Book Review: "The Gemstone Chronicles Book One: The Carnelian " by William Stuart

About The Author

William L Stuart was born in New Mexico, but has lived Georgia for many years. He speaks with a southern accent, drinks gallons of sweet tea, and loves the UGA Bulldogs. He almost attended that great university, but decided instead to join the US Navy, where he subjected himself to the rigors of Navy Nuclear Power training in Orlando, Florida, and Idaho Falls, Idaho. Graduating from Nuke school landed him aboard USS Sandlance (SSN660), a Sturgeon class fast attack submarine. He was a fully qualified submariner, and traveled above the Arctic Circle to earn his Bluenose certificate.

After 3 and a half years aboard Sandlance, he transferred to recruiting duty in Americus, GA. While in Americus, William completed his undergraduate degree in Human Resources Management. William left the Navy soon after that, and began working in the civilian world. He has been an electrician for a carpet manufacturer, worked for the world's largest candy cane manufacturer, and then worked in pharmaceutical manufacturing. He have since transitioned to the animal health world, where he manages global supply of animal health products.

William have been married to the wonderful, adorable, and lovely Lana for over 25 years. It was Lana and her blog (shameless plug time: www.lanascooking.com) that inspired William to publish his books. He is father to his amazing daughter Laura, and grandfather to Aidan and Maggie. All of them inspired a character in The Gemstone Chronicles.

Along with writing, William also enjoys gem hunting, gold prospecting, playing softball, playing golf (although I don't play particularly well), and dabbling in woodworking. He tends to read a lot, and has a wide range of interests - including quantum physics, science in general, submarines, and conspiracy theories.

Connect with William on his site at http:/www.williamlstuart.com or on Twitter at http:/www.twitter.com/williamlstuart.

About The Book

Blurb:
When Aidan and Maggie find a fairy cross while rock-hunting with their grandfather, it's just an oddity. But when they discover there is an elf imprisoned in the stone and set him free, they and their grandparents, Nana and Beebop, are attacked by Dark Elves and forced to flee to the magical world of Celahir. 
In Celahir, Findecano - the elf the children freed from the fairy cross - leads them on a quest to recover gemstones stolen from the Elven Bow by the Dark Elves. Without the restoration of the gemstones to the Elven Bow, the balance between good and evil in Celahir - and the human world - could tip toward evil.

My Review:

A Magical Adventure
This was an enjoyable Narnia-like adventure story about an ordinary family, featuring Beebop, Nana, and their two grandchildren, Aidan and Maggie. The four run into all kinds of danger once they free an elf, Findecano, who was imprisoned by the dark elves.

 I haven't read too many fantasy type novels and wasn't sure if this would be a story I would get through. I not only got through it, I enjoyed every moment as time after time, light triumphs over darkness.

 I look forward to reading the next books in the series.
Next TEN books and short stories on my Review List are:
The Budapest Experiment: An International Thriller by Maurice G. Miller (14% Read)
Seeker (Seeker Series, Book 1) by Amy Reece
Dangerous Liaisons by Sara Steward
Bravura (The Music We Made Book 1) by Lisa Kirazian
Letting Go into Perfect Love by Gwendolyn Plano
Tate by Barbara Stewart
Finch's Crossing by Katheran Allen
Flash 40: Life's Moments by Janelle Jalbert

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