Scan barcode
mxsallybend's review
4.0
Like its predecessor, No Return, the second novel of Jeroun follows two converging story lines - the first featuring the triumvirate of Vedas, Churls, and Berun, and the second featuring the scientist/magician Pol. It's a narrative format that echoes the first novel quite nicely, creating a natural flow or connection between the two, but that's really where the similarities end.
As hard as it may be to believe, Shower of Stones is a darker, more complex, more philosophical novel. Zachary Jernigan really takes us beneath the surface of that first narrative to confront what it means to be human, to be in love, and to hold onto hope for a better tomorrow. That's not to say that this is a shiny, happy, hopeful fantasy - far from it! - but we're climbing towards the possibility of a future, rather than towards an end.
The opening chapter or arc of a novel really serves to set the tone for what comes after, and Jernigan sucked me in immediately. He takes us deep into the history of the world of Jeroun, to a time before Adrash was the only god in the sky, and fully fleshes out a mythology that was only hinted at in the first book. We meet the gods (demigods?) whom Adrash created to keep him company and to provide a sense of a family, and witness firsthand as his depression and his madness drive them to wage war upon a world and attempt to drive him from the skies. It's a fractured, damaged, incestuous family dynamic that evokes memories of Greek mythology, but which is something entirely new and exciting.
In the second arc, he takes us deeper into the heroes of the first book, revealing the heart and soul of Vedas, Churls, and even Berun. Whereas No Return was largely a story of mistrust and animosity, Shower of Stones is one of trust and friendship. The seeds of character development planted in the first book are allowed to take root and blossom here, driven in large part by a mysterious new character who announces himself by arriving on the back of a dragon. I won't say much about him, as his secrets are a cornerstone of the book, but I do have to say a few words about Fyra. As much as I liked the mystery and the cryptic nature of her presence in the first book, I was excited to see her become a character here, extending the heroic triumvirate into a quartet. This arc is certainly the longest of the novel, eating up far more pages than (on the surface) seems wise, but somehow Jernigan makes it work. It's a long period of talking and philosophizing, without a lot of action, but the internal conflicts really work to expose the significance of the first arc, and to bring the two of them together.
The final arc involves, of course, the final confrontation with Adrash. Again, there's not much I can say here without spoiling things, but I was pleasantly surprised by how it all played out. I thought I knew where Jernigan was taking the story, but he weaves in some twists and turns that keep you guessing right to the end. Anybody getting a bit antsy over the lack of action in the second arc is well rewarded here, as everything comes together, with gods and heroes carving out a new mythology. What's refreshing, however, is that he doesn't allow the mythology to overwhelm the human element, and doesn't allow the war between gods to push the heroes to the background. It's a delicate balance when dealing with such very different forces, but I loved the way everything intertwined and came together.
Shower of Stones is a very different book from No Return, both in terms of content and pacing, but somehow it all works. It's not as edgy or innovative as the first, but it's deeper, more well-rounded, and more . . . well, significant is the only word that comes to mind.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
As hard as it may be to believe, Shower of Stones is a darker, more complex, more philosophical novel. Zachary Jernigan really takes us beneath the surface of that first narrative to confront what it means to be human, to be in love, and to hold onto hope for a better tomorrow. That's not to say that this is a shiny, happy, hopeful fantasy - far from it! - but we're climbing towards the possibility of a future, rather than towards an end.
The opening chapter or arc of a novel really serves to set the tone for what comes after, and Jernigan sucked me in immediately. He takes us deep into the history of the world of Jeroun, to a time before Adrash was the only god in the sky, and fully fleshes out a mythology that was only hinted at in the first book. We meet the gods (demigods?) whom Adrash created to keep him company and to provide a sense of a family, and witness firsthand as his depression and his madness drive them to wage war upon a world and attempt to drive him from the skies. It's a fractured, damaged, incestuous family dynamic that evokes memories of Greek mythology, but which is something entirely new and exciting.
In the second arc, he takes us deeper into the heroes of the first book, revealing the heart and soul of Vedas, Churls, and even Berun. Whereas No Return was largely a story of mistrust and animosity, Shower of Stones is one of trust and friendship. The seeds of character development planted in the first book are allowed to take root and blossom here, driven in large part by a mysterious new character who announces himself by arriving on the back of a dragon. I won't say much about him, as his secrets are a cornerstone of the book, but I do have to say a few words about Fyra. As much as I liked the mystery and the cryptic nature of her presence in the first book, I was excited to see her become a character here, extending the heroic triumvirate into a quartet. This arc is certainly the longest of the novel, eating up far more pages than (on the surface) seems wise, but somehow Jernigan makes it work. It's a long period of talking and philosophizing, without a lot of action, but the internal conflicts really work to expose the significance of the first arc, and to bring the two of them together.
The final arc involves, of course, the final confrontation with Adrash. Again, there's not much I can say here without spoiling things, but I was pleasantly surprised by how it all played out. I thought I knew where Jernigan was taking the story, but he weaves in some twists and turns that keep you guessing right to the end. Anybody getting a bit antsy over the lack of action in the second arc is well rewarded here, as everything comes together, with gods and heroes carving out a new mythology. What's refreshing, however, is that he doesn't allow the mythology to overwhelm the human element, and doesn't allow the war between gods to push the heroes to the background. It's a delicate balance when dealing with such very different forces, but I loved the way everything intertwined and came together.
Shower of Stones is a very different book from No Return, both in terms of content and pacing, but somehow it all works. It's not as edgy or innovative as the first, but it's deeper, more well-rounded, and more . . . well, significant is the only word that comes to mind.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
antonism's review
2.0
2 / 5
-rant mode on-
I'm sorry but this was a complete miss with me. I hate to do this, as apparently most people liked this book a lot for reasons that didn't really stick with me but I honestly can't sugar-coat this. Reading this book was a struggle for me. The beginning was really interesting but from the middle and onwards it was all lost.
Usually I'm looking for 3 main things as requirements to enjoy a book: an interesting plot, believable and relatable characters and good writing. This book only had the last (to some degree at least). The "progression" of the "plot" was really all over the place (notice how I use "" for both words...). I finished the book and I still don't understand why and what and how, especially during the few final chapters. It simply makes no sense at all.
The characters did not appeal to me either. While in the first book, I felt some attachment to most of them, in this one I grew detached and cold about them. I didn't care, actually I preferred it when they suffered but even that felt empty.
As for the writing, the main problem is macroscopically when looking at the pacing. I simply can't excuse pages upon pages of world-building exposition at the wrong moments, like for example when there's the long-awaited resolution between the novel's protagonists. It kills the pace, it drags it in the mud and then we're left wondering why it didn't feel right.
There where moments when I honestly felt that I would be giving this book only 1 star for the review. But the first third is quite good and the writing and author's effort maybe deserve something more so I'm going with 2.
If you've read the first one... well proceed with caution at your own risk as this was not what I hoped or expected. If you haven't read the first book, then in my humble opinion, it's not worth it. And take all that with a grain of salt, it just might be that I'm another grumpy reader after all...
2 / 5
-rant mode on-
I'm sorry but this was a complete miss with me. I hate to do this, as apparently most people liked this book a lot for reasons that didn't really stick with me but I honestly can't sugar-coat this. Reading this book was a struggle for me. The beginning was really interesting but from the middle and onwards it was all lost.
Usually I'm looking for 3 main things as requirements to enjoy a book: an interesting plot, believable and relatable characters and good writing. This book only had the last (to some degree at least). The "progression" of the "plot" was really all over the place (notice how I use "" for both words...). I finished the book and I still don't understand why and what and how, especially during the few final chapters. It simply makes no sense at all.
The characters did not appeal to me either. While in the first book, I felt some attachment to most of them, in this one I grew detached and cold about them. I didn't care, actually I preferred it when they suffered but even that felt empty.
As for the writing, the main problem is macroscopically when looking at the pacing. I simply can't excuse pages upon pages of world-building exposition at the wrong moments, like for example when there's the long-awaited resolution between the novel's protagonists. It kills the pace, it drags it in the mud and then we're left wondering why it didn't feel right.
There where moments when I honestly felt that I would be giving this book only 1 star for the review. But the first third is quite good and the writing and author's effort maybe deserve something more so I'm going with 2.
If you've read the first one... well proceed with caution at your own risk as this was not what I hoped or expected. If you haven't read the first book, then in my humble opinion, it's not worth it. And take all that with a grain of salt, it just might be that I'm another grumpy reader after all...
2 / 5
tfrohock's review
5.0
Please see the full review on my blog for disclosure.
Until Shower of Stones, I had only read Zachary's short stories, which I found to be quite impressive. I have not read No Return: A Novel of Jeroun. I wanted to read Shower of Stones to see if the novel could stand alone--it does; although I would recommend reading the glossary in order to familiarize yourself with some unfamiliar terms and concepts if you have not encountered No Return.
Shower of Stones is one of the few books that successfully utilizes a prologue and an epilogue, two unique pieces that tie the story together to form the foundation of its themes. The story is ambitious, especially in light of the word count. Jernigan could have easily turned this into a 400 page tome, but the very poetry of the story lies in his ability to render a complex tale with so few words.
The blurb gives the reader the idea that the story is about Vedas, Churls, and Berun, but that is a sleight of hand. They are all here, present and accounted for, but I never felt like the story was about them. They appear to be vehicles for Shavrim's story.
And who is Shavrim? If you remember No Return, the god Adrash mercilessly rules the world of Jeroun with a heavy and malicious hand. In Shower of Stones, he creates a family, a "minor pantheon" of gods, which he sees as a gift to the world of Jeroun. The first "child" is Shavrim:
So begins Adrash's plan to inspire mankind. After Shavrim has grown to adulthood, Adrash creates five other "children," each with different aspects of character. With these six children, the god hopes to usher in a new age, but instead, his children turn on him. Led by Shavrim, they try to kill him. Instead, he murders his children--all but Shavrim.
But that, too, is an illusion.
Jernigan deftly hides the second coming of this strange family behind the adventures of Vedas, Churls, and Berun. These minor gods, the souls of Adrash's children, manage to possess Vedas, Churls, and even the constructed man, Berun.
It is in these scenes where the characters--especially Vedas--realize they are not alone in their own minds that Jernigan's prose shines. I found the maturity of the characters and their decision-making abilities to be quite refreshing. In a fantasy sea of young adult protagonists, it's absolutely marvelous to find characters whose angst is no less agonizing but managed with insight and acumen.
Jernigan explores the concept of free will through his characters' realizations that gods ride their minds and bodies. However, each god uses Churls, Vedas, and Berun, not as vehicles of revenge, but in order to free humankind from the unjust god, Adrash.
Although he is a god, Shavrim's human desires for family and love give us a character with whom the reader can empathize. By contrast, Vedas and Churls seem almost cold. Vedas is analytical to the point of emotional detachment from all but Churls, who is distanced from everyone by the trauma of her own past.
In spite of Churl's anger, I enjoyed the relationship between her and her dead daughter, Frya. Theirs was one of the most realistic mother/daughter relationships I've seen portrayed in fantasy in a long time.
The points-of-view of Berun and Sradir arrive late in the novel, but they were truly my favorite characters. Especially the god Sradir, who asks:
These are the philosophical questions that Jernigan poses to the reader through his characters' interactions with gods and other humans throughout the novel. And yet, Jernigan doesn't become bogged down by juxtaposing literary themes within a fantastic tale of another world. The story moves at a satisfying pace with enough magic and fight scenes to satisfy any fantasy reader.
Yet for those of us who appreciate a fantastical tale with more meat on the bones, Shower of Stones delivers that in spades. Here is novel that simultaneously causes us to examine the context with which we view family, the gods, and the world around us, and it asks us to keep asking questions.
Even when there are no easy answers.
Highly recommended.
Until Shower of Stones, I had only read Zachary's short stories, which I found to be quite impressive. I have not read No Return: A Novel of Jeroun. I wanted to read Shower of Stones to see if the novel could stand alone--it does; although I would recommend reading the glossary in order to familiarize yourself with some unfamiliar terms and concepts if you have not encountered No Return.
Shower of Stones is one of the few books that successfully utilizes a prologue and an epilogue, two unique pieces that tie the story together to form the foundation of its themes. The story is ambitious, especially in light of the word count. Jernigan could have easily turned this into a 400 page tome, but the very poetry of the story lies in his ability to render a complex tale with so few words.
The blurb gives the reader the idea that the story is about Vedas, Churls, and Berun, but that is a sleight of hand. They are all here, present and accounted for, but I never felt like the story was about them. They appear to be vehicles for Shavrim's story.
And who is Shavrim? If you remember No Return, the god Adrash mercilessly rules the world of Jeroun with a heavy and malicious hand. In Shower of Stones, he creates a family, a "minor pantheon" of gods, which he sees as a gift to the world of Jeroun. The first "child" is Shavrim:
A lavender-skinned, devil-horned boy named Shavrim Thrall Coranid.
He was not born, but tipped from a jar. Nonetheless, he grew as if he were a child.
So begins Adrash's plan to inspire mankind. After Shavrim has grown to adulthood, Adrash creates five other "children," each with different aspects of character. With these six children, the god hopes to usher in a new age, but instead, his children turn on him. Led by Shavrim, they try to kill him. Instead, he murders his children--all but Shavrim.
But that, too, is an illusion.
Jernigan deftly hides the second coming of this strange family behind the adventures of Vedas, Churls, and Berun. These minor gods, the souls of Adrash's children, manage to possess Vedas, Churls, and even the constructed man, Berun.
It is in these scenes where the characters--especially Vedas--realize they are not alone in their own minds that Jernigan's prose shines. I found the maturity of the characters and their decision-making abilities to be quite refreshing. In a fantasy sea of young adult protagonists, it's absolutely marvelous to find characters whose angst is no less agonizing but managed with insight and acumen.
Jernigan explores the concept of free will through his characters' realizations that gods ride their minds and bodies. However, each god uses Churls, Vedas, and Berun, not as vehicles of revenge, but in order to free humankind from the unjust god, Adrash.
Although he is a god, Shavrim's human desires for family and love give us a character with whom the reader can empathize. By contrast, Vedas and Churls seem almost cold. Vedas is analytical to the point of emotional detachment from all but Churls, who is distanced from everyone by the trauma of her own past.
In spite of Churl's anger, I enjoyed the relationship between her and her dead daughter, Frya. Theirs was one of the most realistic mother/daughter relationships I've seen portrayed in fantasy in a long time.
The points-of-view of Berun and Sradir arrive late in the novel, but they were truly my favorite characters. Especially the god Sradir, who asks:
Has the world always been this way? Does each world possess a god it must overcome to achieve adulthood? There are no answers to these questions. We fight, you and I, against what we can see.
These are the philosophical questions that Jernigan poses to the reader through his characters' interactions with gods and other humans throughout the novel. And yet, Jernigan doesn't become bogged down by juxtaposing literary themes within a fantastic tale of another world. The story moves at a satisfying pace with enough magic and fight scenes to satisfy any fantasy reader.
Yet for those of us who appreciate a fantastical tale with more meat on the bones, Shower of Stones delivers that in spades. Here is novel that simultaneously causes us to examine the context with which we view family, the gods, and the world around us, and it asks us to keep asking questions.
Even when there are no easy answers.
Highly recommended.
More...