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Alastair Stone Chronicles #21
Death's Door
A Friend Lost. A Horror Unearthed. An Enemy Reborn.
It was meant to be a simple few days away: Verity heading off for a much-needed girls’ weekend in New York City.
But then comes her desperate call to Alastair Stone: A terrifying disaster has occurred, killing dozens of people—including a dear friend.
When Stone joins her to investigate, they quickly discover that magic is behind the catastrophe. Even worse, it’s magic that isn’t even supposed to exist.
As a long-simmering disagreement explodes into a rift between Stone and a grief-stricken Verity, Stone learns that things are even worse than he feared.
Someone has unearthed a long-dead mage's legacy, threatening to unleash nightmarish ancient magic that no one—living or dead—is safe from.
It was meant to be a simple few days away: Verity heading off for a much-needed girls’ weekend in New York City.
But then comes her desperate call to Alastair Stone: A terrifying disaster has occurred, killing dozens of people—including a dear friend.
When Stone joins her to investigate, they quickly discover that magic is behind the catastrophe. Even worse, it’s magic that isn’t even supposed to exist.
As a long-simmering disagreement explodes into a rift between Stone and a grief-stricken Verity, Stone learns that things are even worse than he feared.
Someone has unearthed a long-dead mage's legacy, threatening to unleash nightmarish ancient magic that no one—living or dead—is safe from.
- GenresUrban FantasyFantasy
479 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 9, 2020
131 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
R.L. King
68 books331 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 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 6, 2020
Good book in the series, but I wish it would deal more with the magic and fantasy aspects and less with relationships. Her writing is not as strong in that regard, and I read these books to get away from reality and live in her really cool world where magic is real. I don't read them to worry about whom is dating whom.
March 15, 2020
Verity and Stone drove me crazy
I've loved nearly everything in the Stone-iverse up to now, but allways felt uncomfortable with Stone and Verity's relationship. This novel brings issues into the open in a disappointing way. Stone and Verity's arguing is boring and lacking in character development. Stone needs to treat her like an equal or let her go. Verity needs to get a backbone, speak directly and do what she thinks is right without Stone's approval. This is where I suspected such an age separated, former teacher-student relationship would end up and it's awful to read, goes on way to long and is severely lacking in interest. I hope this lousy bickering doesn't continue to be a plot element.
I've loved nearly everything in the Stone-iverse up to now, but allways felt uncomfortable with Stone and Verity's relationship. This novel brings issues into the open in a disappointing way. Stone and Verity's arguing is boring and lacking in character development. Stone needs to treat her like an equal or let her go. Verity needs to get a backbone, speak directly and do what she thinks is right without Stone's approval. This is where I suspected such an age separated, former teacher-student relationship would end up and it's awful to read, goes on way to long and is severely lacking in interest. I hope this lousy bickering doesn't continue to be a plot element.
May 24, 2020
Death's Door, Book 21, Alastair Stone Chronicles
By R.L. King
I'm not sure why I didn't enjoy this book as much as I have most of the oyhers in this series. There was an interesting plot, the pacing and flow was good proofing and editing other than one very obvious proofing error (more on that later), well defined characters, and no particularly cliffhanger-like ending. But I didn't love it. I'll expound not why, but if you haven't read the book, you might want to stop here as there will some Spoilers.
First that proofing error. Chapter 22, location 3836 (Kindle Fire), 66%. ...- and even another friend of mine who was seriously injured by a while back -... Sigh. I didn't realize 'a while back' could injure someone.
Maybe I was in the mood not to like this novel, as I'd just finished the Boys' Night Way Out novella when I started Death's Door. And I didn't like the novella much either. I'm not a big fan of the Jason and Verify characters in the first place, and every novel, Verity gets more annoying and demanding. I'm simply over her poor me attitude, so I may be the only Stone fan who was overjoyed at her end of the book decision to take her SUV and go 'find herself.' I'd be happy to not see her again at all, and hope it takes her at least a few novels to return.
And finally, evidently I am the only urban fantasy fan who gets tired of so called powerful mages who have to have their butts saved by someone with no powers or, in this case, by a one trick pony of a mage who saves Alastair like Colonel Mustard in the library, with a candlestick, literally!
Ms King, you can do better; you have done better.
By R.L. King
I'm not sure why I didn't enjoy this book as much as I have most of the oyhers in this series. There was an interesting plot, the pacing and flow was good proofing and editing other than one very obvious proofing error (more on that later), well defined characters, and no particularly cliffhanger-like ending. But I didn't love it. I'll expound not why, but if you haven't read the book, you might want to stop here as there will some Spoilers.
First that proofing error. Chapter 22, location 3836 (Kindle Fire), 66%. ...- and even another friend of mine who was seriously injured by a while back -... Sigh. I didn't realize 'a while back' could injure someone.
Maybe I was in the mood not to like this novel, as I'd just finished the Boys' Night Way Out novella when I started Death's Door. And I didn't like the novella much either. I'm not a big fan of the Jason and Verify characters in the first place, and every novel, Verity gets more annoying and demanding. I'm simply over her poor me attitude, so I may be the only Stone fan who was overjoyed at her end of the book decision to take her SUV and go 'find herself.' I'd be happy to not see her again at all, and hope it takes her at least a few novels to return.
And finally, evidently I am the only urban fantasy fan who gets tired of so called powerful mages who have to have their butts saved by someone with no powers or, in this case, by a one trick pony of a mage who saves Alastair like Colonel Mustard in the library, with a candlestick, literally!
Ms King, you can do better; you have done better.
April 18, 2021
Another superb book by King. An old enemy reappears in this book, unbeknowst to Alastair, who only sees him in the form of a woman he does not recognize. "She" hires a mage with limited powers, but one extroidinary one, which she makes use of. He can create his own portal, with the ability to get in & out of places including those considered impregnable. She wants him to steel a magical object, which on the service looks like an ordinary empty box. But something goes wrong while stealing it.
Meanwhile, in the vacinity, Verity & her ex-girlfriend, Shara, are on holiday together, but separated when Shara goes off to buy tickets at a theatre & Verity goes to get seats at a coffee shop close by. While Verity awaits Shara's return, a massive explosion occurs, & Shara is no where to be found. Alastair soon appears on the scene after a desperate call from Verity, & they soon discover magic was involved. The lingering residual of the magic used, was something that should not be there. A puzzle that Alastair cannot resist. Verity's main focus is on finding Shara if she's still alive, or the person who killed her.
But things are more complicated & more deadly than either of them realize. A rift forms between Alastair & Verity over a long standing disagreement which was only fueled by the current incident. Regardless of their stand on the matter, they both throw their energy into finding the truth, a truth more terrifying & gut wrenching than they ever would have imagined. And now their focus is on survival.
Meanwhile, in the vacinity, Verity & her ex-girlfriend, Shara, are on holiday together, but separated when Shara goes off to buy tickets at a theatre & Verity goes to get seats at a coffee shop close by. While Verity awaits Shara's return, a massive explosion occurs, & Shara is no where to be found. Alastair soon appears on the scene after a desperate call from Verity, & they soon discover magic was involved. The lingering residual of the magic used, was something that should not be there. A puzzle that Alastair cannot resist. Verity's main focus is on finding Shara if she's still alive, or the person who killed her.
But things are more complicated & more deadly than either of them realize. A rift forms between Alastair & Verity over a long standing disagreement which was only fueled by the current incident. Regardless of their stand on the matter, they both throw their energy into finding the truth, a truth more terrifying & gut wrenching than they ever would have imagined. And now their focus is on survival.
March 27, 2020
Good but not great. Stone investigates who caused the destruction of a museum while stealing something when they created a temporary portal resulting in the deaths of dozens, including Varity's one time lover Shara . He and Varity argue over her insistence that there needs to be a magical police force to deal with the magic bad people and he should agree with her. In the end the bad guy, unknown to Stone that it is a former nemesis, returned, who had hired the portal creating thief, gets away to return another day. The argument between Varity and Stone about what to do with the portal creating thief murderer when he is caught is easily solved when the guy feels so guilty about what happened that he commits suicide by portal. Even though Varity professes her love for Stone, she decides she must leave him on a path-finding mission to decide what she wants to do with her life. It'll be interesting to have Stone working on his own and what the author is going to do with the side plot of Stone's son Ian who has taken up with Kolinski's black sheep son.
June 11, 2025
Complex real emotions! Magical stakes! Brilliant!
Book 21 in a series? Well, surely, it's not as good as the first books, right? An author can't keep the world both original and fresh for that long, right?
WRONG! King is a master of creating a wainscot world that is rich, realistic, and still supernatural, while having 10-dimensional characters that have to live in the real world and suffer the consequences of not only their actions, but of those around them. Verity's internal conflicts here are so sympathetic and defendable, and yet, as a reader, you're cheering for her to keep her tact and her tenacity. Stone, likewise, is pulled in different directions, both to support the woman he loves, and to adhere to his own beliefs and understandings. The conflict is delectable, and I really enjoyed this installment!
Book 21 in a series? Well, surely, it's not as good as the first books, right? An author can't keep the world both original and fresh for that long, right?
WRONG! King is a master of creating a wainscot world that is rich, realistic, and still supernatural, while having 10-dimensional characters that have to live in the real world and suffer the consequences of not only their actions, but of those around them. Verity's internal conflicts here are so sympathetic and defendable, and yet, as a reader, you're cheering for her to keep her tact and her tenacity. Stone, likewise, is pulled in different directions, both to support the woman he loves, and to adhere to his own beliefs and understandings. The conflict is delectable, and I really enjoyed this installment!
March 19, 2020
Quite Brilliant!!
King has once again gone above and beyond our most hopeful expectations in this latest Alastair Stone novel!
With a few different 'mysteries' going on, I'm not sure how Stone keeps it together when several of the other characters are seriously melting down. PTSD, grief and 'survivor's guilt' are only a few of the raging mental conditions that need a good sorting out...
King has once again gone above and beyond our most hopeful expectations in this latest Alastair Stone novel!
With a few different 'mysteries' going on, I'm not sure how Stone keeps it together when several of the other characters are seriously melting down. PTSD, grief and 'survivor's guilt' are only a few of the raging mental conditions that need a good sorting out...
April 30, 2020
It just keeps getting better and better
This is no "Monster of the week" series. It's a world. A world of magic. A group of individuals who become a family. A seriously dysfunctional family perhaps, but watching them grow and tackle the paranormal evils of the world is pure 'readers heaven'.
This is no "Monster of the week" series. It's a world. A world of magic. A group of individuals who become a family. A seriously dysfunctional family perhaps, but watching them grow and tackle the paranormal evils of the world is pure 'readers heaven'.
May 1, 2020
Good but way too much bickering between Al and Verity. She loves him but...he loves her and gives her space. Please stop. I read urban fantasy for the plots, some humor, the escape; not to watch Verity act like an angst ridden 13 year old. Really, she and Al are in a dangerous situation and she cries?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2020
Book 22 cannot get here soon enough
Cannot wait for Book 22. This is an amazing series that I am so glad it's continuing. Each book is as well written and exciting as the one before! A midst read for those who are fans of Wizarding worlds.
Cannot wait for Book 22. This is an amazing series that I am so glad it's continuing. Each book is as well written and exciting as the one before! A midst read for those who are fans of Wizarding worlds.
July 3, 2020
More revelations, and hard times
Things are getting tough for Stone and Verity, and only get worse. Between old enemies and new tragedies, they have a lot to work through, both together and separately.
Things are getting tough for Stone and Verity, and only get worse. Between old enemies and new tragedies, they have a lot to work through, both together and separately.
January 24, 2021
Another great read
This is yet another great story in this intriguing series. Great characters and story line with many twists and turns. Told in chapters chronicling each character and finally coming together in a thrilling conclusion.
This is yet another great story in this intriguing series. Great characters and story line with many twists and turns. Told in chapters chronicling each character and finally coming together in a thrilling conclusion.
June 4, 2022
Necromancers???
Another fantastic entry in the Alastair Stone series, this time going toe-to-toe with a necromancer, and getting help from the unlikeliest of allies. Heartbreak in this one, so be forewarned
Another fantastic entry in the Alastair Stone series, this time going toe-to-toe with a necromancer, and getting help from the unlikeliest of allies. Heartbreak in this one, so be forewarned
December 7, 2023
I would have given this book 4 stars if Verity hadn't been the most awful and annoying person the entire time. She's become unbearable. I'm hoping that her going off to find herself means she won't be in the next few books because she almost ruins the store.
March 18, 2020
I enjoyed it. I’m a bit sad that the trio of Al, Verity and Jason aren’t as close anymore.
March 19, 2020
So good!
I love this whole series...each one gets better and better! No spoilers but the bad guy doesn't exactly get what's coming to them and the end his like nooo! Lol
I love this whole series...each one gets better and better! No spoilers but the bad guy doesn't exactly get what's coming to them and the end his like nooo! Lol
April 30, 2025
In Death’s Door, an old enemy – one Stone thinks vanquished – resurfaces. This enemy’s machinations inadvertently, and rather coincidentally, attract Stone’s attention as Verity is caught up in a tragic explosion.
Stone is an excellent character. He is interesting and well-written, as are the supporting characters. That is not to say that he is not frustrating, sometimes annoying, and occasionally unbearably smug. And while I like Verity, I’ve never been a big fan of their romantic relationship. Verity is too immature, and Stone too passive (in this one instance), for this relationship to seem healthy or even believable.
One of the things I enjoy about this series, is that not every book features an “end of the world” storyline, and not all stories have a wholly satisfying conclusion. As with real-life, sometimes things take a while to figure out, sometimes we need to rely on (and wait for) other people’s help and expertise, and sometimes the characters don’t get all the answers (though usually the reader is not left quite so in the dark).
Stone is an excellent character. He is interesting and well-written, as are the supporting characters. That is not to say that he is not frustrating, sometimes annoying, and occasionally unbearably smug. And while I like Verity, I’ve never been a big fan of their romantic relationship. Verity is too immature, and Stone too passive (in this one instance), for this relationship to seem healthy or even believable.
One of the things I enjoy about this series, is that not every book features an “end of the world” storyline, and not all stories have a wholly satisfying conclusion. As with real-life, sometimes things take a while to figure out, sometimes we need to rely on (and wait for) other people’s help and expertise, and sometimes the characters don’t get all the answers (though usually the reader is not left quite so in the dark).
September 5, 2025
I've been enjoying the Alastair Stone storyline through the first 20 books. Verity and Jason have been pretty solid side stories. But this one...ugh. Verity is just so immature and such a jerk about everything. Alastair isn't the most emotionally intelligent guy...keeps things to himself and doesn't relate well to others, even those closest to him. But over the past couple books, the polyamorous relationship has been very one sided. Poor Kyla and Alastair are led around by the nose by Verity. Then Verity's reaction to her grief and attack on Alastair when he didn't agree with one of her ideas is really over the top. Honestly, I found myself giving King an ultimatum...Keep up with this terrible storyline and I'm out.
April 30, 2020
I’m a bit sad that the trio of Al, Verity and Jason aren’t that close anymore
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews