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trevert's review
3.0
So, you want Stranger Things in an English village? Ya got Stranger Things in an English village. Which is not to say that this is bad, because I enjoyed it right through, but it's pretty straightforward and derivative. Young, bicycling teens = Misunderstood but good, Weirdo alien = Misunderstood but good, Adults = Clueless, British military = Bad, American military = Full-on Chaotic Evil, just like every other representation of same on the BBC.
An alien weirdo thing escapes transport and hides in an idyllic English village which is promptly quarantined by the military and then the US spooks arrive to the John Williams 'Imperial March'. Heroic teens befriend and hide alien weirdo thing, hijinks ensue. It's pretty much the book version of a made-for-TV movie and is enjoyable, unpretentious, fun, and fairly forgettable.
An alien weirdo thing escapes transport and hides in an idyllic English village which is promptly quarantined by the military and then the US spooks arrive to the John Williams 'Imperial March'. Heroic teens befriend and hide alien weirdo thing, hijinks ensue. It's pretty much the book version of a made-for-TV movie and is enjoyable, unpretentious, fun, and fairly forgettable.
meggyroussel's review
4.0
Tom Bale is famous for his intense thrillers. I have most of them on my TBR, but you know what it is like… When I first heard of The Stone Song, I was curious. I love it when authors venture into different genres and prove us their talent has many faces. When Tom asked me if I wanted to listen to his newest book, I didn’t hesitate. Call it instinct? I don’t know what it was, but I was on the lookout for my next audiobook, hoping for something different and captivating. Well, I found it.
Two siblings in the dead of night, a helicopter crash, different voices. It didn’t take long for me to be hungry with answers I tend to stay away from teenagers, they’re the reason why I gave up on the idea of teaching, but Lily and Jack didn’t get on my nerves. No. They sounded like your normal, not-so-stupid youngsters who happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Or were they?
The narration makes it obvious that there is more than meet the eye, in a strong and clever way. The parallel perspectives filled me with dread, fear, questions. But the first chapters didn’t prepare me for what was to come.
Stenhurst is your usual quiet village. But events are about to make it famous to the world.
As the cast of protagonists grew, so did my interest. Tom Bale has done a great job in capturing the bad guys, the good but clumsy ones, the worried parents, the crowd effect, and the general anxiety people feel rising when words are muttered.
To hide the secret recapture of a specimen called CatX, the authorities wave the terrorism threat. Something in me reacted so violently I stopped reading for a second. Isn’t this so plausible it becomes scary?
When the town is sealed under the pretense to find those terrorists, Lily, Jack, and their friends Erin and Oliver are faced with a choice – help the poor creature being hunted or turn their head and lock the door. This is when I knew I would love those kids. This is no easy decision, but Lily stands up and decides to show the CatX that all humans are not evil. Getting to know the CatX allows Tom Bale to show us what we are capable of. How do we react to what is different from us? Don’t lie. We can’t lie. When afraid, we run. The first thing that comes to mind is us VS them. The author really does a great job at fighting this idea with heart but also realism. I am not one for paranormal stuff. But The Stone Song never actually felt so supernatural that I had to roll my eyes. In fact, I didn’t do it once. Because although the CatX is something different and her story is beyond what I knew, for me, this book is about mankind. Power. The face of our society. Countries battling to get the big fish. Secrets. At what cost? When did we become so afraid we lost our empathy and allowed guns to replace thoughts?
I disagree if you think The Stone Song is a simple YA thriller. This novel is a strong and engaging novel with characters to root for, baddies that earn their name, a sharp tension ready to keep the reader on their toes, and a deadly race for life.
Two siblings in the dead of night, a helicopter crash, different voices. It didn’t take long for me to be hungry with answers I tend to stay away from teenagers, they’re the reason why I gave up on the idea of teaching, but Lily and Jack didn’t get on my nerves. No. They sounded like your normal, not-so-stupid youngsters who happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Or were they?
The narration makes it obvious that there is more than meet the eye, in a strong and clever way. The parallel perspectives filled me with dread, fear, questions. But the first chapters didn’t prepare me for what was to come.
Stenhurst is your usual quiet village. But events are about to make it famous to the world.
As the cast of protagonists grew, so did my interest. Tom Bale has done a great job in capturing the bad guys, the good but clumsy ones, the worried parents, the crowd effect, and the general anxiety people feel rising when words are muttered.
To hide the secret recapture of a specimen called CatX, the authorities wave the terrorism threat. Something in me reacted so violently I stopped reading for a second. Isn’t this so plausible it becomes scary?
When the town is sealed under the pretense to find those terrorists, Lily, Jack, and their friends Erin and Oliver are faced with a choice – help the poor creature being hunted or turn their head and lock the door. This is when I knew I would love those kids. This is no easy decision, but Lily stands up and decides to show the CatX that all humans are not evil. Getting to know the CatX allows Tom Bale to show us what we are capable of. How do we react to what is different from us? Don’t lie. We can’t lie. When afraid, we run. The first thing that comes to mind is us VS them. The author really does a great job at fighting this idea with heart but also realism. I am not one for paranormal stuff. But The Stone Song never actually felt so supernatural that I had to roll my eyes. In fact, I didn’t do it once. Because although the CatX is something different and her story is beyond what I knew, for me, this book is about mankind. Power. The face of our society. Countries battling to get the big fish. Secrets. At what cost? When did we become so afraid we lost our empathy and allowed guns to replace thoughts?
I disagree if you think The Stone Song is a simple YA thriller. This novel is a strong and engaging novel with characters to root for, baddies that earn their name, a sharp tension ready to keep the reader on their toes, and a deadly race for life.
bibliophilebookclub's review
3.0
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m a huge fan of Tom Bale’s thrillers, so I was delighted to see he had a new book coming out!
I really enjoyed The Stone Song. It’s got a lot going on, but it’s quite easy to follow. Lily and Jack essentially see something they shouldn’t one summer night, and what follows a game of cat and mouse between these kids and the authorities who have decided to seal off their sleepy village from the rest of the world.
The characters in this book are well-drawn, and I found myself rooting for Lily and Jack the whole way through. Especially when they discover the truth about the cover up, and the existence of CatX. I love how they took it upon themselves, along with their friends, to try and protect CatX from the agents who show up.
I don’t want to go into too much detail for fear of spoilers, but The Stone Song is a really engaging book. I liked the small village setting, the characters are great, and the villains are almost cinematic in their badness.
The Stone Song is a departure from the norm for Mr. Bale, but it doesn’t disappoint. Intriguing premise, empathetic and interesting characters and a great adventure.
Recommended for sure!
I’m a huge fan of Tom Bale’s thrillers, so I was delighted to see he had a new book coming out!
I really enjoyed The Stone Song. It’s got a lot going on, but it’s quite easy to follow. Lily and Jack essentially see something they shouldn’t one summer night, and what follows a game of cat and mouse between these kids and the authorities who have decided to seal off their sleepy village from the rest of the world.
The characters in this book are well-drawn, and I found myself rooting for Lily and Jack the whole way through. Especially when they discover the truth about the cover up, and the existence of CatX. I love how they took it upon themselves, along with their friends, to try and protect CatX from the agents who show up.
I don’t want to go into too much detail for fear of spoilers, but The Stone Song is a really engaging book. I liked the small village setting, the characters are great, and the villains are almost cinematic in their badness.
The Stone Song is a departure from the norm for Mr. Bale, but it doesn’t disappoint. Intriguing premise, empathetic and interesting characters and a great adventure.
Recommended for sure!
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