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Alastair Stone Chronicles #22
Blood Brothers
Magic is Thicker than Blood
Alastair Stone figures using tracking magic to help Jason Thayer and his new wife Amber find a missing child will be a good diversion. At least it will take his mind off a summer that, without Verity around, is shaping up to be a lot less eventful than he’d hoped.
But when the boy’s kidnapper turns out to be a mage—one who’s using the public portal network to steal children for some mysterious purpose of his own—Stone, Jason, and Amber are thrown into a terrifying web of mystery, mad science, and deadly peril.
If Stone can’t figure out who the kidnapper is and why he’s obsessed with these children, it won’t only be the kids who are in danger. As the shocking facts come to light and the madman sets his sights on his pursuers, Stone and his friends might not survive long enough to learn the sinister truth.
Alastair Stone figures using tracking magic to help Jason Thayer and his new wife Amber find a missing child will be a good diversion. At least it will take his mind off a summer that, without Verity around, is shaping up to be a lot less eventful than he’d hoped.
But when the boy’s kidnapper turns out to be a mage—one who’s using the public portal network to steal children for some mysterious purpose of his own—Stone, Jason, and Amber are thrown into a terrifying web of mystery, mad science, and deadly peril.
If Stone can’t figure out who the kidnapper is and why he’s obsessed with these children, it won’t only be the kids who are in danger. As the shocking facts come to light and the madman sets his sights on his pursuers, Stone and his friends might not survive long enough to learn the sinister truth.
- GenresUrban Fantasy
339 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2020
150 people are currently reading
49 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 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 23, 2020
Super!
I love Alastair and the gang. But after reading this book, I’ve actually realized, he really is too old for... But it’s a must read. He’s a pretty good mage.
I love Alastair and the gang. But after reading this book, I’ve actually realized, he really is too old for... But it’s a must read. He’s a pretty good mage.
April 18, 2021
Verity is off on her own traveling around the country, trying to come to terms with who she is, while pursuing her mission in whether she can initiate setting up some kind of Mage overview group that can be called upon to police themselves. Alastair had told her this would not work. Most mages do not want to be policed by others. But Alastair wished her the best & told her he would not interfere.
Jason & his shifter wife, Amber have a missing child case & had asked Alastair if he would perform one of his tracking rituals. However, there was more to the issue than just missing children, as they soon found out. Since there was never any ransom, & the kids eventually turned up with no memory of what happened, the mystery only deepened. It soon became evident that whoever the kidnapper was, he was a mage.
The kidnappings all took place close to portal locations. Then one evening when Stone was distracted by his phone while walking to his car, he was brutally attacked & should have died...but he didn't. This was something else he would later ponder about. But now he had a very dangerous mage to locate & take care of.
Jason & his shifter wife, Amber have a missing child case & had asked Alastair if he would perform one of his tracking rituals. However, there was more to the issue than just missing children, as they soon found out. Since there was never any ransom, & the kids eventually turned up with no memory of what happened, the mystery only deepened. It soon became evident that whoever the kidnapper was, he was a mage.
The kidnappings all took place close to portal locations. Then one evening when Stone was distracted by his phone while walking to his car, he was brutally attacked & should have died...but he didn't. This was something else he would later ponder about. But now he had a very dangerous mage to locate & take care of.
July 13, 2020
A good book, well written and well plotted, more complex than previous tomes. Darker and more difficult for the reader, it is not a light airy reading.
Alistair encounters more difficulties, both magical and personal. At the end all the characters are in a different place both existential and physically. The usual cast is here, Alistair, Verity, Jason, and now Amber. Raider is as usual unaffected but then he is a cat, isn't he?
I get the feeling this is all leading up to some significant revelations in the next book.
I do recommend this book .I gave it a 4 because it left me feeling saddened and unsettled.
Alistair encounters more difficulties, both magical and personal. At the end all the characters are in a different place both existential and physically. The usual cast is here, Alistair, Verity, Jason, and now Amber. Raider is as usual unaffected but then he is a cat, isn't he?
I get the feeling this is all leading up to some significant revelations in the next book.
I do recommend this book .I gave it a 4 because it left me feeling saddened and unsettled.
July 9, 2020
Blood Brothers, Book 22 in the Alastair Stone Chronicles
By R.L. King
This is an excellent addition to the Stone series. Lots of action, involving all 4 of Kong's main characters. Good proofing (although I did find one error in Chapter 27, location 3634, 78% on my Kindle, where Verify is speaking. She says "You can hide from me." when context indicates she should have said You can't hide from me) and editing. No cliffhanger ending, although the ending does open doors for changes in relationships in future books.
All in all, it's a satisfying read.
By R.L. King
This is an excellent addition to the Stone series. Lots of action, involving all 4 of Kong's main characters. Good proofing (although I did find one error in Chapter 27, location 3634, 78% on my Kindle, where Verify is speaking. She says "You can hide from me." when context indicates she should have said You can't hide from me) and editing. No cliffhanger ending, although the ending does open doors for changes in relationships in future books.
All in all, it's a satisfying read.
June 17, 2020
R.L. King’s books NEVER disappoint!!! I can never get enough of this series especially!!! This one I read until 3:30 in the morning. Her books are my MUST READ books and I ALWAYS devour them immediately. I’ve tried savoring them but dammit if she doesn’t move the story along so I don’t want to put it down. Well done!!!
June 26, 2021
Another mystery.
Stone gets entangled in another mystery when Jason asks fo help with one of his cases. Well, we all know that the Doc can’t leave well enough alone. And that his curiosity wont let him. Another Mage is up to something and Stone needs to stop him before anyone else gets hurt. Great read.
Stone gets entangled in another mystery when Jason asks fo help with one of his cases. Well, we all know that the Doc can’t leave well enough alone. And that his curiosity wont let him. Another Mage is up to something and Stone needs to stop him before anyone else gets hurt. Great read.
June 17, 2020
Best one so far!
I love this series but this one is my favorite so far. The plot answered/felt with some long term things that really needed to be tied up and opened some amazing possibilities. I can't wait to see where this series is going to go next.
I love this series but this one is my favorite so far. The plot answered/felt with some long term things that really needed to be tied up and opened some amazing possibilities. I can't wait to see where this series is going to go next.
June 26, 2020
Much better book.
In a very entertaining story the gang once again tackles magical mysteries with their collective expertise. All of this while a long awaited mystery of relationships were brought to satisfying resolution.
In a very entertaining story the gang once again tackles magical mysteries with their collective expertise. All of this while a long awaited mystery of relationships were brought to satisfying resolution.
June 27, 2020
Great book!
Loved this new book...New bad guy,new plot twist I didn't see coming...left me on the edge of my seat! Thoughroly enjoyed this new adventure of Alistair's and can't wait for the next one!
Loved this new book...New bad guy,new plot twist I didn't see coming...left me on the edge of my seat! Thoughroly enjoyed this new adventure of Alistair's and can't wait for the next one!
July 4, 2020
Another set of changes
A case that starts out as a missing kid turns into a major event that changes everyone, in the end. Also, tiny crossover with Happenstance and Bron, and it sounds like there’s more coming!
A case that starts out as a missing kid turns into a major event that changes everyone, in the end. Also, tiny crossover with Happenstance and Bron, and it sounds like there’s more coming!
July 23, 2020
As always
It was awesome and it is hard to think pass that can't wait to find out what you're going to do with Jason it should be very interesting you always come up with really neat things can't wait for the next book you are awesome your writing is brilliant!
It was awesome and it is hard to think pass that can't wait to find out what you're going to do with Jason it should be very interesting you always come up with really neat things can't wait for the next book you are awesome your writing is brilliant!
February 9, 2021
Another feast for the literary soul
Another great storyline in the Alastair Stone series. King impresses with imaginative plots that surprise at every turn. Highly recommend this series!!
Another great storyline in the Alastair Stone series. King impresses with imaginative plots that surprise at every turn. Highly recommend this series!!
February 11, 2022
Good read
Its about time stone broke up with Verity. Her sleeping with other women and him being ok with it was unbelievable and annoying. Give me a break. Looking forward to Homecoming without Verity.
Its about time stone broke up with Verity. Her sleeping with other women and him being ok with it was unbelievable and annoying. Give me a break. Looking forward to Homecoming without Verity.
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September 13, 2022The times they are a changin
Great job! Many changes to come in the series after reading this one. Trying not to give out any potential spoilers, but the plotline was very interesting.
Great job! Many changes to come in the series after reading this one. Trying not to give out any potential spoilers, but the plotline was very interesting.
June 17, 2020
Nice little self contained story that also adds to the over arching story
June 18, 2020
Good story. And it’s about time.
June 23, 2020
Ouch
This one was fantastic, but my heart figuratively broke in the last part. Ugh, the heart ache of it all.
This one was fantastic, but my heart figuratively broke in the last part. Ugh, the heart ache of it all.
June 30, 2020
This was definitely one of the best books in this series so far!! Absolutely excellent!!! My only problem is I don't remember in which book Alistair and Verity meet Bron!
July 16, 2020
Another awesome story by R. L. King. love her writing.
July 27, 2020
As always a great book and now am impatiently awaiting the next book in the series.
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August 3, 2020Another Great Story
Another Great story. Something enjoyable and fun to read. This book covers new ground, relationships, new characters and a conference.
Another Great story. Something enjoyable and fun to read. This book covers new ground, relationships, new characters and a conference.
November 11, 2020
Brilliant
Have been a massive fan of this series from the first book an already have the next to read !
Have been a massive fan of this series from the first book an already have the next to read !
April 30, 2025
Jason asks Stone to help him try to locate a missing child, one they discover has been kidnapped. Investigating the circumstances of the kidnapping, and its similarity to other kidnappings, lead Stone to uncover some dark secrets.
I enjoyed this book more than the previous one, as the focus was more on what Stone does best – putting pieces of a puzzle together, over time, with a little help from his friends, while trying to keep the mundane world safe from unscrupulous mages.
I enjoyed this book more than the previous one, as the focus was more on what Stone does best – putting pieces of a puzzle together, over time, with a little help from his friends, while trying to keep the mundane world safe from unscrupulous mages.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews