Launch Day
There are secret worlds hidden in plain view...
After three years
Gratefully, I can say it’s here at last!
Faith only grows when you use it, and I’ve been growing—maybe too fast — during the months of preparing to publish this new epic novel.
With a kind and confident heart, I’d like to invite you to be one of the first to enjoy The Talking Stone on your device or in print!
Some readers have kindly said things like:
“A delightful read!” “Sparkles with warmth and wit!” “Full of surprises, humor, and action!” “What a fun, rip-roaring tale!”
You can read more full reviews if you scroll down.
Shameless Plug
But how can you get a copy for your personal library? Easy. If you’d like a special deal of 20% off the list price of a dust-jacketed hardcover, just scan the QR code or click the main image above.
$.99 e-books, paperbacks, and hardcovers are available from all online booksellers, or you can follow the link to Will Brooke Books. But enough with the sales talk.
As one reviewer said, “Buy, read, and enjoy!” I agree.
If ordering a book is not an option for you and you’d like to read this heartwarming adventure, please message me and we’d gladly send you a courtesy copy.
Remember, “There are secret worlds hidden in plain view, and all adventure begins with someone who has the courage to take the first step.”
What folk are saying:
Here is what some highly intelligent, trustworthy, wise, and discerning readers have written with no incentive from the publisher other than a free book.
“Sparkles with warmth and wit.”
“The Talking Stone is a captivating adventure that blends imaginative storytelling with rich characters and timeless truths. I was drawn in from the very first chapter and quickly found myself cheering for Raan, Casy, GB, and Seth as they navigated danger, mystery, and moments of humor and heart. The world-building is vivid, and the dialogue sparkles with warmth and wit. I know my own grandchildren would be swept up in this tale and ask for ‘just one more chapter.’ This is the kind of story that stays with you long after the final page—an engaging read for kids, parents, and grandparents alike.”
—Carol Tetzlaff, award-winning author of Ezra and associate publisher, Redemption Press
What a fun, rip-roaring tale!
“If you want a story with adventure, plucky characters, plot twists, suspense, sorrows, and setbacks interwoven with dashes of humor, The Talking Stone is it. Our hero, the young man Raan, enters another world where he meets an engaging band of friends and fellow heroes. Then this unlikely band faces danger, injustice, and corruption. They overcome it all with the power of goodness and faith, but it isn’t an easy journey. And that’s where the story gets really interesting. So take, read, and enjoy!”
—Matt Woodley, podcaster, journalist, author, pastor, and former editor of preachingtoday.com.
“Thoughtfully edifying!”
“I read it aloud to my eleven-year-old grandson, who begged for ‘just one more chapter—pleeze!’ at the end of each session. The short, punchy chapters held his interest. My young listener had numerous ‘aha’ moments when he wondered aloud about parallels with other stories. It’s a joy to watch and hear a child interact with a story that stimulates on multiple levels. That’s what The Talking Stone by Will Brooke does best—it’s an exciting fantasy that challenges young readers to rise to new positive levels. My grandson’s comment after finishing was, ‘I want to read that by myself. There was a lot in there!’. I heartily agree!
—George Ridgeway (and grandson), spiritual director, submariner, and captain, Chaplain Corps, USN, retired
“Highly recommended—I read it twice!”
“Will Brooke’s The Talking Stone is highly recommend for young readers (ages 13-17) who love adventure and learning about the meaning of life. The magically real fantasy is filled with plenty of twists and turns as Raan is sent on a mission to another world guided by a magical stone.
His mission becomes complicated by enemies who want to stop him and blame him for their evil deeds.
However with each encounter, Raan grows in courage, faith, and determination where he discovers life’s meaning and the voice who truly guides him.
—Cheri Pierson, author, associate professor emerita, Wheaton College Graduate School
“Full of surprises, humor, and action!”
“The Talking Stone is truly exceptional and is a great blend of magical realism and fantasy. I was completely drawn into the honest, pure-hearted, heroic story and devoured it in a weekend. The characters, too, are special, full of surprises, humor, and action. It will definitely be on my giving list!”
—Tom Flaim, best-selling author of the children’s book series The Adventures of Uno, the Water Drop and Thirsty for Christ. He is also the founder of Water@Work, which provides clean water relief on five continents.
A Welcome Traveling Companion!
Will Brooke’s debut novel is a fantastic journey that satisfies!
Raan, a skeptical NYC teen, is magically transported into the alternate world of Clallot without his consent and told, “You are perfect for this mission and don’t worry, you’ll figure it out as you go!”
He finds a magic stone that gives him the superpower of understanding. With every challenge, Raan sees his belief come alive as he begins to trust in a faith he learns to love.
Perfect for middle graders and beyond, The Talking Stone is a welcome traveling companion for fans of books like The Wingfeather Saga, Phantom Tollbooth, Treasure Island, At the Back of the North Wind, and The Narnia Series.
—A Faithful Skeptic
“Easy, Light-spirited Read!”
I was given an advance copy of “The Talking Stone” by Will Brooke. I would classify it as a light fantasy work as opposed to a Tolkien or C.S. Lewis heavy fantasy.
I found the book to be an easy, light-spirited read and would recommend it, It’s probably best suited for a middle school aged reader or for an adult who wants to slowly wade into the fantasy genre or who finds themselves frequently pulled away by other tasks as I found it easy to pick back up where I left off.
I found the characters to be likable and not super complex (which is a good thing at this stage of my life). Or, to put it another way, the good guys were truly good and the bad guys were truly bad, with just enough crossover to keep things interesting. The story was well paced.
I found some of the dialog to be applicable to current events (as of 2025) without being preachy or otherwise heavy handed. It was thought provoking but I felt free to accept or reject the ideas. Kind of like a, “Hmmm, I never thought about it that way” vibe.
Anyway, I recommend “The Talking Stone”.
—John
“A wonderful way to enjoy reading as a group!”
• The Talking Stone is about an adventurous journey to an unknown world that becomes a reality!
• A delightful story that offers unique experiences coupled with believable truths!
• Descriptive energy throughout creates an imaginative place like no other!
• A unique mix of imaginary characters whose quest involves the saving of a fractured kingdom only to be healed by the gifts of Love, Hope and friendship of many.
• While anticipating the introduction of characters, the author brings clear images that follow with intense feeling, like a vivid dream that encompasses a parallel world!
The Talking Stone would be a wonderful way to enjoy reading as a group, i.e. a book club or by yourself. It keeps you engaged and entertained.
While convalescing after surgery, as a couple, we shared taking turns reading out loud. It was the perfect way to pass the time.
We would highly recommend this story and a way of reading!
Excellent!
—Helen Wessel
“A Charming and Thought Provoking Work!”
The Talking Stone is a charming and thought-provoking work of magical realism that bridges the everyday and the extraordinary with seamless grace. Set between the familiar streets of New York City and the fantastical realm of Clallot, it follows Raan, an imaginative young man whose ordinary Tuesday spirals into an epic adventure after an encounter in a mysterious music shop. What begins as curiosity becomes a journey of courage, compassion, and self-discovery, where each chapter unfolds deeper mysteries about truth, faith, and human connection. Urban’s prose is vivid and cinematic—his descriptions of sound, texture, and emotion make the world feel alive and tangible. Beneath its whimsical inventions—talking stones, hybrid animals, and floating craft—lies a heartfelt meditation on moral courage and the quiet heroism of empathy. With its blend of wonder, wit, and wisdom, *The Talking Stone* stands as a modern fable about seeing beyond appearances and rediscovering the sacred in the ordinary.
—Anoill
“A Wonderful ‘Hero’s’ Journey!”
The Talking Stone is a wonderful “hero’s journey”, along the lines of The Hobbit, but with refreshed plot twists that reflect current happenings of today. Will Brooke creates a world that quietly teaches ethics to the Young Adult reader in a “spoon-full-of-sugar-helps-the-medicine-go-down” kind of way. I enjoyed getting to know the myriad of made-up beings. They start out prejudice and sometimes violent towards each other, but Raan and his band of do-gooders teach them to dip their hands in the “Waters of One” and coexist in harmony.
—Ron Shaffer
“A delightful read! Sure to generate discussion around the characters and their exploits.”
Will Brooke’s debut novel is a delightful read!
The story begins with a teen who is transported to a parallel/alternate world, with the only instructions that you are the perfect person for this mission!
Mission? What mission?
In this new world, things are the same and yet different. Of course there is evil and good; lies and truth; disbelief and faith; enemies and friends. These echoes from the real world help us to experience emotional parallels that draw us in and help us to consider vice and virtue in our own world.
Overall an excellent read for middle grade readers that is sure to generate discussion around the characters and their exploits.
I received an advance copy to review and I am thankful for the privilege!
—Bill Mackillop
“A Highly Complex, Imaginative World!”
Disclaimers: I received a free copy of this book for reviewing. Will Brooke is the pen name of one of my oldest friends and on-and-off musical collaborator.
The Talking Stone is a highly complex, imaginative world, in the tradition of Christian fantasy (think Narnia), sometimes swerving into allegory (think Pilgrim’s Progress).
If you want to have your imagination and your Christian faith tickled while being transported to a world where labor disputes and aquatic sports mingle with mythological monsters and princely quests in a multi-cultural background, this is your book.
I heard that there is a sequel in the works. I hope it’s true.
—Glauber
A great fantasy story for young adults!
I really enjoyed reading a pre-release of “The Talking Stone”. The book pulls you into another world so completely that I read it in two sittings! I enjoyed the character development, the world-building, and the timeless truths contained in a fast-paced story. There’s a “story within a story” in the middle that is a wonderful treat of it’s own. Highly recommend!
—Joseph Biondo