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Shadow Barrier Trilogy #2
Stonebearer's Apprentice
No monster has ever set foot inside the stronghold of Amul Dun.
Until now.
A traitor hides within its walls with orders to destroy Katira, her father, and the world they have sacrificed so much to save.
Wrothe is not as defeated as everyone believed. She plots her revenge even while banished to the other side of the shadow barrier.
Amul Dun's only hope lies within a dying man’s last words.
Katira’s only hope lies in mastering the power of the Khandashii. Without guidance, it will kill her. Her apprenticeship tests not only her strength and courage, but her determination to do what is necessary as well.
Until now.
A traitor hides within its walls with orders to destroy Katira, her father, and the world they have sacrificed so much to save.
Wrothe is not as defeated as everyone believed. She plots her revenge even while banished to the other side of the shadow barrier.
Amul Dun's only hope lies within a dying man’s last words.
Katira’s only hope lies in mastering the power of the Khandashii. Without guidance, it will kill her. Her apprenticeship tests not only her strength and courage, but her determination to do what is necessary as well.
364 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 12, 2020
3 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Jodi L. Milner
15 books33 followersJodi L. Milner is the author of the YA noble dark fantasy Stonebearer’s Betrayal as well as several short stories appearing in numerous anthologies and SQ Magazine.
In her community, she holds a leadership position in the League of Utah Writers and teaches at chapter meetings and conferences. She’s a world traveler, married a magician, studied Kenpo karate, and performed reptile shows several times a week while in college.
When not putting her characters in dire peril, Jodi can be folding the children and feeding the laundry, often in that order. She can also be found crocheting cute character sidekicks, playing lame app-based games, and reading – always reading.
Jodi is a firm believer that life is what you make it and she intends to make it a good one. She is an avid student of the interesting and obscure and has an unhealthy fascination with medical science. This path led to her working professionally in both human and animal medicine. These days she raises a pair of cranky chickens and is interested in taking up exotic animal rescue, much to her husband’s horror.
She makes her home in the mountains of Utah.
In her community, she holds a leadership position in the League of Utah Writers and teaches at chapter meetings and conferences. She’s a world traveler, married a magician, studied Kenpo karate, and performed reptile shows several times a week while in college.
When not putting her characters in dire peril, Jodi can be folding the children and feeding the laundry, often in that order. She can also be found crocheting cute character sidekicks, playing lame app-based games, and reading – always reading.
Jodi is a firm believer that life is what you make it and she intends to make it a good one. She is an avid student of the interesting and obscure and has an unhealthy fascination with medical science. This path led to her working professionally in both human and animal medicine. These days she raises a pair of cranky chickens and is interested in taking up exotic animal rescue, much to her husband’s horror.
She makes her home in the mountains of Utah.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 3, 2020
**Some spoilers**
In Jodi Milner's second book from the Shadow Barrier Trilogy, main character Katira becomes better aquatinted with her powers as she trains in healing and defense capacities with her father. We also get more insight into the world of immortal Guardians, as well as the mechanisms of an etherial mirror realm where the main antagonist, Wrothe, is causing havoc. Katira's love interest shifts from the boy she grew up with to a fellow Guardian-in-training, Isben. And key to the book's plot, the character Wrothe has upped the ante of her attack on the Guardians. The demoness has been sending deadly Shadow Hounds through the barriers of her confines into the normal world. She is fierce in her efforts to trap hosts for her possession, and to escape her imprisonment so she can rule and reap destruction. She attempts to possess various hosts and kill Guardians through the help of a traitor Guardian, Master Ternan. Katira learns that she herself is more powerful than she ever realized, and her gutsy ventures into the mirror realm allow her to help other Guardians who were on the brink of succumbing to the demon's power.
I liked watching Katira grow into her powers and realize how important her strength is to the Guardian orders. I also liked watching her interact with her grieving Papan, who just lost his wife—the girl's adoptive mother—at the end of the first book. This story is a fun continuation of Jodi's fantasy adventure universe.
In Jodi Milner's second book from the Shadow Barrier Trilogy, main character Katira becomes better aquatinted with her powers as she trains in healing and defense capacities with her father. We also get more insight into the world of immortal Guardians, as well as the mechanisms of an etherial mirror realm where the main antagonist, Wrothe, is causing havoc. Katira's love interest shifts from the boy she grew up with to a fellow Guardian-in-training, Isben. And key to the book's plot, the character Wrothe has upped the ante of her attack on the Guardians. The demoness has been sending deadly Shadow Hounds through the barriers of her confines into the normal world. She is fierce in her efforts to trap hosts for her possession, and to escape her imprisonment so she can rule and reap destruction. She attempts to possess various hosts and kill Guardians through the help of a traitor Guardian, Master Ternan. Katira learns that she herself is more powerful than she ever realized, and her gutsy ventures into the mirror realm allow her to help other Guardians who were on the brink of succumbing to the demon's power.
I liked watching Katira grow into her powers and realize how important her strength is to the Guardian orders. I also liked watching her interact with her grieving Papan, who just lost his wife—the girl's adoptive mother—at the end of the first book. This story is a fun continuation of Jodi's fantasy adventure universe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2020
The second book in the trilogy starts up just a few weeks after the first book ends. It is VITAL that you read the first book or you will be very confused. There was wonderful world-building that went into the first book and it will help you understand and jump into this 2nd book easier.
I really like the main character Katira. She has grown into a strong, loyal, and determined young lady. It's amazing to see how much she changes and learns in her journey to becoming a Stonebearer. There are some very intricate details about the things she must learn as she is an apprentice. Don't read it when you are tired or you may need to go back and reread. I truly wanted to take notes so I'd remember what each glyph would do. I also really loved every chapter that Katira's father, Master Jarend was in. He is brave and would sacrifice all for those he loves. Many minor characters had important roles in this novel. This made for interesting reading, especially in the action/battle scenes.
This YA Fantasy has such a cool world with many heroes, a super wicked villain, and a magic system that has totally intrigued me since book one. If you love reading YA fantasy with Kick Butt action, some mystery, and a little sweet romance, you will love reading the Stonebearer's Apprentice.
I really like the main character Katira. She has grown into a strong, loyal, and determined young lady. It's amazing to see how much she changes and learns in her journey to becoming a Stonebearer. There are some very intricate details about the things she must learn as she is an apprentice. Don't read it when you are tired or you may need to go back and reread. I truly wanted to take notes so I'd remember what each glyph would do. I also really loved every chapter that Katira's father, Master Jarend was in. He is brave and would sacrifice all for those he loves. Many minor characters had important roles in this novel. This made for interesting reading, especially in the action/battle scenes.
This YA Fantasy has such a cool world with many heroes, a super wicked villain, and a magic system that has totally intrigued me since book one. If you love reading YA fantasy with Kick Butt action, some mystery, and a little sweet romance, you will love reading the Stonebearer's Apprentice.
April 14, 2025
What I Did Like:
+I enjoyed the magic use in the original book. In this one, it’s even better! Where we learned about the magic in the first book, in this one we’re with someone as they’re training. So we’re getting front row seats to learning about the use of magic. That’s so fun!
+Grief. It’s not a major plot point, but when it comes up it is well written. It sort of sneaks up on the characters experiencing it, which is incredibly accurate.
+The dreamspace is intriguing. There’s a lot of unanswered questions to explore here in the conclusion to this trilogy. It’s fascinating but still sort of unknown at this stage, which I like.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fantasy fans who like chosen one tropes and training scenes with good Magical systems will like this trilogy.
My Rating: 3 Stars
For Full Review: https://alltherightreads.com/2025/04/...
+I enjoyed the magic use in the original book. In this one, it’s even better! Where we learned about the magic in the first book, in this one we’re with someone as they’re training. So we’re getting front row seats to learning about the use of magic. That’s so fun!
+Grief. It’s not a major plot point, but when it comes up it is well written. It sort of sneaks up on the characters experiencing it, which is incredibly accurate.
+The dreamspace is intriguing. There’s a lot of unanswered questions to explore here in the conclusion to this trilogy. It’s fascinating but still sort of unknown at this stage, which I like.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fantasy fans who like chosen one tropes and training scenes with good Magical systems will like this trilogy.
My Rating: 3 Stars
For Full Review: https://alltherightreads.com/2025/04/...
June 30, 2020
Becoming an apprentice Stonebearer is no easy task, especially when your master is also your father.
What I liked:
I enjoyed delving deeper into the art of Stonebearing and Katira's developing relationship with her Father and the rest.
What I didn't like:
There were times the story moved slower than I would have liked, but I also attribute that to reading at night after a long day.
Overall:
Stonebearer's Apprentice is a creative continuation of Katira's journey into the world of magic and mystery. It's a good story targeted to young adults, but suitable for all audiences.
What I liked:
I enjoyed delving deeper into the art of Stonebearing and Katira's developing relationship with her Father and the rest.
What I didn't like:
There were times the story moved slower than I would have liked, but I also attribute that to reading at night after a long day.
Overall:
Stonebearer's Apprentice is a creative continuation of Katira's journey into the world of magic and mystery. It's a good story targeted to young adults, but suitable for all audiences.
September 13, 2020
Jodi L. Milner provides a wonderful sequel. Stonebearer’s Apprentice follows Stonebearer’s Betrayal truthfully in the storyline and in the style. I dove into book two without going back to book one and was able to pick up the storyline without any issues. By itself it could be a standalone book. If you’ve read Stonebearer’s Betrayal, there is a richer level of understanding.
This is written for all young adult readers. It is from the point of view of a young woman with a subplot of a budding romance. But it is a subplot that doesn’t overwhelm the main story, it enhances it. No one need to shy away from the material presented in Stonebearer’s Apprentice.
You can read the complete review at https://guildmastergaming.blogspot.co...
This is written for all young adult readers. It is from the point of view of a young woman with a subplot of a budding romance. But it is a subplot that doesn’t overwhelm the main story, it enhances it. No one need to shy away from the material presented in Stonebearer’s Apprentice.
You can read the complete review at https://guildmastergaming.blogspot.co...
August 19, 2023
This series just keeps getting better! I absolutely loved Katira in book 1 and her character arc in this one is just as spectacular. This is how you write a strong FMC. Strong values, intelligent, brave yet still dotted with ragged edges. Oh I love her!
The magic system in this series is absolutely amazing. Really complex and something very different. The plot never stops. None of the characters are surplus to requirements, as with the first book, every character brings something to the story. Each character is strong in their own various ways, each is well developed and dynamic.
I am absolutely in love with this series. I really cannot wait for book 3. You will not want to put this one down!
The magic system in this series is absolutely amazing. Really complex and something very different. The plot never stops. None of the characters are surplus to requirements, as with the first book, every character brings something to the story. Each character is strong in their own various ways, each is well developed and dynamic.
I am absolutely in love with this series. I really cannot wait for book 3. You will not want to put this one down!
June 13, 2020
Loved this book! She paints a picture so well using just her words that it just sucks you into the world of her story. Read the first book and could hardly wait for the second. I was not disappointed!
May 7, 2021
the story keeps moving...needs some refining.
July 6, 2024
Just grab it
This is such a good fantasy read, flows with the first installment so well. The story is evolving nicely and the characters keep growing too. Glad to have stumbled onto this series.
This is such a good fantasy read, flows with the first installment so well. The story is evolving nicely and the characters keep growing too. Glad to have stumbled onto this series.
July 17, 2023
great
This book was better than the last with no slow pacing except to catch your breath. I enjoyed it a lot.
This book was better than the last with no slow pacing except to catch your breath. I enjoyed it a lot.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews