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Tales of Goldstone Wood #5
Dragonwitch
Who Will Dare to Face the Dragonwitch?
Submissive to her father’s will, Lady Leta of Aiven travels far to meet the future King of the North Country and a prospective husband she neither knows nor loves.
But within the walls of his castle, all is not right. Vicious night terrors plague Lord Alistair. Whispers rise from the family crypt. The reclusive castle Chronicler, Leta’s tutor and friend, possesses a secret so dangerous it could cost his life and topple the entire nation.
And far away in a hidden kingdom, a flame burns atop the Citadel of the Living Fire. Acolytes and priestesses serve their goddess to the limits of their lives and deaths. No one is safe while the Dragonwitch searches for the sword that slew her twice…and for the hero who can wield it.
Submissive to her father’s will, Lady Leta of Aiven travels far to meet the future King of the North Country and a prospective husband she neither knows nor loves.
But within the walls of his castle, all is not right. Vicious night terrors plague Lord Alistair. Whispers rise from the family crypt. The reclusive castle Chronicler, Leta’s tutor and friend, possesses a secret so dangerous it could cost his life and topple the entire nation.
And far away in a hidden kingdom, a flame burns atop the Citadel of the Living Fire. Acolytes and priestesses serve their goddess to the limits of their lives and deaths. No one is safe while the Dragonwitch searches for the sword that slew her twice…and for the hero who can wield it.
425 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2013
22 people are currently reading
1927 people want to read
About the author
Anne Elisabeth Stengl
20 books806 followersAnne 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 the TALES OF GOLDSTONE WOOD, which currently includes seven novels and two novellas, with plenty more works due to release over the next few years. Her novels HEARTLESS, VEILED ROSE, and DRAGONWITCH have each been honored with a Christy Award, and STARFLOWER was voted winner of the 2013 Clive Staples Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
September 27, 2024
So I just reread this review I wrote. It is so composed. It is so dignified. It is so flat.
Perhaps I failed to mention that this my FAVORITE book ever. I cried THREE times, HARD. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't guess what would happen next, I BEGGED the author to show me one thing in the epilogue, just one thing, and she did. And I wept.
For this is a tale of true love. Not always romantic love, (though there's plenty of that, and quite cute too), but also the love of a hero for a villain that shows the ultimate understanding of Christ's love us.
So now you can read the composed original review.
Dragonwitch continues the epic saga that Anne Elisabeth Stengl is unfolding before our eyes. The story takes place soon after the end of Starflower, Book 4. But even after such a short period, dramatic changes have taken place. With new characters to root for and plenty of returning characters to love, this novel escalates to a grand scale not seen in the series before. Entwining with the present events comes the legend of the Dragonwitch and the Brothers Ashiun, so long alluded to, but never fully explained.
This is a tale of becoming what you were meant to be. It encourages to live up to your full potential, no matter what you may look like, no matter what people think about you, no matter what you think of yourself. This theme makes Dragonwitch possibly the most triumphant book of all the series. We cheer for the characters as they trust in He Who Chose Them and overcome all odds.
But this theme also makes the book the most tragic. For we see those who fail. Those who reject the call of their Creator and turn down a darker road. Those who proclaim themselves as gods and goddesses and end with nothing at all. It is heart-breaking and enlightening. This is the first book where I was literally weeping for the villains.
Amidst the drama, the tragedy, and the action, there is plenty of humor and sweetness to brighten your mood. And as always, the book is CLEAN. No language, no sexual content, mild violence. There is more combat and killing on page then before, but the author keeps violent description low, not that it's any less intense.
While possible to read as a stand-alone, you will miss the full potential if you don't read the series in order.
The most EPIC Tale of Goldstone Wood yet! I give you--
DRAGONWITCH
~ 5 stars! ~
Perhaps I failed to mention that this my FAVORITE book ever. I cried THREE times, HARD. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't guess what would happen next, I BEGGED the author to show me one thing in the epilogue, just one thing, and she did. And I wept.
For this is a tale of true love. Not always romantic love, (though there's plenty of that, and quite cute too), but also the love of a hero for a villain that shows the ultimate understanding of Christ's love us.
So now you can read the composed original review.
Dragonwitch continues the epic saga that Anne Elisabeth Stengl is unfolding before our eyes. The story takes place soon after the end of Starflower, Book 4. But even after such a short period, dramatic changes have taken place. With new characters to root for and plenty of returning characters to love, this novel escalates to a grand scale not seen in the series before. Entwining with the present events comes the legend of the Dragonwitch and the Brothers Ashiun, so long alluded to, but never fully explained.
This is a tale of becoming what you were meant to be. It encourages to live up to your full potential, no matter what you may look like, no matter what people think about you, no matter what you think of yourself. This theme makes Dragonwitch possibly the most triumphant book of all the series. We cheer for the characters as they trust in He Who Chose Them and overcome all odds.
But this theme also makes the book the most tragic. For we see those who fail. Those who reject the call of their Creator and turn down a darker road. Those who proclaim themselves as gods and goddesses and end with nothing at all. It is heart-breaking and enlightening. This is the first book where I was literally weeping for the villains.
Amidst the drama, the tragedy, and the action, there is plenty of humor and sweetness to brighten your mood. And as always, the book is CLEAN. No language, no sexual content, mild violence. There is more combat and killing on page then before, but the author keeps violent description low, not that it's any less intense.
While possible to read as a stand-alone, you will miss the full potential if you don't read the series in order.
The most EPIC Tale of Goldstone Wood yet! I give you--
DRAGONWITCH
~ 5 stars! ~
August 23, 2013
I have a score to settle with this book ...
When I cracked it open for the first time, it gripped me fast and I couldn't break free. I can honestly say that this book was to blame for quite a few sleep-deprived nights this summer.
So I would like to issue a warning to all of you thinking of picking up this book, or any of the Tales of Goldstone Woods series: it is dangerous ... but marvelously so.
The characters (especially dear Eanrin) ran away with my heart and now refuse to give it back. Eanrin the bard -- immortal faerie, cat, and knight of the Farthest Shore -- deserves a place in the Character Hall of Fame. Witty, brave, equal parts selfless and selfish, and so incredibly cat-like, Eanrin is one of those characters that you simply can't forget.
As a writer, I have the utmost respect for the world that Anne Elisabeth Stengl has imagined. Deep, oftentimes dark and dangerous, and yet filled with a holy light, the world, like a dangerous Faerie path, drew me in until I had a hard time finding my way out again.
Anne Elisabeth Stengl's prose is exquisite as always and I especially love the way that her stories contains hints of the fairy tales we read as children. There are dashes of Beauty and the Beast in Dragonwitch. Yet though there are familiar elements, each story is completely fresh and new and entrenched in Anne Elisabeth Stengl's world.
Honestly the only fault I could with the book was that, at times, I felt like it jumped around a wee bit or glossed over certain events leaving me wondering exactly what had happened. Also, the relationship between two characters seemed to progress just a wee bit too fast.
Overall, I loved Dragonwitch and eagerly await the next installment in the series.
Note: Thanks to Anne Elisabeth Stengl and Bethany House publishers for the chance to review a free copy of this book! The thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
When I cracked it open for the first time, it gripped me fast and I couldn't break free. I can honestly say that this book was to blame for quite a few sleep-deprived nights this summer.
So I would like to issue a warning to all of you thinking of picking up this book, or any of the Tales of Goldstone Woods series: it is dangerous ... but marvelously so.
The characters (especially dear Eanrin) ran away with my heart and now refuse to give it back. Eanrin the bard -- immortal faerie, cat, and knight of the Farthest Shore -- deserves a place in the Character Hall of Fame. Witty, brave, equal parts selfless and selfish, and so incredibly cat-like, Eanrin is one of those characters that you simply can't forget.
As a writer, I have the utmost respect for the world that Anne Elisabeth Stengl has imagined. Deep, oftentimes dark and dangerous, and yet filled with a holy light, the world, like a dangerous Faerie path, drew me in until I had a hard time finding my way out again.
Anne Elisabeth Stengl's prose is exquisite as always and I especially love the way that her stories contains hints of the fairy tales we read as children. There are dashes of Beauty and the Beast in Dragonwitch. Yet though there are familiar elements, each story is completely fresh and new and entrenched in Anne Elisabeth Stengl's world.
Honestly the only fault I could with the book was that, at times, I felt like it jumped around a wee bit or glossed over certain events leaving me wondering exactly what had happened. Also, the relationship between two characters seemed to progress just a wee bit too fast.
Overall, I loved Dragonwitch and eagerly await the next installment in the series.
Note: Thanks to Anne Elisabeth Stengl and Bethany House publishers for the chance to review a free copy of this book! The thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
July 18, 2017
Whoa. This was beautiful. Review pending.
January 21, 2020
2020 reread update: Upon having read this book for a second time, I love it just as much as the first time. 🙂 5 years have brought with them much growth and change for me, yet the complexity of the story and the depth of emotion and thought-provoking subjects are still astounding to me. Anne Elisabeth Stengl is still very much the quality of storyteller I strive to become someday. I'm looking forward to rereading the rest of the series.
P.S. I originally read this series before I got in the habit of putting content advisories at the end of my reviews, so, I am adding one to the end of this review now. (Someday I'll go back and add content advisories to my reviews for books 1-4, too, I've just been putting it off because these stories are complex and there's a lot to unpack!)
Original 2015 review:
Is it even possible to say how much I loved this book? Because I loved this book! I am notorious for having trouble choosing a favorite anything, but that had not been the case with the Tales of Goldstone Wood series, because although I've liked something about every book in the series, Book 3: "Moonblood" was easily my #1 favorite. Until now. Now I must go back to having trouble choosing a favorite, because "Dragonwitch" has just seated itself right next to Moonblood at the top of my list of favorite books in this series.
And how could it not? The complex plot kept me guessing about what was going to happen through the whole story. The characters, both heroes and the villains, old characters and new, were so well fleshed-out that they felt real to me and I loved watching their development. And I don’t think the ending could have been any more satisfying while still leaving open the possibility for future stories about several of the characters.
But out of everything, I think my favorite thing about the whole book was learning more about the stories of the Dragonwitch, and the Brothers Ashuin, as well as the resolutions to both. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the ending to both of these storylines couldn’t have been more touching, albeit for slightly different reasons. I would have ugly-cried when I read them had I not been in public at the time. Even two days later, when I was telling my mom about the story, I still got choked up, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Content Advisory:
Due to the complexity and intensity of this book, I recommend it, and this series as a whole for teens and adults.
Violence:
There is a significant amount of violence in this book. Overall, the descriptions are not extreme. Only one or two instances of violence are described a little more than others.
Multiple mentions of a dragon attacking multiple locations and burning everything and killing everyone. (barely described.) Twice, the dragon is slain with a sword through the heart. The first time is barely described. The second time
A dragon's wings are taken away, thus causing it to fall from the sky, landing on a mountain. Though the dragon survives, it causes such a fiery explosion that nothing is able to grown on the top of the mountain again.
A faerie "parasite" invades a faerie country and, via attaching itself to the ground, is able to suck the life out of the king and queen. (Both are said to look thinner and weaker and the feathers on their wings fall off until finally they just fall over dead.) The parasite's followers go around the land and force people to give up their first born, who are then thrown inside of the parasite and it is assumed that they die.
Dragon claws are poisonous and someone who gets clawed by a dragon multiple times is said to begin acting more aggressive and reckless. It escalates until his brother has to physically restrain him from doing something bad and the immense effort kills his brother. (No violent description, the brother just drops dead after the struggle ends.)
One characters has prophetic nightmares that he thinks are showing him his future death. He sees teeth and claws and feels the pain of the attack before waking up.
One character gets stabbed in the shoulder with a goblin blade which is "poisoned". The character passes out and it is mentioned that the wound bleeds a lot and appears to those tending to the character as if the blood is "boiling" because of the poison. Mention of the wound stinking as well and black lines appearing on the skin around it.
When a castle is invaded, it's mentioned that a number of people are slashed or crushed in the attack (minor description and only brief mentions of blood). Many, many people are threatened with violence by the leader of the attackers. One person is picked up and dropped to the stony ground, and it is unsure if he is alive or not. (He survives.) Multiple people get picked up by the throat or shirt by someone very large. People get threatened with having their throats slit or being gutted or having their necks broken, but these things never actually happen. Those who are not killed in the original attack are enslaved and there's mention of the sound of whips being used by their oppressors.
Goblins get hit and slashed and occasionally killed. Brief, occasional mentions of blood on blades. One goblin's hand gets sliced off and breaks into pieces of stone when it hits the ground.
There is a second culture where all the men are enslaved by the women and forced into total silence. There's brief mention of slaves being whipped and forced into hard labor. Mention of slaves sometimes escaping into the underground "diggings" and being lost forever.
Several people who touch a special sword that is lodged in a stone fall down dead the second they touch it.
Someone is attacked by a large, faerie dog. There is brief mention of intense pain.
Younger or more sensitive readers may find the descriptions of the Dragonwitch frightening. She is a dragon who is stuck in the form of a woman, unable to transform into her dragon form anymore. As such, the flame inside her is too much for her woman's body to sustain, yet because she is immortal, though the flame damages her body she never dies. There is mention of the ends of her hair eternally burning and yet never being totally destroyed, as well as her eyes being blinded by the heat and looking like coals, and the skin of her arms being blackened. Mentions of fire and/or ash pouring from her mouth.
The Black Dogs, (which resulted from a union between a faerie queen-turned-dragon, and a faerie with the ability to transform into a wolf) could also be frightening as they are described as being huge dog-like creatures that have fire streaming from their eyes and also have razor sharp teeth in red, sometimes bloody mouths, and wherever they go, they bring with them the darkness of midnight. They are mostly used as tools by the Dragonwitch or Dragon because when they are told to retrieve someone, they cannot be stopped until they do, and (almost) anyone who tries to stop them will be killed.
The Dragonwitch's most loyal priestess is said to have burn scars all over her head and arms and it is assumed that the Dragonwitch herself caused these burns, possibly when she got upset about something.
A massive flood sweeps multiple people away.
Romantic/Sexual:
Three different couples have some romantic attraction between them. All remain sweet and subtle. Two kisses on the lips are very briefly described. There are a couple non-romantic kisses on the hand and one that could be seen as a little romantic. A man wants to hold a woman's hand but then looses the opportunity.
A sassy old woman thinks how she likes the looks and manners of a young man so much she could kiss him. (She doesn't, but she does ask why her granddaughter hasn't married the guy yet.)
Some goblin guards wonder why their leader seems to have taken a fancy to a female human captive and if it is because she's pretty by human standards. Later, there are some tense moments where the goblin leader asks this young woman if she is considered beautiful and touches her cheek with his claw, but ultimately, nothing happens. (None of this is intended to come off as romantic. It is intended to be threatening and give the human girl more need to escape.)
Language:
Swear word replacements that fit with the world-building of this story are used by multiple characters, but none of these are real swear words. They tend to be dragon related terms, such as: "dragon-kissed fool" "dragon's teeth" "dragons eat it", etc. The Dragonwitch's followers use "fire burn, fire purify" mostly as a prayer, but occasionally as a swear.
Magic:
All "magic" in every book in this series stays within the realm of abilities that are natural to the various types of faerie beings. For example, Eanrin, who is a recurring character, has the ability to heal other people's injuries, as well as change his size and appear as either a man or a cat. He can also manipulate locks so long as they are not iron. (Iron burns faeries and makes them feel sick.) There's mention of another faerie shape shifter who could change between looking like a man and a wolf. The Dragonwitch was given her name simply because she was a very powerful faerie queen who was then turned into the most powerful child of the Dragon to ever live, NOT because she does anything that could even remotely be considered "occult".
Spiritual:
This series is filled with Christian allegorical elements. The Lumil Eliasul is this series' equivalent of God, and the Dragon is the equivalent of the devil. The Lumil Eliasul is always depicted in a manner that is reverent and respectful and He and His followers are always ultimately victorious over the Dragon and his minions. Both make physical appearances in this story.
Some followers of the Lumil Eliasul are called to become "knights of Farthestshore", with the Farthest Shore being this storyworld's equivalent of heaven, where there is great beauty and contentment, as well as reunion with those who have gone before. By contrast, the equivalent of hell in this story is called "Netherworld" (a.k.a. "Death's Realm" or the realm of the Dragon) where the souls of those who go there forever wander alone in complete darkness, hopelessness, and regret.
When a person or faerie dies, their spirits must cross the "Final Waters" (reminiscent of the great river Christian must cross to get to heaven in "Pilgrim's Progress") to reach their final destination. If they followed the Lumil Eliasul during their lives they end up in the Farthest Shore. If they rejected the Lumil Eliasul till the very last, they are carried to the Netherworld. The ending of this book features one person who accepted forgiveness arriving at the Farthest Shore and being greeted by a loved one who went on before, and one person who rejected forgiveness arriving in the Netherworld.
In the world of these books, there are also certain points in the physical world (mostly caves) that are entrances to the Netherworld, thereby making it possible for living people to go down there either accidentally or on purpose. In this book, a couple living people wander into the Netherworld by accident, causing others to have to go there to attempt to rescue them. While there, a couple people see or at least feel the souls (sometimes called ghosts) of those who have died and must permanently wander in the darkness. These ghosts moan about the things that happened in their lives that they regret. (At least one ghost is recognizable as the villain of a previous book.)
The Dragon has the ability to turn both faeries and humans into dragons if they willingly accept his kiss. Those who are turned into dragons are considered the Dragon's "children". The Dragonwitch was the first person to ever be turned into a dragon and part of this book recounts how and why she fell to a point she was willing to take the Dragon's kiss. (Note: While it is not addressed in this book because , it is established in the other books that it is possible, through the Lumil Eliasul's forgiveness, for someone who allowed themselves to become a dragon to repent and be turned back into whatever they were before that choice was made.)
The Dragonwitch rules a country where she has deceived the citizens into worshiping her as a deity. She has priestesses and acolytes who serve her. One of the main characters is one of these acolyte for a time, but later learns the truth that the great "goddess of Flame" is nothing more than a wicked dragon, and this character then becomes a follower of the Lumil Eliasul.
There are many deep spiritual themes to be found in this book, including but not limited to, letting go of your own dreams in order to follow God's will, even when it's hard to do. Forgiveness accepted and forgiveness scorned. Leaning on God's strength instead of our own. God's ability to use even the smallest, most unlikely people to do the greatest good.
Other:
The Chronicler was born with dwarfism and some people treat him as less-than because of his size while others respect and treat him as an equal. It is a theme in the story that his size has nothing to do with his value as a person and that he is worthy of love and capable of great good exactly as he is.
As stated earlier in the review, one country is run by women who have enslaved and silenced the men. If you've read "Starflower", you know that this same country used to be run by men who enslave and silenced the women. Both of these states of being are shown to be very bad (the slaves eventually end up freed in both instances), and the hope of the characters is that the country can eventually reach a point where no one is enslaved or silenced and everyone can live as equals, as intended by the Lumil Eliasul.
P.S. I originally read this series before I got in the habit of putting content advisories at the end of my reviews, so, I am adding one to the end of this review now. (Someday I'll go back and add content advisories to my reviews for books 1-4, too, I've just been putting it off because these stories are complex and there's a lot to unpack!)
Original 2015 review:
Is it even possible to say how much I loved this book? Because I loved this book! I am notorious for having trouble choosing a favorite anything, but that had not been the case with the Tales of Goldstone Wood series, because although I've liked something about every book in the series, Book 3: "Moonblood" was easily my #1 favorite. Until now. Now I must go back to having trouble choosing a favorite, because "Dragonwitch" has just seated itself right next to Moonblood at the top of my list of favorite books in this series.
And how could it not? The complex plot kept me guessing about what was going to happen through the whole story. The characters, both heroes and the villains, old characters and new, were so well fleshed-out that they felt real to me and I loved watching their development. And I don’t think the ending could have been any more satisfying while still leaving open the possibility for future stories about several of the characters.
But out of everything, I think my favorite thing about the whole book was learning more about the stories of the Dragonwitch, and the Brothers Ashuin, as well as the resolutions to both. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the ending to both of these storylines couldn’t have been more touching, albeit for slightly different reasons. I would have ugly-cried when I read them had I not been in public at the time. Even two days later, when I was telling my mom about the story, I still got choked up, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Content Advisory:
Due to the complexity and intensity of this book, I recommend it, and this series as a whole for teens and adults.
Violence:
There is a significant amount of violence in this book. Overall, the descriptions are not extreme. Only one or two instances of violence are described a little more than others.
Multiple mentions of a dragon attacking multiple locations and burning everything and killing everyone. (barely described.) Twice, the dragon is slain with a sword through the heart. The first time is barely described. The second time
A dragon's wings are taken away, thus causing it to fall from the sky, landing on a mountain. Though the dragon survives, it causes such a fiery explosion that nothing is able to grown on the top of the mountain again.
A faerie "parasite" invades a faerie country and, via attaching itself to the ground, is able to suck the life out of the king and queen. (Both are said to look thinner and weaker and the feathers on their wings fall off until finally they just fall over dead.) The parasite's followers go around the land and force people to give up their first born, who are then thrown inside of the parasite and it is assumed that they die.
Dragon claws are poisonous and someone who gets clawed by a dragon multiple times is said to begin acting more aggressive and reckless. It escalates until his brother has to physically restrain him from doing something bad and the immense effort kills his brother. (No violent description, the brother just drops dead after the struggle ends.)
One characters has prophetic nightmares that he thinks are showing him his future death. He sees teeth and claws and feels the pain of the attack before waking up.
One character gets stabbed in the shoulder with a goblin blade which is "poisoned". The character passes out and it is mentioned that the wound bleeds a lot and appears to those tending to the character as if the blood is "boiling" because of the poison. Mention of the wound stinking as well and black lines appearing on the skin around it.
When a castle is invaded, it's mentioned that a number of people are slashed or crushed in the attack (minor description and only brief mentions of blood). Many, many people are threatened with violence by the leader of the attackers. One person is picked up and dropped to the stony ground, and it is unsure if he is alive or not. (He survives.) Multiple people get picked up by the throat or shirt by someone very large. People get threatened with having their throats slit or being gutted or having their necks broken, but these things never actually happen. Those who are not killed in the original attack are enslaved and there's mention of the sound of whips being used by their oppressors.
Goblins get hit and slashed and occasionally killed. Brief, occasional mentions of blood on blades. One goblin's hand gets sliced off and breaks into pieces of stone when it hits the ground.
There is a second culture where all the men are enslaved by the women and forced into total silence. There's brief mention of slaves being whipped and forced into hard labor. Mention of slaves sometimes escaping into the underground "diggings" and being lost forever.
Several people who touch a special sword that is lodged in a stone fall down dead the second they touch it.
Someone is attacked by a large, faerie dog. There is brief mention of intense pain.
Younger or more sensitive readers may find the descriptions of the Dragonwitch frightening. She is a dragon who is stuck in the form of a woman, unable to transform into her dragon form anymore. As such, the flame inside her is too much for her woman's body to sustain, yet because she is immortal, though the flame damages her body she never dies. There is mention of the ends of her hair eternally burning and yet never being totally destroyed, as well as her eyes being blinded by the heat and looking like coals, and the skin of her arms being blackened. Mentions of fire and/or ash pouring from her mouth.
The Black Dogs, (which resulted from a union between a faerie queen-turned-dragon, and a faerie with the ability to transform into a wolf) could also be frightening as they are described as being huge dog-like creatures that have fire streaming from their eyes and also have razor sharp teeth in red, sometimes bloody mouths, and wherever they go, they bring with them the darkness of midnight. They are mostly used as tools by the Dragonwitch or Dragon because when they are told to retrieve someone, they cannot be stopped until they do, and (almost) anyone who tries to stop them will be killed.
The Dragonwitch's most loyal priestess is said to have burn scars all over her head and arms and it is assumed that the Dragonwitch herself caused these burns, possibly when she got upset about something.
A massive flood sweeps multiple people away.
Romantic/Sexual:
Three different couples have some romantic attraction between them. All remain sweet and subtle. Two kisses on the lips are very briefly described. There are a couple non-romantic kisses on the hand and one that could be seen as a little romantic. A man wants to hold a woman's hand but then looses the opportunity.
A sassy old woman thinks how she likes the looks and manners of a young man so much she could kiss him. (She doesn't, but she does ask why her granddaughter hasn't married the guy yet.)
Some goblin guards wonder why their leader seems to have taken a fancy to a female human captive and if it is because she's pretty by human standards. Later, there are some tense moments where the goblin leader asks this young woman if she is considered beautiful and touches her cheek with his claw, but ultimately, nothing happens. (None of this is intended to come off as romantic. It is intended to be threatening and give the human girl more need to escape.)
Language:
Swear word replacements that fit with the world-building of this story are used by multiple characters, but none of these are real swear words. They tend to be dragon related terms, such as: "dragon-kissed fool" "dragon's teeth" "dragons eat it", etc. The Dragonwitch's followers use "fire burn, fire purify" mostly as a prayer, but occasionally as a swear.
Magic:
All "magic" in every book in this series stays within the realm of abilities that are natural to the various types of faerie beings. For example, Eanrin, who is a recurring character, has the ability to heal other people's injuries, as well as change his size and appear as either a man or a cat. He can also manipulate locks so long as they are not iron. (Iron burns faeries and makes them feel sick.) There's mention of another faerie shape shifter who could change between looking like a man and a wolf. The Dragonwitch was given her name simply because she was a very powerful faerie queen who was then turned into the most powerful child of the Dragon to ever live, NOT because she does anything that could even remotely be considered "occult".
Spiritual:
This series is filled with Christian allegorical elements. The Lumil Eliasul is this series' equivalent of God, and the Dragon is the equivalent of the devil. The Lumil Eliasul is always depicted in a manner that is reverent and respectful and He and His followers are always ultimately victorious over the Dragon and his minions. Both make physical appearances in this story.
Some followers of the Lumil Eliasul are called to become "knights of Farthestshore", with the Farthest Shore being this storyworld's equivalent of heaven, where there is great beauty and contentment, as well as reunion with those who have gone before. By contrast, the equivalent of hell in this story is called "Netherworld" (a.k.a. "Death's Realm" or the realm of the Dragon) where the souls of those who go there forever wander alone in complete darkness, hopelessness, and regret.
When a person or faerie dies, their spirits must cross the "Final Waters" (reminiscent of the great river Christian must cross to get to heaven in "Pilgrim's Progress") to reach their final destination. If they followed the Lumil Eliasul during their lives they end up in the Farthest Shore. If they rejected the Lumil Eliasul till the very last, they are carried to the Netherworld. The ending of this book features one person who accepted forgiveness arriving at the Farthest Shore and being greeted by a loved one who went on before, and one person who rejected forgiveness arriving in the Netherworld.
In the world of these books, there are also certain points in the physical world (mostly caves) that are entrances to the Netherworld, thereby making it possible for living people to go down there either accidentally or on purpose. In this book, a couple living people wander into the Netherworld by accident, causing others to have to go there to attempt to rescue them. While there, a couple people see or at least feel the souls (sometimes called ghosts) of those who have died and must permanently wander in the darkness. These ghosts moan about the things that happened in their lives that they regret. (At least one ghost is recognizable as the villain of a previous book.)
The Dragon has the ability to turn both faeries and humans into dragons if they willingly accept his kiss. Those who are turned into dragons are considered the Dragon's "children". The Dragonwitch was the first person to ever be turned into a dragon and part of this book recounts how and why she fell to a point she was willing to take the Dragon's kiss. (Note: While it is not addressed in this book because , it is established in the other books that it is possible, through the Lumil Eliasul's forgiveness, for someone who allowed themselves to become a dragon to repent and be turned back into whatever they were before that choice was made.)
The Dragonwitch rules a country where she has deceived the citizens into worshiping her as a deity. She has priestesses and acolytes who serve her. One of the main characters is one of these acolyte for a time, but later learns the truth that the great "goddess of Flame" is nothing more than a wicked dragon, and this character then becomes a follower of the Lumil Eliasul.
There are many deep spiritual themes to be found in this book, including but not limited to, letting go of your own dreams in order to follow God's will, even when it's hard to do. Forgiveness accepted and forgiveness scorned. Leaning on God's strength instead of our own. God's ability to use even the smallest, most unlikely people to do the greatest good.
Other:
The Chronicler was born with dwarfism and some people treat him as less-than because of his size while others respect and treat him as an equal. It is a theme in the story that his size has nothing to do with his value as a person and that he is worthy of love and capable of great good exactly as he is.
As stated earlier in the review, one country is run by women who have enslaved and silenced the men. If you've read "Starflower", you know that this same country used to be run by men who enslave and silenced the women. Both of these states of being are shown to be very bad (the slaves eventually end up freed in both instances), and the hope of the characters is that the country can eventually reach a point where no one is enslaved or silenced and everyone can live as equals, as intended by the Lumil Eliasul.
September 8, 2016
Wow. I am speechless once again. I don't even really know what to say, except, Dragonwitch was fantastic! Anne Elisabeth Stengl has an amazing gift for storytelling and I just don't know how she keeps coming up with more such wondrous ideas.
The TALES OF GOLDSTONE are seriously my favorite Christian-fantasy/allegory novels ever! I am happy to say that I have now started collecting this amazing series for my bookshelf! *smiles*
In Dragonwitch, familiar and dear characters like Eanrin and Starflower showed up, as well as a bunch of new, almost equally fascinating, new characters. It told the dreadful and sad story of the dragonwitch ... and also of the Chronicler.
What a great tale. I just couldn't help but sigh at the end ... and wish desperately that Shadow Hand was already here! :) :) Can't wait to read more from the TALES OF GOLDSTONE WOOD!
The TALES OF GOLDSTONE are seriously my favorite Christian-fantasy/allegory novels ever! I am happy to say that I have now started collecting this amazing series for my bookshelf! *smiles*
In Dragonwitch, familiar and dear characters like Eanrin and Starflower showed up, as well as a bunch of new, almost equally fascinating, new characters. It told the dreadful and sad story of the dragonwitch ... and also of the Chronicler.
What a great tale. I just couldn't help but sigh at the end ... and wish desperately that Shadow Hand was already here! :) :) Can't wait to read more from the TALES OF GOLDSTONE WOOD!
July 8, 2019
3 stars
// d r a g o n w i t c h
This book and I had a difficult journey together... as in, a journey of five years spent picking it up, reading a few pages, putting it down, and repeating the process. BUT I FINALLY FINISHED IT. And I'll 100% be moving on to other Anne Elisabeth Stengl books, too, since she's a literary genius and I've adored so, SO many of her books. <333
// d r a g o n w i t c h
This book and I had a difficult journey together... as in, a journey of five years spent picking it up, reading a few pages, putting it down, and repeating the process. BUT I FINALLY FINISHED IT. And I'll 100% be moving on to other Anne Elisabeth Stengl books, too, since she's a literary genius and I've adored so, SO many of her books. <333
April 18, 2015
I have started many reviews with the words “I have no words”. But all of those cases pale in comparison to my lack of words right now. Yes, I do have words, words like beautiful, epic, amazing, but I have no way of stringing them together to make you understand what I feel. But I will try.
Stengl has done many impossible things in this tale.
I cried happy tears for the second time in my life.
The end was bittersweet, and that's okay. Because that's what happened. Because it's true.
Bittersweet means it was sad to some extent. But I, the person who will not take anything but a perfectly happy ending, I think that's okay. Because it is. Because it was beautiful. Because it was worth it. Because there is more to everything then meets the eye.
I have never in my life read a more amazing, powerful story. The characters, the writing, the stakes, the themes. Everything was so powerful, it blew me away in a wave of awe. The truth it displayed and brought to light makes this beyond a doubt one of the three most inspiring and powerful works of Christian Fiction that I have read.
This book is beyond petty criticism. It is also beyond screaming in capital letters, emoticons, fangirling, and exclamation points. Beyond likes and dislikes. It is Dragonwitch. It is beautiful. It is a Tale of Goldstone Wood, and that means: the best of the best of Fantasy and Truth.
Because Faerie tales are more then true.
Rebellion and practicality can be found in the same person.
We were all meant for something more.
And the One Who Names Them is in control.
This story is amazing and beautiful and sad and wonderful and left me better then it found me. If you've read it, you understand exactly what I mean. Or maybe you don't.
If you haven't read it, read it. Or don't. It doesn't matter; I know.
Stengl has done many impossible things in this tale.
I cried happy tears for the second time in my life.
The end was bittersweet, and that's okay. Because that's what happened. Because it's true.
Bittersweet means it was sad to some extent. But I, the person who will not take anything but a perfectly happy ending, I think that's okay. Because it is. Because it was beautiful. Because it was worth it. Because there is more to everything then meets the eye.
I have never in my life read a more amazing, powerful story. The characters, the writing, the stakes, the themes. Everything was so powerful, it blew me away in a wave of awe. The truth it displayed and brought to light makes this beyond a doubt one of the three most inspiring and powerful works of Christian Fiction that I have read.
This book is beyond petty criticism. It is also beyond screaming in capital letters, emoticons, fangirling, and exclamation points. Beyond likes and dislikes. It is Dragonwitch. It is beautiful. It is a Tale of Goldstone Wood, and that means: the best of the best of Fantasy and Truth.
Because Faerie tales are more then true.
Rebellion and practicality can be found in the same person.
We were all meant for something more.
And the One Who Names Them is in control.
This story is amazing and beautiful and sad and wonderful and left me better then it found me. If you've read it, you understand exactly what I mean. Or maybe you don't.
If you haven't read it, read it. Or don't. It doesn't matter; I know.
December 1, 2022
I have remembered all the reasons I love this book and discovered new things to appreciate! Definitely in my top three favorite Goldstone Wood books.
February 23, 2020
It was amazing. And Eanrin is the most amazing.
November 15, 2015
In my opinion, this is some of the best Christian fiction being written today.
Stengl’s writings seem to have mostly interested female readers, but there is plenty of interest here for men as well!
Sometimes, I wish the book covers for her books included the male characters. I think this would give them more general appeal.
This book has been my favorite so far (perhaps I am just becoming more and more connected with the characters). Classic elements woven into the tale are given a fresh twist. Sword quest, Dragon, old library, prophecies, lantern giving light in a dark place, little guy becomes big hero, brothers trying to understand who is to inherit their father’s kingdom, fearless unsung Princess, false worship and chains of bondage, battles with hideous goblins, mysterious encounters with the faerie world, dark tunnels, unrequited love, budding romance, just to name a few.
And seriously, these things are woven with DEPTH.
This is not your light read in general, but, Warning: the occasional ¾ cup of humor or 1/8 teaspoon of witty banter thrown in to the ingredients can be guffaw inducing, causing you to drop your book.
She uses plot devices in the best sense! At the beginning of each chapter, The ancient tale of Hri Sora and the sword Halisa, etc. is related all the way through in small vignettes through the eyes of the Dragonwitch. This gradually increases your awareness of the epic, precipitous nature of what our heroic characters are involved in. Also, Stengle does a brilliant job of letting you know what is going on in each character’s thoughts and feelings through multiple POV’s.
"The first time she glimpsed the weapon, it had seemed nothing more than an ugly object of violence chipped from the black stone itself. Now she saw, or thought she saw, the gleam of silver. A glimmer truer than firelight.
It’s a gift.
The thought slipped into her mind and rested there, growing by the moment. Mouse’s eyes widened with wonder.
This sword can slay dragons."
Stengl, Anne Elisabeth (2013-07-15). Dragonwitch (Tales of Goldstone Wood Book #5) (pp. 354-355). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
We homeschool our children, and these books are excellent literature to work into their schooling. They can’t just watch a movie, so they are drawn to learn the struggles of these characters by READING.
There is so much good Biblical and classic Christian typology! As a family, we enjoy spending profitable time finding these connections.
If you have enjoyed Lord of the Rings, CS Lewis, etc. you may very well enjoy these! I sure have.
Stengl’s writings seem to have mostly interested female readers, but there is plenty of interest here for men as well!
Sometimes, I wish the book covers for her books included the male characters. I think this would give them more general appeal.
This book has been my favorite so far (perhaps I am just becoming more and more connected with the characters). Classic elements woven into the tale are given a fresh twist. Sword quest, Dragon, old library, prophecies, lantern giving light in a dark place, little guy becomes big hero, brothers trying to understand who is to inherit their father’s kingdom, fearless unsung Princess, false worship and chains of bondage, battles with hideous goblins, mysterious encounters with the faerie world, dark tunnels, unrequited love, budding romance, just to name a few.
And seriously, these things are woven with DEPTH.
This is not your light read in general, but, Warning: the occasional ¾ cup of humor or 1/8 teaspoon of witty banter thrown in to the ingredients can be guffaw inducing, causing you to drop your book.
She uses plot devices in the best sense! At the beginning of each chapter, The ancient tale of Hri Sora and the sword Halisa, etc. is related all the way through in small vignettes through the eyes of the Dragonwitch. This gradually increases your awareness of the epic, precipitous nature of what our heroic characters are involved in. Also, Stengle does a brilliant job of letting you know what is going on in each character’s thoughts and feelings through multiple POV’s.
"The first time she glimpsed the weapon, it had seemed nothing more than an ugly object of violence chipped from the black stone itself. Now she saw, or thought she saw, the gleam of silver. A glimmer truer than firelight.
It’s a gift.
The thought slipped into her mind and rested there, growing by the moment. Mouse’s eyes widened with wonder.
This sword can slay dragons."
Stengl, Anne Elisabeth (2013-07-15). Dragonwitch (Tales of Goldstone Wood Book #5) (pp. 354-355). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
We homeschool our children, and these books are excellent literature to work into their schooling. They can’t just watch a movie, so they are drawn to learn the struggles of these characters by READING.
There is so much good Biblical and classic Christian typology! As a family, we enjoy spending profitable time finding these connections.
If you have enjoyed Lord of the Rings, CS Lewis, etc. you may very well enjoy these! I sure have.
July 29, 2013
Dragonwitch is the fifth book in "The Tales of Goldstone Wood", a Christian fantasy series by Anne Elisabeth Stengl. The events take place some centuries after those of Starflower, and chronicle the rest of Hri Sora's tale.
Buckle your seat belts.
This book is one of my favourites in this series. All of Stengl's books are full of loveable characters, twisting plots, and lovely, lyrical sentences. But Dragonwitch took all the wonderful qualities of the previous books and amped them up a few notches. Stengl has outdone herself with this book.
First of all, the characters. When I first heard of this story and understood a bit of Leta's character, I did not expect to like her that much. Yet she ended up surprising me and by the end of the story, she had made a lasting impact. Her struggle to find her voice while maintaining certain ideals is a struggle I find realistic and with which I empathize. It's so easy to feel that as girls, our voices should remain unheard--we should always be quiet and never speak up. This is exactly what I've been fighting with for the past couple of years, and Leta's fight to find her voice and strength in weakness was beautiful.
Eanrin, the cat-man, and Imraldera, a scribe and librarian, flipped my heart a couple of times through the story--as always.
When I first started reading the novel, I did not like Alistair that much. He seemed whiny and annoying. And then I reach around the middle of the story, and things start happening--and Alistair showed how awesome he was. By the end, I was as in love with him as (-----) one of the other characters. What, thought I was going to let a spoiler slip by? ;)
But what really caught me was Hri Sora and her story. By the end, my emotions had gone through several highs and lows. Hri Sora is one of the best villains I've ever read, because I could empathize with her. I was actually hoping beyond hope that she might reform and be saved. Does she? I won't tell. :)
Secondly, the writing. Some of the scenes--especially the one with Leta and the star--left me breathless with the sheer beauty of it. I think I was even in tears at one point! And the intensity had me gritting my teeth and gripping the computer screen, unable to tear myself away. One scene--involving goblins--was so well-written I felt as though I were creeping through the castle with the characters, trying to escape the onslaught. I couldn't stop reading; I had to see what came next. I could see it all in my head like a movie; could hear the epic, eerie music. I think of all the books, I would love to see Dragonwitch as a movie the most. It just struck me as an epic movie in the making.
Thirdly, the locations. This book revisits locations seen in previous books--and how different they are from when we first see them! One thing I love about this series is that it's like learning the history of another world; you get to see the places and people in different forms, just as our world's history would have been. Nothing is as it is without having been different before--people shape their enivronment quite a bit. And you see the consequences of this on one location in particular, the South Lands, where a horde of fire priestesses have taken hold....
Lastly, the feel of this book is very different from the others in the series. Its scope is wide, with daring escapes, journeys, and lasting consequences for the characters and their world. Even at the end, some strings are resolved but the very last page makes it clear that the story is not completely over. And that is completely fine with me, because that means there are many more Goldstone Wood books to come!
Five GREAT BIG HUGE GINORMOUS STARS!
I received a review copy from NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for that opportunity!
Check out book reviews and more at: http://thewriterofdreamthings.blogspo...
Buckle your seat belts.
This book is one of my favourites in this series. All of Stengl's books are full of loveable characters, twisting plots, and lovely, lyrical sentences. But Dragonwitch took all the wonderful qualities of the previous books and amped them up a few notches. Stengl has outdone herself with this book.
First of all, the characters. When I first heard of this story and understood a bit of Leta's character, I did not expect to like her that much. Yet she ended up surprising me and by the end of the story, she had made a lasting impact. Her struggle to find her voice while maintaining certain ideals is a struggle I find realistic and with which I empathize. It's so easy to feel that as girls, our voices should remain unheard--we should always be quiet and never speak up. This is exactly what I've been fighting with for the past couple of years, and Leta's fight to find her voice and strength in weakness was beautiful.
Eanrin, the cat-man, and Imraldera, a scribe and librarian, flipped my heart a couple of times through the story--as always.
When I first started reading the novel, I did not like Alistair that much. He seemed whiny and annoying. And then I reach around the middle of the story, and things start happening--and Alistair showed how awesome he was. By the end, I was as in love with him as (-----) one of the other characters. What, thought I was going to let a spoiler slip by? ;)
But what really caught me was Hri Sora and her story. By the end, my emotions had gone through several highs and lows. Hri Sora is one of the best villains I've ever read, because I could empathize with her. I was actually hoping beyond hope that she might reform and be saved. Does she? I won't tell. :)
Secondly, the writing. Some of the scenes--especially the one with Leta and the star--left me breathless with the sheer beauty of it. I think I was even in tears at one point! And the intensity had me gritting my teeth and gripping the computer screen, unable to tear myself away. One scene--involving goblins--was so well-written I felt as though I were creeping through the castle with the characters, trying to escape the onslaught. I couldn't stop reading; I had to see what came next. I could see it all in my head like a movie; could hear the epic, eerie music. I think of all the books, I would love to see Dragonwitch as a movie the most. It just struck me as an epic movie in the making.
Thirdly, the locations. This book revisits locations seen in previous books--and how different they are from when we first see them! One thing I love about this series is that it's like learning the history of another world; you get to see the places and people in different forms, just as our world's history would have been. Nothing is as it is without having been different before--people shape their enivronment quite a bit. And you see the consequences of this on one location in particular, the South Lands, where a horde of fire priestesses have taken hold....
Lastly, the feel of this book is very different from the others in the series. Its scope is wide, with daring escapes, journeys, and lasting consequences for the characters and their world. Even at the end, some strings are resolved but the very last page makes it clear that the story is not completely over. And that is completely fine with me, because that means there are many more Goldstone Wood books to come!
Five GREAT BIG HUGE GINORMOUS STARS!
I received a review copy from NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for that opportunity!
Check out book reviews and more at: http://thewriterofdreamthings.blogspo...
March 29, 2018
As always, this Tale of Goldstone Wood has captured my heart just like the others. It seemed slightly darker than some of the others (though that might just be because it's been a while since I've read one of these books), but there was still that wonderful, holy, pure beauty in the light.
It was so fun to get back to the characters of Eanrin and Imraldera but also to meet a couple of new faces as well. The cat-man is still my favourite, but I did love Florien and Alistair and Mouse and Leta. But really, Eanrin has such a way of kidnapping my attention and I love every moment of page-time he has. :P
The prose is amazing. Every time I read one of Anne Stengl's books, I'm captivated by her style and the beautiful flow of the words.
The only problems I had were that there was a romantic relationship that didn't quite flow nicely and it seemed a bit too rushed to be entirely realistic. But overall it was pretty amazing still.
On the whole, I absolutely loved this book and can't wait to read the next in the series.
It was so fun to get back to the characters of Eanrin and Imraldera but also to meet a couple of new faces as well. The cat-man is still my favourite, but I did love Florien and Alistair and Mouse and Leta. But really, Eanrin has such a way of kidnapping my attention and I love every moment of page-time he has. :P
The prose is amazing. Every time I read one of Anne Stengl's books, I'm captivated by her style and the beautiful flow of the words.
The only problems I had were that there was a romantic relationship that didn't quite flow nicely and it seemed a bit too rushed to be entirely realistic. But overall it was pretty amazing still.
On the whole, I absolutely loved this book and can't wait to read the next in the series.
July 21, 2015
This took me a little while to read. I was really busy, but I finished it the first day on vacation. Oh man was it good. :) Goldstone Wood becomes more magical with each book. The first line of the book is absolutely amazing. I laughed. I cried. Now please go read the book. :)
October 11, 2016
So far every book in this series has been fabulous, but I think this one is tied with Heartless for my favorite thus far. Stengl has such a lovely way with words, and she's a master world builder.
April 18, 2013
I can tell I’m going to start sounding like a broken record when it comes to the Tales of Goldstone Woods books. Seriously though, I think these books are filling a real void in the realm of faerie tale literature. While there are dragons and villains aplenty, these books steer a course somewhere between the sparkly Disney princesses and the grittier heroines of some of the current (and older!) stories. To borrow from an internet meme, we’re not talking Fairy Princess Ballerinas, but we’re also not going as far as Elven Jedi Ninja Dragon Rider. And to be honest, despite that fact I would have been thrilled if the later had been a career choice, that’s a pretty healthy balance to strike.
And healthy balances is something these books do well in many areas. Much of Dragonwitch centered on a girl trying to find her place in the world. She is very intelligent, very brave, and very keen to help those around her. Yet, she’s been told her job is to look pretty, marry well, have kids and probably die giving birth. Naturally, any Disney princess would be in full fledged rebellion at that point. However, this is a different sort of princess. She isn’t rebelling over any of it really. She wants to marry and raise kids. In her world, dying during birth is a very real probability. Rather, she’s asking, “is that all?” She wants to help her husband and stand at his side in support rather than show. In many ways, Dragonwitch gives a clearer picture of what Biblical feminism looks than many of the non-fiction books devoted to the subject.
For me what really vaulted Dragonwitch to the status of best book of the series though was how it handled prophecy. This is something that’s been bothering me lately in a lot of fantasy series. The rather Greek concept of destiny and the inability to escape it has taken center stage too much. Having a prophecy centered more around events than around a Chosen One was wonderful. I also loved how the prophecy fit into the country’s lore. It’s become a children’s rhyme and very few people attach any importance to it whatsoever. Imagine what it would be like if London Bridge suddenly became the key to our survival. The very act of trying to take the doggerel seriously would be taxing. Finding meaning to it even more so. But the best part of the prophecy? I’m honestly not sure I can say without spoiling the whole book. Let’s just say: Take that all you cryptic verses that you’d never interpret right with fifty books to puzzle it out!
My thanks to Bethany House for providing me with a copy of Dragonwitch via NetGalley in return for my honest opinion of the book.
And healthy balances is something these books do well in many areas. Much of Dragonwitch centered on a girl trying to find her place in the world. She is very intelligent, very brave, and very keen to help those around her. Yet, she’s been told her job is to look pretty, marry well, have kids and probably die giving birth. Naturally, any Disney princess would be in full fledged rebellion at that point. However, this is a different sort of princess. She isn’t rebelling over any of it really. She wants to marry and raise kids. In her world, dying during birth is a very real probability. Rather, she’s asking, “is that all?” She wants to help her husband and stand at his side in support rather than show. In many ways, Dragonwitch gives a clearer picture of what Biblical feminism looks than many of the non-fiction books devoted to the subject.
For me what really vaulted Dragonwitch to the status of best book of the series though was how it handled prophecy. This is something that’s been bothering me lately in a lot of fantasy series. The rather Greek concept of destiny and the inability to escape it has taken center stage too much. Having a prophecy centered more around events than around a Chosen One was wonderful. I also loved how the prophecy fit into the country’s lore. It’s become a children’s rhyme and very few people attach any importance to it whatsoever. Imagine what it would be like if London Bridge suddenly became the key to our survival. The very act of trying to take the doggerel seriously would be taxing. Finding meaning to it even more so. But the best part of the prophecy? I’m honestly not sure I can say without spoiling the whole book. Let’s just say: Take that all you cryptic verses that you’d never interpret right with fifty books to puzzle it out!
My thanks to Bethany House for providing me with a copy of Dragonwitch via NetGalley in return for my honest opinion of the book.
July 4, 2013
Wow!! I've heard good things about this series and wanted to read it so what better way than to jump in on book 5? I see why people rave about these books. I was confused at first and thought I needed to start with book 1, but since I didn't have time to get through all the books before I needed to post my review, decided to keep reading. A couple of the names were similar and since I hadn't heard them before, I was confused but then the story started to make sense to me and came together. I didn't sail through this book because I needed to concentrate on what was happening and I loved it!!
This is a book I feel you need to read for yourself to experience how amazing it is. The characters are flawed and I felt sympathy for even the worst of them. The best of them find ways to improve and become even better (and more lovable). No one has all the answers but they each have a piece of the puzzle to insert at the right time to help. There are different stories going on that weave together to tell a fascinating tale.
I enjoyed Stengl's world building and look forward to learning more about Goldstone Wood. There are characters from other books that are included in this story and I'm looking forward to going back and starting with book 1 so I'll know more about them. Book 6 comes out in the spring so I have some time...
Visit my blog to enter the generous giveaway of a print copy of the entire series to date: Mel's Shelves
This is a book I feel you need to read for yourself to experience how amazing it is. The characters are flawed and I felt sympathy for even the worst of them. The best of them find ways to improve and become even better (and more lovable). No one has all the answers but they each have a piece of the puzzle to insert at the right time to help. There are different stories going on that weave together to tell a fascinating tale.
I enjoyed Stengl's world building and look forward to learning more about Goldstone Wood. There are characters from other books that are included in this story and I'm looking forward to going back and starting with book 1 so I'll know more about them. Book 6 comes out in the spring so I have some time...
Visit my blog to enter the generous giveaway of a print copy of the entire series to date: Mel's Shelves
November 15, 2015
Dragonwitch is the fifth book in the consistently good Tales of Goldstone Wood series, and as always, it was a pleasure to read. Anne Elisabeth Stengl's fantasy is epic and sprawling, peopled with delightful characters and plots which are simultaneously dramatic and profound. On top of that, the writing is always good, the touch of allegory underlines a discernible but not overdone Christian theme, and the setting carries a distinctive and familiar flavour of fairy tale and classic literature.
The plot is full of both old and new characters. A cynical young man, born a dwarf, is prophesied to be the legendary Smallman who will retrieve the sword of the hero Etanun and defeat the Dragonwitch, but is certain in his own mind that someone with a disability like his can never be a hero. Alistair, the heir to Gaheris Castle, suffers from recurrent nightmares and comes to believe he is destined for an early death. Mouse, an acolyte in the temple of the Flame at Night, flees her home when the revered Silent Lady returns to the Southlands only to be clapped behind bars. And Leta, the Lady of Aiven, must stand up for herself when a goblin invasion devastates her home.
I could complain that I felt the plot was so multi-stranded and sprawling, with so many threads carried over from previous books in the series and so many threads left unresolved for future books, that the story lost some of its impact. But overall this is a terrific series and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys solid and satisfying storytelling.
The plot is full of both old and new characters. A cynical young man, born a dwarf, is prophesied to be the legendary Smallman who will retrieve the sword of the hero Etanun and defeat the Dragonwitch, but is certain in his own mind that someone with a disability like his can never be a hero. Alistair, the heir to Gaheris Castle, suffers from recurrent nightmares and comes to believe he is destined for an early death. Mouse, an acolyte in the temple of the Flame at Night, flees her home when the revered Silent Lady returns to the Southlands only to be clapped behind bars. And Leta, the Lady of Aiven, must stand up for herself when a goblin invasion devastates her home.
I could complain that I felt the plot was so multi-stranded and sprawling, with so many threads carried over from previous books in the series and so many threads left unresolved for future books, that the story lost some of its impact. But overall this is a terrific series and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys solid and satisfying storytelling.
November 19, 2025
The great thing about this series is that the greatest characters from myths and legends can show up, and it actually has the emotional impact it's supposed to. Because Stengl has spent years developing the world so intricately and building the mythic capital of every person and every symbol.
September 21, 2013
Lord Alistair, nephew to one of the most powerful men in the land, knows that he will be king. He has known it all of his life. Once his uncle dies, Alistair will become king. Unless…of course his uncle has an heir. But of course he doesn’t. Does he?
The Chronicler knows who he is and what he is. He belongs in the castle library, where he has been since he was old enough to learn how to read and to write. He is extremely intelligent, despite his physical deformity. But his intelligence might just get in the way of an impossible truth…
Lady Leta is expected to marry Alistair. All of her life she has done nothing but what those around her expect of her. Can she possibly be more than what everybody sees?
The Scrubber is an old man who wanders the castle night and day scrubbing away the dirt from the stones. He’s a nobody . But…can he possibly be more than meets the eye?
Mouse has wandered from a land far, far away in order to find Etanun. The only thing is…Mouse hasn’t the faintest clue who Etanun is. But Mouse has to find him. Or all will be lost…
Dragonwitch, in my opinion, is the best yet of Anne Elisabeth Stengl’s series. The first words captured and intrigued me. Since I first read Heartless, which is the first book in this series, I have fallen in love with this author’s writing. Her words are absolutely saturated in beauty. Her stories are close to magnificent. If you have read the books before Dragonwitch you can see how intricately entwined each book is with the other. Her characters are always well- developed with their strengths and weaknesses.
I think that out of all the characters the Chronicler was my favorite. He was weak, but through his weaknesses the strength of the Lumil Eliasul showed. Of course the Lumil Eliasul is an allegorical name for Jesus. There are so many intricacies in this book that I’m somewhat astounded thinking of how very intricate Dragonwitch is. I believe that adults will enjoy this series just as much as teens. The first book, Heartless, seems a little simplistic but—trust me—her books do get much more complicated.
Also, for those fans of Goldstone Wood, Eanrin and Imraldera show up in Dragonwitch as well. I know I was thrilled to see them. (Spoiler Alert) Eanrin still has yet to confess his feelings for Imraldera. It’s almost comical in this book because his advise to the Chronicler when he finds out that the Chronicler is in love with some is this: “One conversation! One simple, honest, true conversation, and all your questions would be answered, all your problems solved! Really, man, is that so difficult? Then you’d be free to fall into each other’s arms and live your Happily Ever After. Why make it so complicated?” I felt like saying, “For heaven’s sake, Eanrin! Go take your own advice and tell the girl you love!” This relationship has been going on since book 1! And it still hasn’t gotten anywhere.
The heart of Dragonwitch is, of course, the Dragonwitch. Her story is as heart-wrenching as it is beautiful. She let bitterness consume her and destroyed herself in the process.
One thing was unclear to me in this novel. (Spoiler alert) Whether or not the High Priestess and Stoneye were Mouse’s parents. Mouse did call the High Priestess mother once, but it still didn’t clear up everything. But, other than that, Dragonwitch was begun, carried through, and executed to perfection. I cannot wait for Anne Elisabeth Stengl’s next novel, Shadow Hand.
If you are going to read this novel I strongly suggest reading at least Starflower first, if not the whole series. Dragonwitch had depth because I had read all of her other books first. Here is the series in order in case anybody wants to read it:
1. Heartless
2. Veiled Rose
3. Moonblood
4. Starflower
5. Dragonwitch
6. Shadow Hand (which has not been released yet)
I give Dragonwitch five out of five stars.
To read more of my reviews visit my blog at http://brookesbookblog.weebly.com/ind...
The Chronicler knows who he is and what he is. He belongs in the castle library, where he has been since he was old enough to learn how to read and to write. He is extremely intelligent, despite his physical deformity. But his intelligence might just get in the way of an impossible truth…
Lady Leta is expected to marry Alistair. All of her life she has done nothing but what those around her expect of her. Can she possibly be more than what everybody sees?
The Scrubber is an old man who wanders the castle night and day scrubbing away the dirt from the stones. He’s a nobody . But…can he possibly be more than meets the eye?
Mouse has wandered from a land far, far away in order to find Etanun. The only thing is…Mouse hasn’t the faintest clue who Etanun is. But Mouse has to find him. Or all will be lost…
Dragonwitch, in my opinion, is the best yet of Anne Elisabeth Stengl’s series. The first words captured and intrigued me. Since I first read Heartless, which is the first book in this series, I have fallen in love with this author’s writing. Her words are absolutely saturated in beauty. Her stories are close to magnificent. If you have read the books before Dragonwitch you can see how intricately entwined each book is with the other. Her characters are always well- developed with their strengths and weaknesses.
I think that out of all the characters the Chronicler was my favorite. He was weak, but through his weaknesses the strength of the Lumil Eliasul showed. Of course the Lumil Eliasul is an allegorical name for Jesus. There are so many intricacies in this book that I’m somewhat astounded thinking of how very intricate Dragonwitch is. I believe that adults will enjoy this series just as much as teens. The first book, Heartless, seems a little simplistic but—trust me—her books do get much more complicated.
Also, for those fans of Goldstone Wood, Eanrin and Imraldera show up in Dragonwitch as well. I know I was thrilled to see them. (Spoiler Alert) Eanrin still has yet to confess his feelings for Imraldera. It’s almost comical in this book because his advise to the Chronicler when he finds out that the Chronicler is in love with some is this: “One conversation! One simple, honest, true conversation, and all your questions would be answered, all your problems solved! Really, man, is that so difficult? Then you’d be free to fall into each other’s arms and live your Happily Ever After. Why make it so complicated?” I felt like saying, “For heaven’s sake, Eanrin! Go take your own advice and tell the girl you love!” This relationship has been going on since book 1! And it still hasn’t gotten anywhere.
The heart of Dragonwitch is, of course, the Dragonwitch. Her story is as heart-wrenching as it is beautiful. She let bitterness consume her and destroyed herself in the process.
One thing was unclear to me in this novel. (Spoiler alert) Whether or not the High Priestess and Stoneye were Mouse’s parents. Mouse did call the High Priestess mother once, but it still didn’t clear up everything. But, other than that, Dragonwitch was begun, carried through, and executed to perfection. I cannot wait for Anne Elisabeth Stengl’s next novel, Shadow Hand.
If you are going to read this novel I strongly suggest reading at least Starflower first, if not the whole series. Dragonwitch had depth because I had read all of her other books first. Here is the series in order in case anybody wants to read it:
1. Heartless
2. Veiled Rose
3. Moonblood
4. Starflower
5. Dragonwitch
6. Shadow Hand (which has not been released yet)
I give Dragonwitch five out of five stars.
To read more of my reviews visit my blog at http://brookesbookblog.weebly.com/ind...
July 2, 2013
Dragonwitch is a mesmerizing journey that beautifully showcases the strength and determination of the human spirit. A couple of the themes that I felt reverberated throughout the pages of this epic story are of the power of love and the importance of self-worth. We should never underestimate the potential and strength of true love just as we should never undervalue the need for self-worth. Both are necessary for living a full and meaningful life, and both determine the choices you make and the type of person you become.
True love really does exist, but we have to take the time to look for it. We have to nurture it in ourselves before we can expect to see it in others. We need to reach out and show the compassion, mercy, and kindness that every soul on this planet needs if we ever expect to see it returned to us. One example of this is seen in the character of Leta. She falls in love with the man who has showered her with unmatched kindness and compassion. When that man disappears from her life, she refuses to believe that the worst fate has befallen on him, and through this hope, she is able to push through her own difficult time. Once we find love, it will prove to be a source of unlimited power that can then be used to draw strength from when we have none left.
The other main theme that echoed throughout Dragonwitch is that we cannot deny who we are meant to be. While we may try to convince ourselves that we can never be what others have proclaimed us to be, it does not diminish the fact that we still have a great destiny to fulfill. Feelings of inadequacies may haunt us, but they don’t change what is meant to be. Instead, let us take hold of that promise and walk with all the confidence and courage that comes along with that knowledge. Prove to those around you and yourself that you are more than what you appear to be. Dragonwitch presents us with a man destiny is so much bigger than he is, and he is unable to allow his heart to accept it. He wrestles with this destiny until his heart is tired and worn out. In the end, he realizes he can’t fight against what was set in place by One who is greater than he. He learns that even though we can’t control what happens in our life and the lives of others, we can choose how to react to them.
I found Dragonwitch to be an exhilarating journey full of surprising twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat wanting more. While being new to this series and jumping in at this late stage of the game, I wasn’t sure I would be able to understand what all was going on, but overall I had no problem keeping up with and thoroughly enjoying every part of this intriguing tale. Anne Elizabeth Stengl’s writing is like reading beautiful poetry that creeps into the corners and crevices of your heart and illuminates the dark and forgotten parts in order to heal and sooth past hurts. I would recommend this story to fans of fantasy and epic adventures. You will not be disappointed.
True love really does exist, but we have to take the time to look for it. We have to nurture it in ourselves before we can expect to see it in others. We need to reach out and show the compassion, mercy, and kindness that every soul on this planet needs if we ever expect to see it returned to us. One example of this is seen in the character of Leta. She falls in love with the man who has showered her with unmatched kindness and compassion. When that man disappears from her life, she refuses to believe that the worst fate has befallen on him, and through this hope, she is able to push through her own difficult time. Once we find love, it will prove to be a source of unlimited power that can then be used to draw strength from when we have none left.
The other main theme that echoed throughout Dragonwitch is that we cannot deny who we are meant to be. While we may try to convince ourselves that we can never be what others have proclaimed us to be, it does not diminish the fact that we still have a great destiny to fulfill. Feelings of inadequacies may haunt us, but they don’t change what is meant to be. Instead, let us take hold of that promise and walk with all the confidence and courage that comes along with that knowledge. Prove to those around you and yourself that you are more than what you appear to be. Dragonwitch presents us with a man destiny is so much bigger than he is, and he is unable to allow his heart to accept it. He wrestles with this destiny until his heart is tired and worn out. In the end, he realizes he can’t fight against what was set in place by One who is greater than he. He learns that even though we can’t control what happens in our life and the lives of others, we can choose how to react to them.
I found Dragonwitch to be an exhilarating journey full of surprising twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat wanting more. While being new to this series and jumping in at this late stage of the game, I wasn’t sure I would be able to understand what all was going on, but overall I had no problem keeping up with and thoroughly enjoying every part of this intriguing tale. Anne Elizabeth Stengl’s writing is like reading beautiful poetry that creeps into the corners and crevices of your heart and illuminates the dark and forgotten parts in order to heal and sooth past hurts. I would recommend this story to fans of fantasy and epic adventures. You will not be disappointed.
August 13, 2013
Dragonwitch is the first of Anne Elisabeth Stengl’s books that I have read, and is fifth in the Tales of Goldstone Wood series. I was given this free review copy by the publisher (Bethany House Publications), but after reading Dragonwitch, I definitely will be going back to read the first four in the series.
Truth be told, I would not have expected this book to be published by Bethany House Publishing. I grew up with Bethany House printing the fiction my grandmothers loved to read—Old West historical romances, mainly, and a lot of Janette Oake and Judith Pella. The book and its contents surprised me—a good surprise, but a surprise nonetheless. Despite none of the overt spiritual references and strong Christian characters I had come to associate with Bethany House, I still found myself marveling at some of the spiritual truths hidden in plain sight.
I am a fan of the fantasy of Lewis and Tolkien, but little contemporary fantasy. Stengl, however, weaves such an integrated world it was hard not to get drawn in. Some of it, of course, comes from this book being late in the series and the author having had time to interact with her world properly. Most of it, however, comes from the author’s ability to paint pictures with words to create a world where you can feel the moss of the Wood under your feet, you can watch the Path spread out before you, and you can smell the stink of fear hovering over the goblin’s human captives.
The story takes place in four separate, distinct realms. It begins in the cold reaches of the North Country, where young Lord Alistair is reluctantly learning to read, and the castle Chronicler is reluctantly teaching him. He is being groomed for an earlship and, everyone hopes, the throne. He never feels comfortable with his mother’s scheming, or with Leta, the girl that his uncle and mother have chosen for him to wed. When his uncle, the earl dies, a surprise deathbed confession changes everything Alistair knew.
As I mentioned above, the religious themes are subtle and sometimes hidden. In one such passage, the Chronicler and Leta—who is clandestinely learning to read and write—are having a discussion about the faerie tales which the Chronicler simply calls, “Silly superstition.”
“Maybe,” she replied. “Maybe not. But I believe it.”
“What you believe cannot affect the truth of the matter.”
“Cannot the same be said for unbelief?”
“A good point, m’lady, and a fair one,” said he.
This particular theme—that whether or not we believe something to be true has no bearing on its actual fact—is repeated throughout the book if one cares to look.
In the printed book I received, I did notice a few layout issues, but nothing to detract from the story.
Any time spent reading the work of a true wordsmith is never time wasted. I will definitely be reading more of Stengl’s works in the future.
Truth be told, I would not have expected this book to be published by Bethany House Publishing. I grew up with Bethany House printing the fiction my grandmothers loved to read—Old West historical romances, mainly, and a lot of Janette Oake and Judith Pella. The book and its contents surprised me—a good surprise, but a surprise nonetheless. Despite none of the overt spiritual references and strong Christian characters I had come to associate with Bethany House, I still found myself marveling at some of the spiritual truths hidden in plain sight.
I am a fan of the fantasy of Lewis and Tolkien, but little contemporary fantasy. Stengl, however, weaves such an integrated world it was hard not to get drawn in. Some of it, of course, comes from this book being late in the series and the author having had time to interact with her world properly. Most of it, however, comes from the author’s ability to paint pictures with words to create a world where you can feel the moss of the Wood under your feet, you can watch the Path spread out before you, and you can smell the stink of fear hovering over the goblin’s human captives.
The story takes place in four separate, distinct realms. It begins in the cold reaches of the North Country, where young Lord Alistair is reluctantly learning to read, and the castle Chronicler is reluctantly teaching him. He is being groomed for an earlship and, everyone hopes, the throne. He never feels comfortable with his mother’s scheming, or with Leta, the girl that his uncle and mother have chosen for him to wed. When his uncle, the earl dies, a surprise deathbed confession changes everything Alistair knew.
As I mentioned above, the religious themes are subtle and sometimes hidden. In one such passage, the Chronicler and Leta—who is clandestinely learning to read and write—are having a discussion about the faerie tales which the Chronicler simply calls, “Silly superstition.”
“Maybe,” she replied. “Maybe not. But I believe it.”
“What you believe cannot affect the truth of the matter.”
“Cannot the same be said for unbelief?”
“A good point, m’lady, and a fair one,” said he.
This particular theme—that whether or not we believe something to be true has no bearing on its actual fact—is repeated throughout the book if one cares to look.
In the printed book I received, I did notice a few layout issues, but nothing to detract from the story.
Any time spent reading the work of a true wordsmith is never time wasted. I will definitely be reading more of Stengl’s works in the future.
July 30, 2013
About the Book:
Who Will Dare to Face the Dragonwitch?
Submissive to her father’s will, Lady Leta of Aiven travels far to meet a prospective husband she neither knows nor loves–Lord Alistair, future king of the North Country.
But within the walls of Gaheris Castle, all is not right. Vicious night terrors plague Lord Alistair to the brink of insanity. Whispers rise from the family crypt. The reclusive castle Chronicler, Leta’s tutor and friend, possesses a secret so dangerous it could cost his life and topple the North Country into civil war.
And far away in a hidden kingdom, a fire burns atop the Temple of the Sacred Flame. Acolytes and priestesses serve their goddess to the limits of their lives and deaths. No one is safe while the Dragonwitch searches for the sword that slew her twice…and for the one person who can wield it.
About the Author:
Anne Elisabeth Stengl is the author of the acclaimed TALES OF GOLDSTONE WOOD series, including Starflower; Veiled Rose; winner of the 2012 Christy Award for Visionary novel; and Heartless, the winner of the 2011 Christy Award for First Novel. She makes her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, Rohan, a dog, and a passel of cats. Learn more at www.anneelisabethstengl.blogspot.com.
My Review:
The book begins with Lord Alistair waking up screaming from one of his nightmares. The servants were quite scared of him and often avoided him. He barely crawled to the Chronicles library to speak with the Chronicle about his dream. The Chronicle acted coolly but truly didn't care. It seemed as soon as Lord Alistair got to reading his daily reading work a page came a calling. Alistair demanded he tell him what the big deal was. His Bride, Lady Leta had arrived. He practically ran down the stairs, still not making it in enough time to please his mother.
Lady Leta was barely tall enough to be a girl much less a woman. She hardly reached Alastair's shoulder. She unwillingly came to this castle and tried her best to fit in. But knowing that one she was to wed barely wanted anything to do with her, she took a liking to the Chronicle. He was nice enough to her and now helping her learn how to read. Maybe after all she would make happiness out of this, God forsaken life she was dealt.
This book takes on a life of its own. It is rich in Medieval history which is a huge interest to my children. I read them the book and they enjoyed it immensely.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Bethany House.
Who Will Dare to Face the Dragonwitch?
Submissive to her father’s will, Lady Leta of Aiven travels far to meet a prospective husband she neither knows nor loves–Lord Alistair, future king of the North Country.
But within the walls of Gaheris Castle, all is not right. Vicious night terrors plague Lord Alistair to the brink of insanity. Whispers rise from the family crypt. The reclusive castle Chronicler, Leta’s tutor and friend, possesses a secret so dangerous it could cost his life and topple the North Country into civil war.
And far away in a hidden kingdom, a fire burns atop the Temple of the Sacred Flame. Acolytes and priestesses serve their goddess to the limits of their lives and deaths. No one is safe while the Dragonwitch searches for the sword that slew her twice…and for the one person who can wield it.
About the Author:
Anne Elisabeth Stengl is the author of the acclaimed TALES OF GOLDSTONE WOOD series, including Starflower; Veiled Rose; winner of the 2012 Christy Award for Visionary novel; and Heartless, the winner of the 2011 Christy Award for First Novel. She makes her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, Rohan, a dog, and a passel of cats. Learn more at www.anneelisabethstengl.blogspot.com.
My Review:
The book begins with Lord Alistair waking up screaming from one of his nightmares. The servants were quite scared of him and often avoided him. He barely crawled to the Chronicles library to speak with the Chronicle about his dream. The Chronicle acted coolly but truly didn't care. It seemed as soon as Lord Alistair got to reading his daily reading work a page came a calling. Alistair demanded he tell him what the big deal was. His Bride, Lady Leta had arrived. He practically ran down the stairs, still not making it in enough time to please his mother.
Lady Leta was barely tall enough to be a girl much less a woman. She hardly reached Alastair's shoulder. She unwillingly came to this castle and tried her best to fit in. But knowing that one she was to wed barely wanted anything to do with her, she took a liking to the Chronicle. He was nice enough to her and now helping her learn how to read. Maybe after all she would make happiness out of this, God forsaken life she was dealt.
This book takes on a life of its own. It is rich in Medieval history which is a huge interest to my children. I read them the book and they enjoyed it immensely.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Bethany House.
January 5, 2014
Thoughts: I just finished the book this morning, so my emotions are still in a tither. Up until I read this book, my favorite of the Goldstone Wood series was Starflower. But Dragonwitch has challenged that favoritism most strongly, and I find myself tied between the two. I went much slower with this book than any of the others in the series, due to the fact that I was not able to sit down and devour (as I so often do with books) until yesterday. Of course, when the opportunity arose, devour I did. It took me maybe two hours to read the next 200 pages, and I read the remaining 70 or so this morning before getting up. ;) It's good. (Not to mention, is that cover not gorgeous?) I especially liked the ongoing tale in the beginnings of every chapter, and the countless mistranslations between Eanrin, Mouse, and Alistair.
Pros: I loved the characters in this book, almost more than the other books in this series. (Alistair, Imraldera, Eanrin and Mouse, were my favorites). Ever since reading about the Dragonwitch in Moonblood (and later Starflower) I wanted to know her story in toto. Dragonwitch answered all my questions - artfully. Eanrin, whose wit I though had surely reached a max, was better than ever. Also, (rachel, surely you noticed this too?) the end scene at Gaheris Castle made me think of 'Do You Hear The People Sing?' from Les Miserables. O_o
Cons: I found myself wanting redemption for a certain character who had to die in the end (those who have read Dragonwitch will know hopefully know of whom I speak, the rest of y'all better get your copies because I refuse to say anything spoiler-wise.) but the book ended the way it should have, which is good and right. Proper endings and books that conclude the way you want them to are two very different things, you know. I did find Lady Leta to be a bit dull in the book's beginning, but she shaped up well enough.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I recommend this book for all ages; no one is too young or too old for a fairytale. I will however note that it will most likely be more appreciated by those of us over the age of 13. I would also heartily recommend reading the other books in the series, particularly Starflower before reading this. But it's not required. :)
Pros: I loved the characters in this book, almost more than the other books in this series. (Alistair, Imraldera, Eanrin and Mouse, were my favorites). Ever since reading about the Dragonwitch in Moonblood (and later Starflower) I wanted to know her story in toto. Dragonwitch answered all my questions - artfully. Eanrin, whose wit I though had surely reached a max, was better than ever. Also, (rachel, surely you noticed this too?) the end scene at Gaheris Castle made me think of 'Do You Hear The People Sing?' from Les Miserables. O_o
Cons: I found myself wanting redemption for a certain character who had to die in the end (those who have read Dragonwitch will know hopefully know of whom I speak, the rest of y'all better get your copies because I refuse to say anything spoiler-wise.) but the book ended the way it should have, which is good and right. Proper endings and books that conclude the way you want them to are two very different things, you know. I did find Lady Leta to be a bit dull in the book's beginning, but she shaped up well enough.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I recommend this book for all ages; no one is too young or too old for a fairytale. I will however note that it will most likely be more appreciated by those of us over the age of 13. I would also heartily recommend reading the other books in the series, particularly Starflower before reading this. But it's not required. :)
March 4, 2017
Wow!! I read this book and realized I had just stumbled on one of my very best books. This book is written perfectly, I just love how the story of the Dragonwitch is told piece by piece. There are a lot of main characters in this book, so I won't say them all. A goddess that they serve, a kingdom over run by goblins, a mission to save two people, and the House of Lights, and of course a little romance. There isn't much I didn't like about this, it was amazing. Keep writing the Tales Of Gold Stone Woods Anne Elisabeth and God bless you!!
April 13, 2020
General Review of The Tales of Goldstone Wood
This is a wonderful book series. It's Christian fantasy allegory, so if you liked Narnia, you'll probably like this. However, two caveats:
-Most of the book covers aren't accurate to the content of the books. Just ignore them completely.
-The books are published out of chronological order, to the detriment of the reader's understanding and enjoyment. The author herself has stated that she believes Heartless is the best introduction to the series, but I completely disagree (for reasons outlined in my Goodreads review of that book). Here is the order in which these beautiful novels sit upon my bookshelf.
The Tales of Goldstone Wood Chronological Order
1. Draven's Light (novella, publishing order #9) - My 3-star review.
2. Starflower (publishing order #4) - My 5-star review.
3. Dragonwitch (publishing order #5) - My 2-star review.
4. Golden Daughter (publishing order #8) - My 3-star review.
5. Fallen Star (short story, publishing order #10) - My 2-star review.
6. Veiled Rose (publishing order #2) - My 4-star review.
7. Goddess Tithe (novella, publishing order #7) - My 3-star review.
8. Heartless (publishing order #1) - My 3-star review.
9. Moonblood (publishing order #3) - My 5-star review.
10. Shadow Hand (publishing order #6) - My 5-star review.
The Tales of Goldstone Wood Reading Guide
I recommend everyone to begin with Starflower. It is chronologically the first (and quite possibly the best) full-fledged novel of the series. This book is a fantastic, memorable introduction to the world and some of its key characters, and reading it first will cement a strong foundation in the reader's mind for the rest of the series to be built on. Finally, it can actually stand alone very well if the reader does not have the time or interest to continue with the series.
After reading Starflower, gauge your interest. Are you 100% invested, with all the time in the world and all the dedication you need to get through the whole series? Then I recommend the following reading order, which is the chronological order except for the swap of Starflower and Draven's Light, AND moving the short story "Fallen Star" after Moonblood (imperative because there are major spoilers in the short story).
1. Starflower
2. Draven's Light (novella)
3. Dragonwitch
4. Golden Daughter
5. Veiled Rose
6. Goddess Tithe (novella)
7. Heartless
8. Moonblood
9. Fallen Star (short story)
10. Shadow Hand
HOWEVER, if you enjoyed Starflower but aren't ready to commit to a huge series, I recommend following up Starflower with:
1. Veiled Rose
2. Heartless
3. Moonblood
These three are the first books the author wrote and they stand as a kind of trilogy. Reading these alone would be akin to just reading the Pevensie books in the Narnia series, or only watching the original Star Wars trilogy. The important work of the series is in these books. If you finish these three books and feel that you would like to read more, I recommend Shadow Hand next, as it continues on with the same characters, before going back into the earlier books of the series (which you may consider supplementary material, like the "prequel" Star Wars movies).
Goldstone Wood is unfinished. Is it worth reading?
Stengl announced in Jan 2017 that she is no longer writing Goldstone Wood (she hopes to return in the future, but no promises). How does that affect the series?
Goldstone Wood is many stories interwoven together. All of them do find SOME resolution. The "prequel" set of stories is fully complete. However, the main important plots are not quite resolved. There are no cliffhangers, but the reader can see that Stengl planned a future conclusion that the characters have not yet reached. Is it still a good series? Absolutely. I still loved it. I still lend it out and recommend it. It still reaches (in my opinion) a satisfying enough conclusion.
Yes, I wish it had the ending Stengl planned. Who knows, maybe someday she'll come back to it. She has a lot of fans who are hoping very much that she will. But even if she never does, Goldstone Wood remains a strong entry into Christian fantasy and still worth the read.
Review of Dragonwitch
The reviews on Goodreads for Dragonwitch are overwhelmingly positive, so it appears I am in the minority. I was disappointed by this book. It didn't have that "special something" that tugged my heartstrings like the other books. I laughed at Eanrin's funny banter and enjoyed certain sections early in the novel that set up the relationship between Leta and the Chronicler. But for the most part, I feel this mediocre novel waters down a great series. I know, it seems like a harsh thing to say, but the only compliment I can really think of to give this book is "fine. It was fine." Thematically and tonally, it doesn't mesh well with the rest of the series, and I think it could cause a reader to lose steam and quit the series early. However, it is too important to the (really great) series to be skipped, so the reader must soldier on!
This is a wonderful book series. It's Christian fantasy allegory, so if you liked Narnia, you'll probably like this. However, two caveats:
-Most of the book covers aren't accurate to the content of the books. Just ignore them completely.
-The books are published out of chronological order, to the detriment of the reader's understanding and enjoyment. The author herself has stated that she believes Heartless is the best introduction to the series, but I completely disagree (for reasons outlined in my Goodreads review of that book). Here is the order in which these beautiful novels sit upon my bookshelf.
The Tales of Goldstone Wood Chronological Order
1. Draven's Light (novella, publishing order #9) - My 3-star review.
2. Starflower (publishing order #4) - My 5-star review.
3. Dragonwitch (publishing order #5) - My 2-star review.
4. Golden Daughter (publishing order #8) - My 3-star review.
5. Fallen Star (short story, publishing order #10) - My 2-star review.
6. Veiled Rose (publishing order #2) - My 4-star review.
7. Goddess Tithe (novella, publishing order #7) - My 3-star review.
8. Heartless (publishing order #1) - My 3-star review.
9. Moonblood (publishing order #3) - My 5-star review.
10. Shadow Hand (publishing order #6) - My 5-star review.
The Tales of Goldstone Wood Reading Guide
I recommend everyone to begin with Starflower. It is chronologically the first (and quite possibly the best) full-fledged novel of the series. This book is a fantastic, memorable introduction to the world and some of its key characters, and reading it first will cement a strong foundation in the reader's mind for the rest of the series to be built on. Finally, it can actually stand alone very well if the reader does not have the time or interest to continue with the series.
After reading Starflower, gauge your interest. Are you 100% invested, with all the time in the world and all the dedication you need to get through the whole series? Then I recommend the following reading order, which is the chronological order except for the swap of Starflower and Draven's Light, AND moving the short story "Fallen Star" after Moonblood (imperative because there are major spoilers in the short story).
1. Starflower
2. Draven's Light (novella)
3. Dragonwitch
4. Golden Daughter
5. Veiled Rose
6. Goddess Tithe (novella)
7. Heartless
8. Moonblood
9. Fallen Star (short story)
10. Shadow Hand
HOWEVER, if you enjoyed Starflower but aren't ready to commit to a huge series, I recommend following up Starflower with:
1. Veiled Rose
2. Heartless
3. Moonblood
These three are the first books the author wrote and they stand as a kind of trilogy. Reading these alone would be akin to just reading the Pevensie books in the Narnia series, or only watching the original Star Wars trilogy. The important work of the series is in these books. If you finish these three books and feel that you would like to read more, I recommend Shadow Hand next, as it continues on with the same characters, before going back into the earlier books of the series (which you may consider supplementary material, like the "prequel" Star Wars movies).
Goldstone Wood is unfinished. Is it worth reading?
Stengl announced in Jan 2017 that she is no longer writing Goldstone Wood (she hopes to return in the future, but no promises). How does that affect the series?
Goldstone Wood is many stories interwoven together. All of them do find SOME resolution. The "prequel" set of stories is fully complete. However, the main important plots are not quite resolved. There are no cliffhangers, but the reader can see that Stengl planned a future conclusion that the characters have not yet reached. Is it still a good series? Absolutely. I still loved it. I still lend it out and recommend it. It still reaches (in my opinion) a satisfying enough conclusion.
Yes, I wish it had the ending Stengl planned. Who knows, maybe someday she'll come back to it. She has a lot of fans who are hoping very much that she will. But even if she never does, Goldstone Wood remains a strong entry into Christian fantasy and still worth the read.
Review of Dragonwitch
The reviews on Goodreads for Dragonwitch are overwhelmingly positive, so it appears I am in the minority. I was disappointed by this book. It didn't have that "special something" that tugged my heartstrings like the other books. I laughed at Eanrin's funny banter and enjoyed certain sections early in the novel that set up the relationship between Leta and the Chronicler. But for the most part, I feel this mediocre novel waters down a great series. I know, it seems like a harsh thing to say, but the only compliment I can really think of to give this book is "fine. It was fine." Thematically and tonally, it doesn't mesh well with the rest of the series, and I think it could cause a reader to lose steam and quit the series early. However, it is too important to the (really great) series to be skipped, so the reader must soldier on!
October 25, 2019
This book was beautifully written! It almost seemed like a New Old English. I had to really concentrate when I read this, and that certainly isn’t my preferred reading style, but it was interesting and challenging.
I did find myself not understanding exactly what was going on, but I’m sure if I read it again, more would be clear.
Eanrin has such a great sense of humor, and I loved to see it poke through in his weird sarcastic jokes. When he had to dictate between Alistair and Mouse were some of my favorite parts.
There were many parallels I saw between this book and the Bible, which was pretty cool.
Mouse and Alistair was such a cute romance since they couldn’t understand what each other said. (Not gonna lie, I totally thought Mouse was like 12 years old, so I had to do a total mental flip when she and Alistair started catching feels and I learned she’s like 20.)
Amazing book in general, although I was lost most of the time. Likely my own fault, not the author.
I did find myself not understanding exactly what was going on, but I’m sure if I read it again, more would be clear.
Eanrin has such a great sense of humor, and I loved to see it poke through in his weird sarcastic jokes. When he had to dictate between Alistair and Mouse were some of my favorite parts.
There were many parallels I saw between this book and the Bible, which was pretty cool.
Mouse and Alistair was such a cute romance since they couldn’t understand what each other said. (Not gonna lie, I totally thought Mouse was like 12 years old, so I had to do a total mental flip when she and Alistair started catching feels and I learned she’s like 20.)
Amazing book in general, although I was lost most of the time. Likely my own fault, not the author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
November 3, 2022I realized I had forgotten to post my review here. I really liked this book. I didn't realize when I requested this book that it was part of a series. I think I would have enjoyed it even more if I had read the other books in the series first. I still enjoyed this fun, fantasy adventure novel. The main character was great and I know sometime in the future that I want to read the rest of the series. Stengl is a great writer and knows how to create an interesting and entertaining world for readers.
June 26, 2016
Lady Leta of Aiven does what she's told. She'll marry a man she neither knows nor loves because her father has told her she must and as a woman, she is nothing more than a means to an end. Lord Alistair will marry Leta and be king of the North Country after his uncle dies whether he wants to or not. The Chronicler will be nothing more than a dwarf who can read and write, recording the tales of North Country. These three don't believe in Fairytales--they're nothing more than stories for children. The last House of Lights doesn't exist and will never be found; The Smallman won't discover the sword Halisa left by the brother Etanun and destroy the Dragonwitch for the third and final time.
Unfortunately, these three are about to discover that Fairytales do indeed exist, prophecies abound and will find a way to come true and when you can discover your own worth, you'll become what you were meant to be and so much more.
Continuing Anne Elisabeth Stengl's Tales of Goldstone Wood saga, Dragonwitch takes place close to the end of the events in Starflower. Even over the time since Starflower, much has changed in the Near World and the Between. Along with the changes, we get to go back to the start of the legends of the Brothers Ashiun and their involvement with the Dragonwitch. We see her beginnings, from a frightened young fairy queen to a woman pining for the love of a man who does not love her the same way. We get to see their beginnings as brothers who chose to serve the Lumil Eliasil and went out to bring the Sphere Songs to the people and build the Houses of Lights. We see Akilun as he fights to make Etanun see through the poison coursing through his body, and we see Etanun's horror and acceptance as he watches his brother fall and gains the name of Murderer.
Along with some new characters, some of the old favorites are back: Eanrin, Imraldera and Queen Bebo and the Lumil Eliasil make brief appearances. We see how the relationship between Eanrin and Imraldera has developed and grown and (while neither of them will admit it) become more than just comrades in arms in the service of the Prince of Farthest Shore.
Dragonwitch is a tale with much that you can take away. Even as the characters are encouraged to discover their own worth and become that which they are supposed to be by right, you as the reader are encouraged to do the same. The characters go through many trials as they finally come to trust in He Who Chose them and open their eyes to fully see. Along with the joy of seeing the characters triumph, we also get to see characters fall into darkness as they turn from He Who Chose Them and walk a dark road, proclaiming themselves as gods/goddesses and speaker's for said deity's until they are left with nothing at all.
While it's possible to read it as a stand-alone novel, I don't recommend it. By only reading one book, you miss much of the back story that is alluded to and you just miss the beauty that is the rest of the series.
Unfortunately, these three are about to discover that Fairytales do indeed exist, prophecies abound and will find a way to come true and when you can discover your own worth, you'll become what you were meant to be and so much more.
Continuing Anne Elisabeth Stengl's Tales of Goldstone Wood saga, Dragonwitch takes place close to the end of the events in Starflower. Even over the time since Starflower, much has changed in the Near World and the Between. Along with the changes, we get to go back to the start of the legends of the Brothers Ashiun and their involvement with the Dragonwitch. We see her beginnings, from a frightened young fairy queen to a woman pining for the love of a man who does not love her the same way. We get to see their beginnings as brothers who chose to serve the Lumil Eliasil and went out to bring the Sphere Songs to the people and build the Houses of Lights. We see Akilun as he fights to make Etanun see through the poison coursing through his body, and we see Etanun's horror and acceptance as he watches his brother fall and gains the name of Murderer.
Along with some new characters, some of the old favorites are back: Eanrin, Imraldera and Queen Bebo and the Lumil Eliasil make brief appearances. We see how the relationship between Eanrin and Imraldera has developed and grown and (while neither of them will admit it) become more than just comrades in arms in the service of the Prince of Farthest Shore.
Dragonwitch is a tale with much that you can take away. Even as the characters are encouraged to discover their own worth and become that which they are supposed to be by right, you as the reader are encouraged to do the same. The characters go through many trials as they finally come to trust in He Who Chose them and open their eyes to fully see. Along with the joy of seeing the characters triumph, we also get to see characters fall into darkness as they turn from He Who Chose Them and walk a dark road, proclaiming themselves as gods/goddesses and speaker's for said deity's until they are left with nothing at all.
While it's possible to read it as a stand-alone novel, I don't recommend it. By only reading one book, you miss much of the back story that is alluded to and you just miss the beauty that is the rest of the series.
July 15, 2013
Dragonwitch
Tales of Goldstone Wood #5
Anne Elisabeth Stengl
Dragonwitch is yet another enchanting excursion into Goldstone Wood. The opening starts with the Legend of the Brothers Ashiun
which gave me the same thrill of beauty that I felt when I read The Silmarillion by Tolkien. There is an awe that this opening legend imparts that is hard to describe with words and its touches the very heart of one's soul!
Dragonwitch is two stories in one. The first story is of the Brothers Ashuin - Etanun and Akilun and the Flame at Night. The second story belongs to Alastair, Leta, the Chronicler, and Mouse. But these two stories are essential to each other because without one you won't fully grasp the other.
Alastair of Geheris is destined to become king of the North Country and the Lady Leta is to become his wife. But Alastair is haunted and hunted in his sleep by the face of a child. What can the meaning of his recurring dream mean? While Alastair struggles through his unwanted lessons under his uncle's Chronicler, Leta secretly seeks out the knowledge that Alastair disdains. The lessons the two pursue are steeped in the legends and nursery tales surrounding the House of Light and the Brothers Ashiun. If there any truth to the prophecy regarding the rising of a heir who will claim the long lost sword of Etanun?
When Eanrin comes upon evidence that someone or something is attempting to force open a new death-house gate he becomes alarmed and warns Imraldera to keep an extra watch over the gate while he is away. But when the Murderer comes upon Imraldera in Eanrin's absence the gate is allowed to open and goblins pour into Geheris.
The goblins search and dismantle the castle in search of a prize for their Queen Vartera. The king-to-be is the key to goblins quest. But the King-to-be is who Eanrin needs to save Imraldera. But how can the future king of the North Country be in two different places at once. Torn between duty, desire, fear, and feelings he can't explain the heir of Geheris and Etanun is about to embark on a life altering journey that could cost him his very life.
Dragonwitch is a story of disappointment, sacrifice, betrayal, love lost and love found. It is a story of new beginnings and lost dreams. There are lessons for both the characters and the reader. When we rely upon our senses we are restrained in how we view the world around because we see through preconceived perceptions. We judge others on appearance, but the true measure of a person is who they are in their spirit.
Dragonwitch won't disappoint and you'll want to revisit it again (as is the case with all the Tales of Goldstone Wood books) while you await Shadow Hand.
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Tales of Goldstone Wood #5
Anne Elisabeth Stengl
Dragonwitch is yet another enchanting excursion into Goldstone Wood. The opening starts with the Legend of the Brothers Ashiun
which gave me the same thrill of beauty that I felt when I read The Silmarillion by Tolkien. There is an awe that this opening legend imparts that is hard to describe with words and its touches the very heart of one's soul!
Dragonwitch is two stories in one. The first story is of the Brothers Ashuin - Etanun and Akilun and the Flame at Night. The second story belongs to Alastair, Leta, the Chronicler, and Mouse. But these two stories are essential to each other because without one you won't fully grasp the other.
Alastair of Geheris is destined to become king of the North Country and the Lady Leta is to become his wife. But Alastair is haunted and hunted in his sleep by the face of a child. What can the meaning of his recurring dream mean? While Alastair struggles through his unwanted lessons under his uncle's Chronicler, Leta secretly seeks out the knowledge that Alastair disdains. The lessons the two pursue are steeped in the legends and nursery tales surrounding the House of Light and the Brothers Ashiun. If there any truth to the prophecy regarding the rising of a heir who will claim the long lost sword of Etanun?
When Eanrin comes upon evidence that someone or something is attempting to force open a new death-house gate he becomes alarmed and warns Imraldera to keep an extra watch over the gate while he is away. But when the Murderer comes upon Imraldera in Eanrin's absence the gate is allowed to open and goblins pour into Geheris.
The goblins search and dismantle the castle in search of a prize for their Queen Vartera. The king-to-be is the key to goblins quest. But the King-to-be is who Eanrin needs to save Imraldera. But how can the future king of the North Country be in two different places at once. Torn between duty, desire, fear, and feelings he can't explain the heir of Geheris and Etanun is about to embark on a life altering journey that could cost him his very life.
Dragonwitch is a story of disappointment, sacrifice, betrayal, love lost and love found. It is a story of new beginnings and lost dreams. There are lessons for both the characters and the reader. When we rely upon our senses we are restrained in how we view the world around because we see through preconceived perceptions. We judge others on appearance, but the true measure of a person is who they are in their spirit.
Dragonwitch won't disappoint and you'll want to revisit it again (as is the case with all the Tales of Goldstone Wood books) while you await Shadow Hand.
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
October 15, 2013
Anne Elisabeth Stengel writes another fantastic book in this series! Just when I think her novels can't get any better and are the best yet, she surprises me and does even better with the next novel! "Dragonwitch" was definitely no exception!
I'll admit that for a while in the beginning I was lost and confused. I had read the entire series previously, but I felt there was a lot going on and it took me a while to catch up. However once I did, the story really took me off on an exciting journey!
All the mortals were extremely flawed characters and were so easy to relate to. They all struggled with some kind of doubt concerning the realness of Faerie stories they had learned from a child. They would eventually have to face their ideas/beliefs when meeting these people of legends. Are they going to believe their words of truth or are they going to be so full of doubt that their eyes won't open to the power of their words? This is a question that the characters struggle with throughout "Dragonwitch," with some of the characters believing in what they thought didn't exist and others not really seeing the true light!
Something that has blown me away with each one of Anne's novel is the powerful message she writes throughout the series. Someone might ask "How can any fantasy novel have a Biblical message?". Well Anne definitely answers this question with a big YES throughout Tales of Goldstone Woord. The message in "Dragonwtich" left me tear-eyed, which was Jesus is our living water and has called us to a greater purpose. There are other inner lying messages, but this one was superior to them all. People might view themselves as a person of no beauty, worthless, different, doubtful, and many other negative thoughts that the devil wants us to believe. The reason being is because he knows if we live and believe these thoughts then we will never truly embrace the calling that Jesus has spoken over our lives and won't be able to walk the path He has laid for us. He died on the cross so that we may have living water, but we as people have to believe and trust in Him. It doesn't matter if He calls/tells to do something that would seem impossible to not only us, but everyone around. He makes us a new creation through our faith in Him so that we truly can do the impossible through His name and fulfill the purpose He had for us since the beginning of time.
I strongly encourage anyone to read this novel who loves the typical fantasy of goblins, dragons, and a beautiful unicorn because not only are the characters unforgettable, but the storyline has a message that will not be easily forgotten as well.
I'll admit that for a while in the beginning I was lost and confused. I had read the entire series previously, but I felt there was a lot going on and it took me a while to catch up. However once I did, the story really took me off on an exciting journey!
All the mortals were extremely flawed characters and were so easy to relate to. They all struggled with some kind of doubt concerning the realness of Faerie stories they had learned from a child. They would eventually have to face their ideas/beliefs when meeting these people of legends. Are they going to believe their words of truth or are they going to be so full of doubt that their eyes won't open to the power of their words? This is a question that the characters struggle with throughout "Dragonwitch," with some of the characters believing in what they thought didn't exist and others not really seeing the true light!
Something that has blown me away with each one of Anne's novel is the powerful message she writes throughout the series. Someone might ask "How can any fantasy novel have a Biblical message?". Well Anne definitely answers this question with a big YES throughout Tales of Goldstone Woord. The message in "Dragonwtich" left me tear-eyed, which was Jesus is our living water and has called us to a greater purpose. There are other inner lying messages, but this one was superior to them all. People might view themselves as a person of no beauty, worthless, different, doubtful, and many other negative thoughts that the devil wants us to believe. The reason being is because he knows if we live and believe these thoughts then we will never truly embrace the calling that Jesus has spoken over our lives and won't be able to walk the path He has laid for us. He died on the cross so that we may have living water, but we as people have to believe and trust in Him. It doesn't matter if He calls/tells to do something that would seem impossible to not only us, but everyone around. He makes us a new creation through our faith in Him so that we truly can do the impossible through His name and fulfill the purpose He had for us since the beginning of time.
I strongly encourage anyone to read this novel who loves the typical fantasy of goblins, dragons, and a beautiful unicorn because not only are the characters unforgettable, but the storyline has a message that will not be easily forgotten as well.
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