A kingdom of death. A war for power and profit. Young heroes caught in the crossfire.Apprentice thief Kodyn expected hardships along his journey to return a kidnapped girl to her father. Harsh deserts and cutthroat bandits, certainly—all risks of the mission—but his criminal training never prepared him to be dragged into a shadowy battle for power in Shalandra, the City of the Dead.Polite smiles … power in Shalandra, the City of the Dead.
Polite smiles hide sharp knives. In the gloom of golden spires carved from mountain stone, currents of corruption and vice run deep. Priests of the god of death rule with an iron fist, imposing a caste system that elevates some to a life of privilege and condemns others to filth and squalor.
Fighting at Kodyn’s side is Aisha, a fierce warrior from the north with the mystical ability to speak to the dead. Together, the companions must go to war to save Shalandra from the power-hungry clerics and their army of thieves, thugs, blood cultists, and assassins.
The fate of a nation rests on their shoulders—are these young heroes strong enough to seize their destiny?
Trial of Stone is the first in the gripping, heart-pounding Heirs of Destiny series. Get ready for a thrill ride on epic fantasy’s darker side, perfect for fans of A.C. Cobble, Jeff Wheeler, and Robin Hobb.
Click now if you love action, intrigue, and heroic deeds that will set your heart racing!
“If you like intricate world-building, vivid descriptions that transport you to another place, and heart-pounding, visceral fight scenes, then Heirs of Destiny is your book!” – A.C. Cobble, author of Benjamin Ashwood
“A masterfully woven story with wonderfully imagined characters you will not soon forget!” — Stevie Collier, Author of The Dark Assassin Trilogy
In the Heirs of Destiny series:
Trial of Stone (Book 1)
Crucible of Fortune (Book 2)
Storm of Chaos (Book 3)
Secrets of Blood (Book 4)
Ascension of Death (Book 5)
AND BONUS:
The Renegade Apprentice (Book 6)
more
5 out of 5 stars
What do you do when you are the son of the best thief in the night guild and want to come out from under her shadow. You along with your best friend decide to help a young woman get back to her father . Koydn along with his best friend Aisha help bring Briana home to Shalandra, the city of the Dead . Where things aren’t what they seem . Corruption runs the city and there is a class divide where the wealthy are cruel and the lower caste are living in squalor . They are thrown into the middle of what seems to be a war between the castes . With the help of his best friend Aisha and her warrior fierceness they will jump into the middle of a war that they might not be able to win .
This is an epic book with so many characters but the main characters are so very well written and complex . Koydn is a strong young man who is trying to find himself . Sometimes he is a hotheaded young man who wants to do every thing for himself and keep everyone safe . You will love him and want him to do well and keep everyone safe . He is young and wants to get out of his mothers shadow and become his own man. His best friend Aisha is a fierce warrior , she will kick your butt and hand it to you in about three moves . She has been through a lot and has come through the other side . Taken in by the Night Guild , she grew up training to be the best at what she does . You will love her so much , I will say she is my favourite character through out the series . She is strong and also can talk with the dead which we find out all about in this book . We also meet some new characters Briana is the young woman that Koydn and Aisha help make it home . To me she is a character that you will have to get use to . One moment she is strong and the next she is like a little scared kitten . It took me a bit to get use to her ,but she did grow on me . We also meet Evren and Hailen from the Dark blade series . They are on their way to Shalandra for their own quest . Also we will meet Issa a young Shalandraite who will blow your mind not going to say any more about he This is a big book and once you start reading you will not and can not put it down . The story will take you on an epic journey into a world of fantasy . The author takes us on such a roller coaster ride , there are twists and turns that will keep the pages turning way into the night . When is started this book it was like coming home to a cast of characters that you want to know and take care of . The author builds a world that will amaze you . The caste system he has set up takes you from the poorest of the poor to the richest and shows the difference of what money and power can do . When you start this book be prepared not to move for most of the day, have a warm blanket and a good cup of tea cause you will not put this book down until you are finished . The story will have you entertained and you will fall in love with the characters . It is the best of both series . So if you liked the Dark blade series and the night guild series , you will love this series I am going to say its stands alone on its own merits but it also has the best of both series . So check it out and you will not be disappointed . r cause you have to read the book to find out more about all the characters .
This book takes us to a new place in Einan with a motley crew of teens, who must save the world. Most of the characters are friendly faces and we meet a few new ones. Hailen is my favorite character of this series, but Issa quickly becomes a heart warmer. This series changes the entire landscape of Einan and the future for the Hunter and Aisha.
Some wonderful world building and some interesting characters make up this first book in a brand new series. I really enjoyed the story and look forward to picking up book two. I would recommend this to those who enjoy young adult adventurous fantasy.
Trial of Stone is the first book in the Heirs of Destiny series.
Final Rating: 5 stars
This book follows a few main characters, but the way it is written makes it very easy to keep them all separate and yet still see how they all work together also. It may not be real, but it has the theme of hope all the way through in good times and bad times. It also shows what you can do just by believing in yourself.
This book was a great read and was hard to put down. The authors descriptions were amazing. I felt like I was right there in the city of Shalandra. What I really loved about this book was that the author was simultaneously telling three different stories so we get to really know the characters. There are six characters in this book and the author does justice to them all. And as he’s letting the reader get to know the characters he’s also hinting that when they all come together the story is going to be awesome. This series is definitely going to be worth following.
What a great beginning to a new series. The world building is awesome and you can bond with the characters. You will escape into another world for st least a little while, making your day, or night, better. I am moving immediately to book two, can’t stop now!
Awesome! Loved it! This story is set in the world of the Queen of Thieves and Hero of Darkness series. It follows several young characters we met in those series plus a young girl trying to become a Keeper’s Blade. Great action and intrigue as the stage is set for, by all appearances, another excellent series.
I really enjoyed this book. It follows the story of 3 different groups at first. There is Issa and the trials she is going through to become a warrior. There is Evren, a thief sent on a secret mission, and his stowaway companion Hailen. Then we also have Kodyn and is friend Aisha who can hear the dead. I think all the main characters are great, but my favorite is Issa. I can’t wait to find out where the rest of their story leads.
This is a page-turner sword and sorcery adventure. The story is rich with descriptions and the fight scenes are superb. I did skim over some of the descriptions, but never the fight scenes! Every chapter moves from one character to the next and most of the chapters end on cliffhangers. It will keep you on the edge of your seat! Make sure you have a weekend to read this book, because you won’t want to put it down. I didn’t want it to end! At least the first two chapters of Book 2 are included as a sneak peek at the end.
The story follows the lives of several intriguing young adult characters, most of them well trained warriors. They each have their own battles to fight, but there’s something bigger at stake and they will need each other to save the realm. All of them end up in Shalandra, the City of the Dead, either by birth or by journey there.
There’s 17-year-old Issa from Shalandra who’s training to become a Keeper’s Blade and who doesn’t know anything about her parents. Then there’s 17-year-old Evren who is chosen by the Hunter to go on a dangerous mission. His first priority, though, is to protect young Hailen who is the last of his race with magical abilities. Then there’s Kodyn and Aisha who are also 17-years-old and who appoint themselves as bodyguards to Briana. Kodyn belongs to the Night Guild and has to prove himself on a mission. Aisha, formerly a trafficking victim, is a lethal fighter and friends with Kodyn. She’s also a Spirit Whisperer and carries the burden of hearing the anguished cries of the deceased. Briana, the daughter of the highest-ranking Secret Keepers of Shalandra, was previously kidnapped and is still in danger. The way these youths finally meet up at the end is not how I was expecting.
There are other exciting characters too, like Killian and Hykos. Killian is a blacksmith with spies in the city. He secretly trained Issa for 5 years in many different fighting styles. Hykos chooses to train Issa as a Keeper’s Blade, but has to relinquish her training to a man higher up who seems determined to break her. Hykos is handsome and only a couple of years older than Issa. He gives her as much support as he can, because he wants her to succeed.
Shalandra is an awful city with a ruthless caste system that violates basic human rights. The slave trade is also prevalent. There are cultists and criminals gathering in numbers and bored soldiers patrolling the streets. People are harboring anger and resentment against the power hungry. It won’t be long before there’s a bloody rebellion. What difference can our young heroes make in this volatile time?
I read this book in KU. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Wow a fantastic read. A fast action read. That catches you right from the first page, and has you on the edge of your seat. This read never has a dull moment. Kodyn expected hardships along his journey to return a kidnapped girl to her father. They run into alot of diversity. And lots of twists and turns. The Author does a fantastic job with the characters. And the scenery. I was given this book. I Love these reads. You feel like you are living Vicariously through the characters through the book. A Definite must read.
Shauna Joesten