Hey 321, I think you might be missing one...so 1 at thelyrons clinic, 1 in Black Cove, 1 in the Fire Forest, 1 in Murder scene in Crab inn, the 5th you cannot of found yet and you should have also unlocked one of the elemental rooms in the homestead.
http://divinity.wikia.com/wiki/Blood_/_Star_Stone_Locationsthis is filled with spoilers, but the link lists locations of all the stones.
I bet you missed the one in the fire forest, it is hard to see against the black ground. MOst of the time the stone is already inert having been triggered, but you still need them.
You should have 5 before you go to Luculla forest.
Skill and stat books are 10K a piece or more or less depending on your barter level.
Level 8, is fine, I am usually about level 10 when I leave the Cyseal map and about level 9 or nearly 10 when I head to church.
Make sure you visited/cleared the whole Cyseal map.
