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Princess Una of Parumvir has come of age and will soon marry. She dreams of a charming prince, but when her first suitor arrives, he's not what she'd hoped. Prince Aethelbald of mysterious Farthestshore has travelled a great distance to prove his love--and also to bring hushed warnings of danger. A dragon is rumored to be on the hunt and blazing a path of terror.
Una, smitten instead with a more dashing prince, refuses Aethelbald's offer--and ignores his cautions with dire consequences. Soon the Dragon King himself is in Parumvir and Una, in giving her heart away unwisely, finds herself in his sights. Only those courageous enough to risk everything have a hope of fighting off this advancing evil.
A Tale of Goldstone Wood
Timeless Fantasy That Will Keep You Spellbound
Winner of the 2011 Christy Award for First Novel
"Do you think they will come before the year is out?" Princess Una asked her nurse.
"Who will come?" her nurse replied.
"Suitors, of course!"
Though the sun was bright, the air blew chill through the open window that spring morning, and Una wrapped a shawl around her shoulders as she sat waiting for Nurse to finish the awful business of preparing her for the day. Nurse, who had long since ceased to function as a real nurse and these days played the part of maid and busybody to her princess, wielded a brush with the tenderness of a gardener raking last year's dead leaves, making every effort to tame Una's honey-colored hair into an acceptable braid. One would have expected that, with many years' practice, she might have acquired rather more gentleness. Not so Nurse.
She paused now, mid-tug, and scowled at Una's reflection in the glass. "What brings on this fool talk?" She raised a bushy eyebrow and gave the braid an extra tug, as though to wrest all the unruliness out of it in one go. "You keep your mind busy with your lessons and deportment, just as always, and leave that messy business of courting and arranging marriages to your father, as is right." "But I'm of age!" Una winced again and tried not to pull away from the vicious brush. She twisted her mouth into an unattractive shape as pain shot through her scalp. "Papa always said that he wouldn't accept a single inquiry from a single prince or single dignitary in a single realm of the whole Continent until I came of age."
"As is right."
"Well, now that I'm eighteen, shouldn't he start receiving them? When will they come to pay their respects?" To pay their respects, according to the definition given the phrase by the courtiers of Oriana Palace, was a tactful way to say, investigate marriage possibilities with the resident princess.
"That's not for you to be speculating, Miss Princess," said Nurse. She pronounced it "speckle-ating." Una dared not laugh. Though Nurse had not been brought up to speak an elegant dialect, her ideas on what was and was not proper behavior for a princess went far beyond anything Una had ever learned from her decorum instructors.
"Suitors indeed! Why, in my day, a girl never put two thoughts together concerning a boy—not till her father gave her the go-ahead."
"Never?"
"Not once!"
"Not even when—"
Nurse whapped the top of Una's head with the back of the brush. "No more! There, you're tidy as mortal hands can make you. Get you gone to your morning tutorials, and I don't want to hear another word of this romantic drivel!"
Rubbing the top of her head, Una gathered herself up, grabbed an armload of books, and made her way to her chamber doors, muttering, "I like romantic drivel." She stepped from the room and, just as the door swung shut behind her, called over her shoulder, "Your day was a singularly unromantic one, Nurse!"
The door clunked, and Nurse's voice came muffled from behind. "You'd better believe it!"
Una glared at the closed door. A demanding "Meeeowl?" at her feet drew her gaze, and she looked down at her cat, Monster, who sat before her, his tail curled elegantly about his paws. He seemed to smile all over his furry face, despite his lack of eyes.
She wrinkled her nose at him. "Don't look so smug."
With that, she turned on her heel and marched down the corridor, the blind cat trotting behind, unlike a dog in every way because, of course, he wasn't truly following her. He merely happened to be going her way.
"Nothing in life is as romantic as it should be, Monster," Una said as they made their way along the white hall and down a graceful staircase. She nodded civil acknowledgements to members of the household who greeted her as she passed. "Here I am, a princess, of age to be courted and married, and where am I? On my way to another history lesson! Then there'll be a tutorial on the proper ways to address ambassadors from Beauclair as opposed to dignitaries from Shippening. Then dancing. And not a single respects-paying gentleman of certain birth as far as the eye can see." She sighed at the heaviness of the world. "Nothing ever changes, Monster."
"Meeaa?" the cat said.
Una looked down her nose at him. "You're not just saying that, are you? Trying to make me feel better?"
"Meeaa."
"I knew it." She sighed again. "Someday, Monster, won't you express an original idea? For me?"
Felix waited for her in the large but nonetheless stuffy classroom they shared, doodling caricatures of their tutor in the margins of an essay he was supposed to be composing. He scarcely looked up when Una entered. Monster took a moment to rub a cheek against the young prince's knee before dodging Felix's backhand and arranging himself on the windowsill to catch the sunlight.
Una took a seat and opened her book just as the tired-eyed tutor shuffled in. He fortified himself behind his desk, attached a pair of spectacles in place—which made his eyes seem still more tired—and looked upon his students with the air of a man resigned to his fate.
"At what are you so diligently working, Prince Felix?" he asked. His voice never varied from a mournful drone.
Felix held up his essay full of doodles.
The tutor winced. "Most amusing, Your Highness."
"See how big I made the nose on this one?"
"A remarkable likeness, Your Highness."
"Doesn't look a thing like him," Una said.
Felix made a face. "Not supposed to. This one's you."
The tutor closed his eyes during the ensuing argument and let the storm pass. When at last calm returned, he slowly creaked his eyelids back up and dared face the world again. "Prince Felix, do you recall at what passage we left off our reading yesterday?"
"I do," Una said.
"He was talking to me!"
She continued, "We were studying the rise of Corrilond in the year of the Sleeper's Awakening during the reign of King Abundiantus IV—"
"Know-it-all!"
The tutor shoved his glasses up onto his forehead and rubbed his eyes. It was a day like all others, a mirror of yesterday and a foretelling of tomorrow: The prosperous sameness and drudging boredom of lives placidly spent proceeding as endlessly as the mind could conceive. Nothing ever really changed, and as far as anyone in Oriana Palace could surmise, nothing ever would.
But then, something did.
* * *
For two hundred years they had not been seen.
They first appeared as deeper shadows among the shadows of the Wood, all staring eyes and sniffing noses, as wary as children dipping a toe in deep water, fearful to take a dive.
Then one stepped forth, and he, with a smile, beckoned to the others. A huge creature with eyes as wide and white as the moon and skin like craggy rocks followed with a strange grace of movement; behind him walked another who was black as a shadow but whose eyes shone like the sky. After these came the others. Out of the Wood they streamed in parade—carrying with them the scent of dusk, the sound of dawn—and they arranged themselves upon the lawn outside the walls of the city of Sondhold, in the shadow of Goldstone Hill.
A shepherd boy saw them first. His heart leapt with fear at the sight, though not because of their strangeness, for such strangeness he had witnessed a thousand times in dreams. Rather, he feared that he dreamed them now and that, as soon as his old dad caught him snoozing at his watch, he'd fetch a hiding and perhaps be sent to bed without supper. So he pinched himself, and when that did not work, he pinched himself again.
His lazy flock all lifted their heads, regarded the oncoming throng a moment, and then returned to their grazing. But the quick-eyed herding dog let out a joyous bark and left the shepherd, left the flock, and ran to greet the strangers as though welcoming long-lost friends.
Then the boy jumped up and ran as well, shouting as he went. But he ran the opposite direction, down the dusty path toward Sondhold. Though he had only ever seen them in dreams, he recognized those who came.
"The market! The market!" he cried. The guards at the gates let him through, calling derisively after him, but he paid them no mind. "The market!" he shouted, gathering too much speed so that he lost his balance and scraped the skin from his palms and knees. But he was up again in a flash, shouting all the louder. "The Twelve-Year Market is come from the Wood!"
The very oldest grandmama in all Sondhold could only just recall her old grandmama talking about her grandmama's visit to the Twelve-Year Market. Many families in the city boasted prized heirlooms, strange oddities handed down from father to son, mother to daughter, for generations. A silver spoon that never tarnished; a kettle that sang familiar old tunes when the water boiled; a mug that never let the tea grow cold; a pair of boots that, if polished with the right stuff, would carry a man seven leagues in a step—too bad the polish ran out ages ago. The items once purchased at the Twelve-Year Market were rare and wonderful indeed, items of Faerie make and ever so expensive. But the Twelve-Year Market was the stuff of stories.
Until it showed up on the lawn below Goldstone Hill that day in early spring, soon after Princess Una came of age.
A washerwoman hanging up her second load of the day to dry paused in her work, her wrinkled white fingers momentarily still as the shepherd boy ran by. "The Twelve-Year Market!" he bellowed as he went, and she dropped the clean shirt—dropped it right in the dust—brushed off her apron, and hitched up her skirts to hasten from the city, out to the green lawn.
The boy ran on, shouting, "The market! The market is come!"
Merchants by the docks closed up booths and locked away their wares.
"The market!" the shepherd boy cried.
The cobbler's wife and the baker's sister ceased their gossip, blinked startled eyes, and joined the merchants.
The boy went on, shouting until he was too hoarse to make himself heard, but by then his work was complete. The folks of Sondhold streamed through the gates: the washerwoman, the merchants, the cobbler's wife and her brood of children, even the guards who were supposed to stand at the gates. They all made their way down the dusty track from the city to the lawn below the hill. There they beheld the Faerie bazaar.
They stopped on the fringes, afraid to go forward.
The first to hail them was a man so incredibly ancient that his upper lip nearly reached his chin. His skin was like a walnut, and his eyes like acorn caps. A big black sow pulled his rickety cart, on which two enormous pots of alabaster hummed, as though some musical instrument played the same three notes again and again inside. Water sloshed as he lifted them down, and the city folk could hear the creak of every joint in his body, a crackling percussion accompanying the humming.
When he saw the gathering crowds his acorn-cap eyes winked twice, first with fear, then with a smile. "Come!" he cried, raising a gnarled hand, beckoning. "Come, folk of the Near World! Come inspect my wares! Unicorn fry, fresh from the sea, caught just this morning—or last century, depending on your view. Learning to sing; hear them for yourself! Come hear the sea unicorn young as they sing!"
The folk of Sondhold looked from him to each other, afraid to move closer, unwilling to leave.
Then the cobbler's wife took hold of her youngest son and strode boldly to the lawn, her chin set in defiance though the baker's sister called a warning to her. "I'd like a look," she told the old man with the acorn-cap eyes.
He grinned and lifted the lid of one jar. The strange humming filled the air, only three notes dancing in the ears of all those near, but the sweetest three notes ever played together.
The cobbler's wife stood on tiptoe to peer inside. "Coo!" she breathed. Then, "May I show the boy?"
The old man nodded, and she lifted her littlest one to peer into the alabaster jar. The child made a solemn inspection and finally declared, "Pretty."
"Unicorn fry!" the old man cried. "Caught fresh this morning! I'll sell them at a bargain, good dame, and you can raise one at home, hear sweet music every day!"
With that, the market truly opened. The crowd standing on the edges of the lawn could not bear to miss whatever wonders lay just before them, and they flooded in to inspect the hundred colorful stalls. The lawn below Goldstone Hill was suddenly as merry as a festival, as noisy as a circus, as frantic as a holiday. Music sang from all corners, outlandish music on outlandish instruments played by even more outlandish people. But although the songs were different, somehow they blended into each other in cheerful harmonies, often underscored by a low, melancholy tune that heightened the curiosity and the fun of those who browsed the many stalls.
Word spread fast. Soon all of Sondhold was bestirred. Working girls feigned sickness to be excused, and schoolboys made no pretense of attending classes. The washerwoman let the dirtied white shirt lie untouched, and the smithy allowed his fires to die. How could anyone attend to mundane things on the day of the Twelve-Year Market?
The hubbub bubbled all the way to the crest of Goldstone Hill and flowed on into the palace, where Princess Una sat with her nose in her history text, wallowing in academic misery. Dates and battles and dead kings' names swam before her eyes while spring fever, cruel and demanding, picked at the back of her brain. She and her brother had ceased their squabbling for the time being, and their tutor's voice filled the room in one long, endless drone that commanded no one's attention, least of all the tutor's.
Monster stood up on the windowsill. He stretched, forming an arch with his body, and flicked the plume of his tail. Then, after a quick wash to make certain his whiskers were well arranged, he interrupted the lecture.
"Meaaa."
The tutor droned on without a glance at the cat. "Abundiantus V was never intended to sit upon his father's throne, being the second son—"
"Meaaa!" Monster said, with more emphasis this time. He unsheathed his claws and scratched the window, a long grating noise.
"Dragon-eaten beast." Felix threw a pencil at the cat's nose, missing by inches.
"Princess Una," the tutor said, "we have had this discussion. Would you kindly remove that creature from the room so that our studies may continue uninhibited?"
Una huffed and went to the window. But when she reached for him, Monster made himself heavy and awkward, slipping through her grasp. He landed back on the windowsill with another "Meeeaa!" and pressed his nose to the glass.
Una looked out.
She saw the colors. She saw the movement. She saw the dancing far below, as though she was suddenly gifted with an eagle's eyes and able to discern every detail even at that great distance. Wonderingly, she opened the window, and music carried up Goldstone Hill and filled the room.
"Oh," she said.
"Meeeea." Monster looked smug.
Felix was on his feet and at her side in a moment. He too looked down. "Oh," he said.
The tutor, frowning, came around from behind his desk and joined them at the window. He looked as well and saw what they saw. His mouth formed an unspoken "Oh."
A clatter of hooves in the courtyard drew their gazes, however unwillingly, from the sight down the hill. Una and her brother saw their father, King Fidel, mounting up with a company of his guard around him. Brother and sister exchanged a glance and bolted for the door, falling over themselves in a headlong dash from the chamber, down the stairs, and out to the courtyard, heedless of the tutor's feeble attempts to restrain them. Monster trailed at their heels.
"Father!" Una burst into the courtyard, shouting like a little girl and hardly caring that she drew the eyes of the stable boys and footmen standing by. King Fidel, upon his gray mount, looked back at his daughter. "Father!" she cried. "Are you going to see?" She did not have to say what.
"Yes, Una," Fidel replied. "I must make certain all is well below."
"May we come?" Una said, and before the words were all out of her mouth, Felix was shouting to the stable boys, "My horse! Bring my horse!"
King Fidel considered a moment, his eyebrows drawn. But the day was fine, the air was full of holiday spirit, and his children's faces were far too eager to refuse. "Very well."
Una and Felix rode on either side of him as he descended the King's Way, the long road that wound down Goldstone Hill to the teeming lawn. The breath of the ocean whipped in their faces, carrying the spice of other worlds up from below.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Heartless by Anne Elisabeth Stengl Copyright © 2010 by Anne Elisabeth Stengl. Excerpted by permission of Bethany House Publishers. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Heartless, by Anne Elisabeth Stengl, is a story of love and adventure. It is a fantasy novel about dragons and princesses and kings and magic. It is the story of 18 year old Una and how she finds her path to true love. This book was nothing I was expecting it to be. When you see the beautiful cover and read the back, you assume it will be a sleeping beauty type story. Handsome hero fights the evil dragon and claims beautiful heroin as his own. The plot however, was a far cry from the expected. Una is of marriageable age and the suitors begin to come calling. She scorns anyone who does not meet her expectations for romance and adventure and soon finds that true love is more than simple excitement. The twists and turns in this book will take you for a wild ride and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys romance, fantasy, or just a good read.
What I liked about this book: My favorite aspect of this book is the metaphorical. This book could be taken from the Bible. One of the characters, Una's main suitor Prince Aethelbald, is undeniably representing Jesus. And the dragon represents satan. I have read representations of the gospel before, and nothing compared to this. It is essentially a love story between Jesus and you. The theology is bang on too. For example, the dragon (or satan) could not take Una until she had given up all hope and gave in to him. To me, this was one of the most monumental truths in the book. That satan cannot have us as the rightful bride of Christ, unless we lose faith and hope in God and give ourselves to him.
What I didn't like about this book: Una is naiive, her view of love and life is a bit cliche. As a married sceptic of the wonder and joy and perfection and romance that young people think love is sickens me. Love is work, love is so much deeper than the thrill of his hand touching yours or the butterflies in your stomach. That is not love at all. So, to say the least, Una's perspective drives me nuts in the beginning. It isn't until life gives her a good knock on the head that I find her more tolerable as a person.
Who this book is good for: This book is pretty much the perfect gift for a teenage girl. They are naiive enough to be sucked into the romance and love story, and the metaphor of Jesus will give you something to discuss afterwards. They will be able to relate to Jesus in a whole new way as they see him as a suitor instead of a sacrificial lamb that is hard to picture and understand.
All in all, although there were things that drove me nuts, Heartless is a great book for anyone to read. I would strongly suggest reading it yourself before giving it to your daughter, or niece, or whoever as it will give you time to think about the many similarities in the book and the Bible. I highly enjoyed this book, it is one of the best I have read in a long time, despite my scepticism!
**I received a free copy of this book through Baker Publishing Group
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.RaiderLadd1
Posted January 6, 2011
This book was a true gem. This should be more popular than it is. I work at a Barnes in Noble in NC close to where Stengl is from and I saw a pamphlet about other Barnes and Noble booksellers who have had their work published. I noticed she was an artist as well and my heart lept because that sounded like me to the T. Heartless sounded like something I would read and I wanted to give a local artist a chance. I'm so happy I did! Her writing was so fluid and poetic that it reminded me of a classic with everything you want from a book today. It felt like the story that one imagines when looking at a Lady of Shallot Pre-Raphaelite painting. I read a lot of Young adult books and many of them don't even compare. I'm so excited to read her next book about Rose Red!
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Quoth_the_girl
Posted June 22, 2010
I Also Recommend:
Stengl's first novel in the Goldstone Wood series is a magical adventure fantasy lovers will savor. Dragon battles, swordfights, princes in disguise, faeries, and more than a touch of romance-Heartless has it all. The vivid, whimsical images are beautifully drawn, and the darker pictures are truly fearsome. The characters make a strong impression, even (especially) the cat, Monster. (I dearly hope we get more of his story and eerily realistic feline vocabulary in future books.) Stengl's turn of phrase is unique and thoroughly enjoyable; wickedly funny at times, she also has a knack for dramatic description. While the story possesses many of the traditional features of a fantasy, it portrays them in unusual ways. There are many tales of princesses and dragons, but this particular tale does not unfold in the way one would expect.
While there is Christian allegory in the book, it does not intrude unnecessarily. The theme of unselfish love is one that readers will appreciate, regardless of their religious beliefs. Very little well-done Christian YA fiction exists, in my opinion, but Stengl is poised to revive the genre. I look forward to her next book with great anticipation!
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.KelliB
Posted July 19, 2010
I just finished and thoroughly enjoyed Heartless! The book had that perfect balance of truly classic fantasy, with a wonderful sense of humor (and drama, of course)! I just LOVED all of the characters! Anne did a great job developing them early on, so it was really easy to get wrapped up in the story as it got going. Even the more peripheral characters are unique and imaginative.
Princess Una was exactly what I thought she should've been as a young woman, sorting things out in her head. Her brother Felix had that great feel of total immaturity, but yet just really wanting to be the hero. Leonard the Jester was so interesting from the first time you met him, and I can't wait to see where his story goes!! But my favorite by far was Prince Aethelbald. I loved Him instantly! Just like every scene in Narnia when Aslan is present has a special tenderness, so does every scene with the Prince. You can just feel his longing and compassion for every person that he encounters. Absolutely beautiful!
The villain of the story was multi-layered in a way that I wasn't expecting. Someday, I think I'd really like to see him on the big screen. I'm totally captivated by his whole demeanor and appearance.very intriguing! And I love how subtle he could be with the way he treated other characters. It was really fascinating that he wasn't all "flame and rage."
All in all a very enjoyable and compelling read. I can't wait to see what happens next!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 21, 2010
HEARTLESS is classical in style and plot yet original, pure fun yet thought-provoking. The story builds slowly, seeming light and frothy at first, until midway through when it takes off in a totally unexpected direction, and from there the pace never slows. It is a book to read again and again and always discover something new. Don't be fooled by the trite back cover copy-this book is something more.
Princess Una is the kind of selfish, spoiled character nobody wants to be but many of us are to some extent. We laugh at her delusions and vanity, yet what girl doesn't long for faithful love from a dashing hero? A reader can identify with Una's pain as her dreams are stripped away, leaving her disillusioned and desperate, still lying to herself and refusing steadfast love from the one person who offers it because her pride won't let her admit that she was wrong. And oh yes, the end of the story is deeply satisfying!
Other characters remain in my thoughts long after I finished reading-most of them can't be described in a few words because they are so complex and real, even though they're fictional. I want to read more about Monster the cat, Prince Aethelbald, Felix, Leonard the jester, the various princes and knights and villains. The Dragon is a multi-faceted villain such as one doesn't often see in modern YA literature. There is something here for everyone who loves fantasy adventure-my 14-year-old son ranks HEARTLESS among his favorite books. The story is complete in itself, yet there are many hints of future tales and fascinating history tucked within its pages. LOVE IT!
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 17, 2012
The author has deep insight into the inner struggles of Christians and is able to convey them to the reader with beautiful imagery. I'm a big fan of allegory and have not enjoyed a book this much since Hinds Feet on High Places, which was published many years ago. Ms. Stengl is clearly a gifted writer, and I eagerly look forward to reading any and all of her books.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 24, 2010
Miss Stengl's debut novel is compelling. Princess Una truly comes of age as she learns about her own fickle heart and the truth regarding what and whom to trust. I look forward to visiting Farthestshore again and learning more about Lionheart and Eanrin and Felix and Sir Oeric and, of course, the dragons. Write quickly Miss Stengl!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 20, 2010
This might be the best new author this year! My best friend recommended the book to me since I'm a huge fan of Young Adult fiction. I have to say that I'm usually pretty critical, but Stengl's style and form are so refreshing! I can't remember the last time I enjoyed the craftsmanship in a book for young adults so much. Sure, her characters are less "deep" than some, but I appreciate the choice that allows much more for imagination (stylistically like M.W. Turner). After so many YA bestsellers that rely on gimmick and emotion (are you hearing this, Ms. Meyer?), it's fantastic that the publishing industry has finally started looking for quality again. I cannot recommend this enough (I intend to buy several copies for all my friends), and I look forward to this author's growth. Is it true that there are more books planned? And why don't I see this on more recommended book lists?
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.TheScriptSpinner
Posted October 25, 2012
“You gave your heart for nothing, and now you have nothing, do you? Poor little Una. You are heartless now, aren’t you? No better then a dragon yourself.”
From the surface, Heartless is fairytale about a princess, a prince, and a dragon. But delve in deeper and you will find a story that is happening all around us.
Princess Una is a believable girl. She finds her brother annoying, she loves her cat, she attempts to write poetry, and—surprise—she dreams of her future husband. But her first suitor hardly meets the requirements of her romantic notions. According to her, Prince Athelbald is boring. Okay, so he’s a prince of a great realm, loyal, patient, kind, humble, courageous, and her father likes him. But he isn’t handsome and does not constantly sing her praises. As far as Una is concerned, he’s not an option.
Una’s dreams crash and burn as other suitors come and go, but then she meets someone else. He’s funny, kind, cute, charming, and has a tragic back-story. Before she knows it, Una has given her heart away…to a man she barely knows.
And now, Una is in deadly danger from a Dragon who has been searching the lands for one person—her. Will any of the men who professed love be willing to come to her rescue?
In the obvious light, the book shows that giving your heart away to the wrong person is extremely dangerous and destructive. We see that today’s idea of romance and love is shallow and undependable; that real love is self-sacrificial. But look closer at this tale, and you will see a powerful allegory of Christ and his love for rebellious us.
Una is so real, she could be a girl you know (well, maybe not the royal title). We know the theme of the book is true, because it’s happening every day. Girls let emotions fly for guys, maybe even nice guys, and end up hurt and dissatisfied. Or in Una’s case…destroyed.
Modern culture portrays love as an emotion. Real love isn’t. It’s selfless actions.
Heartless is very clean. There’s zero language, mild violence, and no inappropriate content. But beware; halfway through the story, the book changes from a whimsical fairytale to an extremely intense epic which could be a bit heavy for young, inexperienced readers.
That finally got the guy’s attention. Extremely intense epic? Yes. Sure, this book and the following series, is directed to girls. But guys can (and do) enjoy this book as well. The first half might be a bit hard for them to muscle through, but it isn’t completely girly. There’s Una’s teenage, mischievous, aspiring brother Felix, the mysterious and skilled Prince Athelbald, evil dragons, and a certain blind cat. (Let me just say that the certain blind cat is my favorite character in the entire series!)
Heartless is the first book in “The Tales of Goldstone Wood” series and while it can be enjoyed by itself, you’d be missing out by not reading the next books. This is my favorite series and I highly recommend it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 16, 2012
I Also Recommend:
It was a good book. I imagine geared toward teen girls. A little frustrating because sometimes you knew what the main character was thinking and her motivations and other times you only knew her actions. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it and had a hard time putting it down.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.JulesWrite527
Posted May 10, 2012
This book feels difficult for me to review. I actually loved the story. I thought the story line was great, and it was a lovely allegorical tale. However, I feel that I have to give it three stars because the section in the middle when the Dragon comes was just SO confusing. I understand that sometimes in a book things have to be explained later in the story, but these things weren't explained. They were just confusing and I think that was due to a lack of clarity in the writing. I also feel like some of the characters could have been better developed. They felt a bit one dimensional to me. I did enjoy the story though and it gave me some surprises along the way, which is always nice.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 1, 2012
Loved the story, the symbolism is great. We all have a dragon inside of us, it is just a matter of who we allow to rule our hearts. Love the characters.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 30, 2012
I have discovered a new favorite author. The next C.S. Lewis.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Ah, escaping to a different land, a different time and a different everything- isn't that a major reason to read a book? In the words of C.S Lewis "Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again". Well I guess I am there with Anne Elisabeth Stengl's newest book in her Tales of Goldstone Wood series Veiled Rose. (Or rather in my case, I don't think I ever stopped reading them). If you are a fantasy fan that loves to read of princes and princesses, dragons and the netherworld then this book is for you.
Our 2 main characters are both intriguing and complex with regards to what they are looking for in this life. Our heroine Rose red has a secret that is hidden behind her special veils- all designed to hide who she really is. She has lived a lonely existence in the forest and hills above Hill House- a mansion housing young Leo who is visiting his relatives for the summer. And Leo is our little boy longing for adventure and looking to defeat the Monster of the hills. He finds adventure all right, but more prominently he finds a fast and true friendship with Rose Red that grows in importance as they do in age throughout the book. As young Leo is the crowned prince of the Southlands or "Prince Lionheart" as he is known later in the novel, the pressures of his title irk him ,as all he would really like to be is a jester who entertains all those around them with juggling and a song (sung out of tune mind you, but never mind that). Unfortunately both Rose Red and Lionheart have to take separate journeys to try and save the kingdom from the wrath of the Dragon (enter villain), who is absolutely hell-bent on having Rose Red as his very own.
This story is full of adventure, excitement and quite allegorical. The struggles each character goes through in the end show what each is really made of, in how it manifests in their choices. I honestly did not guess Rose Red's secret until it was revealed to me in the end and I love that when an author can pull that off, it's pretty rare for me. I will not give that secret away in this review- read it for yourself and find out! The pull of evil in our lives is strong and this book illustrated it beautifully while also showing the great hope and love that the light offers. A great read and one I really recommend. I had not read Heartless before I read this book and did just fine, so now I will have to backtrack and read it.
4 stars.
I was graciously provided a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 7, 2010
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The cover drew me into beginning this book one hot afternoon and I read it until I finished it that night! I loved it of course. I can't wait to see what happens to Felix and what type of girl might eventually win his heart and sword. I loved the unique twist to dragon mythology. I love the idea of a 12 yr. market. I love the fact that a big yellow cat is such an important character! Heartless began with the easy pace you would expect in an author's primier novel but then at the end - boom - the characters you had fallen in love with were swept up in advetures of a grander scale than your average afternoon read. Heartless is full of analogy without being obvious and full of charm without being trite. I was left with questions at the end as to how the principal characters will react to the changes brought on by Una's decisions. This has left me hoping for a sequal. If you are a fan of dragons, princesses, unusual princes and unique twists to the basic fairy tale - Heartless is a great book to add to your summer reading list!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.HDQ_of_La_Mancha
Posted June 29, 2010
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A well written piece, which in this genre has become rarer and rarer - just because the events don't take place in this world and are therefore at times both magical and terrible . . . does not mean the writing has to be ghastly! Ms. Stengl obviously understands and appreciates this, and has worked hard at writing a good piece of literature, full of imagination and innovation, while not taking for granted that even the most imaginative work has to be well told.
It's fantasy, in the very best of traditions, and even a nod to familiar fairy tales (seven league boots) but with the author's own take on it. Another rarity - this author is unapologetic in her take on it, which is nice to see; the characters are bold and well thought out, as is the world she has created.
One hopes that this is but a brief glance into her world, and a brief display of Stengl's prowess, with a much fuller view to come.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.madame_librarian
Posted May 6, 2010
Una is the princess of Parumvir. When Aethelbald, Prince of the Farthest arrives and asks for her hand in marriage, Una turns him down because he is boring. But dreams of fire and heat are plaguing Una because the Dragon King wants her for himself. Aethelbald may be the only one who can save her.
I was disappointed in this book. It was slow and never really picked up. I think the biggest obstacle was Una, I just never could like her. She was very childish and shallow. The interactions between the characters seemed stilted and off. The dialogue felt juvenile and lacked depth. Overall not worth picking up.
1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.AlexD
Posted March 18, 2010
Having never sought out or read anything that I would classify as "Christian" fiction, I was a little worried when I found out this book was categorized under "Christian" fiction. But my fears were quickly pacified by the somewhat familiar fantasy themes introduced with in the first chapters. These themes included fae creatures of varying types and even some familiar magical items such as seven-league boots. However these themes were also nicely tempered with original ideas and plot devices from the author creating her own unique fantasy world.
That being said it was a bit odd when the kingdom in effect broke out into a civil war and the capital is seized by traitorous duke and a dragon with out one main or minor character dieing. People die yes, but they are "Red shirts" if you will, no-name characters such as random soldiers on the battle field or guards in the courtyard. Is this what "Christian" fiction means? I have no idea as I have nothing in my personal library to compare it too. But I digress let me continue with the review.
This book is a bit different from normal fantasy in that its written from the... damsel in distress point of view if you will. Normally we get the heroes point of view who in this book would've been the fae prince Aethelbald, e.g. Hero has or is given a quest, then sets out on said quest, encountering obstacles and adventure along the way. Since the story is not written from the hero view we are left without knowing why anything happened. Why was the prince given the quest by his father to marry Una? Why does he love her? Whats the back story of the antagonists the two evil dragons who seem to be trying to stop him? Who knows?
In this book, instead we are given the point of view of a young princess who has recently come of age, by the name of Una who is shallow, naive, drama filled and somewhat of a narcissist. I say shallow because the reader is never given any insight to what Una is thinking or why she feels the way she does. We watch as suitors come to try to capture her heart in the attempt be married to her. And then watch as one after the other she falls in love in a matter of days to a few weeks and proceeds in turn to have her heart broken by each of her suitors. Then we watch as she wallows in her own pity until eventually she self-destructs in a manner of speaking. Overall shes not a very likeable main character. And I found that these wallowing scenes slowed down the plot and momentum of the story as I had to drag myself though reading these scenes making for slow reading. Making a book of this length that normally would have only taken me a day to read last twice as long.
Overall I enjoyed reading Heartless it was worth the time I spent reading it. However I hope any future novels by this author will be a bit more fleshed out as far as back story and plot goes and less wallowing from any main characters.
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Another_Bibliophile
Posted June 13, 2013
Prince Aethelbald.
I'm still laughing over that name even though I'm half smitten with the guy.
An enjoyable and thought provoking read.
Anonymous
Posted May 1, 2013
Glad it was free
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Overview
Who Dares to Stop Him?
Princess Una of Parumvir has come of age and will soon marry. She dreams of a charming prince, but when her first suitor arrives, he's not what she'd hoped. Prince Aethelbald of mysterious Farthestshore has travelled a great distance to prove his love--and also to bring hushed warnings of danger. A dragon is rumored to be on the hunt and blazing a ...