Lodestone Book Two: The World of Ice and Stars
Author
Mark Whiteway
Publisher
Virtualbookworm.com Publishing
4 Review Copies Left
First Place Award Winner (Science Fiction) - 2010 Reader Views Awards.
First Place Award Winner (Young Adult) - 2010 Reader Views Awards.
First Place Award Winner (Science Fiction) - 2011 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards.
First Place Award Winner (New Author) - 2011 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards.
First Place Award Winner (Young Adult) - 2011 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards.
Second Place Award Winner - 2010 Premier Book Awards.
Second Place Award Winner - 2010 Written Art Awards.
The desperate race to save a world continues. Washed up on a distant shore on the unknown side of her planet, together with the Chandara Boxx, the orphan Kelanni named Shann must uncover the fate of her companions, whilst searching for an artefact hidden there in the distant past. As she journeys farther into this new land, she will encounter strange sights, come up against new enemies and meet new friends, until finally coming face to face with the truth of her own past.
(Excerpt) A low snarling sound. A pair of yellow eyes appeared in front of her; then another, and a third. Shapes moved in the darkness, jostling each other impatiently, regarding her with a malevolence colder even than the bitter air. The snarl grew into a chorus of deep throated growls from every side. Saccath's staff was already in her hands, her tendons stretched white against the darkwood. "Boxx, stay close," she commanded. Glancing beside her, she saw that the Chandara had transformed itself into a ball of chitin. You'll have to teach me that trick.
Shann whirled around. The creatures were circling her, probing her defences, testing her resolve. She strained her eyes, but their forms were elusive, melting into the anonymity of the starlit night. If she were on her own, she would have flared her cloak and scanned for lodestone, so as to effect her escape, but there was no way she was going to leave Boxx at the mercy of these...things. She keened her Kelanni senses, bracing herself for the attack.
The attack erupted in a flurry of fur and fang-of horn and claw. Shann sliced, slashed and stabbed at anything that moved; her diamond blade flashing in the starlight as if the heavens were lending her their power. She brought her staff down on the head of one of the beasts and heard the crunch of bone; then pirouetted, cleaving phantoms and sundering shadows. Bass growling was now becoming interspersed with higher pitched yelping. The creatures backed off. Regrouping. Thinking.
As she stood, breathing hard, braced for the next onslaught, Shann's mind went back to the battle with the sand scarags of the Great Southern Desert. The sand scarags were like automata. They had one tactic-swarm and overwhelm-which they pursued with a mindless compulsion. These creatures were different. There was a collective intelligence here-the cold unyielding logic of the implacable hunter.
Shann felt a sudden sharp pressure in the small of her back. Before she could react, she was propelled forward and sent sprawling, face first onto the ground. She twisted on to her back. The stars were blotted out by a huge shape, looming over her. Xanthic eyes bore into her and hot, fetid breath washed over her face. (Continued)
Reviews
Faster, tighter story with greater reading pleasure.
In book two of his Lodestone series Mr. Whiteway improves on the effective story started in the first book. His use of action and dialogue takes the story and characters to another level.
Among a number of qualities, I enjoyed one specific thing more than the other aspects of Book Two: The World of Ice and Stars. The books were described as science fiction. Book one didn’t necessarily suffer from a lack of science, it just wasn’t the star of the show for me. The plot of the second book moves firmly into the arena of science fiction. The divided nature of the planet is finally revealed. Likely the division is part of the reason for the changes in scientific tone between the two books. The science and reasoning behind this “two-sided” planet is believable and well-supported.
Due to the structure of the society initiating the action of the story, I wanted more science to meet the science fiction criteria. Book two reveals this nature while successfully contrasting the existence of the theocratic and rational aspects of the species social difference. The contrast is more effective for how book one was handled—and I was pleased to be back in a land more geared toward science and logic.
The original, species that is alien to the reader and dominant inhabitants of the planet continues to be the stand out presence in the Lodestone series. As a reader this really gets me wondering what Mr. Whiteway has in store for the insectiod creatures in future installments. It’s clear that the author greatly enjoys writing about the mysterious creatures. They seem realized from actual material; one of my gauges for an author successfully communicating his imagination.
One of the reasons I love reading science fiction is being exposed to new concepts, ideas and findings wrapped in the fun of fiction. If you also enjoy books that encourage you to consider new ideas and concepts while romping through fictional landscapes with unusual creatures, then you’ll enjoy both books. Perhaps you will enjoy Lodestone, Book Two: The World of Ice and Stars as much as I did.
Reviewed on 11/29/2011 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Heidi Roth
