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Language of Stones Trilogy #1
The Language of Stones
The Language of Stones
The first volume of an epic fantasy and a mythological thriller where the Wars of the Roses are raging, but this is not England as we know it. Young Will and Master Gwydion, a wizard, struggle to save the Realm from the stones of power. A kind of magic flows through the veins of the earth in the Realm and this is used by wizards and misused by sorcerers to change history.
The Realm is poised for war. Its weak king - Hal, grandson of a usurper - is dominated by his beautiful wife and her lover. Against them stands Due Richard of Ebor and his allies. The two sides are set on a bloody collision course. Gwydion is watching over the realm. He has walked the land since before the time of the druids, since before the Slavers came to subdue the people. Gwydion was here when Arthur rode to war: then they called him 'Merlyn'. But for his young apprentice, Willand, a fearsome lesson in the ways of men and power lies ahead.
The Realm is an England that is still magical. Legendary beasts still populate its by-ways. It is a land criss-crossed by lines of power upon which standing stones have been set as a secret protection against invasion. But the power of the array was broken by the Slaver who laid straight roads across the land, and built walled cities of shattered stone.
A thousand years have passed since then, and those roads and walls have fallen into decay. The dangerous stones are awakening, and their unruly influence is calling men to battle. Unless Gwydion and Will can unearth them, the Realm will be plunged into a disastrous civil war. But there are many enemies ranged against them: men, monsters and a sorcerer as powerful as Gwydion himself.
The first volume of an epic fantasy and a mythological thriller where the Wars of the Roses are raging, but this is not England as we know it. Young Will and Master Gwydion, a wizard, struggle to save the Realm from the stones of power. A kind of magic flows through the veins of the earth in the Realm and this is used by wizards and misused by sorcerers to change history.
The Realm is poised for war. Its weak king - Hal, grandson of a usurper - is dominated by his beautiful wife and her lover. Against them stands Due Richard of Ebor and his allies. The two sides are set on a bloody collision course. Gwydion is watching over the realm. He has walked the land since before the time of the druids, since before the Slavers came to subdue the people. Gwydion was here when Arthur rode to war: then they called him 'Merlyn'. But for his young apprentice, Willand, a fearsome lesson in the ways of men and power lies ahead.
The Realm is an England that is still magical. Legendary beasts still populate its by-ways. It is a land criss-crossed by lines of power upon which standing stones have been set as a secret protection against invasion. But the power of the array was broken by the Slaver who laid straight roads across the land, and built walled cities of shattered stone.
A thousand years have passed since then, and those roads and walls have fallen into decay. The dangerous stones are awakening, and their unruly influence is calling men to battle. Unless Gwydion and Will can unearth them, the Realm will be plunged into a disastrous civil war. But there are many enemies ranged against them: men, monsters and a sorcerer as powerful as Gwydion himself.
487 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 31, 1999
22 people are currently reading
415 people want to read
About the author
Robert Carter
13 books193 followersI was born in Staffordshire, near Etruria, the place made famous by Josiah Wedgwood, but was brought up in Sydney, Australia and later in Lancashire, England. I studied astrophysics at Newcastle University, where I started the student science fiction society. Writing novels has always played a part in my life, and I've tried to see the world enough to be able to write fiction with the help of personal experience.
After university, the US oil industry was booming so I went to Dallas, Texas, later on I worked on rigs in various parts of the Middle East and the war-torn heart of Africa. I was aboard the Ron Tappmeyer, a rig that blew out in the Persian Gulf, killing 19 men. It was dangerous work, but well-paid, and it took me to places that outsiders rarely see, like the Rub-al-Khali of Arabia and hard-to-reach parts of equatorial Africa.
When I left the oilfields, I spent time on travel, first to East Berlin and Warsaw, then to Moscow and Leningrad. From there I took the Trans-Siberian railway to Japan. In Hong Kong, I worked on a road survey, took tea with the heir of the last king of Upper Burma near Mandalay, and on the path to Everest base camp just happened to run into Sir Edmund Hillary. After traveling around most of India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, I returned home and took up a job with the BBC. Four years later, I left BBC TV to write. I finally settled in London, but I still like to head off to interesting parts when time allows.
After university, the US oil industry was booming so I went to Dallas, Texas, later on I worked on rigs in various parts of the Middle East and the war-torn heart of Africa. I was aboard the Ron Tappmeyer, a rig that blew out in the Persian Gulf, killing 19 men. It was dangerous work, but well-paid, and it took me to places that outsiders rarely see, like the Rub-al-Khali of Arabia and hard-to-reach parts of equatorial Africa.
When I left the oilfields, I spent time on travel, first to East Berlin and Warsaw, then to Moscow and Leningrad. From there I took the Trans-Siberian railway to Japan. In Hong Kong, I worked on a road survey, took tea with the heir of the last king of Upper Burma near Mandalay, and on the path to Everest base camp just happened to run into Sir Edmund Hillary. After traveling around most of India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, I returned home and took up a job with the BBC. Four years later, I left BBC TV to write. I finally settled in London, but I still like to head off to interesting parts when time allows.
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August 28, 2020
Robert Carter is een taalwetenschapper en schrijver. Het boek De Leerling en De Magiër is het eerste deel uit de reeks De Taal Der Stenen.
In Vale wordt de rust verstoord door de komst van de groene man. Onder deze mantel schuilt de magiër ,Gwydion, die gekomen is om Will weg te halen bij zijn pleegouders. De bedoeling is om Will inzicht te geven in de taal der stenen. Een ruwe vorm van magie en de taal der schepping. Will twijfelt over zijn rol maar Gwydion is onverbiddelijk en samen vertrekken ze richting het avontuur.
De start van het boek maakte me wel nieuwsgierig naar wat er verder nog ging naar boven komen. Jammer genoeg kon het mijn nieuwsgierigheid niet lang vasthouden. Het was alsof ik richting miste in het verhaal. Er waren vele gebeurtenissen die volgens mij niets van toegevoegde waarde hadden voor het volledige verhaal. Ze kwamen soms wat over als opvulling. De manier van schrijven kwam chaotisch over en maakte het moeilijk om het verhaal perfect te kunnen volgen.
Het personage, Will, was al even verward over zijn rol in het verhaal als ikzelf was. Het kwam wat over alsof de auteur zijn eigen personage aan het lijntje hield. De magiër, Gwydion, sprong in en uit het verhaal zonder enige melding van het wat en hoe. Hij kwam en ging zonder dat het duidelijk werd wat hij gedaan had als extra voor het verhaal.
De chaotische manier van schrijven zorgde er ook voor dat ik geen enkele band kon opbouwen met één van de personages. Ik verloor elke keer de zwakke connectie die aanwezig was.
Het slot sluit dan wel een cirkel af, maar je merkt ook dat er wel nog een deur bestaat naar een vervolg.
Conclusie
Een verhaal waar meer inzat dan dat er nu uitgekomen is. Een verhaal waar een gebrek aan richting was. Een chaotische manier van schrijven waardoor het moeilijk wordt om het verhaal goed te kunnen volgen.
Engels
Robert Carter is a linguist and writer. The book De Leerling en De Magier is the first part of the De Taal Der Stenen series.
In Vale, the peace is disturbed by the arrival of the green man. Underneath this cloak hides the magician, Gwydion, who has come to take Will away from his foster parents. The intention is to give Will insight into the language of the stones. A raw form of magic and the language of creation. Will doubts his role but Gwydion is relentless and together they set off for the adventure.
The start of the book made me curious about what else was going to surface. Unfortunately, it could not hold my curiosity for long. It was like I was missing direction in the story. There were many events that, in my opinion, had nothing to add to the full story. They sometimes came across as a padding. The way of writing came across as chaotic and made it difficult to follow the story perfectly.
The character, Will, was just as confused about his role in the story as I was. It seemed as if the author was holding his own character on a leash. The magician, Gwydion, jumped in and out of the story without any mention of the what and how. He came and went without it becoming clear what he had done in addition to the story.
The chaotic way of writing also prevented me from building any relationship with one of the characters. I lost the weak connection that was there every time.
The end closes a circle, but you also notice that there is still a door to a sequel.
Conclusion
A story that contained more than it has now come out. A story where there was a lack of direction. A chaotic way of writing that makes it difficult to follow the story properly.
In Vale wordt de rust verstoord door de komst van de groene man. Onder deze mantel schuilt de magiër ,Gwydion, die gekomen is om Will weg te halen bij zijn pleegouders. De bedoeling is om Will inzicht te geven in de taal der stenen. Een ruwe vorm van magie en de taal der schepping. Will twijfelt over zijn rol maar Gwydion is onverbiddelijk en samen vertrekken ze richting het avontuur.
De start van het boek maakte me wel nieuwsgierig naar wat er verder nog ging naar boven komen. Jammer genoeg kon het mijn nieuwsgierigheid niet lang vasthouden. Het was alsof ik richting miste in het verhaal. Er waren vele gebeurtenissen die volgens mij niets van toegevoegde waarde hadden voor het volledige verhaal. Ze kwamen soms wat over als opvulling. De manier van schrijven kwam chaotisch over en maakte het moeilijk om het verhaal perfect te kunnen volgen.
Het personage, Will, was al even verward over zijn rol in het verhaal als ikzelf was. Het kwam wat over alsof de auteur zijn eigen personage aan het lijntje hield. De magiër, Gwydion, sprong in en uit het verhaal zonder enige melding van het wat en hoe. Hij kwam en ging zonder dat het duidelijk werd wat hij gedaan had als extra voor het verhaal.
De chaotische manier van schrijven zorgde er ook voor dat ik geen enkele band kon opbouwen met één van de personages. Ik verloor elke keer de zwakke connectie die aanwezig was.
Het slot sluit dan wel een cirkel af, maar je merkt ook dat er wel nog een deur bestaat naar een vervolg.
Conclusie
Een verhaal waar meer inzat dan dat er nu uitgekomen is. Een verhaal waar een gebrek aan richting was. Een chaotische manier van schrijven waardoor het moeilijk wordt om het verhaal goed te kunnen volgen.
Engels
Robert Carter is a linguist and writer. The book De Leerling en De Magier is the first part of the De Taal Der Stenen series.
In Vale, the peace is disturbed by the arrival of the green man. Underneath this cloak hides the magician, Gwydion, who has come to take Will away from his foster parents. The intention is to give Will insight into the language of the stones. A raw form of magic and the language of creation. Will doubts his role but Gwydion is relentless and together they set off for the adventure.
The start of the book made me curious about what else was going to surface. Unfortunately, it could not hold my curiosity for long. It was like I was missing direction in the story. There were many events that, in my opinion, had nothing to add to the full story. They sometimes came across as a padding. The way of writing came across as chaotic and made it difficult to follow the story perfectly.
The character, Will, was just as confused about his role in the story as I was. It seemed as if the author was holding his own character on a leash. The magician, Gwydion, jumped in and out of the story without any mention of the what and how. He came and went without it becoming clear what he had done in addition to the story.
The chaotic way of writing also prevented me from building any relationship with one of the characters. I lost the weak connection that was there every time.
The end closes a circle, but you also notice that there is still a door to a sequel.
Conclusion
A story that contained more than it has now come out. A story where there was a lack of direction. A chaotic way of writing that makes it difficult to follow the story properly.
January 6, 2016
Regalo de navidad de mis viejos y no porque lo hayan comprado por casualidad, sino porque les dije que eligieran este. La verdad no es que no me gustó. Tampoco me decepcionó. Fue para pasar el rato. Para ser el primer libro del 2016 no fue tan terrible, el 2015 lo arranqué muuuuuuuuucho peor.
La verdad que estuve tentada de bajarme este libro también en .pdf o .epub para transformarlo a .doc y contar cuántas veces la palabra "parecer" en todas sus conjugaciones aparece. Pero internet no quiso que yo lo encontrarao tuve poca paciencia porque suelo encontrar todo. Con eso dicho creo que quedó muy en claro que el verbo "parecer" parece que se parece a ese término que, al parecer, parece que lo usan todos los escritores parecidos. RaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHGGGGHHHHHH- *rage quit*
Hablando del libro más específicamente, ¿qué es peor que una historia cliché? Una narración cliché. Porque de última la historia de la senda del héroe (que es parodiada por todos lados), esa en la que el joven inexperto es descubierto por alguien que le muestra un mundo mágico nuevo al que pertenece (de vez en cuando es huérfano o desconoce a sus padres) y de repente es bueno en todo lo que se propone (casualmente sin saber que era bueno), se repite en casi todas las novelas de este talante. Y a veces esa fórmula es buenísima: Star Wars, Harry Potter, El Señor de los Anillos. En otras, lamentablemente, es mala: Eragon COF COF.
En esta no me pareció deliberadamente mal que iniciara de la misma manera que todas las demás hitorias fantásticas, porque lo que el futuro del libro prometía era grandioso y original. Willand acompañaría a Gwydion, que en algún momento había sido conocido como Merlín, a descubrir las piedras de batalla y a destruirlas para evitar derramamientos de sangre en vano. Estas piedras de batalla contenían maldad pura que hacía que las personas a su alrededor quisieran batallar, a veces con razones o sin ellas, y modificaban las actitudes y los pensamientos de aquellos a los que contaminaban. Cada piedra de batalla tenía su hermana de bondad pura, y ambas piedras deben estar enfrentadas y equilibrarse mutuamente si no quieren que se raje la tierra en dos. Bueno, nunca me había topado con una historia como esta, ambientada en un mundo medieval arturiano y mitológico. Me era interesante.
Lo malo era que la narración estaba llena de lugares comunes.
Así que:
La mitología celta (o galesa, como les guste). Era buenísimo encontrar referencias a esta mitología que es una de las más olvidadas cuando de leyendas antiguas se habla, y aun así me parece la mejor, la más interesante y quizá la más racional. Personalmente, tengo preferencias por este tipo de mitología (aunque de la griega sé bastante, y tal vez algo de la egipcia y la nórdica), así que casi todos los detalles los conocía, nombres, personajes históricos y hasta lugares. También se debe a que antes de agarrar este libro leí los de Lloyd Alexander, que se basan más o menos en los mismos mitos. El tema de los Invidentes me resultó muy interesante y es algo de lo que me gustaría que la trilogía explorara más.
El mundo creado. Los reinos, los conflictos políticos y las riñas entre los nobles de más alta alcurnia desataron los problemas más belicosos de la historia. Lástima que Will no estaba tan metido en eso, me habría gustado mucha más información.
Lo cliché. Protagonista sumamente bueno en una habilidad que recién descubre que tiene. Compañero más sabio que le enseña. Mago viejito con barba blanca. Báculos. Un hechicero malvado. Profecías. Que el interés amoroso del protagonista (con el que se vieron dos veces) guste automáticamente de él también. Competitividad con aquel rival que se convertirá en su mejor amigo. Etcétera, etcétera. Predecible también.
La narración. Sin dudas, me quiero dar un mazazo contra la cabeza. Lugares comunes everywhere. "Se deshizo en un mar de lágrimas", oh, please, tell me more. "Sintió como un fuego en su interior", ¿se tragó un pimentón o algo? "Gwydion dijo unas poderosas palabras y lanzó un hechizo", ¡¿CUÁLES ERAN ESAS PODEROSAS PALABRAS? ¿Y CÓMO UNA PALABRA PUEDE SER PODEROSA?
Frases que encontramos en cualquier otro libro quizá de peor calidad y que en este no aportan nada nuevo ni ninguna sensación nueva. Había una frase en la que aparecía la chica de la cual Willand gustaría, que decía así: "Al darse la vuelta se dio cuenta de que había una niña observándolo. Era ágil e iba vestida con ropa de chico de color verde oscuro [...]", ¿cómo sabés que es ágil CUANDO ESTÁ AHÍ PARADA SIN HACER NADA? Ese afán de querer describir a todos los personajes de entrada apenas aparecen es propio de un principiante. Era en esos momentos en los que tenía un ataque de furia.
También algo que encontré bastante molesto eran los diálogos. Casi todo el libro Willand se la pasa viajando con Gwydion, y en esos viajes las conversaciones entre estos eran bastante artificiales. Como si Carter hubiese preparado unas preguntas en un cuadernito aparte y se las contestara tal cual un artículo de Wikipedia, cero didáctica y cero enseñanza. Willand le preguntaba cosas a Gwydion sobre el funcionamiento de la magia y de la pachamama podríamos decir, pero preguntas que no tenían nada que ver una cosa con la otra, preguntas que vos intentabas seguir el hilo conductor que aquella cabecita de trece años tuvo que haber seguido para pasar de una duda a otra (y no lo hallabas), y las respuestas de Gwydion explicando cada cosa que, si bien me resultó el punto más interesante de la historia, eran lo mismo que un monólogo delante de una conferencia y hasta a veces no respondían aquello que el crío había preguntado. Si esa es la manera de explicar el mundo a tu alrededor y de aplicar la mitología que es un excelente ingrediente, mejor no hacerlo.
Sin embargo, me enteré que en el siguiente libro el protagonista ya va a tener cerca de veinte años, por ende más maduro, y me interesa ver cómo maduró (si es que lo hizo). Así que, sí, voy a leer los siguientes, pero no recomiendo la saga. Demasiadas buenas novelas fantásticas allá afuera que se pueden aprovechar más que esta. Incluso también mejores novelas mejor narradas y más clichés, pero mejores al fin.
La verdad que estuve tentada de bajarme este libro también en .pdf o .epub para transformarlo a .doc y contar cuántas veces la palabra "parecer" en todas sus conjugaciones aparece. Pero internet no quiso que yo lo encontrara
Hablando del libro más específicamente, ¿qué es peor que una historia cliché? Una narración cliché. Porque de última la historia de la senda del héroe (que es parodiada por todos lados), esa en la que el joven inexperto es descubierto por alguien que le muestra un mundo mágico nuevo al que pertenece (de vez en cuando es huérfano o desconoce a sus padres) y de repente es bueno en todo lo que se propone (casualmente sin saber que era bueno), se repite en casi todas las novelas de este talante. Y a veces esa fórmula es buenísima: Star Wars, Harry Potter, El Señor de los Anillos. En otras, lamentablemente, es mala: Eragon COF COF.
La tierra nunca puede dar todo lo que los hombres desean, puesto que el deseo del hombre es ilimitado.
En esta no me pareció deliberadamente mal que iniciara de la misma manera que todas las demás hitorias fantásticas, porque lo que el futuro del libro prometía era grandioso y original. Willand acompañaría a Gwydion, que en algún momento había sido conocido como Merlín, a descubrir las piedras de batalla y a destruirlas para evitar derramamientos de sangre en vano. Estas piedras de batalla contenían maldad pura que hacía que las personas a su alrededor quisieran batallar, a veces con razones o sin ellas, y modificaban las actitudes y los pensamientos de aquellos a los que contaminaban. Cada piedra de batalla tenía su hermana de bondad pura, y ambas piedras deben estar enfrentadas y equilibrarse mutuamente si no quieren que se raje la tierra en dos. Bueno, nunca me había topado con una historia como esta, ambientada en un mundo medieval arturiano y mitológico. Me era interesante.
Lo malo era que la narración estaba llena de lugares comunes.
Así que:
LO MEJOR:
La mitología celta (o galesa, como les guste). Era buenísimo encontrar referencias a esta mitología que es una de las más olvidadas cuando de leyendas antiguas se habla, y aun así me parece la mejor, la más interesante y quizá la más racional. Personalmente, tengo preferencias por este tipo de mitología (aunque de la griega sé bastante, y tal vez algo de la egipcia y la nórdica), así que casi todos los detalles los conocía, nombres, personajes históricos y hasta lugares. También se debe a que antes de agarrar este libro leí los de Lloyd Alexander, que se basan más o menos en los mismos mitos. El tema de los Invidentes me resultó muy interesante y es algo de lo que me gustaría que la trilogía explorara más.
LO BUENO:
El mundo creado. Los reinos, los conflictos políticos y las riñas entre los nobles de más alta alcurnia desataron los problemas más belicosos de la historia. Lástima que Will no estaba tan metido en eso, me habría gustado mucha más información.
LO MALO:
Lo cliché. Protagonista sumamente bueno en una habilidad que recién descubre que tiene. Compañero más sabio que le enseña. Mago viejito con barba blanca. Báculos. Un hechicero malvado. Profecías. Que el interés amoroso del protagonista (con el que se vieron dos veces) guste automáticamente de él también. Competitividad con aquel rival que se convertirá en su mejor amigo. Etcétera, etcétera. Predecible también.
LO PEOR:
La narración. Sin dudas, me quiero dar un mazazo contra la cabeza. Lugares comunes everywhere. "Se deshizo en un mar de lágrimas", oh, please, tell me more. "Sintió como un fuego en su interior", ¿se tragó un pimentón o algo? "Gwydion dijo unas poderosas palabras y lanzó un hechizo", ¡¿CUÁLES ERAN ESAS PODEROSAS PALABRAS? ¿Y CÓMO UNA PALABRA PUEDE SER PODEROSA?
Frases que encontramos en cualquier otro libro quizá de peor calidad y que en este no aportan nada nuevo ni ninguna sensación nueva. Había una frase en la que aparecía la chica de la cual Willand gustaría, que decía así: "Al darse la vuelta se dio cuenta de que había una niña observándolo. Era ágil e iba vestida con ropa de chico de color verde oscuro [...]", ¿cómo sabés que es ágil CUANDO ESTÁ AHÍ PARADA SIN HACER NADA? Ese afán de querer describir a todos los personajes de entrada apenas aparecen es propio de un principiante. Era en esos momentos en los que tenía un ataque de furia.
También algo que encontré bastante molesto eran los diálogos. Casi todo el libro Willand se la pasa viajando con Gwydion, y en esos viajes las conversaciones entre estos eran bastante artificiales. Como si Carter hubiese preparado unas preguntas en un cuadernito aparte y se las contestara tal cual un artículo de Wikipedia, cero didáctica y cero enseñanza. Willand le preguntaba cosas a Gwydion sobre el funcionamiento de la magia y de la pachamama podríamos decir, pero preguntas que no tenían nada que ver una cosa con la otra, preguntas que vos intentabas seguir el hilo conductor que aquella cabecita de trece años tuvo que haber seguido para pasar de una duda a otra (y no lo hallabas), y las respuestas de Gwydion explicando cada cosa que, si bien me resultó el punto más interesante de la historia, eran lo mismo que un monólogo delante de una conferencia y hasta a veces no respondían aquello que el crío había preguntado. Si esa es la manera de explicar el mundo a tu alrededor y de aplicar la mitología que es un excelente ingrediente, mejor no hacerlo.
Sin embargo, me enteré que en el siguiente libro el protagonista ya va a tener cerca de veinte años, por ende más maduro, y me interesa ver cómo maduró (si es que lo hizo). Así que, sí, voy a leer los siguientes, pero no recomiendo la saga. Demasiadas buenas novelas fantásticas allá afuera que se pueden aprovechar más que esta. Incluso también mejores novelas mejor narradas y más clichés, pero mejores al fin.
March 26, 2008
The Language of Stones is an enchanting novel, that grabbed me from the beginning and did not let go of me till the very end. It is adventurous, new, fresh and most of all: it keeps you glued at your chair. Although the storyline itself, is what one could call 'old-fashioned' in High Fantasy (a young boy, unaware of his destined future, who happends to be the latest reincarnation of King Arthur, sets of a journey with a magician to save the world), it is the rich vocabulary, tasty comparisms and cliffhangers, that make this novel worth reading. I will admit however, that the book at some points seems really cliché: throughout the journey, we notice the inner growth of our protagonist; when young Willy boy (the main character) falls in love, the girl automatically loves him back and although not trained in magic, our dearest Willand possesses more talent and skills than his friend, the old magician who once was called Merlyn. If you take out those clichés or care not to bother, as I did, the novel is really a top-class act. It is thrilling, never boring and takes you from one world effortlessly into the other.
September 10, 2017
First off: I've been really struggling with this book and for the time being I am giving up and putting it on hold. I seriously should just DNF it tho.
This book with the oh so intriguing title (ahem) The Language Of Stones has been sitting on my book shelf for quite a few years until I finally decided it was time to buckle down and just get this over with. But to be quite honest, this book is just pure boredom... And (in my eyes) poorly/clumsily written
It's a run-of-the-mill basic fantasy story about a boy who's living the sweet life in his one-horse town until suddenly a wise old wizard (Gwydion) arrives and takes the boy (Willand) with him, because naturally Willand is "The Chosen One". Yeah....
But in all honesty the fact that this is your basic recipe for every standard cliché fantasy story, is not even the main reason I dislike this book. I was prepared for that. But the bad writing style paired with a story telling that moves at a snail's pace (the wizard and the boy are traveling through swamps and woods for what seems like an eternity, before ANYTHING remotely relevant to the plot happens) and the "wisdoms" of Gwydion that he constantly regurgitates upon the reader - which by the way can be found in any fortune cookie - got me to a point where I could only beg for a swift and painless end. But nuh-uh, this baby got 600+ pages and I only got to page 250.
Lectures like "the environment is totes great and should never be tainted" or "pride comes before a fall" just continue to get stuffed down your metaphorical throat.
From the start, so many names get dropped that just don't mean anything to me, quite naturally, since this is not the third or fourth installment of a series, neither does the lore of this world get properly set up. All you get, is an old tattletale wizard that keeps blustering about ye old stories that happened in ye old times, about great heroes and whatnot.
That's not how world building works tho. That's as if you were to take characters, names, dates, geography, lore etc., throw it all into a sack, give it a good shake and dump that on your reader. That's at least what I felt like while reading this most of the time.
Like I said, it's just not that well written in my opinion and it reminds me a bit of my reread of Eragon.
I am not really that mad at the book (although it may seem like it), but the story ist just not worth the effort and pain that I experienced while reading this.
And what do you think it says on the back of the book? "The new Tolkien". Of course...
ᴮᵗʷ⋅ ᵗʰᶦˢ ᶦˢ ᵐʸ ᶠᶦʳˢᵗ ʳᵉᵛᶦᵉʷ ʰᵉʳᵉ, ᵃᶰᵈ ᵃˢ ʸᵒᵘ ᵐᵃʸ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᶰᵒᵗᶦᶜᵉᵈ, ᴱᶰᵍᶫᶦˢʰ ᶦˢ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵈᵉᶠᶦᶰᶦᵗᵉᶫʸ ᶰᵒᵗ ᵐʸ ᶠᶦʳˢᵗ ᶫᵃᶰᵍᵘᵃᵍᵉ⋅ ᵂᵒᵘᶫᵈ ˢᵗᶦᶫᶫ ᵇᵉ ᶰᶦᶜᵉ ᶦᶠ ᵗʰᶦˢ ᶦˢ ʰᵉᶫᵖᶠᵘᶫ ᵒʳ ᵃᵗ ᶫᵉᵃˢᵗ ᵉᶰᵗᵉʳᵗᵃᶦᶰᶦᶰᵍ ᶠᵒʳ ᵃᶰʸᵒᶰᵉ⋅ ᴵ ʲᵘˢᵗ ʷʳᵒᵗᵉ ᵗʰᶦˢ ʷᶦᵗʰᵒᵘᵗ ᵗʰᶦᶰᵏᶦᶰᵍ ᵗᵒᵒ ᵐᵘᶜʰ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ᶦᵗ ᵗʰᵒ⋅
This book with the oh so intriguing title (ahem) The Language Of Stones has been sitting on my book shelf for quite a few years until I finally decided it was time to buckle down and just get this over with. But to be quite honest, this book is just pure boredom... And (in my eyes) poorly/clumsily written
It's a run-of-the-mill basic fantasy story about a boy who's living the sweet life in his one-horse town until suddenly a wise old wizard (Gwydion) arrives and takes the boy (Willand) with him, because naturally Willand is "The Chosen One". Yeah....
But in all honesty the fact that this is your basic recipe for every standard cliché fantasy story, is not even the main reason I dislike this book. I was prepared for that. But the bad writing style paired with a story telling that moves at a snail's pace (the wizard and the boy are traveling through swamps and woods for what seems like an eternity, before ANYTHING remotely relevant to the plot happens) and the "wisdoms" of Gwydion that he constantly regurgitates upon the reader - which by the way can be found in any fortune cookie - got me to a point where I could only beg for a swift and painless end. But nuh-uh, this baby got 600+ pages and I only got to page 250.
Lectures like "the environment is totes great and should never be tainted" or "pride comes before a fall" just continue to get stuffed down your metaphorical throat.
From the start, so many names get dropped that just don't mean anything to me, quite naturally, since this is not the third or fourth installment of a series, neither does the lore of this world get properly set up. All you get, is an old tattletale wizard that keeps blustering about ye old stories that happened in ye old times, about great heroes and whatnot.
That's not how world building works tho. That's as if you were to take characters, names, dates, geography, lore etc., throw it all into a sack, give it a good shake and dump that on your reader. That's at least what I felt like while reading this most of the time.
Like I said, it's just not that well written in my opinion and it reminds me a bit of my reread of Eragon.
I am not really that mad at the book (although it may seem like it), but the story ist just not worth the effort and pain that I experienced while reading this.
And what do you think it says on the back of the book? "The new Tolkien". Of course...
ᴮᵗʷ⋅ ᵗʰᶦˢ ᶦˢ ᵐʸ ᶠᶦʳˢᵗ ʳᵉᵛᶦᵉʷ ʰᵉʳᵉ, ᵃᶰᵈ ᵃˢ ʸᵒᵘ ᵐᵃʸ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᶰᵒᵗᶦᶜᵉᵈ, ᴱᶰᵍᶫᶦˢʰ ᶦˢ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵈᵉᶠᶦᶰᶦᵗᵉᶫʸ ᶰᵒᵗ ᵐʸ ᶠᶦʳˢᵗ ᶫᵃᶰᵍᵘᵃᵍᵉ⋅ ᵂᵒᵘᶫᵈ ˢᵗᶦᶫᶫ ᵇᵉ ᶰᶦᶜᵉ ᶦᶠ ᵗʰᶦˢ ᶦˢ ʰᵉᶫᵖᶠᵘᶫ ᵒʳ ᵃᵗ ᶫᵉᵃˢᵗ ᵉᶰᵗᵉʳᵗᵃᶦᶰᶦᶰᵍ ᶠᵒʳ ᵃᶰʸᵒᶰᵉ⋅ ᴵ ʲᵘˢᵗ ʷʳᵒᵗᵉ ᵗʰᶦˢ ʷᶦᵗʰᵒᵘᵗ ᵗʰᶦᶰᵏᶦᶰᵍ ᵗᵒᵒ ᵐᵘᶜʰ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ᶦᵗ ᵗʰᵒ⋅
February 22, 2013
Can't say much since this is part of trilogy. But my personal opinion is that while there are strong storyline too much cliché kind of ruined it. But still i love it. Kind of reminded me of Merlin TV series albeit with different version. But then again there are too much version of Arthur stories. I'm looking forward to read another two of this trilogy.
April 13, 2018
Deel 1 uit een trilogie. Helaas heb ik de andere twee delen (nog) niet, maar hoop hier snel verandering in aan te brengen.
Beetje ouderwetse verhaal-lijn (een jonge jongen onbewust van zijn toekomst, blijkt de laatste reïncarnatie van koning Arthur te zijn, gaat op avontuur met een oude magiër om de wereld te redden), maar wat is daar mis mee? Het verhaal hield me goed bezig, hoewel het soms een beetje langdradig werd.
We maken de innerlijke groei mee van de jongen op weg naar volwassenheid; de jongen wordt verliefd op een meisje, die automatisch ook verliefd word op hem; de jongen, ongetraind in de magie, bezit de jonge Will(iand) over meer talent en kracht dan de oude magiër die met hem mee reist. Een magiër die ooit bekend stond onder de naam Merlijn. Ondanks deze clichés, toch 4 sterren voor dit boek, want dit is voor mij toch wel een beetje het soort fantasy waar ik van hou.
Op naar de volgende twee delen.
Beetje ouderwetse verhaal-lijn (een jonge jongen onbewust van zijn toekomst, blijkt de laatste reïncarnatie van koning Arthur te zijn, gaat op avontuur met een oude magiër om de wereld te redden), maar wat is daar mis mee? Het verhaal hield me goed bezig, hoewel het soms een beetje langdradig werd.
We maken de innerlijke groei mee van de jongen op weg naar volwassenheid; de jongen wordt verliefd op een meisje, die automatisch ook verliefd word op hem; de jongen, ongetraind in de magie, bezit de jonge Will(iand) over meer talent en kracht dan de oude magiër die met hem mee reist. Een magiër die ooit bekend stond onder de naam Merlijn. Ondanks deze clichés, toch 4 sterren voor dit boek, want dit is voor mij toch wel een beetje het soort fantasy waar ik van hou.
Op naar de volgende twee delen.
June 25, 2018
I did enjoy this book, but it seemed to take forever to read. The writing is superb, the story is entertaining, the characters are believable... it just seems SO slow.
4.95 stars.
4.95 stars.
February 24, 2018
I was pleasantly surprised by this book, I was expecting it to be another dull attempt at an adaptation of the Arthur story, and nearly didn't read it at all. This, however, is not that at all. It is an interesting story about a boy on the curb of manhood getting to grips with a destiny that his master, the wizard Gwydion, never makes fully clear to him. All he knows is that he is a child of Destiny, and the battlestones are awakening and war is coming ever closer.
I think something that could have been missed out from this book was the references to Arthur and his legend. There isn't much call for it, and this book would stand up on it own just as well, if not better, without it. However, having not read the next in the series, I don't know if this is a particularly important part to that book.
I enjoyed the characters, although they weren't hugely new or different, they were highly believeable and interesting characters to move through the story with.
There is a good balance of the suspense, battle and normality in this book, something is always about to happen, but there are times when things seem calm and peaceful, but a hint of trouble is brewing.
I think something that could have been missed out from this book was the references to Arthur and his legend. There isn't much call for it, and this book would stand up on it own just as well, if not better, without it. However, having not read the next in the series, I don't know if this is a particularly important part to that book.
I enjoyed the characters, although they weren't hugely new or different, they were highly believeable and interesting characters to move through the story with.
There is a good balance of the suspense, battle and normality in this book, something is always about to happen, but there are times when things seem calm and peaceful, but a hint of trouble is brewing.
October 12, 2013
Boring. Boring. Boring.
March 26, 2020
The cover does not really give a good guide as to the content, which is essentially an alternative history tale set around the onset of the War of the Roses. But this alternate world is very different from ours. Magicians wander around, drawing power from magical stones and keeping other creatures at bay. Willand is taken into the care of a magician, Gwydion, who speaks magic mostly in Gaelic, but sometimes slips in a bit of Welsh.
Potentially this is a great story, but I found it extremely slow. It took hundreds of pages for the characters to develop, and indeed a good many pages just to start to unravel the setting. The book would maybe have done better to forget the links with real history and geography (which are tenuous), and stick to a full scale fantasy world.
A faster plot would also aid the book.
Nevertheless it was not terrible. Anyone enjoying alternative history may love this book. The writing was good, and the action - when it finally came - was intersting, with a good and reasonably complex plot.
All in all, not a book I would recommend - but some readers with different expectations could love it.
Potentially this is a great story, but I found it extremely slow. It took hundreds of pages for the characters to develop, and indeed a good many pages just to start to unravel the setting. The book would maybe have done better to forget the links with real history and geography (which are tenuous), and stick to a full scale fantasy world.
A faster plot would also aid the book.
Nevertheless it was not terrible. Anyone enjoying alternative history may love this book. The writing was good, and the action - when it finally came - was intersting, with a good and reasonably complex plot.
All in all, not a book I would recommend - but some readers with different expectations could love it.
August 26, 2022
Almost a 4 star read. Was this book aimed at the young or the young at heart ? If you like the combination of Luke Skywalker and Obi Wan Kenobi or Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore then I'm sure this will be comparably satisfying - but will it make it to the big screen ?
A classic magical adventure story and a tale of the coming of age of a young man called Willard, all in the time honoured way of any good yarn with an evil foe (Maskull), lots of dangerous individuals (The Fellowship), a gaggle of haughty aristocratic types (too numerous to mention) and a pretty wench (Willow). Willard (or is he Arthur ?) and his Guru called Gwydion (or is he Merlin ?) the tale is in the telling ! I'll not add any spoilers, go read it for yourself. The only thing mentioned throughout that I would have liked to have seen in the story were dragons ! - maybe the next installment then ?
A classic magical adventure story and a tale of the coming of age of a young man called Willard, all in the time honoured way of any good yarn with an evil foe (Maskull), lots of dangerous individuals (The Fellowship), a gaggle of haughty aristocratic types (too numerous to mention) and a pretty wench (Willow). Willard (or is he Arthur ?) and his Guru called Gwydion (or is he Merlin ?) the tale is in the telling ! I'll not add any spoilers, go read it for yourself. The only thing mentioned throughout that I would have liked to have seen in the story were dragons ! - maybe the next installment then ?
July 12, 2020
Me gustó mucho, es un libro que se desarrolla muy lento y la evolución del personaje principal es lenta, a partir de la pág 300 te empieza a caer bien. Me creo mucho bloqueos pero la evolución del personaje está muy bien lograda y creo que yo de niño hubiera sido igual.
Tengo otro el drama de que a veces no entendía lo que pasaba, hay partes que no se si está mal redactado o mal traducido, pero hay partes que quedan colgadas o sin explicación. Pero muy buen libro.
Tengo otro el drama de que a veces no entendía lo que pasaba, hay partes que no se si está mal redactado o mal traducido, pero hay partes que quedan colgadas o sin explicación. Pero muy buen libro.
January 31, 2022
LOVED this book! The blendign of Arthurian legends and the War of the Roses was seamless and a intriguing. The journey that the story follows itself is quite simple, but the magic involved is more intricate. The book really draws you in and I'm looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
July 28, 2022
If you like a twist on history this is great
July 10, 2023
Primer tomo de la trilogía, índice pendiente.
January 19, 2024
I really enjoyed the first book of this trilogy and look forward to see what is yet to become Willand and his journey.
April 1, 2016
Comprei este livro já há uns 7 anos por impulso. Estava muito barato, a frase da capa despertou a minha atenção - "E um dia o Rei Artur regressará" - e fez-me ler a sinopse. Comprei-o mas acabou esquecido na estante até agora e acho que não tinha perdido nada se tivesse continuado esquecido.
Primeiro que tudo, só há relativamente poucos anos é que reparei que este livro é na realidade o primeiro volume de uma trilogia, pois no livro não refere nada. Esperava uma história, baseada na Guerra das Rosas, mas que tivesse um ambiente e tom com ares de Tolkien ou de Marion Zimmer Bradley, já que esta é menciona também na capa. Isto é, a Guerra das Rosas com um ambiente de fantasia mas que fosse envolvente.
A história centra-se em no jovem Willand e no Mestre Gwydion, um feiticeiro que pretende salvar o Reino do poder das pedras mágicas e que é usada para o mal.
A história até tinha potencial. Desenrola-se numa Inglaterra imaginária, com o perigo de uma guerra civil e onde se espera que o Rei Artur reencarne uma terceira vez.
Não sei se foi de mim, que afinal não estaria tão disposta a ler fantasia, ou se foi mesmo do enredo, mas a verdade é que a história não me agarrou. Entreteve-me qb mas achei que na sua maioria ser chato!
Primeiro que tudo, só há relativamente poucos anos é que reparei que este livro é na realidade o primeiro volume de uma trilogia, pois no livro não refere nada. Esperava uma história, baseada na Guerra das Rosas, mas que tivesse um ambiente e tom com ares de Tolkien ou de Marion Zimmer Bradley, já que esta é menciona também na capa. Isto é, a Guerra das Rosas com um ambiente de fantasia mas que fosse envolvente.
A história centra-se em no jovem Willand e no Mestre Gwydion, um feiticeiro que pretende salvar o Reino do poder das pedras mágicas e que é usada para o mal.
A história até tinha potencial. Desenrola-se numa Inglaterra imaginária, com o perigo de uma guerra civil e onde se espera que o Rei Artur reencarne uma terceira vez.
Não sei se foi de mim, que afinal não estaria tão disposta a ler fantasia, ou se foi mesmo do enredo, mas a verdade é que a história não me agarrou. Entreteve-me qb mas achei que na sua maioria ser chato!
February 4, 2016
Very slow moving book. Don't expect a fast moving plot. In some respects this is understandable. We are experiencing young Willand's (the central character) journey towards adulthood. We are learning the history and ways of the land as Willand is. I particularly liked the way Robert Carter weaves into the story, the stone circles, megaliths and ley lines of England and Ireland into the story. As well as the old Celtic ways.
January 7, 2021
The main story and idea I liked, but I'm not gonna read part 2 or 3.
Too many names/places, that for most readers don't add any thing to the story. You might like it if you are interested in links to area's in Great Britain (better be safe, as I can't remembed if it was England or other parts). But not for me.
I must admit I sometimes even skipped parts on a page...as I wanted to know the main story and not those details.
Too many names/places, that for most readers don't add any thing to the story. You might like it if you are interested in links to area's in Great Britain (better be safe, as I can't remembed if it was England or other parts). But not for me.
I must admit I sometimes even skipped parts on a page...as I wanted to know the main story and not those details.
Want to read
February 17, 2010A Linguagem das Pedras by Robert Carter (2005)
Want to read
January 30, 2015Author's guest post at my blog:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2014/11/...
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2014/11/...
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews