Review of Stoneslayer

[Olga Markova]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Stoneslayer" by Candace Lynn Talmadge.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Stoneslayer: Book One Scandal by Candace Lynn Talmadge is an awesome blend of epic and paranormal fantasy. The story unfolds in the imaginary country of Azgard. Helen Andros is a military medical doctor. When on a short leave to celebrate a holiday with her family, Helen gets summoned on a perilous clandestine mission to treat a dying prince. She is secretly transported to the prince’s residence in the Sacred City of Azgard. As a foreigner, Helen requires permission from the Temple and the government to enter the Sacred City. Entering without permission, she committed a capital crime. But Helen has yet to know that a sudden play of fate will create a scandalous life-changer both for her and for many nobles of Azgard. What lies ahead for Helen?

To start with, I instantly bonded with courageous, witty, insolent, and defiant Helen Andros and enjoyed following her life quests. As the story unfolded, Lady Naomi, with her controversial subterfuge, diplomacy, and kindness, made me adore her. Helen and Lady Naomi were huge pieces of work, and they made this story stand out for me. In addition, throughout the book, I enjoyed the brilliant humor. The paranormal events at the end of the story were like the cherries topping the novel’s cake.

But it would be unfair to limit my review to the entertaining aspects I enjoyed. This novel offers much more than pure entertainment with witty and strong female characters, political intrigue, conspiracy to murder, subterfuge, and life-threatening perils. I highly appreciated how this fantasy explored the highly topical themes of racism, adultery, and same-sex attraction, taking their consequences to unimaginable extremes.

All in all, I enjoyed every moment of reading this riveting fantasy, and I disliked nothing. So, I happily rate it five out of five stars.

I highly recommend this brilliant story to adult epic fantasy fans. Graphic scenes of torture make this story inappropriate for junior and sensitive readers.

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Stoneslayer
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[Louis Donald]

Helen sounds like an unforgettable character with her mix of courage and wit. The political intrigue and the paranormal twist at the end make this fantasy stand out. It seems like a great pick for readers who enjoy strong characters and complex themes.

[Pearl Flourish]

Helen Andros sounds like a bold and complex protagonist, and the mix of fantasy, political intrigue, and deep themes makes this story stand out. The paranormal twist at the end seems like the perfect way to top it all off.

[NetMassimo]

Looks like Helen had quite an adventure and this is Book 1, which means that I can expect much more for her. The mix of epic and paranormal elements add to a story that seems sophisticated thanks to the intrigue. Thank you for your great review!

[George Bastem]

The mix of strong female leads, political intrigue, and paranormal twists makes it sound like a gripping read. Helen’s boldness and the high-stakes drama seem like they’d keep the pages turning.