Steel and Stone
Overview
Steel and Stone, written by Ellen Porath and Tonya C. Cook, is the second book in the Elven Nations trilogy in the Dragonlance saga. It continues the tale of elven division and decline, moving the spotlight from Qualinesti to Silvanesti—the ancient and more isolationist elven kingdom.
Set against the backdrop of internal strife, generational conflict, and external threats, Steel and Stone chronicles the unraveling of unity among the elven peoples, focusing on political ambition, cultural rigidity, and the costs of resisting change.
Main Characters
Sithas – Heir to the throne of Silvanesti and twin brother to Kith-Kanan. Sithas embodies the traditions and rigid hierarchy of Silvanesti society. Cold, logical, and devoted to maintaining elven purity and isolation, he represents the old order.
Kith-Kanan – The younger twin, idealistic and forward-thinking. Kith-Kanan believes in unity between elves and humans and seeks to open trade and relations beyond the forest. He is both beloved and controversial.
Sithel – The ruling Speaker of the Stars and father to the twins. He struggles to manage the growing rift between his sons while maintaining the kingdom’s stability.
Silvanesti Nobles and Military – Influential figures who either rally to Sithas’s banner of tradition or support Kith-Kanan’s vision of progress, splitting the realm.
Setting
The story is centered in the lush, ancient kingdom of Silvanesti—a land of breathtaking beauty, immense magical power, and unyielding tradition. The atmosphere is serene on the surface but increasingly turbulent underneath.
The stark contrast between Silvanesti’s perfectionist ideals and the brewing internal discord mirrors the theme of a society on the brink of transformation—or collapse.
Plot Summary
Tensions rise within Silvanesti as the philosophical divide between the twins, Sithas and Kith-Kanan, deepens. While Sithas is groomed to inherit the throne and continue the legacy of isolation and purity, Kith-Kanan advocates for openness, arguing that the future of their people depends on embracing change.
When Sithel is killed under suspicious circumstances, Sithas ascends to power and begins cracking down on dissent, labeling reformers as traitors. Kith-Kanan, unwilling to bow to Sithas’s increasingly authoritarian rule, is forced into exile.
The novel chronicles Kith-Kanan’s efforts to rally allies among border dwellers, traders, and sympathetic nobles while Sithas consolidates his control over the capital.
What begins as a political disagreement escalates into civil war—a conflict of brothers, ideologies, and futures.
Themes
Tradition vs. Progress – The conflict between Sithas and Kith-Kanan is a metaphor for every society’s struggle between preservation and innovation.
Family and Betrayal – The tragedy of brother turning against brother gives the story emotional and moral depth.
Leadership and Legacy – The story asks what makes a great ruler: strict preservation of the past or courageous steps toward the unknown?
Cultural Pride and Prejudice – Silvanesti’s refusal to adapt becomes a central flaw that threatens its survival.
Tone & Style
Steel and Stone is dramatic, thoughtful, and rich in elven lore. The tone leans into tragic inevitability, blending courtly tension with the grandeur of myth.
The style is elegant and deliberate, reflecting the formality of elven culture while weaving in tension and emotional complexity.
Reception
Praised for:
Complex, character-driven drama.
Insight into the origins of the Qualinesti-Silvanesti divide.
Strong political worldbuilding and emotional stakes.
Some critiques:
Slow pacing due to heavy focus on internal politics.
Limited action compared to other Dragonlance novels.
Final Thoughts
Steel and Stone is a rich, tragic tale of civil conflict within the elven race—beautiful, thoughtful, and sorrowful. It provides essential background to the political fractures that echo throughout later Dragonlance stories, especially the struggles of Tanis Half-Elven and the shattered legacy of the elven peoples.
Recommended for:
Readers fascinated by elven lore and politics.
Fans of Kith-Kanan’s character arc and origin.
Those who enjoy familial drama and philosophical fantasy.