Rating: 
Summary: Refreshingly different!
Review: This book was a breath of fresh air. A different culture, a different feel. I like that the conflict point did not have a clearly defined solution. They had to go with what they FELT was right, and in doing so, only hope and pray.I like that not everything is wrapped up neat and tidy. Sometimes the good guys win, but not without some losses. It is a hero story, a coming of age piece, and it is writen with a tender hand. the language is accessible for a younger audience, and would make a FABULOUS read for young men and women who are coming of age themselves. My only problem, and it was minor, was that I didn't realize that there was a VERY helpful glossary/appendix in the back that sorts through the cultural differences of language. ie "Amaq = idiot" You want something different, something engaging and fun...you want this book!
Rating:
Summary: The Essence of Stone
Review: This is a wholesome coming of age book in the fantasy genre. I do not usually read fantasy/science fiction works but found that this novel goes beyond the genre and addresses the situations and struggles faced by a youth searching for his/her character. It depicts some aspects of the generation gap phenomonon in speaking to the tension between Kehan and Xikander. Xikander fears letting go of his authority and Kehan deals with a lot of frustration. All-in-all it is a good read and has some good lessons for both the elder and the younger generations.
Rating: 
Summary: Hale has taken a new path in fantasy....
Review: While most fantasy novels exist in a manifestation of our Anglo-Saxon world, Beverly Hale's first novel, "The Essence of Stone" takes place in Indonesian-Pakistani world. The mix of Hale's world and the Indo-Pak is fairly seamless. Characters are well-developed and enjoyable. Kehan, her protagonist, thinks he is learning the essence of stone to gain the power of magic. Instead, he learns the essence of power and realizes he is not quite the person he expects he is. The novel is slow-going for the first 150 pages, but the trip and the end are both well-worth it.
Rating:
Summary: Hale has taken a new path in fantasy....
Review: While most fantasy novels exist in a manifestation of our Anglo-Saxon world, Beverly Hale's first novel, "The Essence of Stone" takes place in Indonesian-Pakistani world. The mix of Hale's world and the Indo-Pak is fairly seamless. Characters are well-developed and enjoyable. Kehan, her protagonist, thinks he is learning the essence of stone to gain the power of magic. Instead, he learns the essence of power and realizes he is not quite the person he expects he is. The novel is slow-going for the first 150 pages, but the trip and the end are both well-worth it.
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