5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great fantasy, November 27, 2004
This review is from: Heir of Stone: (The Cloudmages #3) (Hardcover)
Lamh Shabhala is the master cloch (a magical stone) that gives its wearer tremendous power. Jenna MacEgan is the First Holder and the queen of the Irish Thuaildh hated and feared by the royals who resent the power she wields over them even though they possess clochs albeit weaker ones than Jenna. The aristocracy also detests her daughter Meriel the healer because she heals many commoners instead of her own kind.
Jenna's brother Doyle believes he should be First Holder and King; he enters into a conspiracy that successfully kills Jenna and Meriel and other family members except Sevei, Kayne and Ennis. Sevei wears Lamh Shabhala while her uncle is crowned king. The commoners revolt because they know he killed their beloved Meriel. While Civil War threatens the kingdom, the Arruk, sentient monsters with powers equal to the cloch wearers are ready to attack the humans. If the humans fail to band together under the command of Kayne who wields the power of a strong Cloch and has fought the Arruk, they will suffer death and an end to their empire. Sevei joins the battle but it is hard for her since Ennis fights on the side of the Arruk.
HEIR OF STONE is an action packed swords and sorcery novel and the best of the marvelous cloud mages series. The battles scenes are every bit as exciting and imaginable as those found in THE LORD OF THE RINGS. Kayne is the character that is most dynamic as he changes from a warrior to a great leader of armies. The political intrigues and plots are a different kind of warfare where everyone loses. S.L. Farrell has written a series that rivals the works of Terry Brooks.
Harriet Klausner
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another Clash Over Lamh Shabhala, January 15, 2010
Heir of Stone (2005) is the third Fantasy novel in the Cloudmages series, following
Mage of Clouds. In the previous volume, Jenna regained Lamh Shabhala and went mad. She devastated Falcarragh, but Meriel reached inside Jenna and brought her mother back to sanity.
Meriel stopped the war, but the Rithe still had to select a new Ri Ard. Edana was the leading contender as the High King. Yet Edana offered Meriel the throne.
In this novel, Jenna MacEgan is Banrion of Inish Thuaidh and the holder of Lamh Shabhalla, the greatest cloch. She was the First Holder and is also known as the Mad Holder.
Meriel MacEgan is the daughter of Jenna. She is now Banrion Ard -- Queen of Talamh an Glas -- and the holder of Treorai's Heart, a cloch of healing.
Edana Mac Ard is the wife of Doyle and the Banrion Dun Laoghaire. She was the daughter and sister of the previous Ri Ards.
Doyle Mac Ard is Jenna's half-brother and the husband of Edana. He still believes that the Lamh Shabhala should belong to him.
Sevei and Kayne Geraghty are twins, the firstborn of Meriel and Owaine. Sevei is an acolyte of the Order of Inishfeirm. Kayne is a soldier with the troops fighting the Arruk in Ceile Mhor under Owaine.
Ennis Geraghty is the youngest child of Meriel and Owaine. He has the potential to be a very strong mage. He can see future possibilities.
Isibeal is half Taisteal who tends to Ennis. She was recommended by Doyle.
In this story, Doyle meets with Torin Mailaghan, Ri of Tuath Gabair. They discuss the conspiracy and then ride off toward Lar Baike.
Sevei swims as a seal in the sea. As she changes and walks up the beach, she meets Maister Kitwan, who has been waiting for her. The Maister has come to take her back to her grandmother.
Jenna is taking Sevei with her to Dun Laoghaire. Maister Kitwan also has two surprises for Sevei. She is promoted to Siur of the Order and given a clochmion that had once belonged to her father.
The cloch had given Owaine the ability to find things within a certain range. When Sevei tries it later, it calls a dragon. The creature damages the walls of the White Keep and Sevei barely forces the dragon to leave before the cloch is drained of its power.
On their way to Dun Laoghaire, a great storm arises and Jenna uses Lamh Shabhalla to create a calm zone. They flee to a nearby harbor and find enemy ships waiting for them. Since Lamh Shabhalla is empty, Jenna throws it into the sea and both Jenna and Sevei are injured and fall overboard. Maister Kirwan is captured by the conspirators.
Kayne is returning home from the battles in Ceile Mhor. As they are approaching Ceangali in the Fingers, Kayne complains at camping near the road when they could be sleeping in beds within the town. Owaine gives in to his petulant son and crosses the hill toward Ceangali.
Owaine and his troops stop at the top of the hill when they see Arruk attacking Ceangali. Kayne asks why they aren't rushing to the town's defense and charges down the hill. His father belatedly orders the others to go after him.
An Arruk rises out of the ground and attacks Kayne's horse. Kayne is thrown, but holds onto his sword. He and the Arruk fight and Kayne wins.
Later, the returning troop are attacked by Tuath Airgiall gardai on the High Road. The attackers are too many for Owaine and his men. He gives his drained cloch to Kayne and leads a final charge.
Kayne musters the wounded and they flee the field. Rain and darkness cover their escape. Kayne leads them back toward Ceangali.
Ennis cannot see any future where his mother lives, so he selects the one where she will have the least pain. After Isibeal poisons her, she takes Ennis and Treorai's Heart and then flees from her pursuers. Ennis calmly goes with her as she rides away.
Edana blames her husband for Meriel's death. Doyle blames the other conspirators, but Edana knows that he had cooperated with them to gain Lamh Shabhalla. She banishes him from Dun Laoghaire.
This tale has all of Jenna's family -- except Doyle -- dead or lost. The conspirators seem to have won. But Sevei, Kayne and Ennis are still alive. The final battle has yet to come.
This is the concluding volume of the series. Yet the author has since written the
Nessantico Cycle series. Read and enjoy!
Recommended for Farrell fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of ancient Ireland, magical talismans, and youthful perseverance.
-Arthur W. Jordin
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