The First Stone: Book Six of The Last Rune [Mass Market Paperback]

Earth and Eldh always have been linked in some way beyond the understanding of humanity. On Eldh, magic is the commonplace norm while science rules the earth. Travis Wilder is a powerful mage on Eldh, but for the past three years he has lived on earth with his lifemate Beltan, an Eldh warrior with fairy blood.

Their peaceful time together ends with earth and Eldh moving towards annihilation as a rift in the sky widens; if the opening continues to spread, the multiverse will vanish into nothingness. The Philosophers, who have achieved immortality, drank the blood from the seven sorcerers who left Eldh for earth to sleep for two millennia in peace. They are critical to healing the rift along with Travis and his daughter, but the modern day Philosophers and sorcerers want to stop the outsiders from intruding on their power.

Book six of the Last Rune saga answers all the questions hanging from the five previous works with a terrific conclusion to a brilliant epic fantasy. Travis is an honorable man forced to play hero though he does not want to the destiny of two worlds but knowing success is slim, he still gracefully accepts the mantle. Friends, fantasy lovers, and earthlings we have come to praise Mark Anthony for he has gifted readers with a triumphant saga.

Harriet Klausner

The First Stone (2004) is the sixth Fantasy novel in The Last Rune series, following The Gates of Winter. In the previous volume, Grace stabbed Fellring into Berash and shattered his iron heart. Fellring was also scattered. When the Pale King fell, so did the feydrim and his other constructions.

Travis followed the Maugrim to an entrance to the Twilight Realm. Then the Imsari stones led him to the Dawning Stone. There he broke the world and then recreated it.

In this novel, Travis Wilder is the Runebreaker and a Fateless One. He is also the lover of Beltan.

Beltan was a warrior on Eldh. Now he is a taxi driver on Earth and the lover of Travis.

Vani is a T'gol, a protector of the Mournish. She is also the mother of Beltan's -- and somehow Travis's -- daughter.

Grace Beckett is the Queen of Malachor. A former emergency room doctor on Earth, she lead the revolt against the Pale King. Now she is reuniting the empire.

Deirdre Falling Hawk is a Seeker with Echelon 7 access to the archives. Her partner is Anders, a former security guard.

Hadrian Farr is a former Seeker, but disappeared some time ago. He had been Deirdre's partner.

Sareth is Mournish. He is married to Lirith and has one child: Taneth. He is also the brother of Vani.

In this story, a dervish appears in a small village in the Morgolthi. After bringing water to the almost dry spring, Farr confronts the villagers. He announces that the lost city of Morindu the Dark has been found.

Word of the discovery is passed on until it reaches Sareth. Since Vani is not available, he prepares to go meet Farr. He sends his wife and their son to visit Aryn in Calavere. Then he and another Mournish go to Kalos to catch a ship across the Summer Sea.

Travis and Beltan are living in a flat within London. One day, Vani appears with Nim, Beltan's daughter. It has been three years since Beltan and Travis have seen Vani and they have never seen Nim.

Travis and Beltan welcome Vani and Nim. But then the Scirathi come for Nim. Travis calls Deirdre and she hurries to the flat.

Deirdre arrives just in time to help them flee to the Tube. Yet the station is closed for maintenance and is empty of people. But the gorleths are waiting for them.

Meanwhile, great rifts in the sky are appearing near both Earth and Eldh. The two worlds are approaching each other within the Void. The populations are falling into depression and apathy.

This tale presents Travis and his friends with another fight against total destruction. This time everything will vanish into nothing. Travis and friends tend to feel that this has happened too often and it is time to stay out of the fire.

Yet Travis and the others keep fighting. This is the last volume in the series. Read and enjoy!

Recommended for Anthony fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of various magics, magical quests, and true romance. For anyone who has not previously read this series, the initial volume is Beyond the Pale.

-Arthur W. Jordin

I had the series of 6 books of the Last Rune for a while before I finally read them, and when I did I was kicking myself for waiting so long. I could hardly put down each book as I read through the marvelous happenings that occured to Grace and Travis, and then the friends they make along the way. This particular book wrapped up the series nicely. It was a little sad, somewhat bittersweet, and not your typical "Everyone winds up living happily ever after" scenario. I for one was pleased because I get a little tired of the same old same old where everyone pairs up in some kind of romantic bonding, and the end is almost predictable. It wasn't until the very last book that I realized how everything was really connected as the Author finally spelled it out far more literally for us. I enjoyed that aspect of the books, the fact that I couldn't easily jump ahead!

I notice one of the commentators mentioned a poor rating in regards to this book and how it had nothing to do with the others -- but thats not exactly true. The other books were just a prelude really, other 'happenings' in the worlds that were taking place and certainly needed to be dealt with. But as we know, even if you solve one delima, that doesn't mean there isn't another, equally bad or even worse delima hovering just over the horizon.
As for Travis' family 'breaking up' and him supposedly not being with Vani, I think you should read the book for yourself and see exactly what happens, for it isn't as cut and dried as that statement implies. Vani and Travis' relationship isn't the end all and be all of the story after all. There's so much going on and so many connections between people that you can't focus on one simple aspect of the story.
I highly reccomend this series of books and I hope this author has more stories comming.

I would definitely reccomend this book.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 5 reviews  4.8 out of 5 stars