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    Lodestone Book One: The Sea of Storms
    Lodestone Book One: The Sea of Storms
    Lodestone Book One: The Sea of Storms
    Ebook418 pages6 hours

    Lodestone Book One: The Sea of Storms

    By Mark Whiteway

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    Finalist - 2010 Foreword Book of the Year Award.

    A white-hole portal from another universe rains so-called lodestones onto the surface of the planet Kelanni - a substance with unlimited power. With the aid of the fearsome Keltar enforcers in their flying cloaks, the Kelanni are being forced to mine the stones. Shann, an orphan with a fiery disposition, witnesses a battle between a Keltar and a stranger bearing a similar flying cloak. She tracks down the stranger, and learns of the technology behind the Keltars' power, joining him on a mission to free the slaves and cut off their supply of lodestones. Meanwhile Keris, a Keltar, is sent on a mission to track down the rebels. She is attacked by a flying creature and saved by the enigmatic Chandara. At their Great Tree, she learns that a mysterious "Prophet" is out to destroy the Kelanni people. Their only hope is a powerful instrument hidden in the distant past. Pursued by Keltar, the party will encounter bizarre creatures, ancient technologies and terrifying dangers. Finally, they must seek to cross a massive storm barrier in order to reach the other side of their world, where a world-shaking revelation awaits.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMark Whiteway
    Release dateJun 13, 2010
    ISBN9781466091283
    Lodestone Book One: The Sea of Storms
    Author

    Mark Whiteway

    Mark Whiteway (1959- ) lives in rural West Sussex, England, near the former home of H G Wells. The Lodestone series of novels is built around the concept of negative matter-an extension of Einstein's Theory of General Relativity. Mark lives with his wife Sandra.

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    Reviews for Lodestone Book One

    4/5

    23 ratings8 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Although the writing needs a bit of polishing here and there, I greatly enjoyed this novel. Whiteway's fantasy universe is well-thought-out and the story is engaging. This is a must for fans of sci-fi/fantasy novels! I am looking forward to discovering what will happen to our heroes in the sequel!
    • 5/5
      This book blew me away! It really is of epic proportions. Right from the beginning of the book you are dropped into this world and immediately drawn into a world of Chandara, Keltar, and more. Normally, this can be a big risk for a science fiction book to just drop in the middle of a planet with 3 moons and animals like a graylessh without a lot description, but it works extremely well. Reading through this story you get caught in the journeys, both mental and physical of all of the characters. It is really gripping!
    • 4/5
      In this stunning work of fantasy fiction, we are introduced to a theocratic society and a unique use of the concept of negative matter. In an act of brilliant irony, the Prophet has been using the Kelanni people and money to fund the development of a weapon to annihilate them. One of his top Keltar, an elite soldier, stumbles upon his plan and begins an unwilling journey with four others to save the people she has sworn to protect. With former allies breathing down their necks, they race against the clock to save their people and defeat a false god.The world of the Kelanni is richly created, from the landscapes and intricate societal rules to the lodestones that power the Prophet's men. Whiteway seamlessly works the necessary explanations into his lyrical prose, allowing one to savor the words and the imagery as well as the plot development. There is an overarching sense of wonder that governs this entirety of this story, no mean feat considering that all is not sunshine and daisies. Perhaps it is related to the balance of intricate description and deliberate vagueness. The latter tactic lends readers the latitude to visualize the Kelanni and various oddly-named organisms as they see fit.The character development in this novel is sound. Particularly well-executed are the internal conflicts within Shann and Keris; some of the changes fly under the radar unless one is paying particular attention. Their quest is more than a physical journey; it is a period of forced emotional maturation for all involved. And this is just the start.Unfortunately, there were some mishaps within this novel that I had difficulty overlooking. The first is a paragraph in chapter fourteen dedicated to Shann's first time riding a graylesh. It's a lovely passage, but it directly conflicts with the first page of chapter three, in which she rode a graylesh to Lind. The second, and possibly more subjective complaint is that the Prophet has crossed the supposedly insurmountable barrier facing our heroes more than once, yet they never consider how he may have accomplished this feat. In fact, they openly discuss how no one but Captain Arval has ever successfully crossed the Great Barrier of Storms. Adding this to some wonky use of semicolons and italics, I found myself pausing many times in spite of the riveting storyline.Book One of this new series was a wonderful fantasy read, and I look forward to continuing with Lyall and company in Book Two.Hide and Read(Review copy provided by the author)
    • 4/5
      As an indie book reviewer, I come across a lot of, um, less than stellar fiction. Then, once in a while, I come across a self-published book like The Sea of Storms and I am reminded of why I do this in the first place. Planet Kelanni has three suns: a white and yellow that move across the sky much like our own Sun, and a large, dim, red sun that never moves, in much the same way as the Earth doesn't when viewed from the Moon. The inhabitants of this planet, though never described in detail, are (presumably) humanoid creatures ruled by a mysterious Prophet and his Keltar emissaries who routinely collect citizens as "tributes," never to be seen again. A young girl named Shann joins two men - Lyall and Alondo - in their quest to overthrow the Prophet and free the tributes. Meanwhile, forbidding Keltar Keris receives shocking information from the strange, somewhat beetle-like creatures known as Chandara, information that turns her world completely upside-down. Woven throughout the drama is a mysterious and precious mineral known as lodestone.Though the book's title is somewhat misleading - the Sea of Storms is not actually reached until the last few pages - the story itself is quite good. The action is well-paced and the world is solidly constructed. I especially liked that while there were creatures clearly meant to stand in for familiar animals such as dogs and horses, nothing was described in comparison with Earth since, obviously, the Kelanni know nothing of Earth. Shann, Keris, Lyall, and Alondo are engaging characters, easily distinguishable without relying on stereotypes. Oliah came out of left-field, making her relationship with the leads rather unbelievable, but her appearance is so brief I can almost ignore it. The rest of the book is a marvelous trek through a fantastic new world.I'm glad I was warned in the title that this is not a standalone novel, or I would have been irritated at the cliffhanger ending. As it stands, I'll have to see about getting my hands on the next installment in this promising new fantasy series.
    • 4/5
      Hastily aiding a strange man who flew into town and seemed to want to help the people taken as 'tributes' to work in the Prophet's deadly desert, Shann finds she is now in the middle of the dispute between the strange man pretending to be a Keltar and the Keltar taking the people. Shann goes on the run to escape the mean Keltar and his soldiers. Shann finds new friends along the path of a wondrous journey of the past asking for help from the future. With the help of her new friends and lodestones Shann learns a budding strength she didn't realize she had, and how to fly like the Keltar. If all work together; Shann, Lyall, Alondo, and Keltar Keris and her new friend Boxx, the fate of all Kelanni just might be safe in their hands.In this book Mark, the author, creates a world with three suns, bright colors, and people with tails. With the help of Lodestones and the science behind them there are a select few who are granted permission to us this ability to fly through the air. The world created here is all together new. There are times in the world I wanted a little more description to give a better visual in my mind, but I did enjoy the details given to the lodestone science used by the Keltar.The story starts right in with the characters meeting, which is a nice start. At times in the beginning I found it to be a little rough but the story quickly picks up and runs. I liked the characters and the way they matched up. You do have your one odd man out, but this is a nice touch to have a character you like, but not completely trust.The story takes you on a journey with these characters through this new world. The story isn't completely new to the fantasy world but the characters and new world make it a fun and interesting journey. There were a few little surprises I really enjoyed too. Like, you might want to watch Alondo. The ending of the story is a cliffhanger ending. I wanted to keep going and see what happens to the world and characters along with the new world they where going to. But, that will have to be the next book (which is currently out).This is definitely a book I would recommend to your sprouting fantasy readers. I think they would enjoy the journey and the neat things they do. This is a fun read. The end result of the lodestone science is similar to the results of Brandon Sanderson's metal usage in the Mistborn series. Completely different sciences and rules but close to the same results, in flying that is.I will definitely be looking for the second book in this series to follow up with the characters.
    • 4/5
      It took a chapter or two for me to become interested in this book. This does not speak ill of the author. It is simply how it happens with me in these types of books. Once I was past the first couple of chapters, though, I didn't want to stop reading. I loved the world that Mark created in this story.The book did not consist of humans, that I could tell. Instead, Kelanni were the dominant creatures ... human like, but with tails. The Kelanni had social classes and military, like humans. They were very realistically depicted in their emotions and interactions.As a matter of fact, the entire world within the book's pages were well-imagined and depicted. Reading about it made you feel like you could actually go there. How neat would it be to travel to a world where three suns rule the sky?Mark has outdone himself with his first scientific novel. Reading it, you would never know this was his first. It reads like a well-written author has taken the time to completely formulate an imaginary world down to the plants, bugs, creatures and people. If you enjoy imaginary worlds and good versus evil, then you will definitely enjoy Lodestone.
    • 4/5
      I think Mr. Whiteway did himself a great disservice by putting references to the laws of physics and white-hole portals on the back cover of his book. At best, you might think it's a sci-fi book that's heavy on the sci-fi; at worst, you'll avoid it from fear of being bored to death. Neither of these things is true.Sea of Storms struck me as more fantasy than sci-fi. Yes, it takes place on another planet populated by the alien Kelanni, but their actions and motivations are distinctly human. Yes, important elements are the lodestones and the magnetic forces they control, but the science behind these tools is kept simple and doesn't burden you with the requirement of having a PhD to understand and enjoy the book.At the heart of the story, we have the orphan, Shann. She's feisty and rebellious, so it's really not a surprise when she defies the rules and teams up with the rebel, Lyall, who is impressed by her bravery and instinctive skills. Lyall is a man with a past; a rebel who uses the tools of the enemy to stand against them. Standing with Lyall is his best friend, Alondo. At first, I thought Alondo was going to be the comic relief of the book, but he provides a lot more than laughs with his intellect and unique, home-made weapon. Joining this band of rebels is Keris, a once diligent and hard-core Keltar who is forced to realize that she might be fighting for the wrong side. The oddest member of them all is Boxx, a creature known as a Chandarra. Boxx is no simple little forest dweller. He's the catalyst that draws them together and is also the holder of the 'key' that could determine victory or defeat over the Prophet and his people - people who call themselves Hu-Man.The book starts a little slow as the diverse set of characters are introduced and drawn together, but the pace picks up considerably once alliances are formed. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that, unlike most 'team' stories, I was unable to single out a favorite. I enjoyed each one for what they have to offer.If you're looking for a good fantasy with interesting characters, then ignore all the cover talk about physics and dive into the world of the Kelanni.
    • 5/5
      This is a fast paced and drag you along for the ride fantasy. I was breathless at points cheering the action and frustrated at times when the characters showed their flaws. A wonderful cast of characters annoying at times and alternately heroic at others. The mix of characters play well off each other, they make you want to cheer or in some cases box their ears. The story is easy to get into and the book hard to put down. I am looking forward to the next installment. I believe that Mark Whiteway has put together a world that is both dangerous and ingenious. The Characters are rich and bold with both flaws and great courage. A great read.

    Book preview

    Lodestone Book One - Mark Whiteway

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