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The Black Ledge Series #1

The Keeper and the Rune Stone

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Alternate cover edition of ASIN B009ZSWKG0


An unholy ritual, a ticking clock. Four children discover there are things that go bump in the night ...

Centuries ago a group of Elves committed an unholy ritual. But the ritual was a spectacular failure. It transformed the Elves into the Noctivagi - the beings we know as vampires.

Striving to maintain a fragile peace, the ancient Elves and Dwarves negotiated an Accord, which they've renewed every year on the Summer Solstice. The ceremony depends on the magical Rune Stone, but it's missing. If it is not found—and quickly—the consequences could be dire, and not just for Elves and Dwarves.

Four children, Rob, Jack, Eleanor, and Flora, stumble into a world of magic and mayhem when they move into Black Ledge, the old estate on the Maine coast, and discover they aren’t the only ones who live there.

202 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2012

20 people are currently reading
1176 people want to read

About the author

Paige W. Pendleton

4 books252 followers

The secrets of the Red Paint People have haunted Maine for 7000 years.
Paige is busy writing those tales.



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5 stars
49 (35%)
4 stars
41 (29%)
3 stars
28 (20%)
2 stars
16 (11%)
1 star
3 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for Alicia.
44 reviews2 followers
August 12, 2013
The Keeper and the Rune Stone is a charming, family-centric novel that takes the sweet earnestness of The Boxcar Children and maps high fantasy elements onto it.

Eleanor Driscoll, our narrator, is a precocious, empathetic thirteen-year-old with two brothers and a younger sister. She begins her story with a reasonably awesome wish-fulfillment laundry list: the Driscoll family has moved into an enormous, beautiful mansion! And they get new computers! And bikes! And horses! Of course, they will have to do chores in order to maintain these last, because this is a family story.

More to the point, the children are quickly introduced to the world of magic. Their indoctrination comes with the enhancement of the senses, though not actual superpowers – except for the reasonably fabulous ability to speak with animals.

But, of course, magic always comes with a price. There are negative elements within the world of magic, and now the Driscoll children are exposed to them – and must fight on the side of the good.

This is the kind of light, middle-grade fiction that will be torn through by hands eager to find out what happens next in the world of Eleanor and her brothers and sister.

A note for parents: most of the novel is safely PG, but there are vampires (in this book they’re called noctivagi), and the bad-guy scenes are decently scary. It doesn’t get scarier than the prologue, though, so if you’ve gotten through that with no trouble, the rest is smooth sailing.

- review by Christa French

More book reviews here:
http://www.aliciafinnnoack.com
and
http://www.christafrench.com
Profile Image for Amanda Phillips.
32 reviews5 followers
February 5, 2013
Several things come to mind when thinking about this book. The first is pure joy. This is a book that you can read over and over and notice something new each time. It's a wonderful read for those of you with kids, I promise they will jump right in bed if promised a chapter of The Keeper and The Rune Stone each night. Your teenagers will willingly put down the remote to whatever game they have and pick this up instead. Since it is only $3.00 for the kindle version you won't feel even the tightest pinch in your wallet for a book the entire family will love.

The story starts with Eleanor talking about their new home. She and her two brothers and sister aren't happy about this particular house and didn't really understand why their parents bought it. Until they saw it on move-in day that is. Quickly falling in love with their new home, the four siblings decided to start exploring. It's been a pretty ordinary story up until now but then Jack finds a hidden opening to a cave and the adventure starts.

My absolute favorite character in this book was Gunnr. My heart went out to him and I wanted to hug him and tell him everything would eventually be wonderful. Honestly, my only drawback in the entire story was not knowing more of his background. I loved the gifts that being aware brought the children and would have given my left hand to have those abilities when I was younger. Present days I'm pretty sure I would keep that hand, it's rather useful for things like turning pages or holding my kindle while I eat.
Profile Image for Carolyn Wilhelm.
Author 16 books47 followers
July 6, 2013
The Keeper and the Rune stone and reading the the sequel now. A mix of Harry Potter, The Lord of the Ring, and horse camp books, female protagonist, hint of romance. Down to earth magic, list of characters and animals (who speak) at the end of book one. 2012 publication, perhaps self published? Very good writing, really. These books would provide a basis for thoughtful class discussions.
Profile Image for zapkode.
1,046 reviews77 followers
September 30, 2015
{my thoughts} - This book is something else. I must say it is rather engaging. I was pulled into the book after the second chapter. I had a difficulty putting it down so that I could go to sleep last night. This book is about the Driscoll family and their change of environment. The father of the family makes a break through as a scientist and because of that they are able to buy a used house that had been vacant for nearly thirty years. It’s a bigger house and it is full of nooks and cranny’s for the children to explore. The exploring doesn’t end inside the house, however it leads on outside as well. The children soon find themselves engaging in a new world, learning about things around them, that they didn’t know had existed before. The start to learn much of what they were taught to be fiction was actually real and that their lives were in the midst of changing forever more. This book is about locating a lost ruin stone so that a ceremony can take place on the summer solstice. There are a ton of twists and turns throughout and it is incredible. I love how the real world was nicely blended in with the “realm.” This is a must read book for anyone that enjoys reading about dwarves, elves and other beings of the sort.

{reason for reading} – I was given a copy of this book by the author in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Bethany.
63 reviews8 followers
October 29, 2013
This is the first book that I've had time to read in a while, life having taken over somewhat, and it was just what I needed.

The Keeper and the Rune Stone is a story full of magic, mythology, and little twists and turns. In many ways it reminded me of the Chronicles of Narnia, albeit that the plots are quite different, the style being similar.

The story itself is quite simple. A group of children become sighted, or aware, and are therefore caught up in the politics and battles of the creatures they can now see. Although there were some plot points that were possible to predict, this didn't detract from the novel at all which says quite a lot for the style of the piece.

The characters themselves work really well, each one having a unique personality. I particularly like the way in which Pendleton managed to make the characters of the animals believable because, in general, talking animals aren't my thing as their behaviours are too cliché.

Although this is probably a book aimed at children, and certainly is suitable for relatively young readers it is a book that I think can be enjoyed by anyone, if not because of the beautiful style, then because of the nostalgic feelings it awakens.
Profile Image for Juliana Rodrigues.
231 reviews19 followers
May 13, 2015
What a delightful story. The Discroll children have just moved in with their parents to the Black Ledge property, and while exploring the new house, garden, barn and beach, these four siblings discover much more, a whole Realm more.
Elves, Dwarves, Faires, Keepers, and many others creatures that were described by "fairy tales" actually exist and each year at the Summer Solstice has to perform an important ceremony to maintain the peace and alliance between the Realm's creatures and the Night Elves.
But now, the Rune Stone is missing and Anna, Rob, Jack and Flora will get involved on a plot more dense and dangerous that anyone foresaw.
This book is a good introduction to the series, the author don't rush while introducing her view of some legends and the various characters. The storyline has a stead pace, and the kids, the keeper and the animals gain the reader's empathy easily.
Good morals + funny, sweet and brave moments + some mystery = good book.
Profile Image for Niki.
230 reviews1 follower
July 24, 2013
When the father of the four Driscoll children makes a break through in science he makes a good amount of money and buys the mansion The Black Ledge. The kids are thrilled because they will have for the first time own rooms and more bathrooms, no more sharing more privacy. Summer break is there and the kids soon start to look around in the huge house and the grounds.

When they find a cave their lives change for good when they find the keeper who makes them "aware". They see, smell and hear more after that and soon they are involved in a world of magic and help the magic world to save it. they can talk with animals.
It is all well written I love how well Camden and the house is described. The characters as well and you can see everything just before you, Great read for YA too!!

I received a copy of this book for a honest review.
Profile Image for S. Policar.
Author 24 books135 followers
August 4, 2013
This is an adorable tale of good vs evil, friendship, trust, and hope.
The story is ideal for anyone of really any age to read so long as they still believe in the magic of the realm.
The violence in the story is very mild, and I think even elementary aged children will enjoy the story's quirky talking animals.
Elenore proves herself a very good heroine for this story, but to me, I saw little Flora being an amazing heroine in her own right. When most eight year olds would have been afraid, she was quite strong. She reminded me very much of my own six year old, who like Flora, runs around with a stunny bunny rabbit.
The story teaches acceptance, forgiveness, and a definite right and wrong moral as well.
I found no errors in this work which was an added plus and I look forward to reading book two "The Keeper and the Alabaster Chalice".
I give this book 4 of 5 paws
Profile Image for Rae Ryans.
Author 8 books177 followers
July 21, 2013
Reviewed by my son:

Mythical creatures and magic combine with modern day Maine to bring us The Keeper and the Rune Stone. It follows four children who move to Black Ledge. Exploring their new home, Jack finds a cave with a curious little man known as the Keeper of the Realm.

I've always enjoyed stories which feature creatures of myth and magic. The worlds and wonders they unlock take you to a special place, and it's far better than television. This is how I felt when reading The Keeper and the Rune Stone. Sometimes it takes me forever to finish stories, but this one really sucked me in.

I'd recommend it to middle grade readers and older, because mom says you're never too old for fantasy tales.

Profile Image for Jesse Kimmel-Freeman.
Author 28 books66 followers
August 31, 2013
I love the elements of this story. It has a lot of creatures that you've come in contact with before, only they are truly unique. The kids are real, and not done in a way that doesn't make sense or doesn't seem like a kid would be. The fact that the littlest is easiest to take on the new world that they are thrown into is pretty awesome and totally true.

This book left me wanting to know more about the different connections between the characters. What will it all mean? It was the kind of book that you can read by itself, but it makes you want to know what happens next! It's a great book.

I highly recommend it for those that love fantasy books with a new twist. I wish that I lived in a place that had a hidden cave and little man that would Awaken my senses.
Profile Image for Susan.
760 reviews32 followers
July 27, 2013
Paige Pendleton pens "The Keeper and the Rune Stone" in a well written plot filled with magic, mystery, adventure, mythology and a touch of humor. Between the author's characters that were believable and imaginative, and the excitement of the story line, I was captivated from the beginning. A must read for all YA and not so YA readers.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
Profile Image for Jessica Cowgill.
201 reviews4 followers
July 13, 2023
Great read

Loved reading this book. A nice refreshing change from what I have been reading lately. I would love to talk to a horse or even a crow (I love crows) it was unique and a few spots I was even surprised that my guess of "who's bad" was wrong and usually i can tell. I hope there's more because I didn't want it to end. Great read.
Profile Image for Zili.
790 reviews
August 29, 2013

3.5 Stars in my Sky!

I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review!

In The Keeper and the Rune Stone, Paige W. Pendleton has created a sweet and adventure filled story which kids everywhere will enjoy.

The story reminded me of a cross between Five Children and It, The Spiderwick Chronicles and The Wishing Chair but more focused on vampire-elfish creatures and magic. The story is about the Driscoll children's move into a fancy new house called Black Ledge. At Black Ledge and the Realm they meet mysterious creatures and get their own sense of magic. Told from the POV of Eleanor, the kids meet Camedon the Keeper (most defo not fae) and Ralph the Goblin, amongst others.

I personally felt a huge sense of nostalgia whilst reading Pendleton's story, because it reminded me of a childhood spent looking for magical creatures, hidden lands and fighting the bad guys and always winning!

The Keeper and the Rune Stone is the first in the series (check back soon for my review of book #2) and it has a definite hook which keeps readers entertained. It's probably best suited to (what us Brits call) Junior School or the younger high school aged kids, and I think my younger cousins will love the series.

Pendleton has created a good, clean, fun children's story featuring all things fantastical and includes a good old moral lesson; that of good v's evil.

My fav non-spoilery quotes:

•"Crabmatic. Not much of a fighter - he's too busy studying everything around him. Get it? Pragmatic?"
•"Human Beings are not the only intelligent life in the world." He smiled. "They just think they are."
Profile Image for Cassandra.
1,188 reviews108 followers
September 28, 2013
My Thoughts - 4 out of 5 unicorns - I really liked it!!

**Received ebook from the author for an honest review, but I actually already had it on my kindle as a hidden treasure :)

I like to start with the cover, and this cover doesn’t really grab my attention. I know you are not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but some covers really intrigue me to read them. Don’t judge this book by its cover because you will miss out on a great adventure!

The book started slowly, but you needed the background and learn about all the characters and the setting. I really enjoyed this story, and I’m glad I read it and can’t wait to read book 2.

My favorite characters are Eleanor because she is feisty but protective and caring. I also really liked Gunnr. He is a hero but also misunderstood. I really hope to see more of him in book 2. Gunnr and Eleanor have chemistry together, but it is mysterious too. Camedon is funny, and I’m sure I will see more of him POPPING in and out in book 2.

The world that Paige creates is wonderful, and I wish I could be aware and have magically adventures like the Driscolls and Charlotte. I can only imagine the conversations I would have with my trouble making cat Twister when he is in the mood to cause trouble.

I really think if you are into adventures in magical realms with Elves, Dwarves, and other mystical creatures that you will enjoy this story. I can’t wait to read book 2, but I have to read a few other books before I can get to it.

Thank you for sharing your wonderful story with me Paige!!
Profile Image for El.
198 reviews
July 12, 2013
Original review posted on So Bookalicious

*Note I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

The Keeper and the Rune Stone was a quick read that I really enjoyed. The first thing I loved about it was the map at the beginning of the book. I just love maps, they make it easier for me to visualize where the story takes place. The first few chapters were rather slow, because you got to get acquainted with the world the four kids stumbled into just like the kids. But after that the story swept me away and I was intrigued by the world Rob, Eleanor, Jack and Flora discovered. And like all the characters I wanted to know what happened with the Rune Stone. I liked the author’s view on how the Noctivagi (aka vampires) came to exist. The book had some very refreshing ideas about the mythical characters.
All characters were easy to love: Rob the smart one and Jack the playful one. Flora was a cute little kid. And Eleanor seemed much wiser than she actually was and I kept forgetting her age. Camedon, the keeper, was a funny old man (if this man was your grandparent you would be very happy). And then there was Gunnr. He’s a night elf and I liked him form the very first moment I met him in the book. So I hope to see more of him in the next one.

I loved reading this book and I’m definitely going to read the next one to see on which adventure the characters will go this time.
Profile Image for Yves Robichaud.
Author 2 books74 followers
January 24, 2013
Book Review
The Keeper and the Rune Stone
By Paige W. Pendleton

Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars

The Keeper and the Rune Stone is American author Paige W. Pendleton’s first book in the Black Ledge series. The Driscoll family has recently moved to an immense, rustic estate called Black Ledge in the quaint town of Camden, Maine. As the four family children explore the property, they discover a mysterious cave that opens a portal to a magical realm. When the siblings are teleported to the new world, they learn of Elves, Dwarves, Vampires and obtain the ability to communicate with animals.

It is a young adult fantasy tale that is fun for the whole family. The settings and characters are well described and easy to imagine. Each child’s distinct personality shines through and adds to the adventure. The plot is a bit relaxed but flows with ease.

While the Driscolls come to terms with their new surroundings, an important artifact required for an ancient ceremony has gone missing. Will the help of Light Elves, Night Elves and other creatures be enough for the Driscolls to solve this mystery before the powerful relic lands in the hands of the vampires?

For fans of young adult fantasy such as Chronicles of Narnia and Spiderwick Chronicles, this book is recommended.

Yves Robichaud
Author of Tomes of Taria: Kaylen’s Rising
www.yvesrobichaud.com
Profile Image for Terry Parrish.
159 reviews15 followers
April 12, 2013
What a wonderful book. So imaginative. I don't normally read YA, but have to say this one has changed my mind. The kids are smart, and although are siblings, have extremely different personalities. I like that. The other characters are funny and sad, but make the story what it is. The descriptions for where it all takes place, makes me want to visit the area myself. Overall, I would recommend this book to everyone who loves a great story. YA's are'nt the only ones who really like it! Fantastic read and can hardly wait for the rest of the series.
Profile Image for Amber.
251 reviews33 followers
July 11, 2013
The Keeper and the Rune Stone is a wonderful story set in Camden Maine. This book is full of fantasy and mythical creatures. Nothing for parents to worry with I think this is a great story for the middle grades. Paige Pendleton has created a magical story with mystery, character and charm.

I received a complimentary copy of The Keeper and The Rune Stone for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own and may be different from yours. Thanks
Profile Image for Heather.
506 reviews19 followers
February 6, 2017
Full Review: http://heathersreadinghideaway.blogsp...

Quick Review: I really enjoyed this story. The magical elements of the story were really fun. The author definitely has talent when it comes to story telling. I had a few issues with the writing but I am hoping that now the story has begun the second book will not have the same issues. I definitely plan on reading the next one.
Profile Image for Susan Miller.
574 reviews
Read
January 18, 2016
A cute story. I liked that it takes place in Maine. Also the children learn quickly there is a different realm & learn their own gifts one of which is being able to communicate with animals. The story encompasses elves, dwarfs, fairies and indigenous Native Americans such as the Red Painted People & Abenaki.
Profile Image for Aimee Thomas.
20 reviews10 followers
April 14, 2016
Not a bad story but not the best I have read. Reminded me a little of The Hobbit mixed with a vampire story. I really got sucked in when we learn about the connection between Gunnr and Eleanor and for that reason I will be reading the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Deborah Sastroredjo.
176 reviews40 followers
May 8, 2013
It was a nice story, I liked it, but I guessed it was more below my reading level then I thought. I will pass it on to my son though
Profile Image for Marsha.
1,495 reviews11 followers
February 17, 2016
The Keeper and the Rune Stone by Paige W. Pendleton is a great story. A bit young for me, perhaps, but the story line is terrific and the characters are solid. A terrific teen fantasy read.
Profile Image for Hope Casais.
15 reviews2 followers
February 6, 2014
Enjoyable, I just wish it had been a project undertaken by a better writer.
5 reviews
May 17, 2014
It was light and enjoyable. Reminiscent of C. S. Lewis
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