Heartless (Tales of Goldstone Wood)

Good, fast read. Dramatically well written. Look forward to the next book. Story line and plot was well thought out to come to an easy and believable ending.

Heartless, book one in the series "Tales of Goldstone Wood", was a fun and interesting read. Being the first in the series, it was hard to clasp onto the book at first, and it's main character Princess Una, whom you might find hard to be likable at first introduction. When I say clasp though, I don't mean like, I mean the read was so interesting, the author's imagination so vast, that it takes a while for your mind to comprehend just how deep the read gets, and just how far her imagination will take you.You get kind of sidetracked at first by Princess Una's personality, and her somewhat selfish focus on meeting the 'Handsome Prince!' who she feels should be pursuing her any day now! The next moment the book dips your toes into a world of fantasy, introducing you to characters who are so mysterious and magical, that your mind jumps into the story and starts bouncing in excitement. Then suddenly you are back into the castle with Princess Una, listening to her complain about the oh so boring, and plain, Prince Aethelbald of Farthestshore who has come calling, and who refuses just to leave her alone!In a desperate attempt to escape the boring suitors, and gain some freedom, Princess Una finds herself wandering the garden, and suddenly in the presence of a jester, one whom seems to have captured her attention far more then any of the Princes visiting her Kingdom. Una finds comfort in her new found friend, going out of her way to aide in his journey, and help him by finding him work within her castle. During his company, Una can't help wishing it was he who was her prince, unlike the others whom she wished to be out of her sight.Little does she know she would soon get her wish to be left alone, and not even her jester will be there to comfort her. Here, the mysteries of the story take hold, and the characters start to unfold. Here you meet one, in which you had barely caught a glimpse of in the beginning of the book. One who Even Prince Aethelbald, who had came to warn the Princess, can not prevent the from coming, for he knew the game was played, the horror won, and soon all would come to encounter the Dragon.Anne Elisabeth Stengl, I feel for a first book in the series, did a great job starting off this journey into Goldstone Wood! Many have commented on the inexperience in the book, but as a writer hoping to one day write my own fantasy novel, I'll proudly say that I wish my first novel to be as exciting and creative as this one! As I've continued to read on through this series the first book continues to come to life in my mind, making the read even more exciting just to look back upon. I am heading onto book four of the series and can hardly stop to write these reviews. It's surely a book you will love diving into, just don't expect to resurface until it's over! :) Heartless (Tales of Goldstone Wood)

`Heartless' is a remarkable and fascinating inspirational allegorical fantasy, set within the different world of Parumvir and other wonderful kingdoms each ruled by nobility. This enchanting and spellbinding tale provides an absolute feast of intrigue, adventure, great peril, magic and romance! And then... there's the dragon. A horrendously monstrous, reptilian-scaled and fire-breathing evil beast! This is a tale filled with incredible characters and fairy-tale type creatures, and layered with cleverly composed allegories.In the Kingdom of Parumvir, we find that Princess Una has come of age. Suitors of noble status journey from kingdoms far and wide to pay their respects to her. But it is from the Unseen realm of Farthestshore that the `remarkably unremarkable' Prince Aethelbald arrives to declare his love and intentions toward Una. He is however rejected by the Princess. Furthermore, his warnings to her father King Fidel of a coming great and terrible danger are not heeded. There is yet another one who is also rejected by the lovely princess and one of those rejected nobility will become dangerously revengeful. Feeling as if her dream of being swept away in love by a prince was never going to happen, she was taken by surprise when an unexpected admirer, captured her heart completely. He asks her to trust him when he had to leave to help free his imprisoned people from the dragon. But can he truly be trusted, and will she continue to trust him when he doesn't return, and of what cost will this trust be to her and to those she loves?Meanwhile the menacingly evil and fiery Dragon is on its way to Parumvir to claim Una, the `Beloved of my enemy', a name he'd called her in one of the terrible dreams she was plagued with after touching a dragon scale at the 12 Year Market. It is Una's kiss and heart that the Dragon seeks to claim. But her father the King, her brother Prince Felix, Oriana Palace and their city are also in the Dragon's sights to destroy!I loved the fantastic and unique elements throughout, such as the 12 Year Market; Woodhaven - The Halflight Realm; and the blind cat that seems to see and is more than what he seems! This riveting and intricately crafted tale is also threaded with such inspiring allegories; you will enjoy the thrill of discovering the Christian parallels as you read this story and likely even discover more as I did when you ponder the possibilities once you've finished. Some of them were so beautifully expressed; it was emotional at times! As was the humble and beautifully significant expressions of the Prince's love.Overall, Heartless is an entertaining and exciting story of God's love and sacrifice. There are also many thought-provoking messages of encouragement we can take from this inspired fantasy tale. Una is challenged to learn not to trust her feelings or that what she sees, but to trust what she knows to be true, and to listen and obey that still, quiet voice in her spirit. The message of trust is also eloquently explained. We feel Una's terrible despair at being betrayed, her isolation and loneliness when she becomes different, and her overwhelming fear. However as demonstrated in Heartless, it is when we place our unswerving faith in God in all circumstances that He will bring that pure peace that passes all understanding!

This tale started off so sweet and gentle, and then became cruel and twisted and moved away from my own comfort zone! Not really my sort of book - would make a good horror film! It ended on a reasonably bright note, but didn't leave me feeling "uplifted" in anyway which I do want in a book.

A very enjoyable read with interesting and entertaining characters and a good plot. A new take on how a dragon is made and other original ideas are to be found in this book, but it did leave some loose ends hanging that an extra chapter would have taken care of.Perhaps there will be a sequel, we can hope.

I read the whole book but found the whole style not to my taste. In general rather depressing and maybe dare I say it a bit 'boring'.

I bought all the Go,dstone wood books! If you like dragons..etc...this is a great read

Well written but a little dark for me