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 Book
Reviews
Book Reviews for The Stoneholding:
"Mark James's The Stoneholding is
one of those rare discoveries: a world of fantasy that is both as familiar
as a folktale, yet still refreshingly new at every turn. It invites comparison
to J.R.R Tolkien, while resonating with its own unique voice. Stunning
artwork, demanding prose, and a world of great beauty and breadth. A debut
not to be missed."
-- James Rollins,
author of the bestselling thrillers, including the latest Map of Bones.
Also known to fantasy fans as James Clemens, author of the Banned and
the Banished fantasy series from Del Rey.
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"Never have I read such a gripping tale that transported me to another
world. This is surely fantasy writing at its best and doubtless will become
an American classic."
-- GP Taylor,
author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Shadowmancer, Wormwood, and
Tersias.
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"The Stoneholding is an extraordinary novel, brilliantly imaginative,
a real tour-de-force. I highly recommend it."
-NY Times bestselling author Douglas
Preston (co-author with Lincoln Child of numerous thrillers, the latest
being Tyrannosaur Canyon)
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"With dazzling richness of
language and sheer abundance of imaginative design, Mark James succeeds
preeminently in imparting to his work a high literary quality of the kind
we associate with the great masters of the fantasy novel tradition. Moreover,
in keeping with what is best in this tradition, Mark James establishes
his work on the firm foundation of the literary and spiritual classics
of our civilization. A truly distinctive achievement."
- Johann M. Moser, Professor of Literature Emeritus, Saint Anselm
College - New Hampshire
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"The vivid and tightly written prose draws you in right from the
start and the pace does not let up as you travel with this strong cast
of very real characters through a rich and complex world as they struggle
to overcome seemingly insurmountable difficulties. I'm really looking
forward to the rest of the trilogy."
- Sharon Ells, Head of Collection Development, Ottawa Public Library.
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"Vast in scope, profound in its cosmology, this first book of the
Talamadh stands head and shoulders above the swarm of new fantasy literature
that has emerged during the past half century. Indeed it is not so much
fantasy as it is a mythology rooted in the ultimate Real. That its author
also tells a gripping story and consistently exhibits a mastery of language,
freshness of invention, erudition and wit, ensures that long after 99%
of contemporary imaginative literature is forgotten, this series will
be read and reread. A maximum bravo!"
- Michael D. O'Brien, author of A Landscape With Dragons, and of the
Children of the Last Days series.
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"The novel The Stoneholding by Mark James is one of fast paced adventure
set in a fantastical world full of mythical creatures, magic, and beautiful
settings.
The ancient world of Ahn Norvys, one full of legend and lore, is falling
into darkness. The king has died and the queen and young prince have been
forced into hiding in order to save their lives. Now, the Mindal who have
taken over, have a choke-hold over the people and are aided by the evil
Ferabek and his Black Scorpions leagues, the most feared warriors in all
of Ahn Norvys.
Enter young Kalaquinn Wright and his friend Galligaskin Clout who find
their whole world turned upside down in the space of a few hours. They
discover an encampment of the same Black Scorpion soldiers in the upper
reaches of their northern clanholding, one of the last holdings to be
taken by the new fearsome rulers of the land.
As the day progresses events begin to spiral out of control as the boys
over-hear the sinister plot about to be set in motion, the slaughter of
all who live in the Stoneholding and the capture of the Talamadh. The
Talamadh is a powerful harp of old meant for good but in the wrong hands
it could bring about the destruction of the Great Harmony and the fading
of light in the land. In an effort to save the Ahn Norvys, Kal must gather
the survivors and escape from what was once their home into danger and
adventure in an unknown world.
Mark James shows a talent for creating colorful characters, a deep, compelling
plot and perhaps, best of all, a beautiful world full of legend and mystery.
Wonderfully written, The Stoneholding is a novel for any fantasy lover."
- Sarah Leslie, What If? magazine May-June 2005.
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"When the Alumni Office asked me to review a work of fantasy written
and published independently by an alumnus, I must confess to some cynicism:
to my mind (at the time), independent publication generally indicated
work of inferior quality, something which the major publishing houses
had refused. I agreed to read the novel, although I did so with some trepidation.
Two months later, during a time when I could scrape together a few minutes
each evening for some light reading and had nothing else to hand, I picked
up The Stoneholding, and the few minutes of leisure gradually expanded
into hours stolen from sleep. The plot and the intricate descriptions
of an enchanting landscape drew me further into the charms of this excellent
first novel by Mark Sebanc and James G. Anderson, who collaboratively
write under the penname Mark James. Those who appreciate plot-driven works
of fantasy (or any "ripping good yarn"), and who subscribe to
J.R.R. Tolkien’s theories of storytelling in his essay,
"On Fairy-Stories," will find here a treasure of greater substance
and better quality than most offerings in fantasy today. . . The Stoneholding
and its engaging fantasy landscape provide the enjoyment and delight which
Tolkien so earnestly wished to inspire in readers of his own works, and
which he expected from others writing in the same genre. I heartily recommend
it."
- Guy Trudel, C.S.B., DPhil., Professor of Medieval Studies, Pontifical
Institute of Medieval Studies, University of Toronto.
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"The tale is a splendid one, no surprise there. But what I was especially
taken with was the precision of expression, and that's fitting, since,
as everyone knows, each step in any journey is as important as the last.
You will enjoy The Stoneholding in the large as well as in the small -
fitting for a story written in the great and necessary wake of that master
of the sacramental imagination, J.R.R. Tolkien!"
- David Craig, Professor of English and Creative Writing, Franciscan
University of Steubenville, Ohio
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"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 traditions, 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."
- Ted Nasmith, illustrator, J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion
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"Mark James is a very talented writer whose book is essential and
whose ideas are crucial in this challenging age."
- Michael Coren, author, J.R.R. Tolkien: The Man Who Created Lord
of the Rings and The Man Who Created Narnia: The Story of C.S. Lewis
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Buy the Book
More Reviews...
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Be thrown into a world of classic fantasy at supreme
quality. Swordfights, Kings and Queens, many fantasy fans will be more
than happy with this brilliant novel. As well as the story itself, the
cover art of this novel is dazzling, unique and quite beautiful. As the
saying goes, ‘never judge a book by its cover,’ but when you
take one look at the front and back cover of this book, you expect and
get a great story.
Amazing imagery, every little detail is described down
to the very fine smell of a room, giving the reader the sense of actually
being there with the characters, undertaking the perilous journeys with
them. Follow the story of various characters as they battle, travel and
interact in this remarkable novel. From the first chapter you will be
hooked, not being able to put down the book even for the slightest moment.
Follow Galli and Kal in the main plot of this novel as
they uncover a great evil that has come into the Stoneholding and that
threatens the very existence of all the people living there. Uncover plots
within plots, all successfully being woven into the main story; early
chapters of the book come out in later chapters in the most subtle way.
Read as characters find themselves in many different predicaments and
then remarkably getting themselves or others out of the pickle that they
are in.
With many fantasy novels it is hard at first to get a grasp
on the large amounts of characters and different places some authors write
about. Although this book can be quite confusing with this aspect at times,
in the novel it isn’t too hard to pick up the characters or places
used throughout the book. It is easier to follow the different places
each character may visit with the help of the maps included in the first
few pages of the book. Following the maps as the story is read and becoming
familiar with the many unique places mentioned in the novel makes the
journey each character may take that much easier to follow. The latter
of so many different places being mentioned becomes less complex and isn’t
as hard to understand as it first seems.
In this novel there is a lot going on, but sometimes in
chapters throughout the book the content can be a bit dry and uneventful,
but pushing on through the chapter a new complication for the character
or characters does arise and keeps you reading and keeps you interested
in the outcome of what happens in many different situations the characters
find themselves in.
The plot itself has been developed well by the authors;
(yes, there are two authors) Mark Sebanc and James G. Anderson, that have
effectively collaborated to write this brilliant novel. It is a plot which
enjoyably takes surprising and unpredictable twists and turns.
The authors are currently planning the next book(s) in
the Talamadh (the name given to the series) and it can be confirmed that
they are releasing at least one more book, 'The Stoneholding' being the
first book in this beginning series. Together, these authors adopting
the pen name of 'Mark James', they should be watched and all their future
books read as their rise in the literary world of fantasy begins with
this novel. With such raw talent, these two writers are sure to go far.
Review
by Jason Damman of SFFWorld.com
Note: This review is subject to copyright. This review
may not be used for reproduction or other purposes unknown to the author
of this review. © 2005 Jason Damman
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The Stoneholding is a beautifully written book with a depth and richness
of detail rarely matched. The authors have created a world, complete with
its own history and folklore, that approaches Tolkien's Middle Earth in
scope and execution. Unfortunately, the beautiful description sometimes
gets in the way of the action, and the first part of the book is a slow
read. Readers who persist will find that it grows into an interesting
tale. - Sheila Ruth - WandsAndWorlds.com
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A joint collaboration between two writers (Mark Sebanc
& James G Anderson), the Stoneholding really does prove the theory
that two heads are better than one. From the first page, this novel delivers;
supplying thrills and spills at the drop of a hat, whilst retaining a
veneer of authenticity with its Celtic backdrop. The writing is so seamless
it is certainly not apparent that two minds are at work here.
Brewing with atmosphere, and featuring engaging
and charismatic characters, The Stoneholding follows Kallaquin Wright’s
journey from Wheelwright’s son to revered Hordanu (a semi-religious
figure and adviser and guide to all the of the land of Ahn Norvys. Among
the many new responsibilities unwittingly thrust upon him, he must guard
and retrieve the Talamadh (a magical, gilded harp, whose music leads him
on his journey) from the Wild Boar, would-be-conqueror of Ahn Norvys.
He must also find the Crown Price Starigan, lost since childhood and the
murder of his royal parents, the only one who can relight the Sacred Fire,
an element destined to return magic and peace to the kingdom.
As with most fantasy, some of the character and
place names sound like someone is choking on a chicken bone, but at least
Anderson and Sebane aren’t so pretentious as to offer us a glossary
of meanings and pronunciations! What is notable however is that they have
created a real fantasy world, a rich, verdant landscape which lives and
breathes. There is a tendency at times to over focus on this landscape,
almost as though the writers are indulging in the creation of their world,
but what we are left with is a vibrant, lush setting for Kallaquin’s
adventures.
The only concern, and it is a small one, is the
fact that The Stoneholding is “Book One of the Talamadh”.
There is a tendency with Fantasy authors of late, to approach any novel
with the view that it has to be part of some sequence or other, a mere
portion of a Tolkien-esque Tome rather than a novel in its’ own
right. The reader is subsequently forced to invest a substantial amount
of time and money in completing, what often becomes, an overlong and overwrought
saga, which attempts to emulate (sometimes very badly), Tolkien’s
original works. If there is only “One ring”, we ask, why can’t
there be only one book?!! Don’t let this put you off though. Anderson
and Sebane have not fallen into this trap. Granted, the novel is “Book
One . . .”, but it is also one hell of a yarn. I look forward, with
anticipation, to Book Two.
-Theresa
Derwin bookpleasures.com
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