The Shining Stone by David M. Echeandia is the second book of The Avatar of Calderia trilogy. It begins with Prince Killian, the gods' chosen hero, and the elfin Princess Ellanthia, his unwilling bride-to-be, as they set out on a quest for a powerful talisman. The talisman will lead them to a mysterious, powerful ally to aid in their salvation. Our heroes have to overcome prejudice, mistrust, hatred, and unknown dangers of the wild in order to complete their mission. Time is running out as the evil incarnate Rak’Koth and his fleet, carrying an invasion force of 50,000, set sail to conquer their continent. King Gaven is trying his best to convince all of the warring nations to set aside their differences and unite against a common enemy.

Mr Echeandia does a magnificent job of creating a multitude of diverse characters, all with their own agendas. In the midst of the overall picture, a love story is taking place. The author is able to convey the frustrations and desires of the hand-fasted couple as they get to know the other’s strengths and weaknesses. As the story progresses, it is evident to the reader that Killian and Ellanthia are falling in love. Although they attempt to deny it, their respect for each other’s prowess and self sacrifice is testament that they are meant to be together. No one else could ever measure up to the standards that they have set for themselves as a mate. The quest of The Shining Stone reminds me somewhat of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings' fellowship; a company of different races helping with an urgent quest to stop the usurpation of their world by the ultimate evil conqueror. This book is tough to put down. I wait in anticipation for the finale.

The Shining Stone is an epic fantasy novel by David M. Echeandia, and the second book in The Avatar of Calderia trilogy. It centers on the fractured peace between a human prince known as Killian and an elven princess by the name of Ellianthia, who are both seeking a mystical figure with a solution to their ultimate problem: the onslaught of the Dark sorcerer as Emperor Rak koth. What follows is a tale filled with all the classic elements of high fantasy, including mages, mythical races, dark magic and the epic quest of good versus evil, and of course, a talisman that our saviours must seek to bring peace back to a dangerous world.

There is nothing new or different about The Shining Stone as a fantasy novel, and that is where its magic truly lies. David M. Echeandia has captured the original spirit of incredible and realistic fantasy from the days of Tolkien and his peers, presenting a vivid world full of politics, violence, persecution and everlasting hope. The Shining Stone is a long book, but its superior narrative style and heart-thumping action still made it a quick read for me. Adults who hark back to the days when fantasy had a reliable and comforting formula to it will adore Echeandia’s storytelling. I particularly enjoyed the revival of the dying art of pseudo-medieval language that The Shining Stone’s characters use to speak, and I found the plot and structure to be a sophisticated homage to classic literature of days gone by.