Product Description

After centuries of oppression, the Empire of Arsace has finally reclaimed the capital city of Ninyaser and the First Temple of the Gods. But the powerful Brethren will tolerate no challenge to their rule, and an expedition to destroy the secret colony of Refuge, home to ancient mysteries and forbidden sorcery, has proved the catalyst for war.

Customer Reviews (2)

Interchangeable like cereal
Goodness, what a bunch of strung-together fantasy clichés. It's adequate if you've never read a fantasy novel before, but if you have, it's as much dead wood as any. A completely interchangeable piece of fantasy trash, the author trying to cover up her lack of flair or originality by a "message" - which has been done before, repeatedly, and by better writers.

timely cautionary tale
In Galea, the Empire of Arsace has begun to throw off the oppression of centuries and regain what was lost especially the First Temple of the Gods in Ninyaser.The Brethen, refusing to lose what they have held for centuries, attack the city of wizards Refuge beyond the Burning Lands.War is imminent on both the mundane and mystical levels.

Ravar wants to be acclaimed the Next Messenger to the sleeping powerful deity Arata though he knows he is a false messenger.His plan is to cleverly use the assault on Refuge, the upcoming war and most critical the seer Axane to further his ambitions.He travels to Baushpar and abducts Axane.However, Ravar fails to take into account one important factor, Axane's loving husband Gyalo who cherishes his spouse.Gyalo risks his life to rescue his beloved, but his journey proves frighteningly enlightening as he begins to believe he is the true Next Messenger, a job he does not want.

With religious intolerance geometrically on the upswing around the world including the United States, THE AWAKENED CITY is a timely cautionary tale that focuses on the impact of societies by de facto and de jure religious oppression.Readers see first hand what occurs when narrow-mindedness is the norm through the changing viewpoints of predominantly the two candidates for the Next Messenger position.The story line is action-packed but insures the key cast members are complete individuals so that the audience can understand their motives.Though better to have read the previous novel THE BURNING LAND this invigorating tale can stand alone in its fervent plea for forbearance of one another's beliefs.

Harriet Klausner
... Read more

Product Description

From acclaimed author Victoria Strauss comes a sweeping new tale of magic, oppression, danger, love, temptation, and revelation....

After long years of oppression, the rightful rulers of Arsace have finally reclaimed the holy city of Baushpar and the First Temple of the God. At last, the desecrated temples can be rebuilt and the people's suffering redressed. But tensions between the secular and sacred worlds abound, and rumors arise of renegade Shapers -- powerful mages who hold no allegiance to either the King or the Brethren, and whose magic knows no restraint.

Customer Reviews (8)

Important title
I recently came upon this book. It has, of course, all the magical trappings of fantasy, but it reads almost like a historical novel. It describes, in essence, a test of faith--the hero must use his scientific-like powers of perceiving and altering the material molecular nature of matter, or he must, like Galileo, prescribe his powers in accordance with religious system that limits their use. I don't mean to discourage fantasy fans, for this is an absorbing fast-paced and well written tale with a charasmatic hero and a lovely heroiine.

A Stunning Novel
I first read Victoria Strauss' novels years ago, and I was excited to hear that "The Burning Land" was coming out.Now that I've finally had the chance to read it, I deeply impressed.

Strauss tends to create worlds that not only have a geographical and political history, but a philosophical one as well.Her characters struggle with the belief systems they have inherited and try to find their own places within history.

In "The Burning Land," this conflict centers around Gaylo and Axane, one entirely devoted to the faith of his people, the other distanced and doubting.Events will unite them and transform them and the future of their world.

This novel is an examination of faith in much the same way as Jonathon Swift's narrative of the three brothers in "Tale of a Tub."Unlike Swift, Strauss' intention is not to satarize what she sees, but rather to show how power, tradition, and lack of communication can have disasterous effects.

This was a wonderful novel, and I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel.

Very real faith and struggle
This is what I call a "hangover" book, because after I read it I spent the next few days thinking about it. I like hangover books. Strauss' has taken her writing to a higher level in this book. Since I consider her previous books to be excellent, I'm saying this is a jewel of a novel.
This is a fantasy about religion, demagogues, and power. There are sympathetic and compelling characters. There's a lot of internal and external conflict. Although it is the 1st of two books, it wraps up the main plot so it doesn't have you banging your head till the next book. The religious worldbuilding in this book is extremely well-done. In fact I've not seen better.

The Hero's Journey, Indeed.
Victoria Strauss draws on her academic expertise, (Comparative Religions) to give us a strange, new world filled with warring theocracies, noble protagonists, politically motivated antagonists, and more subplots than you can stir with a stick.

In it's base form, this is a story of a quest, trials, spiritual growth and redemption. A Hero's Journey, indeed. The characters are carefully crafted and three dimensional, the world, a shadowy replicant of the best, and worst of our own. As an added treat, the mechanics of magic in Victoria's world is fresh and original. This fact alone makes The Burning Land worth the read.

A day's end, the inhabitants of Victoria's world must decide if the weary Gyalo is Savior or Destroyer, herald of a triumpant future or harbringer of doom. A story filled with themes that challenge our intellect, imagery that gripes the imagination, told in manner that stirs the soul.

Best fantasy I've read in a very long time
Gyalo Amdo Samchen, along with a pair of dreamers and a group of soldiers is sent into the burning land to rescue refugees sent into the desert by the now-deposed and atheistic Caryaxists. The burning land is more than a desert, though. It is the place where the god Arata laid down after his great battle against evil--the place where the prophet received his prophecy. Gyalo's mission seems to be a straighforward rescue, but as he travels, he begins to learn of high-level political ploys. Although the Caryaxists were overthrown, all is not well in the world and, increasingly, Gyalo finds himself at the center of a storm.

To his shock, there is a large group of refugees living in an oasis in the burning land--including dreamer Axane. Some of them believe that he may be the next messenger (prophet) sent to lead them out to the promised land, but others fear he is a demon sent to destroy them. What he finds shakes his faith and forces him to confront his destiny. Because everything he has ever believed is suddenly turned on its head.

Author Victoria Strauss delivers a stunningly powerful fantasy. THE BURNING LAND combines fascinating world-building with epic yet fully nuanced characters, and an exciting plot line. Gyalo's travels through the burning land are mirrored in the growth of his powers and insights, and the increase in his own doubts. Axane has always been a doubter, but her faith in humanity shows a hopeful path for the future--if anyone will dare take it. The somewhat ambiguous ending left me anxious for more--for a resolution to the question of what happened to Arata, and what happened to the new messenger.

THE BURNING LAND is the best fantasy I've read in a long time. I highly recommend this one. ... Read more

Product Description

At the heart of the fortress lay the Garden. At the heart of the Garden lay the Stone. -- a living entity of power beyond understanding. Then came Bron, his arrival long foretold as the one who would restore the balance to a world torn asunder centuries ago. But Bron had other plans. He stole the Stone...and vanished.

Now Bron's daughter Cariad, a skilled empath and assassin, must follow the footsteps of a father she's never known into the depths of the same fortress. Waiting there is Jolyon, her father's greatest enemy, a man whose thirst for domination is matched only by his taste for blood. Cariad must learn the secret of Jolyon's strength before it is too late. For just as her father's arrival was prophesied, so too is his return.

Customer Reviews (15)

Pleasant read
I didn't know that this book was a sequel when I took it off the shelf, nor did I realise it when I read it. Magnificently crafted to be a stand-alone book, it immediately picks you up and takes you into the action. It is a well-crafted story, of an assassin girl, Cariad, who is led by the legacy of her departed father, who captured a mystical artifact known as the Stone. She is a member of an underground resistance group who fight against the oppression of the Guardians and their suborders.

The typical elements of a fantasy story are in here - hero is a part of a prophecy, item of mystical importance, love, danger, the final confrontation of good and evil. Strauss has intertwined these elements finely, but in truth, her story-writing skills are a little lacking.

There is a fair amount of emphasis on detail - but not where it counts. She explains the surroundings well, and the history, but leaves little to character development, especially in regards to the supporting characters.
Also, the climax of the story seemed rushed; it was over in a few pages. There was a lot of build-up, so the finale turned out to be a little anti-climatic, espeically as it was extremely predictable.

Not really a book for those die-hard hard-core fantasy lovers out there, but those of you who enjoy a simple read with a non-complex world, then Garden of the Stone is for you

Really 3.5 stars.
I am rounding up the rating because until I got to this page I had not realized that this was the second book in a series. Strauss at least gets point for writing a sequel that stands so well on its own merits. I did not realize that this was the second book in a series, and never felt as though I were missing information. This said, I may have either liked it less or more than most of the readers because I have read out of order.

Cariad, a talented assassin who fights the tyranny of the Redenned, is waiting for the father who she has never met to return.

The way that Strauss approaches magic in the world is interesting. I like the tension between handpower and mindpower and the balance necessary between the two. The Garden of the Stone offers us an alternative way of viewing our own history-- a nice achievement for any fantasy novel.

Sometimes I lacked a feeling of freshness, and the pacing felt as though it could have been handled better. These are not major complaints, but kept me from experiencing the book as anything stronger than enjoyable.

Recommended, but unlike me you should probably read the books in the good order.

Not My Genre...
I'll admit once again that I haven't read Sci-Fi/Fantasy since college. I had a lot of anxiety when I first ordered "The Garden", anxiety that vanished once Victoria's wonderful prose and charecter building took over. I've read both the first book ("Arm of the Stone") and this sequeal and I remain anxious; anxious for another Strauss offering.

Best fantasies I've read in a long time
I've read both The Arm of the Stone and The Garden of the Stone, and found them to be exceptional fantasies.I couldn't put them down!They're not the run of the mill, dime a dozen, clone fantasies you usually wind up withwhen you go to the bookstore, with elves and quests and magic swords andcardboard characters and ridiculous dialogue. They're real novels, withinteresting ideas, fascinating world building, and wonderful characters whocome alive on the page and stay with you long after you're finishedreading.Oh yes--and there's an exciting plot too.And lots of very coolmagical stuff.I loved these books, and I hope Ms. Strauss writes moresoon!

Garden of the Stone
Bron, the man whom secret prophecy said would restore a balance between mindpower and handpower, vanished decades ago with the Stone - a powerful talisman through which the unfathomable energy and wholeness of the worldcan be approached by people with the Gift. Yet though the Stone is gone,much on the surface of the world of mindpower remains the same. The changesin the world since the loss of the Stone have been insidious. The theocracyof the Fortress still rules, maintaining an elaborate charade to keep theawareness of the Stone's loss from the masses. But constructions built withGifts are beginning to fail across the world, and not even theultra-conservative Reddened faction of the Arm of the Stone can stop theapparent unbinding of mindpower.

The book expresses well about mankind'snature and destiny and avoids the obvious position of cheerleading magicand raspberry of technology. Thoughtful and resourceful, this reflectsshumanity, posing hard questions and exposing weaknesses that we might yet,with no little difficulty, overcome. ... Read more

Product Description
The evil spirit of Stern Dreamer is aroused by archaeologists who disturb his ancient tomb, and Pamela, his direct descendant, is the only living person who can imprison the spirit again, but her weak link to her Native American heritage proves troublesome. ... Read more

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Geraint is sent from his father's castle to live in a household in which the practices of an ancient heresy have survived into the fifteenth century. ... Read more

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HE REMEMBERS THE TALE.

Of a day when Mind and Hand wereone, bound by the all-powerful Stone.Of an unfathomable evil whichseized the Stone with ruthless treachery.Sundered its worlds. Used itsmight to conquer the domain of Mind.And shielded the ill-gainedtalisman in an impenetrable fortress.

HE HEARS THE TALE.

Of theOne Who Comes.
The deliver. The avenger.
The One who has beenawaited for ten centuries and more.
Who wields a power whose likehas never before been seen.
Who will restore freedom. Peace. Andthe Stone.

Bron looks up. And he knows.

HE IS THE TALE. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Ignore the Back and Read This
Strauss' The Arm of the Stone starts off a little rocky. I had a difficult time trying to figure out who all of characters were -- most had so little character. And the back of the book was rather lame -- the sort of writing that I despise (see the "product description.")

But I was glad that I kept reading. The characters I couldn't follow smoothed out or left and she set the stage for a brilliant piece of fiction that relates to many facets of life and religion.

Strauss keeps you reading by laying out the story with perfect clarity. You know how it's going to turn out. And then she adds a new layer that changes your perceptions on everything. And she keeps that process up all the way through the end.

If you are to read only one book this year, don't read this one. But if you like to read and you love unique writing with fresh twists, then pick this up.

Great book, misleading back cover
Unpredictable, imaginative, nicely written...What else can I say?It was a great book.Now I have to read the sequel.Too bad the third one isn't going to be published. :(
The back cover doesn't describe this book accurately.This is a definite must-read.

Gripping
When I first started this book I saw many of the typical fantasy themes: the lost magical artifact of incredible power, and the boy born of prophesy to change the world.Then suddenly the action kicked in and the whole plot was turned on its head.Wow.

I loved the world, so richly portrayed and thoughtfully flesh-out. I loved the main character, who was never predictable, always rethinking his notion of the world.I loved the suspense of what is in many ways a spy story - that rush of being deep within the lion's den and the fear of immanent discovery.

As a reader you get to see the point of view of two very different people, both of whom are sympathetic and engaging.Can they both "win" or will one inevitably bring the downfall of the other?

By the end of this book, I had to shut myself away from the world and read non-stop.The last page had me so moved I was wiping away a tear.This is a great book, with a strong, character-driven plot, always surprising and never dull!

Cliche and stilted
I'm not sure what all the praise is for the beautiful writing. I see no beautiful writing here. I see a stilted story that captures every dumb cliche of melodramatic fantasy. I bought this book for the same reason that were previously stated, but was very disappointed by the silly characters and the ridiculous nomenclature--The One Who Comes, Mindpower, Handpower--puh---lease! Ms. Strauss, this sounds like a bad B SF movie.

An Old Man Learns from a New Tale
As a writer (The Legacy, Savage Press 2000), I appreciate good wordsmithing regardless of the genre of the book. I must be honest. Other than Ursula LeGuin, I haven't read fantasy/sci-fi in ages. However, I bumped into Ms. Strauss because of her heavy involvement with the SFWA website and her good work at that site attempting to assist new writers in avoiding dubious literary agents and agencies. Since she was so personable and helpful via email, I felt it only fair to buy copies of her books and give them a try. Guess what? She's one great writer and I thorougly enjoyed the initial book in the series, "The Arm of the Stone" as well as its sequeal. Though I generally read literary fiction, I was fully satisfied by the sophisticated language, plot and charectors used throughout both books.

Bravo! ... Read more

Product Description
Because of the power she possesses, a young girl is drawn into the struggle to control a living stone, once coveted as the Holy Grail and now the soul of a universe parallel to Earth's. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Sloppy and unprofessional!
I am so disappointed in this book!The plot is weak and the characters I found to be a bit boring.Overall I thought this book was sloppy and unprofessional not what I expected by this self-proclaimed bestselling author!WORLDSTONE is a waste of time and good money, in this man's opinion.

Fans of Strauss will find this a very interesting read.
Fans who enjoyed Strauss' work in Arm of the Stone and Garden of Stone will enjoy reading this related earlier work by Strauss.

The Worldstone is about Alexina, an American teenager who discovers her own mindpower when she helps a strange boy who appears in a nearby cave, and must make choices about who to trust and how to use her power.Those who have read Arm of the Stone will recognize certain characters who Alexina meets.However, readers should keep in mind that The Worldstone is an "alternate" sequel to Arm of the Stone, since the events in The Worldstone are not compatible with events that occur in the Garden of Stone.

Even in this early work, Strauss creates interesting characters, who cannot be easily categorized as "good" or "evil," unlike much young adult fantasy.The weakness of this early work is that it leans much more on cliched description, and has a less than satisfying ending, which is why I do not give it more stars. However, the book is very interesting as an example of how an author develops and changes her plots, characters and writing over time. ... Read more

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Word count: 1078. ... Read more

Product Description
(from inside jacket) "In The Arm of the Stone, Victoria Strauss has created a reality of two worlds: Handpower, based on technology, and Mindpower, in which tools are regarded as dangerous heresy. A thousand years ago, when the worlds split apart, an ambitious sorcerer seized the Stone from which the powers of mind are drawn. To keep the new world from contamination, he established rigid rules circumscribing which machines may be built and what types of knowledge may be pursued-rules brutally enforced by an order of Guardians known as the Arm of the Stone. . . ." ... Read more