December 24, 2025
[Disclaimer: This Post May Contain Affiliate Links, We May Earn commission if you Purchase through our Links, for More information please refer to our Privacy Policy page]
Action Adventure Book Reviews Dystopian

Cut From Stone By Brendan O’Meara An addicting Action Adventure

Author: Brendan O’Meara

Genre: Dystopian Action Adventure

Year Published: 2022

Nerdection Rating:

“Nerdection Must Read”

If you enjoy action and adventure, Cut From Stone might be the perfect book for you. Written by Brendan O’Meara, the story takes place in a dystopian world where war and violence are the harsh realities of everyday life. 

Written primarily for young adult audiences, the story includes plenty of coming-of-age elements. You will follow the tale of James, a teenager bearing the burden of expectation and responsibility to his nation. 

With plot twists and unexpected revelations in just about every chapter, you will never be able to predict what happens next. As a reader, you won’t get bored, which is always the sign of a good novel. You will be engaged from the very first word.

Spoiler-Free Summary

Cut From Stone follows the story of James, a 17-year-old boy who, like most teenagers in his nation, has had to grow up quickly. War has ravaged the world, and humanity has been split in half.

In the East, the BlankZone is planning an inevitable attack on the Western nation: the Federation. Because of this, the Federation has started making swift, drastic, and rather mysterious decisions in order to protect its people from what is to come. This includes drafting young adults and even teenagers, such as James and his friends, into the military. 

At such a young age, he has to learn what it takes to become a ruthless soldier, faced with life-and-death decisions every single day. Along the way, he befriends a group of skilled teens who are also being transformed into elite human weapons. As a group, they will navigate treacherous scenarios and encounter soldiers and weapons who appear unstoppable. 

This novel includes a number of valuable life lessons that apply to everyday life. Even though there are obvious dark elements that are central to the story, Cut From Stone is also a tale of friendship and maturing into adulthood. 

James has to face different decisions every single day, which is the harsh reality of being an adult. As a reader, you feel as if you are growing with James as he gets better and better at making these decisions. 


Get updates on the latest book reviews, recommendations, and much more

Join Our Newsletter

* indicates required

My Take Away

James’ adventures will keep you coming back for more after every chapter. You can tell that the author enjoyed what he was writing, as even though certain scenes and situations are heartbreaking, there is an underlying element of excitement. This fits in so well with the story, as it is told from the perspective of a teenager. With that being said, you can feel this excitement dwindle as James matures.

It is worth noting that the story does take a while to reach a conclusion, which can cause the reader to become a bit bored towards the end. With that being said, the conclusion is well worth the wait.

There are so many different elements to the novel, but somehow, it all comes together so well. The book is fun and exciting while simultaneously having dark and scary elements, such as an impending attack and the constant fear of loss and grief. On top of this, there are elements that the reader can take away from the book once completed and apply to their everyday lives.

If you love a good action and adventure book, Cut From Stone might be exactly what you are looking for. There are so many riveting plot twists and cliffhangers between the chapters that it is incredibly difficult to put down. 

Audience

Older teens and young adults who enjoy action and adventure books.


About The Author Of Cut From Stone

Brendan O’Meara

Raised in New York, Brendan O’Meara formed a love of books and storytelling from a young age. Cut From Stone is Brendan’s debut novel in the Crafting Humanity Series. Brendan lives in Washington, DC with his wife, daughter, and two dogs.

It began in Philadelphia where he attended college daydreaming about a dystopian reality. With a vivid imagination (as described by his middle school teachers) and a passion for adventure, Brendan’s novels will transport you to a different life and capture you from cover to cover.

Brendan lives in Washington, DC with his daughter, wife, and two dogs. You will find him on the weekends drinking a beer watching the Packers and Notre Dame football break his heart. He is an avid reader with a specific interest in sci-fi, anything dystopian, fantasy, history, and all levels of fiction.

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Discover more from Book Nerdection

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Exit mobile version