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Stone of Hatred
On the vibrant, prismatic Planet Hue, kingdoms of color rule their lands with strict laws and practices.
Ruby, a headstrong, seventeen-year-old princess, longs to be the next ruler of the Red Kingdom. However, societal standards reject her, for only males can lead. Because of this, her younger brother Crimson will take her dream and her place on the throne one day.
When Ruby suddenly becomes blessed with the Prem, a mysterious power that allows one to see the future through dreams, she believes she may finally have a chance of showing what she is worth. Yet, her excitement for her newfound importance and power is short-lived when the Prem starts to reveal a dark and cursed future.
Crimson has no interest in the throne and the shackles that come with it. However, his fate and the fate of his whole family, start to intertwine when a glowing stone that pulsates with an unknown power suddenly crashes down in their homeland.
When it falls upon the shoulders of book-smart Vermillion to try and sort things out, the youngest prince struggles to come to an understanding about this mysterious stone. That doesn’t stop him though, as his curiosity leads him down a new route, one shrouded in mystery.
Is this stone the same one that Ruby’s Prem foretold? Will Ruby and her siblings be able to alter history and save their family from the forthcoming darkness?
Or will this inner turmoil tear them apart?
Ruby, a headstrong, seventeen-year-old princess, longs to be the next ruler of the Red Kingdom. However, societal standards reject her, for only males can lead. Because of this, her younger brother Crimson will take her dream and her place on the throne one day.
When Ruby suddenly becomes blessed with the Prem, a mysterious power that allows one to see the future through dreams, she believes she may finally have a chance of showing what she is worth. Yet, her excitement for her newfound importance and power is short-lived when the Prem starts to reveal a dark and cursed future.
Crimson has no interest in the throne and the shackles that come with it. However, his fate and the fate of his whole family, start to intertwine when a glowing stone that pulsates with an unknown power suddenly crashes down in their homeland.
When it falls upon the shoulders of book-smart Vermillion to try and sort things out, the youngest prince struggles to come to an understanding about this mysterious stone. That doesn’t stop him though, as his curiosity leads him down a new route, one shrouded in mystery.
Is this stone the same one that Ruby’s Prem foretold? Will Ruby and her siblings be able to alter history and save their family from the forthcoming darkness?
Or will this inner turmoil tear them apart?
373 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 2022
1 person is currently reading
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 6, 2022
I would like to say up front that this review applies mostly to the story itself, and not the nit-picking that my inner editor wants to do to any grammatical errors.
With that said, I believe this is an amazing debut for Morgan Takala, and an action-packed and emotional start to her Kingdoms of Color series. The story doesn’t take long to pick up and for the most part it keeps up the momentum into the page-turning climax, which left me wondering how much more this royal family could take. The ending left plenty of unanswered questions and loose ends, as well as a unique world to learn more about, and I’m already ready for the next book.
With that said, I believe this is an amazing debut for Morgan Takala, and an action-packed and emotional start to her Kingdoms of Color series. The story doesn’t take long to pick up and for the most part it keeps up the momentum into the page-turning climax, which left me wondering how much more this royal family could take. The ending left plenty of unanswered questions and loose ends, as well as a unique world to learn more about, and I’m already ready for the next book.
July 30, 2024
For reference, the copy I own of Stone of Hatred is version 2 which I purchased at a convention a little over a week ago. My critique of the book is specifically for that version as I cannot say what Version 3 has fixed.
I also believe this book deserves a content warning as at times it is BRUTAL, especially since the violence pertains to children. There are several detailed scenes containing blood and since the book is told in 1st person the descriptions of pain could potentially be a bit unsettling. None of that personally bothers me at all. If anything it's a sign of the author's ability to put the reader in the character's headspace.
To follow that up, this book has successfully convinced me of the value of a 1st person book. Long since I have written them off as nothing but self-insert wish fulfillment. Being able to get into the heads of all the siblings was what grabbed me so immediately when I started this book. These poor children all suffer from miscommunication and the ability to voice their feelings. At times it was just SO frustrating to watch them as they bickered and argued when in reality they are all so similar. But that's what kept me going. I was just sitting there PRAYING they had a single moment of clarity that never happened. Which is fine, Stone of Hatred is effectively a prologue. I am so glad I bought the entire current set of books as I crossed my fingers that one day there will be a tearful reunion. Some readers might be turned off by the constant infighting between the leads but I was here for it. If anything, it's not the children's fault but their parents and their children are a product of their upbringing. Ruby especially brings up her mother's frequent mental breakdowns and near the end of the book, it is on Ruby to keep certain situations intact. If Ruby's account is reliable then she could be seen as a parentified child. Often viewed as her younger brothers' caretaker and is forced to take the blame when things have gone wrong even when that burden shouldn't have been placed on her in the first place. Which effectively cultivated unjustifiable bitterness towards Crimson, the middle child. No no, I will not fall for the whole "You're the oldest you have to be more responsible excuse". Mom and Dad should have done something about this obvious resentment a long time ago. But maybe I am just a smidge biased, I love Ruby. As of the first book she is my favorite character. She was a champ for how she dealt with her younger brother's unjustified behavior towards her. Don't get me wrong, I love Milli, I love all of them. I just found it humorous that Milli sees himself as intelligent and above those who are older than him...But we all saw who he ran to when shit hit the fan. He might be book smart, but in his heart, he is still a ten-year-old.
I don't want to completely pick sides, Ruby making Crimson's pain about her was totally out of line at the time she bought it up. The moment wasn't about her even if the parents blamed her for what happened. They are all very flawed people which is what makes them all so interesting. I am a bit bummed about what happened to the dad. I wish there were more opportunities to see the family from his point of view.
I must note that I was instantly drawn to this book BECAUSE the main characters are siblings. It's not that siblings aren't ever main characters but it is the reality that romance stories will run over stories that emphasize familial love. There are so many aspects of this book where it just felt like it was written for me personally.
Writing and Prose Critique:
I am far more lenient when it comes to reviews of indie titles than I am with professionally published books. However, these are issues that the editor could look out for in the future. One of my main issues with the prose and the dialogue are instances of unnecessary repetition of certain words or phrases. There are a plethora of "honestly, though, and obviously". Which I can completely relate to, I have a hard time not finishing a sentence with "though". "Mental Breakdown" is used a lot as well which quickly feels like I'm being "told not shown", I would much rather read about the effects of that mental breakdown than just being told someone is having one. The author is very capable of doing this because the entire siege on the castle was just fantastic. I want more of that overall.
Overuse of commas and run-on sentences are everywhere. Most notably at the beginning. I can't say if I just got used to them or not.
I'm not sure if this is even worth mentioning anymore since it seems most authors don't care anymore but I will continue to put it out there. It will always be more effective to pick a tense and stick with it. Most readers are used to and lean toward past-tense narratives. This book constantly flipped between past and present-tense. This led to the fight scenes in particular to feel stunted at times. Flipping around isn't bad necessarily but I would limit doing so.
I could be wrong but I have to bring it up, there seems to be a continuity error during the siege. Ruby and Milli were on the fourth floor, they made it down to the third floor when the canon ball struck, which knocked Milli to the second. He survived the drop itself and a beam fell on him to drive home he was in bad shape. Ruby then proceeded to "kill" an enemy soldier by tricking her over the edge. Wouldn't this person only fall a single floor? None of the other characters questioned this person's death. They don't check. They just assumed. Maybe if the floor below had a vaulted ceiling that would do it. But it isn't described at all. So it just came off as if Milli had plot armor.
Last nitpick! The world building is severely lacking. I have no idea when this book's setting is supposed to take place. I see the map, I know the kids are in a castle which sends my mind to the medieval ages. But then I turn around and indoor plumbing and electricity exist. Medical knowledge is so far advanced that there are electronics in the infirmary that beep. Somehow these doctors know what neurological means. Yet, they have no idea what a gun is. I have no idea what the city looks like, or what the buildings are made out of. The layout of the castle is also a mystery to me. The den, where the royal family is supposed to relax and hang out, is near the front entrance. Which is kind of odd. ESPECIALLY, when they leave a certain someone who is very very important just out there wounded and alone. I know the mom made an excuse for that later but nah, at least ONE person should've been there to guard him.
Excuse my huge dump of feelings. I am not kidding when I say I loved the book. I haven't been a reader for such a long time and I was just invested in the story the entire read. I've told my friends about it, I've told my mom about it. They are all annoyed with me. I don't care! I am behind the author all the way. I wish her luck with the rest of the series. I can't wait to start the second book!
I also believe this book deserves a content warning as at times it is BRUTAL, especially since the violence pertains to children. There are several detailed scenes containing blood and since the book is told in 1st person the descriptions of pain could potentially be a bit unsettling. None of that personally bothers me at all. If anything it's a sign of the author's ability to put the reader in the character's headspace.
To follow that up, this book has successfully convinced me of the value of a 1st person book. Long since I have written them off as nothing but self-insert wish fulfillment. Being able to get into the heads of all the siblings was what grabbed me so immediately when I started this book. These poor children all suffer from miscommunication and the ability to voice their feelings. At times it was just SO frustrating to watch them as they bickered and argued when in reality they are all so similar. But that's what kept me going. I was just sitting there PRAYING they had a single moment of clarity that never happened. Which is fine, Stone of Hatred is effectively a prologue. I am so glad I bought the entire current set of books as I crossed my fingers that one day there will be a tearful reunion. Some readers might be turned off by the constant infighting between the leads but I was here for it. If anything, it's not the children's fault but their parents and their children are a product of their upbringing. Ruby especially brings up her mother's frequent mental breakdowns and near the end of the book, it is on Ruby to keep certain situations intact. If Ruby's account is reliable then she could be seen as a parentified child. Often viewed as her younger brothers' caretaker and is forced to take the blame when things have gone wrong even when that burden shouldn't have been placed on her in the first place. Which effectively cultivated unjustifiable bitterness towards Crimson, the middle child. No no, I will not fall for the whole "You're the oldest you have to be more responsible excuse". Mom and Dad should have done something about this obvious resentment a long time ago. But maybe I am just a smidge biased, I love Ruby. As of the first book she is my favorite character. She was a champ for how she dealt with her younger brother's unjustified behavior towards her. Don't get me wrong, I love Milli, I love all of them. I just found it humorous that Milli sees himself as intelligent and above those who are older than him...But we all saw who he ran to when shit hit the fan. He might be book smart, but in his heart, he is still a ten-year-old.
I don't want to completely pick sides, Ruby making Crimson's pain about her was totally out of line at the time she bought it up. The moment wasn't about her even if the parents blamed her for what happened. They are all very flawed people which is what makes them all so interesting. I am a bit bummed about what happened to the dad. I wish there were more opportunities to see the family from his point of view.
I must note that I was instantly drawn to this book BECAUSE the main characters are siblings. It's not that siblings aren't ever main characters but it is the reality that romance stories will run over stories that emphasize familial love. There are so many aspects of this book where it just felt like it was written for me personally.
Writing and Prose Critique:
I am far more lenient when it comes to reviews of indie titles than I am with professionally published books. However, these are issues that the editor could look out for in the future. One of my main issues with the prose and the dialogue are instances of unnecessary repetition of certain words or phrases. There are a plethora of "honestly, though, and obviously". Which I can completely relate to, I have a hard time not finishing a sentence with "though". "Mental Breakdown" is used a lot as well which quickly feels like I'm being "told not shown", I would much rather read about the effects of that mental breakdown than just being told someone is having one. The author is very capable of doing this because the entire siege on the castle was just fantastic. I want more of that overall.
Overuse of commas and run-on sentences are everywhere. Most notably at the beginning. I can't say if I just got used to them or not.
I'm not sure if this is even worth mentioning anymore since it seems most authors don't care anymore but I will continue to put it out there. It will always be more effective to pick a tense and stick with it. Most readers are used to and lean toward past-tense narratives. This book constantly flipped between past and present-tense. This led to the fight scenes in particular to feel stunted at times. Flipping around isn't bad necessarily but I would limit doing so.
I could be wrong but I have to bring it up, there seems to be a continuity error during the siege. Ruby and Milli were on the fourth floor, they made it down to the third floor when the canon ball struck, which knocked Milli to the second. He survived the drop itself and a beam fell on him to drive home he was in bad shape. Ruby then proceeded to "kill" an enemy soldier by tricking her over the edge. Wouldn't this person only fall a single floor? None of the other characters questioned this person's death. They don't check. They just assumed. Maybe if the floor below had a vaulted ceiling that would do it. But it isn't described at all. So it just came off as if Milli had plot armor.
Last nitpick! The world building is severely lacking. I have no idea when this book's setting is supposed to take place. I see the map, I know the kids are in a castle which sends my mind to the medieval ages. But then I turn around and indoor plumbing and electricity exist. Medical knowledge is so far advanced that there are electronics in the infirmary that beep. Somehow these doctors know what neurological means. Yet, they have no idea what a gun is. I have no idea what the city looks like, or what the buildings are made out of. The layout of the castle is also a mystery to me. The den, where the royal family is supposed to relax and hang out, is near the front entrance. Which is kind of odd. ESPECIALLY, when they leave a certain someone who is very very important just out there wounded and alone. I know the mom made an excuse for that later but nah, at least ONE person should've been there to guard him.
Excuse my huge dump of feelings. I am not kidding when I say I loved the book. I haven't been a reader for such a long time and I was just invested in the story the entire read. I've told my friends about it, I've told my mom about it. They are all annoyed with me. I don't care! I am behind the author all the way. I wish her luck with the rest of the series. I can't wait to start the second book!
November 12, 2025
While some destinies are painted in gold, others are painted in blood some, like Ruby's, shimmer bright in rebellion against the colors that bind them.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5)
"Stone of Hatred" by Morgan Takala is a fantasy imbued with imagination and emotion, which redefines courage, legacy, and destiny. Set on the mesmerizing Planet Hue kingdoms of color that rule with rigid laws the story follows seventeen-year-old Ruby, a fierce princess born to lead but denied by a patriarchal tradition. Her yearning for purpose collides with fate when she's blessed with the mysterious Prem, a power that grants visions of the future… and of a darkness waiting to strike.
While Crimson and Vermillion, Ruby's brothers, each follow their fated paths-one to resist the throne and the other to chase knowledge-the siblings are bound together by a glowing fallen stone, the curse of which might change their world forever. What started as youthful defiance turned into a saga of unity, sacrifice, and survival.
Why This Fantasy Stands Out
• Rich World-Building: The vibrant kingdoms of color and their intricate traditions pull readers into a world that feels at once mythic and alive.
• Complex Sibling Dynamics: The bond between Ruby, Crimson, and Vermillion is one of sibling rivalry, love, and shared fate that adds warmth and reality among all the fantasy.
• Strong Female Voice: Ruby's fight against sexual structures of authority is strong and very relatable; classic fantasy blends with new flair.
• Layered Mystery: The prophecy of Prem, the cursed stone, and the slow unraveling of fate make for a gripping undercurrent throughout.
• Emotional Depth: Under the magic lies a story about courage — the kind built upon the foundation of defying fate, fiercely loving, and standing tall when the world says you shouldn't.
Final Thoughts
Stone of Hatred isn't just a fantasy adventure-it's a coming-of-age story painted with defiance, love, and destiny in hues of color. Morgan Takala crafts a world as vivid as its emotions, where every color carries meaning, and every dream does too. A spellbinding start to the Kingdoms of Color series-brave, beautiful, and unforgettable.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5)
"Stone of Hatred" by Morgan Takala is a fantasy imbued with imagination and emotion, which redefines courage, legacy, and destiny. Set on the mesmerizing Planet Hue kingdoms of color that rule with rigid laws the story follows seventeen-year-old Ruby, a fierce princess born to lead but denied by a patriarchal tradition. Her yearning for purpose collides with fate when she's blessed with the mysterious Prem, a power that grants visions of the future… and of a darkness waiting to strike.
While Crimson and Vermillion, Ruby's brothers, each follow their fated paths-one to resist the throne and the other to chase knowledge-the siblings are bound together by a glowing fallen stone, the curse of which might change their world forever. What started as youthful defiance turned into a saga of unity, sacrifice, and survival.
Why This Fantasy Stands Out
• Rich World-Building: The vibrant kingdoms of color and their intricate traditions pull readers into a world that feels at once mythic and alive.
• Complex Sibling Dynamics: The bond between Ruby, Crimson, and Vermillion is one of sibling rivalry, love, and shared fate that adds warmth and reality among all the fantasy.
• Strong Female Voice: Ruby's fight against sexual structures of authority is strong and very relatable; classic fantasy blends with new flair.
• Layered Mystery: The prophecy of Prem, the cursed stone, and the slow unraveling of fate make for a gripping undercurrent throughout.
• Emotional Depth: Under the magic lies a story about courage — the kind built upon the foundation of defying fate, fiercely loving, and standing tall when the world says you shouldn't.
Final Thoughts
Stone of Hatred isn't just a fantasy adventure-it's a coming-of-age story painted with defiance, love, and destiny in hues of color. Morgan Takala crafts a world as vivid as its emotions, where every color carries meaning, and every dream does too. A spellbinding start to the Kingdoms of Color series-brave, beautiful, and unforgettable.
June 17, 2024
I wanted to like this book, I really liked the concept of it, but I noticed no mention of an editor and honestly it really could benefit from the help. The writing just wasn't there for me and it made it extremely hard for me to finish this book. It is very contradictory at every point it seems (i.e. "I dont know how I could ever go on, but I did" or "I couldn't cry, but the tears fell anyway" or "I had to be strong, but I crumpled") and it just felt repetitive and incredibly annoying at points. The pacing of the story to me feels incredibly drawn out and almost pointless at times, like I'm just reading a scene for the sake of a word count. The parents didn't feel like parents to me and the way that they are described in the book by the kids sounds really strange (i.e. my dad looked at his wife, or my mom snuggled up to her husband. Like if I were talking about my own parents, I wouldn't describe them as "his wife" or "her husband" it just felt weird to read) I truly wanted to like this book, but I feel like I read an unfinished version. And until then, I can't say I'd pick up the next book.
April 12, 2022
Recently read and discovered Stones of hatred by Morgan
This was an easy story to get sucked into, and the mystery in the storyline quickly intrigued me.
Loved the flow of the story and the writing style.
The book switches between multiple POV, but it’s greatly written to make each POV give us a new insight to the storyline.
In the start you think this will be a story about the spoiled princess becoming the hero.
But oh my, it’s so much more.
Ruby is the oldest of the siblings, with two younger brothers.
She is head strong and courageous, and really can’t understand why her brother will inherit the throne just because he is male.
An event turns their world upside down. It was meant as an adventure in the late hours with her brothers. But their discovery will change everything.
They are suddenly in the middle of something much bigger.
The first 100 pages build the details and storyline. They hold a lot of details and family history.
A little slow at some parts, but again well written so you get attached to the main characters.
You get a good insight to the family dynamic and how different the different siblings react to scenes in the book.
Loved how easy it was to relate to sibling drama and the family dynamics.
There is hardship and sorrow as the story progress and loved how these events were described and how the main characters helped each other.
I’ve also been able to chat with the author during my read and we had many wonderful discussions.
Check out Morgan’s instagram page.
A wonderful author with good humor also woven into her story.
Morgan, I’m just mentioning the spatula scene in the kitchen😂
A great YA novel. If you like the genre and like a well written adventure you should definitely check this out.
Can’t wait for the next chapter.
This was an easy story to get sucked into, and the mystery in the storyline quickly intrigued me.
Loved the flow of the story and the writing style.
The book switches between multiple POV, but it’s greatly written to make each POV give us a new insight to the storyline.
In the start you think this will be a story about the spoiled princess becoming the hero.
But oh my, it’s so much more.
Ruby is the oldest of the siblings, with two younger brothers.
She is head strong and courageous, and really can’t understand why her brother will inherit the throne just because he is male.
An event turns their world upside down. It was meant as an adventure in the late hours with her brothers. But their discovery will change everything.
They are suddenly in the middle of something much bigger.
The first 100 pages build the details and storyline. They hold a lot of details and family history.
A little slow at some parts, but again well written so you get attached to the main characters.
You get a good insight to the family dynamic and how different the different siblings react to scenes in the book.
Loved how easy it was to relate to sibling drama and the family dynamics.
There is hardship and sorrow as the story progress and loved how these events were described and how the main characters helped each other.
I’ve also been able to chat with the author during my read and we had many wonderful discussions.
Check out Morgan’s instagram page.
A wonderful author with good humor also woven into her story.
Morgan, I’m just mentioning the spatula scene in the kitchen😂
A great YA novel. If you like the genre and like a well written adventure you should definitely check this out.
Can’t wait for the next chapter.
September 3, 2022
This exciting fairytale which is quite contemporary and thrilling to read was an amazingly satisfactory experience. I lived the balance of fiction and believability that caters to as a young adult. I loved the characters and tone in the writing style.
Overall this book was definitely something I can read more than once.
Overall this book was definitely something I can read more than once.
February 2, 2024
What amazing debut for Morgan, I can't even express how great this book series is, if you're looking for a good YA fantasy book series this is for you! If you like DnD, action, adventure, strong female main characters, epic story, amazing character development, in depth characters, stories that leave you on a the edge of your seat, you gotta read these books. 10000/10 would read again!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews