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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
Moonblood
by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
Book 3 is just as exciting as Heartless (Book 1) and Veiled Rose (Book 2). Of note if you have not read the other books: parts of Moonblood take place in the previous 2 books so that they are all an important part of one another.
The Southlands are free of the Dragon, but the effects of the five years he controlled the kingdom are still being felt. The people of the Southlands are turning against Prince Lionheart because of his friendship with Red Rose. When Una comes in search of Leonard her presence brings the peoples distrust of Red Rose to a fevered crisis and in-order to save both her life and his reign Lionheart (Leo) exiles her. But Red Rose's exile is a death sentence because she is being sent into the realm of King Vahe - her father.
Meanwhile Prince Felix of Parumvir is falling under the control of the poison still within his blood. When Felix hears the summoning cry of a Unicorn he follows it into the Kingdom of Arpiar where great evil is about to be unleashed.
When Leo is given a choice to right the wrongs he has committed, what will he choose? Will he marry Lady Daylily and reign over the Southlands or will he instead search for his childhood friend and give up his throne?
Who will be sacrificed to bring King Vahe's evil dreams to pass?
by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
Book 3 is just as exciting as Heartless (Book 1) and Veiled Rose (Book 2). Of note if you have not read the other books: parts of Moonblood take place in the previous 2 books so that they are all an important part of one another.
The Southlands are free of the Dragon, but the effects of the five years he controlled the kingdom are still being felt. The people of the Southlands are turning against Prince Lionheart because of his friendship with Red Rose. When Una comes in search of Leonard her presence brings the peoples distrust of Red Rose to a fevered crisis and in-order to save both her life and his reign Lionheart (Leo) exiles her. But Red Rose's exile is a death sentence because she is being sent into the realm of King Vahe - her father.
Meanwhile Prince Felix of Parumvir is falling under the control of the poison still within his blood. When Felix hears the summoning cry of a Unicorn he follows it into the Kingdom of Arpiar where great evil is about to be unleashed.
When Leo is given a choice to right the wrongs he has committed, what will he choose? Will he marry Lady Daylily and reign over the Southlands or will he instead search for his childhood friend and give up his throne?
Who will be sacrificed to bring King Vahe's evil dreams to pass?
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really loved the worldbuilding elements in this book! There were so many interesting little things introduced.
The story was interesting, too, although I didn’t get to enjoy the friendship of Rose Red and Lionheart as much as in the previous book. Eanrin was such a fun addition, though! Glad we got to see more of him!
I have to admit, the allegorical aspects of this series don’t always work for me. Or, I should say, Aethelbald in particular doesn’t always work for me. It’s hard to explain exactly why, so I guess I’ll just have to chalk it up to being very picky about allegories. 😅
Without giving spoilers, I’ll say I DID appreciate how the ending resolved in a way that sort of…left you unsatisfied. It was fitting for the situation, and a more perfect ending would have felt cheap.
Looking forward to book four!
The story was interesting, too, although I didn’t get to enjoy the friendship of Rose Red and Lionheart as much as in the previous book. Eanrin was such a fun addition, though! Glad we got to see more of him!
I have to admit, the allegorical aspects of this series don’t always work for me. Or, I should say, Aethelbald in particular doesn’t always work for me. It’s hard to explain exactly why, so I guess I’ll just have to chalk it up to being very picky about allegories. 😅
Without giving spoilers, I’ll say I DID appreciate how the ending resolved in a way that sort of…left you unsatisfied. It was fitting for the situation, and a more perfect ending would have felt cheap.
Looking forward to book four!
4 stars! This is where the books definitely stop working as standalones, but also where the Faerie/northernness increases (to my great joy) and we start to see how the stories connect. This one has cameo appearances of characters & scenes from at least three novels that hadn't yet been written (King Shadow Hand was in a tile mural!) as well as tying off storylines left open from the first two books. Also, good redemption arcs with an actual solid explanation of how forgiveness and atonement work, and how all grace is undeserved but free. & the sphere songs are pure joy. I really hope we can hear the heavens singing again someday.
I blessed your name in beauty
In fear I still must sing
I blessed your name in beauty
In fear I still must sing
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
This series is one of the best I have ever read, and has become one of my favorites. It is like a complex but beautiful tapestry that you can't really appreciate until you read all of the books, but as you read each consecutive book, it gets more and more dazzling.
With that overarching praise, let's move on to my review of this particular volume. With its beautiful writing, captivating story, and memorable characters, this has been an absolute 5 star read. Stengl's writing is poetic, capivating, and engrossing. Within just a few words, I found myself falling into this world and I got swept away, not even noticing when hours had passed. The story has similarities to my favorite book series, The Chronicles of Narnia and the Lord of the Rings so it was really easy to get lost and caught up in the story. The final thing I love about this book is the characters, with my favorites being Lionheart, Rose Red/Varvare, Imraldera, and Oeric. This book concludes the story started in book 1 and 2, but also establishes the threads for the rest of the books.
All in all, this book and the series in general has earned a permanent place on my favorites shelf. I can't wait to read the next one!
With that overarching praise, let's move on to my review of this particular volume. With its beautiful writing, captivating story, and memorable characters, this has been an absolute 5 star read. Stengl's writing is poetic, capivating, and engrossing. Within just a few words, I found myself falling into this world and I got swept away, not even noticing when hours had passed. The story has similarities to my favorite book series, The Chronicles of Narnia and the Lord of the Rings so it was really easy to get lost and caught up in the story. The final thing I love about this book is the characters, with my favorites being Lionheart, Rose Red/Varvare, Imraldera, and Oeric. This book concludes the story started in book 1 and 2, but also establishes the threads for the rest of the books.
All in all, this book and the series in general has earned a permanent place on my favorites shelf. I can't wait to read the next one!
By far the best book in the series, it moved quickly the whole time, and kept me spellbound!
Moonblood by Anne Elisabeth Stengl was an enjoyable read. It is a fantasy story about Prince Lionheart and Rose Red and other funcharacters such as Eanrin, the poet who is a man bit also a cat! There is a great deal of symbolism in the book, I felt, taking our Christian beliefs and expressing them through his fictional adventure. There are "dragons" who are humans who have been changed into scaly dragons due to their choices and who can be saved by belief and repentance to the Prince of Farthrestshore. There are themes of repentance and sacrifice as well. The names are a bit over the top but the story was enjoyable. I didn't realize until I had finished that this was the third in a series so I don't think it is necessary to read the others first, though I imagine they do help one understand the places and characters more. I recommend this book to those who enjoy fantasy.
I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Love love love the world building and the characters. The allegory can occasionally be a bit on the nose and the writing just a tad clunky. But what a beautiful, wild, fantastic world to get lost in.
March 2019:
This is actually my fourth time reading this one? And wow, it’s so good to revisit this story. I remembered nearly everything, but this story...my goodness, it’s like coming home. My sweet, sweet babies. *hugs them allllll* *except Vahe he totally deserves what he got*
UPDATE FOR JULY '17 REREAD:
It's still so beautiful and I will never get over it. It didn't lose anything on the second read (except that I knew a couple of the plot twists.)
Shrieky fangirly review: [insert here]
Okay, I'm out now. *drops mic*
MAY '17 ORIGINAL REVIEW
My feels are crushed.
My ships are sinking.
My heart is broken.
And yet this is one of the best books of the year.
The books have gotten progressively better, too. Heartless was good but not great, Veiled Rose was better, and now Moonblood is the best thing EVER. This means Starflower must be the best book in history. XD
Some things I loved:
-Everything
-Rose Red/ Varvare. She's one of my all time favorite characters now.
-Leo. He just gets better with every book. I despised him in the first one, tolerated him in the second, and now... *huggles Leo* Ooohhhh, I love this author.
-I adore Ragniprava and Vahe and Anahid as villains too.
-The unicorn was kind of amazing too. I hated it... and then loved it... I think I ended up loving it?
-And Eanrin. Oh my word. I love him so much . He is my favorite. I can't wait for Starflower. He's like the main character in that one.
-Imraldera and Oeric and King Iubdan and Felix and... the characters are the best.
-The Night of Moonblood. Stengl has a way of befuddling me so that I have no idea what the plot twists will be? And it's kind of amazing?
What I didn't like:
-that one plot twist?
-The fact that my ships are sinking? And I think Stengl isn't writing any more Goldstone Wood books, which means... I'll never find out if my ship is going to work. *sobs*
Finally: Read it. Please. Read the other ones too, but please, read them. You won't regret it.
This is actually my fourth time reading this one? And wow, it’s so good to revisit this story. I remembered nearly everything, but this story...my goodness, it’s like coming home. My sweet, sweet babies. *hugs them allllll* *except Vahe he totally deserves what he got*
UPDATE FOR JULY '17 REREAD:
It's still so beautiful and I will never get over it. It didn't lose anything on the second read (except that I knew a couple of the plot twists.)
Shrieky fangirly review: [insert here]
Okay, I'm out now. *drops mic*
MAY '17 ORIGINAL REVIEW
My feels are crushed.
My ships are sinking.
My heart is broken.
And yet this is one of the best books of the year.
The books have gotten progressively better, too. Heartless was good but not great, Veiled Rose was better, and now Moonblood is the best thing EVER. This means Starflower must be the best book in history. XD
Some things I loved:
-Everything
-Rose Red/ Varvare. She's one of my all time favorite characters now.
-Leo. He just gets better with every book. I despised him in the first one, tolerated him in the second, and now... *huggles Leo* Ooohhhh, I love this author.
-I adore Ragniprava and Vahe and Anahid as villains too.
-The unicorn was kind of amazing too. I hated it... and then loved it... I think I ended up loving it?
-And Eanrin. Oh my word. I love him so much . He is my favorite. I can't wait for Starflower. He's like the main character in that one.
-Imraldera and Oeric and King Iubdan and Felix and... the characters are the best.
-The Night of Moonblood. Stengl has a way of befuddling me so that I have no idea what the plot twists will be? And it's kind of amazing?
What I didn't like:
-that one plot twist?
Spoiler
Where Leo died? But then didn't? And that's nothing wrong with that, just my feels...-The fact that my ships are sinking? And I think Stengl isn't writing any more Goldstone Wood books, which means... I'll never find out if my ship is going to work. *sobs*
Finally: Read it. Please. Read the other ones too, but please, read them. You won't regret it.
I have a soft spot for fantasy and pretty covers, I will admit. Well this book (As well as the rest of the series) probably has the prettiest cover I have ever seen and I think most people agree with me.
Stengls books remind me of the Chronicles of Narnia (depth of history), Alice in Wonderland (The one with Johnny Depp), and The Circle Trilogy (depth of writing).
Moonblood has moments that make you laugh and then gasp out loud. The shenanigans of the characters are unforgettable and perfect comic relief. But this book is not a beach read. Those who read it should be prepared to spend some time if they want to get anything out of it.
If you want to find more good books, visit my new blog, Backing Books, at http://backingbooks.blogspot.com/.
Stengls books remind me of the Chronicles of Narnia (depth of history), Alice in Wonderland (The one with Johnny Depp), and The Circle Trilogy (depth of writing).
Moonblood has moments that make you laugh and then gasp out loud. The shenanigans of the characters are unforgettable and perfect comic relief. But this book is not a beach read. Those who read it should be prepared to spend some time if they want to get anything out of it.
If you want to find more good books, visit my new blog, Backing Books, at http://backingbooks.blogspot.com/.