The Three Stones of Ebon

THE THREE STONES OF EBON

By David and Keiko Mello

Illustrated by Keiko Mello

One of the fun things about being a writer is having an unlimited imagination, which is a plus when it comes to fantasy and worldbuilding. What starts out as a typical, average life for a child suddenly changes when they are thrust into a magical world they never dreamed of, like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Today, it happens to 11-year-old Jack Russo in David and Keiko Mello’s The Three Stones of Ebon.

Our story opens with Jack and his friend Timmy playing pirate, with Jack making assumptions and some mean remarks about their elderly neighbor Mrs. Krauss. Jack’s father chastises him for this. Having done work on her house, Jack’s dad brings him something Mrs. Krauss wanted him to have—an urn. This was no ordinary urn; there were pictures of a boy and a cat on it who bore a striking resemblance to Jack and his cat Lucky, plus a red-headed girl and a black winged horse. No one can get the urn to open until one night it opened for Jack, and he was transported in time to the world of Sturgus.

He and Lucky land in the Meadow of Tears and encounter a statue of a huge winged horse and—surprise—Lucky can talk! Through an assortment of humans, cats, and magical creatures, Jack learns of the evil sorcerer Pale, and the three stones that comprise the mind, heart, and soul of Ebon, the winged horse. According to prophecy, Jack and Lucky were chosen to find the three stones and restore them to Ebon, bringing him back to life in order to save Sturgus from the further tyranny of Pale.

First, I must give a hat tip to the authors for the name of Fay’s pirate ship—definitely a play on words (you’ll understand why). I have no doubt that Lucky and the inhabitants of Sahaland will appeal to cat lovers everywhere. The main characters make friends along their journey and have their challenges and scary encounters which put them to the test, including testing Jack’s skepticism. There are lessons in bravery, keeping an open mind and to avoid judging. Oh, yes—there is a plot twist at the end, but it’s so much sweeter after you have enjoyed the journey.

The Three Stones of Ebon is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Strive Publishing.

Thank you, David and Keiko, for an amazing cover-to-cover read, and for taking us along for the ride!