickey Toro, one of the last of the mob bosses in Vegas. The Forgotten play a small, but integral part in the story, as well.
Both story lines hold some humor, some introspection and, in the case of Jason and Verity, some personal growth, lots of danger, lots of action, and some sorrow.
I look forward the the 11th book in the series, due out in the Fall of 2017.
by R. L. King.
Ms. King has outdone herself in this novel, which is, for all intents and purposes, two novels in one. She handled it in style, with the majority of the book alternating chapters between the adventure Jason and Verity were having and the adventure Alastair was having. It certainly kept this reader reading for long sessions, trying always to find out what was happening with both teams.
Good editing and proofreading. I only made 4 notes, and none of them included a misspelling or grammar error, and only one was about what seemed an incongruous time reference. Mostly they were just personal comments I wanted to record.
In this novel, Verity is trying to make up her mind what she wants to do next. She as been studying with Edna for over a year, is about to turn 21, and has just another year or so to go in her apprenticeship. Jason is studying and working with a local P.I. hoping to be able to take the test to become a licensed investigator sometime in the next couple of years. Verity thinks she would like to return to the Bay area to resume her studies with Alastair, but hates the thought of being so far away from Jason.
In the meantime, Alastair has stumbled into a TV appearance on a paranormal reality show called "The Other Side." It isn't something he really wants to do. Edwina had been scheduled to be the sole consultant from their university until the producer met Alastair, and feels very resentful that she will be taking a lesser role to accommodate involving him in the episode. But the Occult Studies department stands to get a very generous donation from the owner of the house which will be featured, he really has no choice but to accept. The shoot for the show will take place in an abandoned gold rush town which is rumored to be under a curse that has twice caused the town to become a "ghost town."
And while Alastair is doing that, Verity is going to Las Vegas with Jason, to help with a case of a man who was supposed to be in one place for a business event, but ends up dead 300 miles away in Vegas. His family wants some answers and Jason wants a chance to prove to his boss that he can do the job. Once there they are once again involved in magical doings that are life-threatening, as they close in on a child sex trafficking ring. The elusive Trevor Harrison shows up briefly, and although he does not have an active role in the Jason/Verity adventure, his assistant, Mr. Nakamura, does. Another active player in that storyline is Mickey Toro, one of the last of the mob bosses in Vegas. The Forgotten play a small, but integral part in the story, as well.
Both story lines hold some humor, some introspection and, in the case of Jason and Verity, some personal growth, lots of danger, lots of action, and some sorrow.
I look forward the the 11th book in the series, due out in the Fall of 2017.
January 13, 2018
Excellent! Alastair & his co-worker, Edwina Mortensen are to act as consultants during the filming of a "supernatural hunter" type series, called the "Other Side". Edwina, who has never gotten along too well with Alastair, is resentful of him when the host of the TV series insist on using Alastair, though Alastair wants nothing to do with it. Unfortunately, a wealthy donar promised to donate a lot of money to the school, if Alastair participates.
Needless to say, the old mining town where the show is being filmed has a real live & deadly curse that has been reactivated. It is up to Alastair to stop it before anymore lives are lost. In doing so, he & Edwina resolved their differences & actually became friends.
There was a 2nd story line running parallel to this one, with Jason & Verity trying to solve a murder that lead them back to Las Vegas. However, what they thought was a simple, no-nonsense case, turned out to be rather complicated & a lot more deadly than originally thought. Starting with the murder victim, an evil black mage & his gang of coherts running a child prostitution ring, & with Jason & Verity teaming up with the mob to stop them. I'll end here to avoid "telling all".
Needless to say, the old mining town where the show is being filmed has a real live & deadly curse that has been reactivated. It is up to Alastair to stop it before anymore lives are lost. In doing so, he & Edwina resolved their differences & actually became friends.
There was a 2nd story line running parallel to this one, with Jason & Verity trying to solve a murder that lead them back to Las Vegas. However, what they thought was a simple, no-nonsense case, turned out to be rather complicated & a lot more deadly than originally thought. Starting with the murder victim, an evil black mage & his gang of coherts running a child prostitution ring, & with Jason & Verity teaming up with the mob to stop them. I'll end here to avoid "telling all".
June 30, 2017
The Best Story in the Alastair Stone Chronicles to date!!
What a ride! Splitting the storyline between Stone's adventure and Jason and Verity's case was sheer genius!
There are seriously sweet emotional moments, some very sad scenes, and a lot of dangerous magic thrown around.. Throw in a very old curse, a mystery that leads to Las Vegas, Mobsters, and a Paranormal Reality show, and you will just be getting a glimpse of what this book is about!
I highly recommend you get your copy today! But be sure you've read the rest of the series first, or you could get lost along the way...
What a ride! Splitting the storyline between Stone's adventure and Jason and Verity's case was sheer genius!
There are seriously sweet emotional moments, some very sad scenes, and a lot of dangerous magic thrown around.. Throw in a very old curse, a mystery that leads to Las Vegas, Mobsters, and a Paranormal Reality show, and you will just be getting a glimpse of what this book is about!
I highly recommend you get your copy today! But be sure you've read the rest of the series first, or you could get lost along the way...
August 15, 2019
A solid entry in the series
Verity & Jason really shine in partnership in their story and I have to admit, I'm glad to see Verity's growth as a character. I'd be perfectly ok with them as a novella. Stone's adventure with Edwina takes some intriguing twists and for once I don't think Stone is acting like a fool, so his growth is remarkable. Lots of good moments, kept me engaged throughout the book. Fans will be pleased and anyone new to the series will want to go back to the beginning to discover the origins of these characters.
Verity & Jason really shine in partnership in their story and I have to admit, I'm glad to see Verity's growth as a character. I'd be perfectly ok with them as a novella. Stone's adventure with Edwina takes some intriguing twists and for once I don't think Stone is acting like a fool, so his growth is remarkable. Lots of good moments, kept me engaged throughout the book. Fans will be pleased and anyone new to the series will want to go back to the beginning to discover the origins of these characters.
February 7, 2019
Interesting twist to this series
I have been reading this from the until this. All the books are fun enough to laugh at and cry with. I regard the author by how much my emotions are touched. This current book is advancing the characters into the separate individuals they are.
The only reason I have given this book 4 stars because the back and forth of the stories we're too abrupt for me.
That is a personal opinion of mine. In no way belittles this book.
I have been reading this from the until this. All the books are fun enough to laugh at and cry with. I regard the author by how much my emotions are touched. This current book is advancing the characters into the separate individuals they are.
The only reason I have given this book 4 stars because the back and forth of the stories we're too abrupt for me.
That is a personal opinion of mine. In no way belittles this book.
January 9, 2022
Disapppointing
I hope I can get a refund for this book. Gross and perverted info about child abuse. Why this author would write about something so evil makes me wonder where her head is at. I like this series because its UF not pornography. I hope she done writing about this garbage. Also did not like the two different stories as one. Did not make sense, they where not connected at all.
I hope I can get a refund for this book. Gross and perverted info about child abuse. Why this author would write about something so evil makes me wonder where her head is at. I like this series because its UF not pornography. I hope she done writing about this garbage. Also did not like the two different stories as one. Did not make sense, they where not connected at all.
July 1, 2017
Excellent well written story! You have two stories that connect together. Verity is the apprentice who turns twenty one and Al is the teacher and Jason, the brother. Celebrate the birthday and then the fun begins. The switching between to two story lines can be a bit discerning but it does carry well. A very enjoyable book which I recommend!
July 15, 2017
Wow!
Warning-dont start reading this book if you have other things to do. Sleep is overrated, get this book! I so love this series and this is the best yet, The characters are developing stronger personalities and relationships and the story was two stories in one. This is can be confusing but was handled beaytifully here!
Warning-dont start reading this book if you have other things to do. Sleep is overrated, get this book! I so love this series and this is the best yet, The characters are developing stronger personalities and relationships and the story was two stories in one. This is can be confusing but was handled beaytifully here!
October 9, 2017
Excellent
I feel like I give a lot of high reviews and others might think less of it. I think instead, I just read books by really awesome authors and the rest need to catch up. This one was fantastic with lots of feels in just the right moments and our main heros have a great moral compass. Killing bad guys and saving lives. Love it.
I feel like I give a lot of high reviews and others might think less of it. I think instead, I just read books by really awesome authors and the rest need to catch up. This one was fantastic with lots of feels in just the right moments and our main heros have a great moral compass. Killing bad guys and saving lives. Love it.
January 20, 2020
One of the best Alistair
This was this was one of the best Alistair Stone Adventures yet! A lot of excitement as usual but a different Twist on things and touching on subject matter quite different from anything before. More sad moments than typical. But all in all in excellent read.
This was this was one of the best Alistair Stone Adventures yet! A lot of excitement as usual but a different Twist on things and touching on subject matter quite different from anything before. More sad moments than typical. But all in all in excellent read.
August 2, 2022
Holy crap, she made me feel sorry for Edna.
Stone really had his humanity stretched in this one, adding depth and growth to his character. The parrallel story of Jason and Verity made it feel like I was getting two novels in one. Both with thrilling action and mystery culminating in epic showdowns.
Stone really had his humanity stretched in this one, adding depth and growth to his character. The parrallel story of Jason and Verity made it feel like I was getting two novels in one. Both with thrilling action and mystery culminating in epic showdowns.
May 9, 2023
Magic has a cost...
What I like most about this series is the "realism." By that, I mean the good guys pay a price when things go sideways, and the bad guys, while necessarily over the top sometimes, have believable motivations. And most importantly, nothing is EVER just black and white (as it were).
What I like most about this series is the "realism." By that, I mean the good guys pay a price when things go sideways, and the bad guys, while necessarily over the top sometimes, have believable motivations. And most importantly, nothing is EVER just black and white (as it were).
July 23, 2017
Another great book in the series.
I'm always happy when an author of a series cranks out a new tome. I love it when it's better than the the rest.
The character development and story are excellent.
I do t want to say any more...spoilers.
I'm always happy when an author of a series cranks out a new tome. I love it when it's better than the the rest.
The character development and story are excellent.
I do t want to say any more...spoilers.
July 28, 2017
Two Stories in one!
Excellent excellent addition to the Alastair Stone universe! Two equally compelling stories in one book. The characters have some much depth and draw the reader into two equally dark interesting stories!
Excellent excellent addition to the Alastair Stone universe! Two equally compelling stories in one book. The characters have some much depth and draw the reader into two equally dark interesting stories!
March 7, 2018
3.5 stars
I didn't enjoy this Stone book as well as the others. It felt like it took to long to get to the meat of the book. The last 15 chapters are great, but unfortunately, that's only the last third of the book. I still enjoy these books and the last parts were very enjoyable.
I didn't enjoy this Stone book as well as the others. It felt like it took to long to get to the meat of the book. The last 15 chapters are great, but unfortunately, that's only the last third of the book. I still enjoy these books and the last parts were very enjoyable.
August 27, 2018
2 stories in 1 book!
Alastair goes off one direction to battle a hair raising curse in an old mining / logging town. Jason, with Verity in tow, heads to Vegas to find who murdered a client’s husband, but they find much more! I so enjoyed this one.
Alastair goes off one direction to battle a hair raising curse in an old mining / logging town. Jason, with Verity in tow, heads to Vegas to find who murdered a client’s husband, but they find much more! I so enjoyed this one.
March 14, 2019
Two in one grrrrr
I skipped chapters to read Stones book all at once. When reading the last chapter glad I did. Scared of too many details. Love your writing though! LOL as you already know as I'm putting this on book 10!
I skipped chapters to read Stones book all at once. When reading the last chapter glad I did. Scared of too many details. Love your writing though! LOL as you already know as I'm putting this on book 10!
December 25, 2019
Enjoyed it, but...
RL is a great writer, so I enjoyed it. I didn't like the frequent POV changes. I get it, but they always bug me. Still, on to the next! Very happy to see Verity and Jason maturing.
RL is a great writer, so I enjoyed it. I didn't like the frequent POV changes. I get it, but they always bug me. Still, on to the next! Very happy to see Verity and Jason maturing.
October 12, 2020
Picked up the first four books of the series for something to read. Now I, on bool 10 and can’t seem to quit reading. Outstanding books that grab you for the beginning and once done make you get the next one in the series
July 14, 2017
I love this series
This series is fantastic. Stone is a great character and there is plenty of room to tell more about him and now Verity's stories.
This series is fantastic. Stone is a great character and there is plenty of room to tell more about him and now Verity's stories.
December 9, 2017
I can't believe the events in this book! Plenty of delicious anticipation.
January 14, 2018
The most exciting format I have ever read. Each chapter one of the two story lines with a cliffhanger! The tension throughout the whole book was awesome! A definite for your must read list!
May 23, 2018
I love the dual story lines. For me, a lover of the Harry Dresden Files, the Alastair Stones Chronicles is a satisfying alternative. I hope Ms. King continues this series for many more books to come!
March 12, 2021
A good read
Plenty of moral dilemmas mixed in with lots of action and lots of magic. People aren’t always what they seem to be, no one is all good or all bad, bit like real life.
Plenty of moral dilemmas mixed in with lots of action and lots of magic. People aren’t always what they seem to be, no one is all good or all bad, bit like real life.
April 26, 2022
I normally love this series but the split stories threw me off and made it hard to keep the continuity of the stories. I understand why it was done but still wasn’t a fan.
November 13, 2020
Enjoyed reading this story as much as I did all the others in this series
Read
November 17, 2017Excellent gripping read. A darn good adventure tale.
Brilliant take on the Urban Fantasy genre. Start at book on and read all books apart from 8 & 11 , both of which go back in his timeline to give background on the protagonist’s earlier magical learning days and first years after his apprenticeship ended. I’m reading those 2 very soon after reading the newly released Magician series by Feist.
Brilliant take on the Urban Fantasy genre. Start at book on and read all books apart from 8 & 11 , both of which go back in his timeline to give background on the protagonist’s earlier magical learning days and first years after his apprenticeship ended. I’m reading those 2 very soon after reading the newly released Magician series by Feist.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews