Reviewed by Natalie Gorna
Back in 2004, a small fantasy novel called The
Prophecy of the Stones reached American bookshelves. One of its main
attractions for me was that the original French version, entitled La
Prophétie des Pierres, was written by a fourteen year-old girl named Flavia
Bujor. The first part of the novel is the epic war in a magical, parallel
dimension between good and evil forces and the just inhabitants' physical as
well as mental rebellion against a corrupted government. However, the second
part of that struggle is set in modern-day Paris and enacted in an actual
patient's desperate survival through her overwhelming illness.
I noticed right away that The Prophecy of the
Stones is very profound and similar to The Lord of the Rings and theHarry
Potter series, the storyline complex enough to justify that the novel is
for readers older than children. Jade, Amber, and Opal share many traits with
Joa's character, a clear sign of the author's efforts to demonstrate the
parallelism of Joa's narrative and the three Stones' story. Redemption,
friendship, and the power of hope are the story's prevalent themes. For
example, Elyador, the Chosen One, is a man who underwent evil trials in his
life. He has turned away from the Darkness and faced the Light again, but all
his memories have been erased as a strange punishment for his desertion from evil.
This strange twist of fate helps Elyador reach his destiny—to be the temporary
king of the Realm and the warrior-king who must lead the ultimate battle
against the Darkness. His character can be compared to Christ's in some ways,
although Elyador is scorned and despised for different reasons. On one hand,
Elyador's past history makes him a hated figure throughout Fairytale (the land
where “nothing is impossible”); on the other hand, it is his amnesia and lack
of identity that have given him the chance to start anew and fight for the
Light, earning Fairytale's admiration and respect for his noble deeds.
The author’s innovative magical creatures,
magical beings, and the settings themselves contribute to the mystery and depth
of the prophecy, which is so crucial to the outcomes of the story and the main
characters. The three girls' different personalities add life and color to the
tale, just as the impending war, incomplete prophecy, and the uncertain futures
of all characters create suspense and action. The wisdom in The Prophecy of
the Stones is very thought-provoking, while the romance between several of
the main characters is not banal and concentrates on love and hatred, two
opposite emotions that radiate from the novel. Fear, anger, vengeance, and
despair clash with hope and forgiveness, thoroughly describing human weakness,
virtue, and the fact that every person must face his/her own dual nature of
good and evil. However, the author emphasizes throughout that human life and
society will never exist without the presence of both good and evil, a
resounding truth. Reality and fantasy may intertwine in Bujor's work of
fiction, but she still encourages the reader to never give up hope like Joa. I
only know that I never gave up hope on The Prophecy of the Stones,
because this is simply a splendid read worth making time for.
Market: Young Adult Fiction (fantasy)
Language: None
Sensuality: Mild
Violence: Moderate
Mature Themes: death, war, destiny, love, hatred,
independence
Book formats:
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