The bow came up, and two fingers and a thumb pulled the string with practiced ease. “The day wears on. I have a lot to do.” … Errol darted a glance back up the trail in the hope Cruk would come thundering around the far bend in the road, like a hero from the stories. But no one appeared. Why would they? Heroes appeared for important people, not drunks.
A Cast of Stones by Patrick W. Carr is a challenging book to review. It kicks off this fantasy trilogy with a bang, giving a gripping plot, a sympathetic protagonist, intriguing worldbuilding, constant suspense, and even some humor. However, it also includes its fair share of content warnings that will keep some readers away. I’ll highlight both the good and the bad in this review so you can make an informed decision.
Table of Contents
Plot
Had eighteen-year-old Errol known everything that would follow his decision, he never would have volunteered to deliver a church message to a hermit priest in the hills. But after setting out, he finds himself the target of repeated assassination attempts, hunted by one of the most deadly warriors in the kingdom. Unbeknown to him, the boy is of great importance to the fate of the kingdom.
From the village of Callowford to the bustling streets of Erinon, Errol becomes swept up in a dangerous journey to the nation’s capital. But before arriving at his destination, he’ll have to fight through innumerable obstacles and enemies. How will he ever reach the seat of the church while it’s sending killers after him?
This book’s plot is outwardly straightforward. After learning he has a rare power, Errol is forced to travel with two members of the church and enlist to serve the country. But like in any good fantasy quest, things don’t work out that easily.
As complications arise that slow and completely halt his progress, the reader gets to explore and learn about this new world. The protagonist comes into contact with many colorful characters and places; he learns about the world’s history. If you like fantasy adventures, you’ll love this book.
Characters
At the book’s outset, Errol is a drunk, taking odd jobs around the village to pay for food and ale. He soaks his memory with alcohol, hoping to hide a deep pain in his past. But with the help of a compassionate man, he is freed from his slavery to drink and becomes one of the kingdom’s best warriors.
Errol’s development is good, but it felt slightly rushed to me. With such a long book, surely the author could have captured the constant battles and relapses that occur while getting rid of an old habit. By the 40% mark, he’s completely abandoned ale and is only mildly tempted whenever he sees it. He strongly desires it on a couple of occasions, but this quickly passes.
A fantasy version of the Catholic church is a major feature of this world. The doctrines are not much discussed, as I’ll explain under the next header, and it mostly serves to add flavor to the world. The author realistically portrays the characters within the institution, showing some who are sincere and kind, and others who are corrupt. Whether the author is Catholic or not, I appreciate the honesty with which he paints the people in the religion.
Theme & Content Warnings
“Ale is bad” is the only major theme I could identify. Errol gives up drink and pours himself into learning the quarterstaff, seemingly as a replacement way to vent his painful memories. His teacher warns that learning the staff is not enough—he must find a new purpose in life. However, he gains no deeper purpose than whacking bad guys over the head.
Characters regularly reference a fantasy stand-in for God (who, unlike the portrayal in most similar books, is trinitarian) and vaguely mention church doctrines. At one point they take communion, but that’s the only specific teaching that’s shown.
While A Cast of Stones isn’t big on theme, it is sure big on content warnings. Violence, blood, sexual tension, and demonic foes all find their way onto the pages. It isn’t enough for me to condemn the book, but I certainly wouldn’t recommend it to young readers.
Errol fights enemies with his staff often. Later in the story conflicts are summarized in single sentences, but early on every move is described. These fights aren’t bloody but brutal at times. He strikes people until they’re unconscious, usually delivering a few vigorous hits to their head.
One character is stabbed in the throat by a sword and the book describes blood coming from the wound. When an army of half-demon creatures (which I’ll discuss more in a moment) attacks, the heroes lay into them with various pointy weapons. Errol feels one strike hit a bone. Another character slices one through the spine. Fighters receive wounds from battle. None of the gore is glorified and is quickly passed over, but at times I was slightly grossed out.
While there’s no profanity, the book’s representation of God, Deas, has His name seemingly used in vain often.
As mentioned before, Errol is constantly drunk for a large section of the book, and when he’s not, he’s fantasizing about the next time he can get drunk. After he leaves behind ale, he still comes into contact with it regularly but refuses it.
Several, uh, loose women appear in the book. Nothing inappropriate is shown, but it might make readers uncomfortable. One such scene is included below. For context, a lady just sat down next to Errol on a bench.
Liselle laughed deep in her throat and leaned back, not so much sitting, as draping herself across the chair. With studied intensity, she lightly tapped her lips twice with her fan before letting it trace a seductive line down her chin and throat.
Errol had no idea what Lady Liselle’s fan language said, but there was no mistaking her intent. Shocked gasps around the table only confirmed his suspicions. With his face flaming, he bolted out of his seat.
The few encounters play out much the same as that one. Little to no detail is given, just implications.
One girl is smitten with Errol and is constantly staring at him, much to his chagrin. She sees him in his “smallclothes” (I’m not sure what that means, but it’s probably some kind of underclothes) and jokes about his attractiveness. She later kisses him. Another love interest kisses Errol twice.
Errol and his companions come across a demon-possessed woman in a cage. She screams and grabs at two of the characters, and they run away as she shouts warnings at them. Later, she chases someone through city streets. Some human-like creatures called ferrals are said to be the offspring of demons and humans.
Overall
A Cast of Stones is not a book I’d recommend to just anyone. While it’s a fantastic story that left me eager to read the next book, the content included is mature. Some, like drunkenness and demons, are important to the plot, but I wish some other scenes had been left out. I’ll leave you to decide what to make of this story.
Thanks for reading!
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