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Title: The Stone of Sorrow

Subtitle: The Fate of the Stone, Part Two

Author: John Ward

Narrator: Colin Moody

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 10-28-08

Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Superbly narrated by Colin Moody.

A new mix of strange characters and weird events brings Jake and Helen together again - this time they are further along the way to understanding the true power of The Philosopher's Stone: life eternal. Yet, others seek it too...

From its beginning long ago in the Italian town of Ferrara to its startling climax in an ancient underground palace in Istanbul, this is an unforgettable, page-turner of a tale.

Editorial Reviews:

Narrator Colin Moody's precise performance allows listeners to focus on the lyrical prose of this sequel to The Secret of the Alchemist. Jake and Helen are reunited after a strange series of events and encounters with odd characters. They're now closer to understanding the power of the Philosopher's Stone, and it's got nothing to do with creating gold. Moody's accents shift smoothly from character to character, allowing listeners distinct impressions of each one. His measured pacing sweeps the action from the Italian town of Ferrara to an ancient underground palace in Istanbul with enjoyable dexterity.

Critic Reviews:

"Narrator Colin Moody is excellent in his pacing and intensity." (School Library Journal) "Lovers of the Harry Potter series will be thrilled with this fantasy novel ... Moody's reading is excellent." (Kliatt)

Members Reviews:

So-so fantasy thriller

This is second book in the trilogy "The Fate of the Stone." The other two books are #1 The Secret of the Alchemist and #3 The City of Desolation. The first one was much better, the third one not as good.

The characters, particularly that of the boy, are well-developed and believable if not always likable. The father is pretty despicable and is featured way too frequently. In the first four chapters the two children are each only featured once, for short periods. The rest is filled up with lots of scenes with lots of different adults, only one of which is even a main character. This makes it difficult for younger readers to get into the book as they can't identify with the main characters.

Basically, the plot begins 6 months after the conclusion of the first book. The kids have found a device believed to be the philosopher's stone, although not really as the philosopher's stone was believed to create gold and that's not what anyone thinks this device does.

The father has now found the missing piece for the machine and is trying to steal it. Other unsavory and unethical characters are also trying to get hold of both the machine and the stone. The language is complex, quite pretty but may be too difficult for teenagers. When the tale gets going it is gripping and interesting.

However, there are lots of sections of talking, which American kids may not have the patience for. The author frequently breaks the golden rule of Creative Writing 101: show, don't tell. In fact, one of the more interesting and thrilling sequences in the book is related by the girl to the boy in a quick narrative, lessening the thrill and increasing the boredom factor.

My biggest complaint about the book, though, is that the 14-15 year old girl gets expelled for fighting and, when confronted by her custodial aunts, is incredibly rude and inappropriate to them and informs them that she is old enough to run her own affairs.