Book Review: Shadowhand {Bethany House}

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Shadow Hand by Anne Elisabeth Stengl*

ISBN: 9780764210280

Paperback, 416 pages

Publisher: Bethany House

Retail: $14.99

About the book:

This is a story about blood.

And love.

And the many things that lie between.

By her father's wish, Lady Daylily is betrothed to the Prince of Southlands. Not the prince she loves, handsome and dispossessed Lionheart, but his cousin, the awkward and foolish Prince Foxbrush. As her wedding day dawns, Daylily flees into the dangerous Wilderlands, her only desire to vanish from living memory.

But Foxbrush, determined to rescue his betrothed, pursues Daylily into a new world of magic and peril, a world where vicious Faerie beasts hold sway, a world invaded by a lethal parasite.

A world that is hauntingly familiar.

About the Author:

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, Starflower, and Dragonwitch. Heartless, Veiled Rose, and Moonblood have each been honored with a Christy Award. Learn more at anneelisabethstengl.blogspot.com

My thoughts: 

This is the sixth book in the Goldstone Woods series. It is just as good as the other books. There are instances of extreme adventure for the characters, and moments of calm and peaceful {there's more of the first than the second}. Her characters are not shallow by any means and her scene descriptions are vibrant. 

To quote from my other reviews of Stengl's Goldstone Woods series:

There are fairie people...good and evil, right and wrong, struggles against wants and needs.

This is not a stand-alone book. Well, it could be... but it's much better to read the other books. Even if you don't get to read them in order, it is better to read the others as well. There are characters and circumstances in each book that shed light on other books; this one definitely included.

I don't know how much I can say about this book without giving spoilers {which I don't like to do}. The description at the start of this post does tell some of what this is about but it fails {purposely?} to shed any light on who else is in the book. Ah, see; I cannot tell more without giving things away. 

I've reviewed Veiled Rose, Moonblood, and Starflower on my blog. I have read all of the books. I wouldn't say this one is my favorite but it is good like the others. 

**Disclaimer: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for the purpose of an honest review. No compensation was given and all opinions are my own. See Disclosure/Policies.**

Book Review: Starflower {Bethany House}

Starflower by Anne Elisabeth Stengl, a Goldstone Woods book
Format: paperback, 352 pages (for Kindle here)
ISBN: 9780764210266
Publisher: Bethany House
Retail: $14.99

From the back cover:

The black dogs are on the hunt, but who is their prey?

When a cursed dragon-witch kidnaps fairest Lady Gleamdren, the Bard Eanrin sets boldly forth on a rescue mission…and a race against his rival for Gleamdren’s favor. Intent upon his quest, the last thing the immortal Faerie needs is to become mixed up with the troubles of an insignificant mortal.

But when he stumbles upon a maiden trapped in an enchanted sleep, he cannot leave her alone in the dangerous Wood Between. One waking kiss later, Eanrin suddenly finds his story entangled with that of the young Starflower. A strange link exists between this mortal girl and the dragon-witch. Will Starflower prove the key to Lady Gleamdren’s rescue? Or will the dark power from which she flees destroy both her and her rescuer?

***********************************

If you have read the other books in the Goldstone Woods saga, you will not be disappointed. I particularly enjoyed this book because it gives a glimpse into what we see somewhat in the other books; why does one character act a certain way? What is the connection between this event and another; how are the characters all connected?

I’ll let you in on a little secret: this book is 1600 years before Heartless. Since this is the fourth book that I’ve read (and mostly ‘in order’), I can relate to who’s who in the book. However, you can pick this book up and be just fine without reading the others first. As a matter of fact, if you want some ‘inside information’ for when you read the others, this will give a bit.

Two characters that are in this book –the main characters? –that are also in the other books are Imraldera and Eanrin. Also King Iubdan and Queen Bebo of Rudiobus and a handful of other immortal characters that honestly I didn’t pay enough attention to in the other books to recognize in this one. Others are Captain Glomar from Rudiobus; Flame at Night – the dragon-witch, also called Hri Sora; and the Black Dogs, who have a sad connection to Hri Sora.

The entire time the book is going along, it’s really difficult to figure out just what might come next. There is something rather important that I did suspect fairly early on but it isn’t blatantly obvious; Stengl does a good job of weaving the story through twists and turns. She definitely keeps it interesting.

That said –I found it to be slow going at the first. It wasn’t a gripper to start with. It eased me comfortably into the story before it grabbed me and made me read until it was finished.

You can read my other reviews of this series: Moonblood, Veiled Rose. (I guess I didn’t write a review for Heartless!) The setting is fairly the same as those books- human’s world, the in between places, and the fairies’ place. The creatures Stengl imagines are still quite fantastical. While there isn’t a goat in this book- she does still have the dragons that are like none other I’ve ever read about, and she’s included the Black Dogs (which, because they are truly fairy people –I think –can look almost human). 

Overall, I liked the book. I still have an issue with labeling this Christian but that’s because I think more in concrete terms –and often have troubles reading the Bible’s prophecy books. I am interested to see what her next book, Dragonwitch, will be like.

And here’s a bit about the author:

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.

 

***Disclaimer: I received this book from Bethany House for free in exchange of an honest review. See Disclosure/Policies.***

Book Review: Moonblood by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

Moonblood by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
ISBN: 9780761207815
Paperback, 373 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Retail: $14.99

From the back cover:
Desperate to gain the trust of his kingdom, Prince Lionheart reluctantly banishes his faithful servant and only friend, Rose Red. Now she is lost in the hidden realm of Arpiar, held captive by her evil goblin father, King Vahe.

Vowing to redeem himself, Lionheart plunges into the mysterious Goldstone Wood, seeking Rose Red. In strange other worlds, Lionheart must face a lyrical yet lethal tiger, a fallen unicorn, and a goblin horde on his quest to rescue the girl he betrayed.

With the Night of Moonblood fast approaching –when King Vahe seeks to wake the Dragon’s sleeping children –Lionheart must discover whether or not his heart contains courage before it’s too late for Rose Red…and all those he loves.

This is the third of the Tales of Goldstone Wood series. I wrote a brief review of the second book, Veiled Rose, on my blog. I have read all three of the books thus far and I’d say that in order to understand, really understand, what is going on in this one, you need to read the first two. You could read just this one but you’d have gaps and some parts would not make much sense. In my opinion, of course.

This book, compared to the other two, seemed to have more dark feeling. I was going to say more death but I’m not sure there really was more I just noticed it more.

There are still –quoting myself –“fairie people, dragons, goats, demons, good and evil, right and wrong, struggles against wants and needs,” just like in the second book. This one has the added touch of the ‘other world’ mixed with myths and legends. Some of those legends were downright strange. Such as Hymlume’s children killing her –or I think that is what happened. Her children are unicorns. And not the white, beautiful unicorns. No, they are the unicorns you’d read about in Bulfinch’s Mythology. Horrible and fantastical at the same time; they would make you cringe as well as marvel.

I think after reading all three of these books, the writing style caught up with me (or the other way around) because I enjoyed this one like the others but felt like I could connect a little better with the characters. I did like the allegory that is present although, honestly, I didn’t get it always. Some things are just beyond me unless spoken plainly. Some books that are Christian fantasy heavy on the allegory don’t appeal to me.

I would recommend this book to others that appreciate the Christian fantasy genre. It is good with it’s action and suspense, does make the connection between actions and consequences as well as the message of salvation. Our salvation does not come from ‘making things right’. We cannot do enough –ever – to earn our salvation. It is given by grace.

***Disclaimer: I received this copy free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. See Disclosure/Policies.***