Dragonwitch (Tales of Goldstone Wood Book #5)

By Anne Elisabeth Stengl

A New Tale Is Added to this Christy Award-Winning Fantasy Saga!

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
• Release date: Jul 15, 2013
• ISBN: 9781441261465

Anne Elisabeth Stengl

ANNE ELISABETH STENGL makes her home in Drakenheath with her handsome husband, beautiful baby daughter, and an ever-growing collection of rescue dogs and cats. Her novel STARFLOWER was awarded the 2013 Clive Staples Award, and her novels HEARTLESS, VEILED ROSE, and DRAGONWITCH have each been honored with a Christy Award. To learn more about Anne Elisabeth Stengl and her books visit: www.AnneElisabethStengl.blogspot.com

Book preview

1

HAVE YOU EVER WATCHED AN IMMORTAL DIE ?

You who have slain countless fey folk, tell me if you dare: Did you ever stand by and watch an immortal death? Did you see the blush of life fade to gray, the light of the spirit slowly wane? You have taken life, but have you seen it stolen from before your eyes?

I have.

Dawn in the North Country was beautiful, if chilly that spring, filled with birdsong and dew-shimmering flowers on the banks of River Hanna. The rising sun stretched out its rays to crown the high keep of Castle Gaheris. Tenant farmers, their tools over their bowed shoulders as they made their way to the fields, straightened momentarily, lifting their gazes to the sight. Their hearts swelled to see those austere stones glowing with morning glory, as though the sun itself bestowed a golden promise upon all who lived there.

The castle was home to Earl Ferox, who some said should be king.

The farmers smiled at this, their weathered faces cracking against the dawn chill, their breath wisping before their mouths. Honor though it was to be tenants of the most powerful earl in the North Country, how much greater would the honor be should they become tenants of the king himself?

So the sun rose and the farmers trudged on to their fields, and the servants inside Gaheris stoked fires in cold hearths and prepared for an important day, the day the envoy from Aiven should arrive. A day some might even call fateful.

And Alistair sat upright in his bed, screaming.

He realized what he was doing quickly enough, stuffed his fleece into his mouth, and bit down hard. He knew the servants had heard him, though. He could hear them in the chamber beyond . . . or rather couldn’t hear them, for they had frozen in place, afraid to move. He heard instead their silence.

He coughed out the fleece and, though his heart trembled and his limbs shook, forced himself to utter a great, noisy yawn. It would fool no one. But the servants took it as a signal, and he heard them resume their tasks, setting his fire and filling his basin with fresh well water.

They knew better than to enter his private bedroom. He bolted it against them in any case.

Alistair waited until he heard them leave. Only then did he slip out of bed, wrapping the fleece around his shoulders as he made his way to the window. He looked out upon his uncle’s lands: the fields, the hamlets, the groves, all of which he would inherit one day.

But he couldn’t see them, nor the growing sunlight that bathed them.

He saw only a pale silver glow shining upon a child’s face.

Dragons blast it! Alistair cursed and shook his head.

No more than an hour later, Alistair stumbled into Gaheris’s library, startling the castle chronicler, who was at his desk, copying out some ledger or history. The Chronicler looked up in some surprise at the young man’s entrance.

You are early, my lord.

Alistair shrugged. The library boasted only three windows, mere slits in the stone, all west and south facing and admitting none of the morning light. Thus the room was full of candles sitting in wooden, wax-filled bowls. Their glow cast Alistair’s face into ghoulish shadows, emphasizing the dark circles beneath his eyes.

The Chronicler frowned with measured concern as Alistair took a seat at the long table in the center of the room. Another restless night?

Alistair buried his face in his hands. Then he rubbed at the skin under his eyes, stretching his face into unnatural shapes, and ended by pulling at the roots of his hair. You’re an intelligent, learned man, are you not, Chronicler?

So some would say, the Chronicler acceded.

Have you, Alistair continued, still pulling at his hair and studying the grain of the wooden table before him with unprecedented concentration, in all your readings, picked up a word or two concerning dreams?

The Chronicler set aside his quill and pumice stone, then folded his arms as he turned on his stool to more fully look upon the young lord. What manner of dreams?

Recurring, said Alistair darkly. He stared at the table as though he should like to burn it with his gaze. The candlelight shone into the depths of his eyes, turning the pale blue irises to orange.

The Chronicler tipped his head to one side. Are we speaking of a dream you have experienced, Lord Alistair?

Alistair nodded.

In this dream, did you see an ax, a sword, or any form of iron weaponry suspended above your head?

No.

Did you see the face of one long dead calling out to you from behind a shadowy veil?

No.

Did your last-night’s supper confront you in an antagonistic manner?

What? Alistair looked up.

Did it?

Why would I dream something like that?

The Chronicler leaned back on his stool, reaching to a near bookshelf from which he selected a volume. The vellum pages were neatly copied in a flowing, if shaky script, and all was beautifully bound up in red-stained leather. The Chronicler flipped to a certain page illuminated with images more fantastic than accurate. He read:

Ande it dide com aboot that Sir Balsius, moste Noble Earle of Gaheris, saw withyn the Eiye of hyse Mynde a sertayn Mutton upon which he hade Et the night prevyus. And thyse Mutton did taxe Hym moste cruelly for having Gnawed upone its Joints. And it spake unto Hym thus, sayinge: ‘And surely You, most jowl-som Lorde, will die upon the Morrow, and the Wolfs will Gnaw upon Thyy Joints.’ So it dide Transpyre that Sir Balsius betook Hymselfe to the Hunt, and—

Wait, wait! said young Alistair, his brow puckering. You’re telling me that this Earl Balsius—

Your great-great-grandfather, if I recall the chronology correctly, said the Chronicler.

—dreamt about an antagonistic mutton and died the next day?

According to my predecessor, yes. The Chronicler shut the book and smiled a grim, mirthless sort of smile at the young lord. But I give little credence to these so-called histories. Dreams are merely dreams, and stories are merely stories. They are subjects of curious interest but nothing upon which to base your life.

He shoved the volume back into its place with perhaps a little more vehemence than was called for. Alistair, however, did not notice. He was trying to recall what he’d eaten the night before.

What about, he said, embarrassed but eager to know, what about a pale-faced child?

Come again? said the Chronicler.

A pale-faced child. Paler than any child I ever saw. Like a ghost or a phantom. Running along the edge of a bottomless chasm, and . . . Alistair stopped, his mouth suddenly dry, and stared into the flickering candle flame, unable to continue.

Is this your recurring dream, my lord?

Perhaps. Some of it.

Well, no doubt about it, then, said the Chronicler. You’re going to die.

What? Alistair nearly knocked the candle over as he spun to face the Chronicler. Do you mean it?

You saw the pale-faced child beside the bottomless chasm? The Chronicler selected another volume, slid down from his stool, and approached Alistair at the table. Then there can be no doubt about it. You’re going to die. A slow, lingering death brought on by study and academic application. He plunked the book down in front of Alistair. As long as you’re here, you might as well start reading. Open to the tenth page, please.

Scowling, Alistair watched the Chronicler climb back onto his stool, wishing he were clever enough this early in the morning to think of something nasty to say. But too many sleepless nights in a row, waking at dawn to frozen feet and nose, had sapped him of any cleverness with which he’d been born.

He should have known better than to confide in the Chronicler.

He opened the volume to the required page and stared at the words scribbled there. He pulled the candle closer, then reached for another. The added light did nothing to help.

I can’t read this, he said.

Yes, you can, said the Chronicler.

I don’t know this piece.

You know all the letters, and you know the sounds they make. The Chronicler, bowed over his work, did not bother to look around. His quill scritched away at a flimsy parchment as he made a copy, using the pumice stone to hold the page in place rather than risk greasing the delicate fibers with his fingertips. Sound it out.

Alistair’s scowl deepened. He did not recognize the hand in which this unknown text had been written. Everything put down on paper within the walls of Gaheris was either in the Chronicler’s hand or that of his predecessor. But this hand, this wavering, watery script in faded ink, was not one he had seen before.

I have time, the Chronicler said. I can wait all day if necessary.

Alistair swallowed, trying to wet his dry throat, then took a hesitant stab at the first word. Ta-hee.

"What sound does a ‘th’ make?"

Blood rushed to Alistair’s cheeks, turning their chalky pallor bright and blotchy. The! he read, as though he could kill the word with a single stroke.

Go on, said the Chronicler calmly.

Setting his shoulders and rolling his stiff neck, Alistair drew a deep breath. "The kin-gee . . . No, king. The king will find his . . . his way to the—"

He stopped suddenly. Within that short phrase he recognized what he was reading. His embarrassment tripled, and he clenched his fists, glaring round at the Chronicler again. I’m not reading this, he said.

The Chronicler continued writing without a pause.

This is a nursery rhyme, Alistair said. I’m not a babe in my nursemaid’s arms!

Shall I bear word to your uncle that once again you have given up intellectual pursuits for a pack of sorry dogs and a still sorrier fox?

Intellectual pursuits? This? Alistair threw up his hands, leaning back in his chair. Anyway, Uncle Ferox doesn’t read. Neither does any other earl in the North Country. That’s why we keep men like you.

The Chronicler said nothing. But he said it with such finality that Alistair sighed, knowing he’d lost the fight, and turned back to the book. He might as well ram his head against a brick wall as challenge the Chronicler.

Between them remained the unspoken truth: Earls may not read, but earls were not kings.

Well, neither was Alistair, but this argument would gain him no ground. Not with an entire nation’s expectations resting on his young shoulders. So he bent over the old book again and strained his eyes in the candlelight to make out the scribbling scrawl.

The king will find his way, he read slowly, like a blind man feeling out an unfamiliar path, "to the sw—swar—sword? "

Yes, said the Chronicler.

The sword beneath the floor. The nig-hit. The night. The night will flame again.

Good, said the Chronicler, though Alistair knew the effort hardly merited praise. Even the simplest words gave him difficulty. He’d started learning too late, he thought. It came easy for someone like the Chronicler, who’d been apprenticed to old Raguel from the time he could speak. Alistair had always had more important matters to occupy his mind, and only the daft whim of his uncle could have driven him to letters so late in his education.

Continue, the Chronicler said.

Alistair ground his teeth. Then he began:

"The night will flame again

When the Smallman finds the door.

The dark won’t hide the Path

When you near the House of—"

Do you really think I am so easily fooled?

Alistair stopped. He did not raise his head, but his eyes flashed to the back of the Chronicler’s head. I’m reading the rhyme, he said.

No, said the Chronicler, still without looking around. "You are reciting the rhyme. You know it by heart. You’re not reading at all."

With a curse, Alistair slammed the book shut and stood, nearly knocking the nearest candle over into its pooling wax. If I already know the dragon-eaten thing, I see no reason why I should read it.

Neither do I, the Chronicler replied, so long as you are determined to be less of a man than you could be. He shook his head and assumed a patronizing tone, one that Alistair knew all too well and hated for the familiarity. Do you not realize, my lord, that you only limit yourself by this stubbornness? Can you understand the wealth of worlds and lives available to you through the written word, waiting to be discovered?

Unreal lives, Alistair said. Unreal, untrue, unlived. I have no interest in holing myself away in dark rooms, poring over pages of these fool letters. I have a life of my own to live.

Unless, of course, this pale-faced child of your dreams has its way, said the Chronicler.

Alistair’s cheeks drained of color. He looked sickly in the candlelight. Don’t mock me, Chronicler. Remember your place.

But the Chronicler was one of those people unable to be intimidated by rank. He turned and fixed Alistair with a stare, and Alistair immediately wished he could take back his words.

You mock yourself, said the Chronicler, wasting your energies worrying about dreams when there is work to be done. Or do you think the kingship will land upon you without merit? You, Earl Ferox’s illiterate nephew?

Alistair wanted to rage. But rage didn’t come naturally to his nature. Besides, he was terribly, terribly tired. So he wilted beneath the Chronicler’s stare and managed only a muttered, I don’t see how reading and writing will make me a better king. Will it strengthen my ability to lead earls, bind alliances, or battle Corrilond?

The Kings of Corrilond read, said the Chronicler.

Well, then I won’t be a King of Corrilond, will I?

The Chronicler’s mouth opened, and Alistair braced himself as for the whip. The Chronicler may not have possessed anyone’s idea of manly prowess, but he did possess a tongue quicker and sharper than any cat-o’-nine-tails and a wit to match. Some of the tongue-lashings Alistair had received during library altercations left scars, and he did not relish taking another.

He was spared by a knock at the door and the entrance of his mother’s page. Alistair turned to the boy with relief. What is it?

Her ladyship wishes to inform you of the arrival of the envoy from Aiven. The page bowed quickly, his eyes darting from Alistair’s furious face to the Chronicler’s and back again. Your bride, my lord.

Oh. The heat drained from Alistair’s body, leaving him suddenly cold and a little clammy. Of course. Thank you, and tell Mother that I will be down directly.

The page left and Alistair, without a word to the Chronicler, went to one of the south-facing library windows and looked out. He heard the thump of his teacher sliding off his high stool, but he did not turn around. His gaze swept across the courtyards of Gaheris and down the path leading up from River Hanna. He saw the flag of Aiven, white with the crest of a griffin in red, and the retinue, some on foot, some on horseback. In the midst was a horse-borne litter in which he was certain rode Lord Aiven’s eldest daughter, Lady Leta.

The entourage entered the outer courtyard, and Alistair could see the curtains of the litter drawn back. The Chronicler climbed up on a low step beside him and also looked out the narrow window.

Well, said Alistair as the girl emerged. There she is. My bride. He frowned a little. What do you think of her?

The Chronicler’s eyebrows lifted, and his voice was as dry as it had ever been when he replied, She looks a proper milk-faced lass. Just what you’d expect in an earl’s wife.

I suppose you’re right, said Alistair, and while he felt he should be angry with the Chronicler, he couldn’t work up the strength for it.

You’d better go down and meet her, the Chronicler said. Your lesson this morning is through.

Maybe one more verse? It was only almost a joke.

Face it like a man, the Chronicler said, and though they had just been at odds, he clapped the young lord on the back. You can’t escape her now she’s here.

No. I suppose not.

Lady Mintha, sister of Earl Ferox, wrapped her fur-edged robe tightly about herself as she waited to receive the Aiven envoy. The cold morning tipped her features a raw red but could do nothing to emphasize the chill in the gaze she turned upon her son.

Alistair! she cried, her smile freezing his blood as Alistair, still buckling his cloak, hastened to join her in the inner courtyard. You’ve kept us waiting in the cold, my darling. I was beginning to think your uncle would be obliged to escort Lady Leta inside himself.

Forgive me, Mother, Alistair said, dropping a kiss on his mother’s cheek . . . or rather, on the air just above. He feared his lips might ice over if he actually touched her. Then he offered a hasty bow to his uncle.

Earl Ferox, though he had been a magnificent man in his prime, trembled like a gutted old tree, still standing but only just clinging to life. His eyes, once bright with warrior’s fire, were filmed over with dullness. A few years younger than his sister, he was not an old man. But the wasting disease struck even the mightiest, and neither leech nor herbalist could prolong the span of his days.

He kept living, however. Long after many had thought he would succumb, he continued his labored existence, day after dogged day. He had not yet seen the earls of the North Country offer the crown to Gaheris. He could not die. Not yet.

He nodded to his nephew and bade him rise. This is a great day for Gaheris, he said, his voice quavering but determined. Long have I wished to see the Houses of Aiven and Gaheris united in purpose. Today marks the beginning!

Even as he spoke, he stepped aside. The hunched mass of his body moved to reveal the form of the maiden standing beyond. And Alistair had his first up-close look at his future bride.

Light of Lumé, she was much younger than he’d thought!

Or perhaps, he decided on second glance, she was merely small for her age. And the way she stood, head bowed and eyes downcast, gave her the look of a young girl rather than the woman he had expected. She wore a white barbet and veil that covered all her hair, decorated by a simple gold thread.

And the eyes she raised to meet his, though gray, reminded him of a fawn’s timid gaze. The poor girl was at least as unhappy about this arrangement as Alistair, which was some consolation at least. Alistair offered her what he hoped was a friendly smile.

Welcome to Gaheris, he said.

She opened her mouth. For a moment she said nothing, and he could see by the look in her eyes that she was trying to think of something clever, something charming. He braced himself. In the end, however, she managed only a weak, I . . . I’m pleased to make your acquaintance, Lord Alistair.

He felt his grin sliding away, so he stepped forward swiftly and offered his arm. You must be cold, he said. Allow me.

She slid her hand up onto his wrist and walked beside him, her head scarcely coming to his shoulder, and said not a word the rest of the day unless spoken to. There was no doubt in Alistair’s mind.

He would never love Lady Leta of Aiven.

In the gloom of night, a shed door creaked.

By the light of the moon above, a wizened, dirty figure emerged, toting a broom, a mop, and a leaking bucket. He shut the door and latched it firmly, then turned with a sigh to survey the inner courtyard and what the moonlight might reveal. River muck tracked everywhere! And who to clean it up? Certainly not the great lords and their great guests.

This was the work of a scrubber.

So the scrubber swept and mopped and scraped mud and horse droppings from the stone. As he worked, he turned his eye up to the castle keep. He saw a light on in the library, of course. Lifting his gaze one story higher, he saw another flickering candle in a window. Lord Alistair’s room, he knew, and the candle his one feeble defense against the terrors of the dark and his dreams.

The scrubber looked for a light in the guest quarters. But Lady Leta must have been sent to bed, obedient little creature that she was.

The scrubber scrubbed on. More muck would be driven into the crevices come morning, and he would be out here at this same chore yet again. But that did not mean a man shouldn’t try. So on he worked at his lonely task.

But he wasn’t alone. Oh no! He had the moon above and all the starry host watching him. One star in particular, bright blue and low to the horizon, winked with curious interest. The scrubber looked up at it and smiled.

Starlight, star bright, he whispered.

Let us out!

Across the way stood a heavy door, the entrance to the Gaheris family crypt. As the scrubber drew near, driving mud before him, whispers reached out to him from beyond the door, whispers no one else heard, perhaps because, in reality, there was nothing to hear.

Let us out!

Keep your helmets on, the scrubber said, his bare feet squelching in the mud trailing behind his mop. It’s not time yet.

2

THE P ARASITE LATCHED HOLD OF E TALPALLI , and I, for the first time, saw death in the eyes of my father, my mother. Immortal, they had ruled the City of Wings since before Time dared visit our demesne. They had seen the rise of the red spires and guided the growth of green things. They ruled from Itonatiu and Omeztli Towers and were, in my eyes, like the sun and the moon themselves.

But the day the Parasite came, my parents looked from their two high towers and saw, for the first time, their doom.

When Leta’s father came to her earlier that spring and said, You are going to marry the Earl of Gaheris’s nephew, her first instinct was to rebel.

I am a person! she wanted to shout. I have my own desires, my own passions! I’m not a tool for the manipulation of alliances!

But as always, it was practical Leta who responded instead.

Very well, Father. This will be a great thing for Aiven House, will it not?

A great thing indeed. The nephew may be King of the North Country one day.

So Leta nodded, folded her hands, and resigned herself to her fate. After all, as her mother often told her, marriage was the only means by which a maiden might gain power to change the course of history. A strong marriage could be the making of a woman, and even a bad marriage was preferable to no marriage at all.

And Lord Alistair of Gaheris is the best match to be had among all the earldoms, Lady Aiven informed Leta later that same day. He is young, well-formed, strong, and will inherit all his uncle’s estates.

Did Earl Ferox never marry and have children of his own? Leta asked, curious, for she knew little about this family that would soon be hers.

Oh yes, her mother replied. Ferox did marry. Pero was her name, Lady Pero. A charming, delicate thing she was! She was due to have a child too, but she died on the birthing bed, and Ferox never remarried. Brokenhearted, so they say.

What of the baby? Leta asked.

Dead too, of course. Lady Aiven shrugged, then gave her daughter a sharp glance. Don’t look so dispirited. It makes you more whey-faced than ever, and no man wants to marry that. Why should you care about the death of a woman and child you never met? These things happen. It is our woman’s lot.

Our woman’s lot, Leta whispered to herself on this, her second morning in Gaheris. The night before had passed in a blur, and although she’d sat beside Lord Alistair for the whole of a sumptuous banquet, she could not recall two words spoken between them.

She’d spent half the night staring at the drawn curtains round her bed and reviewing the evening’s events without satisfaction. Now she sat, hollow eyed, in the privacy of her chambers and waited for life to happen. But life seemed as disinclined to happen that morning as it ever had in Aiven. Her lady had informed her that she would be invited to dine privately with Lady Mintha later that day and, until then, she must amuse herself in her own chambers.

Like a prisoner.

So much for a grand adventure, rebellious Leta thought bitterly.

What did you expect? practical Leta responded with annoying calm. Romance? Intrigue? Silly girl.

A knock sounded lightly at the door. Leta hesitated, uncertain what to do. Her lady had stepped from the room. Dared she answer the door for herself? A second knock. She couldn’t very well pretend not to be in, could she? Feeling a bit bold, Leta crossed the room and cracked open the door.

She found herself face-to-face with Lord Alistair.

Oh! This was as far as her vocabulary would take her on short notice.

Good morrow, Lady Leta. Alistair offered a friendly grin as he bowed. He wasn’t a handsome man, though he was, as her mother had told her, well-formed and strong. His face was pleasant enough beneath a shock of bright red hair. Perhaps not what a girl envisions as her future husband or even, for that matter, her future king. But then, Leta knew very well she was no man’s dream come true herself. And she would marry Alistair a year from this very day. Best to put a brave face on it. So she tried a smile of her own in response.

I wondered, said Alistair, encouraged by that smile, if I could interest you in a tour of Gaheris? As you are new to my home, I should like to do what I can to make you comfortable.

Leta looked him swiftly up and down. He was dressed in riding gear and even held a riding crop in one hand.

He wasn’t intending to seek you out this morning, her practical side said. His mother caught him on his way to the stables and sent him up to court you.

Her rebellious side responded, So what? At least he’s an opportunity to escape these cold rooms!

Leta drew a breath, all too aware she’d let the silence linger too long. Um. Let me fetch my cloak, she said.

Alistair waited patiently until she joined him in the passage. Perhaps he was a little disappointed. By agreeing to his proposal, she had certainly deprived him of his last hope for a morning ride. Disappointed or not, at least he was courteous about it, and that could go a long way toward making a marriage bearable, Leta told herself. After all, plenty of young men would have ignored her existence entirely, before and after marriage.

And really, who could blame them?

Alistair led her down the passage, explaining how her chambers were on the same side of the keep as the family rooms. Since you’re to be family soon enough, he said with another of his vague but friendly grins, my uncle thought it best that you be settled with us.

Leta floundered for an interesting response. I am comfortable, she managed. It sounded just as insipid as she’d feared.

Alistair took her through the whole of the keep, pointing out the great hall, the passage leading to the scullery and kitchens. And the most prized possession of all within Gaheris, he said grandly, opening a certain door, the castle well.

Leta tried to demonstrate interest as she looked into the small, damp chamber housing the castle water supply. Like Aiven’s, it was located within the keep itself so that should siege come upon the castle, the defenders could retreat all the way to the keep and still have everything necessary for life and defense.

It’s the best water you’ll find anywhere in the North Country, Alistair claimed proudly.

Leta nodded. Then she asked, Has this castle suffered under many sieges?

More than you can count, though not since my uncle’s mastery, Alistair replied and seemed pleased to be asked. And never once has Gaheris fallen!

Leta knew he expected some comment, but she could think of nothing, so she smiled again.

Yes, said Alistair, turning away from her with something of a sigh. Shall we continue?

They emerged at last through a door into the inner courtyard. Alistair waved a hand to indicate the castle’s guest wing, where, he informed her, the steward and other servants of high rank lived. The castle chronicler has rooms there as well, but he rarely emerges from his library, Alistair said. And beyond that wall—he indicated the opposite side of the courtyard—is a sheer drop down to the river below. Another of Gaheris’s defenses.

What is that? Leta asked, pointing to something along that same wall. It was a small mausoleum in marble with a heavy wooden door, rather finely made, eye-catching amid the harsh and militaristic lines of Gaheris.

The entrance to the family crypt, Alistair replied, leading her toward it. Beyond the door, a stairway leads down to the vaults where my ancestors are laid. My father is there. What’s left of him.

Leta shivered at this and drew her cloak more tightly about herself. She felt as though she looked upon her own final resting place. After all, she would marry into the House of Gaheris and someday be laid among the lords and ladies of the castle. Our woman’s lot, she whispered.

What was that? her betrothed asked.

But she merely shook her head. He beckoned her to follow him to the outer courtyard, which was a veritable market square open to the farmers who tilled the fields beyond Gaheris’s walls. The housecarls’ barracks lined the north wall, with the stables and smithy on the west. It was all much grander than Aiven, though Leta knew her father was considered the second most powerful earl in the North Country. No wonder all talk of possible kingship centered on Gaheris House and no other!

Do you hunt? Alistair asked as they neared the stables.

I . . . I never have, she replied, ducking her head before she could see the disappointment on his face.

Well, never mind, he said, his voice cheerful if a little forced. My mother dislikes the hunt herself. She calls it a bloody ritual of—

My lord! My lord Alistair!

A stableboy came running up to them, bowing and touching his forelock and hardly sparing a glance for Leta. It’s your red hunter, my lord! Master Nicon wishes you to come at once!

Ah, the same old trouble, eh? Alistair said, his voice light but with a trace of concern behind the lightness. He turned to Leta. I must see to this. The stables are no place for a lady. Shall I . . . shall I escort you back?

He looked frustrated at the prospect despite that ever-determined smile. Leta hastily replied, Oh no, I can find my way well enough. And if I miss a turn, surely someone will direct me.

Relieved, Alistair bowed over her hand and kissed it in a distracted manner. The next moment, he was hastening off behind the stableboy, and Leta watched his red head disappear into the gloom of the stables.

There was nothing for it. She must return to her rooms and the boredom of a day highlighted only by a prospective supper with her future mother-in-law. Our woman’s lot, she muttered again and retraced her steps through the gates. Determined to ignore the crypt with its fine marble, she turned her head away and saw, on the opposite side of the inner courtyard, a humble shed.

Even as she watched, a wizened little man emerged from it, a lowly scrubber carrying a mop over one shoulder. He saw her too and grinned and bowed. What an ugly creature he was, as old as age itself! She gave a cool nod and hastened on to the keep.

Oddly enough, as she passed through the doorway into the dim and drafty halls, Leta met no one. She continued to meet no one as she climbed the first set of stairs and paused at the top, trying to remember from which way she had come. The passages right and left looked exactly alike to her, so she took the right one and went up another winding stair, though she was certain by then she’d chosen incorrectly. Arriving at a long, well-furnished passage that seemed familiar, she hurried to its end and opened the final door, expecting to come upon her own rooms.

She stood at the threshold of the castle library.

Leta paused, her mouth open and her eyes wide. What a wondrous sight! Why had Alistair, amid all his boasting of wells and defenses, neglected to show her this room? It was dark and dusty, lighted only by a few candles, but she could smell the wealth of knowledge contained therein. Volume upon bound volume filled the various tables and shelves lining the walls, and a hundred or more scrolls! A long table littered in papers took up half the floor space on one side, and a desk covered with inkstands and parchment was drawn up to one of the windows.

You should shut the door, practical Leta advised. Shut the door, own your mistake, and retrace your steps. Someone will have noticed you’re missing by now.

Yes, and what a stir that will be! rebellious Leta thought, amused. And she stepped into the library and closed the door.

A book lay open on the long table, a candle lighting its pages. Leta approached with all the reverence due holy things and leaned over to look upon the written pages. One page boasted a fine illumination of a house, she thought, though it was turned away from her. With tentative fingers she gently moved the book to a better viewing angle.

And there it was. The House of Lights. She would recognize it anywhere, the heart of all North Country history and legend. The House of Lights, built by Faerie hands and filled with the light of a magical lantern. The illuminator had depicted it as it once was, its doors flung open and light pouring out in sacred brilliance that was almost song. Beneath it all were written words. Leta put out a hand as though to catch them even as they danced across the page.

I wouldn’t touch that if I were you.

I’m sorry! The words fell from Leta’s mouth, as much a reflex as her hastily removed hand. She whirled about, expecting to see some stern figure standing behind her. But there were only more shadows and more books. I’m so sorry. I have never seen so many books in one place before. She spun slowly as she searched the library for some sign of the speaker. How many are there? A hundred at least, I should imagine. Two hundred even! Aiven cannot boast half that. Indeed, I think my father possesses no more than twenty bound volumes, even were you to combine all his estates.

There was silence for a long moment. Then the same voice spoke. Ferox boasts the greatest library in all the North Country, as befits the greatest earl.

Leta, turning to the voice once more, looked up and realized that there was more to this library than she had first seen. The ceiling opened above her into a loft, a whole second level to this marvelous chamber. She could see no light up there, and the speaker stood beyond her range of vision.

Somehow, unable to see to whom she spoke, Leta felt emboldened. You seem to take much pride in Earl Ferox’s possessions, she said, tilting her head.

Naturally, the speaker above her replied. I copied many of them myself. Though they belong to the earl, they are a piece of me, and I alone can read them.

And who are you, please? she asked, moving around the table and straining for a glimpse.

I am the castle chronicler.

The voice was deep but also rather . . . dry, Leta decided. It was the voice of one who spent most of his time in shadows and dust. Have you no name? she asked. She heard his footsteps above and thought he moved to avoid her line of vision. He gave no answer, and after a few waiting moments, Leta no longer expected one. She turned back to the table and the book with the illumination. Candlelight caught the colorful ink and made it shine.

Once more she traced the letters written beneath. She spoke softly:

"The dark won’t hide the Path

When you near the House of Light . . ."

More footsteps creaked above, and the dry voice spoke again, this time with surprise. Lights Above! Don’t tell me you can read.

Leta withdrew from the table and folded her arms beneath her long cloak. No, she said quickly. Not I. She felt as though the rest of her was folding up as well. Folding up into the tiny lump of insignificance she had always been.

The thought made her angry, and the anger pushed her to speak again. I am right though, aren’t I? This is about the House of Lights?

It is.

A funny thing, Leta continued, looking at the page but keeping her hands to herself, writing down nursery rhymes. Are there not more important things to which you might turn your hand?

Always, said the Chronicler. But sometimes even a chronicler needs to indulge in the unessential.

Leta’s gaze ran over the lines and marks that flickered along with the candlelight. She had never been permitted into Aiven’s library unescorted, and the old chronicler who’d holed himself away in there chased women out as a terrier might chase rats. Leta could not recall the last time she had been so near a book.

And these marks and scratches, she said, speaking softly, come together to make what I said. To make the rhyme. She shook her head, smiling in wonder. That is magic, you know. And you are a wizard!

Silence above, then shifting feet.

My father’s chronicler could not do this work, she continued, looking from one page to the next to see the wealth of text held there. Father says he can scarcely put three words to a page, but he’s the only man I’d ever met until now who could read or write. She looked up into the shadows of the loft again. Did you teach yourself?

No, said the Chronicler. I was apprenticed when quite young to Raguel, the former chronicler. When he died, I took over.

Do you have a special gift? A magic that enables you to learn?

Anyone can learn to read or write. The voice was drier than ever. Few bother to try. At Earl Ferox’s request, I am attempting to teach Lord Alistair. But he can’t be bothered to apply himself.

Leta felt cold suddenly, colder even than when she had stood in the great outer courtyard. You don’t think much of my lord Alistair, then?

Once more that wall of silence was her answer. She wondered if the Chronicler had not heard her soft voice and opened her mouth to repeat her question when she heard from above:

"He will make a fine Earl of

Reviews for Dragonwitch (Tales of Goldstone Wood Book #5)

[srearley · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I think I got this as a free Kindle book. I started it once or twice, and it didn't quite grab me. I'm trying to read things that I've already got, and not look for new, so I kept pushing through. There was a lot to like, the world-building was interesting at first, very fairy-tale-ish. At the same time, though, I find myself wondering why I bothered. A lot of the plot was really convoluted and confusing, and the heroine wasn't really all that likeable. The hero just sort of showed up exactly when we needed him, and I felt almost no connection to him, I didn't really care if he won the girl and slayed the dragon or not. The things that happened to her, were on a slow build, and then suddenly, wham. I'm still not entirely sure I know what happened. There were a lot of loose ends, too, which I guess were on purpose, to set up the next book(s) in the series. I'm not going to bother. More than enough to read....

[curioussquared · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did! The first few chapters didn't bode well but the characters and plot seemed to gain strength as the novel went on. I never fell in love with Una, the protagonist, but a few other characters (notably Felix and Aethelbald) managed to carry the story on their own. The poetry was a bit dodgy, too. Overall mediocre, with a few very good things and a few very bad things, but certainly readable and at times even engrossing.

[papercrystals · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This ended up to be better than I had expected, although, to be truthful, I didn't expect much when I realized that it was considered Christian Fiction.It was a pleasant surprise to see that the book didn't contain a lot of evangelism, and instead concentrated on the characters and the story.However, I found myself underwhelmed by the main character. Una starts out selfish, petty, and more than a little foolish- and there is very little description of any change, except that by the end she's sweet and in love with the good guy. She is difficult to care about, and I found it almost impossible to like her, no matter how hard I tried.I would have liked to hear more about Prince Aethelbald- why he was so willing to love Una at the request of his father, and the path he took to rescue her from the fate she threw herself into without regard for the people around her.The world was a fascinating one- the way that magic was rare but treasured, and the unique origin of dragons. I would be willing to give any sequels a read.

[mellymel171328 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book a lot... I had realized it was a christian company after I received the book but since I won it I was determined to at least give it a try, and I am glad I did. This book isn't about religion it is about a beautiful fantasy story about love, adventure and it deeply immerses it's reader with a book that is hard to put down. I honestly believe I am glad that I didn't judge this book by it's cover and that I gave it a chance, and I believe it is a must read for any fantasy / romance lover. I must admit that the book wasn't perfect but as it is an ARC copy that hasn't gone through final editing... I am sure that the final copy will have all it's T crossed and i dotted. I must admit the only thing I disliked about the story was perhaps Una, I found her to be immature and well spoiled. I constantly had to remind myself that she was a princess and that was just because of the way she grew up. In a way I am sure that this review didn't have to have it but I will mention it. If you ever seen Sailor Moon (old Japanese anime,) she kind of reminds me of Princess Serena. Well with all that being said, it is still a must read, a fun little cliche drama that you can curl up with and drink hot coffee.

[dancingbacon · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

When I started reading this book, it was... okay. It's not a terrible book, but it also felt very dull. Like it was just a flat story, with no small climaxes, no downs, no ups, nothing. It just stayed the same. This really wasn't an awful book, but I definitely had mote interesting books I'd rather be reading.

[kayla_merritt_15 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow, I loved this book. I just couldn't put it down. The characters were absolutely incredible. Una might have seemed a little whiny, but she was a very strong character. The only character I didn't like was the duke. He was ok at first, but as the book continued he got pretty annoying. The writing is fantastic, because it always keeps you guessing what happens next and has you on the edge of your seat. I like the way the human to dragon change was explained and so easy to follow. The only thing I wish would have been explained in more detail is about how they can't cross the bridge, which might be described more in book two. I would definitely recommend this book for fans of fantasy.

[madmoosemama · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Heartless is book one of 'Tales of Goldstone Wood', debut novel by author, Anne Elisabeth Stengl.Princess Una of Parumvir has just turned eighteen and is excited about her suitors that are soon to apply for her hand in marriage. Her father, King Fidel, has promised she can marry whomever she wishes. Una dreams of a charming Prince, riding up on a white charger, proclaiming his undying love and devotion. However, when Prince Aethelbald of the mysterious kingdom of Farthestshore, does just that, Una is appalled and threatens to never marry him, ever.Among her suitors, is Prince Gervais, whom Una is sure is THE one, however, it comes to her father's attention that Gervais has been thrown from his kingdom by his father for gambling debts. He is a cad of the best kind and is only looking for Una's hand for the dowry she would bring.The Duke of Shippening is old, fat and arrogant and is looking for a young bride to have as a trophy. He cares nothing for Una and only wishes to use her to become king. When the Duke doesn't get his way, he declares war on the kingdom of Parumvir.Leonard, the jester and court fool, has also won Una's heart and after learning his secrets, she promises to wait for him. However, she comes to learn that he isn't all that he says he is and Una must come to terms with their relationship.The Dragon King is also on the hunt for Una, he can feel her and needs to make her one of his own. The Dragon King joins forces with the Duke and together, the two wreck havoc, death and destruction on all the kinsmen of Parumvir. Its up to Una's brother Felix, her cat, Monster and the magic of the Goldstone Wood to save the day.I wasn't un-impressed with the overall story, it has enough mystery and suspense to keep you reading, however, I did have a problem with Una, the heroine. I found her to be whiny, ignorant, naive and childishly head-strong. I think Prince Aethelbald could have taken the time to explain himself to Una, I feel she deserved the truth and not to be lied to nor manipulated. I really enjoyed Felix and Monster, they brought life and comedy to the story and I hope to see more of them in the future books.I enjoyed the combat scenes, they weren't too graphic in nature, and I feel young readers would probably really enjoy this book~!! It has all the components of a good fantasy novel, including magic, love, combat, dragons, fairy land creatures and so much more. I liked the flow of the story, one doesn't have to backtrack to stay focused, as well, the descriptive aspects of the narrative were well written and imaginative. Each character is believable, except perhaps, The Dragon King, I expected more from him, instead he was a bit stereo-typed and cliched. I'm also unsure why this is labeled as a Christian-fiction, for there was absolutely no mention of God nor were any Christian aesthetics involved. All in all though, the book was a good read and I'm sure YA fantasy lovers will enjoy it and want to read more!

[macophile · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book had promise, but fell flat. The characters were dull and the plot line was predictable. The storyline felt like something that I had read before somewhere and therefore I did not care as much about what happened in this book. I wanted to like this book but I couldn't.

[sheryll_31 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It did start out a bit slow for my taste but picked up nicely as it went along. There were a few predictable elements but that didn't seem to deter me very much. I liked the imagery throughout and found it a decently written fantasy novel.

[mt256 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The cover to this book is gorgeous and very intriguing. It was one of the first things that drew me to the book. This book started out a little slow for me but I am glad I stuck with it. Anne tells a wonderful story about a princess, a prince, a cat and a dragon. I was intrigued by the characters and the story line. Una irritated me at times, but if she was any other way, the story wouldn't have been as good. The banter between some of the characters was very comical. I also liked the imagery Anne used to describe the land of Oriana. It made me like the story even more. Once the story picked up for me I didn't want to put the book down. Overall I thought this book was good. This is Anne Elisabeth Stengl's debut novel. She plans to write more on the Tales of Goldstone Wood. I am curious to see what direction she will take the next story.

[yummyfishmeister · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did! The first few chapters didn't bode well but the characters and plot seemed to gain strength as the novel went on. I never fell in love with Una, the protagonist, but a few other characters (notably Felix and Aethelbald) managed to carry the story on their own. The poetry was a bit dodgy, too. Overall mediocre, with a few very good things and a few very bad things, but certainly readable and at times even engrossing.

[cindysku · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I really excepted to like this book but the characters were flat and the plot felt forced. I really did not care if the heroine lived or died. I thought the dragon would make it interesting but the dragon was boring. The only character I enjoyed was Felix. I could not even finish it because I was so bored. I got over 100 pages in.

[aceartemis7_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book made me laugh, cry, and sit at the edge of my seat in frustration at the same time. Wonderful book. Princess Una has come of age and as a result, many suitors came for her hand. (I'm rooting a particular suitor that I wish she would choose in the beginning, instead of being rude to him all the time). She made the wrong choice, payed dearly for it, but in the end, there was a happily ever after. You can really see the heroine's character development from beginning to end. The plot is also very entertaining. The rest of the characters... who wouldn't love charming princes, a jester, dragons, faerie-folks, shapeshifters, goblins and the like? This book is a must read for fans of fantasy-romance

[professoralan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a fine debut novel in the genre of light Christian fantasy. Here there be dragons, a princess, princes, battles, love, fairies and mystical animals. The Christian content is apparent in the clean language and action, as well as a bit of spiritual allegory in the climax -- there are no direct religious references in the text. I enjoyed the book overall, although I did wonder where a few of the characters and one bit of intrigue from the first half of the novel disappeared to. There seemed to be a few threads that were dropped. The plot is well-paced, and the balance between action and romance is nicely balanced. Although the book leaves room for additional books in a series, this novel does tell a complete stand-alone story

[dragonlibrary8 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I had high hopes when I picked up this book - from the cover alone it demanded to be read. I must say I was not disappointed! This was a great read. The characters are well developed, the plot was intriguing. The reality of the idea of being heartless was one I haven't seen and the author wields it well.This is a story of loyalty, fealty, faith, corruption, honor, love, family, and mystery. A story of young people becoming who they want to be and the choices they have to make to get there. The characters come from all walks and worlds. The author mingles worlds and dimensions without leaving the reader lost.The story is filled with action; so even though it is essentially a love story, it is not JUST a love story. We have battles of all kinds - physical and emotional. The relationships in this story are extraordinary. You are drawn into each of them as they unfold between all of the characters throughout the story. You watch as Felix goes from being a young and foolish boy to a man (who has not gotten older, but had to make adult decisions). You are witness to Una and the fate that befalls her and those around her because of the choices that she makes. As in all stories - there is a villain. The shape changing bad guy here makes you dislike him from the start (which is what we all want to do). There are also elusive game players in the story that we aren't outright introduced to that appear to have the fate, or at least some of the fate, of the characters held at the mercy of the roll of the dice.I fell in love with the characters and can't wait for the rest of the series.

[readingbeader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like many others enjoyed this book, and agree that it started slow. It was worth finishing. I am having trouble getting some students to finish it, though. It would have benefitted from some tighter editing at the beginning. My daughter read it just for the cat. I will want to read more of these tales and will look for them.

[yhaduong · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I loved the names in this book, Princess Una, Prince Aethelbald and even her more simply named brother Felix. It's not a modern fantasy tale, but one rooted in old tales of dragons and princes appearing out of nowhere. There is some incongruity of language that bothered me in the beginning precisely because the essence of the book feels old and classic but some of her dialogue was distinctly modern.The book is a little slow in the beginning but picks up nicely by the middle. The non-traditional love story between the two with aspects of darkness (and dragons) reminds me alot of the Darkangel Trilogy by Meredith Ann Pierce.

[dk_phoenix_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

After reading the rather cliched back cover copy, I approached this book with skepticism... I hoped it wouldn't be that bad, but I kept putting off reading it because I didn't want to start yet another mediocre fantasy and have to write a lukewarm review on another ER book.Honestly, it didn't start well... it was a bit slow, the writing style was in that vague, flow-y fantasy vein that tends to annoy me to no end (why can't the author just SPEAK PLAINLY?!), and the plot seemed rather generic.So, imagine my surprise when, in the second half of the book, I became extremely invested in the characters, the plot, and the world that Stengl created. In fact, I read the entire book in one sitting... I think I got up once to refill my tea mug. The book has its weaknesses: the heroine is a bit underdeveloped, and the love story feels somewhat contrived. But it also has its strengths: the way dragons are born was unexpected and unique, and the hero (and his rival) are rather interesting on their own terms. One thing to note is, I spent the first two thirds of the book waiting for the 'Christian' part of the book to happen... it's published as a CBA book, which usually means some form of evangelism will appear at least for a few pages (even in the rare CBA fantasy novels), and imagine my delight when I realized that... it wasn't coming. There wasn't going to be a forced 'Christianese' aspect to the world, rather, the book simply reflected a Christian worldview and let the story stand on its own as a well written, interesting fantasy novel.I will say that I don't think the book will be for everyone. I'm also not entirely sure how this is going to develop as a series, which is clearly the author's intent -- I think it does well as a stand-alone.

[bluedelirium · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This ended up to be better than I had expected, although, to be truthful, I didn't expect much when I realized that it was considered Christian Fiction.It was a pleasant surprise to see that the book didn't contain a lot of evangelism, and instead concentrated on the characters and the story.However, I found myself underwhelmed by the main character. Una starts out selfish, petty, and more than a little foolish- and there is very little description of any change, except that by the end she's sweet and in love with the good guy. She is difficult to care about, and I found it almost impossible to like her, no matter how hard I tried.I would have liked to hear more about Prince Aethelbald- why he was so willing to love Una at the request of his father, and the path he took to rescue her from the fate she threw herself into without regard for the people around her.The world was a fascinating one- the way that magic was rare but treasured, and the unique origin of dragons. I would be willing to give any sequels a read.

[jessecreations · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book has a lot of potential, but for me it fell flat in many ways. The concept of the mysterious wood, the prince from a far-away and magical land, the evil dragon, etc. is all very interesting and full of great ways to develop a plot. Unfortunately, most of the plot in this book focused on a young, mostly whiny princess who wanted nothing more than to have scores of suitors coming to her house to appreciate her and propose to her. Ugh. The relationship between the two romantic leads is under-developed; by the end I was rooting for him to dump her b/c I can't see what he would want with her in the first place. The hero rocks, the heroine is flat. I felt like their romance was odd, too. She swore she'd hate him from the start and never really showed any major turnaround but ended up loving him in the end. What? Overall, this book had some great and original ideas but I feel like it left most of them hanging without proper character and plot development. This is a series, I believe; I have no interest in reading the next installment.

[njstitcher · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I requested Heartless from the Early Reviewers list because I love fantasy series, dragons, etc. I'm going to start this review by saying that I did enjoy it and it held my interest enough to finish it in a 24-hour period. However, I started reading and for a while was disappointed, wondering if this was a "young adult" book. The first half of the book seemed to be just a bit too long and repetitive and I was wondering when there was going to be some action in this world. Then with no warning the pace and action picked up and kept up until the end of the book. Not to give away the ending but it was rather predictable and left me wondering what would be covered in the rest of the series. Pick up with another character?It was obvious that this is a first novel. At times it was awkward, unevenly paced, and lacking in character development. I would have like to have read more background or history of the world - the book just plops you down in the middle of it with no explanations why things, places, people are important, where they came from or how they developed or related to each other. I kept wondering what things or places were as the story moved around to several different geographic places. But I think the author and the series have potential with some good feedback and editorial guidance.

[lis6lueninghoener · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a very enjoyable first book. Stengl creates a new world with new rules and characters, but does a wonderful job of not getting caught up in the details of describing every new race that comes along, rather she gives you enough details in passing comments and assumes you'll catch on.The ending was a bit abrupt and the story was a bit predictable, but it was fresh and new all the same. I found this to be quite good and will definitely look forward to more books by this author.

[savageknight_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The best thing about starting a book you know nothing about is that everything really is left to the tale to spark your imagination. I'm very happy to say that in this case, the spark was definitely there as I enjoyed the book quite thoroughly. Although at first I feared the "drama" of Princess Una's quest for love would be a bit too heavy handed, things take a very unexpected turn just when the story could have fallen into a cliched trap.What also speaks very well of this book is that as much as the back notes point out that this is part of a new series of books, the tale in Heartless is very much self-contained. There may be a "happily every after" hinted at the end of the tale which may come from many other stories to be told... but you aren't forced into needing to read those stories when they finally will be made available!This is a Fairy Tale that sure to appeal to a wide audience. I was very glad to have had a chance to read through the preview book prior to its official launch in July!

[krau0098 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I got this book through Librarything's Early Reviewer program. I was excited to read it, it looked right up my alley. Over all it was an okay book, some parts were unique but the heroine left a lot to be desired.Princess Una lives near Goldstone woods. When she comes of age suitors begin arriving. Una wants a romantic suitor and when Prince Aethelbald of Farthestshore arrives he is anything but romantic; despite the fact that he claims to love Una. A variety of suitors parades through Una's life, each more dreadful than the last. That's when Una gives her heart to a different type of Prince. Una's worries over marrying are suddenly overshadowed when their kingdom is attacked by a fierce dragon. Una is the only one the dragon wants kept alive. Why is Una kept alive? Will the Prince to whom she gave her heart save her? Which Prince of all her suitors, if any, will rescue her?There were a couple things I liked about this book. The idea behind how dragons are created was unique and interesting. Prince Aethelbald and the realm of fairy were mysterious and intriguing. I really wanted to learn more about both Aethelbald and fairy. Unfortunately you don't really get to learn a whole bunch more about those things in this book.There was a lot I didn't like all that much about this book. The world itself was not well built and was a bit confusing setting wise. For example everything is set up like medieval times with princesses and kings, nothing is modern. Then at one point Una is running around in jeans...it just seemed odd. Una herself switches between using very princess-like stilted language and then suddenly is thinking/talking in modern slang. I just thought that the setting and speech were very inconsistent and I had trouble forming an image of what the world was actually likeThe writing style itself is pretty easy to read and well-done; if you can ignore the inconsistency in speech patterns and stuff you should be okay. The characterizations are also okay but a bit weak. Aethelbald is by far the best character in the story and he isn't in the story all that much, you also really never get to learn what drives him.It takes a long time to set up the story. Over half the book deals with Una lurking around the castle lamenting her choice of suitors. The good part, when the Dragon King enters the scene, doesn't happen until the second half of the book. So while the first half of the book is pretty boring, the second half felt too rushed.Una herself is not an admirable heroine. She spends all her time mooning over the perfect romantic man and can't seem bothered to take any action to make anything happen in her life. The whole book she is a victim. Never once does she help herself or rescue herself. Even when she is fleeing the castle she tries to depend on former suitors to guide her path. I didn't enjoy her as a character at all and most of the time was just sick of listening to her whining and pleading.The book is summed up nicely and ties up all the loose ends of the story. If this book had't been part of the Tales of Goldstone Wood I would think it was a stand alone. This is very much a romantic fantasy; but by romance I mean the strictly non-sexual kind. This book contains some violence but other than that it is very PG. If you are into princess/dragon/romance type of fantasy you might enjoy this story. The book didn't offend me, but I didn't think it was all that great either. There were just too many inconsistencies. Overall it was okay. I probably won't bepicking up anymore of Stengl's books though.

[mdlady · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I got this book as an Early Reviewer and I must say, I really got into it. I felt fear when Princess Una felt fear and my heart broke when hers did. She seemed to be a spoiled princess (what princess isn't), but she was still just a girl looking for love.I was totally engrossed in the story and then...the unthinkable, the......out in left field unexpected happened! 'That' changed the idea of the story for me from a "believable" fantasy to something that I don't usually look for in a book. My favorite character is Prince Aethelbald. I am glad he turned out to be who he is.All in all, a great story.

[ronincats · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I really wanted to like this book. It took your basic fairy tale tropes and had the potential to create an unusual and gripping story. At times it succeeded. But overall, the characters and the plot did not hold together to live up to its promise. Una is naive, easily swayed, and prejudiced, and while her experiences help her to change, she remains a passive creature. We never have any basis for Aethelbald's steadfast love, given before he has even met the princess--it simply exists. Regardless of the underlying mythos driving the tale, for story's sake, there should have been some development. After all, although he is trying to redeem all who have transformed into dragons, he is marrying Una in particular. One wonders if Fidel could possibly have been an effective king, as he, along with so many other characters, seems driven only by emotion, making poor decision after poor decision. Felix and Lionheart seem the most fully developed characters, and the Dragon certainly has power. But this book could have benefitted from extensive rewriting and editing, developing the plot lines and characters more from within with fewer "deux ex machina" elements.

[lefty33 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A dragon story of a different color! I have not read of dragons written in this light before. I enjoyed the new lore -- it is an ingenious addition to dragon stories. The characters are interesting and fun to get to know though I did find Princess Una to be uncommonly thick. I especially loved Aethelbald and the evil Dragon. If the future books in the series have more of Aethelbald and less of Una, I'll definitely keep reading. It was a good start to what looks to be a promising series.

[innermurk · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Every once in a while, there comes a story that has such simplistic beauty that it takes your breath away. Anne Elisabeth Stengl's Heartless is one such story. It's like a fairy tale in many ways, but with a deeper underlying meaning to the story that just resounds with such poignancy that it cannot be overlooked or ignored. The setting is fantasy, but the themes are true to life. Love, loss and betrayal are too universal to not connect in various ways with readers.Princess Una is a heroine that one can enjoy, not a superwoman, but a realistic one with her own strengths and weaknesses. This means that at times she came across as what she was, a sixteen year old spoiled and shallow girl. But, her redeeming characteristics also shone through, her love for her family, her determination, and in the end, her kindness pulled her into your heart.The other characters, even the evil ones, are explored in such a way that one cannot help but to want to know more about them, and feel that the wonderful story we have is just the beginning.The Princess, having given her heart away to someone who does not return her love, becomes heartless and embittered, and the way this theme is explored is so unique and intriguing that the book and characters stayed in my mind for days after having finished it.Goldstone and it's people, is a place I look forward to revisiting as the cover promises this is the first of the series.The only complaint I have about the book is the way the characters cut off giving information to the reader. Even though most of the time, the message was hinted at or became clear later in the text, it was most frustrating to feel as though you never quite knew exactly what they had been referring to. This was especially true when the subject of dragons breeding surfaced, and also the question of WHY didn't anyone go over the old bridge, and what would happen if they did? This last question was not answered, and so we are left hoping for a sequel to explain the mystery to us.This is a book that will be cherished in many a library.

[ladylenneth · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book a lot... I had realized it was a christian company after I received the book but since I won it I was determined to at least give it a try, and I am glad I did. This book isn't about religion it is about a beautiful fantasy story about love, adventure and it deeply immerses it's reader with a book that is hard to put down. I honestly believe I am glad that I didn't judge this book by it's cover and that I gave it a chance, and I believe it is a must read for any fantasy / romance lover. I must admit that the book wasn't perfect but as it is an ARC copy that hasn't gone through final editing... I am sure that the final copy will have all it's T crossed and i dotted. I must admit the only thing I disliked about the story was perhaps Una, I found her to be immature and well spoiled. I constantly had to remind myself that she was a princess and that was just because of the way she grew up. In a way I am sure that this review didn't have to have it but I will mention it. If you ever seen Sailor Moon (old Japanese anime,) she kind of reminds me of Princess Serena. Well with all that being said, it is still a must read, a fun little cliche drama that you can curl up with and drink hot coffee.

[wisewoman_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Anne Elisabeth Stengl's Heartless is the first novel in her fantasy series centered on the mythical Goldstone Wood. In this story, the Princess Una of Parumvir has just come to the age when neighboring princes will start "paying their respects" and seeking her hand in marriage. Una's dreams of romance are rosy until the arrival of a stodgy Faerie prince bearing the name Aethelbald. Aethelbald! Una rejects his suit out of hand, preferring a more dashing hero. But there is another with his eye on Una, and he is no prince, but the most terrible enemy Parumvir has ever known.Let me fully disclose lest unwary readers feel themselves deceived: Heartless is published by Bethany House, a Christian publisher. But although there are some arguably Christian themes in the story, they are muted, with no preachiness. The closest Stengl comes to being preachy is when Una gives her heart unwisely, but that plot point is more than just a warning about being careful in romantic relationships. When Una gives her heart away and does not receive a lover's heart in return, she becomes "heartless"... and this makes her vulnerable to her enemy. What this enemy can do with a heartless person is not a predictable storyline, and I actually found it rather surprising. I think anyone, Christian or not, could read this story and completely miss its religious pieces, so small are they. On the whole, this is a good thing. They're there if you want them.J. R. R. Tolkien, a committed Roman Catholic, believed that real-world religion was inimical to a really well-written fantasy world, and his distaste for the Narnia stories of his friend C. S. Lewis is well known. Christian fiction writers, especially writers of fantasy, have been struggling with the dichotomy ever since. Can a Christian author succeed in telling a good story that contains elements of Christian belief? Can such a tale have any appeal for the non-Christian reader? Is it even possible for an author to write a story that is contradictory to or dismissive of his/her deepest convictions?Story has to come first (or, in Lewis' word, "images"). Proselytism disguised as fiction just never works unless you're John Bunyan. (And even Bunyan's purpose was not to evangelize his readers, but to encourage those he believed to already have been converted.) Lewis did not plan to write stories that would contain elements of Christianity. Those themes worked themselves naturally into his work, because they were part of him. Any fiction author, of any religious or nonreligious persuasion, would do well to start with story rather than message.And the story of Heartless is probably its greatest strength. Despite the sometimes weak writing, I found myself wrapped up in the tale and impatient to return to it when interrupted. It's true that part of me was just waiting for the preachiness to start, but it never did. The hints of Christian ideology never overtake the force of the plot, which carried me along happily. Parts even reminded me, distantly, faintly, of something Patricia McKillip might write.I have said the prose is weak in this book, and unfortunately this isn't a problem I can gloss over lightly. Perhaps as an editor I am more sensitive to the problems: clichéd characters (the unsympathetic Nurse, the mischievous little brother, etc.), awkward phrasing, made-up words (Una gets "whapped" on the head by said unsympathetic Nurse), abrupt pacing, slightly illogical events (one day there is a big fuss about Una trying to get out of her lessons, and another day she simply excuses herself from them with no problem), and repetitive description (the "tired-eyed tutor" appears three times, twice in the same paragraph). There is nothing grammatically incorrect in the book, just a general stylistic awkwardness. And yet Stengl's style is not hopelessly bad, and I noticed the prose less and less as the story picked up. Stengl would benefit greatly from an editor with an eye for more than just grammar.I enjoyed this book and would give it a much higher rating if the writing had been better. As it is, I will look for the next book in the series, in the hope that Stengl will refine her style and become a worthy successor to those Christian authors — Tolkien, Lewis, MacDonald — who helped establish the fantasy genre.