Heartless (Tales of Goldstone Wood) [Paperback]

Anne Elisabeth Stengl (Author)

Book Description

Series: Tales of Goldstone Wood | Publication Date: July 1, 2010

Princess Una of Parumvir has come of age and will soon be married. She dreams of a handsome and charming prince, but when the first suitor arrives, she finds him stodgy and boring. Prince Aethelbald from the mysterious land of Farthestshore has traveled far to prove his love--and also to bring hushed warnings of danger. A dragon is rumored to be approaching Parumvir.

Una, smitten instead with a more dashing prince, refuses Aethelbald's offer--and ignores his warnings. Soon the Dragon King himself is in Parumvir, and Una, in giving her heart away unwisely, finds herself in grave danger. Only those courageous enough to risk everything have a hope of fighting off this advancing evil.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Debut author Stengl conjures the fantastic world of Parumvir. The kingdom's Princess Una is courted by Prince Aethelbald of Farthestshore. She, however, finds him insufficiently romantic and much too boring in his concerns for her safety as a dragon approaches the kingdom. When Una makes the wrong choice, catastrophe ensues for the princess and her family, and love, courage, and trust are needed when darkness engulfs the kingdom. Allegory is hard at work here--occasionally too hard, when the intended meaning drives the plot instead of the plot being driven by the momentum of events. But Stengl does let her imagination run in inventing some delightful things and scenes: the Twelve-Year Market that appears in its own good time and sells fairy goods; a clever blind cat who is invariably underfoot and has, of course, a secret. Since they never get enough to read in this small market niche, Christian fantasy fans will be particularly enthralled by this first in the Tales of Goldstone Wood. A clever debut from an author worth watching.
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From School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up–This captivating romantic fantasy carries readers on an adventure that begins in the privileged prosperity of the peaceful kingdom of Parumvir and then descends to the dark desolation of a dragon's lair. Princess Una, 18, is strong-willed, immature, and courted by princes who have many reasons to desire her. One sees her as a way to escape the consequences of his poor choices. Another thinks he is in love but, when pressured into making a difficult decision, easily disavows his pledge. Aethelbald of Farthestshore is a mysterious faerie prince whose steadfast love and selfless service annoy Una and provoke her to set her will against him. When the princess makes some foolish choices, she finds that she has taken a path that will lead to her destruction, but the prince who truly loves her is willing to pay the ultimate price to set her free. This is a quick-paced, thoughtful tale of love, betrayal, loyalty, and trust with a hero whose character calls to mind Aslan, in C. S. Lewis's “Narnia” series. Watching the growth of the princess from a headstrong young woman to one ready to learn from others allows readers a glimpse into the workings and intricacies of the human heart. It unmasks some of traps that can ensnare the young and sidetrack them on the road to maturity. A fun debut novel that is hard to put down and carries a strong message about the importance of making good choices.–Debra Banna, Sharon Public Library, MAα(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 363 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (July 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764207806
• ISBN-13: 978-0764207808
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #992,743 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Anne Elisabeth Stengl makes her home in Raleigh, NC, where she lives with her husband, Rohan, and a passel of cats. When she's not writing, she enjoys Shakespeare, opera, and tea, studies piano, painting, and fencing, and generally leads a busy life! She studied Illustration at Grace College and English Literature at Campbell University. Heartless is her debut novel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I wanted to like this book . . . Really!, December 17, 2010

By 

Kids Book Maven - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heartless (Tales of Goldstone Wood) (Paperback)

I was completely turned off by Una, the princess and main character. She was whiny, temperamental, cowardly, not very intelligent (as she makes one bad choice after another), and was just generally very difficult to like. I couldn't find many reasons why the brave, virtuous Prince would pursue her to the ends of the earth. Also, new characters were introduced at various points when they didn't seem essential to the story; sometimes it just muddled the story and made it more confusing. I also agree with a couple of other reviewers about the constantly changing dialogue (old English at one point, and modern slang the next). Overall it was an interesting premise, but didn't have enough substance to hold it all together cohesively.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A New Fairytale, Worthy of the Classics, June 24, 2011

By 

Shera "Shera (Book Whispers)" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heartless (Tales of Goldstone Wood) (Paperback)

Original review on Book Whispers.

Genre: YA Fantasy (Classic Fairy Tale)

Fairytales are the timeless joy of the fantasy genre. Readers thrive off of them, whether it's retellings or variations of our favorite stories. What gets readers into more of a frenzy then the classic Fairytale? Why, an original tale that is clearly worthy of the classics. That is exactly what Heartless is.

The beauty of Stengl's writing style will please fantasy fans who hunger for the kind of quality found in Robin McKinley's books. For those who find McKinley's style too harsh and a bit hard to sink into, Stengl's softer style will be a relief. The landscapes just flow up majestically and the emotions that consume the reader make the characters feel real. The story and plot sweeps across the page with a timeless grace.

Una is definitely a classic fairytale Princess. She needs to be rescued, and there are enough warnings given to her before hand that she shouldn't have fallen victim. Then again--that's life--everyone has bitten and choked on the apple at some point. Una's downfall is of the heart, a modern and historic story of how someone can give their heart to the wrong person. In Una's case it's a terrible price she pays for the nativity of her emotions. Unlike the classic princess, Una is strong and willful. She has enough spirit to make up her own mind, and in the end find redemption--even learning from her mistakes. (Of course Prince Charming still get to ride in and save the day.)

Dragons never quite get the attention they deserve in most fairytales. In Heartless the Dragon(s) finally get that time to shine--even if they are quite the villains. Anne has created a dragon mythology that sent my head spinning into giddiness. They're like vampires in the aspect that they must be invited into a dwelling, and that they can turn other humans into dragons. It's breath taking, and terrifying, all at the same time. Heartless is such a tease as it reveals enough to get you there, but enough is left out to keep you crawling after the next book!

This is a win-win for Fairytale lovers! Dragon lovers will be smitten by the new mythology of the dragon. Princess Una will frustrate readers with the paroles of love, and have readers rooting for her (or wanting to smack her upside the head). This book deals with the modern day heartbreak on a grander scale only a Fairytale can exploit. The ending is just as practical and sweet as a Happily Ever After should be, so HEA readers should feel content. Keep an eye out for more by this author as there's more world--and dragons--to enchant readers.

Sexual Content: Really clean. A few kissing scenes, some blushing, and some very vague sexual humor. Definitely good for the kiddies.

Rating: 4/5- Great! Really enjoyed it.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite read for 2010!, June 19, 2010

By 

Erin H. (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heartless (Tales of Goldstone Wood) (Paperback)

Congratulations to Ms. Stengl on a very promising debut! As a huge fan of Shanon Hale and Megan Whalen Turner's style of fiction, I was so impressed with the craftsmanship of this new fantasy! I am usually a critic of both style and content, but this young adult fiction will top my list of recommendations this year. In a market too often glutted with pulp fiction of mediocre writing (are you reading this Ms. Meyer?), this is a breath of fresh air! I can't wait for the next one!