Book Review--Before You Meet Prince Charming by Sarah Mally

This guide to radiant purity combines the thoughts and events in the life of a young princess with solid, clear teaching of Biblical convictions that young ladies today need to grasp. Through a captivating fairy tale, modern day examples, practical instruction and abundant humor, Sarah Mally challenges young ladies to turn to the Lord for fulfillment, to guard their hearts and minds, to identify and avoid the world’s thinking and to shine brightly in this generation.

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This excellent book carries some thought-provoking truth on purity and life in general. You may not agree with everything the author suggests, but Sarah Mally, founder of Bright Lights ministry, has such a sweet heart for the Lord that her insight merits much consideration, and grace abounds throughout. Bible studies and real life examples combined with a sweet story about a princess, cute illustrations, and amusing comics, makes this book a great guide for royal maidens young and old!

~     5 Stars     ~

Image and summary taken from Amazon.com

Book Review--Dragonwitch by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

 Spoiler Free

In the North Country, there is no hope for fairytales. Lord Alistair must prepare to be king, not a hero. His bride-to-be does not love him. The Castle Chronicler will never be more then the misshapen dwarf who can read and write.

Fairytales are for children. The House of Lights will never be found. The Smallman will never inherit the sword of legend that slew the Dragonwitch twice. The impossible will never happen.

But one day it does.

In one terrifying moment, everything the North Country knows is in danger of being destroyed. If it is to be saved, heroes must rise and believe in the legends of old. If the evil is to be defeated, the sword must be found. But to find it requires going into the heart of a distant land where the Dragonwitch rules. Courage will be tested, loyalties must be proved...and the Dragonwitch must be slain for the third and final time.

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Dragonwitch continues the epic saga that Anne Elisabeth Stengl is unfolding before our eyes. The story takes place soon after the end of Starflower, Book 4. But even after such a short period, dramatic changes have taken place. With new characters to root for and plenty of returning characters to love, this novel escalates to a grand scale not seen in the series before. Entwining with the present events comes the legend of the Dragonwitch and the Brothers Ashiun, so long alluded to, but never fully explained.

This is a tale of becoming what you were meant to be. It encourages to live up to your full potential, no matter what you may look like, no matter what people think about you, no matter what you think of yourself. This theme makes Dragonwitch possibly the most triumphant book of all the series. We cheer for the characters as they trust in He Who Chose Them and overcome all odds.

But this theme also makes the book the most tragic. For we see those who fail. Those who reject the call of their Creator and turn down a darker road. Those who proclaim themselves as gods and goddesses and end with nothing at all. It is heart-breaking and enlightening. This is the first book where I was literally weeping for the villains.

Amidst the drama, the tragedy, and the action, there is plenty of humor and sweetness to brighten your mood. And as always, the book is CLEAN. No language, no sexual content, mild violence. There is more combat and killing on page then before, but the author keeps violent description low, not that it's any less intense.

While possible to read as a stand-alone, you will miss the full potential if you don't read the series in order.

The most EPIC Tale of Goldstone Wood yet! I give you--

DRAGONWITCH

~    5 stars!   ~

Book read from NetGalley

Top Five Favorite Literary Couples

#1- Eanrin and Imraldera
The Tales of Goldstone Wood by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
They're perfect for each other! They make a wonderful team. They are completely willing to sacrifice themselves for the other's sake. And yet...1,600 years since Eanrin admitted his love for her they've gotten farther apart! How? What happened in that oh-so-mysterious time gap? Congratulations, Anne Elisabeth, for creating such an enigmatic love story.

#2- Eugenides and Irene
The Queen's Thief Series by Megan Whalen Turner
I admit, had I not read the book reviews I would never have seen this romance coming. Even fully aware of its inevitability I was still taken completely by surprise--which is how Eugenides likes to do things, I notice. What I really enjoy about this is that the main hunk of their love story happens after they get married. And it truly is a beautiful example of commitment against overwhelming odds.

#3- Corlath and Harry
The Blue Sword by Robin Mckinley
He's a king of the desert, she's a pale foreigner. They have nothing in common...right? Um, no. In fact, they both share the same deadly gift of power. Which would make them rivals, right? Once again, no. I really loved seeing love blossom between them, especially since I was afraid it would never happen.

#4- Athelbald and Una
The Tales of Goldstone Wood by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
A beautiful allegorical love story in which the Prince of Farthestshore loves and saves Una despite her shunning and rejection of him.

#5- Mirasol and the Master
Chalice by Robin Mckinley
Okay, I love Mrs. Mckinley's love stories. Mirasol and the Master are so sweet in their uncertainty, and there is a definite theme of Beauty and the Beast going on here, since the Master looks like some wraith out of your worst nightmare...yet he's such a gentleman.


Once again, I find myself unable to organize the rest into positions to make a list of ten, so I'll just name off my other favorites--Oeric and Beana, Lionheart and Rose Red from The Tales of Goldstone Wood, Elam and Sapphira from the Oracles of Fire, Charles Darney and Lucie from A Tale of Two Cities, George and Eliza from Uncle Tom's Cabin, Cimorene and Mendanbar from The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, Taran and Eilonwy from The Chronicles of Prydain.

What about you? What are some of your favorites?

Shadow Hand Cover Reveal!!!

At long last, the cover is unveiled, and the epic unfolds to lengths unforeseen...

"She will take your own two hands 

To save your ancient, sorrowing lands"

By her father's wish, Lady Daylily is betrothed to the Prince of Southlands. Not the prince she loves, handsome and dispossessed Lionheart, but his cousin, the awkward and foolish Prince Foxbrush. Unable to bear the future she sees as her wedding day dawns, Daylily flees into the dangerous Wilderlands, her only desire to vanish from living memory.

But Foxbrush, determined to rescue his betrothed, pursues Daylily into a new world of magic and peril, a world where vicious Faerie beasts hold sway, a world invaded by a lethal fey parasite . . . 

A world that is hauntingly familiar.

Coming Spring 2014

Tales of Goldstone Wood

Timeless Fantasy that will keep you Spellbound!

 

Wow! Doesn't that sound fantastic? I know that I'm thrilled to be returning to the stories of Daylily, Foxbrush, and Lionheart. And who else might appear in this tale? To learn more about the story, check out its own blog-spot here!

 www.shadowhandnovel.blogspot.com.

 The cover is absolutely lovely. I was so pleased to see that the cover artists returned to the circle theme (the dragon's eye, the round mirror, the moon, the vines almost make a circle, and now the cave entrance)! The colors are breath-taking! And notice the mysterious fact that you can see right through the lower part of Daylily into the forest beyond...

Also, Anne is offering a wonderful giveaway of a coffee mug with this cover on it!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Views Out the Window

In every story you write, your character is placed in a setting. Well, that's obvious. But in certain historical or fantastical novels, the setting may be one you've never visited. How then do you know what it's like to walk in such a land or city?

Of course, if your land or city is unbound by the laws of the natural world, or if it is floating in space, you might never experience it. A land that inspired you might be on the other side of the world.  But you can research! You can look up the climate, animal life, and safety warnings of the place that must become your world.

Visiting these places is especially wonderful, but pictures are great also. For me, some of my characters are going places I'll likely never set foot in. But in my current manuscript, they're going to be treking through a lot of forest. Fortunately, I've hiked through and studied forests (along with my family), so I'm able to draw from experience.

Settings in our world can be very inspiring, sometimes going as far as creating a whole new story. I thought I'd share some beautiful pictures my family as has taken of lands that look like they just belong in novels.

Can't you see a hero standing on the rock's edge?

Is that an elven bridge I spy back there?

For some reason, I keep seeing a castle on those rocks

If it hadn't been on such small scale, I might have thought I'd found the ruins of the Grey Havens

The world is a beautiful place. Have your characters not only live in it, but know it!