What if you were born with an addiction to magic? What if your pleasure meant their pain?Ian Troy is one of the Shinree, a fallen race born with an addiction to magic. Enslaved and drugged to suppress their deadly desires, the Shinree live to serve their masters. After years of forced combat in Rella’s long, brutal war, Ian is desperate for peace. With defeat imminent, he defies the queen’s … queen’s orders and wields the Crown of Stones; an ancient relic of untold power. Unaware of the artifact’s true nature, he ends the war, but pays a terrible price.
A decade later, Ian is still running from the blood in his veins and on his hands. Curbing his cravings with wine and regret, he struggles to forget. But when a fateful encounter with a pretty assassin brings him down that dark path again, Ian’s addiction is awakened—and denial is no longer an option. With the realm he gave up everything to protect once more in jeopardy, Ian becomes embroiled in a violent race for control of the Crown of Stones. As deceptions unfold, the truth becomes clear. To save the realms, he must embrace the one thing he fears most: his own power.
Magic-Price is the award-winning first installment in The Crown of Stones trilogy.
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Wow what an amazing fantasy adventure this is.
Ian is Shinree. A magic users whos race has an addiction to using magic. However after Ian used magic to end a war and in the process killed his fellow soliders and the woman he loved he vowed to stay clear of magic for good.
However that has to change when there is conflict all over the place. He is sworn to protect the Rella empire but to do this is has to use his magic. With the help of some unlikely friends he starts on a journey to save Rella and on the way he learns more about his past and his history than he ever expected to know.
Its a page turner with loads of twists and turns the good guys turn out to be bad, the bad guys turn out to be good. No one is who they seem to be and all the while Ian has to work all this out and deal with his magic addiction before it takes over him for good.
The Crown of Stones: Magic-Price by C.L. Schneider is an exciting story that I found to be really unique and utterly captivating. Before I had even picked up this book I was drawn to it, from the cover that instantly caught my eyes to the description that completely hooked my attention.
When I delved into it the story itself was just as good. It was a detailed story that painted the picture of what was happening so vividly it honestly felt like I was there at times. I loved how none of the characters were made to seem perfect. It actually meant that I connected with them all that bit more because you could see their flaws.
This is a brilliant way to start a series and I cannot wait to see what is to come next.
The Crown of Stones: Magic-Price by C.L. Schneider is right up my alley and a wonderful start to the series. I really enjoyed her other series Nite Fire, I love a good fantasy story (it’s my passion and what got me hooked on reading, but I digress) which CL did a great job of writing this one. It’s dark overtones and unique magic, just made it more interesting. It is intricately woven and has many layers but the joy in the read was peeling back those layers to reveal the heart of the story and the characters. The story has everything you need and to make it a great, there is plenty of danger and action, drama and magic, intrigue and suspense, and the usual light vs darkness. I really enjoyed the unique twist used in Ian’s magic. CL gives us a world that you can easily imagine due to her writing and world building.
Ian has been living in fear of his magic and using it for a long long time. Having to live with the deaths of so many makes his life a living hell. When he stumbles upon a new threat, with its heart purely on destroying everything and anything to get what it wants, Ian is forced back into using the one thing he hates most.
If you love fantasy you need to read this.
5 Stars
Magic Price is the first book in The Crown of Stone Series by C.L Schneider. It is a really well thought out and intricately woven, action-packed high fantasy- with sword fighting, magic, adventure, intensity, drama, originality, brilliant world building, surprising developments, intrigue, suspense, and so much more. I loved Ms. Schneider’s Nite Fire Series, and I am a sucker for epic fantasy, so it was a no brainer when I discovered this series- grabbing a copy and immediately diving in. The story is darker than I had initially expected, with a raw grittiness that really gave this story an extra element of interest. It is also a very imaginative and original take on epic fantasy- especially with the lore of magic being so unique to this book/series.
Ms. Schneider brilliant world building skills are really highlighted here- as the world is ‘alive’ and entirely realistic and believable- so richly painted with attention to detail to all the different races, histories, and culture/s.
Ian Troy is a bounty hunter living a life of self-imposed exile. Living with the ghosts of the past which haunt his days and invade his nights. He single-handedly ended a war- but has been paying the price ever since. But when the past returns with a new threat against him, the land, and his people- Ian has no choice but to wield magic again. There is much at stake- but what will the price be this time?
This is a fantastic story/series- really is epic, intriguing, unique and very creative. Ms. Schneider proves her storytelling prowess with this book and series.
I really recommend this book/series to anyone who loves an epic, action-packed fantasy!
Thank you, Ms. Schneider!
The Crown of Stones: Magic-Price by C. L. Schneider
5-Stars
The Crown of Stones: Magic-Price by C. L. Schneider was a fun and adventurous story. I loved it! I was immediately hooked and intrigued from the beginning of the book featuring the epic battle. I really loved how easily the storyline flowed from this event and kept my attention. I felt that it was organized and edited professionally. I did not observe many errors. I also enjoyed the characters. I felt that they were excellently developed and were easy to visualize. I also enjoyed the various settings and felt they were very descriptive. It was easy to visualize each using various senses to picture myself in the novel. This is the first novel in this series, and I look forward to what comes next. I highly recommend it!
I loved this book so much! I read her Nite Fire series and loved it, so I was pretty sure this book would be excellent. I was not disappointed. The world and character building are superb. You feel like you are right there in the story. I was hooked from the beginning. It has so many layers to it that you can’t help but keep reading.
I liked the different perspective on magic, making it both a strength and a weakness. This story is dark, action-packed, gritty, and intense. I’m looking forward to the next one!
Wow. Schneider is not new to me but this series is. And book one has just completely captured my imagination and taken it on such an incredible journey. I love books that make me relate to the characters and feel immediately connected and invested. The magic throughout the book felt tangible. I simply couldn’t put the book down until I had finished it and cannot wait to read the rest of the series.
I had a hard time getting started it seemed like there was something before it that I missed. After a couple of chapters I was hooked and really liked it and the characters. I was wishing them all the luck they could get. I received this book for free and voluntarily reviewed.