What do you think?
Rate this book
The Rune Chronicles #1
Rune of the Apprentice
In a world where magic, technology, and nature have merged, the few who can control Runes hold dominance over all of creation. All believe that Aleksi, a sixteen-year-old orphan, was blessed to be born with a Rune embedded in his palm, but that’s only because they don’t know the truth―Aleksi’s Rune is so powerful it’s killing him.
Asura, a brutal emperor who uses Runes to conquer entire continents, will stop at nothing to kill Aleksi and claim the boy’s power for his own. With Aleksi’s Rune burning its way through his body and assassins hunting his every step, his survival depends on discerning ally from enemy and learning to tame the competing forces of light and dark within.
With the burden of his rune haunting his days and the prophetic whispers of a young captive priestess illuminating his nights, Aleksi will be able to unravel the mysteries of his past, rescue the girl in his dreams, and challenge the most powerful warlord the world has ever known only if the one thing keeping him alive―his Rune―does not kill him first.
--
From the Back Cover:
AN ANCIENT CURSE COULD MEAN ULTIMATE POWER.
BUT AT WHAT COST?
"Stone has hit it out of the ballpark with this book, and you will not want to put it down." --Ben Greenfield, New York Times bestselling author of Beyond Training
"An engaging story filled with magic, swordplay, and even pirates... Easy five stars." --Dave Barrett, author of It's All Fun and Games
"The flowing prose is experienced rather than read--and done with vivid clarity. I'm highly anticipating the next in the series!" --J-F. Dubeau, author of The Life Engineered and A God in the Shed
"I was on the edge of my seat, across oceans and over land, until the last page." --Zachary Tyler Linville, author of Welcome to Deadland
"Absolutely the perfect universe to geek out over." --Rick Heinz, author of The Seventh Age: Dawn
"A fresh superbly crafted fantasy epic that conquers both world and character building" --Tal M. Klein, author of The Punch Escrow
Asura, a brutal emperor who uses Runes to conquer entire continents, will stop at nothing to kill Aleksi and claim the boy’s power for his own. With Aleksi’s Rune burning its way through his body and assassins hunting his every step, his survival depends on discerning ally from enemy and learning to tame the competing forces of light and dark within.
With the burden of his rune haunting his days and the prophetic whispers of a young captive priestess illuminating his nights, Aleksi will be able to unravel the mysteries of his past, rescue the girl in his dreams, and challenge the most powerful warlord the world has ever known only if the one thing keeping him alive―his Rune―does not kill him first.
--
From the Back Cover:
AN ANCIENT CURSE COULD MEAN ULTIMATE POWER.
BUT AT WHAT COST?
"Stone has hit it out of the ballpark with this book, and you will not want to put it down." --Ben Greenfield, New York Times bestselling author of Beyond Training
"An engaging story filled with magic, swordplay, and even pirates... Easy five stars." --Dave Barrett, author of It's All Fun and Games
"The flowing prose is experienced rather than read--and done with vivid clarity. I'm highly anticipating the next in the series!" --J-F. Dubeau, author of The Life Engineered and A God in the Shed
"I was on the edge of my seat, across oceans and over land, until the last page." --Zachary Tyler Linville, author of Welcome to Deadland
"Absolutely the perfect universe to geek out over." --Rick Heinz, author of The Seventh Age: Dawn
"A fresh superbly crafted fantasy epic that conquers both world and character building" --Tal M. Klein, author of The Punch Escrow
- GenresFantasyScience Fiction
500 pages, Pre-order
First published November 1, 2016
14 people are currently reading
479 people want to read
About the author
Jamison Stone
4 books35 followersJamison Stone is the author of "Rune of the Apprentice" an Fantasy/Sci-Fi novel and "The Last Amazon" published by Apotheosis Studios. To learn more go to: www.ApotheosisStudios.com or click the link here on Goodreads.
Jamison Stone was born in Massachusetts and raised throughout New England on a healthy diet of magic, martial arts, and meditation. When he is not getting distracted by video games, Jamison is the director of Apotheosis Studios. Rune of the Apprentice is his first novel; however, there are more on the way. To learn more about Jamison and his various projects, visit www.stonejamison.com.
Jamison Stone was born in Massachusetts and raised throughout New England on a healthy diet of magic, martial arts, and meditation. When he is not getting distracted by video games, Jamison is the director of Apotheosis Studios. Rune of the Apprentice is his first novel; however, there are more on the way. To learn more about Jamison and his various projects, visit www.stonejamison.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
August 22, 2017
Warms my heart to see all these positive review posted here and on Amazon. Words cannot describe the joy I feel when learning of a new reader who resonates so deeply with my story and its characters. RUNE was a labor of love and I am filled with such gratitude knowing that people are enjoying reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for making this experience possible not only for me, but each and every reader, too.
Thanks,
Jamison Stone
Thanks,
Jamison Stone
October 14, 2016
Well, I’m about halfway through the book now and it isn’t getting better. I tried, but it’s one non-stop eye roll for me. I may finish it, but only out of a sense of determination rather than any real curiosity or engagement with the characters or their plight.
So, let me start with what I did like. I liked the idea of the book. The description was intriguing, a boy born with a rune that could as easily kill him as grant him unheard of powers. I also liked Domadred, the pirate, and his crew. Interesting backstory, interesting personalities and potential. Good stuff. Then there’s the hint of sci-fi, talk of luminous (or should I say numinous?) beings who fought off the dark ones and then disappeared into the heavens. I like a hint of sci-fi.
But then again, ugh, so much detail, so much world building, it feels like I’m being hit over the head with it, or force fed it. Chapters of background where nothing real happens but the boy, Aleksi, walking down the street looking at stuff and ruminating about history and politics. A section on some sort of special tree, which I skimmed, and then later that chapter’s worth of exposition turned out to be needed to understand some other inane observation about the tree, but I didn’t care enough to go back and read the explanation. A bit about the Eastnortherners or the Westsoutherners, really? Just use northeastern or southwestern, and by the way, those should not be capitalized when used as general adjectives or a simple direction. Seems like the messed up cardinal directions were just more of the over-the-top world building.
Oh, and the writing/editing. Ok, so yes, the thing is obviously edited, at least for grammar and spelling. All the punctuation is there and seems appropriate, but every third sentence starts with “as such and such happens, he/she/it does something else.” It gets really obvious and really tedious, really fast. Yes, lots of really’s there. It earned them. And, just to be clear, I don’t need reminding every other sentence that Aleksi, or “the youth,” is the one the book is about. Please, some variety in the sentence structure, or some sentences that aren’t focused on what the youth saw, or did, or felt, or thought about, or remembered from his rather incredible and thorough studies at The Academy.
Now, let me be clear, I’m not one who scoffs at epic fantasy with a ton of details, not by a long shot. I love Lord of the Rings, The Death’s Gate Cycle, and The Wheel of Time, to name a few, and those are brimming with lore and details. But one thing they do, and this does not, is make me feel a connection to what’s happening and to whom it’s happening. And let me point out, stuff actually happens in those stories, meaningful stuff, and the rest just comes as it does, enriching the story, but not distracting from it. Not so in this one where mostly it’s just Aleksi walking about feeling sorry about his lot in life and re-reading that godawful letter from Rudra, his exiled mentor.
Ok, so that’s it. Now I’m going to attempt to finish reading this, but unless something amazing happens, I think this review speaks for itself. I didn’t care for this book, couldn’t get into it, and can’t see myself recommending it unless someone with a critical eye takes an axe to the fluff.
I received the review copy of this book from NetGalley, and while I didn’t exactly care for the book, I am grateful for being given the opportunity to read and review it.
(I'll likely update this when I finish, if I finish.)
So, let me start with what I did like. I liked the idea of the book. The description was intriguing, a boy born with a rune that could as easily kill him as grant him unheard of powers. I also liked Domadred, the pirate, and his crew. Interesting backstory, interesting personalities and potential. Good stuff. Then there’s the hint of sci-fi, talk of luminous (or should I say numinous?) beings who fought off the dark ones and then disappeared into the heavens. I like a hint of sci-fi.
But then again, ugh, so much detail, so much world building, it feels like I’m being hit over the head with it, or force fed it. Chapters of background where nothing real happens but the boy, Aleksi, walking down the street looking at stuff and ruminating about history and politics. A section on some sort of special tree, which I skimmed, and then later that chapter’s worth of exposition turned out to be needed to understand some other inane observation about the tree, but I didn’t care enough to go back and read the explanation. A bit about the Eastnortherners or the Westsoutherners, really? Just use northeastern or southwestern, and by the way, those should not be capitalized when used as general adjectives or a simple direction. Seems like the messed up cardinal directions were just more of the over-the-top world building.
Oh, and the writing/editing. Ok, so yes, the thing is obviously edited, at least for grammar and spelling. All the punctuation is there and seems appropriate, but every third sentence starts with “as such and such happens, he/she/it does something else.” It gets really obvious and really tedious, really fast. Yes, lots of really’s there. It earned them. And, just to be clear, I don’t need reminding every other sentence that Aleksi, or “the youth,” is the one the book is about. Please, some variety in the sentence structure, or some sentences that aren’t focused on what the youth saw, or did, or felt, or thought about, or remembered from his rather incredible and thorough studies at The Academy.
Now, let me be clear, I’m not one who scoffs at epic fantasy with a ton of details, not by a long shot. I love Lord of the Rings, The Death’s Gate Cycle, and The Wheel of Time, to name a few, and those are brimming with lore and details. But one thing they do, and this does not, is make me feel a connection to what’s happening and to whom it’s happening. And let me point out, stuff actually happens in those stories, meaningful stuff, and the rest just comes as it does, enriching the story, but not distracting from it. Not so in this one where mostly it’s just Aleksi walking about feeling sorry about his lot in life and re-reading that godawful letter from Rudra, his exiled mentor.
Ok, so that’s it. Now I’m going to attempt to finish reading this, but unless something amazing happens, I think this review speaks for itself. I didn’t care for this book, couldn’t get into it, and can’t see myself recommending it unless someone with a critical eye takes an axe to the fluff.
I received the review copy of this book from NetGalley, and while I didn’t exactly care for the book, I am grateful for being given the opportunity to read and review it.
(I'll likely update this when I finish, if I finish.)
June 23, 2016
What begins as a standard "runaway apprentice off to fulfill his destiny" story quickly becomes an engaging story filled with magic, swordplay, and even pirates! The world that Stone has imagined is vast, the political webs complex, and the interaction between the gods, magic, and men is well thought out and well described.
All the characters introduced have had considerable depth to them, and you don't feel like any of them are just going along for the ride. This first volume ends with a considerable cliffhanger, and I can honestly say I want to know what happens next...not just to main character Aleksi, but to the entire cast, most of whom are scattered across the continent.
I don't think it's a spoiler to mention that a decent amount of the book takes place shipboard. Stone really knows his way around a ship, describing the various workings of sails, winds and crew as needed to bring the story to life. Or maybe he just made it all up - if so it was pretty convincing!
My singular quibble with the writing is that Aleksi is referred to by his name or "the youth" over and over again. After a time it became pretty repetitive. But in the grand scheme of thing, inefficient use of pronouns is hardly a quibble at all.
I am eagerly looking forward to reading the sequel when it comes out. Easy five stars.
All the characters introduced have had considerable depth to them, and you don't feel like any of them are just going along for the ride. This first volume ends with a considerable cliffhanger, and I can honestly say I want to know what happens next...not just to main character Aleksi, but to the entire cast, most of whom are scattered across the continent.
I don't think it's a spoiler to mention that a decent amount of the book takes place shipboard. Stone really knows his way around a ship, describing the various workings of sails, winds and crew as needed to bring the story to life. Or maybe he just made it all up - if so it was pretty convincing!
My singular quibble with the writing is that Aleksi is referred to by his name or "the youth" over and over again. After a time it became pretty repetitive. But in the grand scheme of thing, inefficient use of pronouns is hardly a quibble at all.
I am eagerly looking forward to reading the sequel when it comes out. Easy five stars.
October 18, 2016
I was asked to read the book ahead of time prior to release, and found it an easy task to do. I'm a huge fan of epic fantasy to begin with, so a slow intro for world building doesn't really bother me much. What kept me turning page to page in the story was the detail that went into the ocean faring adventure. Without spoilers, rather than a ground based epic fantasy, the majority of this book takes place on the open seas, and one a single ship, the Domadred. It's a pretty interesting way to handle an epic fantasy, but the reason it works so well is that you actually FEEL like you are going on a journey to a larger world.
I think as a series, this holds amazing potential and I can't wait until we are 3-5 books in.
I think as a series, this holds amazing potential and I can't wait until we are 3-5 books in.
October 25, 2016
Jamison Stone has created an enthralling read with a truly compelling cast of characters. For Rune of the Apprentice, it’s the storytelling and the character development within a fully realized world that sets Stone’s story apart. We have a young hero fighting for his own survival, his greatest threat an ancient power within him. But it’s the fantastic secondary characters that will have scores of readers eagerly turning the pages. A seafaring adventure with masterful descriptions of the ship and the open ocean. This is high fantasy at its finest, and Stone follows in a tradition of storytellers who have taken fantasy to the high seas. Somewhere I imagine Abraham Merritt is smiling.
October 25, 2016
I was immediately captivated by the world created by Stone; the world of a teenage boy, Aleksi, cast out of innocence into the machinations of adult politics and manipulation. Aleski is forced into a life of danger, uncertainty and the possibility for a hopeful, better future. He has the skills and the magic, does he have the courage?
October 17, 2016
I almost stopped reading after the first chapter or so but decided to plow through, because I'm a big fantasy fan and this book seemed to have a lot of the trappings of the books I like. It did not get better. There were many problems, but my main issue were the characters. He described differences between people by their eyes, which was repetitive and also a poor way of addressing socio-political differences between groups of people. Additionally, the sole defining trait of every woman in the book were her breasts, which the author made sure to describe often. I've got a high tolerance for fan service, but because the women were little else it was distracting and demeaning.
I'm all for a solid, by-the-books fantasies with all the accouterments. This one left a poor taste in my mouth when I was done.
I'm all for a solid, by-the-books fantasies with all the accouterments. This one left a poor taste in my mouth when I was done.
August 3, 2016
Jamison Stone’s novel, Rune of The Apprentice, presents the reader with a detailed and beautifully crafted new world. The descriptions of Terra’s geography and its inhabitants are so vivid that I could easily imagine myself walking through the avenues, squares, and marketplaces of Mindra’s Haven. But this book is not only about a well-crafted fantastic world. Probably one of Stone’s biggest achievements is his capacity to portrait his hero’s internal struggle. Aleksi is young, powerful and good at heart but lost. Having the reader rooting for Aleksi from beginning to end requires the work of a skillful storyteller; Jamison Stone is definitely that person.
October 25, 2016
Jamison Stone has created a world of fantasy that can be matched by few others. His characters vibrate with life and the tension he creates is palpable. The story weaves its way through land and over sea, focusing on an ultimate adventure that is sure to be cataclysmic. I barnstormed through Rune of the Apprentice in a matter of hours and I'm desperately wanting to read the next in the series. Put this book in your 'must read' box!
March 22, 2017
My original Rune of the Apprentice audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Rune of the Apprentice is the first novel in a series called Rune Chronicles by Jamison Stone. Aleksi was born with a rune on his palm in a world where control of runes imparts extreme power. Those who can control runes become powerful and can control others. However, Aleksi's instructors don’t know that his rune is so powerful that the awakening power is slowly killing him. Thus, to save his life, Aleksi sets out on a quest to find his absent mentor who is wanted for crimes against humanity. During this journey, Aleksi meets a variety of people including a ship full of pirates, fighters, and a captive priestess. He becomes entangled in their lives, while still trying to maintain his secret and prevent his rune from killing him.
This story had a lot of potential to be really good, but it was too confusing for me. It is a complex world and the workings of it were not completely clear. However, the magic structure did seem to be unique. Fortunately, in spite of the confusion, the story was pretty interesting. There were a lot of characters, and I actually liked the pirate ship captain and his crew a lot. Aleksi, by comparison, was not as exciting and preoccupied. His coming of age story must progress through the next novels, but he appears to grow little in this novel. The growth is intellectual and hopefully, that will translate to character changes as the novel continues and he comes to terms with a revelation from this novel. A lot of the story takes place on a ship, which is not as confining as it may seem. However, there was a lot of description of the ship’s components like the different rigging and the boom that could get boring. The novel ends at a stopping point, but there is not resolution. Overall, the story as a lot of potential, but the world needs to be a little better explained.
This novel was narrated by Kevin T. Collins. I personally found the narration irritating. Each word was so deliberately forceful that it was distracting, but an effort was made to make the characters distinguishable. The production quality of the novel was good. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys high fantasy with unique magic structures and sea-bound stories.
Audiobook was purchased for review by ABR.
Rune of the Apprentice is the first novel in a series called Rune Chronicles by Jamison Stone. Aleksi was born with a rune on his palm in a world where control of runes imparts extreme power. Those who can control runes become powerful and can control others. However, Aleksi's instructors don’t know that his rune is so powerful that the awakening power is slowly killing him. Thus, to save his life, Aleksi sets out on a quest to find his absent mentor who is wanted for crimes against humanity. During this journey, Aleksi meets a variety of people including a ship full of pirates, fighters, and a captive priestess. He becomes entangled in their lives, while still trying to maintain his secret and prevent his rune from killing him.
This story had a lot of potential to be really good, but it was too confusing for me. It is a complex world and the workings of it were not completely clear. However, the magic structure did seem to be unique. Fortunately, in spite of the confusion, the story was pretty interesting. There were a lot of characters, and I actually liked the pirate ship captain and his crew a lot. Aleksi, by comparison, was not as exciting and preoccupied. His coming of age story must progress through the next novels, but he appears to grow little in this novel. The growth is intellectual and hopefully, that will translate to character changes as the novel continues and he comes to terms with a revelation from this novel. A lot of the story takes place on a ship, which is not as confining as it may seem. However, there was a lot of description of the ship’s components like the different rigging and the boom that could get boring. The novel ends at a stopping point, but there is not resolution. Overall, the story as a lot of potential, but the world needs to be a little better explained.
This novel was narrated by Kevin T. Collins. I personally found the narration irritating. Each word was so deliberately forceful that it was distracting, but an effort was made to make the characters distinguishable. The production quality of the novel was good. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys high fantasy with unique magic structures and sea-bound stories.
Audiobook was purchased for review by ABR.
April 23, 2017
The book was complex--both in plot and world-building. I truly enjoyed reading it and am eager to read the next installment. My reason for not giving this five stars is that I've always been taught to show the reader, not tell the reader, and to me there seemed a slight excess of adjectives used in the writing that at times jarred me out of the story.
February 5, 2017
An epic fantasy crafted with care and precision. Definitely worth a read.
September 16, 2022
I recommend this book, especially if you like fantasy. Now I am going to look for Book 2, must find out what happened.
December 22, 2016
I met Jamison at my local Comic Con. I was impressed by his dedication to promoting his first work, especially since my town is pretty out of the way and the Con was pretty small. His genuine excitement to share his novel with others was plain to see and it made me excited to sit down and start reading Rune of the Apprentice. However, the fact that it was completed in just 10 months really shows.
I was intrigued by the world and the overall concept of the story. You can tell every detail was thought over and the history meticulously mapped out, perhaps to an overbearing degree. I wanted to know more about the world; why this event that was mentioned by these two characters was important, why this section of the world is so separated by conflict compared to the rest, and what runes were and how they worked. However, whether the answers to these questions are farther in this book, or even in the planned sequels, I find that I can't engross myself in the story no matter how hard I try.
The problem, I believe, lies not with the content of the story, but in the way it was presented. As a previous reader mentioned, it is more then apparent that Rune of the Apprentice was reviewed for grammar and sentence structure, but not for how its content flowed. Attempting to read through the novel was akin to reading a rough draft; where characters continuously repeat plot points and important ideas whenever possible, details about the world and its history are added and repeated with no context or explanation, and conversations are rarely natural sounding. It is here where Jamison's overzealous excitement to share his work impaired the overall quality of his novel's language. An extra six months of review is all I believe it would have taken to iron out the awkward dialog and fix some of the more glaring issues.
One change I believe would have benefited the novel greatly would have been to tell the story strictly from Aleski's perspective. Through the first half of the story new characters are introduced and are given near whole chapters to themselves. It is within reason that Aleski would be able to listen in or give his play-by-play experience of at least three scenes involving just these characters; scenes in which he is revealed to be standing just outside of later on. This would give the reader more opportunity to connect with him and give Jamison time to flush out the character, which seems one dimensional at best. Additionally, having Aleski explain what he sees and the world as he knows it, while having other characters explain to him about things he may not understand, would make the world more accessible to the reader.
I'll give an example from one of my favorite series: Harry Potter. In Harry Potter, the story is told near completely from Harry's perspective as he is introduced to the wizarding world and continues to learn and experience it over the years. Things that happen or that had happened in story seem to have more weight because Harry is an outsider, like the reader, and we experience the story through his eyes.
In contrast, I could not get connected to the story or the characters in Rune of the Apprentice because I felt like an outsider looking in on a story full of people who knew about the world, but were not tell me anything about it.
I hope Jamison takes all the constructive criticism he receives and turns it around to make his writing better, as I believe he has a lot of talent for world building and a lot of great ideas. He just needs to take his time and not rush out his novels.
I was intrigued by the world and the overall concept of the story. You can tell every detail was thought over and the history meticulously mapped out, perhaps to an overbearing degree. I wanted to know more about the world; why this event that was mentioned by these two characters was important, why this section of the world is so separated by conflict compared to the rest, and what runes were and how they worked. However, whether the answers to these questions are farther in this book, or even in the planned sequels, I find that I can't engross myself in the story no matter how hard I try.
The problem, I believe, lies not with the content of the story, but in the way it was presented. As a previous reader mentioned, it is more then apparent that Rune of the Apprentice was reviewed for grammar and sentence structure, but not for how its content flowed. Attempting to read through the novel was akin to reading a rough draft; where characters continuously repeat plot points and important ideas whenever possible, details about the world and its history are added and repeated with no context or explanation, and conversations are rarely natural sounding. It is here where Jamison's overzealous excitement to share his work impaired the overall quality of his novel's language. An extra six months of review is all I believe it would have taken to iron out the awkward dialog and fix some of the more glaring issues.
One change I believe would have benefited the novel greatly would have been to tell the story strictly from Aleski's perspective. Through the first half of the story new characters are introduced and are given near whole chapters to themselves. It is within reason that Aleski would be able to listen in or give his play-by-play experience of at least three scenes involving just these characters; scenes in which he is revealed to be standing just outside of later on. This would give the reader more opportunity to connect with him and give Jamison time to flush out the character, which seems one dimensional at best. Additionally, having Aleski explain what he sees and the world as he knows it, while having other characters explain to him about things he may not understand, would make the world more accessible to the reader.
I'll give an example from one of my favorite series: Harry Potter. In Harry Potter, the story is told near completely from Harry's perspective as he is introduced to the wizarding world and continues to learn and experience it over the years. Things that happen or that had happened in story seem to have more weight because Harry is an outsider, like the reader, and we experience the story through his eyes.
In contrast, I could not get connected to the story or the characters in Rune of the Apprentice because I felt like an outsider looking in on a story full of people who knew about the world, but were not tell me anything about it.
I hope Jamison takes all the constructive criticism he receives and turns it around to make his writing better, as I believe he has a lot of talent for world building and a lot of great ideas. He just needs to take his time and not rush out his novels.
January 23, 2017
An apprentice practitioner of magic with powers he does not understand, a master who has abandoned him, a price on his head, an evil master who threatens him, a beautiful high priestess and a displaced but capable and honorable pirate who saves him…what more could a fantasy fan want in a book?
Rune of the Apprentice is a classic good-v-evil fantasy tale in which the rulership of the known world is sought by the powers of darkness. Aleksi is a young apprentice born with rune imbedded in his hand. He hasn’t a clue what the rune means, or and he certainly doesn’t understand its power. His early master, Rudra, has left him a cryptic letter outlining a path he should follow. The path is confusing and not well defined; more to the point, it’s dangerous…even life threatening. What Aleksi really knows is that he must find Rudra quickly if he is to survive the awaking of his rune, and he must learn about his family and their fate.
The story occurs on Terra, a world quite different from Earth. The characters are well developed and generally likeable, except for Luka Norte whom the reader will mistrust from the start. Aleksi is a confused sixteen year old teenager, who despite his confusion has the clarity of mind to respond appropriately to danger even if his recognition of danger is sometimes a little late. Domadred now lives as a pirate captain outlawed on most continents after being framed in a political power-play after his father’s death. He is, however, a man of honor who sees things clearly. Saiya is a young, beautiful high priestess with who Aleksi forms a bond while in dreamscape. It seems apparent that Aleksi and Saiya have an as yet undefined higher purpose.
Rudra, Aleksi’s enigmatic master seems to be universally hated; he is understood by none and felt to be a threat to all. Readers are not introduced to him or given enough information understand him in Rune of the Apprentice. Likewise, the role of the “academies” is never actually defined and one is never sure exactly who they serve and why.
Rune of the Apprentice is nicely balanced between inner rumination and action as there are plenty of threats requiring action and plenty of questions both between characters and within characters, some of which have no immediate answers. It is well written and edited.
This is a suburb fantasy adventure I couldn’t put down. It should provide hours of entertainment and adventure for readers of fantasy, or any lover of high adventure.
Rune of the Apprentice is a classic good-v-evil fantasy tale in which the rulership of the known world is sought by the powers of darkness. Aleksi is a young apprentice born with rune imbedded in his hand. He hasn’t a clue what the rune means, or and he certainly doesn’t understand its power. His early master, Rudra, has left him a cryptic letter outlining a path he should follow. The path is confusing and not well defined; more to the point, it’s dangerous…even life threatening. What Aleksi really knows is that he must find Rudra quickly if he is to survive the awaking of his rune, and he must learn about his family and their fate.
The story occurs on Terra, a world quite different from Earth. The characters are well developed and generally likeable, except for Luka Norte whom the reader will mistrust from the start. Aleksi is a confused sixteen year old teenager, who despite his confusion has the clarity of mind to respond appropriately to danger even if his recognition of danger is sometimes a little late. Domadred now lives as a pirate captain outlawed on most continents after being framed in a political power-play after his father’s death. He is, however, a man of honor who sees things clearly. Saiya is a young, beautiful high priestess with who Aleksi forms a bond while in dreamscape. It seems apparent that Aleksi and Saiya have an as yet undefined higher purpose.
Rudra, Aleksi’s enigmatic master seems to be universally hated; he is understood by none and felt to be a threat to all. Readers are not introduced to him or given enough information understand him in Rune of the Apprentice. Likewise, the role of the “academies” is never actually defined and one is never sure exactly who they serve and why.
Rune of the Apprentice is nicely balanced between inner rumination and action as there are plenty of threats requiring action and plenty of questions both between characters and within characters, some of which have no immediate answers. It is well written and edited.
This is a suburb fantasy adventure I couldn’t put down. It should provide hours of entertainment and adventure for readers of fantasy, or any lover of high adventure.
October 2, 2016
First off, let me say I enjoyed the book. I found many nits with it, and have informed the publisher. If you want my full review, including nits, please go to Rainy Day Reads at www.lenoragood.blogspot.com.
Legalities first: I received a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Stone has done a marvelous job of world building. If I didn't think he did a good job, I would not have spent the time documenting the nits, and informing his publisher.
Aleksi, our Hero, is on a quest, and it is an epic one. He was born with a rune in his hand, and if he doesn't learn to control it, it will control him, and kill him. At this point in his life, it is growing, and consuming him, but he needs to find his old Master to learn how to control it. His old Master has been sent away, we're never sure exactly why, but it's easy enough to figure out—those who wish the power Aleksi will come into, want to control him. And most of them want to control him for evil.
While the story itself is not all that original, the characters are. The writing is solid; the world is fantastic (and isn't that what we want in a fantasy?). I thought the beginning a bit much on background, and then figured out he's setting up a series. And he is. This is book #1 (Had I read the fine print on the small cover, I would have seen that!) and I do look forward to book #2.
This book ends at a good place. While it is not a cliff-hanger ending, it is an open ending, that may or may not be resolved in book #2. Stone has introduced us to Good and Evil, has given them form and function, and put them on a marvelous world. I look forward to the next installment.
Do I recommend this book? Yes, but read it knowing it is a first novel, and at least the copy I read needs editing. There is violence but it is germane to the story, not gratuitous. There is talk of rape, at one point, but again, it was germane to the story.
Legalities first: I received a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Stone has done a marvelous job of world building. If I didn't think he did a good job, I would not have spent the time documenting the nits, and informing his publisher.
Aleksi, our Hero, is on a quest, and it is an epic one. He was born with a rune in his hand, and if he doesn't learn to control it, it will control him, and kill him. At this point in his life, it is growing, and consuming him, but he needs to find his old Master to learn how to control it. His old Master has been sent away, we're never sure exactly why, but it's easy enough to figure out—those who wish the power Aleksi will come into, want to control him. And most of them want to control him for evil.
While the story itself is not all that original, the characters are. The writing is solid; the world is fantastic (and isn't that what we want in a fantasy?). I thought the beginning a bit much on background, and then figured out he's setting up a series. And he is. This is book #1 (Had I read the fine print on the small cover, I would have seen that!) and I do look forward to book #2.
This book ends at a good place. While it is not a cliff-hanger ending, it is an open ending, that may or may not be resolved in book #2. Stone has introduced us to Good and Evil, has given them form and function, and put them on a marvelous world. I look forward to the next installment.
Do I recommend this book? Yes, but read it knowing it is a first novel, and at least the copy I read needs editing. There is violence but it is germane to the story, not gratuitous. There is talk of rape, at one point, but again, it was germane to the story.
October 13, 2016
The world building in this novel is quite good. It feels like a lot of time was dedicated to crafting the setting, and it is probably the strongest element of the book. It gives you a great sense of immersion.
The characters are fine, although a few verge on tropes, but their dialogue and interactions are enjoyable and felt quite natural, which is something I look for in a good fantasy novel.
The biggest issue I have is the overuse of adjectives in the novel. Specifically, whenever dialogue is not present (narrative description, internal monolgues/thoughts, etc). While I appreciate the authors specificity, two or even three adjectives in a row just slows the reading down and makes certain sections redundant or a bit of a chore to read. It takes the reader out of the immersion created by world building, and actually causes a few issues with comprehension. If someone just cut half the adjectives out of the novel, specifically the large number of back to back adjectives, I think it would do wonders for readability.
All in all, its still well worth a read, and I'm interested to see what happens to these characters and this excellent setting in the future!
I received a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for a fair review of the work.
The characters are fine, although a few verge on tropes, but their dialogue and interactions are enjoyable and felt quite natural, which is something I look for in a good fantasy novel.
The biggest issue I have is the overuse of adjectives in the novel. Specifically, whenever dialogue is not present (narrative description, internal monolgues/thoughts, etc). While I appreciate the authors specificity, two or even three adjectives in a row just slows the reading down and makes certain sections redundant or a bit of a chore to read. It takes the reader out of the immersion created by world building, and actually causes a few issues with comprehension. If someone just cut half the adjectives out of the novel, specifically the large number of back to back adjectives, I think it would do wonders for readability.
All in all, its still well worth a read, and I'm interested to see what happens to these characters and this excellent setting in the future!
I received a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for a fair review of the work.
March 25, 2018
*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review*
I really enjoyed reading Rune of the Apprentice which is the first novel in The Rune Chronicles series. The story follows young apprentice Aleksi who was born with a rune on his palm; a rune that will grant him with a vast power, if it doesn’t end up killing him first.
The world building in Rune of the Apprentice is excellent. The author has gone to a lot of trouble and taken much time to craft his universe and all the characters within it. Page by page you are immediately drawn into the world of Terra. Aleksi’s development as a character was subtle and natural as the novel progressed. I liked the supporting cast a lot and the friendships that were forged between the characters. The action scenes flow well and keep you on the edge of your seat.
To sum up, Rune of the Apprentice is a wonderfully descriptive and well-crafted read with many carefully thought-out and developed characters. The plot itself is very engaging and a natural page-turner. I look forward to reading the second novel in the series.
I really enjoyed reading Rune of the Apprentice which is the first novel in The Rune Chronicles series. The story follows young apprentice Aleksi who was born with a rune on his palm; a rune that will grant him with a vast power, if it doesn’t end up killing him first.
The world building in Rune of the Apprentice is excellent. The author has gone to a lot of trouble and taken much time to craft his universe and all the characters within it. Page by page you are immediately drawn into the world of Terra. Aleksi’s development as a character was subtle and natural as the novel progressed. I liked the supporting cast a lot and the friendships that were forged between the characters. The action scenes flow well and keep you on the edge of your seat.
To sum up, Rune of the Apprentice is a wonderfully descriptive and well-crafted read with many carefully thought-out and developed characters. The plot itself is very engaging and a natural page-turner. I look forward to reading the second novel in the series.
October 25, 2016
The book has all of the ingredients needed to be great, but doesn't quite deliver. It's an interesting read and a great idea, but it needs work.
The setting is fantastic and well thought out, but there is much too much exposition and internal monologue.
There are some loose ends left open by the end of the book, and while I'm aware this is the first in a series, I feel things were foreshadowed and promised for this book that weren't delivered to the readers.
While the setting is unique and intriguing, the characters are pretty cliché (a swaggering pirate, a strong barbarian, a damsel in distress, a confused teenager with magic abilities, ect.) Some of the characters come very close to having the layered intricacy that makes reading about them pleasurable, but the book comes just shy of fulfilling.
I would read this book if I had nothing else to read and not consider my time wasted, but I would honestly rather read something else.
The setting is fantastic and well thought out, but there is much too much exposition and internal monologue.
There are some loose ends left open by the end of the book, and while I'm aware this is the first in a series, I feel things were foreshadowed and promised for this book that weren't delivered to the readers.
While the setting is unique and intriguing, the characters are pretty cliché (a swaggering pirate, a strong barbarian, a damsel in distress, a confused teenager with magic abilities, ect.) Some of the characters come very close to having the layered intricacy that makes reading about them pleasurable, but the book comes just shy of fulfilling.
I would read this book if I had nothing else to read and not consider my time wasted, but I would honestly rather read something else.
December 7, 2016
The story feels familiar in some respects, young apprentice has to leave the fold because of threats from the dark side. Along the way, he finds friends and foes. Stories fit a relatively small range of archetypes, but what sets them apart is how well the characters are written and how well the story holds your interest. In that regard, Mr. Stone has done quite well. I started out a bit distracted by his ornate descriptions, but once I got to relate to the characters, they ceased to intrude. The story follows a strong logical current and the characters are very relatable. It might have been my affinity to the characters and the story itself, but it felt as if the writing improved with each chapter!! The story had a suitable ending and left me eager for the second installment.
If you like Star Wars or other hero's quest type stories, I definitely recommend this one!!
All the best,
Jay
If you like Star Wars or other hero's quest type stories, I definitely recommend this one!!
All the best,
Jay
January 6, 2017
Rune of the Apprentice is Jamison Stone’s first novel, and the first installment of The Rune Chronicles. It is an epic-fantasy, and Jamison deftly spins a compelling tale of adventure, and skillfully propels the reader (or listener, with an outstanding version of the Audible App) through page after page of drama, the magic of runes, and even the philosophical disciplines of empire building. He creates characters full of depth and purpose, and his descriptive prose envelopes you. He genuinely seems to enjoy painting vivid descriptions of landscapes, the eerie facets within dark personalities, and even the innards of impressive naval vessels. As I reached the final paragraphs of the story, I started imagining how some of the built-up conflicts and characters might play themselves out in the future. I clearly wasn’t ready for it to end. I enthusiastically await future installments of The Rune Chronicles.
June 15, 2019
Having read lots of fantasy, I always enjoy a good story and found Rune Of the Apprentice an engrossing and enjoyable read. The prologue drew me in immediately with its intensity and hints of significant character intrigue in the midst of dramatic action. As the main story shifted to Aleksi, I initially had mixed feelings about his repetitive angst and anger, but as the story and mysteries unfolded, I felt drawn in to his world and particularly liked the range of characters, their dynamic interactions, and the development of key character relationships along with the plot. Overall an impressive debut and definitely worth a read. I’ve already recommended the book to our teen and older kids, and I look forward to the next installment!
January 8, 2017
I was a little apprehensive to read this book as it seemed more "fantasy" than my normal tastes. I was quickly enthralled with the story and finished the book within 48 hours. Although the main character, Aleksi, is the obvious focus of the story, I was especially overjoyed with Stone's detail in describing the world he created for this tale, the fascinating and larger-than-life cast of supporting characters, and the "Dreamworld" that Aleksi journeys into. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and I highly recommend it as a wonderfully entertaining and engaging story. I hope that there are more Rune books to come!
October 25, 2016
Rune is an intricate tale set in an even more intricate world that begs you to sip deeper on the hearty ale this story is. Jamison Stone weaves this tale like a master artist crafting the finest tapestry. Take your time, let the world and characters waft around you, drawing you in. You'll be very glad you did.
February 20, 2017
For a first book this is very good. Over all I would say average. The editing should have been better.
The world and characters Jamison Stone created are really good and has a lot of potential.
I am looking forward to the second book.
The world and characters Jamison Stone created are really good and has a lot of potential.
I am looking forward to the second book.
Read
August 12, 2018Enjoyed reading this fantasy. Teen tries to discover his past, his future, and who he is all while trying to deal with the problems of his world. All of this shrouded in magic and mystery and the fact that he seems to be the ordained savior of them all. A lot of pressure to put on one teen. Can't wait to see how he survives.
September 3, 2017
I have been given an edited updated copy and after reading it I have found that it is much improved and the story arc is enjoyable. Best of luck in future books
October 25, 2016
Jamison Stone presents us with a fresh, superbly crafted fantasy epic that conquers both world and character building. Rune is tantalizing to the imagination, and invigorating for the soul.
Read
January 10, 2017Would someone please give him a thesaurus. I fear that I may have developed a conditioned twitch in response to the words "luminous" and "numinous". I couldn't finish this.
July 13, 2017
Rune of the Apprentice is the first book for author Jamison Stone and it is a fast read with an engaging story. For a first novel, his writing style is very mature and it pulled me through the story in a fantasy world of his creation with swords and sailing ships, but also with some powerful magic based on runes.
The main character, Aleksi, is fleshed out well as a youth apprenticed to the Masters who know the knowledge of the day and control the rune magic in the world. His character continues to develop through the entire book as pieces of his story are revealed. The beginning of the story points to the idea that he is important for some reason, but that is what sets up the mystery that will follow you through the book. I will not give away any spoilers but you will be wanting the next book in this multi-book series.
Even though this is his first published novel, his writing skills are well developed. There are some areas that more experience will continue to develop and I fully expect that readers will see that growth happening through the series and I am looking forward to following it. I have seen other new authors grow and develop with each new book or series and I am waiting to see Jamison Stone follow that path, too. The book is well worth the time to read and it should prove very enjoyable.
The main character, Aleksi, is fleshed out well as a youth apprenticed to the Masters who know the knowledge of the day and control the rune magic in the world. His character continues to develop through the entire book as pieces of his story are revealed. The beginning of the story points to the idea that he is important for some reason, but that is what sets up the mystery that will follow you through the book. I will not give away any spoilers but you will be wanting the next book in this multi-book series.
Even though this is his first published novel, his writing skills are well developed. There are some areas that more experience will continue to develop and I fully expect that readers will see that growth happening through the series and I am looking forward to following it. I have seen other new authors grow and develop with each new book or series and I am waiting to see Jamison Stone follow that path, too. The book is well worth the time to read and it should prove very enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews