The Stone of Destiny

Beyond amazing! This book was an incredible read and I can't recommend it enough. This is a book you'll want on your shelf and to give as a gift. Everyone needs to read it.

427 pages

4 stars

This book transports the reader back to the late 1700’s for the adventures of Fr. Johnson and his friend Boswell.

Dr. Samuel Johnson and his friend James Boswell are having a discussion one day. Johnson ponders that the Stone of Destiny (the English stole this relic from Scotland years earlier) displayed at Westminster is a fake. Boswell exclaims what an adventure to look for the real one!

Seven years later Johnson sends Boswell a note inviting him to go with him to search for the real stone. They head to Scotland.

While on their search, the pair learn from an Abbott that someone else asked about the stone a few weeks earlier. They listen to the locals who all seem to have their stories, myths and rumors. They come by possible clues that take them forward on their travels. While at the very old Castle Gight, the owner Sir William, Lord Badenoch tells them more stories. But Boswell feels the presence of …something. He believes that he sees things. There are vast parts of the castle that are walled off, no longer used. Boswell wonders about that.

Enter a touch of the paranormal. Or perhaps it is more mythological. Mythology brought into reality.

Boswell has horrible and frightening dreams. He wonders if it is a past life experience or just night terrors. Johnson, too, was affected by sounds and feelings he could not explain.

The book contains excerpts from “The Casebook of Johnson and Boswell” that gives the reader more insight to the working of Boswell’s mind and his personality.

Secretly, Sir William believes the castle is cursed too. He had hoped that the curse would pass him by, but it has not.

As Johnson and Boswell continue their journey, they witness all manner of oddities. In the end, they triumph.

I really enjoyed the philosophic discussions, the history (both real and mythological), and the journey through 18th Century Scotland. It was a wonderful journey and I truly enjoyed myself. The book is well written. The reader gets a very good grasp of Johnson and Boswell; the kind of men they are and what is important to them. I will definitely look for more from Mr. MacLeod.

I want to thank NetGalley and Burning Chair for forwarding to me a copy of this remarkable book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.

I have to admit, that I got more and more absorbed with the book the more I read it. Unlike the first author's book "The Fall of the House of Thomas Weir", which gripped me from the very first page, this one was a slow burn case. That did not reduce its value or enjoyment of reading at all though.
These are Doctor Johnson's and his friend Boswell's adventures in Scotland filled with legends, myths and historical curiosities to the brim. There is only so much I can say without blurting out spoilers!
If historical fiction, based in Scotland, in the 1700s with some fantastic elements to it (through legends and myths), this book is definitely for you! Did I mention, that it encourages you to look up certain historical facts/curiosities for more information? Yeah, it's a book making you read more...

This is a very interesting idea, well realised. The story, as the author readily admits, is a number of set pieces held together by an overarching narrative added after at a later draft. This isn't really noticeable and certainly helps to make the book readable - which it definitely is. The author brings the period to life and draws the reader into the story.

An excellent, enjoyable romp and I would not be at all surprised to see this reaching the upper echelons of the best seller lists.

The Stone of Destiny really surprised me, I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did. It was very entertaining. I definitely recommend it!

A quirky romp through the Highlands and Islands of Scotland on a magical search for the stone of Scone. I adored this book and didn’t want it to end . The blend of a celebrated author of the dictionary and Scottish myths and legends was intoxicating. I do hope there is another journey!

Okay, so my bad, I hadn't read the first novel. But it did not take away from the enjoyment I got out of this book what so ever.

It's written in a way that you quickly get to know all you need to about the two characters and the world that they were living in. It was a fun, twisted and creepy little romp through myth, legend and strange little places that existed between.

A fun book, no mistake, though I'm now off to read the first!

This might be the first ARC I will be giving 5 stars, but... It's worth it for sure. I went into this book ready to rip it to shreds, on the hunt for anachronisms and historical malady but... I stopped making notes quite soon as I was simply swept away. This book is best approached as a short story collection, but each of its parts is intriguing and tense and near impossible to put down. It's themes felt almost tailor made to the things I enjoy, too, further taking away my will to scrutinise. From mad scientists to werewolves, the Loch Ness monster and the Isles: Each of them written with a clear love for the country and its history. It was exciting!

That is to say it was not without its flaws... The English centric narrative occasionally grinded my gears, which were grinded even worse by the mention of ogham being "ancient druidic". And I wished that the narrative would play with local folklore just a bit more. I would have liked seeing the Celtic benevolent werewolves, or the boobrie bird, etc.

But. It cannot take away from my overall enjoyment. The writing style reminded me of HG Wells or Verne, seemingly taking inspiration from victorian writing at large, but with a more modern pacing that keeps it exciting. The plots hit hard and the descriptions, gruesome as they sometimes were, where incredibly lively. Splendid!

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!

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.