{"product_id":"2940045856447","title":"The Thirteenth Stone of Aaron","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Thirteenth Stone of Aaron is an exciting, action-packed work of historical fiction that delves into unanswered mysteries of Alexander the Great and the last keeper of the Library of Alexandria.\u003cbr\u003eFew storytellers or educators are able to make history come to life in the dramatic, dimensional way that author KaCinderly Baker achieves in The Thirteenth Stone of Aaron. A work of historical fiction, the author weaves her fantastic yarn among historical facts, and the effect is an authenticity that grabs the reader right from the outset.\u003cbr\u003eAt the epicenter of a perilous journey back and forward in time is a stone, which proves to be as coveted an item in the present as it was in the past. It is a dangerous object, as the characters all come to understand. The stone was a Persian relic liberated from a revered holy place in that exotic land after Alexander invaded and conquered it. Thought to provide the Macedonian king protection from harm, he kept it with him always. But it was never found upon his death. As the plot travels its course, each chapter reveals a new aspect of the great mystery of what happened to the stone after its disappearance.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe action and intrigue open right away with the last great librarian of the glorious, ancient Library of Alexandria. Theon is suddenly charged with an odd, semiconscious man we later find out to be named Shamar. He does not know it yet, but the man is from another place and time. Shamar is injured, disconcerted, and befuddled by his location and the belongings that accompany him—an old scrap of parchment and a rather curious stone. When Theon cautiously examines these items, he discovers that he and Shamar are in grave danger, but from whom and what, he has yet to understand.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAbruptly, the action vaults forward to modern times, where the situation mirrors Theon’s back in history. This time, the items are waiting to be received by a devious and wary Patrick. He is powerful, he is rich, and he has set his henchman Gabriel to get the job done. Gabriel's thievery doesn't come without a fair amount of brutality, as the crate is violently wrenched away from the museum, to the vexation of its curator, Eli. Now, Patrick finally has his hands on the life’s quest of his archaeologist father. Upon opening the crate, the shocking contents drag several parties into the quest for understanding the hazardous and powerful items they have dubiously discovered. They don’t know it, but their lives, too, now hang in the balance.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBaker throws these two incongruent worlds together in a peak of action. In order to decipher the items, their purpose, and their value, the mismatched assemblage must work together in an antagonistic collaboration. Enemies and friends clash in this epic quest as the mysteries of antiquity open up before them all. However, they are not the only people interested in the illusive, ancient articles. There are yet others who have been lying in wait, watching and preparing to make a move on that which they have been seeking for centuries—and they will do anything to that end.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe book’s relentless twists and turns drive the action and suspense to its nail-biting conclusion. Baker succeeds at roping the reader into the story, and in the process, an unusual understanding of ancient history is revealed. The author’s historical settings nurture an interest in history, and it would be surprising if readers could stop themselves from doing further research to flesh out a fuller knowledge of these interesting historical people, places, and times.\u003cbr\u003eIf the author’s aim was to scratch the itch that precipitates in the mind when studying antiquity, she has greatly succeeded. Taking actual facts and interspersing them with fantastical plots and magical quests is a proven winning method for enchanting readers while painlessly piquing interest in the important subject of history. This creative and compelling book is the first in a trilogy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kathleen Baker","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47067552415984,"sku":"2940045856447","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940045856447_p0.jpg?v=1763982118","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940045856447","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}