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Forecast From Stonehenge (Choose Your Own Adventure #19) by R. A. Montgomery
The missing heelstone of Stone-henge is tied to a dangerous vision of the future, and you must face the enchantments and mysteries of this ancient megalith.
Paperback
First published July 1, 2007
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About the author
R.A. Montgomery
151 books119 followersRaymond A. Montgomery (born 1936 in Connecticut) was an author and progenitor of the classic Choose Your Own Adventure interactive children's book series, which ran from 1979 to 2003. Montgomery graduated from Williams College and went to graduate school at Yale University and New York University (NYU). He devoted his life to teaching and education.
In 2004, he co-founded the Chooseco publishing company alongside his wife, fellow author/publisher Shannon Gilligan, with the goal of reviving the CYOA series with new novels and reissued editions of the classics.
He continued to write and publish until his death in 2014.
In 2004, he co-founded the Chooseco publishing company alongside his wife, fellow author/publisher Shannon Gilligan, with the goal of reviving the CYOA series with new novels and reissued editions of the classics.
He continued to write and publish until his death in 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 10, 2018
Yep. That's exactly how archeology works. My dad told me.
December 3, 2017
When Forecast from Stonehenge first entered publication in 2006, it was the firstborn offering of a new era for R.A. Montgomery and the gamebook empire he helped found decades earlier. The Choose Your Own Adventure brand was back where it belonged, available on the shelves of local bookstores so kids could once again find quality gamebook adventures even without having parents who loved the stories when they were kids and were willing to track down used copies for the enjoyment of the next generation. R.A. Montgomery was back in business, the very same author who once turned out intriguing interactive stories such as Space and Beyond, Project UFO and the scintillating Death in the Dorm. No matter how Forecast from Stonehenge turned out, whether it equaled R.A. Montgomery's best work or not, this was a win for gamebook fans. Having Choose Your Own Adventure books back in print after years of silence from the company and its founders certainly was a welcome development.
"Good thoughts yield good things. The future, no matter how dark it seems, can always change, as long as the thoughts change."
—Freya, Forecast from Stonehenge, P. 116
You are a runner and informant for a group of archeologists interested in the history behind the mysterious megalith site known as Stonehenge. When a hot tip comes in that a man named Alastair may possess an artifact of vital importance to figuring out the truth behind Stonehenge's unknown past, you are dispatched to meet Alastair close by Stonehenge and see if the item he has could actually prove useful. When you arrive on the scene, however, you find there's no direct shot to Alastair and your arranged meeting place. The area around Stonehenge has been sealed off from public access in the interest of preventing mischief, and when you find a group of apparent insiders willing to bring you close enough to have your meeting with Alastair, the whole setup seems highly suspicious. Is something magical going on around Stonehenge? Is Alastair involved with beings of dark force and purpose, souls who could kill you in an instant and wouldn't hesitate to do so should you get between them and Alastair's artifact, which they also want? In a race against time and your pursuers, entities endowed with greater magical power than you can fathom, your greatest asset may be your instinctive sense of who can and cannot be trusted. Put your faith in the wrong individual and you'll likely lose Alastair's artifact for good, and maybe your life, too. Players capable of waging war on an epic battlefield like ancient Stonehenge won't be satisfied to let you walk away with an artifact that gives you part of their power. Is there any way you can find out the truth behind Alastair's secret and survive long enough to relay the information to your superiors?
There are a number of things to like about this book, which is why I would actually give it one and a half stars, and had thoughts of rounding up instead of down. More than most of R.A. Montgomery's books, Forecast from Stonehenge includes passages written in picturesque language, actually quite beautiful at times. Instead of focusing solely on moving the action forward with every sentence, we're treated to a few pauses that allow the author opportunity to describe the sharp scent of the night air outside London, the withered leaves scraping across our path as the wind blows, the misty veil of fog as you venture further into the unfamiliar landscape of the enchanted British countryside. It's a nice change, different from most other gamebooks, and the multiple pages of story between most decisions allow a fuller narrative to be dispensed, as well as a chance to catch one's breath before proceeding to the next adventure sequence. I also like the quality of illustrations from Vladimir Semionov, who brings character to the people and places in the book by use of thick lines and ominous shading. What I like best about Forecast from Stonehenge, though, is a few sections of the story that begin to build some light suspense, demonstrating glimpses of how exciting gamebooks can be at their best. That should be enough to hook readers who are new to the idea of interactive stories, and bring them back wanting more from Choose Your Own Adventure.
I was surprised by the number of small copyediting errors in Forecast from Stonehenge, but it's a relatively minor fix that may have been made in later printings. Overall, I had a good time with this book and will read it again, though it's difficult to find a truly satisfying ending to the story you make. There are hints at positive endings, however, even at major discoveries you could make about Stonehenge if you gain access to the right artifacts and information. Do you ever solve the entire mystery of the sacred stones? I suppose that's open to interpretation, but you certainly get to try, and isn't that what one wants from a book like this?
"Good thoughts yield good things. The future, no matter how dark it seems, can always change, as long as the thoughts change."
—Freya, Forecast from Stonehenge, P. 116
You are a runner and informant for a group of archeologists interested in the history behind the mysterious megalith site known as Stonehenge. When a hot tip comes in that a man named Alastair may possess an artifact of vital importance to figuring out the truth behind Stonehenge's unknown past, you are dispatched to meet Alastair close by Stonehenge and see if the item he has could actually prove useful. When you arrive on the scene, however, you find there's no direct shot to Alastair and your arranged meeting place. The area around Stonehenge has been sealed off from public access in the interest of preventing mischief, and when you find a group of apparent insiders willing to bring you close enough to have your meeting with Alastair, the whole setup seems highly suspicious. Is something magical going on around Stonehenge? Is Alastair involved with beings of dark force and purpose, souls who could kill you in an instant and wouldn't hesitate to do so should you get between them and Alastair's artifact, which they also want? In a race against time and your pursuers, entities endowed with greater magical power than you can fathom, your greatest asset may be your instinctive sense of who can and cannot be trusted. Put your faith in the wrong individual and you'll likely lose Alastair's artifact for good, and maybe your life, too. Players capable of waging war on an epic battlefield like ancient Stonehenge won't be satisfied to let you walk away with an artifact that gives you part of their power. Is there any way you can find out the truth behind Alastair's secret and survive long enough to relay the information to your superiors?
There are a number of things to like about this book, which is why I would actually give it one and a half stars, and had thoughts of rounding up instead of down. More than most of R.A. Montgomery's books, Forecast from Stonehenge includes passages written in picturesque language, actually quite beautiful at times. Instead of focusing solely on moving the action forward with every sentence, we're treated to a few pauses that allow the author opportunity to describe the sharp scent of the night air outside London, the withered leaves scraping across our path as the wind blows, the misty veil of fog as you venture further into the unfamiliar landscape of the enchanted British countryside. It's a nice change, different from most other gamebooks, and the multiple pages of story between most decisions allow a fuller narrative to be dispensed, as well as a chance to catch one's breath before proceeding to the next adventure sequence. I also like the quality of illustrations from Vladimir Semionov, who brings character to the people and places in the book by use of thick lines and ominous shading. What I like best about Forecast from Stonehenge, though, is a few sections of the story that begin to build some light suspense, demonstrating glimpses of how exciting gamebooks can be at their best. That should be enough to hook readers who are new to the idea of interactive stories, and bring them back wanting more from Choose Your Own Adventure.
I was surprised by the number of small copyediting errors in Forecast from Stonehenge, but it's a relatively minor fix that may have been made in later printings. Overall, I had a good time with this book and will read it again, though it's difficult to find a truly satisfying ending to the story you make. There are hints at positive endings, however, even at major discoveries you could make about Stonehenge if you gain access to the right artifacts and information. Do you ever solve the entire mystery of the sacred stones? I suppose that's open to interpretation, but you certainly get to try, and isn't that what one wants from a book like this?
December 5, 2023
I’m actually reviewing the new graphic novel.
I am so excited to see this series being given fresh life as it was such a defining experience for me as a kid. And the graphic novel format is really cool. I hope there will be a ton of these!
I don’t really remember if this is the same story as the original Stonehenge one or a new version. It’s been like 35 years or more! (It seems maybe that was a new series in 2006? So either way I didn’t read it.)
But either way great start to hopefully a new run. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to review.
I am so excited to see this series being given fresh life as it was such a defining experience for me as a kid. And the graphic novel format is really cool. I hope there will be a ton of these!
I don’t really remember if this is the same story as the original Stonehenge one or a new version. It’s been like 35 years or more! (It seems maybe that was a new series in 2006? So either way I didn’t read it.)
But either way great start to hopefully a new run. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to review.
May 31, 2019
I forgot how much fun these are! Hello, childhood!
April 13, 2022
Used this book to introduce my kids to the Choose Your Own Adventure book series after a different CYOA book I picked up from the used bookstore was missing the 1st 30 pages. Besides the addition of cell phones and social media sites, this book reads like most of them in the series. Great way to keep multiple children entertained (or start small fights) as we made decisions based on kid majority vote.
August 31, 2013
This book was very fun to read, as I could freely choose whichever path I wanted to take. I remember my first ending was of me and my friend ending up as famous and rich. That encouraged me to continue and choose other paths and options. My second ending ended with me hiding in a dumpster from something, peeked out to see if it was gone and then the lid slammed on top of my head and I blacked out. I'm not sure if I was dead or not, but it said The End so I guess I did. The other endings are a bit foggy, since I read this a few years ago.
March 5, 2018
Pretty interesting and exciting even though there’s not much action (at least in the tree that I followed). I went through two branches of the story. First one it ended after my second choice! I was more successful on my second try. The ending I got was a ‘good’ but not satisfying. I did go back and skim the other choices and it seems like there are fewer endings and longer branches than some other CYOA books.
August 3, 2025
This is the first "Choose Your Own Adventure" book I have read since being in the sixth grade, and I have to say it was so much fun to read. We need to write these for adults as well! Four stars based on the nostalgia and fun-factors alone, but the story-line and 16 different endings were interesting and some paths would catch you off-guard as seemingly being the "safe" routes but were not. Overall truly fun!
May 27, 2022
"I don't care if I do become your slave," you say to no one in particular. "This is the best meal I've ever eaten." -From Forecast From Stonehenge
4 stars
This was a fun one, with very different paths. Will you find Alastair, fairies, goblins (don't say it to their face), Druids, Merlin, or just wind up in a dumpster?
4 stars
This was a fun one, with very different paths. Will you find Alastair, fairies, goblins (don't say it to their face), Druids, Merlin, or just wind up in a dumpster?
February 26, 2019
What you would expect from a Choose Your Own Adventure book. I enjoyed these when I was younger. My 10 year old daughter brought this home from the library so of course I had to read it. I ended up reading through all the endings.
August 19, 2024
A solid CYOA book, not problematic at all like some of the earlier entries in the series. A fun little adventure. Will be adding it to my classroom library. Was gonna give it three stars for my own enjoyment, but then I remembered it's for kids, and kids will dig it.
November 23, 2018
Man, these are some weird ass books.
October 7, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars
Really enjoyed all the different stories I found. I think I read all the endings but I may go back and reread just to be sure! Highly recommend!
Really enjoyed all the different stories I found. I think I read all the endings but I may go back and reread just to be sure! Highly recommend!
August 11, 2022
Not my favorite, but it was okay. There was no saving the story after the first choice, and it was a bit boring in places. It's a shame too, because the cover is awesome.
April 24, 2023
I don't think I read it as a kid but that was actually a lot of fun lmao
January 30, 2025
Takes unexpected turns, fun to read and go random places all around.
May 1, 2023
Definitely one of the best and most coherent offerings from Montgomery. Not an alien in sight! Has a real plot as well, and most of the choices make sense. Thumbs up.
September 26, 2011
Actual rating: 2.5
In terms of quality, this book has your standard quality of any Choose Your Own Ending book. However, I was hoping that this book would be okay to read to my kids before rest time - I bet they'd love being able to choose what happens in the story. But unfortunately, there was some stuff not suitable for 4 and 5 year olds. Which is a bummer. I wonder if any of the others would be appropriate. I'd really like to do a CYOE with them!
I read through to most of the endings of the book. While the writing isn't anything spectacular, I can definitely see how these books would appeal to young readers. Its very fun to have choices on how a story will turn out! However, some of the endings seemed really abrupt (as they usually do). But all in all, it wasn't too bad.
In terms of quality, this book has your standard quality of any Choose Your Own Ending book. However, I was hoping that this book would be okay to read to my kids before rest time - I bet they'd love being able to choose what happens in the story. But unfortunately, there was some stuff not suitable for 4 and 5 year olds. Which is a bummer. I wonder if any of the others would be appropriate. I'd really like to do a CYOE with them!
I read through to most of the endings of the book. While the writing isn't anything spectacular, I can definitely see how these books would appeal to young readers. Its very fun to have choices on how a story will turn out! However, some of the endings seemed really abrupt (as they usually do). But all in all, it wasn't too bad.
August 17, 2007
I have very fond memories of all of the Choose Your Own Adventure Books!!! In fact, these along with Nancy Drew books kept me busy as a child for hours on end. They helped kick start my love of reading. LOVE EM!!!
December 11, 2007
'Choose your own adventure' #19, Forcast from Stonehenge... in these books the reader gets to be the central character by choosing what path the tale follows through a variety of endings...
February 4, 2008
It was cool because it was another pick your own places to go. I read it to my dad. There's one sad part. In of the endings one of the adults dies.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 30, 2008Have the new Choose Your Own Adventure books really stopped having endings where you, the reader, dies horribly? Terribly disappointing, of so--that was one of the best things about them!
December 19, 2014
I read this when I was in elementary school, so I haven't read it since but I loved it then :3
June 25, 2014
I love this book its full of magic , adventures and death.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews