Hey Clan!
As we draw to the end of our Tale of the Clans rapid release, I find myself caught in reflection over Stone of Division and the rest of the books in the series.
Today marks the start of our 10-Day Countdown to Stone of Division’s Release. Honestly, of all my book babies, this one caused the most grief to birth. It forced me to be vulnerable and raw. Wrenched me from my comfort zone in countless ways and still leaves me nervous about its reception.
The Angst in Stone of Division
On a personal level, Stone of Division was the first book I wrote on someone else’s deadline. I feared the hurried pace would rob it of both quality in research and content that the other books in the series received.
Stone of Division also took a darker turn in content than its predecessors. Because it dealt in depth with harder topics, fleshing the story proved a constant game in Tug of War. How was I to strike the balance between harsh reality and God-centered values?
This book drives on the topics of sexual purity, infidelity, honesty in marriage, and family conflict. It also touches on psychological abuse.
Like the other books in the series, it carries over themes hammering on the consequences of lies contrasted with our need to build relationships on a foundation of truth.
The "Why" Behind Stone of Divsion
If you read Stone of Division Unveiled, you’ll know that this book focuses on those “Rock Bottom” moments that cause us to question everything.
But this book is so much more.
It’s about the culmination of redemption. As flawed human beings, it’s easy for us to be blind to our faults and feel that those hard turns in life (often brought about by our own follies) are unfair. It isn’t until we’re brought low, and see the error of our ways, that we truly understand our need for redemption and forgiveness.
That undeserved favor lavished on a wretch like me isn’t meant to glorify self, but Christ.
The Carry-Over and Contrast Between Tale of the Clans Books
Tale of the Clans is a series that speaks to the lost and those fallen away from God.
As works of fiction, they’re meant to take readers on adventures through Medieval Ireland and open up a world that is foreign yet intriguing to us in modern times.
While this escape utilizes extreme examples purely for entertainment, it alights on deeper truths that I feel we can all relate to in one way or another.
Without giving too much away, I’d like to touch on just a few of these…
Man of Sorrows
The prequel is set purely to give you the backstory into which our main cast is born, and hint at their purpose to come.
You’ll discover characters struggling in a relatively young clan discovering its place in the wider scope of Ireland. Testing boundaries and pushing back on the cultural norms that governed them were just a few of the aspects the Dal Cais were notorious for in the historical record.
You’ll also witness the laying of a foundation in Christ. A struggle of beliefs roiling between characters that both align and conflict with the faiths of the day. The contrasting stance that purpose and success either comes from self or God.
Rise of Betrayal
What happens when we strive against God? What happens when we fall away during times of tragedy?
When trust is damaged, can healing result?
These are just a few of the questions Rise of Betrayal addresses. You’ll find that these carry over to the rest of the books in the series.
It begins Nessa and Gideon’s stories and showcases their contrasts right from the gate: one a believer whose faith was never tested because of the comfortable norms of her life, and another an unbeliever hell-bent on ignoring the foundation of truth built beneath him because of the constant tragedies his family faced.
When their worlds are ripped apart, they’re forced to question everything. While their separate paths converge they’re also forced to make a stance that causes a ripple effect on the rest of their journey moving forward.
Lord of Vengeance
This tale brings a “wild card” into the mix. Brendan serves as a “teacher”, if you will, to drive home the conflicting paths that Gideon and Nessa set upon.
Brendan’s influence pushes on both sides in our ongoing themes addressing deception and vengeance. Because the character struggles in these himself, and because his influence in both Gideon and Nessa’s lives calls back further than either know.
Readers are pulled into the tangled web… not only of the politics of the day, but the “a-ha!” moments of an unknown plot. These lead the characters to discover the consequences of thinking lies serve a greater good and the ends justify the means.
Stone of Division
Now we come full-circle as the devastation of their actions begin to unfold and envelope the characters on a path they can’t escape.
At least, this is how it seems.
You knew it was coming. The inevitable point of no return. Will they keep going down the path of destruction? Will the proverbial snowball build into an avalanche? Or is salvation just beyond the horizon?
Secrets unfold, wills clash, and revelation dawns in this final book of the series.
Or is it?
