Stone of Fire is the first book in the ARKANE action-adventure thriller series by indie author J.F. Penn—and my second read from her. Her podcast The Creative Penn is one of my current obsessions. I keep up with each new weekly episode and catch up on older ones while working.
There’s something magnetic about the main character, Morgan Sierra. Maybe it’s her striking blue eyes with a slash of violet, her slightly curved yet strong and capable figure, or the way she holds her own against fierce enemies. I also loved her emotional vulnerability—especially when Jake gets too close or when her family is in danger.
I am creeping out of my comfort genre with the series, but am nonetheless enjoying them. Stone of Fire didn’t pull me in quite as immediately as Day of the Vikings (book five), but the ending left me on a cliffhanger in the best way. I seriously debated going ahead and grabbing book two Crypt of Bone. I do plan on reading them all but managed to slow down and refocus on some other titles in my growing TBR pile.
Having grown up in a Christian family and raised my own kids in church, I found the spiritual and historical themes particularly fascinating. I’m no expert but found myself pausing now and then to research the Apostles and the day of Pentecost—wondering what was factual and what was the author’s creative spin.
I would recommend checking the series out and listening to an episode or two of the podcast.
If you enjoy fast-paced thrillers, historical and religious intrigue, and a strong female lead, I highly recommend diving into the ARKANE series—and definitely give The Creative Penn podcast a listen, too.