The Garden of the Stone (Paperback)

by Victoria Strauss (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
At first glance, Strauss's sequel to The Arm of the Stone appears to be a standard medieval fantasyAcomplete with a cardboard theocracy, an inquisition, and a stolen sacred artifact, a stone that has the power to reunite the worlds of Mindpower (the realm of magic) and Handpower (technology). Within a few chapters, readers will realize that the author's execution of these popular themes is anything but average. A professional assassin, Cariad is the daughter of Bron, the hero who reclaimed the stolen stone; she leads the resistance against the theocracy of the Guardians, who still control the separated worlds. While Cariad attempts to infiltrate the Guardian's Fortress to restore world balance, she sends Konstant, her trusted soldier, to the world of Handwork to find Bron and help him return to Mindwork with the stone. The plot is complex yet convincing, and the abundant, well-chosen details of the settingsAas well as the carefully developed charactersAmake this high fantasy a superior and original novel. (Dec.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"A worthy continuation of what I have no doubt will be sparkling career in the fantasy field. Strauss handles the language with lyric dexterity and grace. The world of the Stone is well realized and often surprising. A very satisfying read." -- Katherine Kurtz, author of The Deryni Chronicles

"Compelling...a really brilliant novel...a most unusual and fascinating novel, exceedingly well done." -- Anne McCaffrey on The Arm of the Stone

A powerful tale of repression, rebellion, and prophecy where nothing turns out quite as expected. -- Carolyn Cushman, Locus Magazine, February 2000

A superior and original novel. -- Publisher's Weekly, November 8, 1999--starred review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Eos (November 9, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380797526
• ISBN-13: 978-0380797523
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,452,481 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just as good as the first one, December 22, 1999

By A Customer

The Garden of the Stone has it all--a fast paced and exciting plot, fascinating world building, and excellent characters. No cardboard heroes here--the characters are so real you feel they're people you could actually meet. The book tells two stories, of Cariad, a skilled assassin on a secret mission to kill her father's greatest enemy, and Konstant, who is sent from a world of magic into a world of technology to find a man (the hero of The Arm of the Stone, the previous book in the series) who is the focus of an important prophecy. The two stories interrelate, but remain separate until the final chapters, when Strauss brings them beautifully together. Endings are often a problem in fantasy--the author runs out of steam or ideas, and all you're left with is a big so what." Not here. The climax of The Garden of the Stone is surprising and satisfying.

I don't agree with the person who said this book doesn't stand alone. Ms. Strauss does a good job of including the action of volume 1, and though some characters from the previous book return, there are many new ones, and the story takes place in different settings. But it is a sequel, after all, so I would recommend reading the Arm of the Stone first, because it gives a better context for Garden, and also because the two books work so well together.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting fantasy about repression and redemption, February 23, 2000

By A Customer

I bought The Garden of the Stone not knowing there was a previous book in the series (the publisher doesn't exactly let you know). But I didn't feel cheated, because Garden really does stand alone. The backstory is included as a flashback, in a way that doesn't interrupt the flow of the plot, and in fact adds to it. Garden is a rarity--a fantasy novel with an exciting plot that nevertheless is carried by its powerfully-drawn characters (I especially loved Orrin). The world Strauss creates is fascinating and unique, and she makes it seem very real. Also, Strauss's writing style is head and shoulders above most of what passes for fantasy writing these days. This was a great book, and I hope the author expands the series.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Garden of the Stone, June 21, 2000

By	"purelyjoy" (Hong Kong SAR) - See all my reviews

Bron, the man whom secret prophecy said would restore a balance between mindpower and handpower, vanished decades ago with the Stone - a powerful talisman through which the unfathomable energy and wholeness of the world can be approached by people with the Gift. Yet though the Stone is gone, much on the surface of the world of mindpower remains the same. The changes in the world since the loss of the Stone have been insidious. The theocracy of the Fortress still rules, maintaining an elaborate charade to keep the awareness of the Stone's loss from the masses. But constructions built with Gifts are beginning to fail across the world, and not even the ultra-conservative Reddened faction of the Arm of the Stone can stop the apparent unbinding of mindpower. The book expresses well about mankind's nature and destiny and avoids the obvious position of cheerleading magic and raspberry of technology. Thoughtful and resourceful, this reflectss humanity, posing hard questions and exposing weaknesses that we might yet, with no little difficulty, overcome. END