TL;DR Review: Warcraft meets Lord of the Rings in this light, positive, enjoyable high fantasy tale of friendship and courage.
Synopsis:
Come fly away on griffin-back!
Fly off to the world of Finlestia in this epic fantasy story for readers looking for adventure, magic, and just plain fun; a tale where friendships must overcome insurmountable odds and remind readers to never lose hope.
From across the sea, a shadow rises. A lone survivor may be the kingdom’s only hope against annihilation.
Orin is a sworn protector. As a stalwart member of the Griffin Guard, he’s proud to protect the kingdom against a dreaded nation of orcs. But when the fires of war burn bright from the north, his entire squadron falls to deadly wyvern riders, leaving the devastated Orin bloody and alone.
With his squad dead, Orin has his mind set on saving others from the same fate.
Teaming up with a local huntsman’s family, Orin and his new friends must push themselves past their limits to face mysterious dangers and ancient magics. Shocked to discover the orcs’ secret weapon, the lone guardian’s last chance to save his home could require the ultimate sacrifice.
Full Review:
In a world where so much fantasy is dark, bloody, and grim, Stone and Sky feels like a breath of fresh air. Its upbeat tone and heroic deeds makes it a welcome escape into a world where good truly will triumph in the end.
The story follows the adventures of a number of central characters:
– Orin, a human Griffin Guard who’s lost his entire squad in a battle with their hated rivals, the orc wyvern riders.
– Ellaria, the human healer who nurses Orin back to health and accompanies him on his wild adventure to return to Whitestone.
– Pernden, a Griffin Guard rider in command of Talon Squad, the elite unit, who finds himself having to make an impossible choice between loyalty and what he knows to be right.
– Garron, the newly crowned King of Whitestone, but who is struggling to resist the dark whisperings in his mind.
– Karnak, the orc chieftain (Gar) who finds himself drawn into a conspiracy that will turn friends into foes and rivals into allies.
– Merrick, Ellaria’s brother and a huntsman who is mourning the loss of their brother, but whose adventure takes him to place no human has trod in centuries.
Along the way, they pick up a whole delightful cast of friends and comrades, including dwarves, elves, deep gnomes, and more.
The story reads very much like Warcraft II and III, with the ages-old rivalry between two sides: humans, elves, and dwarves on one, and goblins, orcs, and trolls on the other. However, as the story goes on, we begin to see matters shift as all on Finlestia are faced with an enemy even greater still, one with the power to destroy all regardless of sides. And with nobility and humanity displayed on both sides of the battle, it’s as easy to side with the orcs and goblins as the humans and dwarves.
The adventure also has a very Lord of the Rings feel, with beautiful and powerful elves, breathtaking pastoral scenes, wild and wonderful creatures, growing magic, mighty artifacts and weapons, and a growing evil seeking to sink its dark talons across the lands.
There’s action and battle aplenty, but it never dives into the realm of dark, gritty, or bloody fantasy. For all the loss and death and sorrow, there is joy and laughter and friendship to balance it out. It’s the epitome of “noblebright” fantasy that never feels saccharine or fake, but is just an easy, upbeat read.
If you need a break from grim stories, give Stone and Sky a read.
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