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ewil6681's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
quoththegirl's review against another edition
4.0
2020 reread: Continuing our practice of reading a series aloud, my husband and I just wrapped up Dragonwitch last night. I had remembered Starflower and Golden Daughter as my favorites of the series, but I have to admit, upon rereding, I enjoyed Dragonwitch even more than Starflower. Also, having reread The Tombs of Atuan while also reading this book, I have to wonder if Le Guin's book inspired the priestess system in this story. If so, it was a well-done homage without taking too much from the original.
2013 initial read: The realization that Stengl somehow manages to get even better with every book has struck me anew. This story is beautifully woven, and I was completely immersed in it; I might as well have been in another world while I was reading this book. The story within the story is perfectly paced so that you discover the interplay between the tales at just the right time. Each book in this series adds to the reader’s depth of understanding of the characters, so I felt like I was getting to know old friends on a new level as the tale unfolded.
2013 initial read: The realization that Stengl somehow manages to get even better with every book has struck me anew. This story is beautifully woven, and I was completely immersed in it; I might as well have been in another world while I was reading this book. The story within the story is perfectly paced so that you discover the interplay between the tales at just the right time. Each book in this series adds to the reader’s depth of understanding of the characters, so I felt like I was getting to know old friends on a new level as the tale unfolded.
sarechafin's review against another edition
5.0
The story begins when Lady Leta of Avien obediently leaves her kingdom to become the wife of the future king, Lord Alastair of the North Country. He doesn't love her and she doesn't love him either. It would be easier if he had some interest in getting to know her but he has no such inclination. To ward off loneliness Leta finds sanctuary in the library and makes an unlikely friend in the Lord's tutor. It is among the vast walls of books that long buried secrets begin to whisper.
This book is one of the best fantasy books I've read in a long time. It has epic adventure, unlikely romance, magic and enough secrets to make the pages fly by. I haven't read the other books in this series but I plan to go back and read them now. The story made sense on its own but I want to learn more about the secrets and history of the Goldstone Wood. This book has a permanent place on my book shelf. My only regret is that I read it to fast... next time I'm going to make myself linger so that I can enjoy the journey longer.
I received a free copy of this book to review from Bethany House Publishing.
This book is one of the best fantasy books I've read in a long time. It has epic adventure, unlikely romance, magic and enough secrets to make the pages fly by. I haven't read the other books in this series but I plan to go back and read them now. The story made sense on its own but I want to learn more about the secrets and history of the Goldstone Wood. This book has a permanent place on my book shelf. My only regret is that I read it to fast... next time I'm going to make myself linger so that I can enjoy the journey longer.
I received a free copy of this book to review from Bethany House Publishing.
chelseaj91's review against another edition
5.0
Lady Leta of Aiven does what she's told. She'll marry a man she neither knows nor loves because her father has told her she must and as a woman, she is nothing more than a means to an end. Lord Alistair will marry Leta and be king of the North Country after his uncle dies whether he wants to or not. The Chronicler will be nothing more than a dwarf who can read and write, recording the tales of North Country. These three don't believe in Fairytales--they're nothing more than stories for children. The last House of Lights doesn't exist and will never be found; The Smallman won't discover the sword Halisa left by the brother Etanun and destroy the Dragonwitch for the third and final time.
Unfortunately, these three are about to discover that Fairytales do indeed exist, prophecies abound and will find a way to come true and when you can discover your own worth, you'll become what you were meant to be and so much more.
Continuing Anne Elisabeth Stengl's Tales of Goldstone Wood saga, Dragonwitch takes place close to the end of the events in Starflower. Even over the time since Starflower, much has changed in the Near World and the Between. Along with the changes, we get to go back to the start of the legends of the Brothers Ashiun and their involvement with the Dragonwitch. We see her beginnings, from a frightened young fairy queen to a woman pining for the love of a man who does not love her the same way. We get to see their beginnings as brothers who chose to serve the Lumil Eliasil and went out to bring the Sphere Songs to the people and build the Houses of Lights. We see Akilun as he fights to make Etanun see through the poison coursing through his body, and we see Etanun's horror and acceptance as he watches his brother fall and gains the name of Murderer.
Along with some new characters, some of the old favorites are back: Eanrin, Imraldera and Queen Bebo and the Lumil Eliasil make brief appearances. We see how the relationship between Eanrin and Imraldera has developed and grown and (while neither of them will admit it) become more than just comrades in arms in the service of the Prince of Farthest Shore.
Dragonwitch is a tale with much that you can take away. Even as the characters are encouraged to discover their own worth and become that which they are supposed to be by right, you as the reader are encouraged to do the same. The characters go through many trials as they finally come to trust in He Who Chose them and open their eyes to fully see. Along with the joy of seeing the characters triumph, we also get to see characters fall into darkness as they turn from He Who Chose Them and walk a dark road, proclaiming themselves as gods/goddesses and speaker's for said deity's until they are left with nothing at all.
While it's possible to read it as a stand-alone novel, I don't recommend it. By only reading one book, you miss much of the back story that is alluded to and you just miss the beauty that is the rest of the series.
Unfortunately, these three are about to discover that Fairytales do indeed exist, prophecies abound and will find a way to come true and when you can discover your own worth, you'll become what you were meant to be and so much more.
Continuing Anne Elisabeth Stengl's Tales of Goldstone Wood saga, Dragonwitch takes place close to the end of the events in Starflower. Even over the time since Starflower, much has changed in the Near World and the Between. Along with the changes, we get to go back to the start of the legends of the Brothers Ashiun and their involvement with the Dragonwitch. We see her beginnings, from a frightened young fairy queen to a woman pining for the love of a man who does not love her the same way. We get to see their beginnings as brothers who chose to serve the Lumil Eliasil and went out to bring the Sphere Songs to the people and build the Houses of Lights. We see Akilun as he fights to make Etanun see through the poison coursing through his body, and we see Etanun's horror and acceptance as he watches his brother fall and gains the name of Murderer.
Along with some new characters, some of the old favorites are back: Eanrin, Imraldera and Queen Bebo and the Lumil Eliasil make brief appearances. We see how the relationship between Eanrin and Imraldera has developed and grown and (while neither of them will admit it) become more than just comrades in arms in the service of the Prince of Farthest Shore.
Dragonwitch is a tale with much that you can take away. Even as the characters are encouraged to discover their own worth and become that which they are supposed to be by right, you as the reader are encouraged to do the same. The characters go through many trials as they finally come to trust in He Who Chose them and open their eyes to fully see. Along with the joy of seeing the characters triumph, we also get to see characters fall into darkness as they turn from He Who Chose Them and walk a dark road, proclaiming themselves as gods/goddesses and speaker's for said deity's until they are left with nothing at all.
While it's possible to read it as a stand-alone novel, I don't recommend it. By only reading one book, you miss much of the back story that is alluded to and you just miss the beauty that is the rest of the series.
celeste57's review against another edition
5.0
So far every book in this series has been fabulous, but I think this one is tied with Heartless for my favorite thus far. Stengl has such a lovely way with words, and she's a master world builder.
chocolatebooksthunderstorms's review
3.0
3 stars
// d r a g o n w i t c h
This book and I had a difficult journey together... as in, a journey of five years spent picking it up, reading a few pages, putting it down, and repeating the process. BUT I FINALLY FINISHED IT. And I'll 100% be moving on to other Anne Elisabeth Stengl books, too, since she's a literary genius and I've adored so, SO many of her books. <333
// d r a g o n w i t c h
This book and I had a difficult journey together... as in, a journey of five years spent picking it up, reading a few pages, putting it down, and repeating the process. BUT I FINALLY FINISHED IT. And I'll 100% be moving on to other Anne Elisabeth Stengl books, too, since she's a literary genius and I've adored so, SO many of her books. <333
meganmcculloughbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This took me a little while to read. I was really busy, but I finished it the first day on vacation. Oh man was it good. :) Goldstone Wood becomes more magical with each book. The first line of the book is absolutely amazing. I laughed. I cried. Now please go read the book. :)
brittanybwrites's review against another edition
5.0
Okay...one, HOLY CRAP THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. I loved it, even though it took me so long to read it. I loved the world-building, I loved the characters, and I loved the villain. Is that weird, that I would like the villain? And when the legend said that the Chronicler was the hero, the heir of the flaming sword, I almost gasped-AND THE ENDING. OMG THE ENDING. I LOVED IT A LOT.
My favorite characters has to be the Dragonwitch and Mouse. I honestly fell in love with the story of the Dragonwitch, of how she lost her family and fell in love with one of the heros of the story, but then once she found out that he was in love with someone else, she got mad and turned into a dragon, though she died twice and came back the third time, but died again the arms of her love. And Mouse is also my favorite because of her bravery and how she looked for the Chronicler.
Now the ship between Leta and the Chronicler surprised me because Leta was supposed to marry Alistair (and as soon as I saw that name, I thought of Dragon Age's Alistair) but then when the goblins came and took over the town, I was scared that Leta won't see her friend again. But at the end I'm glad they did.
All in all I enjoyed this book and I really do recommend it a lot!!!
My favorite characters has to be the Dragonwitch and Mouse. I honestly fell in love with the story of the Dragonwitch, of how she lost her family and fell in love with one of the heros of the story, but then once she found out that he was in love with someone else, she got mad and turned into a dragon, though she died twice and came back the third time, but died again the arms of her love. And Mouse is also my favorite because of her bravery and how she looked for the Chronicler.
Now the ship between Leta and the Chronicler surprised me because Leta was supposed to marry Alistair (and as soon as I saw that name, I thought of Dragon Age's Alistair) but then when the goblins came and took over the town, I was scared that Leta won't see her friend again. But at the end I'm glad they did.
All in all I enjoyed this book and I really do recommend it a lot!!!
grandtheftautumn's review against another edition
4.0
Holy shit this book was so good and all of the characters were so cool. I absolutely loved Mouse and the reveal they had for her. The history they placed between each main chapter was so interesting. My one complaint is that I wished Leta played a bigger role in the book. The summary on the back makes her seem like a much more important character, but the actual book makes her more of a slightly active love interest. It was mostly disappointing because the troll (?) king also mentions that Leta has the spirit of a warrior and so many things that could have led to her being this amazing badass and instead she kinda just... runs away? I really liked the book. I just really wish Leta played a bigger role.