In Stone's Clasp (Final Dance, Book 2) (Paperback)

by Christie Golden (Author) "Are you sure it was this tree?" Jareth Vasalen called to his friend..." (more)
Key Phrases: Stone Dancer, Flame Dancer, Arrun Woods (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
". . . land of magic, vengeance, beauty and fire, peopled by characters who desire, fear, love, despair, lust and soar with joy . . ." -- Mark Anthony, author of The Last Rune series

Product Description
Strength of stone, heart of ice . . .

Flame Dancer Kevla of Arukan seeks the missing elements -- Stone and Sea, Wind and Soul -- that must join to preserve their world from destruction. Sensing that the Stone Dancer, the master of Earth magic, would be found in the icy north, she and her dragon companion fly to a country mired in an unnaturally long winter. When at last they find Jareth, the Stone Dancer's own anger and pain make him reluctant to accept his destiny. His need for vengeance against the old gods who betrayed his people is powerful -- powerful enough to lead the group farther into the snows, searching for the legendary Ice Maiden, who may be responsible for the forced winter. But betrayal doesn't come only from the gods -- and the forces against them are vast. Before their quest is over, Kevla must realize that while Flame can break through the chill of the winter, Stone can withstand anything . . .

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Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Luna (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373802293
• ISBN-13: 978-0373802296
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #607,323 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another one in the series that keeps your interest, October 28, 2005

By	guitarchick24 (USA) - See all my reviews

"In Stone's Clasp" is the second in Golden's "Final Dance" series. This one had some good plot twists that made it much more interesting than the first book, "On Fire's Wings." Golden is slowly revealing more about the world of the Dancers, although she still hasn't told you the reasons for why certain attempts worked and others failed. I liked how she continued to develop Kevla's character while introducing Jareth, and that the heros/heroines aren't perfect people, but have their own personal demons to fight while saving the world.

The one thing I didn't quite believe was the explanation behind the long winter. (Warning - spoiler coming up!) If the Ice Maiden was the one responsible, but she was merely a construct, then how could she possibly be able to create the winter? Technically, wouldn't the Emperor be responsible for the winter and/or her magical abilities over people? I guess I find it hard to believe that the Emperor, powerful bad guy though he may be, has that much power.

Overall, a really good book. I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The second compelling story in the Final Dance Saga, February 10, 2006

By	Kelley Hartsell "Kelley" (Irving, TX) - See all my reviews

Courtesy of Love Romances

The saga of the Final Dance continues with In Stone's Clasp.

Kevla's journey takes her far into the North to find the second dancer needed to keep the Shadow from destroying their world. She has dreamed of the Stone Dancer and has followed her dreams to find him. Along the way she finds others who can help her on the quest for the dancer.

When Jareth is finally found, he is nothing like what Kevla expected. Having lost his powers to bring Spring to the land and having lost his family to the endless winter have made him a bitter, angry man. He is far from ready to accept his duty to fight the Shadow. The hatred he feels for what has happened leads the small band of stragglers on a journey to find a legendary beauty, the Ice Maiden. Will he be able to conquer his pain to accept his destiny?

Christie Golden shows yet again why she is a gifted author of the fantasy genre. Her strong characters and brilliantly created worlds are sure to grab readers from the first page. The lands from which the players come are so vivid and full of life that one can envision the landscapes and their people. Add a few mythical beings and a mystical bend with the premise of the Dance, and readers can't go wrong.

Kevla is an incredibly strong woman, who has seen much in her young life, all of which prepares her for the role she now plays. She has her weaknesses and her strengths, making her all the more believable for the reality of her person. Jareth is emotionally wounded, never having been able to recover from the deaths of his family and the loss of the one thing he considered his strongest gift. His agony over what happened and his desire to fix it makes readers feel his pain with him, and empathize with his plight. Watching the characters grow is one of the best things about this series. They go through so much in their lives that their transformation into the mystical dancers is a sight to behold.

Of course, adventure is not lacking, as readers follow Kevla and company to Jareth, then on to the Ice Maiden, and where they go after that will leave one breathless with anticipation of what is yet to come. The enemies are powerful and readers long to know how they will be defeated, as much as they want to know what drives these villains to be who they are. This series is as much about the journey as it is the characters. This reviewer is a fan and doesn't know how she'll be able to wait for book 3, Under Sea's Shadow, to arrive in 2006.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, December 2005. All rights reserved.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique and wonderful, January 18, 2006

By	S Peterson "Thais Peterson" (Haslet, TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I truly believe that Ms. Golden should find a different publisher. I have a tendency to just dimiss Luna books (they're just sci-fi fantasy books by Harlequin Romances) as trash. I got the first book in this series by accident and I read it. It was really wonderful. The characters are well-drawn and different. Things don't have a happy ending.

The quest for the Stone Dancer was deeply moving. The loss and grief of this man was palpable and real. Don't read them because they're Luna, read them in spite of it.