Book Nook Shenanigans: Review - Quillan Creek and the Little War:Time Stones Book I by Ian Hunter

Jessie Mason lives with her nose in the pages of history. But she is about to discover that the past is a dangerous place where she doesn't belong, and knowledge alone is not going to save her.

In Jessie’s troubled life her aunt is the only constant and comfort she has. But when she inexplicably disappears, and Jessie uncovers her mother's Time Stone, that unhappy life turns unreal and terrifying.

She is summoned to a world in crisis, 250 years in her past, to three unlikely companions, and the aged Onondaga shaman, Nishkamich, who promises an education in the powers of the stones which they each possess.

Over one glorious summer, Jessie reluctantly settles to village life and the developing bond with her prickly friends, until they are forced to accept that their stones are being hunted through history.

But in the depths of winter, their friendship, their wits, and the very limits of their endurance, will be tested by an unforgiving Nature as war finally erupts around them.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️A Fierce and Fascinating Clash of Times

This is an exciting and thoughtful adventure that I could easily see younger teens devouring, while still being completely engaging for adults. The dangers are real and the stakes are high, yet the story never tips into anything overwhelming. Instead, it keeps that perfect balance of tension and wonder that makes you want to read just one more chapter.

Set against the rich backdrop of the Haudenosaunee lands, the blend of history and fantasy is handled with real care. The mysterious stones offer hope but come with risk, and watching the characters learn to use them responsibly adds depth to the adventure. There’s action and threat throughout, including a shadowy enemy hunting them, but the focus always returns to bravery, trust and doing the right thing even when it’s hard.

What stayed with me most was how strongly the characters support one another despite fear and uncertainty. They don’t always have the answers, but they stand together and grow together. It’s a story that shows belonging isn’t only about where you come from, but who you choose to stand beside.

For me, this earns five stars because it’s more than just a thrilling journey through time. It sparks curiosity about history and culture, encourages empathy and discussion, and still delivers a genuinely gripping, page-turning adventure that I’d happily recommend to readers of almost any age.

This book is available on Amazon and #KindleUnlimited

Ian Hunter

Books have been an important part of my life as long as I can remember, and at 54 years old, that’s a lot of books. My earliest memories of reading are CS Lewis’, “The Horse and His Boy” – by far the best of the Narnia books, the Adventures series by Willard Price, and “Goalkeepers are Different” by sports journalist Brian Glanville. An eclectic mix. My first English teacher was surprised to hear that I was reading, Le Carré, Ken Follett, Nevil Shute and “All the Presidents’ Men” by Woodward and Bernstein at the age of 12. I was simply picking up the books my father had finished.

School syllabus threw up the usual suspects – Shakespeare, Chaucer, Dickens, Hardy, “To Kill a Mockingbird” – which I have reread often, and others I don’t immediately recall. By “A” level study, my then English teachers were pulling their hair out at my “perverse waste of talent” – I still have the report card! But I did manage a pass.

During a 35 year career, briefly in Banking and then in IT, I managed to find time, with unfailing family support, to study another lifelong passion, graduating with an Open University Bachelors’ degree in History in 2002. This fascination with all things historical inspired me to begin the Time Stones series. There is so much to our human past, and so many differing views on what is the greatest, and often the saddest, most tragic story. I decided I wanted to write about it; to shine a small light on those, sometimes pivotal stories, which are less frequently mentioned.

In 1995, my wife, Michelle, and I moved from England to southern Germany, where we still live, with our two children, one cat, and, when she pays us a visit, one chocolate labrador. I have been fortunate that I could satisfy another wish, to travel as widely as possible and see as much of our world as I can. Destinations usually include places of historic and archaeological interest, mixed with a large helping of sun, sea and sand for my wife’s peace of mind.

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