The Language of Stones [Hardcover]

 

 

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For those who like Tolkein or White this book is a must. It takes place in a mythical 15th century Britain. The realm is about to enter a dark time of war and savagery (the Wars of the Roses). Nothing it seems can avert this disaster for the people . . .
The book begins with Gwydion, who in a former time was known as Merlin taking a young boy Willand from the two people he had always regarded as his parents. Willand does not willingly go with Gwydion and harbours thoughts of escaping at the first opportunity. But after a while on the journey they set out on together Willand begins to take a liking to the old man who seems to know everything that has happened in the past and what will happen in the future.
There are stones in the earth throughout the land, they are known as the battle stones and this magic is what is calling the people to war. It is the job of Gwydion and Willand to find the stones and make them safe, but there is a sorcerer as powerful as Gwydion set against them . . .
This book may not be to the taste of the purists of British history, but I found it an enjoyable if somewhat unusual read.

Oh, I thoroughly enjoyed this. Spied it quite by chance whilst browsing through a shop the other day with its catchy cover, bought it, sat down and read in two sessions. Quite a remarkable first novel.
Robert Carter’s The Language of Stones is set in an alternative fifteenth century England. One where a thirteen year old lad named Willard has his world rudely turned upside down on Beltine when a gandalf-esque character looms out of the darkness to claim his protege. This sorceror/warlock/wizard (Will is not sure what he is) goes by a multitude of names down the generations but is recognisable under more familiar pseudonyms as Jack O’Lantern or Merlyn , though know n throughout the novel Gwydion. The legend of King Arthur is reborn.
A forced march to the Wychwood dumps poor Will in the hands of Lord Strange with his boar’s head for six months where the rebellious streak in the lad means he learns some mild naming magic and promptly nearly gets killed by a marsh hag whilst waiting for Willow, a girl of equal age that he has confused feelings for. Just in time Merlyn reappears to take Will with him as the land prepares for a coming war. A trip to meet King Hal and a last minute escape from the overly boorish Duke Edgar lands Will and Gwydion off the Irish coast whence they learn what they must do. Namely discover the battlestones that sit on the lorc lines. What follows is a coming of age for Will as he continues to prove his inheritance before ending up at Fotheringham castle under the guardianship of Duke Richard, pretender to the throne, training as a squire to the overly thuggish firstborn, Edward. Schroolroom fights and taunting later he finds himself grown to a young man, learning from the Wortmaster and struggling to deal with his feelings for Willow who has reappeared.
Gywdion returns and has fallen out of favour with the Duke after passing the exquisite diamond they found at Leir’s tomb to Queen Mag. War is coming and he takes Will in a desperate attempt to locate the Doomstone, that evil-harbouring piece of granite that is driving the Realm towards War. After finding the lesser Plague stone and discovering more about his inner self Gwydion and Will find themselves at Badon Hill as Duke Richard prepares to assault the town harbouring King Hal, Duke Edgar and the Queen. A short nasty fight finds many prophecies fulfilled and Will has his own sorcerous battle at the heart of the Sightless Ones with the Doomstone cover of St Swythyn’s tomb before returning to his own Shire will he enemies defeated but not vanquished.
What is sparkling about Carter is that here is clearly an author well versed in English and Celtic myth as he transcribes many names, places and myths into his own versions that are immediately recognisable to the knowledgeable reader. His finest effort is Gwydion’s reference to Iuliu the Seer (or Julius Caesar to the historian) but the novel is littered with altered names and celtic mythology that seeks to demonstrate how easy it is to twist the facts by word of mouth. The lengthy author’s note at the end goes into some detail about the parallels he draws with British geography and the times that preclude the Wars of the Roses. Carter is a fine author and the sequel to this opener is one novel I’ll definitely be shelling out the extra for the hardback version as soon as it is out in May.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book, I was expecting it to be another dull attempt at an adaptation of the Arthur story, and nearly didn't read it at all. This, however, is not that at all. It is an interesting story about a boy on the curb of manhood getting to grips with a destiny that his master, the wizard Gwydion, never makes fully clear to him. All he knows is that he is a child of Destiny, and the battlestones are awakening and war is coming ever closer.

I think something that could have been missed out from this book was the references to Arthur and his legend. There isn't much call for it, and this book would stand up on it own just as well, if not better, without it. However, having not read the next in the series, I don't know if this is a particularly important part to that book.

I enjoyed the characters, although they weren't hugely new or different, they were highly believeable and interesting characters to move through the story with.

There is a good balance of the suspense, battle and normality in this book, something is always about to happen, but there are times when things seem calm and peaceful, but a hint of trouble is brewing.

And excellent start to the series, I look forward to reading the next book very soon! Recommended highly!

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2.0 out of 5 stars Language of the Stones
Condition not bad for second hand, not the type of story I generally read, but acceptable.

Published 15 months ago by Mrs. June Joyner

3.0 out of 5 stars Slow Starting But Novel Ideas
The cover does not really give a good guide as to the content, which is essentially an alternative history tale set around the onset of the War of the Roses. Read more

Published on 3 July 2009 by Sir Furboy

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT read
This book caught my eye randomly in a magazine and I thought I'd invest...and what an investment it was!! A great start to the saga! A fantastic reminder of Tolkiens work. Read more

Published on 14 Dec 2008 by Lesley-anne Murray

5.0 out of 5 stars from a historian's viewpoint, this is superb!
hard to put it into words, but let's try.
I read Mythago Wood many years ago and loved it. This is a few steps on from that, basing the myths and magic of the battle stones... Read more

Published on 13 Jun 2008 by White Rose

4.0 out of 5 stars For Those Who Like Tolkein

For those who like Tolkein or White this book is a must. It takes place in a mythical 15th century Britain. Read more

Published on 17 Mar 2007 by J. Chippindale

3.0 out of 5 stars Historical Fiction meets Fantasy
I'm not a great fan of alternative histories, and this is really what this novel is about.
It's a kind of 'what would have happened if the Wars of the Roses were triggered... Read more

Published on 7 Dec 2006 by A. Gothorp

5.0 out of 5 stars A medieval fantasy romp
Rob Carter takes you a romp through a mythological medieval Britain full of real places and real people and giants and magic.

A great read that drags you along with it. Read more

Published on 13 May 2004 by J. N. Barclay-jay

4.0 out of 5 stars Carter Debut an amazing read
Set up for a Trilogy this series of novels has had a great begining. Robert Carter has throughout this novel presented the reader with something that I beleive will make this... Read more

Published on 19 April 2004 by Gareth Wilson - Falcata Times Blog

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