Dragon's Eye (Stone Fort) (Paperback)

by James A. Hetley (Author) "FEW THINGS IN Stonefort are exactly what they seem..." (more)
Key Phrases: selkie change, dragon pendant, Aunt Alice, Tom Pratt, Alice Haskell (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
This enchanting contemporary fantasy from Hetley (The Summer Country) explores themes of loyalty, love and family while providing escapist thrills and chills. The charmingly roguish Morgans, whose patriarchal magic has made them highly successful thieves, have lived for centuries in the down-at-the-heels coastal town of Stonefort, Maine. When Daniel, current head of the Morgan clan, falls into the clutches of a Peruvian drug kingpin and Inca brujo (or witch) who wishes to usurp the source of the Morgans' power known as the Dragon, Daniel turns for help to Alice Haskell, a member of the rival witch clan that's inhabited Stonefort "since Noah stepped off the Ark." The Morgans and the Haskells must join forces to protect Daniel's daughters in particular and Stonefort in general from the brujo's malevolent magic. Solid writing, an evocative sense of place and delightful characters will leave readers breathlessly anticipating the promised sequel.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
*Starred Review* Stonefort looks like any other quaint, small town on the rugged Maine coast. But folks who live there know, or have their suspicions about, the founding families, and keep their mouths shut. The Morgans--thieves and smugglers, every one--have an interesting family legacy, passed down only to the Morgan, the current male head of the family. It is the source of the Morgan magic: the Dragon. Across town, Haskell House has always had a resident witch, greatly respected by the community. Currently Alice, a Naskeag Indian, is the witch, and guardian of Haskell magic: a spring in the basement that connects to all of the waters beneath Stonefort and its surroundings, and that strengthens and fiercely protects the house and all the women, resident or refugee, in it. The Morgans and Haskells have had their differences and kept something of a professional distance between them. But seriously dangerous evil has recently entered the picture in the person of a South American drug lord and powerful bruja who will stop at nothing to gain control of the Dragon's power. The two families must overcome differences and work together to stop him, or stand by as everything and everyone they love is destroyed. All of Hetley's characters are truly memorable, and he does a seamless job of blending several magical traditions. This one hooks you from page 1. Well done! Paula Luedtke
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Ace Trade (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441013287
• ISBN-13: 978-0441013289
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,193,789 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This was my first James Hetley book, but I'm a fan, December 18, 2005

By	Marissa Lake "Rissa" - See all my reviews

Very few books have the ability to keep me engrossed until 4 am. James Hetley's Dragon's EYe did just that. At first I thought this would be a light contemporary fantasy but as the story unfolded, I was stunned at Mr. Hetley's ability to give the reader multi-layered characters that just jumped off the page. I'm going to run, not walk, to the bookstore and pick up everything I can from this talented voice in fantasy fiction.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great series opener, January 18, 2007

By	R. Kyle (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Stonefort is a quiet community ruled by legend and two strong clans. The Haskell Witches, mostly women, live in The House, an ancient structure that has a life of its own and hardly tolerates either men or electricity. The Morgans, are descendents of pirates, but the family has other secrets--Ben, the head, has been legally dead for years, but is still around to keep the money supply going. Oh yes, and they shapeshift into seals.

When an evil bruja threatens their community, Alice Haskell and Kate Rowley must band together to put a stop to it. The women are beautifully realized, the action is fast and the fantasy is well worth reading.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars urban fantasy is as good as it gets, November 1, 2005

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The town of Stonefort in Sunrise County, Maine is anything but ordinary although at first glance it looks like a typical New England village. Two prominent families are involved in two different forms of magic. The Morgans have a connection with the magical entity known as the Dragon whose tears turn into the jewels that are worn around the necks of the Morgans so she can see what they can see. They can also communicate with one another. They have the ability to turn into seals and are able to call on the Dragon's magic.

The Haskells are practicing witches with the head of each generation living at Haskell House called The Woman. This is a refuge for women in trouble and they stand guard over the town of Stonefort. The Pratts, drug smugglers and all around criminals are working with the Peruvian drug lord Don Antonio who happens to be a powerful sorcerer. Daniel Morgan becomes Antonio's prisoner as the evil sorcerer wants to use the Dragon in his illegal activities. It falls to Daniel's son Gary, his half sister Caroline and the Haskell witch to save everyone and destroy the sorcerer without getting killed.

This urban fantasy is as good as it gets. The story is told from the views of many characters so readers come to know and understand the main players though that can be a bit overwhelming. The audience will like Gary who matures over the course of the challenge as many revelations are thrown at him yet he still does his best to save his loved ones. James A Hetley needs to write more books featuring the magical town of Stonefort.

Harriet Klausner