Product Description

Deep in the City something had been woken, so old that people had been walking past it for centuries without giving it a second look…’

When George breaks the dragon's head outside the Natural History Museum he awakes an ancient power. This prehistoric beast, sentry-still for centuries, hunts him down with a terrifying wrath. And this is just the beginning… The taints and spits – statues with opposing natures – are warring forces; wreaking deadly havoc on the city landscape. The World War One gunner offers protection of sorts; and the wisdom of the Sphinx is legendary. But George and his companion Edie are trapped in a world of danger. And worse – they are quite alone. The rest of London is oblivious to their plight.

This epic adventure exposes forces long-layered in the fabric of London. After entering its richly original and breathtaking world, the city streets and skyline will never again seem the same! (20061203)

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21504 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-20
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 496 pages

Review
A fantastical, fast-paced adventure. (Publishing News )

Thrilling stuff.

(The Scotsman )

An admirable debut.

(The Sunday Times )

A highly original page-turner.

(The Sunday Times )

A supernatural thriller with an intriguing premise.

(The Mail on Sunday )

Synopsis
Deep in the City something had been woken, so old that people had been walking past it for centuries without giving it a second look!' When Georgebreaks the dragon's headoutside the Natural History Museum he awakes an ancient power. This prehistoric beast, sentry-still for centuries, hunts him down with a terrifying wrath. And this is just the beginning! The taints and spits -- statues with opposing natures -- are warring forces; wreaking deadly havoc on the city landscape. The World War One gunner offers protection of sorts; and the wisdom of the Sphinx is legendary. But George and his companion Edie are trapped in a world of danger. And worse -- they are quite alone. The rest of London is oblivious to their plight. This epic adventure exposes forces long-layered in the fabric of London. After entering its richly original and breathtaking world, the city streets and skyline will never again seem the same!

About the Author
Charlie began by studying an MA in English Literature at St Andrews, Scotland. From there he went on to work for the BBC before going to the University of Southern California School of Film and Television in Los Angeles to study screenwriting. He lived and worked in America for seven more years before recently returning to live in Scotland. Charlie has written for TV, film and also done a spot of journalism now and again, before turning his hand to write Stoneheart – his first novel for children. Charlie Fletcher lives and writes in Edinburgh with his wife, two children and a terrier called Archie. (20061203)

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Customer Reviews

a must read
i loved this book. i wasn't that keen to read it when i got it as a christmas present. but then i took the plunge, im so glad i did. it grips you right from the start and you just want to keep reading. i would buy the second one as well as you will finish this one so fast and want to start reading it. 5 stars

Reminiscent of the Pullman trilogy
I was given this book by a friend who said she thought it might be the next big thing, and I wouldn't be at all surprised. Stone Heart is a well-written gripping story of a boy who falls out of the normality of London life into a parallel dimension, in an `overlaid' reality of London where statues on the city's buildings have life and, all too often, malicious intent. Accompanied by a girl with unusual flash-back powers who perpetually inhabits this other-London with its malevolent undercurrent, George struggles to battle against the gargoyles, dragons and other `taints'. The book runs at a fast pace throughout, reminding me of Brown's:The Da Vinci Code with its rapid story line and twists and turns as the characters solve a riddle to find the Stone Heart. As time ticks down for George, a varied range of characters are increasingly developed, helping both the children and the reader understand better the deep dark forces at work. Grounded in the actual geography of London, and including an attractive map with the key statues and places highlighted, I fully expect to see groups of tourists following the Stone Heart trail in years to come.

Spitting Image
George Chapman is having a hard time coming to terms with his father's death. During a visit to the Natural History Museum, George loses his temper and breaks a small dragon carving.

This sets off a series of events involving statues (Spits) and gargoyles (Taints) which come alive. Spits (the good guys) and Taints (the baddies) have been at war with each other for hundreds of years and George is dragged unwillingly into their world. Fugitive Edie, a Glint with the power to experience the past, joins George in his adventures.

I thought Stone Heart was beautifully and vividly written. My favourite baddie was Grid Man. He was truly scary.

If I had any criticism it would be that the story felt a bit over stretched at times. Also I would have liked slightly more background to the world of the Spits and Taints as well as Edie's strange talent.

But overall this is an excellent book and Charlie Fletcher's prose and imagination shine on every page.