What do you think?
Rate this book
Alastair Stone Chronicles #27
Winds of Change
The times, they are a-changin’…
Sometimes the biggest events begin with the smallest incidents.
This time, it’s another of Jason’s strange cases: a missing man a tracking spell can’t trace.
It isn’t long before the man turns up. Except he’s…different.
And he’s not the only one.
A new magical affliction is creeping through the world, permanently altering people’s auras and changing their astral forms. As Alastair Stone and his friends struggle to understand it and trace its source, he soon finds he’s got another, far more personal, issue to deal with.
A powerful foe is back with a proposal for Stone—and this time, he doesn’t seem willing to take no for an answer.
The world of the Stone Chronicles is about to change irrevocably. You don’t want to miss this one.
Sometimes the biggest events begin with the smallest incidents.
This time, it’s another of Jason’s strange cases: a missing man a tracking spell can’t trace.
It isn’t long before the man turns up. Except he’s…different.
And he’s not the only one.
A new magical affliction is creeping through the world, permanently altering people’s auras and changing their astral forms. As Alastair Stone and his friends struggle to understand it and trace its source, he soon finds he’s got another, far more personal, issue to deal with.
A powerful foe is back with a proposal for Stone—and this time, he doesn’t seem willing to take no for an answer.
The world of the Stone Chronicles is about to change irrevocably. You don’t want to miss this one.
- GenresUrban Fantasy
363 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 12, 2021
99 people are currently reading
47 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 25, 2021
𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆, Alastair Stone Chronicles, Book 27
by R. L. King
This episode of the Stone Chronicles was loaded! Almost every character from the previous 26 books at least had a mention. There was action galore, and, for me, anyway, a lot of it had Stone working on his own, rather than depending wholly on help from both his mundane and magical friends. Don't get me wrong, he included those friends in the action a lot -- but it was also nice to see him making decisions (right or wrong) on his own.
The proofing/editing was excellent, with only one problem noted. At location 4851 on my Kindle Fire, there was this slight proofing error: "He pictured Ian lying on the side of injured on the side of a road somewhere." Oops. But that was it. No grammar errors, no misspellings that I noticed, and the plotting and pacing were also spot on. My only complaint, and what made a difference between the 4 stars I rated this book and the 5 I would have liked to rate it.
MAJOR SPOILERS MAY FOLLOW:
If you haven't read this book, and plan to, you should probably stop reading now.
A few months ago, the author noted on the Chronicles Facebook page that this book would end on a cliffhanger. If you read my reviews, you know for me a cliffhanger is the kiss of death for a 5-star rating. I told her I would be knocking off a star, as I do for every other author I follow when they end a book without ending the plot issues. I had decided not to read this until #28 comes out in December, but a few days after posting that this would end on a cliffhanger, she posted again that she had reviewed the ending and decided it really wasn't much of a cliffhanger as all the book's loose ends were tied up. So, being the trusting fool, er, fan, that I am, I read #27 as soon as I could.
Sigh. Problem is, the author evidently does not know what a cliffhanger is. Here's what was and wasn't tied up:
1. Aubrey and Susan were married -- yep, that end was tied up.
2. The issue of "the changing" was not tied up. Yes, Stone closed the rift that he thought might be the cause of the changing, but it was never said that was the actual cause, nor was the issue of whether the change definitely would be permanent. Yes, Stone was willing to consider the issue ended, but with the widespread occurrences, there was really no way to know for sure. So this plot issue has more than one loose end.
3. Where are all the dragons? The only one he could find was Gabriel, a scion like himself, and Aldwyn, who found Stone rather than the other way around.
4. Where was Ian? We know he was kidnapped, and the evidence seemed to say that he was in another dimension, but that dimension was never identified.
5. The book ends with Stone accepting help from Aldwyn (reluctantly, and without knowing exactly what the cost of such help would be) in finding and rescuing Ian. When he arrives at the place (and different dimension?) where Ian was, he discovers that a) Aldwyn was the one who kidnapped Ian, and that, unlike what was promised by Aldwyn, when Stone activated the spell to return them both home, it only took Ian, leaving Stone alone in a place he had no information on, and, to be truthful, not knowing whether the spell took Ian home or to some other place where Aldwyn could hold him in order to coerce cooperation from Stone.
I don't know about anyone else, but that all seems like a hell of a lot more than not much of a cliffhanger. I didn't even mention Amber's accident, and whether that was an accident, or some other machinations of Stone's enemies. I'm still debating whether to take off another star from the review, just because I feel lied to. I don't like being lied to.
by R. L. King
This episode of the Stone Chronicles was loaded! Almost every character from the previous 26 books at least had a mention. There was action galore, and, for me, anyway, a lot of it had Stone working on his own, rather than depending wholly on help from both his mundane and magical friends. Don't get me wrong, he included those friends in the action a lot -- but it was also nice to see him making decisions (right or wrong) on his own.
The proofing/editing was excellent, with only one problem noted. At location 4851 on my Kindle Fire, there was this slight proofing error: "He pictured Ian lying on the side of injured on the side of a road somewhere." Oops. But that was it. No grammar errors, no misspellings that I noticed, and the plotting and pacing were also spot on. My only complaint, and what made a difference between the 4 stars I rated this book and the 5 I would have liked to rate it.
MAJOR SPOILERS MAY FOLLOW:
If you haven't read this book, and plan to, you should probably stop reading now.
A few months ago, the author noted on the Chronicles Facebook page that this book would end on a cliffhanger. If you read my reviews, you know for me a cliffhanger is the kiss of death for a 5-star rating. I told her I would be knocking off a star, as I do for every other author I follow when they end a book without ending the plot issues. I had decided not to read this until #28 comes out in December, but a few days after posting that this would end on a cliffhanger, she posted again that she had reviewed the ending and decided it really wasn't much of a cliffhanger as all the book's loose ends were tied up. So, being the trusting fool, er, fan, that I am, I read #27 as soon as I could.
Sigh. Problem is, the author evidently does not know what a cliffhanger is. Here's what was and wasn't tied up:
1. Aubrey and Susan were married -- yep, that end was tied up.
2. The issue of "the changing" was not tied up. Yes, Stone closed the rift that he thought might be the cause of the changing, but it was never said that was the actual cause, nor was the issue of whether the change definitely would be permanent. Yes, Stone was willing to consider the issue ended, but with the widespread occurrences, there was really no way to know for sure. So this plot issue has more than one loose end.
3. Where are all the dragons? The only one he could find was Gabriel, a scion like himself, and Aldwyn, who found Stone rather than the other way around.
4. Where was Ian? We know he was kidnapped, and the evidence seemed to say that he was in another dimension, but that dimension was never identified.
5. The book ends with Stone accepting help from Aldwyn (reluctantly, and without knowing exactly what the cost of such help would be) in finding and rescuing Ian. When he arrives at the place (and different dimension?) where Ian was, he discovers that a) Aldwyn was the one who kidnapped Ian, and that, unlike what was promised by Aldwyn, when Stone activated the spell to return them both home, it only took Ian, leaving Stone alone in a place he had no information on, and, to be truthful, not knowing whether the spell took Ian home or to some other place where Aldwyn could hold him in order to coerce cooperation from Stone.
I don't know about anyone else, but that all seems like a hell of a lot more than not much of a cliffhanger. I didn't even mention Amber's accident, and whether that was an accident, or some other machinations of Stone's enemies. I'm still debating whether to take off another star from the review, just because I feel lied to. I don't like being lied to.
September 24, 2021
Cliffhanger
The story that took up the majority of the book was interesting. The strange new problem Stone had to solve was....well, strange, and it took a lot of investigating and conversations with his friends to finally solve the problem.
I wish the book had ended there because that would have been a perfect end to the plot and storyline, but the author not only introduced the next problem, but she started a new plot and storyline spending a few end chapters with Stone working on the new problem, I dislike a story that ends with a cliffhanger which could have just as easily and effectively been used as the beginning of the next book in the series.
The story that took up the majority of the book was interesting. The strange new problem Stone had to solve was....well, strange, and it took a lot of investigating and conversations with his friends to finally solve the problem.
I wish the book had ended there because that would have been a perfect end to the plot and storyline, but the author not only introduced the next problem, but she started a new plot and storyline spending a few end chapters with Stone working on the new problem, I dislike a story that ends with a cliffhanger which could have just as easily and effectively been used as the beginning of the next book in the series.
September 16, 2021
Dragons, extra dimensions and magic! Reconnect with old friends from other books in the series. A mysterious affliction is changing some people into strange creatures without altering their physical bodies. Only a mage can see the change. Alistair & crew are up to meet the challenge. Aldwyn, Alistair’s dragon ancestor, reappears to offer help(?).
Great read. Waiting for next in the series - hope Winter 2021 comes soon.
Great read. Waiting for next in the series - hope Winter 2021 comes soon.
September 16, 2021
Another great story
One of the things I enjoy most about the Alastair Stone Chronicles is that each story is a combination of magical elements and a mystery that has to be solved. Winds of Change is another great example of that. It has the characters we love, an intriguing problem that does get resolved and then something at the end to draw you in even further. The next book cannot come soon enough!
One of the things I enjoy most about the Alastair Stone Chronicles is that each story is a combination of magical elements and a mystery that has to be solved. Winds of Change is another great example of that. It has the characters we love, an intriguing problem that does get resolved and then something at the end to draw you in even further. The next book cannot come soon enough!
September 14, 2021
Oh, I'm frustrated! And excited! Yes, RL did finish the main story line, and a wonderful trip it was. But she also pulled us far enough onward, into the next rabbit hole, that I have a bad case of bookus interruptus.
That said, it feels like Awakening, when it drops, is going to be HUGE, and answer some things I've been formulating theories about.
Soon? Please?
That said, it feels like Awakening, when it drops, is going to be HUGE, and answer some things I've been formulating theories about.
Soon? Please?
September 19, 2021
Another Amazing Tale of Alistair Stone and Friends
This series is absolutely captivating. It sucks you in and you can't put it down. This is the 27th book in the series so if you're a binge reader you have plenty to catch up on and thankfully the author writes so quickly that once you've caught up it's only a few months until she puts out another masterpiece.
This series is absolutely captivating. It sucks you in and you can't put it down. This is the 27th book in the series so if you're a binge reader you have plenty to catch up on and thankfully the author writes so quickly that once you've caught up it's only a few months until she puts out another masterpiece.
October 16, 2021
Loved the book, hate the cliffhanger!
I do hope it is not long until the next book is out. I.can't stand having such a huge cliffhanger ending. I don't recall being left to wonder and worry like this in the previous books. Regardless, the storyline is engaging and original and I enjoyed reading it. Book 28 please!!!
I do hope it is not long until the next book is out. I.can't stand having such a huge cliffhanger ending. I don't recall being left to wonder and worry like this in the previous books. Regardless, the storyline is engaging and original and I enjoyed reading it. Book 28 please!!!
March 8, 2022
Cliffhanger
And the author didn't have the decency to have the last book in audiobook. I can only read with the audiobook. I have read all the books in the series with audiobook. I'm so disappointed and upset that of all the books in the series the last book does not have audiobook and the previous book ended with a cliffhanger. Why would the author do that to her readers
And the author didn't have the decency to have the last book in audiobook. I can only read with the audiobook. I have read all the books in the series with audiobook. I'm so disappointed and upset that of all the books in the series the last book does not have audiobook and the previous book ended with a cliffhanger. Why would the author do that to her readers
September 17, 2021
Wow ❤️❤️
You'd think after twenty some books we'd be tired of our very British mage...you'd be soooo wrong!! This book took some huge turns, added some totally off the wall new things and had the cliff hanger to die for!! To say I can't wait for the next is putting it mildly.
You'd think after twenty some books we'd be tired of our very British mage...you'd be soooo wrong!! This book took some huge turns, added some totally off the wall new things and had the cliff hanger to die for!! To say I can't wait for the next is putting it mildly.
September 19, 2021
This Series is Awesome
Consistent and good are not words I usually put together when describing authors, but R.L. King manages to out out great books every few months. New elements introduced into the world and it seems like this series may be 50 books long, but I'm down for that.
Consistent and good are not words I usually put together when describing authors, but R.L. King manages to out out great books every few months. New elements introduced into the world and it seems like this series may be 50 books long, but I'm down for that.
September 19, 2021
Ugh
I absolutely abhor books which end with a cliffhanger, and this is one of those. Stories are beginning to be too soapy for me as well. I'm more than a little disappointed, frankly.
I absolutely abhor books which end with a cliffhanger, and this is one of those. Stories are beginning to be too soapy for me as well. I'm more than a little disappointed, frankly.
October 2, 2021
Great book
This series is one of my favorites. Great characters and plots with plenty of twists and turns. I tell all of my friends about it and we all agree it's masterfully crafted.
This series is one of my favorites. Great characters and plots with plenty of twists and turns. I tell all of my friends about it and we all agree it's masterfully crafted.
October 4, 2021
Another worthy installment! The cliffhanger is maddening, but the next book will be out soon, so no worries there. I like the direction the story is going; it's about time that Alldwyn has his day, as it were.
November 13, 2021
Absolutely my favorite so far
I didn't think it was possible to unseat my previous favorite, but this is my favorite in this series now! Such masterful storytelling. Loved the overall plot, loved subplots, definitely cried once... Just. So well done. I cannot wait for the next one
I didn't think it was possible to unseat my previous favorite, but this is my favorite in this series now! Such masterful storytelling. Loved the overall plot, loved subplots, definitely cried once... Just. So well done. I cannot wait for the next one
May 26, 2023
Another great entry in the Alastair Stone Chronicles. Probably has one of the best (and most nerd-realistic) interactions I've read in a while in a UT series. If you haven't started this series, I highly recommend it.
September 15, 2021
Sooo good!!
Bloody hell that was good, more twists and turns than a rollercoaster.
I highly recommend this book, if you haven't read the rest of them do that too!!!
Bloody hell that was good, more twists and turns than a rollercoaster.
I highly recommend this book, if you haven't read the rest of them do that too!!!
September 16, 2021
Loved this book!
She does it again! This one was full of snarky, funny, interesting twists and turns! The ending was a bit of a cliff hanger, but I wasn't fussed by it! Great book!
She does it again! This one was full of snarky, funny, interesting twists and turns! The ending was a bit of a cliff hanger, but I wasn't fussed by it! Great book!
September 21, 2021
Winds of Change
Love all the Alastair Stone books! They are never boring or repetitive in plot. Looking forward to the next book.
Love all the Alastair Stone books! They are never boring or repetitive in plot. Looking forward to the next book.
November 9, 2021
Changes, all right
Lots of things resolved, lots of things changing. The ending really threw me, though — I have no idea what to expect, or why it went that way.
Lots of things resolved, lots of things changing. The ending really threw me, though — I have no idea what to expect, or why it went that way.
May 20, 2022
Review
Great story as always. I love this series and look forward to next one.
As long as new books are added i'll be reading this author.
Great story as always. I love this series and look forward to next one.
As long as new books are added i'll be reading this author.
December 14, 2021
Darryl's Review
As Always A Truly Entertaining Read Great Characters both old & New. Old Characters coming back to cause problems as well as previously solved situations turning out not to be completely solved. This situation changes things in a unpredictable way.
As Always A Truly Entertaining Read Great Characters both old & New. Old Characters coming back to cause problems as well as previously solved situations turning out not to be completely solved. This situation changes things in a unpredictable way.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews