Review: Cloudstone Key - An Interesting Fantasy
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 11, 2014
The author sent me this book and the second book in the series together in response to my offer to review them. Cloudstone Key does not stand on its own. In my opinion, it ends in the wrong place. It ends too soon. If I had written this review solely on the basis of this book as if it stood alone I would probably have blasted it. However, as a set-up to the second book, which is much better in every way, I feel much better about it. Therefore, I recommend buying both Cloudstone Key and Peregrines Prophecy at the same time and reading them together.Darren's writing skills in this first book leave much to be desired. There are coincidences that just do not hold together. However, the sharp contrast between this and his second book mitigates any negativity I would have had about his skill as a writer.I have a couple of serous issues with the circumstances surrounding the father's death and with the way the sister is treated in her absence. I feel that there are too many issues surrounding the father's death that should at least be discussed if not resolved and they are ignored. The concept of sabotage, for example, is never broached. The total lack of any safety procedures is unexplained. These issues should at least have been touched upon.Pay attention to the groundwork laid in the first book and the second book will make much more sense. I await the third book with anticipation.