Review: Stone & Sky by Z.S. Diamanti

Blurb:

First book in the award-winning classic style epic fantasy adventure series.

Come fly away on griffin-back!

Fly off to the world of Finlestia in this epic fantasy story for readers looking for adventure, magic, and just plain fun; a tale where friendships must overcome insurmountable odds and remind readers to never lose hope.

From across the sea, a shadow rises. A lone survivor may be the kingdom’s only hope against annihilation.

Orin is a sworn protector. As a stalwart member of the Griffin Guard, he’s proud to protect the kingdom against a dreaded nation of orcs. But when the fires of war burn bright from the north, his entire squadron falls to deadly wyvern riders, leaving the devastated Orin bloody and alone.

With his squad dead, Orin has his mind set on saving others from the same fate.

Teaming up with a local huntsman’s family, Orin and his new friends must push themselves past their limits to face mysterious dangers and ancient magics. Shocked to discover the orcs’ secret weapon, the lone guardian’s last chance to save his home could require the ultimate sacrifice.

Buy Stone & Sky to join the battle today!

Review:

Overview

Stone & Sky is a cozy cup of fantasy tea. This Tolkien-style epic is perfect for those who love the nostalgia of old-school fantasy. Told from multiple points of view with dragons, orcs, magic, and high-stakes good vs evil. 

Characters

Stone & Sky hosts a multitude of characters across many points of view. I found the wide cast and grand scope to be a really engaging way to dive into this epic fantasy. Here were a couple of standouts:

Karnak was my favorite from the very beginning. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to like this character, as the stage is set we find that humans and orcs have generations of bad blood between them, each with their own version of history. The orc Gar Karnak continued to be my favorite throughout the book. I couldn’t help but be drawn to a character who is fiercely dedication to his people, his family, and to upholding honor.

Although we didn’t get to see a lot of Merrick until later in the book I really enjoyed the falconer huntsman. Even though he and Karnak were at odds and on opposite sides of the conflict I loved them both. I think this speaks to how well Diamanti has woven this tale so that we can sympathize and feel for characters on both sides of this looming war. I also see a possible romance budding between Merrick and Ralowyn in future books and am excited to see where that could go. 

Orin is the first character we meet and arguably the main character of Stone & Sky. An honorable griffin rider who has been separated from the guard after he is the sole survivor of a terrible battle. His adventures with Ellaria, Ezel, and Coal as he works to return to White Stone are truly the stuff of the classic fantasy quest trope and this whole cadre was always fun to watch on the page. I also see a possible romantic subplot playing out between Orin and Ellaria in future books. 

Worldbuilding

Diamanti does an excellent job of casting us back to a time when the magical worlds based on Middle Earth reigned supreme in fantasy. Between the quest and multiple points of view, we get a vast view into this fantasy world that feels like going home to any fantasy fan. I think of all of the places in Finlestia I would Iove to visit Calrok.

Plot

This was a great, complex, classic fantasy. While the overall plot feels familiar Diamanti keeps it fresh with the multiple points of view and fun side quests that this diverse cast goes through on their journey to confront the sorcerer Jarnok Tur. I also loved that while this was a very classic tale Diamanti also brings in more modern elements by giving a voice to the Orcs, species that are rarely portrayed as anything more than the enemy. 

Enjoyment

I listened to Stone & Sky and would highly recommend it! Not only was the story cozy, engaging, and everything I was looking for in a classic fantasy, the narration is perhaps the best I have ever heard! Peter Leppard was the perfect choice for this classic tale and he even had different voices for all of the many characters which was great when you are listening to such a wide cast. Once again Karnak's voice was my favorite! 

Romance

While there were no romantic subplots in Stone & Sky I do sense a couple of budding romances to come in the following books, at least I hope so. We will see where the series goes. 

If you are looking for a book to escape into that feels like a cozy, classic fantasy then Stone & Sky needs to be your next read! I am excited to continue the tale in Stone & Tide.