Customer Reviews

Stone Heart

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The third book from 'Tale of the order'. Although I think it can stand alone, I highly recommend you to make yourself familiar with the first two books (Gryphon's Quest/ The Gazing Globe) before starting this one.

The theme of the book is very touching. A villian druid warrior, Angus MacGregor was cursed by the Sorceress of the ancient to spend his tormented eternity as a stone statue... However, of all horrible things he did when he lived, he actually unintentionally did one tiny good deed... and that little good thing was the only thing that saved him from the cursed three hundred years later. The heroine, Karen Matthews was born with heart defect and the knowledge that she would never have a chance to live a normal life and grew old with someone she loved... However, because of a-three-hundred-year-old promise passed in her family line, she lifted the curse placed on Angus... however one problem still remained. With her time running out from her heart condition, she needed to find a way to help the first man she came to love with all her life to get back to the world he really belonged...

As a die-hard fan of 'Tale of the order', I'm still confident to say that Candace Sams still did an excellent job with this book. Karen was a very adorable character and her vision to the world in the eyes of the one who's dying can bring tears to your eyes. If you're already familiar with the first two books, this one will let you learn more about the secret of the ancient order and all the magical creatures from the ancient world. However, if you never read the first two books before, as mentioned previously, I recommend you to read at least one of them in order to familiarize youself with this enchanting world and to make this book a lot more fun. So if you're looking around (and reading this review) in order to help you decide whether or not you should buy this book, I say, go for it!... and you will learn that, even 'The stone can cry'... It's worth every penny you spend.. .Happy reading!

His parents and he were driven out of The Order into the realm of the Outsiders for violating the prime directive of not sharing magical solutions with the humans. The adults died not long afterwards leaving five years old David Angus MacGregor struggling to survive. He becomes an acrimonious hateful soul punishing anyone for the slightest supposed affront. Finally disgusted with his malicious behavior, the Lead Sorceress changes Angus into a hideous statue and he will remain that way until someone frees him from his stone coffin.

When he was still flesh, Angus did a kind deed for a child. She vowed to repay him and over the next three centuries that debt has passed down from her to her descendents. In the present, a dying Aunt Aggie asks her niece Karen Matthews to go to Scotland to free the soul inside the statue. Though thinking this is foolishness, Karen, in spite of also dying from a defective heart and not believing, completes her deathbed vow freeing Angus. They immediate fall in love, but how will he react when he realizes that his beloved is ironically dying?

STONE HEART is a terrific fantasy romance, the third tale in the Order universe (see GRYPHON'S QUEST and THE GAZING GLOBE). Karen is an inspirational person embracing life while near death; Angus has a second chance to redeem his soul, but life's cruelty hits home when another loved one is near death. Will he choose salvation as his cherished redeemer is dying or will he turn bitter and angry at fate? Candace Sams enchants her readers with a fabulous magical story in which the strength of sorcery seems genuine but feeble next to the power of love.

Harriet Klausner

I came across this book quite by accident and I'm so glad I got it.

3 centuries ago, a cruel man feared and hated by the villagers is cursed to become a stone statue, as ugly as his demeanor by a Sorceress appalled by his lack of compassion. However, because of his one rare deed of kindness on that fateful day, it would become his key to freedom...
Present day, a frail Karen Matthews is determined to fulfill her beloved, dying aunts unusual and bizarre last wish to look for a statue and keep a 3 century promise.

300 years was a long time of frozen, tormented solitude for Angus MacGregor to repent the awful things he had done, when the curse is finally broken.
The irony was that the woman who breaks the spell and saves him from eternity as a stone statue, the gentle peace loving, Karen, is seriously ill.
The time spent in Karen company on the journey back to his home, Angus he learns what love and compassion is truly all about.

This was a wonderful fantasy story and with a heart-wrenching romance and a roller-coaster of emotions. I shed numerous tears while reading it. Karen was a very believable heroine and you see the changes Angus goes through and his unconditional love for Karen.
Love, loved the ending.
Go ahead and get the book, it's worth reading.

Although this was part of a series, book 3, I was able to follow the story and enjoyed it very much. (despite the many glaring errors, a proof reader would have aided enormously)
I have now ordered the rest of the series. I really liked Gryphon, and I want to read his story, and also find out what happened to Tearach, when he realizes just what his punishment is going to be. After all, he hates Outsiders! (humans)

A beautifully written romantic tale about second chances, loyalty and a friendship between Angus and Karen which leaves you believing in their love and committment to each other.

I haven't read the other books in the Tales of the Order series yet and did not feel that they were essential to this story. The relationship between the characters was emotionally intimate and nurturing, and whilst they did make their way to the magical shire and met some characters from the rest of the series, they were each in their own way outsiders to The Order and had no familiarity or relationships with them, after all Angus had not been a part of it for over 300 years and Karen was an outsider.

For me this story evoked tears, sighs and smiles. Definately a keeper.

This is a book of the "Order", a magical mystical world created by Sams to transport us from the 20th century human world to the 20th Century World of Mythical Creatures.

By showing how the two can interact, on a limited basis, and how the members of the Order protect their members from outsider interference is a juggle of technology and ancient traditions.

This book has as its main characters a modern woman who is slowly dying of a heart condition, but is destined to fulfill a promise made 300 years ago by her ancestor, and a Durid who has been entombed in stone for 300 years. She travels to Scotland and England with the idea that this is her last trip, her last chance to be wild and free and her last chance to fulfill the dying request of her beloved aunt.

What happens when she breaks the ancient spell cast on a Duid male of ancient times is anything but ordinary. Karen Matthews is transported to a different time and place where Fairies and gnomes and goblins and trolls all live harmoniously together in the Shire.

Of course there are those who do not want her with them, but the ultimate ruler is the Sorceress whose word is to be obeyed, no matter what.

The ending is predictable, and enjoyable. Each and every book in this series is a quick and fascinating read. We can almost believe that this magical world exists somewhere.

So I like a good romantic read from time to time, so sue me.This is just that, sweetly done. The relationship between Angus and Karen was particularly touching. Of course, you're talking about a Mythic Order of beings including Elves, Druids, Fairys etc,so if your not willing to suspend disbelief long enough to enjoy this type of story you may want to read something else. It's a romance, not a sex tale so the the sexual situations are quite mild.