Heart of Stone

Gargoyles Series, Book 1

By: Christine Warren

Narrated by: Laurel Wilson

Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

Ella Harrow is trying to carve out a normal life for herself. Well, as normal as an art geek with psychic abilities can hope for. As museum docent and gift shop manager, Ella is able to keep her distance from people - and her powers in check - while surrounding herself with the artifacts she loves. But how on earth is she supposed to act normal when a thousand-year-old statue on the museum's terrace suddenly comes to life? Not your ordinary gargoyle, Kees has been asleep for eons, waiting for a portent of evil to wake him from his slumber. Kees isn't a vision; he's a bat-winged guardian created to protect the world from the seven demons of the Dark. Somehow, Ella triggered his reawakening. Maybe the demons have been unleashed? Maybe his heart is finally ready to be chiseled open? The fate of the world isn't carved in stone...yet.

©2014 Christine Warren (P)2014 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A clever, wry tale that bodes well for future installments." ( Publishers Weekly)

A wonderful book. Awesome narrator..

Any additional comments?

I was entertained through the entire book and it was a terrific love story, too.
Loved Kees and Ella. Loved her training in the magic she held. No matter what the others say it was a great book. And the sex? Whew..

As for the narrator? She was just wonderful, too. She did a great job on the voices and when the story called for a laugh or sigh she did it. A whisper was actually a whisper. That's how a book should be read. I would listen to this narrator again and again. She does read rather slow, however, so it's perfect on 1.25 speed.

Mediocre, not making me want to continue

I’ve read up to in chapter 7 but am quitting here. All the elements are there, the fantasy details (gargoyle, magical beings, and so forth) are being laid out in an easy-to-follow manner. The characters are fleshing out as we go on though not as quickly as it seems they should be. But there is no spark to it all. It feels like a rough first draft where actions, dialogue, settings are put down but are waiting for an infusion of life.

It isn’t bad. It just isn’t grabbing me and making me want to find out what happens next.

The narration was pretty good though I felt the gargoyle was a little like just a regular non-narrator person imitating a guy. It got easier to accept the longer I listened.

Heart of Stone

Not what I expexted but enjoyed the story very much. Looking forward to the next one.

Wonderful story and the narration is top notch!

This is probably the best narrator I have listened to. it made the story so much more dynamic! I really loved every minute I listened to!

Not the best performance

I only listen to books I've previously read in print so I don't miss anything from the story. I obviously like the story from having read it before, otherwise I wouldn't bother purchasing the audio version for listening to while walking, commuting, etc. This title could have done with the two narrator treatment. There is only a female narrator, which I normally don't mind, but in this instance the main male character is supposed to have a very deep, gravely voice (he is a gargoyle after all, but don't call him that). Nothing against Ms. Wilson, most women can't achieve this type of voice and her characterization of Kees doesn't match the description of his voice. It took me a bit out of the story. The other problem I had with Ms. Wilson's performance was that her narration voice was the same as the main female character's speaking voice. I prefer to have a distinction so it's clear when the audio switches from narration to dialog, if the book was first person it would be a different case, but this is book is written in third person.

Not bad, just a little slow.

I normally love Christine Warren, but this book was one of my least favorites. Maybe because the author was trying to establish the new series, there was very little story line and just a lot of background information. I'm hoping the next books in the series are better. I'll still get the next book.

The narrator wasn't very convincing as the guy. It was a really fake sounding girl interpretation of a guy's voice.

Overall it was good

The intimate scenes last forever and ever like a whole chapter but it had the start of a good storyline let’s see what the second one says and then we’ll go from there I like the character of the gargoyle and it wasn’t too much mushy mushy when you get into somebody’s had it and stay there over and over and over again

Blah, blah, blah

I was intrigued then bored then disappointed. Ella was strong, inteloigent, and powerful. Keep was ancient, strong, and magical.

I did not care for the long drawn out process of getting to the goods. The bad guys were evident.

I was expecting more from the story and the narrator.

wish audible had them all

i loved the way this is written and was hooked from the first now ive read it like 4 times and always come to the same conclusion when i finish the second one i wish all of them were on audible as it is my main source of literature

Not fully flushed out but will pick up book two

The concept of the book and the series is intriguing, I just wish that it had been more interesting and fast paced. I love CW and really wanted to love this book but it just didn’t turn out that way, I did enjoy it as most of the storyline was good but I felt that the quick discover as notes in the book to explain what an ancient gargoyle never knew to be an afterthought and just fell short and way too hurried for something so important. I understand that a lot of background had to be laid in this book and I did enjoy the book although it was slow going at times so I will check out the next book in the series, to see what happens from here.