When Aidan and Maggie find a fairy cross while rock-hunting with their grandfather, it’s just an oddity. But when they discover there is an elf imprisoned in the stone and set him free, they and their grandparents, Nana and Beebop, are attacked by Dark Elves and forced to flee to the magical world of Celahir.
In Celahir, Findecano – the elf the children freed from the fairy cross – leads them on … – leads them on a quest to recover gemstones stolen from the Elven Bow by the Dark Elves. Without the restoration of the gemstones to the Elven Bow, the balance between good and evil in Celahir – and the human world – could tip toward evil.
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An exciting fantasy adventure for younger readers. This would make a fantastic gift for a grandchild.
The book gives everything you would expect from a book of this type, magical powers and creatures, nerve-racking battles between good and evil and a hero’s quest where failure will bring widespread devastation. The quest is a simple concept, find the four stolen gemstones, giving the book an obvious focus which is easy to grasp. It is fast-paced and thrilling. It is written in a clear and concise way to be accessible to young readers. It could also be read to even younger children.
What sets this book apart is the choice of humans who are drawn into this mystical world. The author hasn’t followed the usual choice of a misunderstood teenager who is a bit of a misfit in the real world. Instead, he has chosen two well-behaved, lively children and their doting grandparents. There is a strong sense of family bonds and a nurturing background. The children still make mistakes and test boundaries but within a loving and supportive environment.
Lovely book and a fantastic idea for a series.
A wonderful family-positive tale perfect for young readers. Fun and exciting.
A marvelous adventure for children and young adult readers. The story interweaves the myths and legends of the Celts, which enriches the story, giving it some backbone. A fun, imaginative tale about elves, magic and other mythical creatures that puts emphasis on family and the importance of relationships. I was left a bit underwhelmed by the characters names and kept wishing the author might have chosen something more unique, but it did not detract from the delight of the story. The mysterious land of Celahir has a great deal more to offer in following books of the series and promises to keep readers well entertained.
If you like fantasy, stories about families and family bonds and adventures, you will really enjoy this book. I was drawn in at first simply by the relationship between the Aidan and Maggie and their grandparents. The author showed a close family relationship between characters that are unique and appealing in different ways. (I loved the descriptions of Nana and all her creative cooking endeavors.) But then, as the grandkids discover a unique stone with a mystery, the story becomes even more exciting as we are immersed in the world of elves, gemstones, and the mysterious land of Celahir. I loved the creativity and imagination that this book is so rich in. Very enjoyable!
The Gemstone Chronicles – Book One: The Carnelian
The Gemstone Chronicles – Book One: The Carnelian by William L. Stuart is a Young Adult fantasy tale. Evidently the author knows a lot about gemstones. He also has an incredible imagination that comes alive in this tale. The family is incredibly close-knit. The children are adventurous as most young people are. Their cohesiveness as a family is what holds the story together.
Something I had wished could have been handled differently all through this story was when a new character appeared and needed to be filled in on all that had happened so far in the story, all of the action is told to the new character in conversation and the reader must read through this again. Also, when one in the group is missing and then returns, all of the action is again related in conversation to that character. It slowed the flow of the reading. It would have been enough to say in one comment or sentence that someone had updated the character to all that had happened and then the story action moves on from there.
The characters are believable as humans. I found the elves too human. But something I also saw was that what is happening to the elves and their lives and world in this story strongly parallels what is happening on earth at this time. I don’t know if it is intentional but it is there in an underlying current; not good or bad as far as the book is concerned, but most curious.
Fun story that the whole family can enjoy
This is a sword/sorcery fantasy centred around a strong close-knit family who function well together and support each other in times of struggle and adversity. Some of the characters could be developed more and it may be these will come through in subsequent books but in this book some characters have had a light touch. I also stumbled over some of the unusual names/titles and that interrupted my reading. The writing is fine but could do without repetition/recalling of events already told. That said, the book provides a great adventure in a quest to recover stolen four gemstones and restore them to the Elven Bow and bring back Light and Good to the World. It’s a fun story with good twists and turns that the whole family can enjoy. Recommended.
A good series starter:
An interesting first book of a middle-grade series, The Carnelian, The Gemstone Chronicles Book One, starts with a rural Georgian family (U.S., not Russian) and takes the reader on a fantasy adventure that moves along at a subtle pace. The main characters—grandparents and two grandchildren—end up on a journey in a non-cartoon fantasyland within our world where they meet all manner of beings and creatures from Elves, downward. (Reminiscent of many of the inhabitants of LOTR.)
Mr. Stuart has a credible imagination, and tells the story with a smooth and interesting voice. Its pacing is almost perfect for the young middle grade readers. I think this is a perfect novel to get any 11-15 year old off on the road to fantasy and science fiction.