Review: The Stonegate Sword by Harry James Fox
The Stonegate Sword is an action/adventure fantasy novel with an original setting. It’s about the future, but not the usual kind of dystopian. It’s medieval, but with the flair of technology and machinery that we know today. It’s a unique mix of ideas that I haven’t seen anywhere yet, and it’s just right for this story. The main character goes through a transformation from a bookworm to a warrior, and it’s not just about knowing how to use a sword, but about learning more about himself and forming his beliefs. The setting adds to this theme by giving us an example of what the mankind could become, thrown back into the past with all knowledge lost, and the glory of our time no more than a memory and occasional glimpse of ancient ruins. It’s a lot more interesting than the usual medieval fantasy, and it adds depth to the big picture. It’s also a Christian novel, but the religious part is done very nicely, without shoving it into the reader’s face or preaching. Of course, there’s also a romance story (it’s obvious from the cover), but I liked the fact that the storyline wasn’t focused on that. It’s just a trigger for the main character’s adventure. The pace is relaxed, but the author’s creativity with his world keeps you reading, and the protagonist’s change is realistic and natural. There’s a number of minor characters, and I liked the fact that I wasn’t overloaded with unnecessary information about them, as they’re only in the book as travel companions, and unless I’ll need that information later, I don’t see a reason to go deeper. I also have to mention the realism of the battle scenes – I like it when they have the right level of darkness to them, but without the gore, which is really unnecessary in most books. Overall, it’s a great read for fans of epic fantasy tales with a religious/military flair to them. *I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review
