Some of our first writing was probably in paintings on cave walls, and only later did it get etched into stone.
This story's premise was one I've not seen explored before, and it was interesting to read.
Forced, unswerving, unquestioning obedience to a human master is explored and presented as a clear danger and the source of the conflict.
In this story world, stone that is written on, or chiseled, with a story can come to life, if the carving is done by a skilled stonemason. There are stone creatures throughout, and they do not tire, need to eat, feel pain, etc. There was a war, fought between good and evil stonemasons, who crafted giant sculptures that attacked or defended the city, based on their marks and the orders they received from their stonemasons.
A stone girl leaves her sanctuary, the place where one such master craftsman retreated, when he dies to seek out a new stonemason to re-carve the story marks of all her slowing, fading stone family -- a tortoise, fish, birds, etc.
She and her friends must outwit an evil stonemason who has carved a mark that commands obedience from his stone sculptures, making them his slaves.
In the end, she learns that only her will, her self-determination, and not devotion to any one human being, beloved stonemason or not, can reinvigorate her stone family.
