Severed Stone (Souls of the Stones #0.5)

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic

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Synopsis:

See how it all started in the first prequel of Souls of the Stones. Severed Stone will answer the question posed throughout the other books: How did the once united land separate?

Immortality is my prison. I broke the bonds of brotherhood because I once loved a girl whose hand was not as available as her heart. Cursed by the gods, I watch countless generations live with the consequences of my transgression. Even with the gift of foresight, I cannot say I would be strong enough to turn away if given the opportunity. And were she cursed to watch the destruction unfold by my immortal side, I would without a doubt make the same fated choices. But Tomorrow is a cruel mistress, and the first death I witnessed as part of my damnation was that of my beloved. -Fidwen Roth

Their story should have been a fairytale, but someone is playing a dangerous game that can only end in heartbreak.

When Ciorstan awakes alone in a field, far from home and more than a little confused, it won't be the strangest thing to happen that day. Ignoring both her intuition and a mysterious but handsome stranger's warning, she allows a dashing prince to take her home to his palace.

Agreeing to marry the prince was her second mistake.

Her next one will rip an entire kingdom apart. Sometimes, true love can be a tragedy with devastating consequences.

SEVERED STONE is a prequel novella, 155 pages in length and can be read at any point during the Souls of the Stones series. (But because it is designed to answer questions posed in Cornerstone and Second Stone, it may be more gratifying after reading those titles first.)

Severed Stone is a wonderful story about why Thaelestrar is now split in three regions. We could have never imagined the reason of it until we read this prequel and we were stunned. 

About the characters, we have to say that we did not understand why Ciorstan was behaving the way she did. We did not like that she was a little bit oblivious about the things that were going on with her life, until we know the reason why and we were a little sad for her. In the middle of the book you start to identify with her and feel pity for her. She is a strong, brave and stubborn character that would make your heart beat faster and faster as the story gets to the end. 

Selwyn is a cocky, egoistic and cheeky prince who wants the crown more than anything else. We personally hated him. From the beginning until the end. Well, in the end even more. He does not care about anyone, just himself that our Ciorstan seems to be willing to marry that idiot! We just could not accept it. And the fact that he is also a womanizer adds more points to be in our black list.

Erwyn is the artist prince, the dreamer and the womanizer. Although Selwyn is also a womanizer, this brother is more kind and sensible. He is not as interest in hunt or battle as his oldest brother and he seems to have only eyes for his brother's betrothed. We almost fell for him. He is noble and looked like a good guy. But we were as fool as Ciorstan! So he is not in our black list, but neither in our we-would-want-to-marry-him list.

However, prince Fidwen hooked us from the first instant we met him. He has been neglected by everyone, specially her mother who he is certain that he is afraid of him. He is sensible and nobel and has not double intentions as prince Erwyn has. He is definitely in our we-would-want-to-marry-him list. And obviously we are Team Fidwen forever.

We were spellbound by the story. Our captivation was such powerful that we have read the book in two hours. W could not close the book without knowing what was going to happen with the characters and why Thaelestrar is split in the other books. But more about the characters. We were worried for Ciorstan's choices and that everything was so unfair that could not be real. 

We also have to say that the ending left a big hole in our hearts. The faith the two of our favorite characters find are not what we were expecting at all. We were elated with the happy ending when everything changes in a second. We were heartbroken! And we had the need to read the third of the series! Because everything is related and to know the fate of our favorite characters we need to know what happens in that book.

To end up this review, we need to say that we are Team Fidwen forever and that we want to know more about him! We need to know! We have recently found about this series, but we cannot wait to know how it ends. Kelly Walker writing really surprised us and we did not expect what we have found: An epic series!! She has a writing style that we have never had the pleasure to experience and we are glad that we have found her books. 

We strongly recommend this book to all the Souls Of The Stones fans but also the ones who have not had the honor to read them.