This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
E.D.E. Bell was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1976. She grew up in Southeastern Michigan, and graduated from the University of Michigan with a Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) in Electrical Engineering. She worked in engineering and data analysis in Northern Virginia for several years, and now works in Southeastern Ohio as an advisor in the technical intelligence field. She married husband G.C. Bell in 2002, and they have three children together.
The Taking of Stonecrop novella takes place in the same setting as the full length novel, Spireseeker -- which has also received a 5 star review by Readers' Favorite.
Reviewed by Bil Howard for Readers' Favorite
The only thing worse than watching your beloved father take his last breath is to be exiled from your home with the threat of death if you are ever seen there again. That is the fate to Byrn, daughter of Korta, king of Fayen in The Taking of Stonecrop by E.D.E. Bell. Destined to leave her home in the middle of the night while still grieving, Byrn could slip into an idyllic life with a family to love her rather than challenge the rule of her power-mad brother who has stepped into his new role with a heavy hand. Instead, she follows the counsel of her father and waits for the proper moment to set things right for her people. Aided by a network of dwarves and elves who had been a secret part of her father’s spy network, she must risk all, including certain death if her brother discovers that she has revealed herself. As Fayen is on the brink of war, the moment has arrived for Byrn to make her stand. Will Fayen have a benevolent queen or continue under the ruthless hand of a wicked king.
E.D.E. Bell does an excellent job of drawing the reader into The Taking of Stonecrop through a deep sense of emotional attachment to Byrn in the early moments of the book. Through her, we learn of the great king’s benevolence and her sibling's hunger for power, the son who has taken his place. Because of her humility and eagerness to serve her people rather than rule them, we find Byrn to be the perfect heroine to follow. Through the fantasy elements of the elves and dwarves and their special skills, the mystery of how the changes we see are perhaps really effected by a force that we do not understand is brought to light. Delightful, simple, yet engaging, The Taking of Stonecrop is impossible to put down until you have reached the end.
