The Stone Awakened

Ashling still reels from her parents’ disappearance. Are they dead or just captured? The Breasals (Irish immortals) use all their resources to track down her parents. She feels the weight of responsibility now more than ever before. As the cauldron, she should be able to sense her parents but alas, all she can sense is her own isolation.



Dierdre, Ashling’s sister, is coming into her own powers as a banshee. Like Ashling, she’s trying to feel her way through her newfound powers and responsibilities. With the help of Ashling and Brigit, she embraces her life and the sudden wooing by an unlikely suitor.



A powerful enemy ups her attacks on Ashling and her family. Mysterious Lorcan watches Ashling and when she confronts him, her feelings for him as well as Aengus war within her heart. She’s attracted to both Lorcan and Aengus. Is this history repeating itself or will she make the right choice?



I’ve been looking forward to reading this for over eight months and it didn’t disappoint. Filled with plenty of conflict, action and mystery, this is a must-read for any reader looking for a book to lose oneself in. There’s quite a bit going on and Judith Sterling weaves mythology throughout the plot with ease. Everything is believable in my eyes and that is a huge thing, especially when reading the impossible.



Yes, there is a love triangle, but before you turn away, give this story a chance. Ashling, Aengus and Lorcan are entwined through their centuries-old past and while Ashling doesn’t remember this past (reincarnation), there’s a familiarity with both Aengus and Lorcan. Both males are on opposite ends of the good/evil spectrum, or are they? This element to the story speaks to my heart and I couldn’t help but root for Lorcan.



If you’re looking to be swept away to the Emerald Isle to live among dragons, sprites, dragons, banshees and even Jack Frost, pick this up today! You’ll never want it to end.



Disclaimer: I received an ARC from The Wild Rose Press via Netgalley in the hopes I’d review it.



Favorite Character/Quote: Aoife! The wind demon whose foul plot shattered my family with a single blow. Hate and despair welled inside me. “No!”



My Rating: 5 stars

Be transported into the land of Ireland, where mythical creatures exist in other worlds. Ashling, had come to Ireland with her mother, father and siblings which was described in the first book of this series. She has experienced so much and with Aengus Breasal's help, has discovered this other world and learns to develop her own powers along with her sister Deidre.
I loved the interaction between Ashling, her sister and twin brothers and it pulled them all together. When her father and mother go missing, she is determined find them and really needs some help.
Her relationship with Aengus is lovely to watch as the beginnings of first love stir. But Aengus' adversary Lorcan makes her feel things too.
Wonderfully written, it kept my attention as I turned that pages and with the paranormal mythology, I was hooked. You will really enjoy this tale and long for the next book in this series.

Layers upon layers of intricately woven story between family, friends, and also dimensions. Sterling really left some cliffhangers in this installment, along with some love, some heartache, some skepticism, but there is also a lot of hope. I think Ashling makes some pretty big mistakes, and the love interest seems absent from most of the book, but hopefully there will be some more character development in the next book as well. I am looking forward to the next book to see how the story progresses, with all of the loose ends it will be exciting to read and see!!

Thank you to Judith Sterling and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review!!