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The Windermere Tales #1
The Oracle Stone
SOME LEGENDS NEVER DIE.
JEKKU AJ’ERE can see everything from the start of time to the end, and it’s an agonizing curse. His only chance to bargain for freedom is to find the Oracle Stone, a magic artifact that was split into four pieces and hidden centuries ago.
LILYA NOOR wants to forget her past and be immortal, so she agrees to a blood oath that will grant her eternal life if she delivers the Oracle Stone to her Master of Magic. Failure is not an option, but what if the stone offers a better deal than simple immortality?
VAELTAJA IEVISIN has one chance for redemption: the Second Savior. Presenting the Savior and the lost Oracle Stone to his gods will end his banishment, but the Savior isn’t at all what Taja expected, and neither is the stone. And how much is forgiveness worth, anyway, when the gods are never satisfied?
There are higher powers at play, and Jekku, Lilya, and Taja must pull themselves together or risk losing everything to the vengeful spirits trapped in the stone. But it’s hard to save the world when you can’t trust anyone, including yourself, and certainly not the gods.
From debut author Talli L. Morgan comes a page-turning epic fantasy filled with magic, mythology, and high-stakes adventure.
JEKKU AJ’ERE can see everything from the start of time to the end, and it’s an agonizing curse. His only chance to bargain for freedom is to find the Oracle Stone, a magic artifact that was split into four pieces and hidden centuries ago.
LILYA NOOR wants to forget her past and be immortal, so she agrees to a blood oath that will grant her eternal life if she delivers the Oracle Stone to her Master of Magic. Failure is not an option, but what if the stone offers a better deal than simple immortality?
VAELTAJA IEVISIN has one chance for redemption: the Second Savior. Presenting the Savior and the lost Oracle Stone to his gods will end his banishment, but the Savior isn’t at all what Taja expected, and neither is the stone. And how much is forgiveness worth, anyway, when the gods are never satisfied?
There are higher powers at play, and Jekku, Lilya, and Taja must pull themselves together or risk losing everything to the vengeful spirits trapped in the stone. But it’s hard to save the world when you can’t trust anyone, including yourself, and certainly not the gods.
From debut author Talli L. Morgan comes a page-turning epic fantasy filled with magic, mythology, and high-stakes adventure.
355 pages, ebook
Published February 1, 2021
11 people are currently reading
400 people want to read
About the author
Talli L. Morgan
13 books59 followersTalli is a writer, artist, and librarian who believes that books make some of the best friends. You can almost always find them buried in books (literally and figuratively), but they can also be spotted running around attempting to pet as many dogs as possible.
You can find Talli on Instagram @tallimorgan.books and visit them at tallimorgan.com.
You can find Talli on Instagram @tallimorgan.books and visit them at tallimorgan.com.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 1, 2025
Hi, I wrote this little book, and I think it's pretty great :)
This book has given me a hell of a time since its characters first showed up in my head, but I love the story it has become and I believe I've finally done it justice. I'm so excited to share it with you.
This book has given me a hell of a time since its characters first showed up in my head, but I love the story it has become and I believe I've finally done it justice. I'm so excited to share it with you.
September 3, 2022
I think this book is fine. But that's kind of it in my opinion, it's just fine. Not terrible, but it also did not particularly excite me, with its more interesting aspect (Jekku’s curse) just brushed over for the most part.
The opening of the story seems to assume that you've read the blurb, which (as one of many readers who don't read those because they don't want to have preconceived notions) left me feeling a bit lost at first. Once I figured things out though, it was an easy world to get into; there's enough world building to make things feel fleshed out without being overwhelming, though it's all a pretty typical elemental-magic system type fantasy, so personally I'd have loved to see something more unique built in. (The six-legged elk is fantastic though, 10/10 would kiss one velvety nose.)
The POV characters are interesting, though occasionally their choices felt a bit sudden or irrational, and while Lilya never grew on me, I did enjoy Jekku and Taja a lot. The Jekku/Taja romance was definitely one of my favorite parts of the story; very soft and cute.
I really, really wish Jekku's curse had felt even a little bit grounded in his pov, though. He repeatedly tells other characters and the reader how it's destroying his life and for most of the book he's ready to do anything to get rid of it, but when we're in his pov I never *feel* like this is the case. Most chapters, his narration could be from literally anyone's pov. For someone who can see all of time and space so thoroughly that it's ruining his life, the most it actually comes up in the present story (ie, not expository references to parts of his backstory where he's seen people's futures), is when he meets a character who's future he *can't* see. Except that it literally doesn't matter that he can't see this character's future because he spends the entire book also not really seeing anyone else's future, so far as we can tell. Jekku could have given us an incredibly unique pov experience that set this book apart from other similar stories, and it's a real shame we miss out on that.
The plot of this story is pretty straightforward with a couple minor twists that don't actually change the plot's direction at all. I don't think there's anything wrong with that; it just is what it is, so how ever you feel about the first act is probably about how you'll feel through the whole story. There's a lot of places where the main character's agency feels limited by having older characters manipulating them, which in and of itself isn't a bad thing and could have made for some really powerful themes, but it doesn't feel quite explored enough to seem purposeful, imo. (Some readers might get more out of it than me, though!)
At its core, this is a book about a group of young people who travel from one place to the next to casually collect magic stones while wavering on whether they should work together or be manipulated by various immortal magic elders, and if that sounds like something you're into then you might very much enjoy it.
The opening of the story seems to assume that you've read the blurb, which (as one of many readers who don't read those because they don't want to have preconceived notions) left me feeling a bit lost at first. Once I figured things out though, it was an easy world to get into; there's enough world building to make things feel fleshed out without being overwhelming, though it's all a pretty typical elemental-magic system type fantasy, so personally I'd have loved to see something more unique built in. (The six-legged elk is fantastic though, 10/10 would kiss one velvety nose.)
The POV characters are interesting, though occasionally their choices felt a bit sudden or irrational, and while Lilya never grew on me, I did enjoy Jekku and Taja a lot. The Jekku/Taja romance was definitely one of my favorite parts of the story; very soft and cute.
I really, really wish Jekku's curse had felt even a little bit grounded in his pov, though. He repeatedly tells other characters and the reader how it's destroying his life and for most of the book he's ready to do anything to get rid of it, but when we're in his pov I never *feel* like this is the case. Most chapters, his narration could be from literally anyone's pov. For someone who can see all of time and space so thoroughly that it's ruining his life, the most it actually comes up in the present story (ie, not expository references to parts of his backstory where he's seen people's futures), is when he meets a character who's future he *can't* see. Except that it literally doesn't matter that he can't see this character's future because he spends the entire book also not really seeing anyone else's future, so far as we can tell. Jekku could have given us an incredibly unique pov experience that set this book apart from other similar stories, and it's a real shame we miss out on that.
The plot of this story is pretty straightforward with a couple minor twists that don't actually change the plot's direction at all. I don't think there's anything wrong with that; it just is what it is, so how ever you feel about the first act is probably about how you'll feel through the whole story. There's a lot of places where the main character's agency feels limited by having older characters manipulating them, which in and of itself isn't a bad thing and could have made for some really powerful themes, but it doesn't feel quite explored enough to seem purposeful, imo. (Some readers might get more out of it than me, though!)
At its core, this is a book about a group of young people who travel from one place to the next to casually collect magic stones while wavering on whether they should work together or be manipulated by various immortal magic elders, and if that sounds like something you're into then you might very much enjoy it.
May 28, 2021
This book was just what I needed after struggling to find something new and gripping in the fantasy genre. The Oracle Stone is a fun, fast-paced, epic fantasy adventure. The writing is lush and descriptive and the characters were all so fun to read about and each one had their own very unique voice and personality.
April 28, 2023
3.5/5 stars
The Oracle Stone is an epic fantasy that I would describe as Lord of the Rings meets Avatar: The Last Airbender. Jekku is a studious man on the run from the mage who cursed him with the ability to see all the threads of life. Lilya is a fire mage who dreams of a legacy greater than the mistake she made in the past. Taja is a man who has lost his magic and exiled from his people in search of redemption from his god. They are brought together by a prophecy as each seek to unite the four artifacts of the Oracle Stone for their own ends.
This book has great bones its story, and while it does mostly succeed in telling it, there was just so much room for more. The narrative doesn’t flow smoothly with an unnatural quality to the storytelling that don’t hold up when you think about it. The story just kept going and moving forward without adequately justifying the hows and the whys.
Each of the main protagonists have these fantastic backgrounds that never quite seem to be shown or manifest in their characters and we are just rather told about how it has impacted them. When they meet each other, their interactions never quite feel natural and mostly feel like it’s how the author needed them to interact for her story to work. Thus, their eventual relationships with each other don’t feel quite earned.
The Oracle Stone is an epic fantasy with a lot of charm, but it just needed quite a bit more work on the storytelling.
*I read this as a judge in the first Indie Ink Awards. My rating here may not directly reflect how I scored it there.
The Oracle Stone is an epic fantasy that I would describe as Lord of the Rings meets Avatar: The Last Airbender. Jekku is a studious man on the run from the mage who cursed him with the ability to see all the threads of life. Lilya is a fire mage who dreams of a legacy greater than the mistake she made in the past. Taja is a man who has lost his magic and exiled from his people in search of redemption from his god. They are brought together by a prophecy as each seek to unite the four artifacts of the Oracle Stone for their own ends.
This book has great bones its story, and while it does mostly succeed in telling it, there was just so much room for more. The narrative doesn’t flow smoothly with an unnatural quality to the storytelling that don’t hold up when you think about it. The story just kept going and moving forward without adequately justifying the hows and the whys.
Each of the main protagonists have these fantastic backgrounds that never quite seem to be shown or manifest in their characters and we are just rather told about how it has impacted them. When they meet each other, their interactions never quite feel natural and mostly feel like it’s how the author needed them to interact for her story to work. Thus, their eventual relationships with each other don’t feel quite earned.
The Oracle Stone is an epic fantasy with a lot of charm, but it just needed quite a bit more work on the storytelling.
*I read this as a judge in the first Indie Ink Awards. My rating here may not directly reflect how I scored it there.
March 15, 2022
I want to preface this review by saying I've been writing and consuming fantasy for as long as I can remember. I grew up on it. It's been a huge part of my life and the ability to imagine, develop, and escape to fantastical worlds has sustained me through every single one of my difficult times. That said... I really got sick of it for a time and needed to get away from it; as a reader at least. Upon getting back into it, I found myself extremely torn between craving the nostalgia of works I grew up with and needing something different than the same stories I already read multiple times. And when I find a book that hits that balance.... If I could give it ten whole stars I would.
There's something about how this story is told that is achingly familiar and yet it never felt formulaic or stale, and even the aspects of it I could predict managed to do something to twist my expectations. There's so much depth and heart within these characters that I couldn't help but fall in love with them the second they were introduced. Especially Lilya. We stan Lilya in this household.
This world feels alive. From every set piece, to lore, to the ways magic is described and utilized. If anything, I wish we'd been shown more types of magical affinities and how they practically manifest, but maybe in the future that'll happen.
What stuck with me the most in this book, however, is the different ways these characters are shown to fall prey to manipulation in their pasts and throughout. No matter how smart they are, how aware they are, how in control of a situation they believe they are. And in the end, cutting themselves free of all of these strings, might mean sacrificing the things they want the most. And maybe finding something different they didn't know they needed. These characters' journeys aren't as much about achieving or not achieving a goal, but growing into the notion that as much as it's natural to want to change the uglier aspects of their past, it may not be worth losing the people they've become because, or in spite, of those things. It's a bittersweet notion, but one that rings excessively true to me.
Needless to say, I really loved this book. I look forward to reading the sequel soon. I miss these characters already.
There's something about how this story is told that is achingly familiar and yet it never felt formulaic or stale, and even the aspects of it I could predict managed to do something to twist my expectations. There's so much depth and heart within these characters that I couldn't help but fall in love with them the second they were introduced. Especially Lilya. We stan Lilya in this household.
This world feels alive. From every set piece, to lore, to the ways magic is described and utilized. If anything, I wish we'd been shown more types of magical affinities and how they practically manifest, but maybe in the future that'll happen.
What stuck with me the most in this book, however, is the different ways these characters are shown to fall prey to manipulation in their pasts and throughout. No matter how smart they are, how aware they are, how in control of a situation they believe they are. And in the end, cutting themselves free of all of these strings, might mean sacrificing the things they want the most. And maybe finding something different they didn't know they needed. These characters' journeys aren't as much about achieving or not achieving a goal, but growing into the notion that as much as it's natural to want to change the uglier aspects of their past, it may not be worth losing the people they've become because, or in spite, of those things. It's a bittersweet notion, but one that rings excessively true to me.
Needless to say, I really loved this book. I look forward to reading the sequel soon. I miss these characters already.
February 28, 2023
Full text review: https://jamreads.com/reviews/the-orac...
Disclaimer: This score might be totally non-related to the one I've given for the Indie Ink Awards.
The Oracle Stone is the initial book of the Windermere Tales series, by Talli L. Morgan. As an Indie Ink Awards judge, I had it on my batch, and honestly, I'm really thankful for it, as it is a really enjoyable story, high stakes epic fantasy but with a strong focus on the characters, which is probably the best aspect of this book.
Jekku has been cursed for six years, being on the run, and not staying for much time in a place, as he's scared of being found by Firune, the mage that cursed him. After fleeing for a last time, and having to break the relationship with somebody he really appreciated, he decides that it's time to go for the object that Firune wants, the Oracle Stone; despite being a difficult quest, seems better than being tormented by uncountable images on his mind.
Lylia wants to become immortal, even if that means having to agree to a Blood Oath to Firune; the prize is getting the Oracle Stone to her Master. She doesn't know much about the real intentions of Firune.
Taja has been technically exiled from his village for years, but there's a chance for redemption: bringing the Second Savior and presenting him and the Oracle Stone to the gods.
Those three characters will get involved in a fast-paced adventure, after they all meet together. Taja discovers that maybe the Savior is not exactly what he expected; Lylia will be forced to collaborate with the rest of them; and Jekku, well, is not what will everybody thought.
Soon, a relationship gets developed between those characters, forming a group, with a special bond between Taja and Jekku.
While the trope is kinda common in the genre, the way Talli L. Morgan weaves it into a character-driven story, creates something different despite you can see some parallelisms with other fantasy novels. Our main characters are just pawns in the hand of bigger powers, until they realize they might need to sacrifice for others in order to change their destiny.
The Oracle Stone is a great fast-paced fantasy story, with a strong focus on how our characters grow along the journey. It sets a perfect ending to make you crave a sequel (it's a trilogy), and honestly, I really enjoyed it.
Disclaimer: This score might be totally non-related to the one I've given for the Indie Ink Awards.
The Oracle Stone is the initial book of the Windermere Tales series, by Talli L. Morgan. As an Indie Ink Awards judge, I had it on my batch, and honestly, I'm really thankful for it, as it is a really enjoyable story, high stakes epic fantasy but with a strong focus on the characters, which is probably the best aspect of this book.
Jekku has been cursed for six years, being on the run, and not staying for much time in a place, as he's scared of being found by Firune, the mage that cursed him. After fleeing for a last time, and having to break the relationship with somebody he really appreciated, he decides that it's time to go for the object that Firune wants, the Oracle Stone; despite being a difficult quest, seems better than being tormented by uncountable images on his mind.
Lylia wants to become immortal, even if that means having to agree to a Blood Oath to Firune; the prize is getting the Oracle Stone to her Master. She doesn't know much about the real intentions of Firune.
Taja has been technically exiled from his village for years, but there's a chance for redemption: bringing the Second Savior and presenting him and the Oracle Stone to the gods.
Those three characters will get involved in a fast-paced adventure, after they all meet together. Taja discovers that maybe the Savior is not exactly what he expected; Lylia will be forced to collaborate with the rest of them; and Jekku, well, is not what will everybody thought.
Soon, a relationship gets developed between those characters, forming a group, with a special bond between Taja and Jekku.
While the trope is kinda common in the genre, the way Talli L. Morgan weaves it into a character-driven story, creates something different despite you can see some parallelisms with other fantasy novels. Our main characters are just pawns in the hand of bigger powers, until they realize they might need to sacrifice for others in order to change their destiny.
The Oracle Stone is a great fast-paced fantasy story, with a strong focus on how our characters grow along the journey. It sets a perfect ending to make you crave a sequel (it's a trilogy), and honestly, I really enjoyed it.
April 25, 2022
Jekku doesn't want to be a hero ~ in fact, from the start he seems to be feeding right into the hand of the villain. Lilya is even worse off, actively at the beck and call of the sinister Firune from the start. It takes the exiled and humbled Taja to strike a balance and get the needle pointed in the Right (capital R) direction, but turning the noses of people under the unassailable spell of the broken stone takes a lot of work, a lot of trust, and a lot of magic...or does it?
Morgan's characters are wielders, but their relationship with magic is more a curse than a boon, including with regard to solving the cataclysmic forces they are dealing with. only Taja is uncorrupted which makes them a standout in a cast that otherwise seems to be pulled from one agenda to another. it's a world of uncertainty, of distrust, of necessary caution, and Morgan brings you through it testing your own loyalties. by the end you can well understand why the stone was broken. but the book definitely sets itself up as demonstrating the necessity of its healing.
Morgan's characters are wielders, but their relationship with magic is more a curse than a boon, including with regard to solving the cataclysmic forces they are dealing with. only Taja is uncorrupted which makes them a standout in a cast that otherwise seems to be pulled from one agenda to another. it's a world of uncertainty, of distrust, of necessary caution, and Morgan brings you through it testing your own loyalties. by the end you can well understand why the stone was broken. but the book definitely sets itself up as demonstrating the necessity of its healing.
July 12, 2021
If fantasy is at all a genre you enjoy, you really need to pick up this book! What a fantastic debut! Morgan has a way with words and has created a world unique to the fantasy genre. This page-turner is well worth your time! I can't wait to see what else Morgan has in store for readers!
August 7, 2021
I received a free ARC copy of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Man, it felt amazing to jump into a quest book again! It’s so of my favorite types of adventures but I haven’t experienced it for a bit. Thanks so much to Oracle Stone for giving me everything I want in a quest: danger, character development, worldbuilding…it has it all.
The relationships in here broke my heart in the best way. I was fully onboard and wanted nothing more than for our heroes to catch a break and just get to be together, damn it! The author is wise to give us just enough to want more!
If I had any complaints, it was that as with any multiple POV book, I had my favorites and always wanted to get back to them. But none of the POVS are bad. I enjoyed all of them. But I definitely had my favorites. That’s a great problem to have.
If you love a good adventure, characters that feel real, and relationships you can root for, definitely check this book out. It was a fast read for me and I enjoyed every minute of it!
Man, it felt amazing to jump into a quest book again! It’s so of my favorite types of adventures but I haven’t experienced it for a bit. Thanks so much to Oracle Stone for giving me everything I want in a quest: danger, character development, worldbuilding…it has it all.
The relationships in here broke my heart in the best way. I was fully onboard and wanted nothing more than for our heroes to catch a break and just get to be together, damn it! The author is wise to give us just enough to want more!
If I had any complaints, it was that as with any multiple POV book, I had my favorites and always wanted to get back to them. But none of the POVS are bad. I enjoyed all of them. But I definitely had my favorites. That’s a great problem to have.
If you love a good adventure, characters that feel real, and relationships you can root for, definitely check this book out. It was a fast read for me and I enjoyed every minute of it!
June 2, 2021
This was an engaging and fast-paced read. Three young adventurers are thrown together on a quest to retrieve an ancient magical artefact. They each have a curse or disgrace to overcome and they are bound to older, darker, characters who expect them to do their bidding. The story keeps you guessing where each character’s loyalties will end up as they pursue the pieces of the Oracle Stone, and each one develops along the way. All the three are interesting characters but Jekku was my favourite as the idea behind his curse was a great concept and his relationship with Taja was very well-drawn. Would recommend to anyone who wants a fun fantasy adventure!
November 6, 2021
This is an excellent character-focused fantasy novel! The three POV characters were all well developed, each with their own pain in their pasts and their own motivations driving their quest for the Oracle Stone, which made them all compelling to follow. Their interactions and relationships as they variously clashed and came together were also a delight. The slow-burn romance between Jekku and Taja (ahhh so cute and sweet <3) and the tenuous friendship between Jekku and Lilya were particular highlights.
Because the characters were so strong, with the focus primarily on each of their internal journeys as they go through this adventure, sometimes I felt like things were moving too quickly at the more plot-centered moments; some things felt a little too easy/convenient. I also wouldn't have minded things slowing down a little more so that each POV character got more on-page time, as there were spots where I wanted to see more from each of their perspectives. I am thus super looking forward to seeing more of them in the sequel!!
Favorite quotes:
"Blood meant nothing when the people who were meant to be family turned their backs as soon as you weren't the person they wanted you to be."
"All heroes deserve a nap."
Content warnings:
Because the characters were so strong, with the focus primarily on each of their internal journeys as they go through this adventure, sometimes I felt like things were moving too quickly at the more plot-centered moments; some things felt a little too easy/convenient. I also wouldn't have minded things slowing down a little more so that each POV character got more on-page time, as there were spots where I wanted to see more from each of their perspectives. I am thus super looking forward to seeing more of them in the sequel!!
Favorite quotes:
"Blood meant nothing when the people who were meant to be family turned their backs as soon as you weren't the person they wanted you to be."
"All heroes deserve a nap."
Content warnings:
November 9, 2021
What a joy to find this book! I loved everything about it. The characters are well developed and I cared about them all. Taja, Jekku, and Lylia are multi-dimensional and come off the page as if living breathing people. I especially enjoyed Lylia's arc. Even the villains Firune and Ebris were so much fun. The magic system is refreshing and the world-building superb. This is definitely going to go on my fave shelf. I can't wait for the second book to come out.
June 12, 2021
This book has a lot going on with its three POVs and its rich world (containing one of my favorite fantasy tropes, which is characters telling stories from their fantasy cultures - shout out to Vaeltaja), but it manages to balance it all out with the heartwarming relationships that form between the characters. I went into the story loving Jekku a lot but I truly can't pick a favorite of the main three. I want to give hugs to all of them. Read this if you're a fan of fantasy that looks awesome and gives you lots of emotions
March 23, 2021
What a fun story! My attention was kept all the way to the last page! The writing of the story was what I love most. Descriptive and relevant, but didn't hold the story back from moving along at a nice pace, because you can hardly wait to see what happens next. Good character development, helping me know to each one well.
June 2, 2021
3.5
A fun & soft little fantasy adventure with some adorable characters! I look forward to seeing Talli grow their craft. :)
A fun & soft little fantasy adventure with some adorable characters! I look forward to seeing Talli grow their craft. :)
August 18, 2021
I just finished reading the Oracle Stone last night and I absolutely loved it!! Highly recommend if you're on the fence.
The story follows three protagonists who are equal levels of endearing. (Taja is my favorite, I just want to hug him forever!) They have similar goals but conflicting intentions, so the whole time I was reading, I was like "Wait I want this for you but not for the others!" I enjoyed reading their journey together. In classic high-fantasy style, there's a lot of shenanigans, several unique settings and exciting plot twists! Without giving away anything, I feel that the ending was perfect for the story.
The Oracle Stone has great world building, particularly as it relates to the main characters. Particularly enjoyed learning about the places each character is from, and the main place of conflict, Gallien's Peak. I hope to read more about this particular world in future books!
The book tended to focus on plot over character, but that doesn't mean that character was neglected; each protagonist felt rounded and relatable, and I cared about them the whole way through. As mentioned before, Taja is my favorite, but I liked the others as well. Sometimes a book with multiple viewpoint protagonists can leave you rushing through the other chapters to get back to the viewpoint of your favorite - but I didn't do this at all with the Oracle Stone. As for plot, I was engaged throughout the whole book, right up until the last page. Need I say more?
Lastly, I'd like to say that the (queer) romance subplot was incredibly well done. I've seen so many fantasy stories that rush the romance for plot reasons, but this one felt natural and heartwarming.
To wrap up everything up: I haven't read a good high fantasy since I was young, and this one made me feel like a kid again. <3 I highly recommend it if you want a dose of classic high fantasy with queer characters, naturally progressing storylines and a satisfying (though not typical) ending.
The story follows three protagonists who are equal levels of endearing. (Taja is my favorite, I just want to hug him forever!) They have similar goals but conflicting intentions, so the whole time I was reading, I was like "Wait I want this for you but not for the others!" I enjoyed reading their journey together. In classic high-fantasy style, there's a lot of shenanigans, several unique settings and exciting plot twists! Without giving away anything, I feel that the ending was perfect for the story.
The Oracle Stone has great world building, particularly as it relates to the main characters. Particularly enjoyed learning about the places each character is from, and the main place of conflict, Gallien's Peak. I hope to read more about this particular world in future books!
The book tended to focus on plot over character, but that doesn't mean that character was neglected; each protagonist felt rounded and relatable, and I cared about them the whole way through. As mentioned before, Taja is my favorite, but I liked the others as well. Sometimes a book with multiple viewpoint protagonists can leave you rushing through the other chapters to get back to the viewpoint of your favorite - but I didn't do this at all with the Oracle Stone. As for plot, I was engaged throughout the whole book, right up until the last page. Need I say more?
Lastly, I'd like to say that the (queer) romance subplot was incredibly well done. I've seen so many fantasy stories that rush the romance for plot reasons, but this one felt natural and heartwarming.
To wrap up everything up: I haven't read a good high fantasy since I was young, and this one made me feel like a kid again. <3 I highly recommend it if you want a dose of classic high fantasy with queer characters, naturally progressing storylines and a satisfying (though not typical) ending.
February 22, 2022
The Oracle Stone is a classic and I enjoyed every minute of this read!
Set in another world, join Jekku, Taja, and Lilya on their journey to find the Oracle Stone.
I can't begin to explain how this is such an important book for the LGBT+ community.
The premise is simple, you follow the characters on their journey through Windemere, and I think it's exactly what LGBT+ fantasy is missing.
We need more books like these, that take regular fantasy stories and make them queer. That show relationships and character growth. Where characters just exist as queer without feeling like it's forced. I can ramble about this for days.
All the characters were endearing and I fell in love with their dynamic. Everyone ended up kissing Jekku and honestly it was a big mood because, if given the chance, I'd probably kiss him too. There was magic and mayhem, evil sorcerers, and simple yet unique worldbuilding.
Overall it wasn't a complex read, one of those books you can sit back and read and just get lost in without having to worry about figuring anything out or forgetting something. I absolutely loved it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a casual, queer read!
Talli Morgan is a master of their craft and I can't wait to read The Savior's Rise!
Set in another world, join Jekku, Taja, and Lilya on their journey to find the Oracle Stone.
I can't begin to explain how this is such an important book for the LGBT+ community.
The premise is simple, you follow the characters on their journey through Windemere, and I think it's exactly what LGBT+ fantasy is missing.
We need more books like these, that take regular fantasy stories and make them queer. That show relationships and character growth. Where characters just exist as queer without feeling like it's forced. I can ramble about this for days.
All the characters were endearing and I fell in love with their dynamic. Everyone ended up kissing Jekku and honestly it was a big mood because, if given the chance, I'd probably kiss him too. There was magic and mayhem, evil sorcerers, and simple yet unique worldbuilding.
Overall it wasn't a complex read, one of those books you can sit back and read and just get lost in without having to worry about figuring anything out or forgetting something. I absolutely loved it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a casual, queer read!
Talli Morgan is a master of their craft and I can't wait to read The Savior's Rise!
April 21, 2022
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I loved the characters and the lore and the magic and the world! The roles of gods and people's beliefs(or lack thereof) in them when the gods/godlike being have the potential to walk among them was so cool to see explored. I also like the affinity based magic and the way the characters didn't let their perceived limitations stop them from fulfilling their goals. Jekku with his magic, Tali with his desire to find acceptance among his people, and Lilya's need to make up for her past sins and to make a name for herself all made the story fascinating to read.
I will say that I sometimes found character choices difficult to understand sometimes(especially Lilya) because of flip-flopping. I wish there had been more interiority on how the characters felt about what was happening to them instead of just telling the bare minimum. It made them feel a little 2D at times.
It did feel like a couple of threads were left dangling more than necessary, but I'm excited to read the sequel to find out how the author ties them up!
I will say that I sometimes found character choices difficult to understand sometimes(especially Lilya) because of flip-flopping. I wish there had been more interiority on how the characters felt about what was happening to them instead of just telling the bare minimum. It made them feel a little 2D at times.
It did feel like a couple of threads were left dangling more than necessary, but I'm excited to read the sequel to find out how the author ties them up!
September 6, 2021
I cannot recommend this book enough—I was hooked from the first pages, and it only got better from there. The inner lives of the characters are fully fleshed out, and while the world building does not get in the way of the plot at all I had the sense of being fully immersed in a beautiful, complex, lived-in world. I’m probably going to have to read it a few more times while I wait for the sequel. It’s a page-turner all the way through, and the build up to the climax left me rooting for all the main cast, even when they were working against each other. The characters incidentally queer in a way we need more of in fantasy!!! This book also has the best archery lesson scene in fiction, period.
January 12, 2023
I cannot begin to describe how captivated I was by The Oracle Stone. After a strong start that had me puzzled and intrigued, I found myself rapidly drawn into this first entry in the Windermere Tales. I even ended up dedicating an entire afternoon to reading the whole second half, which says a lot considering how long I usually take to read a book! But what keeps me glued to a story above all else are wonderful characters, and The Oracle Stone has plenty of them. I loved the lead cast so much and want only the best for them — especially Jekku, the beloved bean. I really can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
Also, I am in love with that cover. It’s like observing the cosmos itself encapsulated in etched glass. Perfect!
Also, I am in love with that cover. It’s like observing the cosmos itself encapsulated in etched glass. Perfect!
March 29, 2023
I've been on the hunt for a fantasy with a quest-driven plot and The Oracle Stone definitely delivered that. This book is written in multiple POVs and I really enjoyed getting the reasons behind each character's decision to join the hunt for the separate pieces of the oracle stone.
Each character was well-written and fun to read about, but I think Taja was my favorite of the three. He really wanted to be accepted by his people and I was rooting for him all along, especially after learning why he was shunned and had his magic stripped away in the first place. Not to mention, I loved the sweet romance that developed between him and Jekku.
This was a fun read with an intriguing magic system, interesting plot, and wonderful characters!
Each character was well-written and fun to read about, but I think Taja was my favorite of the three. He really wanted to be accepted by his people and I was rooting for him all along, especially after learning why he was shunned and had his magic stripped away in the first place. Not to mention, I loved the sweet romance that developed between him and Jekku.
This was a fun read with an intriguing magic system, interesting plot, and wonderful characters!
December 18, 2022
The Oracle Stone follows a cast of three: Jekku, cursed with an eternal time thread, Taja, an outcast of a mythical race, and Lilya, an ambitious fire mage. All three are entwined with the task of finding the Oracle Stone, whether for good or otherwise.
I really enjoyed how Morgan wrote conflict between the characters. I always enjoy a reluctant hero, and each character's motivations forces them to interact together. Most questions are wrapped up by the end, though there's one I'm wondering about for the sequel. :]
Overall an enjoyable read. Some slow pacing in the middle but picks right up again, with a fast-paced (but proper) ending & wrap-up.
I really enjoyed how Morgan wrote conflict between the characters. I always enjoy a reluctant hero, and each character's motivations forces them to interact together. Most questions are wrapped up by the end, though there's one I'm wondering about for the sequel. :]
Overall an enjoyable read. Some slow pacing in the middle but picks right up again, with a fast-paced (but proper) ending & wrap-up.
August 11, 2022
Honestly I loved it.
Such depth and heart in this book; it was wonderful.
I love a multiple POV story and this one did it so seamlessly. I loved each character and their story and growth and never had to skip a POV or felt like I was jarred out of the story.
I feel so lucky to have a read this and I genuinely cannot find fault with this book and I am definitely going to check out this authors other work.
Such depth and heart in this book; it was wonderful.
I love a multiple POV story and this one did it so seamlessly. I loved each character and their story and growth and never had to skip a POV or felt like I was jarred out of the story.
I feel so lucky to have a read this and I genuinely cannot find fault with this book and I am definitely going to check out this authors other work.
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September 21, 2024Lilya Noor from The Windermere Tales is aromantic!
https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...
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