A Cast of Stones (The Staff and the Sword Series #1)

by Patrick W. Carr

Overview

2014 Carol Award Winner for Speculative

The Fate of the Kingdom Awaits the Cast of Stones

In the backwater village of Callowford, roustabout Errol Stone is enlisted by a church messenger arriving with urgent missives for the hermit priest in the hills. Eager for coin, Errol agrees to what he thinks will be an easy task, but soon finds himself hunted by deadly assassins. Forced to flee with the priest and a small band of travelers, Errol soon learns he's joined a quest that could change the fate of his kingdom.

Protected for millennia by the heirs of the first king, the kingdom's dynasty nears its end and the selection of the new king begins—but in secret and shadow. As danger mounts, Errol must leave behind the stains and griefs of the past, learn to fight, and discover who is hunting him and his companions and how far they will go to stop the reading of the stones.


"With an engaging, imaginative world that bristles with danger, characters that keep you guessing, and a story that sticks with you, A Cast of Stones will keep you devouring pages until the very end. I highly recommend it!" —John W. Otte, author of Failstate

"Carr's debut, the first in a series, is assured and up-tempo, with much to enjoy in characterization and description—not least the homely, life-as-lived details." -Publishers Weekly

This fast-paced fantasy debut set in a medieval world is a winner. Both main and secondary characters are fully drawn and endearing, and Errol's transformation from drunkard to hero is well plotted. Carr is a promising CF author to watch. Fans of epic Christian fantasies will enjoy discovering a new voice.

"Like the preceding series title, Inescapable, this tale of suspense offers a colorful cast of characters, small-town drama, and a hint of romance. A sure bet for fans of Hannah Alexander." —Library Journal

"[Good fantasy books] have to be excellent. Good storytelling and exceptional characters with circumstances that are easy enough to follow and wrap your brain around but keep you entertained and guessing... Cast of Stones has found itself firmly in that list of books. I absolutely, one hundred percent loved this book." —Radiant Lit

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780764210433
Publisher:	Baker Publishing Group
Publication date:	02/01/2013
Series:	Staff and the Sword Series , #1
Pages:	432
Sales rank:	361,322
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.30(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

Patrick W. Carr teaches high school math and makes his home in Nashville, Tennessee, with his incredible wife, Mary, and their four awesome sons, Patrick, Connor, Daniel, and Ethan. Learn more at www.patrickwcarr.com.

Editorial Reviews

Errol’s life is an alcoholic scrabble through village tedium until the day a church messenger asks him to convey important letters to Martin, the local hermit, as only Errol has the wilderness skills to reach the priest quickly. When Martin realizes Errol has the gift of sight, the priest and his enigmatic servant, Luis, force Errol to join them on an urgent trip to the church’s seat in Erinon, where the king’s successor will be chosen. Life is no longer a drunken stupor, but unless Errol embraces his gifts and his calling, it’s likely to be brutally short. Carr’s debut, the first in a series, is assured and up-tempo, with much to enjoy in characterization and description—not least the homely, life-as-lived details—but the plot is convention-bound, set in a standard white male fantasy world with standard virtues and flaws. Understated Christian elements are somewhat undercut by the church’s reliance on assassins and fortune-tellers, but non-Christian fantasy fans will take it all in stride. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

Errol Stone is an unlikely hero. Ignorant of the world outside his village, he does odd jobs to pay for his next drink, including carrying an urgent message to the hermit priest who lives in the hills beyond the village. The dynasty that has ruled the kingdom for over a thousand years has ended and a new king must be chosen, but there are some who would do anything to stop the ascension. Errol, the priest, and some companions must flee the assassins hunting them. VERDICT This fast-paced fantasy debut set in a medieval world is a winner. Both main and secondary characters are fully drawn and endearing, and Errol's transformation from drunkard to hero is well plotted. Carr is a promising CF author to watch. Fans of epic Christian fantasies will enjoy discovering a new voice.

Library Journal