Posted on  13/08/2020 20:08:51

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

'We all making things worse, sometime.'

No. I haven't forgotten how to speak proper English and I guarantee you the above statement will make perfect sense by the time you've reached the end of this book. :)

Firestone Key is one of the most original, charming, heartbreaking and fun-filled books I've read this year.


The blurb gives you a pretty good idea of what the story is about.
Elaine survives an abusive childhood that leaves her with a scarred face and an exceptional mind. In order to save humanity from a terrible fate, she devises The Project: an impossible manipulation of time.
The notion was relatively simple: travel back in time to trace the origin of the plague that's threatening to wipe humanity out, then travel forwards in time to trace it's evolution.
And the Project works. Albeit not in the way anyone would have suspected.

Elaine suddenly finds herself alone in a medieval society that bears no relation to the history books. A technological black hole full of curiously human animals, foul monsters and violent magic. A land living in fear of the infamous Firestone and the hideous Queen that wields its power. One where everyone seems to know Elaine's name and swordsmen with a funny way of speaking want to take her prisoner.

Realizing that she had no idea where she was or how to escape, Elaine, the organised, logical scientist has to shelf her cynicism and follow a smelly, flea-ridden mutt wherever he wanted to lead. That would be Drevel - whom I loved from the very first moment I met - ripping farts included. :D

The oppressed villagers of that world, along with the stinky self-appointed protector bestow upon Elaine's damaged soul the closest feeling to peace she had ever experienced. And it is among these kind-hearted people that she finds the family she had always craved.
Trying to return to her time and escape the clutches of the hideous queen, Elaine is plunged headlong into a dangerous and intriguing adventure that will have you at the edge of the seat either sighing or chuckling, and even laughing out loud.
Accompanied by a motley collection of furry and scaly friends, she will try to make things right. But every action bears a consequence, especially when time is in flux. And that is something Elaine will find out in the hardest way.

Despite abounding qualms, Elaine begins a relationship with a young wizard - Harlin - even more broken than herself; a relationship that will tragically alter future, present and past.

'Somehow, in this mutilated young man, Elaine recognised a little of herself.'

and as far as Harlin is concerned,

'The woman was nothing but trouble. But damned if he didn't like her and he hadn't liked anyone in years.'

I won't tell you more because I do not want to spoil, but I guarantee you won't see those twists and turns coming. They are brilliantly done!

The story is fast paced, unique, original and absolutely intriguing. The first few chapters are written in a seemingly fast and sparse manner and provide a sort of intro for the main tale. The one that begins with Elaine's jump into the mysterious world. Here you will have a dialect to get used to, because those people speak in a manner alike that of the quote at the top of my review. It may seem a bit difficult to adjust to at first but after just a few pages it becomes a permanent fixture and seems a perfect and absolutely fitting way of speech.

I honestly can't decide on the best highlight of this tale for me, the story itself, the fun and originality, or the characters and the feeling.

The shenanigans of the scaly and furry cast as well as the interaction between characters had me not only chuckling but even laughing out loud at times.

The description of not only Elaine's broken soul, but also that of Harlin, and the way both of them start to experience and get adjusted to simple things we usually take for granted - like a touch or a hug - damn! that went straight to my heart!!

'There was an electric moment in which two tortured souls somehow came to an agreement, without the slightest element of trust or understanding.'

The way a tortured and shunned young man is stunned that anyone would still want to be kind to him.....
The simply offered explanation that a certain old man had had many years at blaming himself for the sins of others...
and the slow, reluctant love blooming between two broken souls...
These are only few of the things I absolutely loved here.

Great characters, nicely fleshed out, complete with their own individual voice and distinct personality, representing a quirky mix of both persecutors and persecuted; wonderful word-building; fast-paced edge-of-the-seat action and an intriguing plot full of unexpected revelations. The Firestone Key has it all.

If you're in a mood for a great and ingenious read, give this one a try!

Check out this book and more of Caroline Noe over at http://carolinenoe.org/