Stoneskin

Deep Witches #0.5

by K.B. Spangler

Three thousand years from now, galactic transportation relies on the sentient energy field known as the Deep. Its immortal human emissaries call themselves Witches, and they control how the Deep is used. When eight-year-old Tembi Moon wakes on an unfamiliar world, she knows the Deep has to be involved, but to leave her home planet and become a Witch herself? No, that life isn’t for her.


Or so she thought.


At sixteen, Tembi takes her rightful place with the other Witches. They believe the Deep is a tool; Tembi knows it’s a person with its own hopes and dreams, and a wicked sense of humor! With a war coming that could cost the lives of millions, Tembi has to find a way to convince the Witches that the Deep wants them to join the fight.


Because something worse than war is coming, and the Deep needs its Witches to be ready.


STONESKIN is a prequel to the DEEP WITCH TRILOGY, coming soon.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Book Club, Space, Magic

226 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 20, 2017

About the author

K.B. Spangler lives in North Carolina with her husband and two completely awful dogs. They live in the decaying house of a dead poet. She is the author and artist of the webcomic, "A Girl and Her Fed," and author of novels and short stories. All projects include themes of privacy, politics, technology, civil liberties, the human experience, and how the lines between these blur like the dickens.

If you enjoy mysteries, you want to read the RACHEL PENG books.

If you enjoy fantasy adventures, thrillers, and necromancers with ADHD, you want to read the HOPE BLACKWELL books.

If you enjoy sexy romances with sexy people who solve unsexy crimes, you want to read the JOSH GLASSMAN books.

And if you enjoy coming-of-age stories with intergalactic intelligences, you want to read STONESKIN.

Reviews

[Simon Wigzell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most critical thing I could say against this book is that it is so obviously the start of a longer & bigger story: It sets up the world and its rules, and it presents us with what I'm sure will be major characters going forward (Tembi & the Deep). Be prepared when reading that this is a coming-of-age story where our main character, Tembi Stoneskin, one day finds out that she is going to become a witch, i.e. not a magical person but a person who can communicate with the Deep, a being who is extended across our galaxy, beneath the normal physical world, and which can do almost anything, such as transporting goods between planets in an instant. She is unusually young when discovering this, and the book deals with her growing up and coming into her powers, slowly. So yeah, maybe a bit magical, even though it is written as scientific ;-)

Anyhow, it's a very entertaining read, written in a straight-forward way. I like the characters, they all have some depth, and so far there aren't any simple bad/good guys, it's more complicated than that. But most of all I like the world building, with a galaxy populated by differently evolved humans, and everything being dependent on the Deep, this alien being that seems to like humans but not really understanding them. The solving of the Deep's intentions and how they impact the humans is what I expect will power the next books, and I look forward to them; I'm planning to start with The Blackwing War ASAP!

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Earlier this year, through a recommendation tweet from Seanan McGuire, I discovered Ms. Spangler’s Rachel Peng novels (the first, Digital Divide, is $1.99 on Kindle right now!) and her webcomic, A Girl and Her Fed. Everything of hers that I’ve read, I’ve loved. The comic and the Rachel novels are political sci-fi thrillers. Rachel herself is a blind, Asian, cyborg, lesbian detective. She’s badass and awesome! These novels are timely and fun and fabulous! I’m pretty sure I’m totally in love with a few of Ms. Spangler’s characters (JOSH! MAKO!); they are that well written (and drawn in the comic). I feel like they’re right here next to me.

With all that said about Ms. Spangler’s other stuff, I don’t really know where to start with this review. Stoneskin is not in the Rachel, AGaHF universe. It’s something completely new and I loved it! Let’s start with this cover: WOW! Look at the pretty! I was a little wary of jumping into this since it is a prequel or introduction book to a future trilogy in this universe. I should not have worried.

Stoneskin is the coming of age of Tembi, at the start a little girl in a poor neighborhood on a poor planet. Tembi, like most people in this novel is a “bioformed” human. This is a fascinating concept, related to terraforming but instead of changing the planet, they changed the humans going there. Tembi’s people have long ears and skin that gets progressively harder in reaction to stresses. She’s tapped to be a witch at an early age and is protected by her teacher, Matindi, until she must go away to Lancaster, the wealthy witches’ school. The witches in this case can speak to and slightly control The Deep – a sentient force which can move things around the galaxy instantaneously. (Difficult to explain – read the book and it will make perfect sense!) The Deep is another character in Stoneskin and by far the most fascinating.

Stoneskin was truly unlike anything I’ve read in a long time, if ever. Its characters are charming and the world building is effortless and unobtrusive. The main conflict is timely and feels natural in the novel and not forced upon the characters. It’s really well done in that regard. If this is just the prequel, I cannot wait for the actual trilogy, the story of which Stoneskin just grazes the surface.

Check out K.B. Spangler’s webcomic, A Girl and Her Fed: www.agirlandherfed.com, Rachel Peng Novels: www.goodreads.com/series/101981-rache...



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I don't know how to tell you all just how much I loved this book! Tembi is now one of my favorite YA heroines and this whole world is just so fresh and so different. I can't wait for the rest of the series.

Full review to come!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good

Detailed world building presented skillfully and very interesting characters. I look forward to more in this narrative with much excitement

[Jeff Frane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The "Deep Witches" title on the series is, I think, a misdirection. This isn't Fantasy, although maybe the old term Science Fantasy might apply but it's actually an interesting and highly creative Science Fiction (Space Opera?). I'm a little concerned that the series title will drive away potential readers that would find it highly entertaining and if people don't buy the first book (or books) in a series the publisher is unlikely to carry through and publish the rest. I've already bought The Blackwing War and am willing to commit to K. B. Spangler's work; I just hope others do as well. I need to keep better notes about what prompted me to pick up unfamiliar writers, but I do believe I read about it on Bluesky and that the recommendations came down from Seanen McGuire, for what that's worth.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the far future, "witches" perform great feats of teleportation through their telepathic connection to a powerful alien force. An ugly war is starting, and rumor hints at the presence of a second, much eviler, alien force. But this book isn't about that. This book is mostly about the witches' internal disagreements about whether to intervene in the war.

This was good. I think I would have liked it better if it had ended with more of a conclusion and less of a "buy the next three books (which aren't out yet) to see what happens".

[Mike W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpectedly good

I’ve read Ms Spangler’s “A Girl and Her Fed” for years, and enjoy it. I purchased this book on a whim, when KB announced it, as a means of supporting her. I expected a fair story.

What I got was a GREAT story. I was quickly sucked into the unique world of Tembi and the Deep. I really enjoy books with excellent world building, great, believable characters, and villains that aren’t cardboard cutouts. KB delivered all of this in a terrific, believable story.

I’m hooked, and will now be anxiously awaiting the next books in the series, and will definitely try her Rachel Peng novels set in the “A Girl and Her Fed” universe.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. It posits a society where a sentient energy (the Deep) has decided that humans are pretty ok, and if it can help them move through various things and people through space pretty much instantaneously, it would be happy to do that.

The people who "control" the Deep are the Witches. It takes many years of training to get to even a tiny little level of "control," because the Deep is a bit capricious and doesn't really speak in words or understand words.

A certain amount of lore has built up among the Witches about the best ways to approach the Deep, but there's disagreement about that. Is the deep just a sentient energy field, or is it more like a big friendly dog that just wants to help without really understanding what's going on? Is it a tool, or is it a friend?

And it's possible that if the Witches consider changes in their relationship to the Deep , they might end up threatening the supply chains that keep dispersed humanity alive among the stars. That's not even counting changes brought about by wars.
This book is solidly on the bridge between fantasy and sf. There's a school for Witches, a plucky heroine and her plucky friends, and a way of transporting oneself instantly across the galaxy. There are also nanobots and Medkits that heal broken skulls in moments and FTL travel. But the FTL travel is still too slow to supply humanity-as-it-is.

Not sure that I'll read the sequels, but I might. I just have some other books I want to get through first.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

My book club’s choice ;)

Only a few pages in, I thought: “Right, this is going to be a NICE book, YA sci-fi novel that knows exactly what it’s doing. Yay!”

The book drops you in the middle of the action right away, so the worldbuilding feels quick and effortless. For a reader, it’s like putting on a pair of well-worn slippers. I still have quite a few questions, but I hope they will be answered in the next book – because I’ll definitely read it.

Tembi, the main character, is cool, inquisitive, eager, badass, has anger management issues and keeps her head (mostly) cool in a crisis. I adored her. Coming of age stories and plots where someone with special abilities goes to a very special school have been told countless times before. Telling such a story yet again, without making the reader yawn and cringe, is impressive.

I really enjoyed the idea of Deep, the alien intelligence, and its efforts to communicate and build relationships with Tembi and other Witches.

The second half of the book gets darker and darker – there is war and genocide, complicity through inaction, difficult choices.

And wait, supply chains? A sci-fi book that takes supply chains seriously? Give me more, please.

[Ozsaur · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the idea of a being that fills the vastness of space. It's a creature that's friendly to humans, and has helped them colonize the galaxy. In the distant future, this creature, the Deep, chooses a young girl to be a witch - a person that can work with the Deep to move spaceships through space.

This is a coming of age story about Tembi Moon, the youngest person ever chosen by the Deep. Why her? And why so young? The answers were intriguing enough that I'll probably continue with the series.

There was a lot to enjoy here, especially the world building. The Deep was pretty cool. Also, the culture of the witches was interesting, and many of the settings were well done. The outbreak of war was well drawn. I liked most of the characters.

So why didn't I rate this higher? I don't know! There were places where the story just didn't grip me when it should have. And my connection to Tembi was uneven. At times I liked her, and at other times, I didn't care. It was very frustrating. I think the problem was that at critical moments, I had no idea what she was feeling.

Still, I want to continue with this series.

[Japunkt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this a lot! This is a pretty interesting universe, where
- humanity has settled a lot of planets by a combination of terraforming and genetic modification
- faster than light travel is possible, thanks to an entity known as the Deep
- FTL is controlled by the Deep and its intermediaries, witches

This is a coming of age story. Tembi is chosen by the Deep to be a witch, and has to learn the ins and outs of working with the Deep, while learning to navigate witch society.

I’ve already bought the sequel (book 1 of the Deep Witches trilogy) and look forward to reading it sometime soon.

[Karoline · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO GOOD

So good and interesting and DIFFERENT. I tried describing it to my mom and sister over dinner and the only words that came out of my mouth that felt coherent were that this is one of those stories that neatly straddles the line between SF & fantasy. Its a neat story starring fun characters - and the story is also about ethics and philosophy and obligations to a greater society and politics. It's both broad and personal and so so so so good. Just go read it. :)

[Jennine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tore through this one on a sick day, and it was perfect for the purpose - not overly demanding, but very interesting. The plot rolls along at a brisk, but not breakneck, clip and the characters are richly drawn and have believable relationships with emotional depth. There’s intrigue, a truly alien intelligence at work, and a library I hope to see more of in future books. This is a promising start to a series I look forward to reading.

[Eileen Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speculative fiction is always at its best when it lets us examine something familiar in a new way, and Stoneskin does that, both with supply chains and with the idea of 'Earth-normal' genomes. Tembi is an engaging protagonist, and I can't wait to read the Deep Witches Trilogy.

Stoneskin definitely inhabits the specific narrative space of a prequel, with an ending that winds up rather than down, but is a satisfying read on its own, with the trilogy still somewhere on the horizon.

[Samanda]

Tembi Stoneskin Is A Witch…

… and that's a secret. Witches are trained on Lancaster; Tembi doesn't want to go there – nor does Matinbi, the green skinned Witch found by Tembi on one of the 8-years-old's travels want Tembi in Lancaster. But when her teacher – Matinbi, who's sneaked into Tembi's life – decided to take Tembi's whole class to a spaceport on a field trip … they're betrayed in the wost way by the Deep – the sapient energy being who just wants a friend.…

[Vanyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I almost didn't read this before Black Wing War, but I am really glad I did. Normally I find prequels to be relatively uninteresting, especially if they are written after a main series. This one was totally worth the read, a fully fledged, well plotted story. More like the first novel in a series. I highly recommend starting with it.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant.

Showing not telling, an effortlessly (and I know how much effort that takes on the author's part) diverse and gender equal universe which still recognises differences, people and nonhuman person and relationships to care about and invest in, a credible but not predictable plot, beautiful but straightforward language.

I loved it.

[Penn Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like Spangler's other novels this is more of the same. And by the same I mean engaging characters, well plotted and sensible actions taken by all parties, and an interesting world. This just happens to be even more speculative then her other works.

[Debby Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time I've encountered the possibilities of deliberate bioforming, rather than just as a by-result. The Deep is confusingly adorable and am looking forward to more.

Spangler doesn't disappoint.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this, and am looking forward to the sequels. I really enjoyed Tembi and her relationship with the Deep, as well as the entire premise of a sentient, playful energy being the backbone of a galaxy-spanning sci-fi civilization.

[Federico Bergstein · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF, I can't seem to find an interesting conflict in this narrative, may be a case of "prequelitis", assuming one will be interested in the characters from the original book?.
May try the sequel to the prequel someday.

[Kisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a bit of a prequel to Blackwing War, and I would definitely recommend reading it before. It sets up the world and how things work and introduces the main characters, so that when you read the next one those things flow easily. Very interesting world setting, highly recommend!

[Jennifer McGuire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

An excellent prequel for the series, explaining a lot of the background and Tembi’s (and other’s) backstories. I’ve read the first one in the series, will be getting the rest soon.

[Gene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a prequel and I read it first. I'm not sure until I read the next (previous?) one if that was a good idea or not. I liked this story and found it very intriguing. The idea of a sentient energy field is very interesting even if the book makes it seem almost like a god.

[Neeuqdrazil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, and I'm looking forward to reading the full trilogy.

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good YA fiction and what looks like a good setup for the rest of the books in the series.

I want to know more about the world and the characters.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read, complex, interesting worldbuilding. I think I may like the books to come better, simply because I've read too much YA lately.

[KellySV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait for the next ones!

[Anne V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creative romp

Fast paced fun prequel, and book one is finally out and waiting. If it’s anything like this, it’ll be a glorious read, and well worth the wait.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow

[Craig Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars