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Said In Stone
When the cat’s away the mice will… Play? Fight? Fall in love?
Featuring six short stories from the supernatural world of Denver, Colorado and the mystical Library of Alexandria, the answers are Said in Stone:
Zombies Don’t Play Baseball: What happens when a book on necromancy falls into the wrong hands after the Cubs win the World Series?
Welcome to the Collective: A glimpse into the Heart of the Library where dwells something more than books.
Convention Shock: All Peter Haas wanted was a day off at the DenCon fan convention. What he got…gremlins, lots of gremlins.
How to Train Your Hellhound: Angel the Hellhound goes to obedience school and finds a life of crime.
Merry Christmas to You: One haunted opera house and one visionary storyteller. Can they create sweet music?
The Door to the EverGold: When books are in trouble and knowledge about to be lost, there’s only one place to turn. Librarians to the rescue.
Featuring six short stories from the supernatural world of Denver, Colorado and the mystical Library of Alexandria, the answers are Said in Stone:
Zombies Don’t Play Baseball: What happens when a book on necromancy falls into the wrong hands after the Cubs win the World Series?
Welcome to the Collective: A glimpse into the Heart of the Library where dwells something more than books.
Convention Shock: All Peter Haas wanted was a day off at the DenCon fan convention. What he got…gremlins, lots of gremlins.
How to Train Your Hellhound: Angel the Hellhound goes to obedience school and finds a life of crime.
Merry Christmas to You: One haunted opera house and one visionary storyteller. Can they create sweet music?
The Door to the EverGold: When books are in trouble and knowledge about to be lost, there’s only one place to turn. Librarians to the rescue.
156 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2019
12 people want to read
About the author
Jana S. Brown
12 books53 followersWhen Jana S. Brown was eight, she knew she wanted to be an author and a mother. Now she’s both and even has a fuzzy sidekick. Jana loves to write the weird and the wonderful, usually with smoochies. She lives in Utah with her husband, kids, cat and her wild imagination.
Come and visit her website at www.janasbrownwrites.com and join her newsletter for release announcements, sneak peeks and prizes.
Come and visit her website at www.janasbrownwrites.com and join her newsletter for release announcements, sneak peeks and prizes.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 22, 2019
This is a group of stories set in the author's UF world. They aren't related to the books, except tangentially, so there's no spoilers if you're worried about that kind of thing and you should be able to pick these up on their own just fine.
I really hate trying to rate or review story collections. I didn't track each story as I read it this time so I don't have a detailed breakdown. They range from five stars (the first, for sure) to three, but all of them were fun, some hilarious, and they included characters I really enjoyed. Kendra the librarian is by far my favorite character. If you want a sense of the humor, read my highlights.
I think I'll leave it there. Great characters, good stories, and not a stinker in the bunch. If you go by averages, this would be four stars. But I'm going to go with my policy to boost it a star because it's a collection where I enjoyed every story.
A note about Chaste: These are modern characters and at least one is in an ongoing, committed-enough relationship and sex is mentioned. None of it happens on-screen so I consider this chaste.
I really hate trying to rate or review story collections. I didn't track each story as I read it this time so I don't have a detailed breakdown. They range from five stars (the first, for sure) to three, but all of them were fun, some hilarious, and they included characters I really enjoyed. Kendra the librarian is by far my favorite character. If you want a sense of the humor, read my highlights.
I think I'll leave it there. Great characters, good stories, and not a stinker in the bunch. If you go by averages, this would be four stars. But I'm going to go with my policy to boost it a star because it's a collection where I enjoyed every story.
A note about Chaste: These are modern characters and at least one is in an ongoing, committed-enough relationship and sex is mentioned. None of it happens on-screen so I consider this chaste.
April 11, 2019
Much as I enjoyed Fallen Stone, the novel that introduced the world these stories take place in, I liked these stories even better. I particularly like the ones featuring the Library of Alexandria and its staff, because libraries are always going to be interesting to me. For the most part, it's not necessary to have read Fallen Stone to be comfortable in this world, though I think reading that book gives the stories added depth. There's action, humor, and some very moving moments, and I wasn't disappointed in any of the stories (my biggest problem with anthologies and collections). I would love to see more stories of any length about these characters.
June 7, 2019
While all of these stories take place in the universe Jana created in Fallen Stone, you do not need to have read the book to enjoy these stories! Although you should. This book was too short for me, because the stories were so fun to read, I found myself reaching the end of the book and saying, "Wait...but I want more!" The stories are simple, fun adventures about the side characters in the story and the things that happen to them when the main character isn't around.
The thing that I like best about this book is just that- the main character isn't there. It means that the other characters that Jana created get to have lives and experiences outside of Misery's influence. That they could be the stars of their own books because they are so interesting.
The thing that I like best about this book is just that- the main character isn't there. It means that the other characters that Jana created get to have lives and experiences outside of Misery's influence. That they could be the stars of their own books because they are so interesting.
April 30, 2019
Wow. This was so much fun!! A collection of short stories following some of the side characters from the Sentinels of Essence series - they range from zombies to police procedural to fantasy to quest to puzzle... I was going to list a favorite or two, but I can’t pick. Maybe the ghost story! They’re such great characters and fun plots, and with such a variety of styles, everyone is sure to find a story to love in this book!
I read an ARC...but I would have bought a copy anyway. Review is all mine!
I read an ARC...but I would have bought a copy anyway. Review is all mine!
April 14, 2019
I am wildly biased because I’m married to the author.
But I am also an avid reader and with all sincerity I can recommend this book. I love the world of the fallen sentinels created in Fallen Stone and wondered about the lives and interests of many of the supporting characters. Said In Stone is a glimpse into their lives giving many of these characters a chance to be the hero of their own stories.
I particularly liked the baseball story with its goofy but oh so human behaviors and the stories with Haas and Kendra. The library is nearly a character all by itself so getting to know the librarian and the IT library guy (the ITarian?) was great fun. I think this collection of stories adds a lot of depth to the world and makes each of the characters treated more interesting and complex.
This collection is an easy read and gives a perfect view of the authors writing style so it serves as an excellent point to enter the world she has created and come to love the characters and setup like I do.
But I am also an avid reader and with all sincerity I can recommend this book. I love the world of the fallen sentinels created in Fallen Stone and wondered about the lives and interests of many of the supporting characters. Said In Stone is a glimpse into their lives giving many of these characters a chance to be the hero of their own stories.
I particularly liked the baseball story with its goofy but oh so human behaviors and the stories with Haas and Kendra. The library is nearly a character all by itself so getting to know the librarian and the IT library guy (the ITarian?) was great fun. I think this collection of stories adds a lot of depth to the world and makes each of the characters treated more interesting and complex.
This collection is an easy read and gives a perfect view of the authors writing style so it serves as an excellent point to enter the world she has created and come to love the characters and setup like I do.
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April 9, 2019This is one of my books, so no stars, but I do like talking about where the books came from.
Said in Stone takes place in the same world as Fallen Stone in the same timeline. However, Said in Stone isn't Misery's story, but 6 short pieces from the POV of various other characters. This book came about because of reader input as there were folks who wanted to know more about the secondary characters and an interest from my writing partner into the mystica Library of Alexandria from the first book.
I so loved writing these pieces. It was fun to delve into different parts of the supernatural world and to show how life goes out outside of the big plots in a series. They do stand alone from the series, however there are hints and clues in both books that tie together. For example some of the characters we meet in these shorts will show up again in the main series. So reading both enhances the total experience.
Welcome to the world of Inhuman Denver! I hope you enjoy it.
Said in Stone takes place in the same world as Fallen Stone in the same timeline. However, Said in Stone isn't Misery's story, but 6 short pieces from the POV of various other characters. This book came about because of reader input as there were folks who wanted to know more about the secondary characters and an interest from my writing partner into the mystica Library of Alexandria from the first book.
I so loved writing these pieces. It was fun to delve into different parts of the supernatural world and to show how life goes out outside of the big plots in a series. They do stand alone from the series, however there are hints and clues in both books that tie together. For example some of the characters we meet in these shorts will show up again in the main series. So reading both enhances the total experience.
Welcome to the world of Inhuman Denver! I hope you enjoy it.
May 8, 2019
{Spoiler-free review} I read this book without reading the series that it draws from, and it does NOT suffer from not knowing the background it pulls from. The short stories all stand well on their own right, though if I had to pick a favorite - I want my own hellhound now thanks to this book. :)
Can definitely see where readers of the series would enjoy this, because if *I* enjoyed it coming in without any background, well...
Can definitely see where readers of the series would enjoy this, because if *I* enjoyed it coming in without any background, well...
September 4, 2019
I voluntarily reviewed an early copy of this book :) this is the first book in a sort of companion-ish series to another series by this lovely author :) let me explain... "Fallen stone" is the first book in an urban fantasy series Sentinels of essence... it focuses on Misery and her story... I read that book about two years ago and loved it to pieces :) but before you start to worry, if you haven't read it yet, stop it :) this book can be read as a standalone, because it contains six short stories set in the same world and involving familiar faces, as in secondary characters we met in that first book, but you don't need any previous knowledge to enjoy this gem :) and yes, I am saying that from experience, because even if I did read "Fallen stone" it was a few years ago and I remember nothing from it ;) so either way, you have no excuses to not read this fantastic book full of wonderful stories... and speaking of them, let me share a bit more... but only a little bit, because they are not very long and I don't want to spoil you everything :)
"Zombies don't play baseball" - this one was all about a librarian who has to team up with a sort of paranormal bounty hunter while they are looking for a missing magical book... ;) witty banter and chemistry was an added bonus ;)
"Welcome to the Collective" - this one was focused more on answering a few questions about what exactly is happening at the heart of the very mysterious Library of Alexandria... :)
"Convention shock" - this one was about Peter Haas, who slowly becomes one of my favourite secondary characters, and his day off so he can attend DenCon fan convention... what can go wrong? apparently quite a few things... ;)
"How to train your hellhound" - this one shows what can happen if you leave your hellhound to be trained with suspicious people and then he goes missing... worry not, no hellhounds were harmed during the writing of this story ;)
"Merry Christmas to you" - this one involves a haunted opera house and a little group of ghost hunters, who are joined by a lovely storyteller... and of course lots of surprisig turns of events ;)
"The door to the EverGold" - this last story is once again focused on Library of Alexandria, and what happens when books are in need of a rescue ;)
Like I mentioned before, you don't need any previous knowledge to enjoy these stories, but I do recommend to read them in order they are in this book :) plus, even if you haven't read "Fallen stone" you will want to pick it up after this one :) I am definitely planning a re-read before the sequel will go live sometime later this year... but back to the main focus of this review :) from the very first chapter of the very first story I was very vividly reminded why I adore Jana's writing style so much :) it's entertaining and pulls you in immediately... I loved each story, for many different reasons, and I'm sure that all of you will find a favourite among them... I highly encourage you to pick up this book, so you can either discover the awesomeness that is Jana and her stories, and then can go back to read the main series, or to contiue on with yet another one of her gems... :)
XOXO
A
"Zombies don't play baseball" - this one was all about a librarian who has to team up with a sort of paranormal bounty hunter while they are looking for a missing magical book... ;) witty banter and chemistry was an added bonus ;)
"Welcome to the Collective" - this one was focused more on answering a few questions about what exactly is happening at the heart of the very mysterious Library of Alexandria... :)
"Convention shock" - this one was about Peter Haas, who slowly becomes one of my favourite secondary characters, and his day off so he can attend DenCon fan convention... what can go wrong? apparently quite a few things... ;)
"How to train your hellhound" - this one shows what can happen if you leave your hellhound to be trained with suspicious people and then he goes missing... worry not, no hellhounds were harmed during the writing of this story ;)
"Merry Christmas to you" - this one involves a haunted opera house and a little group of ghost hunters, who are joined by a lovely storyteller... and of course lots of surprisig turns of events ;)
"The door to the EverGold" - this last story is once again focused on Library of Alexandria, and what happens when books are in need of a rescue ;)
Like I mentioned before, you don't need any previous knowledge to enjoy these stories, but I do recommend to read them in order they are in this book :) plus, even if you haven't read "Fallen stone" you will want to pick it up after this one :) I am definitely planning a re-read before the sequel will go live sometime later this year... but back to the main focus of this review :) from the very first chapter of the very first story I was very vividly reminded why I adore Jana's writing style so much :) it's entertaining and pulls you in immediately... I loved each story, for many different reasons, and I'm sure that all of you will find a favourite among them... I highly encourage you to pick up this book, so you can either discover the awesomeness that is Jana and her stories, and then can go back to read the main series, or to contiue on with yet another one of her gems... :)
XOXO
A
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews