Book Review: Stonebearer's Betrayal by Jodi L. Milner

​Only a Stonebearer can safely wield the power within, and using the magic exacts a heavy toll.

​Katira is a simple girl in a small village, raised by her blacksmith father, Jarand, and village healer mother, Mirelle. Or is she? Her life, as she's known it, has been a facade.  

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​When Jarand protects her from an attack by mysterious beasts using forbidden magic, Katira learns the truth of her heritage and everything she's taken for granted comes crashing down.

​Stonebearer's Betrayal is a YA coming-of-age tale set in a world where people born with mystical energy utilize artifacts to channel their power. The story's POV alternates primarily between Jarand and Katira, exploring themes of loss, betrayal, fear, longing, and love. As a parent, I would feel safe letting my pre-teen children read this tale of good vs. evil.

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What I liked:

​The author builds a world with an elaborate magic system with limits and consequences. The landscape is described well enough for the reader to enter the Stonebearer's world in their mind. As a father of adopted children, I identified with Jarand, the foster father. Even though they were not related by blood, he made sacrifices for the protection and safety of his adopted child.

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What I didn't like:

​I didn't see Katira as the main character, or as a strong, young female protagonist. To me, Jarand seemed to be the primary actor. The story was told from his POV more often than Katira's. When we did see the world through her eyes, she seemed more like a reactive follower than a proactive lead.

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​Bottom Line:

​Stonebearer's Betrayal is a good story for middle-grade to young-adult readers and will spark their imagination with its unique magic system and relatable life struggles.