A Cast of Stones

November 26, 2012
Errol’s life is an alcoholic scrabble through village tedium until the day a church messenger asks him to convey important letters to Martin, the local hermit, as only Errol has the wilderness skills to reach the priest quickly. When Martin realizes Errol has the gift of sight, the priest and his enigmatic servant, Luis, force Errol to join them on an urgent trip to the church’s seat in Erinon, where the king’s successor will be chosen. Life is no longer a drunken stupor, but unless Errol embraces his gifts and his calling, it’s likely to be brutally short. Carr’s debut, the first in a series, is assured and up-tempo, with much to enjoy in characterization and description—not least the homely, life-as-lived details—but the plot is convention-bound, set in a standard white male fantasy world with standard virtues and flaws. Understated Christian elements are somewhat undercut by the church’s reliance on assassins and fortune-tellers, but non-Christian fantasy fans will take it all in stride.

Starred review from February 15, 2013

Errol Stone is an unlikely hero. Ignorant of the world outside his village, he does odd jobs to pay for his next drink, including carrying an urgent message to the hermit priest who lives in the hills beyond the village. The dynasty that has ruled the kingdom for over a thousand years has ended and a new king must be chosen, but there are some who would do anything to stop the ascension. Errol, the priest, and some companions must flee the assassins hunting them. VERDICT This fast-paced fantasy debut set in a medieval world is a winner. Both main and secondary characters are fully drawn and endearing, and Errol's transformation from drunkard to hero is well plotted. Carr is a promising CF author to watch. Fans of epic Christian fantasies will enjoy discovering a new voice.

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