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Alastair Stone Chronicles #14
Steel and Stone
Point of no return
Alastair Stone, determined to harness enigmatic mage Trevor Harrison’s potent power source, takes a desperate chance—he travels to the dimension where it originates, hoping to convince Harrison to teach him its secrets.
He should have expected things wouldn’t go as planned.
Stranded without his power in an exotic, unfamiliar world rich in magic and ruled by tyrannical practitioners, Stone knows his only chance of getting his magic back is to find Harrison--a man who has good reasons for not wanting to be found.
But first, he has to stay alive long enough to do it.
Alastair Stone, determined to harness enigmatic mage Trevor Harrison’s potent power source, takes a desperate chance—he travels to the dimension where it originates, hoping to convince Harrison to teach him its secrets.
He should have expected things wouldn’t go as planned.
Stranded without his power in an exotic, unfamiliar world rich in magic and ruled by tyrannical practitioners, Stone knows his only chance of getting his magic back is to find Harrison--a man who has good reasons for not wanting to be found.
But first, he has to stay alive long enough to do it.
- GenresUrban FantasyFantasy
617 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 10, 2018
163 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
R.L. King
68 books332 followersR. L. King is the author of the Amazon-bestselling urban fantasy series The Alastair Stone Chronicles.
When not doing her best to make life difficult for her characters, she works as a software technical writer for a large Silicon Valley database company.
She also freelances for Catalyst Game Labs, publisher of the popular roleplaying game Shadowrun, where she's contributed fiction and game material to numerous sourcebooks and one full-length adventure, "On the Run," which was included as part of the 2012 Origins-Award-winning "Runners' Toolkit."
Her first novel in the Shadowrun universe, "Borrowed Time," was published in Spring 2015. She's working on her second Shadowrun novel, "Veiled Extraction," which will be released in late 2016 or early 2017.
When not writing or working, she enjoys hanging out with her very understanding spouse and her small herd of cats, and watching way too much Doctor Who.
When not doing her best to make life difficult for her characters, she works as a software technical writer for a large Silicon Valley database company.
She also freelances for Catalyst Game Labs, publisher of the popular roleplaying game Shadowrun, where she's contributed fiction and game material to numerous sourcebooks and one full-length adventure, "On the Run," which was included as part of the 2012 Origins-Award-winning "Runners' Toolkit."
Her first novel in the Shadowrun universe, "Borrowed Time," was published in Spring 2015. She's working on her second Shadowrun novel, "Veiled Extraction," which will be released in late 2016 or early 2017.
When not writing or working, she enjoys hanging out with her very understanding spouse and her small herd of cats, and watching way too much Doctor Who.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
June 28, 2018
Steel and Stone: the Alastair Stone Chronicles, Book #14
by R.L. King
An interesting contribution to the Stone Chronicles. In this one, Stone is without his usual friends. He's decided to try and get to the dimension that is home to Trevor Harrison. He's spent quite a bit of time researching and designing a spell to transport him there, but he lacks definite coordinates or any real information about where in the dimension he might find Harrison or whether Harrison will be glad to see him. Still, if he hopes to learn to channel Harrison's magic without the need to draw energy from others, it's something he must do, so, leaving Radar in Verity's care, off he goes.
Because the vast majority of this novel is set in that other dimension, Stone must make other contacts. He arrives, and finds that not only does his magic not work in this dimension, but there is a great divide between the with-magic people and the without-magic people. As he arrives in a magic user only town, without magic, he is immediately beaten badly by the first magic-users he comes across. Saved, so to speak, by the guardians of the town(think magic police), they transport him to Drendell, a non-magic-user town. There he is picked up and saved by local health workers. While the magic-users live in luxury, the non-magic-users live not only in poverty/near poverty, but in fear of the magic-users, who do not think anything on enslaving the non-magic-users or even of taking their lives.
Diving into his search for Harrison in his typical bull-in-a-china-shop manner, Stone winds up sent back to the magic-users town, but this time as a slave. With no magic and no friends, he is soon slated for the death matches that take place in the Arena. He is narrowly saved by some of Harrison's people. Once healed, he learns more about the political situation in the dimension, and, as he trains with Harrison's people in the use of magic in this dimension, he also joins in the attempt to bring another magic-user into the Harrison's resistance group. When the organization is betrayed and Harrison captured, Harrison's people, Stone, and one of the Travellers, residents of a section of the dimension known as the Wastes, embark on a mission to find and free Harrison.
For me, the book took a while to get going. Probably because Stone was the only character known to me, I really didn't find the early part of the book too compelling. Once Stone is in the company of Harrison and his people, the story begins to gel and become more interesting. I'm assuming the time King spent on creating this dimension will add to future adventures, however, I was not only happy to see the story end, but to see Stone return to his own world.
So, it was an interesting diversion, but not my favorite book in the series by a long shot.
by R.L. King
An interesting contribution to the Stone Chronicles. In this one, Stone is without his usual friends. He's decided to try and get to the dimension that is home to Trevor Harrison. He's spent quite a bit of time researching and designing a spell to transport him there, but he lacks definite coordinates or any real information about where in the dimension he might find Harrison or whether Harrison will be glad to see him. Still, if he hopes to learn to channel Harrison's magic without the need to draw energy from others, it's something he must do, so, leaving Radar in Verity's care, off he goes.
Because the vast majority of this novel is set in that other dimension, Stone must make other contacts. He arrives, and finds that not only does his magic not work in this dimension, but there is a great divide between the with-magic people and the without-magic people. As he arrives in a magic user only town, without magic, he is immediately beaten badly by the first magic-users he comes across. Saved, so to speak, by the guardians of the town(think magic police), they transport him to Drendell, a non-magic-user town. There he is picked up and saved by local health workers. While the magic-users live in luxury, the non-magic-users live not only in poverty/near poverty, but in fear of the magic-users, who do not think anything on enslaving the non-magic-users or even of taking their lives.
Diving into his search for Harrison in his typical bull-in-a-china-shop manner, Stone winds up sent back to the magic-users town, but this time as a slave. With no magic and no friends, he is soon slated for the death matches that take place in the Arena. He is narrowly saved by some of Harrison's people. Once healed, he learns more about the political situation in the dimension, and, as he trains with Harrison's people in the use of magic in this dimension, he also joins in the attempt to bring another magic-user into the Harrison's resistance group. When the organization is betrayed and Harrison captured, Harrison's people, Stone, and one of the Travellers, residents of a section of the dimension known as the Wastes, embark on a mission to find and free Harrison.
For me, the book took a while to get going. Probably because Stone was the only character known to me, I really didn't find the early part of the book too compelling. Once Stone is in the company of Harrison and his people, the story begins to gel and become more interesting. I'm assuming the time King spent on creating this dimension will add to future adventures, however, I was not only happy to see the story end, but to see Stone return to his own world.
So, it was an interesting diversion, but not my favorite book in the series by a long shot.
June 21, 2018
This, for me, was an exciting, much anticipated, page turning episode in the world of Alastair Stone. The plot has been building up in the previous books to Stone finding a way to use the strange and powerful magic Trevor Harrison possessed. In Steel and Stone, Alastair is against a wall, either find a way around it to harness the strange power or accept the unpleasant fact that he must depend on Jason or use the dangerously addicting method of taking energy from other willing sources to refuel his power. He chooses the dangerous and unknown path to find the mysterious Trevor Harrison with the hope the man would teach him how to use his powerful magic.
As in all of the Alastair Stone stories, Steel and Stone is an exciting adventure into Stone's world with plenty of action and a great deal of danger.
While the story wraps up satisfactorily and it closes the door on the plot of Stone's problem with his magic, King has left open doors to new adventures for Alastair, involving his new magic source and Trevor Harrison.
As in all of the Alastair Stone stories, Steel and Stone is an exciting adventure into Stone's world with plenty of action and a great deal of danger.
While the story wraps up satisfactorily and it closes the door on the plot of Stone's problem with his magic, King has left open doors to new adventures for Alastair, involving his new magic source and Trevor Harrison.
July 13, 2018
Alastair learns that he has led a charmed life, financially, professionally and magically, up to this point. He has always been powerful magically, he has been financial well off before his various inheritances and never had to work if he didn’t want to, but has never had to struggle for a job in his professional sphere. But in the dimension where Trevor Harrison’s magic comes from, he is a penniless, powerless and friendless stranger who doesn’t understand, or agree with, the narrow minded social or political structures in place. But through stubbornness, and some small luck, he finds Trevor Harrison and a way home. And a way to no longer be a Black Mage who is addicted to taking magic
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2020
Another surprising plot
It is amazing to me how RL King can come up with new and exciting ways to tell a story about a mage and magic. This story line covers a totally new realm of magic While adding a really interesting plots about power, entitlement and corruption, and how easy it is for powerful beings to miss use their gifts in harmful ways against those who are lesser in their eyes. I just love how Alaister Stone always is above board and fights for the underdog. Great story line. Well worth the read.
It is amazing to me how RL King can come up with new and exciting ways to tell a story about a mage and magic. This story line covers a totally new realm of magic While adding a really interesting plots about power, entitlement and corruption, and how easy it is for powerful beings to miss use their gifts in harmful ways against those who are lesser in their eyes. I just love how Alaister Stone always is above board and fights for the underdog. Great story line. Well worth the read.
March 25, 2020
Excellent!!! Stone finally finds & meets up with Harrison, in the dimension where he spends much of his time. Stone was still having a problem dealing with becoming a black mage, which now requires him to take power from others. His hope was to find Harrison & learn an alternative way to do this that would not endanger the lives of others, or make him dependant on someone else. To do this requires him to risk his life going somewhere that could kill him & abandon him where he could not return to his own dimension.
June 14, 2018
Fantastic Adventure!
This story is great! Alastair goes through the wringer - a few times - in search of knowledge and the ever elusive Harrison!
It has some well timed humour and even a bit of very cool Steampunk. Horrible, elitist "Talented" abound as well.
I would have liked to see more of Verity and Jason, but that wasn't the focus of the story..
I highly recommend this book and series!
This story is great! Alastair goes through the wringer - a few times - in search of knowledge and the ever elusive Harrison!
It has some well timed humour and even a bit of very cool Steampunk. Horrible, elitist "Talented" abound as well.
I would have liked to see more of Verity and Jason, but that wasn't the focus of the story..
I highly recommend this book and series!
March 31, 2022
Great story, as with all the "Stone Chronicles"!
Alistair Stone, bereft of his ability to utilize his White Magic powers after 'ashing' his sister in defence of Verify and himself, finds himself addicted to the 'Rush' he gets from taking power from others as a black mage must. Growing increasingly desperate to escape his dark urges, he makes a desperate attempt to access the dimension of Trevor Harrison to ask him to teach him to use the strange magic that Harrison uses.
Alistair Stone, bereft of his ability to utilize his White Magic powers after 'ashing' his sister in defence of Verify and himself, finds himself addicted to the 'Rush' he gets from taking power from others as a black mage must. Growing increasingly desperate to escape his dark urges, he makes a desperate attempt to access the dimension of Trevor Harrison to ask him to teach him to use the strange magic that Harrison uses.
July 3, 2018
New Knowledge
Being used to earth and Stone's magic , it was quite an experience seeing Stone find Harrison and learn from him. Such an excellent book! I recommend the entire Alistair Stone Chronicles but you have an exciting mystery and experience waiting you as you read this book! New characters but a new world of knowledge!
Being used to earth and Stone's magic , it was quite an experience seeing Stone find Harrison and learn from him. Such an excellent book! I recommend the entire Alistair Stone Chronicles but you have an exciting mystery and experience waiting you as you read this book! New characters but a new world of knowledge!
October 7, 2018
Woah
This was a different experience for a Stone book. Another dimension different. I loved it. Seeing a new world with many similarities and yet huge in your face differences was interesting. I really enjoyed how completely filled out King made this new dimension. I really hope we see a little more of it in future stories.
This was a different experience for a Stone book. Another dimension different. I loved it. Seeing a new world with many similarities and yet huge in your face differences was interesting. I really enjoyed how completely filled out King made this new dimension. I really hope we see a little more of it in future stories.
November 8, 2018
Fast read with interesting departures from form
The character delves deeper into his roots showing more of the scientist than we've seen in prior novels and with the world building makes this a fine departure from the more mystery oriented past books. I recommend this highly as I do the complete series.
The character delves deeper into his roots showing more of the scientist than we've seen in prior novels and with the world building makes this a fine departure from the more mystery oriented past books. I recommend this highly as I do the complete series.
January 18, 2022
Entertaining and adventurous
I couldn't put book down. But as usual there was too much info on mundane stuff so I speed read thru that. It was also annoying how Stone acted like a super jerk in part of his training. I found that unbelievable. This was one of the better books in series. I'm looking forward to Stone and Claws
I couldn't put book down. But as usual there was too much info on mundane stuff so I speed read thru that. It was also annoying how Stone acted like a super jerk in part of his training. I found that unbelievable. This was one of the better books in series. I'm looking forward to Stone and Claws
June 20, 2018
This was an awesome book. I have really enjoyed the Alistair Stone books and they just keep getting better and better. Can't wait til the next one. Ms. King keep on writing your doing an awesome job with these characters as well as the new characters.Love it 5 stars.
July 20, 2018
Must Read
A Must Read
What a great ride. Could not put it down. Alistair goes on a little trip to find Harrison, and get his magic straight. When he gets where he is going, things. Go very wrong. What an adventure. One of the best books yet
A Must Read
What a great ride. Could not put it down. Alistair goes on a little trip to find Harrison, and get his magic straight. When he gets where he is going, things. Go very wrong. What an adventure. One of the best books yet
September 26, 2018
OMG, this was such a great book. Alastair Stone really got into some difficult situations. I like all of this series and this is the best book. Some parts of this book were so intense I reread them just to experience the thrill again.
February 7, 2021
I love this series
I finish one and think I'm going to give it a rest for a bit and read something else. But I get the next one and think I'll read just a little bit. And before you know it, I'm ready for the next one.
I finish one and think I'm going to give it a rest for a bit and read something else. But I get the next one and think I'll read just a little bit. And before you know it, I'm ready for the next one.
June 15, 2018
Great
I had really hoped that Alastair Stone would find his way out of the mess that he was in with his magic. I have to say.... a job well done... well done indeed.
I had really hoped that Alastair Stone would find his way out of the mess that he was in with his magic. I have to say.... a job well done... well done indeed.
July 4, 2018
Wow
What an exciting and amazing Stone adventure. I definitely was not expecting the direction this story took. It is going to open up all kinds of possibilities.
What an exciting and amazing Stone adventure. I definitely was not expecting the direction this story took. It is going to open up all kinds of possibilities.
July 24, 2018
Pretty darn good!
Pretty darn good.
It says I need 17 more words as a minimum. 7 now. Now 5. And so on. Success!
Pretty darn good.
It says I need 17 more words as a minimum. 7 now. Now 5. And so on. Success!
July 27, 2018
Good story.
August 2, 2018
#15 in a series, and another fine book by R.L. King. I love the characters in this book and am enamoured by Alistar Stone.
August 3, 2018
Another Brilliant addition to the Alastair Stone Series. Can't wait for the next one!
September 3, 2018
Absolutely marvelous!
I could not put this down. Do not start this book if you need to be somewhere in the next five hours!
I could not put this down. Do not start this book if you need to be somewhere in the next five hours!
November 6, 2018
Love them all
I’ve read every one of this series one right after the other, couldn’t put them down! This is not my usual genre but they are amazing! Enjoy!
I’ve read every one of this series one right after the other, couldn’t put them down! This is not my usual genre but they are amazing! Enjoy!
June 20, 2019
Down the rabbit hole, indeed! Absolutely pivotal installment, which sets up future changes for Alastair that I haven't figured out completely, yet. Excellent read. I want more of Trevor Harrison!
January 31, 2020
Wow
This may well be my favorite of the entire series. The blending of elements of both UF and Sci Fi was done very well.
This may well be my favorite of the entire series. The blending of elements of both UF and Sci Fi was done very well.
October 8, 2020
Phenomenal
I love these stories! They just get better and better as you go. This one is one of the best yet. Incredibly imaginative and impossible to put down.
I love these stories! They just get better and better as you go. This one is one of the best yet. Incredibly imaginative and impossible to put down.
July 6, 2021
And yet another change of direction is Stone's journey. Great job!!
July 31, 2022
Had a hard time getting into this one.
February 25, 2023
Awesome Book
Loved seeing Harrison again and his dimension world. Stone and Harrison together can make awesome magic. So happy Stone has his magic back now.
Loved seeing Harrison again and his dimension world. Stone and Harrison together can make awesome magic. So happy Stone has his magic back now.
August 2, 2023
Fantastic!
I am speechless of all the twists and turns in this book! Wonderful character development and new world to explore.
I am speechless of all the twists and turns in this book! Wonderful character development and new world to explore.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews