The Stoneholding (Legacy of the Stone Harp: Book One) [Paperback]

James G. Anderson (Author), Mark Sebanc (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 8, 2009

Darkness looms over the ancient world of Ahn Norvys, and the Great Harmony of Ardiel lies rent asunder. Prince Starigan, heir to the throne, has been abducted and power has been usurped by a traitorous cabal

     In the mountainous highlands of Arvon is the small but ancient community the Stoneholding, which has held out against the gathering forces of the evil Ferabek. Here by tradition, from earliest times, the High Bard has resided as guardian of the Sacred Fire, as well as the golden harp called the Talamadh. But in his search for the lost prince, Ferabek has attacked the Stoneholding with his Black Scorpion Dragoons and razed it to the ground. Wilum, the aged High Bard was forced to flee for his life with a ragged band of survivors, including Kalaquinn Wright, the wheelwrights’s son.

     Kal, green in years and understanding, was torn from his pastoral life in a remote highland clanholding, and thrust out onto a broader stage in a journey of danger and escape, discovery and enlightenment. Now, as night covers Ahn Norvys, he must save what remains of the hallowed order of things and seek his destiny, a destiny that lies far beyond the Stoneholding.

     He must somehow find Prince Starigan and rekindle the Sacred Fire.  

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This expansive series debut, Baen's first foray into epic fantasy, employs classic tropes but speaks with a unique voice. When the Arvon king was slain and his queen and infant son abducted, the merchant council of the Mindal set vile power-hungry upstart Gawmage on the throne. Eighteen years later, the highlanders of the Holding still reject Gawmage's rule. Wilum, the aged High Bard, and his bright-eyed apprentice, Kal, hope to locate and restore the lost prince before the Holding falls to Gawmage's army. Plentiful action scenes, narrative dialogue and liberal use of songs and poems recall Tolkien and keep pages turning. Strong characterization, especially of ingenious, daring Kal, obscures some awkward prose and dubious plot revelations. Readers who enjoy Baen's military SF and alternate history may well be pleasantly surprised by this new direction. (Sept.)
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From the Publisher

First book in a beautifully wrought new fantasy series, with original cover art by Ted Nasmith, renowned Tolkien illustrator, who says of the book: "When I read it, I enjoyed it thoroughly, marveling at Mark James' talent for creating memorable characters, a very compelling plot, and a consistently sustained faery world rich in lore, names and mystery. While it's comparable (naturally) to Tolkien, the author is clearly drawing from the wider Celtic tradtions, and in ways Tolkien never explored. The concept of the harmony which protects Good is marvelous and deep. I cannot imagine what more a discerning reader could ask for in a work of fantasy." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 419 pages
• Publisher: Baen; Reprint edition (September 8, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439132992
• ISBN-13: 978-1439132999
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,219,127 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars pass this one up, August 22, 2009

By 

guitarchick24 (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Stoneholding (Legacy of the Stone Harp: Book One) (Paperback)

(What's this?)

I think mostly everyone's already said it - pass this one up. If you're a lover of high fantasy, "The Stoneholding" is just going to make you cry (and not in a good way). Wordy, characters that are dull and not engaging, and a plot that's bogged down by bad writing. If you want to read this one... just don't. Get it from the library if you must waste your time on it.

16 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Dismal, July 25, 2009

By 

M. Jacobs (Salida, CO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Stoneholding (Legacy of the Stone Harp: Book One) (Paperback)

(What's this?)

This is teen wish-fulfillment fantasy that might perhaps be enjoyed by easily amused adolescent boys. I can't imagine anyone else actually liking this book. (Warning: spoilers follow, though actually there's very little to spoil here.)

The plot is simple to the point of being almost nonexistent. It consists of the Hero and his Buddy running around a small mountain valley, trying to dodge a mass of battle-hardened invaders led by a fearful tyrant while at the same time saving as many inhabitants as possible. The adults mostly stand around inertly while they do this. There are many valuable things to learn here about how to act while being chased around the countryside, such as 1) take a nap during full daylight on the side of a scree slope; 2) when you wake up from your nap, descend the slope and then yell at the top of your lungs to rouse your still-sleeping buddy; no one will see or hear you while you engage in this behavior; 3) dawdle around to watch a rat fight an otter; 4) let a guy who you know is working for the tyrant follow the refugees to your hiding place, and then act surprised when he hits someone important over the head with a rock, steals a vital magical artifact, and runs off; 5) let the guy back in afterward, ignore him when he starts jostling you for no reason, and then act surprised once more when he steals said artifact *again.* I could go on, but I won't.

In fairness, the bad guys aren't any smarter. Which is too bad, really, because if they had been, the book would be a lot shorter. A lot of page space is taken up by descriptions of every plant, bird, and rock formation our idiot heroes run across, as well as by tediously long-winded attempts at dialogue. It's less dialogue than it is a series of alternating monologues, a situation which makes the reader appreciate the precocious mute kid all the more. And as for female characters, on those rare occasions when you're actually able to spot one, she will be cooking, scolding, holding a baby, or wailing in grief. Like I said, dismal.

I would recommend this book only to my enemies. If you simply must read it, don't spend any money on it.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Looooonnnnnnggggg descriptions...., April 18, 2010

By 

Howard D. Fisher "kahohito" (Pennsylvania, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Stoneholding (Legacy of the Stone Harp: Book One) (Paperback)

(What's this?)

The Prologue for this book is excellent. Full of adventure, sword-fighting, double-dealing, and interesting characters, I had high hopes for the entire book. Then I got to Chapter 1, and everything went downhill. New (less interesting) characters are introduced, a new (more formulaic) evil is descending upon the protagonists, and all the quick-witted action from the Prologue is replaced with (bland) build-up and (really long) expositions on the scenery. And the history of the scenery. And the protagonist's interaction with the scenery. Seriously.

At one point, when the hero is supposed to be running for his life from some bad guys who are chasing him, the authors let the hero ramble for a couple pages about all the fun times he had as a boy running up and down that very same trail and how he had no idea the danger he would be in mere years later.

Later in the book, one entire chapter is spent in dialogue between two characters on a lake as they read a map, one character telling the other where they are going; then reiterating where they are going; then asking if the hero has any questions about where they are going; then explaining why they are not going some other way and the dangers involved in going the way they're going; and, just for good measure, making sure the hero understands where they're going.

There is enough action and suspense in this book to fill a book about half its size. The rest of the book is spent with long descriptions and dialogue that could make a Renaissance Festival writer chuckle ("Come now, oldling, come gently now, and there'll be no harm done" p. 150; "What do you think, Fry? He's a sly hog-grubbing kind of fellow, ain't he? As flustered as a fly in a tar-box, couldn't you just feel it?" p. 291; "If you want me to do your work, if you want me to be the guardian of your Howe, you've got to save me. Why make me Hordanu if I'm to perish here in this rotten hole?" p. 344).

More imaginative use of characters, a little less reliance on Tolkein for inspiration, and a whole lot more editing would have done this book well.