Stone by Finbar Hawkins

Pages: 308 

Publisher: Head of Zeus 

Released: 1st of September 2022 

A second novel from the bestselling author of Branford Boase-shortlisted and Carnegie-nominated Witch. An engrossing story of fathers and sons, death and grief, and unexpected bonds, new and old, forged by dark and benign magic.

When Sam, grieving the death of his father, finds a silver-flecked stone, ice-cold to the touch, strange and eerie things begin to happen. Myth, legend, magic and witchcraft mingle on the ancient hillside where the chalk white horse has galloped for centuries. Ravens wheel. Wolves prowl. As Halloween draws close, witches dance. Odin gathers brave, fallen warriors to his side.

Only the mysterious new girl, Oona, can heal Sam's heart, revealing tarot secrets with her bewitching ways.

What I Have to Say 

I'm in two minds about this book, the story itself was sweet, touching and emotional, but the writing fell a bit flat. It could have been an amazing book, it had so much potential, but it just left me completely unaffected. 

The main problem that I could see in it was the dialogue. It felt a bit stilted and unbelievable. Some of it could be the regional accents so I will allow that I could be wrong about this, but to me a lot of it just didn't felt like stuff that teenagers would say. And they kept using each others names in every sentence. 

I loved the stuff about witches and mythology though. I loved the descriptions of Odin and the way he seemed so present in the book. I loved Oona completely and how she brought in the paganism and magic. The mythology in this book did not disappoint. 

All in all, it just disappointed me. 

3.5 stars 

My thanks go to Head of Zeus for providing me with this copy for review.