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Alastair Stone Chronicles #26
Rite of Passage
An Old Friend Brings a Major New Threat
When Kolinsky asks Alastair Stone to investigate a curious anomaly near a familiar location, Stone is ready to find a connection between the two.
What he's not ready to find is an old friend he thought was dead for eleven years. A friend who's got more than one shocking bombshell to drop on him—including an unexpected companion—before she goes on the run and disappears.
As more widespread and increasingly dangerous anomalies threaten to rip apart the very fabric of reality, Stone is convinced the anomalies and his friend's sudden appearance are related—and that she and her companion have no idea of the horror they’re leaving in their wake.
To stop the threat, he'll have to find them. If he wants to keep them alive, he'll have to find them before the strange beings who are tracking them.
And also before Kolinsky, who’s determined to handle the problem with extreme prejudice.
When Kolinsky asks Alastair Stone to investigate a curious anomaly near a familiar location, Stone is ready to find a connection between the two.
What he's not ready to find is an old friend he thought was dead for eleven years. A friend who's got more than one shocking bombshell to drop on him—including an unexpected companion—before she goes on the run and disappears.
As more widespread and increasingly dangerous anomalies threaten to rip apart the very fabric of reality, Stone is convinced the anomalies and his friend's sudden appearance are related—and that she and her companion have no idea of the horror they’re leaving in their wake.
To stop the threat, he'll have to find them. If he wants to keep them alive, he'll have to find them before the strange beings who are tracking them.
And also before Kolinsky, who’s determined to handle the problem with extreme prejudice.
345 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 14, 2021
106 people are currently reading
47 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 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 22, 2021
𝑹𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑷𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒈𝒆, An Alastair Stone Urban Fantasy Novel, Book #26,
by R.L. King
As usual, King turns out a wonderful fantasy which includes likeable and relatable characters, fantastical situations that are somehow totally believable, great plotting and pacing, plenty of action on more than one front, and an uncanny ability to tie up the ends of two or more situations that don't seem to be, but might be related, and did it all without a cliffhanger ending. I did make a couple of notes on proofing errors, which I'll set out here.
At location 1960 (a very good year, by the way) on my Kindle, was this: "They didn't look his way has he disappeared through the barrier." I'm sure it should have read "...didn't look his way as he disappeared..."
And, at location 2151 was this: 𝘘𝘶𝘪𝘵 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝘢𝘯𝘥 do 𝘪𝘵! Oops.
I also am not sure what the title has to do with the story told in this novel. That did leave me wondering. It didn't seem like there was any type of rite of passage for any of the characters involved.
I decided not to knock off a star for those proof reading errors, if for no other reason, than because this adventure was all Stone with some help from Stefan Kolinosky. Yes, Jason, Amber and Verity, are all included, but the bulk of the action was pure Stone, with an opportunity to see Kolinsky and Stone work together for the first time in several books. That was a joy.
There was also mention of Bron and Happenstance, the lead characters in another of King's series set in the Stone universe. I don't read that spin off series, but wasn't bothered at all by not knowing backstory on them, nor did I feel a need to run out and read the books in that series. If I had felt not knowing that side of the Stone universe was a handicap in the actual Stone books, I probably would have given up reading any more of the Stone books, Period. I shouldn't have to read any series but the one I'm following to get the full scope of any novel in that series.
So, yes, I highly recommend the Alastair Stone Chronicles to anyone who enjoys urban fantasy.
by R.L. King
As usual, King turns out a wonderful fantasy which includes likeable and relatable characters, fantastical situations that are somehow totally believable, great plotting and pacing, plenty of action on more than one front, and an uncanny ability to tie up the ends of two or more situations that don't seem to be, but might be related, and did it all without a cliffhanger ending. I did make a couple of notes on proofing errors, which I'll set out here.
At location 1960 (a very good year, by the way) on my Kindle, was this: "They didn't look his way has he disappeared through the barrier." I'm sure it should have read "...didn't look his way as he disappeared..."
And, at location 2151 was this: 𝘘𝘶𝘪𝘵 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝘢𝘯𝘥 do 𝘪𝘵! Oops.
I also am not sure what the title has to do with the story told in this novel. That did leave me wondering. It didn't seem like there was any type of rite of passage for any of the characters involved.
I decided not to knock off a star for those proof reading errors, if for no other reason, than because this adventure was all Stone with some help from Stefan Kolinosky. Yes, Jason, Amber and Verity, are all included, but the bulk of the action was pure Stone, with an opportunity to see Kolinsky and Stone work together for the first time in several books. That was a joy.
There was also mention of Bron and Happenstance, the lead characters in another of King's series set in the Stone universe. I don't read that spin off series, but wasn't bothered at all by not knowing backstory on them, nor did I feel a need to run out and read the books in that series. If I had felt not knowing that side of the Stone universe was a handicap in the actual Stone books, I probably would have given up reading any more of the Stone books, Period. I shouldn't have to read any series but the one I'm following to get the full scope of any novel in that series.
So, yes, I highly recommend the Alastair Stone Chronicles to anyone who enjoys urban fantasy.
June 20, 2021
The plot, mysterious malevolent rifts which "coincidentally" occurred with the reappearance of a presumed dead colleague, a former paramour, gave Stone interesting problems to deal with. It was the middle process of him getting from start to finish which was a bit boring and sometimes frustratingly stupid page fill., ie. useless phone calls from the undead paramour who claimed to be in desperate need of his help but spent the whole time on the phone refusing to tell him anything that would allow him to help her. Like some books before this, I was also frustrated with Stone's inability to make his sharp mind connect the dots to see that his separate problems are related.
The last scene is the least logical in regards to characters' actions.
It is not a bad story. But, it is not a very good story. IMHO
The last scene is the least logical in regards to characters' actions.
It is not a bad story. But, it is not a very good story. IMHO
June 24, 2021
Outstanding once again
Ms. King has done it again. We are taken into the world of Alastair again as he has to find out how to keep the horrors of the otherworld from destroying our own. We are lead on another journey into the world of what ifs and why nots that continually entertain us in the possibilities of supernatural.
Ms. King has done it again. We are taken into the world of Alastair again as he has to find out how to keep the horrors of the otherworld from destroying our own. We are lead on another journey into the world of what ifs and why nots that continually entertain us in the possibilities of supernatural.
June 27, 2021
R.L.King = A Solid Read
Alister Stone, Professor/Mage, is once again in the thick of things. It helps to have knowledge of previous books in the series to follow some of the plot twists in this one. Past love comes back from death, multiple dimensional tears in reality, and a young boy wanting to go home are are intricately woven into a well paced novel. Enjoy!!!
Alister Stone, Professor/Mage, is once again in the thick of things. It helps to have knowledge of previous books in the series to follow some of the plot twists in this one. Past love comes back from death, multiple dimensional tears in reality, and a young boy wanting to go home are are intricately woven into a well paced novel. Enjoy!!!
June 27, 2021
Excellent story
They just keep getting better! Alasdair Stone is fantastic. Can't get enough of his stories can't wait for the next one. If you haven't read one pick up the first book and give it a try you will get caught up in the madness. Thank you R.L. King for sharing your talent with us your world is excellent and fun
They just keep getting better! Alasdair Stone is fantastic. Can't get enough of his stories can't wait for the next one. If you haven't read one pick up the first book and give it a try you will get caught up in the madness. Thank you R.L. King for sharing your talent with us your world is excellent and fun
August 1, 2021
Another fantastic Alastair Stone adventure.
King continues to bring forth new and Interesting story lines while developing the lives of main characters. Interdimensional travel and events are intriguing and Stone's involvement is always fun as the plot develops. Another great novel that keeps one wanting more.
King continues to bring forth new and Interesting story lines while developing the lives of main characters. Interdimensional travel and events are intriguing and Stone's involvement is always fun as the plot develops. Another great novel that keeps one wanting more.
June 18, 2021
Brilliant!
I reread the entire series in anticipation of this new novel and got every bit of enjoyment as from the first time around. Absolutely love the characters and good endings.
I reread the entire series in anticipation of this new novel and got every bit of enjoyment as from the first time around. Absolutely love the characters and good endings.
June 19, 2021
What’s going on?
I enjoyed the plot of this adventure, but I did not see it coming when Alastair solved the mystery of the rips. And I have to wonder, how many planes are there? Recommended.
I enjoyed the plot of this adventure, but I did not see it coming when Alastair solved the mystery of the rips. And I have to wonder, how many planes are there? Recommended.
July 21, 2021
Convergence of storylines
Wow, this brought a lot of old storylines together, and highlighted how much has changed for Stone and his friends over the years. It made me want to go back and read them all again.
Wow, this brought a lot of old storylines together, and highlighted how much has changed for Stone and his friends over the years. It made me want to go back and read them all again.
November 23, 2021
Alastair Stone
I didn't think this series could get any better but it has. Each book is better than the one before. I think I've found my favorite book of the series then the next one is released. You are a fantastic writer RL King, can't wait to see what happens next.
I didn't think this series could get any better but it has. Each book is better than the one before. I think I've found my favorite book of the series then the next one is released. You are a fantastic writer RL King, can't wait to see what happens next.
March 1, 2022
Love this series, but
I'm so disappointed the last book in the series #28 does not have audio. WTF. I don't understand why authors do that. Its infuriating. I'm looking forward to #27 tho.
I'm so disappointed the last book in the series #28 does not have audio. WTF. I don't understand why authors do that. Its infuriating. I'm looking forward to #27 tho.
June 19, 2021
Pure escapism at its best!!
Ms King has done it again! I don't where she gets her inspiration, but I hope there is a lot more to come!🐳🐳🐳
Ms King has done it again! I don't where she gets her inspiration, but I hope there is a lot more to come!🐳🐳🐳
June 26, 2021
Another fine fantasy
This is another fine urban fantasy by the author. The book is well written and edited. I anxiously await the sequel.
This is another fine urban fantasy by the author. The book is well written and edited. I anxiously await the sequel.
July 30, 2021
Another awesome book in the Stone series. Keeps you on your toes
August 3, 2021
Darryls Review
As Always A Very Good Read some Characters That Were Previously Mentioned Made An Appearance With An Incredible Story About Themselves As Well As An Already Established Character Becoming More Involved In A Very Dangerous Situation.
As Always A Very Good Read some Characters That Were Previously Mentioned Made An Appearance With An Incredible Story About Themselves As Well As An Already Established Character Becoming More Involved In A Very Dangerous Situation.
February 15, 2022
Excellent book
Stone is thrown into a situation that involves and old friend. Lost of surprised and a great story. This is a great book in an awesome series.
Stone is thrown into a situation that involves and old friend. Lost of surprised and a great story. This is a great book in an awesome series.
June 28, 2021
Another Great Story
Every time I read a new Alastair Stone story I’m reminded about how much I love these characters. Even though we are up to book 26 the story is still fresh with interesting twists and turns but also building on what we already know. My only complaint is that I wish the story was longer because I hate it when a great story ends. Ready for book 27
Every time I read a new Alastair Stone story I’m reminded about how much I love these characters. Even though we are up to book 26 the story is still fresh with interesting twists and turns but also building on what we already know. My only complaint is that I wish the story was longer because I hate it when a great story ends. Ready for book 27
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews