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Truthseer Archives #1
TruthStone
One little lie won’t hurt, will it?
When fifteen year old Shaeleen unexpectedly is given a TruthStone, every lie she hears or tells causes her immense physical pain. As she struggles to control her new power and curb the pain, she learns a powerful truth that could thrust an entire continent into civil war. She must choose: reveal the truth and stop the pain – or sacrifice her own well-being to protect her kingdom.
For two hundred years the five kingdoms of Wayland have been protected by the stones of power. Now those stones are failing and a darker power is trying to take control. With the help of her brother, Cole and a newfound friend, Orin, Shaeleen sets out to gather and restore the power of all the stones.
But will she succeed before the endless lies destroy her?
When fifteen year old Shaeleen unexpectedly is given a TruthStone, every lie she hears or tells causes her immense physical pain. As she struggles to control her new power and curb the pain, she learns a powerful truth that could thrust an entire continent into civil war. She must choose: reveal the truth and stop the pain – or sacrifice her own well-being to protect her kingdom.
For two hundred years the five kingdoms of Wayland have been protected by the stones of power. Now those stones are failing and a darker power is trying to take control. With the help of her brother, Cole and a newfound friend, Orin, Shaeleen sets out to gather and restore the power of all the stones.
But will she succeed before the endless lies destroy her?
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2018
107 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
About the author
Mike Shelton
24 books189 followersMike was born in California and has lived in multiple states from the west coast to the east coast. He cannot remember a time when he wasn't reading a book. At school, home, on vacation, at work at lunch time, and yes even a few pages in the car (at times when he just couldn't put that great book down). Though he has read all sorts of genres he has always been drawn to fantasy. It is his way of escaping to a simpler time filled with magic, wonders and heroics of young men and women.
Other than reading, Mike has always enjoyed the outdoors. From the beaches in Southern California to the warm waters of North Carolina. From the waterfalls in the Northwest to the Rocky Mountains in Utah. Mike has appreciated the beauty that God provides for us. He also enjoys hiking, discovering nature, playing a little basketball or volleyball, and most recently disc golf. He has a lovely wife who has always supported him, and three beautiful children who have been the center of his life.
Mike began writing stories in elementary school and moved on to larger novels in his early adult years. He has worked in corporate finance for most of his career. That, along with spending time with his wonderful family and obligations at church has made it difficult to find the time to truly dedicate to writing. In the last few years as his children have become older he has returned to doing what he truly enjoys - writing!
Other than reading, Mike has always enjoyed the outdoors. From the beaches in Southern California to the warm waters of North Carolina. From the waterfalls in the Northwest to the Rocky Mountains in Utah. Mike has appreciated the beauty that God provides for us. He also enjoys hiking, discovering nature, playing a little basketball or volleyball, and most recently disc golf. He has a lovely wife who has always supported him, and three beautiful children who have been the center of his life.
Mike began writing stories in elementary school and moved on to larger novels in his early adult years. He has worked in corporate finance for most of his career. That, along with spending time with his wonderful family and obligations at church has made it difficult to find the time to truly dedicate to writing. In the last few years as his children have become older he has returned to doing what he truly enjoys - writing!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 1, 2018
The stones are an interesting idea and I'm very curious to see how this story continues. I did think that Shaeleen matured very quickly, Even with all the hints I didn't see the twist until very shortly before it was revealed , but once it was so many things made sense. I hope to read the next book soon.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.
June 24, 2018
Disclaimer: I received a review copy from YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
A fast-paced story that will keep you entertained until the end.
Shae can come as rude sometimes, especially when she's in front of the high ranking royalties and noble folks. It makes me cringe as much as it does her brother. But it's also probably because of the power bestowed upon her.
She doesn’t follow anyone but herself. I actually quite like that. Lol
Shae casually addresses the princes and even the Queen of Galena just by their names alone. I find cringey at first, but I later found it funny. Haha 😂
What a great introduction to Mike Shelton. I’ll definitely get more of his books. It was a good choice to request for a review copy of TruthStone.
Read my full review HERE
A fast-paced story that will keep you entertained until the end.
Shae can come as rude sometimes, especially when she's in front of the high ranking royalties and noble folks. It makes me cringe as much as it does her brother. But it's also probably because of the power bestowed upon her.
She doesn’t follow anyone but herself. I actually quite like that. Lol
Shae casually addresses the princes and even the Queen of Galena just by their names alone. I find cringey at first, but I later found it funny. Haha 😂
What a great introduction to Mike Shelton. I’ll definitely get more of his books. It was a good choice to request for a review copy of TruthStone.
Read my full review HERE
April 25, 2021
Summary: Yes, enjoyed this book, the characters are a bit lightweight but endearing, the story moves along at a good pace, the premise is interesting and is the main theme holding everything together. Light weight but recommended
Plotline: Coming of age centered on the premise
Premise: Much more to learn, next book needed
Writing: light well paced
Ending: Isn't a proper ending just needs the next book to continue
Pace: Never a dull moment!
Plotline: Coming of age centered on the premise
Premise: Much more to learn, next book needed
Writing: light well paced
Ending: Isn't a proper ending just needs the next book to continue
Pace: Never a dull moment!
April 20, 2018
First of all, thanks a lot to Ya Bound Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Truthstone is a lovely fantasy, and I was totally hooked from the beginning to the end.
Do you know the feel when a really good book changes the way you look at the world?
That’s what happened to me with Truthstone. I spend the days when I was reading it thinking about “what I will do if I had a truthstone?” “What if everyone arounds me are telling me lies?”
Maybe the story doesn’t seems so original, right? But in this case is written so good. There are all the descriptions of the surroundings, of the dresses and the characters; their emotions are well descripted, as well the differences between the class.
Shaeleen is a good main character: at the beginning she’s not sincere, but with the help of the truthstone, of her brother Cole and her friends, she grow up to a beautiful and honest woman.
The magic of the stones, the history and the geography of the different countries are well written, interesting and without plot holes. I appreciate it.
I really can’t find something that it’s wrong with this book: the writing style is good without long boring description; it’s not so difficult to read for me (english isn’t my first language); I love the characters and the world, and I think that the cover is lovely too.
There’s no violence or curse words in this book, so I recommend it to young readers too. There’s a sequel too, called Truthspell, and I can wait to read it!
Truthstone is a lovely fantasy, and I was totally hooked from the beginning to the end.
Do you know the feel when a really good book changes the way you look at the world?
That’s what happened to me with Truthstone. I spend the days when I was reading it thinking about “what I will do if I had a truthstone?” “What if everyone arounds me are telling me lies?”
Maybe the story doesn’t seems so original, right? But in this case is written so good. There are all the descriptions of the surroundings, of the dresses and the characters; their emotions are well descripted, as well the differences between the class.
Shaeleen is a good main character: at the beginning she’s not sincere, but with the help of the truthstone, of her brother Cole and her friends, she grow up to a beautiful and honest woman.
The magic of the stones, the history and the geography of the different countries are well written, interesting and without plot holes. I appreciate it.
I really can’t find something that it’s wrong with this book: the writing style is good without long boring description; it’s not so difficult to read for me (english isn’t my first language); I love the characters and the world, and I think that the cover is lovely too.
There’s no violence or curse words in this book, so I recommend it to young readers too. There’s a sequel too, called Truthspell, and I can wait to read it!
July 23, 2018
There's a saying that goes "the truth will set you free" and, with the pain that the TruthStone inflicts upon detecting a lie, I believe the saying could be taken quite literally in this case. (Upon checking Goodreads after writing this review and have counted four other people referencing the same saying – oh, how original am I).
Perhaps the thing that I found most interesting in TruthStone was the fact that the Stone does not inflict pain when only Shae lies – it inflicts pain upon her once ANYONE lies. It's an interesting plot point, yes, but I feel like it could also be a sort of... metaphor for life. Sure, we may not have TruthStones that let us know when we're being lied to, but once we find out about the lie, it hurts. Imagine knowing that everyone around you is lying and not being able to say anything about it!
I do think the very first chapter or two, when Shae first receives the TruthStone, are a little too fast-paced and a bit overwhelming, but after that it's relatively easy to sink into the plot and the pace. I'm not a huge fantasy reader, and part of my problem with the genre is that, sometimes, it's really hard for me to sink into the world that the author tries to construct. However, I think both the world and the voice in TruthStone were pretty great – they matched the fantasy theme, but were easy to follow, and Shae read like an average teenage girl. Of course, most teenage girls don't end up with TruthStones in their pockets that send them on the quest of the lifetime (I never did), but Shae is quite relatable as a character and, for once, exhibits a wide range of emotions like an average fifteen/sixteen year old girl. A few reviews I read said that Shae seemed a little too snarky towards authority, adults, etc., but I think that actually makes her a more believable character – what teenager doesn't express some attitude at some point? Especially when she's forced to carry around something as important (and potentially crippling) as a TruthStone. I mean... sheesh.
Two other important characters were Cole - Shae's brother - and Orion, and, while I would love to talk about them both, I'm going to focus more on Cole here. Overall, I think he was a fine character, but there was something that kind of bothered me. Maybe I'm just oblivious, or overlooked it in the writing, I dunno, but I think it's worth mentioning.
After Shae receives the TruthStone, Cole is said to be her 'wizard guardian.' But there was a point in the plot where he disappears for awhile, and then just randomly shows up again, and... I dunno. I feel like the whole 'wizard guardian' thing wasn't explained all that well? Or, again, maybe I'm just oblivious. TruthStone is the first in a series so of course there's room in other books for explanation, too. I dunno. Just thought I'd mention it!
Overall, this is a book with a relatable main character and great world-building, and even a great underlying meaning about honesty, if you will. I would strongly recommend to any fantasy reader! (And, may I add, I love how book one ends and paves the way for book two!)
Perhaps the thing that I found most interesting in TruthStone was the fact that the Stone does not inflict pain when only Shae lies – it inflicts pain upon her once ANYONE lies. It's an interesting plot point, yes, but I feel like it could also be a sort of... metaphor for life. Sure, we may not have TruthStones that let us know when we're being lied to, but once we find out about the lie, it hurts. Imagine knowing that everyone around you is lying and not being able to say anything about it!
I do think the very first chapter or two, when Shae first receives the TruthStone, are a little too fast-paced and a bit overwhelming, but after that it's relatively easy to sink into the plot and the pace. I'm not a huge fantasy reader, and part of my problem with the genre is that, sometimes, it's really hard for me to sink into the world that the author tries to construct. However, I think both the world and the voice in TruthStone were pretty great – they matched the fantasy theme, but were easy to follow, and Shae read like an average teenage girl. Of course, most teenage girls don't end up with TruthStones in their pockets that send them on the quest of the lifetime (I never did), but Shae is quite relatable as a character and, for once, exhibits a wide range of emotions like an average fifteen/sixteen year old girl. A few reviews I read said that Shae seemed a little too snarky towards authority, adults, etc., but I think that actually makes her a more believable character – what teenager doesn't express some attitude at some point? Especially when she's forced to carry around something as important (and potentially crippling) as a TruthStone. I mean... sheesh.
Two other important characters were Cole - Shae's brother - and Orion, and, while I would love to talk about them both, I'm going to focus more on Cole here. Overall, I think he was a fine character, but there was something that kind of bothered me. Maybe I'm just oblivious, or overlooked it in the writing, I dunno, but I think it's worth mentioning.
After Shae receives the TruthStone, Cole is said to be her 'wizard guardian.' But there was a point in the plot where he disappears for awhile, and then just randomly shows up again, and... I dunno. I feel like the whole 'wizard guardian' thing wasn't explained all that well? Or, again, maybe I'm just oblivious. TruthStone is the first in a series so of course there's room in other books for explanation, too. I dunno. Just thought I'd mention it!
Overall, this is a book with a relatable main character and great world-building, and even a great underlying meaning about honesty, if you will. I would strongly recommend to any fantasy reader! (And, may I add, I love how book one ends and paves the way for book two!)
July 28, 2018
Shaeleen is given a TruthStone by a strange woman, and now every lie she hears or tells gives her pain. The pain ranges depending on the intensity of the lie, and Shaeleen has to learn to control it so that she isn't found out. Even separating herself from the stone doesn't do anything to alleviate her pain.
When she starts to almost faint every time she hears about how Prince Basil is going to be king, she realizes that her entire kingdom could be based on a lie. She wants to reveal the truth to stop her pain, but this could send the entire continent of Wayland into war. The kingdoms have been protected by the stones, but after pieces were given away over the years, the stones have begun to fail. Shaeleen, Cole, and Orin must gather all the stones and return them to their full power.
I think my favorite part of this story was how smooth the storyline was! There were no random time-skips, and each character was so unique that it was easy to tell them apart. I found myself flying through the pages until I reached the end of the novel.
I came into the story thinking that it was going to be a heavy YA fantasy novel, but honestly, the plot wasn't that dark. The pain was a focus, but it wasn't the main focus that would bother me until my skin crawled. In fact, nothing was too gory that it would make a middle-grade reader scared or uncomfortable. This would be a good intro to heavier fantasy novels for them.
The only complaint I had was that some parts of the book did seem to be a bit childish at times. When Cole got his powers, his swearing of allegiance to Shaeleen seemed to be a little cringy to me. This didn't bother me too much though and I overlooked most of these little parts because the main storyline was so engaging.
The character development was also intense. The stones made the characters have times where they acted their age, and then have times where they acted with wisdom far beyond their years. This was especially obvious for Orin, whose character could have been around the age of 9-12 years old. It really allowed readers to understand how powerful the stones were without saying "Wow these super powerful stones are really strong!"
I didn't see any editing errors as I was reading through this novel.
My overall experience with this novel was positive. I was super excited by the time I got to the end of the novel, and then it said continued in book 2! Luckily, I have Kindle Unlimited so I will try to read the other 2 books in the trilogy before the summer is over.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a new young YA/older middle-grade fantasy novel with a strong female main character and her team.
I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5 stars
When she starts to almost faint every time she hears about how Prince Basil is going to be king, she realizes that her entire kingdom could be based on a lie. She wants to reveal the truth to stop her pain, but this could send the entire continent of Wayland into war. The kingdoms have been protected by the stones, but after pieces were given away over the years, the stones have begun to fail. Shaeleen, Cole, and Orin must gather all the stones and return them to their full power.
I think my favorite part of this story was how smooth the storyline was! There were no random time-skips, and each character was so unique that it was easy to tell them apart. I found myself flying through the pages until I reached the end of the novel.
I came into the story thinking that it was going to be a heavy YA fantasy novel, but honestly, the plot wasn't that dark. The pain was a focus, but it wasn't the main focus that would bother me until my skin crawled. In fact, nothing was too gory that it would make a middle-grade reader scared or uncomfortable. This would be a good intro to heavier fantasy novels for them.
The only complaint I had was that some parts of the book did seem to be a bit childish at times. When Cole got his powers, his swearing of allegiance to Shaeleen seemed to be a little cringy to me. This didn't bother me too much though and I overlooked most of these little parts because the main storyline was so engaging.
The character development was also intense. The stones made the characters have times where they acted their age, and then have times where they acted with wisdom far beyond their years. This was especially obvious for Orin, whose character could have been around the age of 9-12 years old. It really allowed readers to understand how powerful the stones were without saying "Wow these super powerful stones are really strong!"
I didn't see any editing errors as I was reading through this novel.
My overall experience with this novel was positive. I was super excited by the time I got to the end of the novel, and then it said continued in book 2! Luckily, I have Kindle Unlimited so I will try to read the other 2 books in the trilogy before the summer is over.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a new young YA/older middle-grade fantasy novel with a strong female main character and her team.
I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5 stars
April 18, 2018
"The truth will set you free", in this case free of pain. Shaeleen has been chosen to be a Truthseer, the one to reunite the stones and restore the kingdom's glory. Every lie from anybody, including herself, cause her pain; the bigger the lie, the worse the pain. Shea, her brother (also her wizard and protector), and Orin find themselves in the middle of two princes, each determinded to sit the throne.
Well written, with a great plot and characters. Looking forward to book 2!
Well written, with a great plot and characters. Looking forward to book 2!
August 13, 2020
I really enjoyed this well paced novel. Shaeleen is a very loveable character as she works to understand her new abilities. I love the interaction she has we her brother Cole and Orin who is a quick friend to Shaeleen. The twists in the book has me hooked and I look forward to book 2.
February 15, 2018
Little lies, big lies - we are all guilty at some point of telling a lie. We lie for a variety of reasons, to hide mistakes and to hide the truth from someone who we worry it might hurt. Most of the time people have good intentions but other times, people lie to hurt and cause pain.
In TruthStone, Shaeleen, a young woman who is unique and confident young woman, is given a special gift by a strange woman. A TruthStone. This TruthStone, while giving her the ability to decipher the truth from the lies, also causes her great pain. She receives physical pain from lies - from weak pain to a high degree of excruciating pain. I loved how she was displayed as a normal down to earth character - she understands that lying is wrong but sometimes a necessary evil to do what is right. She is conflicted on the inside on what is right and wrong but uses her heart and common sense to make decisions.
With the TruthStone, she has been entrusted with a very important mission. We only find out the great extent to what she has been tasked to as she sets off on a crucial mission from the Prince with a huge plot development! Along her fantastic journey she meets key characters that will help her on her way as well as realizing her own strength and abilities.
This was a well written, exciting novel that I could not put down. Young adults and adults a like can enjoy the adventure and risk that Shaeleen takes on. This was an excellent start to a new series from Mike Shelton.
February 19, 2018
A wonderful book by Mr. SHELTON! liked the characters and original plot,wanted more story at the end,and just found out he has released a second book in this series..Book number two,here I come! A pleasing read.
February 15, 2018
Overall rating: 5
The tale has everything I would desire in an epic YA tale! Characters that engage you immediately, facing challenges that even we as readers are not sure how they will overcome. Love the world that this storyline exists in with magical stones and power endowments. Trying to define who is right is still a blurred picture. This book is the start of a journey that I look forward to following.
The tale has everything I would desire in an epic YA tale! Characters that engage you immediately, facing challenges that even we as readers are not sure how they will overcome. Love the world that this storyline exists in with magical stones and power endowments. Trying to define who is right is still a blurred picture. This book is the start of a journey that I look forward to following.
February 15, 2018
Truth does not set you free
Lies do hurts and truth does not necessarily set one free. True to his writing, Shelton's stories keep moving wondering where the plot is heading as it thickens. Even though I had received a free advanced copy, I also chose to purchase a copy giving how much I enjoyed the saga and can not wait to read the next book.
Lies do hurts and truth does not necessarily set one free. True to his writing, Shelton's stories keep moving wondering where the plot is heading as it thickens. Even though I had received a free advanced copy, I also chose to purchase a copy giving how much I enjoyed the saga and can not wait to read the next book.
February 15, 2018
This is a great book. I really liked it. It has all the elements that is supposed to be a super fantasy. The characters speak to you and you can feel the pain that the heroin feels. I can't wait for the next book. I highly recommend it to all ages.
July 16, 2021
TruthStone is a solid if a tad too predictable young adult fantasy. I suspect it would work well for the 12+ age range as it’s a good introduction into adult fantasy; it’s got some heavier themes, but never delves too deeply, it’s got no explicit romance, violence or swearing, and the main character and her rogue like young companion are well drawn and relatable. I suspect I’m ageing out of the intended audience, so take my opinion with a pinch of salt perhaps!
I quite liked the central premise of the novel; Shaeleen is given a stone and finds her entire world turned around when it turns out to be one of the few TruthStones in existence. Along with now feeling every lie she hears or tells as physical pain, she is given a task. Somehow this stroppy teenage girl with a questionable relationship with honesty is meant to find and join all these stones of power together. In the process she comes across lies at the very heart of their society that could shatter the peace they hold dear.
The world building was interesting, but personally a little underdeveloped and wishy washy. Again, I suspect this would work better for a younger audience who aren’t quite as keen to understand how and why the magic system works. The history behind the Stones is very broadly drawn and I have no real idea how they work. For instance this TruthStone can tell when something is a lie… even if the person speaking truly believes it to be the truth. How? This was never explored and it felt very black and white to me. It would have been more interesting if the stone was attuned to what the speaker actually knows and believes, rather than having some omniscient ability to know what is true and false
I did like the characters, particularly Shaeleen, her young companion Orin and Prince Basil. Shaeleen is a strong yet imperfect lead with a steep learning curve ahead of her. Orin is just an entertaining addition and it was interesting seeing how his powers complemented and helped Shaeleen. Where the characterisations fell down were in some of the side characters. For example Shaeleen’s brother, Cole, is very two dimensional and simply portrayed. His rigid understanding of morality doesn’t allow for any flexibility and his role as Shaeleen’s wizard isn’t really explored… in fact he’s not present for much of the novel.
All in all, this is a quick and engaging read, if a little simplistic and predictable. It’s got an interesting premise and the beginnings of a fascinating world, but as an adult reader it felt rather thin, with a lot left unexplored. I would definitely recommend this to younger readers; it’s a clean read, well paced and interesting. For me, I wanted a little more meat on the bones of the world building but I’m rounding up to four stars as I don’t think I’m the intended age audience for the novel.
I quite liked the central premise of the novel; Shaeleen is given a stone and finds her entire world turned around when it turns out to be one of the few TruthStones in existence. Along with now feeling every lie she hears or tells as physical pain, she is given a task. Somehow this stroppy teenage girl with a questionable relationship with honesty is meant to find and join all these stones of power together. In the process she comes across lies at the very heart of their society that could shatter the peace they hold dear.
The world building was interesting, but personally a little underdeveloped and wishy washy. Again, I suspect this would work better for a younger audience who aren’t quite as keen to understand how and why the magic system works. The history behind the Stones is very broadly drawn and I have no real idea how they work. For instance this TruthStone can tell when something is a lie… even if the person speaking truly believes it to be the truth. How? This was never explored and it felt very black and white to me. It would have been more interesting if the stone was attuned to what the speaker actually knows and believes, rather than having some omniscient ability to know what is true and false
I did like the characters, particularly Shaeleen, her young companion Orin and Prince Basil. Shaeleen is a strong yet imperfect lead with a steep learning curve ahead of her. Orin is just an entertaining addition and it was interesting seeing how his powers complemented and helped Shaeleen. Where the characterisations fell down were in some of the side characters. For example Shaeleen’s brother, Cole, is very two dimensional and simply portrayed. His rigid understanding of morality doesn’t allow for any flexibility and his role as Shaeleen’s wizard isn’t really explored… in fact he’s not present for much of the novel.
All in all, this is a quick and engaging read, if a little simplistic and predictable. It’s got an interesting premise and the beginnings of a fascinating world, but as an adult reader it felt rather thin, with a lot left unexplored. I would definitely recommend this to younger readers; it’s a clean read, well paced and interesting. For me, I wanted a little more meat on the bones of the world building but I’m rounding up to four stars as I don’t think I’m the intended age audience for the novel.
January 22, 2018
Loved it. Another brilliant book by Mike Shelton. Think we all know how difficult it is to tell the truth, no matter what . Shaeleen, the main character in this first of the series, has a truthstone thrust upon her which makes her have headaches if she lies or if she hears someone else lie.
But that is just part of the story. This is a fantasy tale of the highest caliber and we share Shaeleens quest in which she literally has to gather other stones throughout the land which she lives hopefully to save " The Kingdom".
The tension runs high and she and her brother have to learn about their new powers as they go along. Compulsive reading and highly recommended.
But that is just part of the story. This is a fantasy tale of the highest caliber and we share Shaeleens quest in which she literally has to gather other stones throughout the land which she lives hopefully to save " The Kingdom".
The tension runs high and she and her brother have to learn about their new powers as they go along. Compulsive reading and highly recommended.
April 24, 2018
We all know the sayings: “Thou shall not lie,” “The truth shall set you free,” and “A little lie never hurt anyone.” In this case, the truth is as dangerous as the lie… and a lie, even a tiny one, can be quite painful.
Fifteen year old, Shaeleen learns the unfortunate consequences when she becomes the TruthSeer. Every little lie, even half-truths, causes her pain. For centuries, the kingdom was protected and served by gemstones of power, each stone represented a different power. Now, those stones are failing. There is an challenge for the throne, but there are so many lies surrounding the throne, can Shaeleen save the throne AND survive? Or will she make the ultimate sacrifice? Travel with Shaeleen as she tours the kingdom, meeting new friends and foes along the way, as she learns what it means to be a TruthSeer.
What a whirlwind?! I was swept away from the very beginning. Shaeleen is a bright young lady with a good head on her shoulders. She’s put in a difficult position as she becomes the TruthSeer, and you start to see how often people lie. Even if the lie wasn’t outrageous, it was something as small as “I like your dress,” could easily have her doubled over in pain. Equally as bad, all the people who want your power. While having the TruthStone does make it easy to know who to trust, it’s not so easy when you have to match strength and sometimes wit. This story was well executed, and engaging. I truly enjoyed watching Shaeleen try to navigate her way around the truth and people who are following dark forces. I will definitely be staying tuned to see where this goes.
Fifteen year old, Shaeleen learns the unfortunate consequences when she becomes the TruthSeer. Every little lie, even half-truths, causes her pain. For centuries, the kingdom was protected and served by gemstones of power, each stone represented a different power. Now, those stones are failing. There is an challenge for the throne, but there are so many lies surrounding the throne, can Shaeleen save the throne AND survive? Or will she make the ultimate sacrifice? Travel with Shaeleen as she tours the kingdom, meeting new friends and foes along the way, as she learns what it means to be a TruthSeer.
What a whirlwind?! I was swept away from the very beginning. Shaeleen is a bright young lady with a good head on her shoulders. She’s put in a difficult position as she becomes the TruthSeer, and you start to see how often people lie. Even if the lie wasn’t outrageous, it was something as small as “I like your dress,” could easily have her doubled over in pain. Equally as bad, all the people who want your power. While having the TruthStone does make it easy to know who to trust, it’s not so easy when you have to match strength and sometimes wit. This story was well executed, and engaging. I truly enjoyed watching Shaeleen try to navigate her way around the truth and people who are following dark forces. I will definitely be staying tuned to see where this goes.
July 29, 2018
Story 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
I love the idea of the story! It’s really unique and original ❤❤. And thank you author, for not being like fantasy authors in general would do: spice the story with romance and brooding sexy scenes. Though I like romantic elements in fantasy stories, taking a break from it was quite fun. The first book didn’t focus on romance whatsoever, instead it focuses on family, siblings, friendships, loyalties, honesty and other values. Truly, a YA/middle grade story with amazing moral values.
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Writing 🌟🌟🌟.2/5
The catch is I don’t like the world building. It was just like fantasy world in general, what makes it distinct was only the existence of magical stones and the legend behind it. Other than that, I was not fascinated with the world and the characters. I feel like the characters were too simple. The writing also didn’t really invite me to the world and the characters. Not like Leigh Bardugo, Laini Taylor, and Jay Kristoff -they (hands down) can create such interesting and wonderful fantasy worlds. But it was a light read and I was able to finish it in a short time.
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Overall 🌟🌟🌟.7/5
I would like to thank you to YA Bound Book Tour for providing this opportunity and to Mike Shelton for giving me the free digital copies. Looking forward to the next adventure!
I love the idea of the story! It’s really unique and original ❤❤. And thank you author, for not being like fantasy authors in general would do: spice the story with romance and brooding sexy scenes. Though I like romantic elements in fantasy stories, taking a break from it was quite fun. The first book didn’t focus on romance whatsoever, instead it focuses on family, siblings, friendships, loyalties, honesty and other values. Truly, a YA/middle grade story with amazing moral values.
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Writing 🌟🌟🌟.2/5
The catch is I don’t like the world building. It was just like fantasy world in general, what makes it distinct was only the existence of magical stones and the legend behind it. Other than that, I was not fascinated with the world and the characters. I feel like the characters were too simple. The writing also didn’t really invite me to the world and the characters. Not like Leigh Bardugo, Laini Taylor, and Jay Kristoff -they (hands down) can create such interesting and wonderful fantasy worlds. But it was a light read and I was able to finish it in a short time.
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Overall 🌟🌟🌟.7/5
I would like to thank you to YA Bound Book Tour for providing this opportunity and to Mike Shelton for giving me the free digital copies. Looking forward to the next adventure!
May 3, 2018
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
When fifteen year old Shaeleen unexpectedly is given a TruthStone, every lie she hears or tells causes her immense physical pain. As she struggles to control her new power and curb the pain, she learns a powerful truth that could thrust an entire continent into civil war. She must choose: reveal the truth and stop the pain – or sacrifice her own well-being to protect her kingdom.
For two hundred years the five kingdoms of Wayland have been protected by the stones of power. Now those stones are failing and a darker power is trying to take control. With the help of her brother, Cole and a newfound friend, Orin, Shaeleen sets out to gather and restore the power of all the stones.
But will she succeed before the endless lies destroy her?
MY TAKE
This is my first book by Shelton, but it won't be the last. I'm a fantasy fan, and this book was a treat. Shelton does a fine job with the world-building, and the characters were fun. A satisfying read!
When fifteen year old Shaeleen unexpectedly is given a TruthStone, every lie she hears or tells causes her immense physical pain. As she struggles to control her new power and curb the pain, she learns a powerful truth that could thrust an entire continent into civil war. She must choose: reveal the truth and stop the pain – or sacrifice her own well-being to protect her kingdom.
For two hundred years the five kingdoms of Wayland have been protected by the stones of power. Now those stones are failing and a darker power is trying to take control. With the help of her brother, Cole and a newfound friend, Orin, Shaeleen sets out to gather and restore the power of all the stones.
But will she succeed before the endless lies destroy her?
MY TAKE
This is my first book by Shelton, but it won't be the last. I'm a fantasy fan, and this book was a treat. Shelton does a fine job with the world-building, and the characters were fun. A satisfying read!
March 20, 2018
Is a white lie not really a lie? Is a well meant lie all that bad? Would you lie to spare a loved one agony? Ah!! I kept back pedaling between what was right while reading this story. It was so captivating with great characters and an amazing storyline. I loved that shae had flaws. She wasn’t some goody too shoes or a perfect heroine. This author nailed it! This was my first read by him and let me tell you he made a fan out of me. Now I must wait for the next installment I’m pretty sad about how long it may take.
B2B Sandra
B2B Sandra
March 23, 2018
This book leaves me speechless, not only the Plot is unique and original in its kind, but the story is really fasciant to the point of not wanting to stop reading it. Feel pain when listening or telling a lie? This can be seen as a curse or as a gift, but how Shaeleen decides to use that skill will allow her to have a reason to continue trying to learn to manage this skill and help others despite the risks to her person. This book contains everything I like about mystery, fantasy, adventure and realistic characters. I received this book as an ARC and I really enjoy it.
August 14, 2020
I enjoyed reading!
I enjoyed reading not my usual type of book but kept my interest enough to read and am waiting the second in the series will get the prequel to read next am Amazon prime member and love kindle unlimited book bub book rebel good reads check them all out! While I am awaiting the release of the next in the series I will read some other books of Mike Shelton I I saw another three book series that will be next Goodreads challenge reader of this year's goal.
I enjoyed reading not my usual type of book but kept my interest enough to read and am waiting the second in the series will get the prequel to read next am Amazon prime member and love kindle unlimited book bub book rebel good reads check them all out! While I am awaiting the release of the next in the series I will read some other books of Mike Shelton I I saw another three book series that will be next Goodreads challenge reader of this year's goal.
January 29, 2021
Different stones do different things
I really enjoyed this book. Not sure why it was rated young adultsince it seems like a great adult Sci-Fi. So far it has all the features of an extremely great novel. That's the only thing I don't like, having to go to a different book to read part 2, etc. Maybe that's why Ican only rate it 1 star instead of the 5 that I wanted to. All I can say is, if you keep writing on this story, I will keep reading. You got me hooked!
I really enjoyed this book. Not sure why it was rated young adultsince it seems like a great adult Sci-Fi. So far it has all the features of an extremely great novel. That's the only thing I don't like, having to go to a different book to read part 2, etc. Maybe that's why Ican only rate it 1 star instead of the 5 that I wanted to. All I can say is, if you keep writing on this story, I will keep reading. You got me hooked!
April 11, 2018
Absolutely loved this book. The characters are well thought out and easy to get to know. This book is clean and would be good for any age and has plenty of adventure for those who like books with adventure and a bit of magic. Going to read Truthspell now and if there is a 3rd book I hope it comes out soon.
April 24, 2018
This book took me to a believable world with great characters who have real struggles. I love watching the young people deal with issues revolving around truth, honor, integrity, and right. We all have to face times when truth and right are not aligned. I'm anxious to see where the story goes form here.
December 3, 2018
I really enjoyed this tale. It was vivid and exciting, and got me in totally. However, I felt that the ages of the main characters were too young for what they were doing - just another couple of years would have done it for me. The text needed some tighter editing and proof-reading. However I will be reading the succeeding volumes - and soon!
September 11, 2018
2.5 star
I'm not really happy with the ending. She has growth but it doesn't feel fully satisfied. To some extent one quest is finished but the truth of it is in no way resolved. So it feels like the middle of a book, not the end.
I'm not really happy with the ending. She has growth but it doesn't feel fully satisfied. To some extent one quest is finished but the truth of it is in no way resolved. So it feels like the middle of a book, not the end.
August 14, 2020
I really enjoyed Truth Stone. The story is well paced. Shaeleen is a very loveable character as she works to understand her new abilities. The character building and relationships throughout the book are lovely to read. I love the interaction she has we her brother Cole and Orin who is a quick friend to Shaeleen. The twists and turns in the book has me hooked and I look forward to book 2.
December 20, 2020
Great Premier Book by Author
I think this is a truly great first novel by the author. It really catches the attention, draws you in. Sometimes the characters seem a little too one sided though. Still, I look forward to reading the other books in the series!
I think this is a truly great first novel by the author. It really catches the attention, draws you in. Sometimes the characters seem a little too one sided though. Still, I look forward to reading the other books in the series!
December 21, 2020
This book has well developed characters with strong back ground that bring them to life. The story is good but the ending left a lot to be desired. A few of the slow areas actually put me to sleep. All in all A good read. Good Reading Everyone!
March 28, 2018
This was a great book with fantastic world building!! I love the idea of the stones of power! If you like JT Williams, Jeff Wheeler and Brandson Sanderson, check this one out!
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