Outstanding in a subtle way. That’s how I would describe A Cast of Stones.

Some books capture me because of the fantastic plot. Others because of the stunning worlds. Still others because of the relatable and vibrant characters. Some because of all three.

A Cast of Stones did none of that, and yet, in a strange way it did. It wasn’t a story that smacked me upside the head with sheer amazingness, but once I started, I had to keep reading, and the further I went, the more I realized I was journeying through a remarkable story.

The book summary (from the back cover):

In the backwater village of Callowford, roustabout Errol Stone is enlisted by a church messenger arriving with urgent missives for the hermit priest in the hills. Eager for coin, Errol agrees to what he thinks will be an easy task, but soon finds himself hunted by deadly assassins. Forced to flee with the priests 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 kingdom the kingdom’s dynasty nears its end and the selection of the new king begins—but in secret and shadow. As danger mounts, Errol must leave behind the stains and griefs of the past, learn to fight, and discover who is hunting him and his companions and how far they will go to top the reading of the stones.

Plot

On the surface, the plot doesn’t arouse the kind of excitement I usually look for in fantasy. The description wasn’t something to make me drool in anticipation.

On the other hand, I liked the distinct plot. From that perspective, this wasn’t your typical fantasy.

• No huge battles
• No rags-to-riches hero who embarks on a quest to save the kingdom
• A quest, but nothing like what fantasy usually gives us

The end goal seemed simple enough, but numerous obstacles kept turning Errol aside. While they felt like detours from the main plot, I didn’t mind because in the end, they wove back into the main plot or were too interesting to ignore.

This wasn’t a mind-blowing plot, and I felt it wandered at times, lacking a cohesive drive to an obvious goal and climax. For all that, it kept me enthralled through Errol’s journey to the end, which, it turned out, was only a prelude to larger things.

In some ways, the plot resolution didn’t feel complete, but it left many pieces hanging for book two.

At the end of the day, it engaged me. That’s what matters.

Setting

At first glance, this is an ordinary fantasy world with a heavy middle-ages impression thanks to the prominence of the priests and abbots, the conclave, and the church in general.

Far from being bland or uninspired, the less-than-exotic setting provided a colorful backdrop to the story.

The magic system shone like a beacon for its creative uniqueness. I use the term “magic system” loosely because it doesn’t really feel like a magic system at all. The carving and reading of lots to make choices? How cool is that? I’ve never seen anything remotely similar, and that’s what makes it brilliant.

A rare gem in the quarry of magic systems.

Another thing I loved was the glimpse of a larger kingdom and history existing outside the framework of the story—through stories, references, and hints at machinations beyond the scope of Errol’s journey. When fantasy books do that, it makes the setting come more fully alive, giving the sense that this particular story is but a slice of a larger world. To me, that makes it more realistic.

The setting had enough unique elements to remain fresh, and was depicted with excellent writing that did it justice, particularly the way Errol experienced new locales, people, and situations through his rustic understanding of the world. His peasant wonder and ignorance added flavor to the descriptions and kept them from bogging down into boring chunks of information.

Characters

After one book, Errol Stone has become one of my favorite fictional characters. Granted, that list challenges the hobbit family trees for sheer number, but Errol hovers in the upper echelons of favorite heroes.

Which is strange, because he’s a hero unlike anything you’ve seen. Heroes are supposed to be flawed, but a drunk who can’t function without his daily drenching of ale? That’s taking it to another level.

Despite this less-than-admirable weakness, I didn’t find Errol off-putting or annoying. Rather, I felt sorry for him. That empathy formed a strong connection, especially upon learning he wanted to change. Add a sarcastic sense of humor, a desire to stay out of the church’s schemes, and courage that would make Sam Gamgee proud, and Errol came alive in ways that demanded attention.

From steady Luis to perfection-incarnated Liam, the cast of secondary characters was memorable, each standing out with a distinct personality that kept them out of the dreaded land of stereotypes.

The constant scheming and deception on the part of pretty much everyone Errol encountered ensured plenty of fuel to keep the character tensions crackling like a well-stoked fire. Not to mention the fact that everyone was absorbed in his or her agenda.

While there were some nasty folk, the lack of an obvious villain to root against was a weakness. Another annoyance was that everyone insisted on calling Errol “boy.”

Conclusion

My biggest complaint—there was no map. Some people look at the maps, others don’t, but I think every fantasy book needs a map. A map acts as our guide through this new world we’ve entered. Several times I lost my sense of where the characters were going and what the lay of the land looked like, and I can’t count the number of times I wanted to check their progress and get a deeper glimpse at Illustra and its environs.

Although published by a Christian company and with obvious spiritual underpinnings, the story isn’t what I would label a “Christian” fantasy. While the church plays a central role, faith wasn’t a major element, and the parts that had religious overtones were done with tasteful restraint.

Unlike a lot of other books, Errol didn’t undergo a conversion or suffer through a crisis of faith. In fact, we didn’t even learn if he’s Illustra’s version of a Christian or not. That’s fine. In fact, I enjoyed the more nonreligious take. It gave the book a fresh appeal.

This was a witty, stimulating read, and I can’t wait to dive into book two.

A Cast of Stones earns a spot on Shelf Excellent.

Author website: Patrick W. Carr