LoveReading Says
LoveReading Says
In a word: magic. Finbar Hawkins’ myth-infused Stone casts an unforgettable spell. Lucidly poetic, its bone-deep evocation of a boy’s grief for his father speaks to the heart in wonderful, accessible ways that will resonate with a huge range of readers.
While tormented by grief, and guilt over the last words he spoke to his deceased dad, Sam finds a stone that seems to make strange things happen, not least when he visits the legend-steeped hillside near his home. Then, as Sam’s mum and sister implore him to open up, enchanting, tarot-reading Oona explains that the stone is a scrying stone, as used by witches “to tell the future, to read the past… to open other worlds”.
With Halloween approaching, a time “when all that’s dead returns to the earth”, to quote Oona, Sam opens up to a man who’s struggling with the death of his wife, and opens his heart to find reconciliation and the beginnings of peace.
Honest and profound on the pain of loss and the magic of unexpected healing, Stone is a heart-achingly beautiful, savour-in-one-sitting treasure.
Joanne Owen
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About
Stone Synopsis
A second novel from the bestselling author of Branford Boase-shortlisted and Carnegie-nominated Witch. An engrossing story of fathers and sons, death and grief, and unexpected bonds, new and old, forged by dark and benign magic.
When Sam, grieving the death of his father, finds a silver-flecked stone, ice-cold to the touch, strange and eerie things begin to happen. Myth, legend, magic and witchcraft mingle on the ancient hillside where the chalk white horse has galloped for centuries. Ravens wheel. Wolves prowl. As Halloween draws close, witches dance. Odin gathers brave, fallen warriors to his side. Only the mysterious new girl, Oona, can heal Sam's heart, revealing tarot secrets with her bewitching ways.
About This Edition
ISBN: |
9781838935641 |
Publication date: |
1st September 2022 |
Author: |
Finbar Hawkins |
Publisher: |
Zephyr an imprint of Head of Zeus |
Format: |
Hardback |
Pagination: |
266 pages |
Primary Genre |
Young Adult Fiction
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Other Genres: |
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Press Reviews
Finbar Hawkins Press Reviews
'An absolute corker. I read this in a single sitting. Joyful and heartbreaking, beautiful and eerie. If you loved Witch... You'll love this too' -- Liz Hyder, author of The Gifts
'Full of myth and magic' - The Bookseller
Praise for Witch:
'Hawkins' descriptive power is considerable' Financial Times
'I felt its dark jewelled cloak fall about my shoulders and magic me to the time of witch-craft. A story that captures sibling rivalry so perfectly and tells its tale so beautifully I didn't want it to finish' Jasbinder Bilan, author of Aarti and the Blue Gods
'There is real magic here, though what leaps off the page is the creepy atmosphere and the raw emotion of a grieving, raging girl... Perfect reading for a dark, stormy night' Irish Times
'I couldn't stop reading this 5-star story for teens, full of witchcraft,revenge and the power of women' Mel Darbon, author of Rosie Loves Jack
'Evey is a marvellous, complex, flawed heroine... Hawkins is a master of raising and re-raising the stakes... The tale builds to a climax of incredible, cinematic imagery... A fantastic first outing' -- Cory Doctorow, author of Attack Surface
Author
About Finbar Hawkins
Finbar Hawkins is a graduate of the Bath Spa MA in Writing for Young People. He grew up in Blackheath, London and now lives in Wiltshire with his family, in a landscape steeped in myth and legend. He is a creative director for Aardman Animations in Bristol, where he makes fun interactive things for children of all ages.
Photo credit Gavin Strange
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