Heartless (Tales of Goldstone Wood)

From Publishers Weekly Debut author Stengl conjures the fantastic world of Parumvir. The kingdom's Princess Una is courted by Prince Aethelbald of Farthestshore. She, however, finds him insufficiently romantic and much too boring in his concerns for her safety as a dragon approaches the kingdom. When Una makes the wrong choice, catastrophe ensues for the princess and her family, and love, courage, and trust are needed when darkness engulfs the kingdom. Allegory is hard at work here--occasionally too hard, when the intended meaning drives the plot instead of the plot being driven by the momentum of events. But Stengl does let her imagination run in inventing some delightful things and scenes: the Twelve-Year Market that appears in its own good time and sells fairy goods; a clever blind cat who is invariably underfoot and has, of course, a secret. Since they never get enough to read in this small market niche, Christian fantasy fans will be particularly enthralled by this first in the Tales of Goldstone Wood. A clever debut from an author worth watching. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From School Library Journal Gr 8 Up–This captivating romantic fantasy carries readers on an adventure that begins in the privileged prosperity of the peaceful kingdom of Parumvir and then descends to the dark desolation of a dragon's lair. Princess Una, 18, is strong-willed, immature, and courted by princes who have many reasons to desire her. One sees her as a way to escape the consequences of his poor choices. Another thinks he is in love but, when pressured into making a difficult decision, easily disavows his pledge. Aethelbald of Farthestshore is a mysterious faerie prince whose steadfast love and selfless service annoy Una and provoke her to set her will against him. When the princess makes some foolish choices, she finds that she has taken a path that will lead to her destruction, but the prince who truly loves her is willing to pay the ultimate price to set her free. This is a quick-paced, thoughtful tale of love, betrayal, loyalty, and trust with a hero whose character calls to mind Aslan, in C. S. Lewis's “Narnia” series. Watching the growth of the princess from a headstrong young woman to one ready to learn from others allows readers a glimpse into the workings and intricacies of the human heart. It unmasks some of traps that can ensnare the young and sidetrack them on the road to maturity. A fun debut novel that is hard to put down and carries a strong message about the importance of making good choices.–Debra Banna, Sharon Public Library, MAα(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. From Booklist Princess Una of Parumvir is old enough to accept suitors, but she is not impressed with Prince Aethelbald, whom she finds stodgy, despite the kindness she senses. Other princes appear, and one, who has been forced to accept the role of a Fool, catches her eye. But when an unholy dragon brings her a horrifying new reality, it is the steadfast Aethelbald who is able to release Una. Although this has subtle Christian underpinnings, including having to die before being resurrected to a new life, this is primarily a romantic fantasy that also shows keen insight into how the ego can block what is ultimately best for a young person's soul. There are some strong scenes in which evil, here in the form of the dragon, is made manifest, but as several of the secondary characters prove, evil can also come in the form of cowardice or banality. More casual readers, who may not get the subtleties, will still find plenty to like here, and those who enjoyed fairy tales when younger will feel right at home in the Tales of Goldstone Wood series. Grades 8-12. --Ilene Cooper With meaningful themes as well as parallels to Christian theology, classical romanticism, and traditional fairy tales, Heartless is an easy journey to be pulled into, and a book that will be enjoyed by teens looking for a good story. --ForeWord ReviewsIt's hard to believe, but yes, Stengl's first novel sits head and shoulders above many more experienced novelists. In a genre where top world building and writing skills are a requirement just to make it into the market, and where Christian Fantasy very noticeably takes the back seat in many cases, Heartless can easily play with the big boys in either the Christian or Secular Fantasy sections in the book store. --TitleTrakk.com The Dragon King Seeks His Princess--Who Dares to Stop Him?Princess Una of Parumvir has come of age and will soon marry. She dreams of a charming prince, but when her first suitor arrives, he's not what she'd hoped. Prince Aethelbald of mysterious Farthestshore has travelled a great distance to prove his love--and also to bring hushed warnings of danger. A dragon is rumored to be on the hunt and blazing a path of terror. Una, smitten instead with a more dashing prince, refuses Aethelbald's offer--and ignores his cautions with dire consequences. Soon the Dragon King himself is in Parumvir and Una, in giving her heart away unwisely, finds herself in his sights. Only those courageous enough to risk everything have a hope of fighting off this advancing evil. A Tale of Goldstone WoodTimeless Fantasy That Will Keep You Spellbound Anne Elisabeth Stengl makes her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, Rohan, a passel of cats, and one long-suffering dog. When she's not writing, she enjoys Shakespeare, opera, and tea, and studies piano, painting, and pastry baking. She studied illustration at Grace College and English literature at Campbell University. She is the author of Heartless , Veiled Rose , Moonblood , and Starflower . Heartless and Veiled Rose have each been honored with a Christy Award. Read more