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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
I enjoyed this book soooo much! It made me laugh and cry,which,to me,makes it a book worth reading.
This is a powerful stories that emphasizes the importance of forgiveness, and from my viewpoint, especially from Jesus. [a:Anne Elisabeth Stengl|3145809|Anne Elisabeth Stengl|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1427197984p2/3145809.jpg] continues to speak to the heart of the reader through all the characters. One of the best follow up books!
I loved the story. It did take me a while to read it. Fantastical and adventurous and lovely.
Will you follow me?
Will you follow me?
I managed 200 pages before I couldn't get any further, so I skimmed the rest. I loved Heartless, enjoyed Veiled Rose, but Moonblood got to be a little much for me. Usually it's neat to read scenes that happened in past books, from other characters' perspectives, but I found it really tiresome here. It was mostly a new story, but I really didn't enjoy it. From the synopsis on the back, you'd think I would. I love fantasy, action, adventure. But the pacing of this novel, the vague, sketchy personalities of most of the characters, an unlikable hero (Lionheart) and just over-the-top weirdness finally got to me in this installment. The story screams vague. I can tell from this series that Ms. Stengl likes to go for the mysterious, enchanting, mystifying atmosphere, but it just happens too often. You don't know what's going on. You don't care about, or feel with, the characters because they're too mysterious and they feel false. I just wanted a straightforward story, I suppose. Sometimes too complex is not exactly better.
Having said that, Ms. Stengl is a beautiful writer, and I might still give Starflower a try.
Having said that, Ms. Stengl is a beautiful writer, and I might still give Starflower a try.
Get some business out of the way first of all. I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers for review and am not paid for this review. If you would like to review your own copies please contact www.bethanyhouse.com/bookreviewers.
Now on with the review... The first thing that struck me about this book was the title. I just bugs me and makes me think of something with a completely different meaning if you get my drift. I think there could have been some better alternatives. As I started reading the book, some of the character names struck me as a little childish... Rose Red, Prince Lionheart....
However, once I got over my annoyance at these little things, I found the story to be so enjoyable. I did not know there were a couple books prior to this one and reading those would help fill in some of the backstory but not a big deal. The characters were very real, dealing with emotions we all feel and could relate to in some way. I also didn't like seeing a unicorn turned into a bad creature for this story, but I guess we all can fall from grace, even something as innocent as a unicorn.
The book is full of Christian allegories with the Prince as a Christ-like figure and grace and forgiveness for all the faults of the characters. That's all fine and dandy to me, but I don't read to find symbolism or hidden meanings and had I not known prior to reading it, I probably never would have picked up on it. Takes too much effort for me to dissect a story. I read it and enjoy it in the moment. If something hits me later, great. If not, I don't feel I missed out on anything.
Overall it was far better than I expected when I first started reading it. I really enjoyed it and plan on someday reading the previous two books and whatever may come after. Fun, middle grade fantasy.
Hope you enjoy it too!
Now on with the review... The first thing that struck me about this book was the title. I just bugs me and makes me think of something with a completely different meaning if you get my drift. I think there could have been some better alternatives. As I started reading the book, some of the character names struck me as a little childish... Rose Red, Prince Lionheart....
However, once I got over my annoyance at these little things, I found the story to be so enjoyable. I did not know there were a couple books prior to this one and reading those would help fill in some of the backstory but not a big deal. The characters were very real, dealing with emotions we all feel and could relate to in some way. I also didn't like seeing a unicorn turned into a bad creature for this story, but I guess we all can fall from grace, even something as innocent as a unicorn.
The book is full of Christian allegories with the Prince as a Christ-like figure and grace and forgiveness for all the faults of the characters. That's all fine and dandy to me, but I don't read to find symbolism or hidden meanings and had I not known prior to reading it, I probably never would have picked up on it. Takes too much effort for me to dissect a story. I read it and enjoy it in the moment. If something hits me later, great. If not, I don't feel I missed out on anything.
Overall it was far better than I expected when I first started reading it. I really enjoyed it and plan on someday reading the previous two books and whatever may come after. Fun, middle grade fantasy.
Hope you enjoy it too!
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 really enjoy this story and the characters...but...I am so confused. The world building is supposed to be subtle, revealing itself along throughout the story. The problem is that it is so complex that if you don't read all the books one after another, you don't remember what it is all about. To make it more complex the books are not entirely chronological. The stories overlap and intersect. But I still really like the story, there is this beauty to it that keeps me reading.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Having already read "Heartless" and "Veiled Rose", I had high expectations for this book, but it still blew me away. With each new release, the author only improves.
I got to meet Anne Elisabeth at a book signing, where I bought my copy of this book. Now, a week later, I've finished the story. Usually, I speed through books that I enjoy, but this time I found myself reading it slowly, savoring the story and beautiful prose.
Remarkably well-crafted, this fantasy series stands out among its competitors. This is world which is vivid and believable. Not just a backdrop for the events, this world is fascinating in and of itself, yet even in such a fantastic setting, the characters are still very human.
Flawed yet likable, each character is a startlingly accurate portrayal of human nature. In my opinion, Prince Lionheart's story of redemption was the most powerful.
I generally can't stand the characters who bumble things up, show poor judgment, and make major mistakes, but I could not bring myself to hate Lionheart. Despite his sin, he wasn't a bad, unfeeling, corrupt person. He was just like you or me. His mistakes were tangled up in a mess of partially good intentions- they did not come from the depths of a wretched heart. He wanted to do the right thing, but his perspective of right was skewed. He wanted to save his people, to save his kingdom. Though he went about it in the wrong way, and the mistakes only snowballed from there, his initial intentions were not as wrong as you might guess when seeing the results of his actions.
Yet despite Lionheart's failings, he was not without hope,and neither are we. In a beautiful portrayal of Christ, he is redeemed. The allegory, though tenuous at times, culminates here. It was beautiful to see aspects of the gospel portrayed in this fantasy story, and it moved me in a way that I did not expect. Because Lionheart was so human, so real, so was the story of his redemption.
This was a very satisfying series ending. The book tied together the overlapping story threads which carried through the first two novels, turning them into one whole, solid story. I appreciated how we had a chance to see certain events told more than once throughout the books, each time from different a perspective, while still remaining fresh and new. It was wonderful to see how all of the stories fit together in the end, and I cannot wait to read the prequel series!
I got to meet Anne Elisabeth at a book signing, where I bought my copy of this book. Now, a week later, I've finished the story. Usually, I speed through books that I enjoy, but this time I found myself reading it slowly, savoring the story and beautiful prose.
Remarkably well-crafted, this fantasy series stands out among its competitors. This is world which is vivid and believable. Not just a backdrop for the events, this world is fascinating in and of itself, yet even in such a fantastic setting, the characters are still very human.
Flawed yet likable, each character is a startlingly accurate portrayal of human nature. In my opinion, Prince Lionheart's story of redemption was the most powerful.
I generally can't stand the characters who bumble things up, show poor judgment, and make major mistakes, but I could not bring myself to hate Lionheart. Despite his sin, he wasn't a bad, unfeeling, corrupt person. He was just like you or me. His mistakes were tangled up in a mess of partially good intentions- they did not come from the depths of a wretched heart. He wanted to do the right thing, but his perspective of right was skewed. He wanted to save his people, to save his kingdom. Though he went about it in the wrong way, and the mistakes only snowballed from there, his initial intentions were not as wrong as you might guess when seeing the results of his actions.
Yet despite Lionheart's failings, he was not without hope,and neither are we. In a beautiful portrayal of Christ, he is redeemed. The allegory, though tenuous at times, culminates here. It was beautiful to see aspects of the gospel portrayed in this fantasy story, and it moved me in a way that I did not expect. Because Lionheart was so human, so real, so was the story of his redemption.
This was a very satisfying series ending. The book tied together the overlapping story threads which carried through the first two novels, turning them into one whole, solid story. I appreciated how we had a chance to see certain events told more than once throughout the books, each time from different a perspective, while still remaining fresh and new. It was wonderful to see how all of the stories fit together in the end, and I cannot wait to read the prequel series!
Very few fantasy books, or fiction books in general, have stirred my heart and soul and emotions the way this book has.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes