Review: Cornerstone by Kelly Walker

Name of book: Cornerstone (Souls of the Stones #1)
Author: Kelly Walker
Publication: October 22nd 2012
Genre: YA Fantasy
Source: Provided by the kind author...
Goodreads

In a world comprised of three rival kingdoms as different from each other as the families that rule them, Emariya Warren is unique in being a daughter of not one but two of the ruling families.

Sixteen years ago, Emariya narrowly escaped dying on their cold estate floor beside her mother. Now, after learning her father has been captured, Emariya makes the desperate decision to follow in her mother's ill-fated footsteps and journey to marry the prince of a rival land, Torian Ahlen. But when Emariya discovers the secrets of the three families and an ominous prophecy warning the three bloodlines must never be combined, she begins to fear the handsome prince waiting for her may desire more than to steal her heart.

-- My Rating --

-- My Thoughts --

     I didn't put too much expectations into this book when I started reading. So I dove in blind expecting a typical paranormal romance with minimum world building. Oh, I  was wrong. Way wrong.

     Emariya Warren is daughter of the Lord of Warren's Rest. Her father was the head of the council that rules Eltar  - one of the three ruling kingdoms - before he went missing. Now, Emariya lives a normal life with her brother, Reed. But suddenly, everything comes crashing down when she is informed that her father is still alive and imprisoned in Sheas - one of the three ruling kingdoms- The only way Emariya can save him is by accepting Prince Torian Ahlen's hand in marriage, and travelling to Thalmas -one of the three ruling kingdoms- to be his wife and the kingdom's princess. 

     But, as Emariya gets to know; the road to Thalmas is not an easy one. And everywhere she goes, the more about her past, present, and future, she learns. Why has Sheas imprisoned her father? Why has Torian requested her hand when no one even knew that Lord Waren had children? Will Emariya ever reach the Ahlen Castle? And will she ever come to love Prince Torian? Find out much more when you read this action-packed, enchanting tale, Cornerstone...

     I LOVED many aspects in the books. The first is the author's writing style. She is very... I can't find the right word ... philosophical, maybe that is it. I loved how she twists and turned the words into meaningful sentences.

“I think you owe it to them to consider the possible, as well as the definite. Should you not prepare for a storm because it is only a possibility? Should you not fear a man wielding a sword, because it is only possible that he will strike true? As leaders, it is our obligation to prepare for possibilities.”

     I also loved the way the characters spoke. It was, at times, old-fashioned. But I LOVED it. Just like the quote above. Second, I LOVED the world building. I could vividly imagine every part of the magical world. Emariya experienced the new landscape and we did, too. I could almost feel the breeze and see the mountains with the raging waterfalls. Lovely, indeed. 

     Third, I LOVED the characters. Emariya is a friendly, but stubborn girl. Even when she is weak, she would never ask anyone for help. Which I loved about her. Although there is a love triangle, it was sweet and believable. Garith and Torian both captured my heart, and I don't think I can choose a side, yet. There was one "little" thing that I didn't like about this book. It was the connection-at-first-sight between Emariya and Torian. Which was a little unbelievable. Loved the development between them, though.

     This book is full of unexpected twists and turns, that will leave you breathless. I loved it. A very promising debut. Definitely one of my favorite reads this year. If you want an exhilarating, romantic story then this is the one! I cannot wait for the sequel, Second Stone.

Favorite quotes:

"Here, the flat spacious plain met the rocky, barren mountains in a perpetual battle that the plains were fated to always lose."

“ Blood and Stones as one brings darkest night.” (you wouldn't know the meaning of this if you haven't read the novel)

"Perhaps fear stemmed from the unknown. The agony was in the need to make a choice. Weighing the options, trying to predict the outcome. Once a choice was made, all that was left was to see it through."