Forget your vampires and the dystopian future worlds, where you have to do some strange stuff for an undisclosed reason, I prefer a story that starts from a known place. You can get as weird as you like but please, make it a logical progression, not just the lazy ‘we’re in the future; civilisation as we know it is dead, this (insert some random game or test) is what happens these days, for no apparent reason‘, sort of premise.
So, we meet Amelina, she’s just your standard teenage girl, I had three daughters; I get the comparison. And she’s a very well written character, as they all are. A little family weirdness, parents who have changed, from her perspective at the start it’s hard to see why. There’s a black cat who appears and a girl trapped in the mirrors in the house. And the obligatory interesting relative.
Then we come to her peers, a wannabe rock band and the strange guy called Ryder, who saves her from a couple of potentially dangerous boys. As the story develops, we see him in different shades, is he a good guy or not?
It turns out that Amelina may have the solution to all the problems that seem to beset her family. It’s all to do with crystals and gaining the knowledge to use them.
The story never falters, set around Cambridge and its landmarks, we follow Amelina’s journey as she seeks to uncover the reason for her father’s disappearance, why is he so different now that he’s back? Surely, this must also hold the key to her mother’s behaviour, explain why she’s so uptight and unwilling to talk about anything.
She must learn to use the power that she discovers she has; while dealing with all the other things that your average teenager has going on. The narrative is well thought out and we can see the development of Amelina as we are pulled by the strength of the writing towards the final pages.
All the characters are all well-drawn and fit together perfectly. The things that Amelina finds and uses, from her paints to her drums are well thought out and well described. There’s a bit of fantasy, as well as some beautifully written dream sequences. The overall world-building creates a wonderful, spiritual atmosphere.
There’s a bit of poetry at the start of every chapter, a nice touch that leads us into the action.
The story bravely tackles issues of mental health and self-harm, but in such a sensitive way that it can only help improve understanding.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, it resonated on so many levels, I understand a sequel is in progress, that will be on my list.
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A captivating multi-layered fantasy that, just might not be…
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 August 2021
Bloodstone – (The curse of time –book 1) by M.J. MallonA captivating multi-layered fantasy that, just might not be…Fantasy novels are not my thing, although I do read them every now and then to test if I have changed. It’s a bit live olives, I don’t like them, but you never know…So, why did I read this book? The answer is simple, I know the author to be an accomplished poet and, I do so admire how a poet can distil a narrative in a descriptively succinct and engaging way. I was not disappointed and even at the start of every chapter there is a short verse, which I truly loved. I also like books that have a narrative stimulated by an external source and this book is, I understand, inspired by the Corpus Clock in Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, sometimes known as the Grasshopper clock – I looked it up and could see and imagine my own stories. (I’ve tried to add a pic).However, my interpretation of Bloodstone might not be exactly as was intended by Mallon, but, this is how I read and enjoyed the book.Amelina Scot, a 15 year old lives in a family home with what is described in the blurb as a dysfunctional family and, I can see why this might be seen as the case. In my mind though, I read this as a teenage girl, her body coursing with hormones, self-doubt, too many thoughts, too much angst, not least for her parents. Her father, now a mere shadow of his former self, no interest in anything and frequently on the missing list. And, mother, a worrier, for husband whom she no longer recognises, and a daughter she no longer understands and transposes this into displays of anger.For me though, I saw this as depression and, a household depressed with no way out. The house is wracked with negative emotion and this is picked up on by Amelina, desperately looking for reasons why. A school friend went missing, where is she? Well, Amelina sees her trapped in the mirrors in the house and she converses with her lost friend. The cat, a muse? Certainly Amelina bestows feline special powers and it is all so real.So, what is the answer? How can Amelina fix things, even her close friends seem distant as she becomes trapped in her imagination? An aunt gives her crystals and a paint set and, naturally, these offer Amelina a gift; to see as a seer, to paint as a manically possessed artist.What follows is a wonderfully woven tale of heroes, villains, monsters, even the grasshopper, as time plays games with Amelina. So, regardless of how you understand the narrative, and no more plot spoilers, but I defy you not to become a tortured soul yourself; so read it. I am a slow reader, but it means I absorb so much and, maybe, I misinterpret, but Bloodstone is a novel that transports in mind, soul and spirit – 5 stars.https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bloodstone-Curse-Time-Book-1-ebook/dp/B097QZBKNY/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=Bloodstone&qid=1629530444&s=books&sr=1-8
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 August 2021
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 July 2021
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 August 2021
A captivating multi-layered fantasy that, just might not be…
Fantasy novels are not my thing, although I do read them every now and then to test if I have changed. It’s a bit live olives, I don’t like them, but you never know…
So, why did I read this book? The answer is simple, I know the author to be an accomplished poet and, I do so admire how a poet can distil a narrative in a descriptively succinct and engaging way. I was not disappointed and even at the start of every chapter there is a short verse, which I truly loved. I also like books that have a narrative stimulated by an external source and this book is, I understand, inspired by the Corpus Clock in Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, sometimes known as the Grasshopper clock – I looked it up and could see and imagine my own stories. (I’ve tried to add a pic).
However, my interpretation of Bloodstone might not be exactly as was intended by Mallon, but, this is how I read and enjoyed the book.
Amelina Scot, a 15 year old lives in a family home with what is described in the blurb as a dysfunctional family and, I can see why this might be seen as the case. In my mind though, I read this as a teenage girl, her body coursing with hormones, self-doubt, too many thoughts, too much angst, not least for her parents. Her father, now a mere shadow of his former self, no interest in anything and frequently on the missing list. And, mother, a worrier, for husband whom she no longer recognises, and a daughter she no longer understands and transposes this into displays of anger.
For me though, I saw this as depression and, a household depressed with no way out. The house is wracked with negative emotion and this is picked up on by Amelina, desperately looking for reasons why. A school friend went missing, where is she? Well, Amelina sees her trapped in the mirrors in the house and she converses with her lost friend. The cat, a muse? Certainly Amelina bestows feline special powers and it is all so real.
So, what is the answer? How can Amelina fix things, even her close friends seem distant as she becomes trapped in her imagination? An aunt gives her crystals and a paint set and, naturally, these offer Amelina a gift; to see as a seer, to paint as a manically possessed artist.
What follows is a wonderfully woven tale of heroes, villains, monsters, even the grasshopper, as time plays games with Amelina. So, regardless of how you understand the narrative, and no more plot spoilers, but I defy you not to become a tortured soul yourself; so read it. I am a slow reader, but it means I absorb so much and, maybe, I misinterpret, but Bloodstone is a novel that transports in mind, soul and spirit – 5 stars.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bloodstone-Curse-Time-Book-1-ebook/dp/B097QZBKNY/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=Bloodstone&qid=1629530444&s=books&sr=1-8
Verified Purchase
A captivating multi-layered fantasy that, just might not be…
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 August 2021
Bloodstone – (The curse of time –book 1) by M.J. MallonReviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 August 2021
A captivating multi-layered fantasy that, just might not be…
Fantasy novels are not my thing, although I do read them every now and then to test if I have changed. It’s a bit live olives, I don’t like them, but you never know…
So, why did I read this book? The answer is simple, I know the author to be an accomplished poet and, I do so admire how a poet can distil a narrative in a descriptively succinct and engaging way. I was not disappointed and even at the start of every chapter there is a short verse, which I truly loved. I also like books that have a narrative stimulated by an external source and this book is, I understand, inspired by the Corpus Clock in Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, sometimes known as the Grasshopper clock – I looked it up and could see and imagine my own stories. (I’ve tried to add a pic).
However, my interpretation of Bloodstone might not be exactly as was intended by Mallon, but, this is how I read and enjoyed the book.
Amelina Scot, a 15 year old lives in a family home with what is described in the blurb as a dysfunctional family and, I can see why this might be seen as the case. In my mind though, I read this as a teenage girl, her body coursing with hormones, self-doubt, too many thoughts, too much angst, not least for her parents. Her father, now a mere shadow of his former self, no interest in anything and frequently on the missing list. And, mother, a worrier, for husband whom she no longer recognises, and a daughter she no longer understands and transposes this into displays of anger.
For me though, I saw this as depression and, a household depressed with no way out. The house is wracked with negative emotion and this is picked up on by Amelina, desperately looking for reasons why. A school friend went missing, where is she? Well, Amelina sees her trapped in the mirrors in the house and she converses with her lost friend. The cat, a muse? Certainly Amelina bestows feline special powers and it is all so real.
So, what is the answer? How can Amelina fix things, even her close friends seem distant as she becomes trapped in her imagination? An aunt gives her crystals and a paint set and, naturally, these offer Amelina a gift; to see as a seer, to paint as a manically possessed artist.
What follows is a wonderfully woven tale of heroes, villains, monsters, even the grasshopper, as time plays games with Amelina. So, regardless of how you understand the narrative, and no more plot spoilers, but I defy you not to become a tortured soul yourself; so read it. I am a slow reader, but it means I absorb so much and, maybe, I misinterpret, but Bloodstone is a novel that transports in mind, soul and spirit – 5 stars.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bloodstone-Curse-Time-Book-1-ebook/dp/B097QZBKNY/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=Bloodstone&qid=1629530444&s=books&sr=1-8
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 August 2021
Verified Purchase
