The Stone of Destiny was a step up from its predecessor.

I have received this book in exchange of an honest review, thank you to Burning Chair and Netgalley for the opportunity.

I have my own blog now, so please do give it a visit if you're interested in my other reviews :)

Release date: 31st of October 2022.

───────────────────

When I requested The Stone of Destiny from Netgalley, I had no idea that it was actually a part of a series. Therefore, and because I had a little bit of time, I gave The Fall of the House of Thomas Weir a read. It was interesting, but I wasn't totally enjoying myself going through it, which does get improved in a way in this book.

Before that however, the main improvement in this book comes with the fact that they're shorter adventures within a much bigger adventure. Boswell and Johnson start off searching or learning more about the titular stone, before they are exposed to the local legends and myths for further investigations.

For me, this worked very well, as it felt like the stories were a lot tighter in execution when done this way in comparison to a much lengthier narrative. I'm somewhat starting to think that the author's strength lies in shorter narratives just like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as an example.

The events in each of these stories were interesting, the characters felt more distinct and it was very interesting learning about the history and trying to uncover the myths so to speak. It was also interesting to see how the locals reacted to the existence of these myths and how they functioned as a community with them as well.

My main complaint in the previous book was that the characters, especially the main duo and their companions, felt exactly the same despite the author's efforts. But in The Stone of Destiny, there is a very distinct feel when it comes to Boswell and Johnson, and because they were moving from one place to another for other stories, there was also variety in the companions.

This might have also been a bit of a double edged sword when it came to Boswell for me, as his unresolved daddy issues and roving eyes (with the accompanying thoughts) got old very quickly. Historically, I'll say it's not inaccurate of a portrayal.

Provided entertainment wise for me personally however? Not as much as I had hoped.

Regardless, I'm very glad to see that I was right in thinking that this series could get better moving forward, because it did. The shorter narrative is something I hope is here to stay, as it works so much better and leaves me kind of excited to see where they would next.

Johnson and Boswell have a definite Sherlock and Watson vibe as they head out to discover if the stone of destiny in Westminster abbey is real or a fake and they have several adventures during their search.
I wasn't expecting the way this book was formatted, it's a series of diary entries followed by the story being told more in depth before the next entry, and while they are all interesting little side quests it really disrupted the flow of the story for me. I also didn't realize when I requested this book that it was book 2 in a series and while it read fine as a standalone you'll likely get more out of it if you start at the beginning.
The characters are interesting and based on actual people with obviously a lot of liberties taken to tell a fantasy story, but I found how Dr. Johnson always explained away each little side quest to be a bit abrupt and with very little show and to much tell. Overall it was an interesting story that has made me want to learn more about the people the author based the characters on.

3.0 out of 5.0

The Stone of Destiny by Andrew Neil MacLeod is an Action / Adventure with Mysterious elements sprinkled into the stories. Set in 18th Century Scotland, Samuel Johnson and James Boswell search for the legendary Stone of Destiny and encounter many strange people along the journey.

The writing seemed to reflect the past method of serialized storytelling. This choice helps to set the atmosphere of a spooky Scotland in which ancient folklore lurks around every Abbey. The caricaturized personalities of Johnson and Boswell did not work at all. Johnson was a Holmes type intellectual while Boswell was a W. C. Fields type womanizing drunk.

Some of the stories were a good fun read but the main quest was a dull tale. Not a recommend.

Is the Stone of Destiny, on which all Kings and Queens are crowned, a fake? This is the latest story from the pen of Andrew Neil MacLeod. A story straight from the imagination, with Doctor Johnson and Boswell trying to solve the mystery. Set in the eighteenth century, this is a story where you have to suspend all belief, yet isn't that what we do in alll our reading?

The story weaves fact with fiction as Johnson and Boswell traverse Scotland and its isles trying to find if the Stone of Destiny in Westminster Abbey is the real McCoy. On the way we try to solve other problems, including the Loch Ness monster and Atlantis. Mythology is woven with real life locations and events. There's a touch of The Island of Doctor Moreau along with the Wicker Man in there as well.

This was a really enjoyable read. So much was happening throughout the book, and I was sorry when it all ended. The book is a brilliant story which is interwoven with small side plots that mean there's no let up to the action or mystery. Well written and even better imagined, the book made the hours melt away.

A 5-star story. Looking forward to seeing where the author places Johnson and Boswell next time.

Thanks to Netgallery and Burning Chair Publishing for the eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Dr Samuel Johnson and his friend James Boswell set out to discover the truth of the lost Stone of Destiny - also known as the Stone of Scone, the stone Scottish Kings were traditionally crowned on and which was then taken by the English. In an episodic manner, based round diary entries and narrated by an omnipotent narrator, the two travel around a more supernatural Scotland than we know!

I found this book quite hard to get into, even though it's not as verbose as I had feared based on the period style. Even though it's episodic, I found it a bit slow. I would recommend this to anyone who likes Sherlock Holmes-type detective stories, mysteries, and mythology. It's well woven together with real events and historical settings, and inspired me to read Ian Hamilton's book of the same name for a more real story around the Stone of Destiny.

Thank you to NetGalley giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, I would like to thank the publisher for sending me the ARC copy of this book.

It deals with a historical novel about Scotland and a little bit of magic in it.

I did anticipate this one being a bit different than my usual reads let alone ARC's. I didn't realize when I first signed up for it that it was book two but I figured I'd give it a shot anyways. I still want to go back and read the first book. However, the way book two is put together it wasn't that bad just jumping into this adventure.

With that being said, as I started The Stone of Destiny it definitely gave strong vibes of Sherlock Holmes and even so far as just some retellings of some well know stories from yester-year.

Character development was solid in this book. We definitely learn a lot about our two main protagonists throughout the book. We also have many supporting characters through out each story as well to learn about. Some are very shallow in what we learn but others do go a bit more in depth, especially those that do come back around more than once.

Pacing the pacing initially started off a bit rough for me. Not so much the speed of the story but the confusion and jarring switch of stories. It wasn't until about halfway or more through the book that I realized the collection of short stories being told were in fact the same grand adventure as things started falling into place. I really liked the initial plot of the Stone of Destiny and was kind of disappointed when I thought that story kind of got abandoned as we moved onto other stories. However, trust in the author's process as things will make sense eventually!

World building was probably the strongest aspect for me. With the telling of so many different stories around the world and connecting these to historical facts and/or myths (however loosely) was what made this such an enjoyable read to me. When finished, I couldn't help but take a breath and only try to grasp the grand adventure these two just took part in over a relatively short time period!

Overall the book got stronger and became more of the authors own as it progressed. The ending was solid and I enjoyed the note from the author at the end apologizing on how fast and loose he used historical events and persons. As a consumer of entertainment I am blessed with the ability to take most stories regardless of media at face value and hope to simply enjoy the ride. But I know not everyone feels the same. So I enjoyed this little addition at the end. I could definitely see myself looking into more works from the author especially more adventures from Johnson and Boswell.

I'd recommend this to a reader that likes a more traditional mystery such as Sherlock Holmes with a general sprinkle of history and mythology. This isn't a long read and the writing style did flow well. I did find myself looking up a few words here and there that weren't familiar to me in present day United States. Not sure if they are used in the United Kingdom these days or if they harken back more to older times when the story takes place.

The Stone of Destiny is the second book in the Casebook of Johnson & Boswell series set in 18th century Scotland, which features legendary English scholar Doctor Samuel Johnson investigating mysterious supernatural phenomena alongside his bumbling companion, James Boswell. This follows on from The Fall of the House of Thomas Weir, but you don’t need to have read that one to enjoy this - those events are mentioned briefly but this is a completely new adventure. I liked the way the author incorporates history, myths and legends with medicine, science and paranormal elements and throws them all into a mostly light-hearted adventure story.

Doctor Johnson has decided to prove that the historic Stone of Destiny, used in the coronation ceremonies of British monarchs since being stolen from Scotland by Edward I, is a fake. He persuades Boswell to accompany him on a tour of the Highlands, following a series of clues to the Stone’s origin and secret location - but each stop throws our unlikely heroes into mortal peril as they explore local legends and encounter terrifying threats, from werewolves to the Loch Ness Monster, and mad scientists to deranged cultists.

Unlike the first book, this was a series of separate short adventures linked by the quest for the Stone, interspersed with Boswell’s diary entries, and told mostly by an omniscient narrator. The protagonists, accompanied by their taciturn but resourceful Bohemian manservant Joseph, are welcomed and put up everywhere they go, largely because of Johnson’s fame. Their tour of Scotland and it’s mythology was both interesting and entertaining - I didn’t know much about the Celtic “Fair Folk” and their link to the lost Kingdom of Atlantis. Some of the characters introduced are based on real historical figures and true places, such as Lord Mondobbo, and Castle Gight - this is the kind of book that makes you grateful for Wikipedia! In fact reading the entry about the Stone of Destiny made me wonder whether it will be transported back to London from its current location in Edinburgh Castle (it was apparently returned to Scotland in 1996) for the coronation of our new King?

This was a well written entertaining story, but the one thing I didn’t like was the way all female characters are described in terms of their physical attractiveness including their weight - whereas men are described only in terms of height, age and clothing, with a few exceptions. I get that the perspective is mostly Boswell’s - and he is mostly portrayed as a drunken lech - lusting after girls young enough to be his daughter, but it’s still highly annoying to a modern female reader. Once I noticed it, it became impossible to ignore: sure, it’s historical fiction, and probably reflects the worldview of the time, but it adds nothing to the plot and just made him pretty unlikeable. Also, the repeated use of the word “coronated” for “crowned”! Other than these minor irritations, I enjoyed this and would recommend it to those who like a dose of fantasy in their historical fiction. I also particularly liked the gothic cover image.

Thanks to NetGalley and Burning Chair for the ARC. The Stone of Destiny is published on October 22nd.

The Stone of Destiny is the second book in Andrew Neil Macleod's series "The Casebook of Johnson & Boswell", while I did read and enjoy the first title in the series "The Fall of the House of Thomas Weir" I don't feel you necessarily need to read the first to enjoy this one.

This was a highly enjoyable story set in the Highlands of Scotland. Mr. MacLeod does a fantastic job of setting the scenery and atmosphere and holding it through out the book. It's a great historical thriller/fantasy (fantasy light I would say, as there's no dragons or swords and sworcery)., while I wish there was a bit more of a focus on Scotland and her legends and myths I still found myself devouring the pages.

This is a bit of a slow burn but the pay off is worth the wait!

To be honest this book was a bit disappointing compared to the first book in the series. Although this again was very atmospheric and has great prose throughout, I did not feel like the main characters were very relatable, which was amplified by the impulsivity of their actions and decissions. This book being divided in many side quests and adventures also made me lose interest as the danger presented was very deadly and wel developed but, you already know that they will overcome it (mostly by sheer luck) and the consequences were just mentioned briefly, but did not feel detrimental in the long run. I was very interested in the main quest and plot line presented at the beginning of the book, which was not fleshed out very much until the end of the book, which made the side quests even less significant in my eyes. If you like books that jump from one conflict into another, this is really great, but it did not work for me unfortunately.

Indiana Jones meets Sherlock Holmes meets Frankenstein and Dracula...this book was the perfect mix of mystery, adventure, folklore and history. I loved the glimpses into Celtic folklore twines into the story of James Boswell and Dr. Samuel Johnson on their quest to uncover the truth of the Stone of Destiny. Unexpected: there were parts of this book that felt like a horror story intermixed with the pleasant chats by the fireside with a wee dram of whiskey!

The book reads as a series of episodes, beginning and ending in the quest for the Stone of Destiny, making it easy to put down, but still leaving you excited to pick it back up again!

I read a free NetGalley ARC of this book, but all opinions are entirely my own.

WOW! A very entertaining, gripping, and well written story that mixes horror, mythology, and historical characters and the mix works perfectly.
It's slow burning book but it turns into a fast paced story that kept me hooked and entertained.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was quite a nice little story, utilising historical figures Johnson and Boswell, and not a little artistic license. In fact, the book was more fantasy than historic fiction, but no less enjoyable for all that.

The format was part Thelma and Louise and part Jason and the Argonauts, with the purported quest for the titular Stone being so far in the background as to be no more than an excuse for getting the lads out on the road. Each of their adventures was more ridiculous, outlandish and unlikely than the last, but they still entertained, especially with the rotund Dr Samuel Johnson cast in the role of a latter-day James Bond. The ending was a bit of an anti-climax, but since by then the reader was quite well aware that the quest was somewhat spurious, this was no real surprise.

No anachronisms to speak of so quite a good rendition of the life and times of the protagonists, but could someone please, please PLEASE tell this author that a monarch is crowned not CORONATED!

An adventure inside an adventure inside an adventure! This book is a fun read! Twists on history and old myths.

Dr Johnson and Boswell as supernatural investigators travelling through Scotland turns out to be just what I needed, which is a bit of a surprise….

Rather than one long form story as in the Fall of the House of Thomas Weir, Stone of Destiny is really a “road trip” with a series of loosely linked stories and incidents as they journey north, bookended by the stone of destiny quest. This really worked for me, with a mixture of longer more involved narrative and wee short stories.

The style of the book is once again deliberately “of its time”, being the ‘casebook’ style. This occasionally can be prone to repetition of some phrases but, as the book makes me feel rather generous, this is down to Boswell and not the author…!

Will be good to see the closing part of the trilogy. I worry for Boswell’s marriage, having decided the appropriate response to the trauma experienced by his wife and child in the previous book is to go on a quest with his mate and get drunk.::

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Magic, Scotland and a quest. I just couldn't not read it. And it did not disappoint, obviously.

Dr Johnson and his friend James Boswell decided to head to Scotland to try to solve the mystery of the lost Stone of Destiny - the stone English kings are traditionally crowned on - in order to find the real one, as they believe the Coronation Stone currently present at Westminster was actually fake. Thus, their adventurous quest through Scotland starts. However, nothing is as it seems and they aren't really alone, are they?

This was a very nice book. I found it pretty much slow-paced and hard to follow, especially at the beginning, but it did intrigue me a lot. It was so full of magic, mythology, folklore and paranormal that I was on cloud nine. I live just for all that stuff. There's not much I can say about this as I was captured by the writing style and I felt as I was right there living that adventure myself.

I really liked the story, but I don't know why but I expected something more from it. Also, this is my first book by this author and I'm curious to read his other book (which I should've probably read before this one, but still).

My rating: 3.5!

I greatly enjoyed this story. The characters, the worldbuilding, the plot- all of it was phenomenal. My one complaint was that it could be quite slowly-paced, and the length felt longer than it needed to be. Nevertheless, I genuinely had a very fun time reading this and I was inspired by the story and characters. I appreciated the almost mysterious vibe that reminded me of The Secret History.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys dark academia.

After seven years, Doctor Johnson meets up with his friend James Boswell and they go in search of what they believe to be the ‘real’ Stone of Destiny. They feel it was hidden away by a religious group in order to keep it safe from English invaders.

The search leads them through the Lowlands & Highlands of Scotland where they encounter strange and mysterious events. The pair is faced with all sorts of perils as they travel. It seems like someone doesn’t want them to continue their journey. Will they find the truth?

This is my first book by this author. It was a good read with tons of myths and folklore weaved in. There is no doubt, you will be looking up facts and locations as you go.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I seem to be in the minority but this book really wasn't for me. It's strange as it had everything I normally like, history, Scotland, paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi but I think that's what spoiled it for me. It was too erratic, too many things happening too quickly, basically just too much without building a story or the characters! It would make a fantastic TV show though over a number of episodes.

I was certainly entertained by this book. It’s creative, creepy, erudite and well-researched. We follow our heroes Boswell and Johnson around the eighteenth century Scottish Highlands looking for the Stone of Destiny. But of course they aren’t the only ones looking…
I thought the anthology style mostly worked: the short stories held my attention and were well-paced, though I would have preferred an overarching plot. But I hope to read more adventures from this author!