The Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog Tour is focusing on Patrick Carr and his debut novel, A Cast of Stones. I had the great pleasure of reading and reviewing Carr’s novel a few months ago. Below are a few excerpts and a link to my full review. This was a great book that I highly recommend, so check it out. And don’t forget to visit the other participants on the tour.
In the backwater village of Callowford, Errol Stone’s search for a drink is interrupted by a church messenger who arrives with urgent missives for the hermit priest in the hills. Desperate for coin, Errol volunteers to deliver them but soon finds himself hunted by deadly assassins. Forced to flee with the priest and a small band of travelers, Errol soon learns he’s joined a quest that could change the fate of his kingdom.
Protected for millennia by the heirs of the first king, the kingdom’s dynasty is near an end and a new king must be selected. As tension and danger mount, Errol must leave behind his drunkenness and grief, learn to fight, and come to know his God in order to survive a journey to discover his destiny.
Patrick Carr was born on an Air Force base in West Germany at the height of the cold war. He has been told this was not his fault. As an Air Force brat, he experienced a change in locale every three years until his father retired to Tennessee. Patrick saw more of the world on his own through a varied and somewhat eclectic education and work history. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1984 and has worked as a draftsman at a nuclear plant, did design work for the Air Force, worked for a printing company, and consulted as an engineer. Patrick’s day gig for the last five years has been teaching high school math in Nashville, TN. He currently makes his home in Nashville with his wonderfully patient wife, Mary, and four sons he thinks are amazing: Patrick, Connor, Daniel, and Ethan. Sometime in the future he would like to be a jazz pianist. Patrick thinks writing about himself in the third person is kind of weird.
You can follow Patrick on FB HERE.
My Impressions:
Wow! What a great fantasy novel Patrick W. Carr’s A Cast of Stones is! This is an epic story centered on a most unlikely character — an eighteen year old orphan who has spent the last four years of his life in a drunken stupor trying to hide from the failures and hurts of his past. Errol Stone has no one to care for him, save the owner of the local tavern who keeps him supplied with ale and the herb women to whom he sells to keep him in coin for his ale. Life is one long yearning for the next drink. But his life soon takes a momentous turn, and he is thrust along a path to find his destiny. Finding himself hunted, Errol has no choice but to follow along with priest Martin, reader of lots Luis, soldier Cruk and Liam, a boy he has grown up with who is perfect in every way including his goodness and humility. The kingdom of Illustra needs them, and Errol is dragged along to do his part, although he cannot imagine what that part could be.
Carr has created a wonderful character in Errol. He is alone and broken, searching the features of everyone he meets looking for some common trait to link to his own. He believes what everyone has always told him — he is only good at being a drunk. I loved Errol’s growth from sluggard and drunk to, well, an heroic figure. And it is not an easy road Errol must travel. Pursued, attacked, left for dead, Errol survives only through the mercies of Deas (God).
(Thanks to Bethany House for my copy of A Cast of Stones. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)
To purchase this book, click on the image below.
To read what others have to say, click on the following links.
Julie Bihn
Jennifer Bogart
Keanan Brand
Jeff Chapman
Laure Covert
Pauline Creeden
Emma or Audrey Engel
April Erwin
Nikole Hahn
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Writer Rani
Nathan Reimer
Chawna Schroeder
Jojo Sutis
Steve Trower
Phyllis Wheeler
Rachel Wyant
Like you, I enjoyed reading Errol’s journey from drunkard to hero, especially as he learned skill and confidence with the staff — a weapon I first encountered in Robin Hood tales and liked so much it makes an appearance in one of my stories, too.
Thanks so much for stopping by. Errol just gets better and better with each book. Looking forward to book 3 in the series.
Errol is an awesome character!
I thinks so too!
I totally love Errol’s growth as a person, can’t wait to see how he grows in the next book!
I think Patrick has done a remarkable job creating a character who is likable before he is heroic. I didn’t know why he’d become a drunk and I still liked him. I think that takes a lot of skill.
Becky
You know how critical I am 🙂 but I agree Errol is a pretty good character. Good review.
I enjoyed Errol the “anti-hero”. The plot possessed an authenticity in Errol’s recovery from alcoholism. I appreciated this as a member of Al-Anon (supports friends and family of alcoholics).
Thanks for stopping by. I had not thought of the impact of Errol as one who had overcome. Thanks for your thoughts.