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The Searing Stone: The Children of Erym Saga
What if magical abilities weren't earned, discovered, or innate? What if, before the age of one, your parents were forced to choose either to grant you a specific ability, or to give you none at all?
O'Varth, once an island flourishing in peace, now ruled by Levithe, an ageless being who claims to be the island’s god. His law for control was simple. Seared or Drudge? One choice gives your child a life of luxury and magical ability, but binds them for life to serve Him. The other choice gives your child a life of poverty and toil, but freedom from Him and his Guard. Seared parents never chose Drudge for their child, unless it was disabled or “cursed.” However, for the first time in three centuries, one set of Healer parents, Erym and Ryn, chose to forgo the magical abilities for their perfectly abled children.
Zayn, Tanyel, and Lyu, after many years of being mocked, doubting their parents, and slaving at the Netting Docks, discover that the entire history of their island is a complete fabrication, created by Levithe. Joining a secret rebellion, they adventure to find an ancient weapon that has the ability to destroy the island's god. What they don’t know is that Levithe has been searching for the same weapon for the past three hundred years. In a race to save or destroy the island, who will discover it first?
O'Varth, once an island flourishing in peace, now ruled by Levithe, an ageless being who claims to be the island’s god. His law for control was simple. Seared or Drudge? One choice gives your child a life of luxury and magical ability, but binds them for life to serve Him. The other choice gives your child a life of poverty and toil, but freedom from Him and his Guard. Seared parents never chose Drudge for their child, unless it was disabled or “cursed.” However, for the first time in three centuries, one set of Healer parents, Erym and Ryn, chose to forgo the magical abilities for their perfectly abled children.
Zayn, Tanyel, and Lyu, after many years of being mocked, doubting their parents, and slaving at the Netting Docks, discover that the entire history of their island is a complete fabrication, created by Levithe. Joining a secret rebellion, they adventure to find an ancient weapon that has the ability to destroy the island's god. What they don’t know is that Levithe has been searching for the same weapon for the past three hundred years. In a race to save or destroy the island, who will discover it first?
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 11, 2021
1 person is currently reading
41 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 21, 2023
This book turned me back into a series reader. Such an intriguing read that touches on grief, family, magic, and love. It felt like reading all of my favorite fantasy novels combined into one. I can’t wait for the second book to come out!!
January 5, 2022
When I started this book, I was in a bit of a fantasy slump. I just couldn’t get into them! This book pulled me out of it!
The Searing Stone has the most unique concept. In most fantasy books, heroes are born with powers or somehow earn them. In this book, parents are required to decide what power their children will receive - if any at all! This story follows three children whose parents made the decision that they would not receive any powers.
The writing of this story is absolutely incredible. You can’t help but feel everything the characters experience: love, joy, terror, and devastation. Along with the emotional rollercoaster, this book has the perfect amount of twists and turns to keep you on your toes.
I can’t recommend this enough! Excellent work, R.D. Neal!
The Searing Stone has the most unique concept. In most fantasy books, heroes are born with powers or somehow earn them. In this book, parents are required to decide what power their children will receive - if any at all! This story follows three children whose parents made the decision that they would not receive any powers.
The writing of this story is absolutely incredible. You can’t help but feel everything the characters experience: love, joy, terror, and devastation. Along with the emotional rollercoaster, this book has the perfect amount of twists and turns to keep you on your toes.
I can’t recommend this enough! Excellent work, R.D. Neal!
April 3, 2022
The Searing Stone is a debut YA dystopian fantasy novel following three siblings, as they are thrust into an epic journey after they discover all that they thought they knew about their world is a lie.
YA is not a my typical go-to, but this book may just change that as there were so many things I loved about this novel.
Firstly, the characters are incredibly solid. I was invested in them all so quickly and really felt like we got to know them all as individuals. Our main protagonist Zayn struggles with a lot of different things while also being thrust into the role of caring for his younger siblings on their quest, and he was a great character to follow. We get a different range of POV’s which really helped to flesh out everyone’s character development too including Zayn’s siblings, as well as the antagonists POV as well which I always really enjoy. The familial bonds within this story are one of my favourite things about it. It hits all the right notes without being over the top.
The plot has so many fantastic elements to it. Secret maps, hidden clues, underground rebellions. Everything flows well and has just the right amount of suspense and twists. A hard balance to get right! Some parts are a tad predictable in the beginning but for a novice in this genre it would be perfect.
The magic system is interesting and easy to follow. Instead of being born with gifts this story is about a world where parents choose which gifts to give their children, if any at all. The world of O’Varth is very well realised. With the great prologue, map and fantastic cover art it really captures you as a reader despite this novel being quite short by fantasy standards.
This novel is perfect gateway for someone looking to get into the fantasy genre. If you find all the chunky books with complex magic systems and series that are as long as your arm a bit intimidating I would definitely recommend picking this one up. I would also recommend this to anyone who just wants to read a great adventure/quest story.
Overall, The Searing Stone was such a blast to read. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel.
YA is not a my typical go-to, but this book may just change that as there were so many things I loved about this novel.
Firstly, the characters are incredibly solid. I was invested in them all so quickly and really felt like we got to know them all as individuals. Our main protagonist Zayn struggles with a lot of different things while also being thrust into the role of caring for his younger siblings on their quest, and he was a great character to follow. We get a different range of POV’s which really helped to flesh out everyone’s character development too including Zayn’s siblings, as well as the antagonists POV as well which I always really enjoy. The familial bonds within this story are one of my favourite things about it. It hits all the right notes without being over the top.
The plot has so many fantastic elements to it. Secret maps, hidden clues, underground rebellions. Everything flows well and has just the right amount of suspense and twists. A hard balance to get right! Some parts are a tad predictable in the beginning but for a novice in this genre it would be perfect.
The magic system is interesting and easy to follow. Instead of being born with gifts this story is about a world where parents choose which gifts to give their children, if any at all. The world of O’Varth is very well realised. With the great prologue, map and fantastic cover art it really captures you as a reader despite this novel being quite short by fantasy standards.
This novel is perfect gateway for someone looking to get into the fantasy genre. If you find all the chunky books with complex magic systems and series that are as long as your arm a bit intimidating I would definitely recommend picking this one up. I would also recommend this to anyone who just wants to read a great adventure/quest story.
Overall, The Searing Stone was such a blast to read. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel.
February 23, 2022
Thank you so much R.D. Neal for gifting me a copy of your book in exchange for my honest review!
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My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5
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My favorite thing about this book is that this is a family-led story. Three siblings and their father set out to find a weapon to destroy Levithe, the island's god, who has ruled for over 300 years and has also been secretly searching for the same weapon to maintain his control on the island. A light touch of fantasy for those looking to branch out into the genre, this book contains a detailed map, a fast pace, solid character building, and strong familial ties. The magic system is simple and easy to follow yet thoroughly thought out. Full of fearsome creatures that make you glad they're only in a story!
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I did take 1/2 a star away due to a little predictably in the beginning of the book, nothing that took away from the story, however, near the end there's more than one plot twist that I did not see coming!
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This is an amazing debut novel! Writing a book is no walk in the park and R.D. Neal nailed it!
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Mr. Neal, I hope you're working on book 2 because I'm ready for it!
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Let us not forget to give Kory Miller credit for the amazing cover art as well!
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My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5
.
My favorite thing about this book is that this is a family-led story. Three siblings and their father set out to find a weapon to destroy Levithe, the island's god, who has ruled for over 300 years and has also been secretly searching for the same weapon to maintain his control on the island. A light touch of fantasy for those looking to branch out into the genre, this book contains a detailed map, a fast pace, solid character building, and strong familial ties. The magic system is simple and easy to follow yet thoroughly thought out. Full of fearsome creatures that make you glad they're only in a story!
.
I did take 1/2 a star away due to a little predictably in the beginning of the book, nothing that took away from the story, however, near the end there's more than one plot twist that I did not see coming!
.
This is an amazing debut novel! Writing a book is no walk in the park and R.D. Neal nailed it!
.
Mr. Neal, I hope you're working on book 2 because I'm ready for it!
.
Let us not forget to give Kory Miller credit for the amazing cover art as well!
June 23, 2022
In summary of his own words, Neal voices his desire to propel readers into the fantasy genre for the first time, or perhaps the first time they enjoy it.
I would say, as a YA novel 15 year old me would have been all over this. Not to say I didn’t enjoy it as a 28 year old, I did. But in terms of Neal hitting his target market, I believe he did it well. There’s a missing, and needed, sub genre of clean fantasy with young male heroes, and as a mother to three boys I hope by the time they’re at reading age Neal will have completed this series so I can buy it for them.
Overall thoughts:
1. Great world building, good stakes, and dynamic relationships
2. A few great twists, two in particular took me by surprise!
3. The storyline was a bit predictable and very fast paced. I felt like I needed to know my characters more before diving straight into the craziness.
4. The prose often leans towards exaggeration which isn’t my cup of tea.
If you haven’t read much fantasy and are looking for a grand adventure filled with good versus evil…check this out. If you have read fantasy, I would liken The Searing Stone to Sabaa Tahir’s Ember in the Ashes.
Waiting for book two! 💛
I would say, as a YA novel 15 year old me would have been all over this. Not to say I didn’t enjoy it as a 28 year old, I did. But in terms of Neal hitting his target market, I believe he did it well. There’s a missing, and needed, sub genre of clean fantasy with young male heroes, and as a mother to three boys I hope by the time they’re at reading age Neal will have completed this series so I can buy it for them.
Overall thoughts:
1. Great world building, good stakes, and dynamic relationships
2. A few great twists, two in particular took me by surprise!
3. The storyline was a bit predictable and very fast paced. I felt like I needed to know my characters more before diving straight into the craziness.
4. The prose often leans towards exaggeration which isn’t my cup of tea.
If you haven’t read much fantasy and are looking for a grand adventure filled with good versus evil…check this out. If you have read fantasy, I would liken The Searing Stone to Sabaa Tahir’s Ember in the Ashes.
Waiting for book two! 💛
March 12, 2022
As someone who is still new to fantasy, I found this to be an amazing read especially for a debut novel!! In addition to the plot being fast-paced and full of twists and turns, the writing was so incredibly detailed — I normally have trouble when it comes to processing the world building and events in fantasy books but I really loved how this was written!
I loved the bond between Zayn, Tanyel, and Lyu in addition to their individual characteristics and development over the course of their journey, and I really admired the familial / sense of belonging themes throughout the story. I also loved that there was a secret rebellion aspect to the story which had to have been my favorite part of the entire book.
Overall I really enjoyed it and look forward to the rest of the Children of Erym Saga! Thank you again to R.D. Neal for being so kind enough to gift me a copy!
I loved the bond between Zayn, Tanyel, and Lyu in addition to their individual characteristics and development over the course of their journey, and I really admired the familial / sense of belonging themes throughout the story. I also loved that there was a secret rebellion aspect to the story which had to have been my favorite part of the entire book.
Overall I really enjoyed it and look forward to the rest of the Children of Erym Saga! Thank you again to R.D. Neal for being so kind enough to gift me a copy!
March 29, 2022
I need Book 2 now! I read through this so quickly because I did not want to put it down. It was such a nice change from what I’d recently been reading and I just could not help devouring this book!
To begin, I loved the adventure feel to this novel! It felt very quest like since the focus of the book is on the journey of our MCs across the island they live on.
I absolutely loved meeting all of the different characters, but our MCs absolutely stole my heart. I love the sibling bonds between all of them. I really enjoyed hearing their banter and seeing how they worked together. It was so incredibly heartfelt to read! 🥺♥️
The magic in this world is also very intriguing as parents choose whether or not to give their child one of three “gifts” when they turn 1. Having a gift means luxury and magic, but it also means serving the being that controls the island forever. Denying a gift gives you freedom from the island’s leader, but it also means a life of poverty.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and I cannot wait to see where this story goes next! If this sounds like something that you’d like to read, I definitely recommend checking it out!
To begin, I loved the adventure feel to this novel! It felt very quest like since the focus of the book is on the journey of our MCs across the island they live on.
I absolutely loved meeting all of the different characters, but our MCs absolutely stole my heart. I love the sibling bonds between all of them. I really enjoyed hearing their banter and seeing how they worked together. It was so incredibly heartfelt to read! 🥺♥️
The magic in this world is also very intriguing as parents choose whether or not to give their child one of three “gifts” when they turn 1. Having a gift means luxury and magic, but it also means serving the being that controls the island forever. Denying a gift gives you freedom from the island’s leader, but it also means a life of poverty.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and I cannot wait to see where this story goes next! If this sounds like something that you’d like to read, I definitely recommend checking it out!
July 23, 2023
I’m so thankful I was given the opportunity to read this book, the world building and the overall plot was very entertaining. Impatiently waiting for book two.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews