Customer Reviews

Veiled Rose (Tales of Goldstone Wood)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Why yes, this book is YA fantasy. And why yes, I normally don't touch this stuff. And indeed, last year I said, after reading the first book in this series, even though I enjoyed it I was still a bit iffy about reading more books in the series because it's hard for me to get into fantasy.

If you like dragons, fairies, handsome prince, beautiful princesses and magic, you will love this book. Leo is the prince who steals Rose Red's heart. She's a strange girl who lives in the mountains and is heavily veiled so no one can see her face. I loved seeing her evolve with Leo's character though I was saddened when she goes with him to be his servant. Her conversations with her dreams were intense. The whole dragon bit is intense but in a good way. Lots of battle between light and dark there.

Even if you haven't read Heartless, you won't be lost at all as there are mostly new characters in this story. However if you have read the first book, it is lovely to see the story from Leonard's point of view when he meets Una. It makes a lot more sense as to why he did what he did then now that we have the whole story.

As with the first book, there are allegorical references again in this story. But as I am 1) a bit clueless when it comes to knowing the true meaning and 2) got completely swept up in the story, I actually couldn't tell you exactly what and where these references are from though I'm sure they are probably faith-based. Still, the reader is not going to feel bogged down by this at all. It's wonderfully written and any YA fantasy lover will swoon over this book.

The ending of this book broke my heart. Not because it was a bad ending per se, but because I felt so much hurt for Rose Red when she finally reveals herself. Honestly I wanted to cry. I also want to say that the cover of this book is then portrayed wrong. It made have to go back and flip through the pages to see if I had somehow missed something. I do hope that we get to see more of her in future books, I truly loved her character.

I honestly want to thank Stengl for writing these simply excellent books. You have made a non fantasy reader read your books. I really do hope that more readers outside of the Christian market find these books. The covers are appealing and the stories are what YA fantasy readers will love. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series now. Next year can't come fast enough for it. HIGHLY recommended.

In fairy tales not all of them end with a happily ever after. Sometimes there are parts of the story we never really get to know. There are people that seem like the supporting character in the story, but once we learn their part of the story, it really does change how we view the story.

Leo at only eleven had been told what to do, when to do it and how it should be done. Yet what a boy at eleven really wanted was adventure. Adventure the was best lived outside the fairie tales of books, once that existed in the real world. When he learned that a monster lived in the deepest, darkest woods just outside his home in Hill House, he began in earnest to seek out its secrets despite his overwhelming fear.

Armed with a beanpole as a sword given to him by the old gardener on the property and a warning that what he seeks isn't always what it appears, he tries to hold on to bravery as he searches for a path in the darkness of the forest. What he finds there is just an old nanny goat, who scares him more than any monster would. But the goat isn't alone, it belongs to Rose Red, a girl cloaked in rags from head to toe and veils that show only her kindest eyes.

Seeking true friendship for both is what unites them and keeps them company during the long, hot days of the summer, until the day Leo mentions hunting the monster once more. When she leads him to the cave where the monster dwells it will lead them both on an unforgettable journey into the lands of legends and fairie tales.

In the sequel to the Tales of Goldstone Woods series, Veiled Rose by Anne Elisabeth Stengl, picks up as a prequel of sorts to Heartless. You won't figure it all out until the end, and just when you think you have uncovered the secrets that lay hidden in the darkness, you'll be surprised once more. For those that love fantasy in dealing with dragons, dreams and mythical creatures, like Lord of The Rings Trilogy or the Chronicles of Narnia, then this one is perfect for you. Set amid the hope of romance and love, some things will never be the way we want them to be and for this reason, I loved this book. It's unpredictable in so many ways and thus rates a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review.

I fell irreversibly in love with Anne Elisabeth Stengl's writing after reading her spectacular debut novel Heartless (which you can find for free digitally - Kindle, Nook, Epub etc. right now). It is without a doubt a five-star read (you'll have to wait for my full review because it is still in a moving box somewhere!). In any case, if you read, and loved Heartless know this. Even though Stengl's first novel stands well on its own without the need of a sequel, Veiled Rose adds even more depth, more characters, and more mystery to the world inhabited by dragons, princesses, princes in exile, and ancient forces of darkness.

At first (feel free to call me dense), I couldn't see the connections between the two novels. I was caught up in the splendidly mysterious friendship between a young nobleman named Leo and a mysteriously veiled girl who became his constant companion during an unforgettable childhood summer. Only halfway through our story did the pieces start to fall into place. I won't let you know what I discovered; perhaps it is already obvious to you. What I will assert is that Veiled Rose adds another layer of meaning to Heartless so flawlessly that I simply cannot wait to read Moonblood the series' conclusion.

Now, you do need to read Heartless at some point, but you could read it before or after. I think I'll actually double back and read Heartless again through the new eyes Veiled Rose has given me. Whatever you do, you should certainly read it. Stengl has woven another thread of allegorical meaning into her series (though not as pronounced in this second novel), and her new heroine - Rose Red - is so richly imbued with sweet, strong virtues made naturally evident through her life, that she has burst off the page and into my heart.

Tales of Goldstone Wood is a must-read series for fans of Christian fantasy - and, even if fantasy isn't normally your cup of tea, I can still confidently suggest that Anne Elisabeth Stengl's works have the potential to just possibly change your mind.

I received a physical copy of this title in exchange for this review. All opinions are genuine and entirely my own.

Veiled Rose is the second book in the Tales of Goldstone Wood series. I haven't read the first book, Heartless, but I fully intend to do so. As a fan of the fantasy genre, I was looking forward to reading Veiled Rose, but I did not expect it to be so exceptionally well-written. WOW, is all I have to say. I've read it once through, and I've started it over again. There are layers and layers to this book, and I'm still trying to wrap my head around the allegorical storylines. As mentioned, this is the second book in the series, but you don't have to read the first in order to understand it - these are new characters. I was intrigued by this particular mythology of fairies, as well, and it really serves to highlight the friendship between Rose Red and Leo.

This book took me on an adventure full of mystery, and I'm happily embarking on it again. If you're a fan of fantasy fiction, I think you'll appreciate Veiled Rose. I'm looking forward to Book Three!

(I received this book from Bethany House Publishers for free as part of their book review program.)

Veiled Rose is a grown-up fairy-tale appropriate for all ages by Anne Elisabeth Stengl.

Being as this book in the second in a fairy-tale/fantasy series called Tales of Goldstone Wood, I would recommend reading the first book (Heartless) first - though I personally didn't get the opportunity to do that and still found Veiled Rose to be easily read as a stand-alone novel.

Eleven-year-old Leo doesn't want to stay indoors watching his boring cousin read research novels - he wants to go out on adventures. After all, what's the point of having a summer in the country if you don't go out in the country? And the rumors of a monster in the woods is growing more rampant - so Leo sets off to hunt the monster with a beanpole.

But he doesn't find a monster. Instead, he finds a girl named Rose Red who is entirely covered in ragged veils. Not a tiny bit of her appearance shows. She lives in the forest with no one but her beloved nanny goat and her kind father. Leo isn't a big fan of girls, but the two hit it off and begin having daily adventures - Leo practically forgets that Rose Red is shrouded in veils.

However, not everyone has forgotten about the monster in the woods - there are those who seek it. And it is not yet clear to the children what danger awaits them both as their friendship is tested.

Terror awaits...

Veiled Rose has a lovely, sweeping use of adjectives that painted a vivid and magical picture of the story in my mind. It initially sets up a fantasy quest from the prospective of the future and has a charming, instant flashback to Leo's childhood, in which we see him as a stubborn, adventurous boy not fully realizing that he is setting off a course of events that will last many, many years.

I thoroughly enjoyed the classic tone of this enchanting tale. The prose wrapped me up in the story. And Rose Red is a mysterious little figure that I was quite intrigued by and was happy to follow to her eccentric home to learn more about her. Anne Elisabeth Stengl provides the readers' with a sweet, interesting, unique, motley crew of characters!

As the story continued, some creepier bits with Rose Red and her dark, eerie dreams began to offer up more questions and mysteries - which is, of course, fun! I loved the way Stengl tells the tale in a patient, yet constantly inventive and magnetic, manner. Veiled Rose has an epic feeling to it, a larger-than-life scale with a sensitivity and genuineness to it that is refreshing and original.

Veiled Rose spans about ten years worth of time and is truly a wondrous journey of monumental proportions with subtle faith-based metaphors. Now, with some of the late plot developments I think I would still strongly suggest reading Heartless first (again, that is the first book in the Tales of Goldstone Wood series) but it is still fine to read it alone. I know I'm looking forward to going back and reading Heartless very soon, though!

Yet with all this praise, I do feel like I have to say the end left me torn. I, of course, will not give away anything here - no spoilers at the Bibliophile Support Group! But, there was a certain way I was hoping for Veiled Rose to end and it did not happen. Now, is that a bad thing? No. In fact, I love that Anne Elisabeth Stengl continued to keep Veiled Rose absolutely unexpected and cliche-free. However, there was a sadness and a bittersweetness that left me feeling a bit down at the conclusion - when I was hoping to feel happier. Was this conclusion more poignant and meaningful? Perhaps. But it didn't change the fact that I had been hoping for a happier end.

Again: this is only my opinion - what may have been considered happy to me doesn't mean it would be happy for you! Read Veiled Rose for yourself and don't take this as any sort of sign of how it will end, because this is very much an individual opinion!

This is the thing - there is going to be another book in the Tales of Goldstone Wood coming out next year called Moonblood. I believe (from the excerpt) that it will continue this delicate yet strong story - so it really isn't an end at all.

I strongly, strongly recommend Veiled Rose as a brand-new, beautiful, inspirational and heartrending fantasy that gives a mature perspective. It's a wonderful story that I believe you should read as well, especially if you're a fantasy or fairy-tale lover looking for something new and different!

*I received a copy of Veiled Rose from the Bethany House Book Reviewers program. Their generosity in no way influenced, nor sought to influence, my opinion of the novel.

*To read more reviews from the Bibliophile Support Group or comment on them, simply click on my Amazon profile and find a link there. For some reason the reviews never allow me to post the URL in the review. But I'd love you to check out my blog, where I post new reviews every Monday and Friday.

In Veiled Rose, Stengl brings a vivid and haunting world to life in a powerful way, giving new perspective and new dimensions to the story begun in Heartless (Book One of the "Tales of Goldstone Wood"). Full of adventure and meaning, this book is creative, unique, and epic in its scope. It is also challenging in its depth and insights - a well-rounded and well-written tale!

In order to fully appreciate the fantasy world and the characters that Stengl has depicted, I highly recommend reading Heartless before Veiled Rose. If anything, it's utterly intriguing to discover Lionheart's past (from childhood to his early 20s) and see the background elements of Heartless become the main ingredients in this new, and yet eventually familiar story that takes place before and during the events of Heartless.

This is a meaty sequel that spans years and concludes on the brink of another story. The book is engrossing, albeit rather dark for the most part. Full of caution, danger, and yet undying hope and love found in the Prince of Farthestshore, Veiled Rose is a wonderful sequel that begs the reading of Moonblood (releasing April 2012)!

*With thanks to Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Rose Red hides her face and body behind veils. She hasn't revealed herself to but a few trusted individuals: the gardener she calls father and her over-protective Nanny Goat, Beana. The only other friends she has on her solitary mountain is her "imaginary" friend the wood thrush and the nightmare friend who invades and tortures her dreams. Her seclusion comes to an end as a young boy named Leo, who hikes up the mountains during his summer stay with his aunt searching for the town's legendary monster, befriends Rose. Both Leo and Rose desperately needed the friendship each provides. Little did they realize just how much they would need each other as the real danger upon the mountain reveals itself.

Below is a quote I loved from the book, though there are more. This comes after Leo, who loves to entertain, tells his new friend Rose a fairy tale in which the ending is very sad. Rose asks Leo what good there is in a story that doesn't have a happy ending, his response is that "Maybe it does have a happy ending. At least, when it's actually complete. I mean, this part of it is sad. But maybe something good will come of it still? I suppose you have to read all the legends together to know for sure, but I don't know all of them. This one is sad, but there might be a story out there somewhere to make it happy." (p. 40) Little did young Leo know how true this would become in his own life story. I love it! There are slight undertones, which may reveal themselves more in the future, to Christian teachings, but this story is in no way cheesy. Stengl is building a very large story here with dragons, unicorns, good and evil, paupers, Princes, Goblins and beauties. I think the stories from the Goldstone Wood series will only get better as the larger plot unfolds.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Veiled Rose, which is the second book in the tales of the Goldstone Wood series by Anne Elisabeth Stengl. Even though I have not read the first book, I was able to follow the story easily, though I am sure it would have had more depth if I had started in the sequential order. In fact, the author has said that she has at least 6 books planned, which means the scale of this world is obviously much larger than I had realized. Thankfully, this book can almost stand alone. Almost, but not quite. This single adventure does wrap up so the reader isn't left hanging and it leaves the reader with the understanding that more is happening than just this single story of events. Book Three: Moonblood will be released in April 2012. I received a copy of this book for the purpose of review.

Veiled Rose by Anne Elisabeth Stengl is the sequel to the YA Christian fantasy book Heartless. Rose Red is a girl who has always been in hiding. She stays in a small house with her nanny goat, a man who she calls father, and her secrets beneath numerous veils. Her world is drastically changed when she meets a boy her age named Leo. Leo is a headstrong boy who is determined to find a monster who terrorized the area, and the two soon become friends, to the horror of Leo's household. But their childhood games soon become real when a monster so great begins to terrorize the kingdom. Leo is determined to stop it, but at what cost? And what is Rose Red hiding beneath all of her veils?

Excellent. Absolutely excellent. This book is even better than the first book, which is saying a lot. The characters are gripping, and I loved how what seemed like a minor character in the last book totally makes sense in this book. A hated character became an understandable person. This book fleshes out Heartless and its characters while strongly conveying a new, different story. This is absolutely one of my favorite fantasy books ever. I loved how the author progressed the friendship of Leo and Rosie in a way that had the reader loving them both. The story is so sweet, and I loved how the story of Rose with all of her veils shows that beauty is beyond the outside appearance. Rose's gentleness, inner strength, and courage shines through in her actions, and she is one of my favorite characters in all of the books I have read. Also, the ending is a great suspenseful build to the next book, Moonblood, which will be released April 2012. Oh, and isn't the cover just amazing?

Note: Many thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

Summary from the back of the book

Rose Red trusts no one with her secret. She hides in the forest, her face veiled in rags, shunning the company of all save her old father and her nanny goat. Her life is bleak and lonely. Until she meets a privileged young man sent to spend his summer in the mountains. Leo, a lonely lad, befriends Rose Red, and together they begin hunting for the Mountain Monster which, rumor says, stalks these lands. But the hunt which began as a game holds greater risk than Leo supposes. Rose Red can scarcely guess at the consequences should he insist on continuing his search. Dare she trust him with her secret? Or tell him what dwells at the top of the mountain in the cave only she can find? Above all, when Leo asks Rose Red to leave the mountain and follow him to the low country, dare she agree and risk the wrath of a Monster that is all too real?

My thoughts

I am a huge fan of fantasy. I've read things from Tolkien, Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, to CS Lewis and Kathy Tyers. When I first saw this book, I was intrigued by the back cover summary as well as by the beautiful cover. As I started to read it, I grew more and more disappointed and frustrated. Maybe it's because this is book two in a series and I hadn't read the first one. Maybe it's because I couldn't get a good sense of what was really going on. I don't know. I just know that I struggled to read and to complete the book. I would read a couple of pages and then promptly fall asleep - even when I wasn't tired. It got to the point that I took the book with me to work to read on my lunch breaks, and that did help me to finish it.

I really liked Rose Red's character. She was fun and a free spirit. But she was in bondage and felt that her secret was dangerous. Prince Leo, I found him to be arrogant and rather spoiled. It seemed to me that he was determined to find this monster no matter the cost to him, Rose Red, or to his kingdom. I admit that the monster is supposed to show our own sinful natures and that each person must come to the recognition that they have a sinful nature. But I found it to be very disjointed in the plot.

I will give the author credit. She took her time in developing the characters and the story. Though she was a bit too descriptive and wordy for my tastes, she did a good job in writing her book.

As much as I adore fantasy novels and know how hard it is to find quality fantasy novels in the Christian fiction market, I'm sorry to say that I will not be reading anything else that Anne Elisabeth Stengl writes because I honestly did not like the book. Typically if I don't like a book by about the 4th or 5th chapter, I won't finish it. But I did force myself to finish the book so that I could leave an honest review.

I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to like the book. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Veiled Rose (Tales of Goldstone Wood), by author Anne Elisabeth Stengl, is the second book in her Tales of Goldstone Wood series. This is the first book of Anne Elisabeth Stengl's that I gave read, and I found it charming.

Her characters are full of depth, and the relationships between them are very relatable with everyday encounters in life. Anne has woven a beautiful tapestry of places full of detail, and she has created a world that I felt I could reach out and touch.

But... I felt that the 'rules' that formed the 'fantasy' world did not feel cohesive. The book felt divided into several different sections that were created by different authors. What seemed to be established early in the book did not apply later in the book without a reason why the 'rules' had changed.

I also did not see the parallels to Christian theology that are supposed to be part of the storyline.

While I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book I most likely won't read the other books in this series. I look forward to reading other books by this author in the future as she gains experience in the fantasy/sic-fi realm.

Kimberlee, www.The.SpunkyDiva.com

DISCLOSURE: I recived a copy of this book from Bethany House Pulishers to review. The opinions contained in this review are 100% my own opinionated opinions.