The Emerald Stones

The Kingdom, Book 1

By: Rob Ward

Narrated by: Rob Ward

Henry is an exceptional liar. He has many skills but lying is at the top of the list. He's been refining this skill throughout his young life. While playing in a graveyard with his siblings, they decided to play a cruel joke. They left him alone, at night, in a spooky graveyard to fend for himself. Henry didn’t think this was funny at all. He left the graveyard, looking for a home, and ended up in the most bizarre place. He's in the middle of nowhere, lost, and in need of help. As night wraps its cold arms around him, he succumbs to sleep.

When he wakes up, he realizes he's more lost than he could have ever imagined. An unlikely friend arrives, just in time. Henry’s introduced to a whole new world. His new friends are counting on his skills to free the Emerald Stones from Queen Bayla's grasp. Her iron grip on the kingdom is impenetrable and she rules without remorse. She imprisons and kills all who oppose her. Vast riches ensure she has a large army of faithful guards and spies. They will do anything to ensure she stays in power. Henry needs to find a way to free the people from her evil reign. But first, he'll have to embrace who he is, if he wants to survive his encounter with the queen.

©2019 Robert Arthur Ward (P)2019 Robert Ward

The Emerald Stones

Cute story but lacking in adventure. The first half of the story built up to an adventure where the hero of the book agrees to steal a necklace from the Queen. After he stole it all I could think was really? that's it?

The author narrated his own book, he does a good job except that the sound quality is not good at all. For any future books, if he continues to narrate, he needs to have a studio to get better sound quality. I could also heard a few times where he moved something, perhaps changing pages.

I was provided a copy of this audible free at my request, this is my honest review.

Cute story for any age!

I enjoyed this mystical tale about a barely teen who travels to another world. Henry is a liar and a sneak. He and his siblings are in an old graveyard when something happens to him and he's transported to another world. At first he thinks its a dream but soon after a few animal bites learns its real and the animals talk!
The kingdom is gray and lackluster as is the food and everything else except one area where the queen presides. She stole the stones from each area and keeps them with her on a necklace. This keeps everyone in check.The animals enlist Henry to help them retrieve the stones so they can have their world back but nothing happens without a few snags.
The story is simple and easy to follow. Henry's a likable kid and I loved that the animals talked. There's quite a bit of humor as well as imagination. The only part thing that threw me at all was the narrator. His voice was kind of monotone and his pacing took me adjusting the speed a few times to find what worked best for me. I also think maybe a younger voice would have fit Henry better as he's a teen not a grown man.
Overall it's a fun story with a "The Neverending Story" feel to it.

Fun and quirky

I loved this story! Quickly fun wildly entertaining with great world building and vivid details.

I know the author loves his story, but with a skilled narrator this book goes from good to phenomenal!

I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review

A Magic Portal Story

This is a typical magic portal story in which a teenager accidentally gets transported to another world when he finds an emerald ring in a crypt in a neighbourhood graveyard where he's gone exploring with his brother and sister. The plot is simple but enjoyable, featuring talking animals, an evil queen, a trio of spoiled princesses and a situation where the teen needs to safe the world as only he can.
I enjoyed it and found it well written and well narrated.

Fun and entertaining

This is a fun and entertaining story. I liked that Henry was open and honest about his flaws, which became assets in the alternate world he ended up in. He's a bit of a brat and a liar who isn't very nice to his siblings, but he eventually comes to miss them and appreciate them more. I loved the alternate world and characters and how Henry learned to fit in and use his skills to gain the stones and save everyone.

The narration was merely ok and the author/narrator's voice seemed a little flat to me and not very energetic. However, the story carried the audiobook in spite of the narration.

I received a copy of this audiobook from the author, narrator, or publisher at my request and have voluntarily left this honest review.