The Forgotten

Alastair Stone Chronicles, Volume 2

By: R. L. King

Narrated by: Will M. Watt

When a friend asks Alastair Stone to question a disturbed child who's committed a horrific act, Stone has no idea what kind of rabbit hole he's starting down. His investigations uncover more instances of appalling crimes, all committed by people with no history of violence. And other people have turned up missing.

It's not long before Stone crosses paths with Jason Thayer, a young man searching for his runaway sister who might be a victim of the same bizarre affliction. Together, Stone and Jason are embroiled in a network of odd homeless people, strange symbols, a growing conspiracy, and deadly danger. Even if they find Jason's sister in time, there's no way to know if they can help her--and it's soon clear that the problem is a lot worse than they originally suspected.

What do you do when you discover an extradimensional plot that threatens the safety of the entire world, but you can't tell anyone about it because literally anyone on Earth could be part of it?

©2012, 2013 R. L. King (P)2017 R. L. King

I like the new characters.

The gory part surprised me, but I liked the whole story. It was a good book

Overall it was interesting and engaging, But a little flat

Though I did enjoy it overall, I find it difficult to accept this is an Alastair Stone book when for almost the whole book he is just a supporting character and we see everything from Jason’s point of view. In fact, once they meet up, Stone doesn’t have a single chapter from his perspective. I found this choice to be very weird for a series ostensibly about Stone. We’ve also been told but not shown that Stone is a powerful made but he seems pretty damn weak in both books so far. He doesn’t even seem all that knowledgeable since there are multiple occasions where he realizes something that he admits should have been obvious. Sure he does some stuff in the end but before that is a series of him getting injured and blindsided while his supposed side kick does most of the work. Maybe it would make more sense to me if he was elderly but he is supposed to be in his 30s.

Also, don’t expect a sophisticated magical society here, there isn’t one. Unless you count magic hobos that even the mage didn’t know about. There doesn’t even seem to be a magic policing force that comes in to demand secrecy. Honestly a weird choice as that is a staple of the genre.

Narration is fine, not great but not bad either. He is no James Patrick Cronin, but no one else is.

Stone reminds me of a less competent version of Prof Croft, the benefit he has over Croft is 40 books. I’ve read a lot of urban fantasy; Dresden, Templeverse, McCool, Cain, overworld, Doc Holliday, Hellequin, Demon Accords, Prof Croft; just to name a a few. There are others that I have read but these ones are the ones I’ve read all of at least once but usually more than once. Most of the other Urban fantasy I’ve dropped after a few books. After this book I would say Stone is between those books and the ones I drop. I have my doubts I’ll make it through all 40 books, especially if every book has stone as a secondary character like this one. But I’m willing to stick around for a few more in the hopes that the world gets more fleshed out.

Book 2 is Better than Book 1

Much better supporting characters and better back story for Stone. This book was way better than the first. I almost stopped after 1 but I’m glad I didn’t. Now I’m excited for Book 3!

Overall rather flat

I really enjoyed the first book, especially the narrator, it was incredibly distracting at the beginning of this one to not only have a different narrator but starting out Will M. Watt's lisp was extremely noticeable and distracting; it does get better as the narration goes on but occasionally it sneaks back on and kicks me in the ear.
The story was interesting as a setup for further tales but I did feel it meanders a little too much to truly be gripping; in fact I caught myself having drifted off for a chapter or two on more than one occasion and having to skip back and relisten.
It's not great, not as good as the first book but I got through it and have hope for the next in the series.

THIS WAS GREAT!!

I believe Alaster Stone is going to be my 3rd love after Harry Dresden and Alex Verus.

I don't understand why folks were saying it was anticlimactic. So not true. I love the 2 new additions to the crew.

I can't wait to start book 3!! So totally good!!!