Customer Reviews

Dragon's Eye (Stone Fort)

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Very few books have the ability to keep me engrossed until 4 am. James Hetley's Dragon's EYe did just that. At first I thought this would be a light contemporary fantasy but as the story unfolded, I was stunned at Mr. Hetley's ability to give the reader multi-layered characters that just jumped off the page. I'm going to run, not walk, to the bookstore and pick up everything I can from this talented voice in fantasy fiction.

Stonefort is a quiet community ruled by legend and two strong clans. The Haskell Witches, mostly women, live in The House, an ancient structure that has a life of its own and hardly tolerates either men or electricity. The Morgans, are descendents of pirates, but the family has other secrets--Ben, the head, has been legally dead for years, but is still around to keep the money supply going. Oh yes, and they shapeshift into seals.

When an evil bruja threatens their community, Alice Haskell and Kate Rowley must band together to put a stop to it. The women are beautifully realized, the action is fast and the fantasy is well worth reading.

The town of Stonefort in Sunrise County, Maine is anything but ordinary although at first glance it looks like a typical New England village. Two prominent families are involved in two different forms of magic. The Morgans have a connection with the magical entity known as the Dragon whose tears turn into the jewels that are worn around the necks of the Morgans so she can see what they can see. They can also communicate with one another. They have the ability to turn into seals and are able to call on the Dragon's magic.

The Haskells are practicing witches with the head of each generation living at Haskell House called The Woman. This is a refuge for women in trouble and they stand guard over the town of Stonefort. The Pratts, drug smugglers and all around criminals are working with the Peruvian drug lord Don Antonio who happens to be a powerful sorcerer. Daniel Morgan becomes Antonio's prisoner as the evil sorcerer wants to use the Dragon in his illegal activities. It falls to Daniel's son Gary, his half sister Caroline and the Haskell witch to save everyone and destroy the sorcerer without getting killed.

This urban fantasy is as good as it gets. The story is told from the views of many characters so readers come to know and understand the main players though that can be a bit overwhelming. The audience will like Gary who matures over the course of the challenge as many revelations are thrown at him yet he still does his best to save his loved ones. James A Hetley needs to write more books featuring the magical town of Stonefort.

Harriet Klausner

I picked this book up at my local bookstore on a whim since I love urban fantasies and this was based in my area of the world. I then didn't put the book down for the rest of the night until it was finished!! Outstanding book, excellent author. I have read all he's put out and eagerly await more!

He takes truth and sews it together with mysticism and fantasy in a thoroughly enchanting way.