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Quillan Creek and the Little War:
Time Stones Book I
By Ian Hunter
Time Stones Book I
By Ian Hunter
Publication Date: 3rd August 2018
Publisher: MVB Marketing-und Verlagsservice des Buchhandels
Print Length: 281 Page
Genre: Historical Fantasy
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.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
From the moment Jessie Mason tumbles out of her own time and into a world she only knows from books, Quillan Creek and the Little War (Time Stones Book I) becomes the kind of story that quietly takes hold and doesn’t let go. There is an immediate sense that this is not just an adventure, but a journey about identity, belonging, and learning where you truly fit in the world.
What struck me first was how carefully the magic is handled. The Time Stones are powerful, but they are also dangerous, confusing, and heavy with responsibility. There are no simple rules and no easy victories, which makes every decision feel meaningful. I liked that the story never rushes to explain everything — instead, the characters discover the limits of their powers slowly, often through mistakes and difficult consequences.
Jessie is a very relatable heroine. She begins the story isolated and unsure of herself, and it was moving to watch her gradually find confidence, purpose, and connection. She is thoughtful, observant, and quietly resilient, and her reactions to the past feel honest rather than heroic. The contrast between her modern life and the world she finds herself in is one of the most fascinating parts of the book, especially as she begins to see both worlds more clearly.
The other heroes are just as engaging and bring real heart to the story. Tiponi, Abe, and Kesejowaase all come from very different worlds and backgrounds, yet their journeys fit together beautifully. Their early confusion, mistrust, and cultural differences gradually give way to friendship, loyalty, and a strong sense of found family that feels completely natural. I especially enjoyed how their bonds grow through shared danger, responsibility, and small moments of understanding. Nishkamich, the shaman, is a quiet but powerful presence in this novel, and his guidance adds both warmth and depth to the story’s spiritual side.
By the time I reached the final chapters, I felt deeply invested in every character and genuinely curious about what lies ahead. This is a thoughtful and immersive first book, rich in character and quiet emotional depth. With its blend of history, magic, friendship, and coming of age, Quillan Creek and the Little War offers far more than a simple time-travel tale. I would happily recommend it to anyone who enjoys character-driven fantasy and stories where adventure and heart walk hand in hand.
This novel is available to purchase on Amazon & #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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