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Tales of Goldstone Wood #7.5
Draven's Light
In the darkness of the pit
The light shines brightest
Drums summon the chieftain’s powerful son to slay a man in cold blood and thereby earn his place among the warriors. But instead of glory, he earns the name Draven, “Coward.” When the men of his tribe march off to war, Draven remains behind with the women and his shame. Only fearless but crippled Ita values her brother’s honor.
The warriors return from battle victorious yet trailing a curse in their wake. One by one the strong and the weak of the tribe fall prey to an illness of supernatural power. The secret source of this evil can be found and destroyed by only the bravest heart.
But when the curse attacks the one Draven loves most, can this coward find the courage he needs to face the darkness?
The light shines brightest
Drums summon the chieftain’s powerful son to slay a man in cold blood and thereby earn his place among the warriors. But instead of glory, he earns the name Draven, “Coward.” When the men of his tribe march off to war, Draven remains behind with the women and his shame. Only fearless but crippled Ita values her brother’s honor.
The warriors return from battle victorious yet trailing a curse in their wake. One by one the strong and the weak of the tribe fall prey to an illness of supernatural power. The secret source of this evil can be found and destroyed by only the bravest heart.
But when the curse attacks the one Draven loves most, can this coward find the courage he needs to face the darkness?
184 pages, Paperback
First published May 24, 2015
9 people are currently reading
1168 people want to read
About the author
Anne Elisabeth Stengl
20 books807 followersAnne Elisabeth Stengl makes her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, Rohan, a passel of cats, and one long-suffering dog. When she's not writing, she enjoys Shakespeare, opera, and tea, and studies piano, painting, and pastry baking. She studied illustration at Grace College and English literature at Campbell University. She is the author of the TALES OF GOLDSTONE WOOD, which currently includes seven novels and two novellas, with plenty more works due to release over the next few years. Her novels HEARTLESS, VEILED ROSE, and DRAGONWITCH have each been honored with a Christy Award, and STARFLOWER was voted winner of the 2013 Clive Staples Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
May 26, 2015
Let me tell you a story...
...of a man deemed a coward for he found the courage not to murder, of a girl with spirit far beyond her crippled body, and of a child who would gain strength from them both.
One of Anne Elisabeth's greatest gifts is to to write men and women with equal, if different, strengths. Here we find a brother and sister, who can only find friendship and understanding in each other amongst their brutal tribe. Draven is very humble in his strength and very protective of his sister. Ita is fierce and determined, always ready to prove her mettle, despite her clubfoot.
The relationships are portrayed with such powerful understanding: brother and sister, grandmother and granddaughter, adult and child.
Though only around 50k words, Draven's Light covers an incredible story packed with narrows escapes, daring hunts, sigh-worthy romance, and tear-inspiring sacrifice. In the very story itself, we are reminded why such tales are so important to us--how they can give us strength.
Although this may be considered a dark tale--a savage people who find honor through killing, and a mysterious malady that causes seizure-like death--it is presented as a man telling a story to a child so the darkness is never too gruesome or disturbing.
That this tale is being told to a child is not to say that it is any less powerful and potent--for the girl who listens finds here courage to carry her through life...and so do we all.
September 6, 2016
Anne Elisabeth Stengl’s stories are always just so incredible!! Draven’s Light was no different. Amazing. Tender. Intriguing. True love. Just grand. I just heart it! ^_^
We meet a little girl who brings water to two brothers (they’re rather famous in my eyes, if you’ve read all the other Tales of Goldstone Wood books!) as they’re building the House of Lights. The Kind One begins to tell the little girl a story. A story a cowardice. A story of bravery. A story of terror. A story of redemption.
I was enthralled almost from page one. Something about the lovely, mysterious way Anne Elisabeth writes ... it just pulls you in! Draven’s Light has to be one of the best novellas I have ever read. Let’s just say it’s the best. I’m longing for Poison Crown: The Smallman’s Heir! And then of course, Poison Crown: The House of Lights right after that! *grins and winks*
Anyway, this was a heart-rending story. And it had a dash of spookiness—but I felt that was very tasteful and never went too far. There were tears, and gasps, and shivers, and sighs. The characters—awesome. Loved it!!
If you haven’t read any of the Tales of Goldstone Wood books, they are an amazing, Christian allegory, fantasy series. As I’ve been talking a lot about magic lately, I’ll touch on that in this review. Anne Elisabeth very much creates a unique fantasy world. I don’t feel there’s really much “magic”, but there is a fae world as well as a mortal world. From what I'm remembering, there may be an instance or two in the series where some happening seems a little bit like sorcery, but its always the dark work of the bad guys exclusively. Evil creatures from the fairy realm that slip into the mortal world and create havoc among misunderstanding mortals. A higher Being (God) known as the King of Farthest Shore, and His son, the Prince of Farthest Shore (Jesus). The creepy Dragon who represents Satan. Lessons and things symbolic to the Christian faith abound in this series, as well as adventure, action, fairy tale-ness, and a touch of romance! *smiles* I find them to be poignant and profound stories.
So yes! Give the Tales of Goldstone Wood a try! (I would recommend reading them in the order published). The superb Draven’s Light is waiting for you to open it! *grins*
I received an ARC of Draven's Light from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.
We meet a little girl who brings water to two brothers (they’re rather famous in my eyes, if you’ve read all the other Tales of Goldstone Wood books!) as they’re building the House of Lights. The Kind One begins to tell the little girl a story. A story a cowardice. A story of bravery. A story of terror. A story of redemption.
I was enthralled almost from page one. Something about the lovely, mysterious way Anne Elisabeth writes ... it just pulls you in! Draven’s Light has to be one of the best novellas I have ever read. Let’s just say it’s the best. I’m longing for Poison Crown: The Smallman’s Heir! And then of course, Poison Crown: The House of Lights right after that! *grins and winks*
Anyway, this was a heart-rending story. And it had a dash of spookiness—but I felt that was very tasteful and never went too far. There were tears, and gasps, and shivers, and sighs. The characters—awesome. Loved it!!
If you haven’t read any of the Tales of Goldstone Wood books, they are an amazing, Christian allegory, fantasy series. As I’ve been talking a lot about magic lately, I’ll touch on that in this review. Anne Elisabeth very much creates a unique fantasy world. I don’t feel there’s really much “magic”, but there is a fae world as well as a mortal world. From what I'm remembering, there may be an instance or two in the series where some happening seems a little bit like sorcery, but its always the dark work of the bad guys exclusively. Evil creatures from the fairy realm that slip into the mortal world and create havoc among misunderstanding mortals. A higher Being (God) known as the King of Farthest Shore, and His son, the Prince of Farthest Shore (Jesus). The creepy Dragon who represents Satan. Lessons and things symbolic to the Christian faith abound in this series, as well as adventure, action, fairy tale-ness, and a touch of romance! *smiles* I find them to be poignant and profound stories.
So yes! Give the Tales of Goldstone Wood a try! (I would recommend reading them in the order published). The superb Draven’s Light is waiting for you to open it! *grins*
I received an ARC of Draven's Light from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.
April 28, 2015
In the darkness of the pit, the light shines brightest.
In the depths of fear, true heroes are born.
And in a quiet village, a young girl listens to a story told by immortals.
Each day, a girl must bring water to the two brothers who labor to build a strange house on the hill. No one can remember when they came, and no one knows when they will finish their work and leave. Although they frighten the girl, the Kind One tells wonderful tales of adventure and courage-- such as the Coward and the Pit.
Draven was meant to be the next chieftain. But he loses it all when he finds himself unable to comply with his village's barbaric practices. But when their reckless behavior leaves them vulnerable to a mysterious curse, only Draven the Faintheart can defend them... if he can find the courage.
This is Stengl. To say it is beautiful is absolutely redundant. You can go into any Stengl novel or novella assuming the writing, imagery, and execution will be gorgeous, and you won't be disappointed. It is equally redundant to say that I enjoyed it immensely! That being said, Draven's Light reads slightly different from the past novels-- in a good way. Of the novels, it is most reminiscent of Golden Daughter, which makes sense considering they're consecutively published. It feels more mature than her writing ever has before. There are some reflections on youth and aging that add a greater level of philosophy (although all the novels are quite thoughtful).
I was very pleased to see how much Stengl experimented with the structure of this novella. It really isn't a long tale, and the double storyline gave it a pleasing depth. We not only follow the story of Draven; we see it being told to a young girl years later. It was completely unlike anything Stengl has done so far and absolutely lovely.
As for the characterization, I was so, so impressed with the character of Akilun. Stengl managed to write a character who is sweet, wonderful, and so, so kind. He is a noble and great man, but he never becomes foreign because of this.
That being said, I did not like the character of Ita. She is the strong woman of this tale. My problem is that she kicks her brother, Draven. Repeatedly. And it causes him pain. I expected that this physical aggression would eventually be addressed, and it was-- sort of. But it still made me uncomfortable. I can hear you pointing out already that Stengl writes flawed characters. She does-- absolutely!-- but I still feel that Ita was never put down as thoroughly as Una, who I found more likable than her.
But the main thing that prevents me from giving Draven's Light a perfect ten for ten is this: it hinges on an unexpected emotional choice from a character the audience doesn't know yet. So even though it's unexpected... because I was unfamiliar with the character, it didn't really resonate with me. As the novella continued and I learned more about the character and the culture, his defying of social norms began to feel... strange to me. He has been conditioned for this choice presumably since birth, but we never really learn what causes or allows him to overcome this except that it is in his nature.
That being said, this novella is a worthy addition to the Tales of Goldstone Wood. Although it doesn't feature many of the popular canon of characters, it still draws heavily on established plots-- need I point out the unspoken comparison of Draven the Faintheart and Lionheart? Yes, this novella is different than past Stengl. It is darker, less fairytale and more folklore. It doesn't feature as many familiar characters, and it is significantly shorter than her novels. But it's still Stengl-- and that means it's pretty darn great!
*Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
In the depths of fear, true heroes are born.
And in a quiet village, a young girl listens to a story told by immortals.
Each day, a girl must bring water to the two brothers who labor to build a strange house on the hill. No one can remember when they came, and no one knows when they will finish their work and leave. Although they frighten the girl, the Kind One tells wonderful tales of adventure and courage-- such as the Coward and the Pit.
Draven was meant to be the next chieftain. But he loses it all when he finds himself unable to comply with his village's barbaric practices. But when their reckless behavior leaves them vulnerable to a mysterious curse, only Draven the Faintheart can defend them... if he can find the courage.
This is Stengl. To say it is beautiful is absolutely redundant. You can go into any Stengl novel or novella assuming the writing, imagery, and execution will be gorgeous, and you won't be disappointed. It is equally redundant to say that I enjoyed it immensely! That being said, Draven's Light reads slightly different from the past novels-- in a good way. Of the novels, it is most reminiscent of Golden Daughter, which makes sense considering they're consecutively published. It feels more mature than her writing ever has before. There are some reflections on youth and aging that add a greater level of philosophy (although all the novels are quite thoughtful).
I was very pleased to see how much Stengl experimented with the structure of this novella. It really isn't a long tale, and the double storyline gave it a pleasing depth. We not only follow the story of Draven; we see it being told to a young girl years later. It was completely unlike anything Stengl has done so far and absolutely lovely.
As for the characterization, I was so, so impressed with the character of Akilun. Stengl managed to write a character who is sweet, wonderful, and so, so kind. He is a noble and great man, but he never becomes foreign because of this.
That being said, I did not like the character of Ita. She is the strong woman of this tale. My problem is that she kicks her brother, Draven. Repeatedly. And it causes him pain. I expected that this physical aggression would eventually be addressed, and it was-- sort of. But it still made me uncomfortable. I can hear you pointing out already that Stengl writes flawed characters. She does-- absolutely!-- but I still feel that Ita was never put down as thoroughly as Una, who I found more likable than her.
But the main thing that prevents me from giving Draven's Light a perfect ten for ten is this: it hinges on an unexpected emotional choice from a character the audience doesn't know yet. So even though it's unexpected... because I was unfamiliar with the character, it didn't really resonate with me. As the novella continued and I learned more about the character and the culture, his defying of social norms began to feel... strange to me. He has been conditioned for this choice presumably since birth, but we never really learn what causes or allows him to overcome this except that it is in his nature.
That being said, this novella is a worthy addition to the Tales of Goldstone Wood. Although it doesn't feature many of the popular canon of characters, it still draws heavily on established plots-- need I point out the unspoken comparison of Draven the Faintheart and Lionheart? Yes, this novella is different than past Stengl. It is darker, less fairytale and more folklore. It doesn't feature as many familiar characters, and it is significantly shorter than her novels. But it's still Stengl-- and that means it's pretty darn great!
*Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
May 28, 2015
Draven's Light by Anne Elisabeth Stengl.
In the Darkness of the Pit.
The Light Shines Brightest
Drums summon the chieftain’s powerful son to slay a man in cold blood and thereby earn his place among the warriors. But instead of glory, he earns the name Draven, “Coward.” When the men of his tribe march off to war, Draven remains behind with the women and his shame. Only fearless but crippled Ita values her brother’s honor.
Ms. Stengl's writing pulls you into the story and doesn't let you go. This novella captured me so. I fell in love with the main character Gaho/Draven and his sister, Ita. These will definitely will be some of my favorite characters forever.
Ita cared for her brother through everything. She stuck with him even though their father had disowned him. She was a strong character and wanted to prove that she could do everything , even with a club foot.
Even though Gaho had been branded with the name Draven the Coward that didn't stop him from being courageous. His love for his sister was evident.
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher (Rooglewood Press) in exchange for my honest review**
In the Darkness of the Pit.
The Light Shines Brightest
Drums summon the chieftain’s powerful son to slay a man in cold blood and thereby earn his place among the warriors. But instead of glory, he earns the name Draven, “Coward.” When the men of his tribe march off to war, Draven remains behind with the women and his shame. Only fearless but crippled Ita values her brother’s honor.
Ms. Stengl's writing pulls you into the story and doesn't let you go. This novella captured me so. I fell in love with the main character Gaho/Draven and his sister, Ita. These will definitely will be some of my favorite characters forever.
Ita cared for her brother through everything. She stuck with him even though their father had disowned him. She was a strong character and wanted to prove that she could do everything , even with a club foot.
Even though Gaho had been branded with the name Draven the Coward that didn't stop him from being courageous. His love for his sister was evident.
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher (Rooglewood Press) in exchange for my honest review**
February 25, 2017
This is a beautiful story.
I hope you will read it someday. I'm glad I did. :)
I hope you will read it someday. I'm glad I did. :)
May 30, 2015
Some stories last only for a little while and then fade when the pages that hold them turn to dust, but other tales go on until they weave their telling into that of yet another story.
Such is Draven's Light by Anne Elisabeth Stengl. A tale within in a tale, this second novella in the Tales of Goldstone Wood series takes us further back in the Goldstone timeline than we have ever been before.
For some reason, I went into this little novel expecting not to like it. I'm not entirely sure why; Stengl has never disappointed before. Perhaps I wasn't drawn in by the cover. But forget the cover - this was Stengl's most brilliant work thus far!
Told with the feel of an old Saxon or Norse legend, Draven's Light is a breathtaking telling of warring tribes, ancient rites of passage, cowardice and true courage and love.
But the story opens with none of these things. Instead we begin with a nameless child, a story, and the Brothers Ashiun. To avid readers of Goldstone, these two fey brothers are familiar, but Draven's Light is the first time we see both as players in the plot. Their small but vital role in the telling of the story's main body, left me hoping that this is not the last time we will see them.
However I was most intrigued by our main character's sister Ita. She was a fascinating blend of weakness and strength. Draven himself was an enjoyable character who faced many difficult choices, but was guided by goodness, a sense of right and wrong and love. I never felt like I connected with him but his struggles were believable and though the ending was sad, it had a sense of completeness.
On another note, Stengl has a way of toying with her readers when it comes to love stories. We're nearing the eight Goldstone story and we still have little satisfaction to Eanrin and Imraldera's love arc. But the love story told in Draven's Light did not leave the reader hanging. It was sweet, realistic and satisfying.
So if you have been a fan of Goldstone for years or have never picked up one of these amazing books before, Draven's Light will be a brilliant read that you will not want to come to an end.
Such is Draven's Light by Anne Elisabeth Stengl. A tale within in a tale, this second novella in the Tales of Goldstone Wood series takes us further back in the Goldstone timeline than we have ever been before.
For some reason, I went into this little novel expecting not to like it. I'm not entirely sure why; Stengl has never disappointed before. Perhaps I wasn't drawn in by the cover. But forget the cover - this was Stengl's most brilliant work thus far!
Told with the feel of an old Saxon or Norse legend, Draven's Light is a breathtaking telling of warring tribes, ancient rites of passage, cowardice and true courage and love.
But the story opens with none of these things. Instead we begin with a nameless child, a story, and the Brothers Ashiun. To avid readers of Goldstone, these two fey brothers are familiar, but Draven's Light is the first time we see both as players in the plot. Their small but vital role in the telling of the story's main body, left me hoping that this is not the last time we will see them.
However I was most intrigued by our main character's sister Ita. She was a fascinating blend of weakness and strength. Draven himself was an enjoyable character who faced many difficult choices, but was guided by goodness, a sense of right and wrong and love. I never felt like I connected with him but his struggles were believable and though the ending was sad, it had a sense of completeness.
On another note, Stengl has a way of toying with her readers when it comes to love stories. We're nearing the eight Goldstone story and we still have little satisfaction to Eanrin and Imraldera's love arc. But the love story told in Draven's Light did not leave the reader hanging. It was sweet, realistic and satisfying.
So if you have been a fan of Goldstone for years or have never picked up one of these amazing books before, Draven's Light will be a brilliant read that you will not want to come to an end.
April 29, 2016
Edit 04/2016: Obviously, I've let this review sit long enough. Truth is, this story, though short, affected me so deeply, I can't get my thoughts together enough to express my true feelings about it, even four months later. Draven's Light is a story of love and self-sacrifice in their purest and most beautiful forms. I cried so much.
Just read it, ok? And bring tissues.
Want to read
January 16, 2015It has a cover finally!!! Ahhhh....I'm so excited!!!
But, May!!!???
But, May!!!???
June 22, 2015
Wow. I just...wow.
Soon, I will come back and fully review it, tell you of my one and only problem with it... But it doesn't matter right now. Later I'll think through this, but for now, it's just beautiful.
--
June 22, 2015
In the Darkness of the Pit The Light Shines Brightest
Drums summon the chieftain’s powerful son to slay a man in cold blood and thereby earn his place among the warriors. But instead of glory, he earns the name Draven, “Coward.” When the men of his tribe march off to war, Draven remains behind with the women and his shame. Only fearless but crippled Ita values her brother’s honor.
The warriors return from battle victorious yet trailing a curse in their wake. One by one the strong and the weak of the tribe fall prey to an illness of supernatural power. The secret source of this evil can be found and destroyed by only the bravest heart.
But when the curse attacks the one Draven loves most, can this coward find the courage he needs to face the darkness?
One could say that Draven's Light, by Anne Elisabeth Stengl, is a small book. And perhaps it is: clocking out at 190 pages, it certainly isn't large, as far as page-count goes. You could probably fit it in your purse or bag easily, and not feel the extra weight. It's only around 50k words; not very large by author standards.
And yet the effects this book will have are bigger than the book itself. The weight it carries is heavier; you will remember it for a longer time than it took you to read it.
You see, dear reader, this book may be small in size, but in reality, it is as big as The Lord of the Rings, as emotionally stirring as A Tale of Two Cities.
This story takes place in two sections and in two separate times: in the first, we see a little girl who carries water up to the two Brothers who labor on their Great House near her village. In the second, we follow the story that is told to the girl; the story of Draven, the Coward—or is he Draven, the Hero?
The characters within will call to you, beckoning to your heart. Gaho—Draven, was admirable, brave, loyal, and very much alive. Ita was little, but fierce, a little broken, but made stronger in spirit and in pride for it. Though perhaps, just perhaps, her desire to be strong isn't all that is within her; perhaps there is much more than pride. At times, Ita was the person I related to the most in the novel. Callix, though I liked him at first, didn't really grow on me as much as I thought he would.
In the girl's side of the story, we find the girl, her grandmother, and the Brothers. I loved seeing Etanun and Akilun during a normal time in their lives—not fighting dragons, not saving the day... but being heroes all the more for it. The girl was, well, us. She was all of us fan-girls, deciding what must come next in the story. She thought about the story all day when she couldn't hear the next part, and then was sure of how it must go next. The girl definitely ranked up there in my top favorite characters from the book.
Now, though I dislike to mention it, I must speak of the only part of the book I disliked: the girl's mother. The lady is always busy, always doing something, and never seems to have time for any of her children. To quote from the book:
"She was always in a hurry about something. Twelve children have a way of keeping a woman on her feet."
A little bit of history for those of you who are unaware... My family has eleven children. While that's not quite as much as the girl's family, I can't imagine that one child makes that much of a difference. My mother is quite possibly one of the calmest people I've ever met, always with time to talk or help her children with something; nothing like the lady in the book. While, of course, there are different types of people, I feel as though the portrayal of a woman with so many children is... well, less favorable than it could be. While this doesn't thrill me, by the time I got to the end of the novel, it didn't matter as much, and I did love the book; out of 190 pages, I had only this one complaint.
Objectionable Content: The setting was dark, it's true; Draven's tribe is a twisted group of people. Yet— and this is one of the reasons Anne Elisabeth Stengl is one of my favorite authors—she never showed anything, never even stated would have gone on behind the scenes had events transpired differently. There is some violence, yes, but nothing described in detail. The Tales of Goldstone Wood are intended to build up, and as such, the author writes them in a clean and encouraging ways.
Technicalities: There was nary a typo or awkwardly phrased sentence that I noticed. The plot and pacing was well done, the novella balanced between the two time periods. It didn't seem to drag in any place (though my sister Caiti tends to notice the pacing and technical things better than I), and though I guessed the reveal at the end before-hand, I loved it all the more for it.
I fear this is the least in-depth book review I've ever written. However, I'm happy because now I know you'll be done reading the book review faster, and you can go more quickly to read the book.
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.)
Soon, I will come back and fully review it, tell you of my one and only problem with it... But it doesn't matter right now. Later I'll think through this, but for now, it's just beautiful.
--
June 22, 2015
In the Darkness of the Pit The Light Shines Brightest
Drums summon the chieftain’s powerful son to slay a man in cold blood and thereby earn his place among the warriors. But instead of glory, he earns the name Draven, “Coward.” When the men of his tribe march off to war, Draven remains behind with the women and his shame. Only fearless but crippled Ita values her brother’s honor.
The warriors return from battle victorious yet trailing a curse in their wake. One by one the strong and the weak of the tribe fall prey to an illness of supernatural power. The secret source of this evil can be found and destroyed by only the bravest heart.
But when the curse attacks the one Draven loves most, can this coward find the courage he needs to face the darkness?
One could say that Draven's Light, by Anne Elisabeth Stengl, is a small book. And perhaps it is: clocking out at 190 pages, it certainly isn't large, as far as page-count goes. You could probably fit it in your purse or bag easily, and not feel the extra weight. It's only around 50k words; not very large by author standards.
And yet the effects this book will have are bigger than the book itself. The weight it carries is heavier; you will remember it for a longer time than it took you to read it.
You see, dear reader, this book may be small in size, but in reality, it is as big as The Lord of the Rings, as emotionally stirring as A Tale of Two Cities.
This story takes place in two sections and in two separate times: in the first, we see a little girl who carries water up to the two Brothers who labor on their Great House near her village. In the second, we follow the story that is told to the girl; the story of Draven, the Coward—or is he Draven, the Hero?
The characters within will call to you, beckoning to your heart. Gaho—Draven, was admirable, brave, loyal, and very much alive. Ita was little, but fierce, a little broken, but made stronger in spirit and in pride for it. Though perhaps, just perhaps, her desire to be strong isn't all that is within her; perhaps there is much more than pride. At times, Ita was the person I related to the most in the novel. Callix, though I liked him at first, didn't really grow on me as much as I thought he would.
In the girl's side of the story, we find the girl, her grandmother, and the Brothers. I loved seeing Etanun and Akilun during a normal time in their lives—not fighting dragons, not saving the day... but being heroes all the more for it. The girl was, well, us. She was all of us fan-girls, deciding what must come next in the story. She thought about the story all day when she couldn't hear the next part, and then was sure of how it must go next. The girl definitely ranked up there in my top favorite characters from the book.
Now, though I dislike to mention it, I must speak of the only part of the book I disliked: the girl's mother. The lady is always busy, always doing something, and never seems to have time for any of her children. To quote from the book:
"She was always in a hurry about something. Twelve children have a way of keeping a woman on her feet."
A little bit of history for those of you who are unaware... My family has eleven children. While that's not quite as much as the girl's family, I can't imagine that one child makes that much of a difference. My mother is quite possibly one of the calmest people I've ever met, always with time to talk or help her children with something; nothing like the lady in the book. While, of course, there are different types of people, I feel as though the portrayal of a woman with so many children is... well, less favorable than it could be. While this doesn't thrill me, by the time I got to the end of the novel, it didn't matter as much, and I did love the book; out of 190 pages, I had only this one complaint.
Objectionable Content: The setting was dark, it's true; Draven's tribe is a twisted group of people. Yet— and this is one of the reasons Anne Elisabeth Stengl is one of my favorite authors—she never showed anything, never even stated would have gone on behind the scenes had events transpired differently. There is some violence, yes, but nothing described in detail. The Tales of Goldstone Wood are intended to build up, and as such, the author writes them in a clean and encouraging ways.
Technicalities: There was nary a typo or awkwardly phrased sentence that I noticed. The plot and pacing was well done, the novella balanced between the two time periods. It didn't seem to drag in any place (though my sister Caiti tends to notice the pacing and technical things better than I), and though I guessed the reveal at the end before-hand, I loved it all the more for it.
I fear this is the least in-depth book review I've ever written. However, I'm happy because now I know you'll be done reading the book review faster, and you can go more quickly to read the book.
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.)
June 9, 2015
Draven’s Light by Anne Elisabeth Stengl is not as dark as I expected it to be. Rather, it reminded me somehow of Perelandra by C.S. Lewis, with its ethereal, dangerous beauty, its link to the past that is so essential, the world within worlds, the questions that did not necessarily have answers, but without being questions… In this, it moves beyond the classics of Lewis (whose great work was giving us aid in finding answers) and more towards the epic push-and-pull between characters and their “historic moment” (a university professor of mine taught me the phrase, I believe) that is characteristic of Tolkien. Stengl makes the intimate epic in the same way Tolkien made the epic intimate to the reader.
What I especially appreciated was the good use of superstition; it made the world feel more real. Even as I disagreed with the characters’ fears and was the sort to dismiss them, I still appreciated the history behind their fears.
Of course, Draven’s Light is beautifully-written. Some ways of description may have been used slightly too much (there was an emphasis on the eyes), but this was not noticed upon my read-through and does not detract in any way from the actual story.
Another reviewer mentioned that she was uncomfortable with Ita’s tendency to kick her brother. I understand this completely, but I also believe that it’s a subconscious reflection on her part of her very violent world. In Ita and Gaho’s relationship, you see a microcosm of the flawed network of relationships in which they struggle to thrive. No, you should not agree with it, but on the other hand, perhaps you’re meant to be uncomfortable with it.
The interior design of the story is absolutely gorgeous; the font for the chapter titles looks otherworldly! I especially liked how you could look for the links within the story between the present and past, as there were little clues here and there. In this series, everything seems to mean something, and I was having a great time trying to guess as I went along. Even now, I realize how much Ita reminded me of another character in Stengl’s books, and I wonder if they are related…
Now, this was perhaps one of my favourite parts, but I’m biased: DINOSAURS. Anne Elisabeth had dinosaurs and people living alongside each other!!! I read that, and my inner dinosaur-loving geek squealed!! I suddenly wanted to dive through the screen, steal Draven’s canoe, and go up the river to where the dinosaurs lived and try to tame one to be my pet. That is how much I adore dinosaurs and everything related to them. I loved the inclusion of Hydrus (a river dinosaur/fish thing) and the scene with him, that again I realize now parallels in a different way with Stengl’s scene between a girl and a creature in another book (Leta and the star...). Basically, just so you can appreciate how to build a creative world that reflects the complexities of ours in a way that does not detract from darkness yet does not glorify it in a way much of modern literature does, read Stengl’s work.
As in the rest of her work, Draven’s Light does paint a lot of links to Christian theology, but trying to create too many direct links will not work. I’ve tried, and I realized that Stengl takes themes common with our faith but makes the story all her own. Attempting to fit the characters and situations into an exact Biblical parallel will lessen the impact of the message on the reader, and, if you’re like me, you may even end up confusing yourself and over-thinking things.
The one thing that does bother me a little is this: if faith in the Wood Thrush is what gets one to the “heaven” of this world, is Draven there? That’s one question that haunted me, and at the end I wasn’t sure if he believed, or what he believed. This does reflect, however, our state in everyday life—we can never know until we get there.
Stengl has a great flare for “the last word”, and the last line was absolutely lovely in this book.
What I especially appreciated was the good use of superstition; it made the world feel more real. Even as I disagreed with the characters’ fears and was the sort to dismiss them, I still appreciated the history behind their fears.
Of course, Draven’s Light is beautifully-written. Some ways of description may have been used slightly too much (there was an emphasis on the eyes), but this was not noticed upon my read-through and does not detract in any way from the actual story.
Another reviewer mentioned that she was uncomfortable with Ita’s tendency to kick her brother. I understand this completely, but I also believe that it’s a subconscious reflection on her part of her very violent world. In Ita and Gaho’s relationship, you see a microcosm of the flawed network of relationships in which they struggle to thrive. No, you should not agree with it, but on the other hand, perhaps you’re meant to be uncomfortable with it.
The interior design of the story is absolutely gorgeous; the font for the chapter titles looks otherworldly! I especially liked how you could look for the links within the story between the present and past, as there were little clues here and there. In this series, everything seems to mean something, and I was having a great time trying to guess as I went along. Even now, I realize how much Ita reminded me of another character in Stengl’s books, and I wonder if they are related…
Now, this was perhaps one of my favourite parts, but I’m biased: DINOSAURS. Anne Elisabeth had dinosaurs and people living alongside each other!!! I read that, and my inner dinosaur-loving geek squealed!! I suddenly wanted to dive through the screen, steal Draven’s canoe, and go up the river to where the dinosaurs lived and try to tame one to be my pet. That is how much I adore dinosaurs and everything related to them. I loved the inclusion of Hydrus (a river dinosaur/fish thing) and the scene with him, that again I realize now parallels in a different way with Stengl’s scene between a girl and a creature in another book (Leta and the star...). Basically, just so you can appreciate how to build a creative world that reflects the complexities of ours in a way that does not detract from darkness yet does not glorify it in a way much of modern literature does, read Stengl’s work.
As in the rest of her work, Draven’s Light does paint a lot of links to Christian theology, but trying to create too many direct links will not work. I’ve tried, and I realized that Stengl takes themes common with our faith but makes the story all her own. Attempting to fit the characters and situations into an exact Biblical parallel will lessen the impact of the message on the reader, and, if you’re like me, you may even end up confusing yourself and over-thinking things.
The one thing that does bother me a little is this: if faith in the Wood Thrush is what gets one to the “heaven” of this world, is Draven there? That’s one question that haunted me, and at the end I wasn’t sure if he believed, or what he believed. This does reflect, however, our state in everyday life—we can never know until we get there.
Stengl has a great flare for “the last word”, and the last line was absolutely lovely in this book.
May 7, 2016
4.5- That was beautiful!
July 17, 2015
Oh. My. Goodness. It was amazing.
The man of three names begins as Gaho the child. He is branded Draven the Coward after his failure to kill a man. As for the third, well, telling that would be giving a bit much away. :)
In order of impact, here are the things that hooked me.
The first hook:
Well, it's Goldstone Wood. It's written by Anne Elisabeth Stengl. Of course it's going to be good! :D (For most of the books in this series, it would be required for you to have read all of the previous installments to both understand and care about the characters. This one is less so, as it doesn't feature major players from the previous books, but it will make more sense if you already know most of the history--or is it future? ;)--of Goldstone Wood.)
Second hook(s):
Cowardice, and the sibling relationship between Draven and Ita. Draven is, he believes, a coward. Ita is the strong one, the "wolf pup." They both help and strengthen each other.
Third hook:
The fact that it features the Brothers Ashiun! It doesn't focus on them, but it does give more detail on their work (which is amazing).
Fourth hook:
The telling. Each chapter switches from the "present", the focus being on a girl (whose name isn't revealed until much later in the book), to Akilun telling the tale of Draven. It was fun to watch both ends of the tale come together.
Fifth hook:
The House of Light. There are so many mentions of them in the other books, now we get to see one!
If I can think of any more hooks that won't give spoilers as to the outcome of the story, I'll update this review and add them. :)
The man of three names begins as Gaho the child. He is branded Draven the Coward after his failure to kill a man. As for the third, well, telling that would be giving a bit much away. :)
In order of impact, here are the things that hooked me.
The first hook:
Well, it's Goldstone Wood. It's written by Anne Elisabeth Stengl. Of course it's going to be good! :D (For most of the books in this series, it would be required for you to have read all of the previous installments to both understand and care about the characters. This one is less so, as it doesn't feature major players from the previous books, but it will make more sense if you already know most of the history--or is it future? ;)--of Goldstone Wood.)
Second hook(s):
Cowardice, and the sibling relationship between Draven and Ita. Draven is, he believes, a coward. Ita is the strong one, the "wolf pup." They both help and strengthen each other.
Third hook:
The fact that it features the Brothers Ashiun! It doesn't focus on them, but it does give more detail on their work (which is amazing).
Fourth hook:
The telling. Each chapter switches from the "present", the focus being on a girl (whose name isn't revealed until much later in the book), to Akilun telling the tale of Draven. It was fun to watch both ends of the tale come together.
Fifth hook:
The House of Light. There are so many mentions of them in the other books, now we get to see one!
If I can think of any more hooks that won't give spoilers as to the outcome of the story, I'll update this review and add them. :)
December 25, 2015
This is a beautiful book.
I got Draven's Light today for Christmas. Started reading it not five minutes after I opened it, snatching chapters here and there when I got the chance between present-opening. By the time all the gifts were unwrapped, I was a third of the way through and entirely enchanted. Enchanted by Draven and Ita and their plights, their brokenness. Enchanted by Anne Elisabeth Stengl's ability to make a story and a world come to life. And enchanted most of all by the frame of Draven's story- by the framing story of Akilun Ashuin telling Draven's story to a young girl, and that girl's growth because of Akilun's words.
(I have a new appreciation for the brothers Ashuin, by the way; Akilun especially. Both of them seem more real- before this book, though we'd seen them on-stage a few times, they were to me still characters of lore and legend, not characters we could really know. Now they feel as real as the rest of the Goldstone Wood cast.)
This is not a book to be devoured, despite its small size. It's a book to be savored, read slowly and perhaps even set down every few chapters so everything can sink in. It can be read quickly- it's only about a hundred and fifty pages- but to gulp it down so fast, I think, would cause some of the impact to be lost.
All in all, this is, as I said before, a beautiful story. A dark story, to be sure. But beautiful all the same.
I got Draven's Light today for Christmas. Started reading it not five minutes after I opened it, snatching chapters here and there when I got the chance between present-opening. By the time all the gifts were unwrapped, I was a third of the way through and entirely enchanted. Enchanted by Draven and Ita and their plights, their brokenness. Enchanted by Anne Elisabeth Stengl's ability to make a story and a world come to life. And enchanted most of all by the frame of Draven's story- by the framing story of Akilun Ashuin telling Draven's story to a young girl, and that girl's growth because of Akilun's words.
(I have a new appreciation for the brothers Ashuin, by the way; Akilun especially. Both of them seem more real- before this book, though we'd seen them on-stage a few times, they were to me still characters of lore and legend, not characters we could really know. Now they feel as real as the rest of the Goldstone Wood cast.)
This is not a book to be devoured, despite its small size. It's a book to be savored, read slowly and perhaps even set down every few chapters so everything can sink in. It can be read quickly- it's only about a hundred and fifty pages- but to gulp it down so fast, I think, would cause some of the impact to be lost.
All in all, this is, as I said before, a beautiful story. A dark story, to be sure. But beautiful all the same.
September 20, 2016
DATE I STARTED THIS BOOK: 4/25/15
DATE I FINISHED THIS BOOK: 4/29/15
HOW I RECEIVED THIS BOOK: Through the publisher
FORMAT OF THIS BOOK: PDF
TYPE OF REVIEW: Bite-sized
I eased into this book. I didn't like it at first, but by 50%, I was hooked.
Draven was a complex character. He had simple cares, complicated worries, and perpetual conflict. This book showed so much conflict. So much happened. I loved how it represented Draven's internal conflict. He had decided not to kill, but then his village viewed that as cowardly. He fought with the title of Coward, but still knew he had done the right thing.
This story was brilliantly told, weaving between a storyteller and his listener, and Draven. Anne Elisabeth Stengl handled it all superbly.
I cried, I must confess, when I read this book. I won't tell you why. But I did cry.
Five stars,to another well-written Stengl book! :)
*I received an free e-copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
DATE I FINISHED THIS BOOK: 4/29/15
HOW I RECEIVED THIS BOOK: Through the publisher
FORMAT OF THIS BOOK: PDF
TYPE OF REVIEW: Bite-sized
I eased into this book. I didn't like it at first, but by 50%, I was hooked.
Draven was a complex character. He had simple cares, complicated worries, and perpetual conflict. This book showed so much conflict. So much happened. I loved how it represented Draven's internal conflict. He had decided not to kill, but then his village viewed that as cowardly. He fought with the title of Coward, but still knew he had done the right thing.
This story was brilliantly told, weaving between a storyteller and his listener, and Draven. Anne Elisabeth Stengl handled it all superbly.
I cried, I must confess, when I read this book. I won't tell you why. But I did cry.
Five stars,to another well-written Stengl book! :)
*I received an free e-copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
May 31, 2016
I read this over the weekend. It is a lot quicker and easier to read then a lot of the full length Tales of Goldstone Wood novels. It still have great allegorical light vs. dark elements. I guessed a lot of the plot twists, but the cool thing about the book was that it pointed out that the twists and stuff were inevitable for a good story, and that was half the point.
This novella also has subtle ties to Dragonwitch that had me squealing at the end when I figured it out.
This novella also has subtle ties to Dragonwitch that had me squealing at the end when I figured it out.
August 25, 2015
4.5 stars
July 8, 2015
I am scrambling to write this review for "Draven's Light" tonight, after I just finished reading it this afternoon; somehow I managed to forget to both read and post a review of my ARC e-copy before the end of June, and then when I remembered I got exceedingly busy in the past few weeks. But these apologies aside, let me dig right into this review!
This morning, in a sudden flurry of panic, I realised how behind I was on my job of reading and reviewing Anne Elisabeth Stengl's latest release, and hurried to rectify that by flipping open my laptop and reading through most of the pdf. file today! I am not a fan of reading e-books, so I was more reluctant than usual to go back into the "Tales of Goldstone Wood" series which I dearly love. I had been taking my easy time with it for some months, but then today I decided to just get through with it, and while it is only 190 pages long, I flew through the rest of the 150 pages of it with a bated breath, and much delight. Stengl is such an excellent writer - I'm constantly in admiration of what she achieves through her "Tales of Goldstone Wood" series.
Actually, I had started to forget how much I love Anne Elisabeth Stengl and her beautiful stories, and so it was so refreshing and lovely getting back to her books after a bit of a break! She has such a magical, old-fashioned charm of telling a good, wholesome, moving story with beautiful themes, lots of fairy-delights, heartening, inspiring characters, a captivating style of omniscient lyrical prose, and a godly Christian worldview to really set the foundation of these novels/novellas. I loved Draven's Light so much - far more than I imagined I would - and it was simply so good!
So where shall I begin? There are so many facets that I loved in this short little novel, it's hard to pin them all down.
Draven's Light is technically a novella, and so a little separate from the main body of "The Tales of Goldstone Wood" but it features characters from the series, especially Aiklun and his brother, who are important Goldstone Wood figures especially in "Dragonwitch" (one of my favourite books in the series). . . so that was wonderful. If I were to fit this book into any of the styles of Stengl's previous books I would say "Draven's Light" most reminded me of "Starflower" - it had elements that reminded me so much of it, with the setting being tribal in both tales, the thing of sibling relationship being a prominent factor in both stories, and the female heroine having a physical infirmity, and the whole idea of "the Giver of the Name" as an important theme that the characters of "Starflower" and "Draven's Light" encounter - I found all these things very special, and made me love the novella all the more.
This story is quite dark - not as dark as some of Stengl's most recent novels, but I have to say it got quite intense around 3/4 through the story, as the threads of events and characters came to a climax, and there was so much suspense! The enemy in this story is a terrifying one, a sort of creeping shadow that latches onto the victim and sucks its life away... there were several moments that I was quite creeped out, and not a little frightened like the little girl in the story, for how it would end for our two main characters Draven and Ita. . . and yet the theme of light in the darkness was so inspiring and there flickered in the dark shadows of horror and despair, a clear ray of hope to the story - I loved that this story, in all its grimness and sadness was filled with Christian hope, light and faith! It was lovely, and so uplifting. I can't describe it as anything but upliftingly bittersweet and tragically beautiful.
I loved the writing style, and the way the story was told, as a story within a story - Akilun and the grandmother (Stengl) telling the little girl (and us) the story of Draven and weaving the tale together into the present in a beautiful, beautiful way! Stengl has grown so much in her writing from book to book, and the way she uses omniscient, old-style narrative suited this story in particular. The plot was gripping and tightly structured, and the ending! Oh, Lume love us, the ending was heartbreaking and really sad, but also wonderful. It all came together, and left me with such a painful little ache. . . it was perfect in its sadness and I loved how, while I sort of guessed how the story would end, I did not feel like I had lost the "surprising" twist at the end. . . instead I felt a sense of satisfaction and joy at the way of things. <3 :')
And now I must speak of the characters. Draven was such a well-written, heartening character. . . his story arc was really heartbreaking but very moving! The thing that made me love him so much, though, was his care and protection of his sister - that was so special! I totally did not expect this when I started this story, but I just loved the close friendship and understanding Draven has for his sister. And likewise, Ita for her brother. . . her loyalty, and fierce, wolfish courage and love - it was just fantastic to read about! They are definitely new favourites to the wonderful cast of characters that inhabit "The Tales of Goldstone Wood". Probably my favourite of the characters in this story though is the little Girl (we only really know her name at the end so I won't spoil that name for you!) and her listening to the story that Aiklun and Grandmother tell her, going and coming daily to bring water to the Brothers as they build the House of Lights. Her character development, and growth as a child was so lovely and sweet! She felt so real to me and her desire to grasp the truth of things so close to my own heart. I liked her so much indeed!
There really isn't anything that bothered me at all with "Draven's Light", nor anything that I found lacking in the story as well (other than I would have loved it to be longer!). While quite dark and sinister (and there are a few scenes that I would describe as quite violent), yet Stengl's writing is really clean and wholesome and encouraging, with a delightful absence of any innuendoes or overly romantic suggestive/explicit scenes. Stengl's stories are always packed with adventure, fairy-tale charm, wholesome tales of friendship and sweetness of love and chivalry, brotherhood, courage, sacrifice, faith and hope in the darkness. If I can put her writing-magic into words, I would say she reminds me of authors such as C.S. Lewis, Elizabeth Goudge, George MacDonald, Rosemary Sutcliff and even Tolkien - (But honestly, she does not rip off from them, only derives much inspiration from them like a true artist) ^_^
All in all, just go and read Anne Elisabeth Stengl, and if you've read her other books in "The Tales of Goldstone Wood" series, 'Draven's Light' is one not to be skipped! I loved it very much, and am now only looking forward with more anticipation than ever for the release of "Poison Crown" Part 1 and Part 2. . . !!
Rating for this Book: five stars!
*I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This morning, in a sudden flurry of panic, I realised how behind I was on my job of reading and reviewing Anne Elisabeth Stengl's latest release, and hurried to rectify that by flipping open my laptop and reading through most of the pdf. file today! I am not a fan of reading e-books, so I was more reluctant than usual to go back into the "Tales of Goldstone Wood" series which I dearly love. I had been taking my easy time with it for some months, but then today I decided to just get through with it, and while it is only 190 pages long, I flew through the rest of the 150 pages of it with a bated breath, and much delight. Stengl is such an excellent writer - I'm constantly in admiration of what she achieves through her "Tales of Goldstone Wood" series.
Actually, I had started to forget how much I love Anne Elisabeth Stengl and her beautiful stories, and so it was so refreshing and lovely getting back to her books after a bit of a break! She has such a magical, old-fashioned charm of telling a good, wholesome, moving story with beautiful themes, lots of fairy-delights, heartening, inspiring characters, a captivating style of omniscient lyrical prose, and a godly Christian worldview to really set the foundation of these novels/novellas. I loved Draven's Light so much - far more than I imagined I would - and it was simply so good!
So where shall I begin? There are so many facets that I loved in this short little novel, it's hard to pin them all down.
Draven's Light is technically a novella, and so a little separate from the main body of "The Tales of Goldstone Wood" but it features characters from the series, especially Aiklun and his brother, who are important Goldstone Wood figures especially in "Dragonwitch" (one of my favourite books in the series). . . so that was wonderful. If I were to fit this book into any of the styles of Stengl's previous books I would say "Draven's Light" most reminded me of "Starflower" - it had elements that reminded me so much of it, with the setting being tribal in both tales, the thing of sibling relationship being a prominent factor in both stories, and the female heroine having a physical infirmity, and the whole idea of "the Giver of the Name" as an important theme that the characters of "Starflower" and "Draven's Light" encounter - I found all these things very special, and made me love the novella all the more.
This story is quite dark - not as dark as some of Stengl's most recent novels, but I have to say it got quite intense around 3/4 through the story, as the threads of events and characters came to a climax, and there was so much suspense! The enemy in this story is a terrifying one, a sort of creeping shadow that latches onto the victim and sucks its life away... there were several moments that I was quite creeped out, and not a little frightened like the little girl in the story, for how it would end for our two main characters Draven and Ita. . . and yet the theme of light in the darkness was so inspiring and there flickered in the dark shadows of horror and despair, a clear ray of hope to the story - I loved that this story, in all its grimness and sadness was filled with Christian hope, light and faith! It was lovely, and so uplifting. I can't describe it as anything but upliftingly bittersweet and tragically beautiful.
I loved the writing style, and the way the story was told, as a story within a story - Akilun and the grandmother (Stengl) telling the little girl (and us) the story of Draven and weaving the tale together into the present in a beautiful, beautiful way! Stengl has grown so much in her writing from book to book, and the way she uses omniscient, old-style narrative suited this story in particular. The plot was gripping and tightly structured, and the ending! Oh, Lume love us, the ending was heartbreaking and really sad, but also wonderful. It all came together, and left me with such a painful little ache. . . it was perfect in its sadness and I loved how, while I sort of guessed how the story would end, I did not feel like I had lost the "surprising" twist at the end. . . instead I felt a sense of satisfaction and joy at the way of things. <3 :')
And now I must speak of the characters. Draven was such a well-written, heartening character. . . his story arc was really heartbreaking but very moving! The thing that made me love him so much, though, was his care and protection of his sister - that was so special! I totally did not expect this when I started this story, but I just loved the close friendship and understanding Draven has for his sister. And likewise, Ita for her brother. . . her loyalty, and fierce, wolfish courage and love - it was just fantastic to read about! They are definitely new favourites to the wonderful cast of characters that inhabit "The Tales of Goldstone Wood". Probably my favourite of the characters in this story though is the little Girl (we only really know her name at the end so I won't spoil that name for you!) and her listening to the story that Aiklun and Grandmother tell her, going and coming daily to bring water to the Brothers as they build the House of Lights. Her character development, and growth as a child was so lovely and sweet! She felt so real to me and her desire to grasp the truth of things so close to my own heart. I liked her so much indeed!
There really isn't anything that bothered me at all with "Draven's Light", nor anything that I found lacking in the story as well (other than I would have loved it to be longer!). While quite dark and sinister (and there are a few scenes that I would describe as quite violent), yet Stengl's writing is really clean and wholesome and encouraging, with a delightful absence of any innuendoes or overly romantic suggestive/explicit scenes. Stengl's stories are always packed with adventure, fairy-tale charm, wholesome tales of friendship and sweetness of love and chivalry, brotherhood, courage, sacrifice, faith and hope in the darkness. If I can put her writing-magic into words, I would say she reminds me of authors such as C.S. Lewis, Elizabeth Goudge, George MacDonald, Rosemary Sutcliff and even Tolkien - (But honestly, she does not rip off from them, only derives much inspiration from them like a true artist) ^_^
All in all, just go and read Anne Elisabeth Stengl, and if you've read her other books in "The Tales of Goldstone Wood" series, 'Draven's Light' is one not to be skipped! I loved it very much, and am now only looking forward with more anticipation than ever for the release of "Poison Crown" Part 1 and Part 2. . . !!
Rating for this Book: five stars!
*I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 25, 2015
One day the Tales of Goldstone Wood are going to be a classic in the fantasy genre. In the mean time you should start reading the books so that you can enjoy this fabulous world before everyone else! This novella is an easy place to start and is a great example of the author’s talent for storytelling.
This is a story within a story and not until the very end are we told the connection – one that I didn’t see coming. It’s a smooth transition between the two stories and just like the little girl who carries the water gift up to the Brothers building the Great House and who is being told the story of Draven and the tribe across the river, so the reader will keep returning to hear the story being told by the Kind One.
Fans of the series will recognize the Kind One as Akilun and the other brother as Etanun. This tale takes place before the events of Dragonwitch though it could be read at any point.
The story itself is a tale of despair, turmoil, pain yet hope and yearning for Something. Of cruel raids on neighboring tribes (not told about in detail), of stark courage to show compassion, of enduring despite pain and a fight for life against an unseen evil. It is an amazing story that never preaches about good vs evil and the courage to do what is right even though it goes against everything they’ve been taught.
Even though this is Draven’s story, his sister Ita is the real heroine of the story. But I can’t tell you more because that would spoil the story.
If you enjoy adventure and brave heroes and heroines than this is a novella worth reading.
Review first published on my blog: http://rinasreading.blogspot.com/2015...
Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
This is a story within a story and not until the very end are we told the connection – one that I didn’t see coming. It’s a smooth transition between the two stories and just like the little girl who carries the water gift up to the Brothers building the Great House and who is being told the story of Draven and the tribe across the river, so the reader will keep returning to hear the story being told by the Kind One.
Fans of the series will recognize the Kind One as Akilun and the other brother as Etanun. This tale takes place before the events of Dragonwitch though it could be read at any point.
The story itself is a tale of despair, turmoil, pain yet hope and yearning for Something. Of cruel raids on neighboring tribes (not told about in detail), of stark courage to show compassion, of enduring despite pain and a fight for life against an unseen evil. It is an amazing story that never preaches about good vs evil and the courage to do what is right even though it goes against everything they’ve been taught.
Even though this is Draven’s story, his sister Ita is the real heroine of the story. But I can’t tell you more because that would spoil the story.
If you enjoy adventure and brave heroes and heroines than this is a novella worth reading.
Review first published on my blog: http://rinasreading.blogspot.com/2015...
Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
July 13, 2021
2021: My husband and I finished reading this aloud to each other on a car trip to Washington DC, and it was just as good as I remembered. One of my favorite Stengl books!
2015: I received my pre-ordered copy of Draven’s Light in the morning, and I had devoured it by the end of the day. This may well be my favorite Tale from Goldstone Wood yet, because of the incredibly vivid, enthralling characters. Sometimes characters in shorter works suffer because there simply isn’t room to develop them fully. Not so with Draven’s Light. Draven, the man who believes himself to be a coward, is one of the most heart-wrenchingly brave characters in Stengl’s universe. But it was Ita, Draven’s physically frail but incredibly fierce little sister, whom I found completely fascinating. This story is one of Stengl’s darker tales, but it’s also one of her best and most powerful works. I think this story would make a great introduction to Stengl’s work; after this, they’ll be hooked!
2015: I received my pre-ordered copy of Draven’s Light in the morning, and I had devoured it by the end of the day. This may well be my favorite Tale from Goldstone Wood yet, because of the incredibly vivid, enthralling characters. Sometimes characters in shorter works suffer because there simply isn’t room to develop them fully. Not so with Draven’s Light. Draven, the man who believes himself to be a coward, is one of the most heart-wrenchingly brave characters in Stengl’s universe. But it was Ita, Draven’s physically frail but incredibly fierce little sister, whom I found completely fascinating. This story is one of Stengl’s darker tales, but it’s also one of her best and most powerful works. I think this story would make a great introduction to Stengl’s work; after this, they’ll be hooked!
May 24, 2015
:D :D :D. Draven's Light was awesome! I could not put it down! :D :D :D
June 25, 2020
WHY did I put this book off for so long?!
Positives: The WRITING! The VOICE....the whimsical, hopeful, quietness...it's just...the characters, so silent but so there...the themes and prose and structure and pacing....I just...
Negatives: Who knows? Maybe there were grammar errors? I didn't detect anything that can properly be named as a unbiased negative
Opinion: The story is so simple...it's not full of twists and because of that, some of its ambiguity works. I SO SO love the juxtaposition of brotherly and romantic love, though...not to mention the quiet arcs of each character and the ending. And the Biblical themes presented, the theme of true names, the theme of hope and bloodshed....why is it all so beautiful? This was the shortest of AES's works (a novella, apparently, though it also works as a novel), but it is no less beautiful and just so symbolic and hopeful and dark than her previous books.
Content: No dirtiness...all super clean. Mentions of war and blooshed but that's about it?
Positives: The WRITING! The VOICE....the whimsical, hopeful, quietness...it's just...the characters, so silent but so there...the themes and prose and structure and pacing....I just...
Negatives: Who knows? Maybe there were grammar errors? I didn't detect anything that can properly be named as a unbiased negative
Opinion: The story is so simple...it's not full of twists and because of that, some of its ambiguity works. I SO SO love the juxtaposition of brotherly and romantic love, though...not to mention the quiet arcs of each character and the ending. And the Biblical themes presented, the theme of true names, the theme of hope and bloodshed....why is it all so beautiful? This was the shortest of AES's works (a novella, apparently, though it also works as a novel), but it is no less beautiful and just so symbolic and hopeful and dark than her previous books.
Content: No dirtiness...all super clean. Mentions of war and blooshed but that's about it?
February 19, 2019
The Tales of Goldstone Wood series is for me , a more relatable Narnia.
As a child who was in awe of the tales of Narnia but admittedly a bit alarmed and frightened by the alien strangeness of the whole thing , The Tales of Goldstone Wood would have captured me MUCH MORE.
When I read The Magician's Nephew and Polly decided to explore the attic , I was like ," NO. BUGS.SNAKES. YOU SHALL NOT PASS. Omigosh go bacccccccccccccccckkkkk."
( Yes , I was that type of child )
But would I follow a magical wood-thrush into a menacing but beautiful forest where time doesn't exist?
Um , yes !
Don't get me wrong. Anne Elizabeth Stengl's world is not all snuggly kittens and rainbows. But I connect to the characters , and I'd follow them anywhere.
( No matter how freaked out I am )
I'm not bashing C.S Lewis. Narnia as both an allegory and a beautiful tale is fantastic. NOBODY needs to say that.
But the reason why I love this book series MORE , is because while I know OF Edmund , Lucy , Susan, and Peter , I KNOW Anne Elizabeth Stengl's characters down to their very hearts.
Lionheart , Una ,Rosered, Eanrin , Dame Imraldera, Foxbrush ( My baby), Daylily,Felix , even the dragon in an angry fond sense ( because a good villain is a great thing! Kind of !) and ... Aethelbald , the Aslanish figure of this whole shindig ,are all so memorable.
They are human , they make mistakes , but they are so fun to read about. One day I'm binge reading the whole series , I'm telling you.
Plus , If I could point to the most creative of my favorite author's , Anne Elizabeth Stengl would win , hands down.
Her books become more rich in world building and character development with every new installment. It's astounding. She has an enormous amount of talent.
So I wasn't really worried that I wouldn't love Draven's light. It took me a longggggggg while to read , but only because I feel you have to be in the right mindset to read these dense , history rich novels.
I got more insight into the brothers Etanun and Akilun , which was great. These dudes have always been SUPER FREAKING VAGUE.
I loved that Draven's tale was told as a story WHILE the House of Light was being built. Like , yes. Thank you.
Did I think Anne Elisabeth Stengl couldn't do brother / sister relationships ? WELL, SHE CAN.
Honestly , the romance was a bit tacked on but I didn't care because the prince was a necessary character and Draven's relationship with his sister Ita overshadowed it all.
The end killed me. So that was nice.
The only reason I didn't give this book five stars was because my reading enjoyment was a little less than usual because I read the first half of this in 2015 and the rest this year.
Also , The King of the Farthestshore DID NOT SHOW UP TO THIS PARTY. WHY.
His bird singing does not count.
Yes , Farthestshore is heaven. The author's world building in this series is so good she even has the afterlife figured out.
So this isn't my favorite book of the series. That would be a tie between Shadow hand and Veiled Rose. But it was still really stellar writing and definitely enhanced my love of this world.
I do HAVE to stress that if you pick up this series , you read the series in order. And if you feel halfhearted about heartless , JUST KEEP GOING.
Heartless is the intro. It's great , but its just the icing on TOP of the cake. Veiled Rose is where everything gets good. Plus, Leo and Rosie. LEO AND ROSIE. GAH.
Plus , there is a talking cat. AND HE'S SASSY.
Okay. So basically this is the best allegorical series I have ever read , but it doesn't read like an allegory. Trust me , I am VERY PICKY about my christian fiction.
But this is really fantastic. Almost anybody can find something to love about. Unless you don't love magicalness and evil unicorns.
Then maybe back away slowly.
Content : clean
As a child who was in awe of the tales of Narnia but admittedly a bit alarmed and frightened by the alien strangeness of the whole thing , The Tales of Goldstone Wood would have captured me MUCH MORE.
When I read The Magician's Nephew and Polly decided to explore the attic , I was like ," NO. BUGS.SNAKES. YOU SHALL NOT PASS. Omigosh go bacccccccccccccccckkkkk."
( Yes , I was that type of child )
But would I follow a magical wood-thrush into a menacing but beautiful forest where time doesn't exist?
Um , yes !
Don't get me wrong. Anne Elizabeth Stengl's world is not all snuggly kittens and rainbows. But I connect to the characters , and I'd follow them anywhere.
( No matter how freaked out I am )
I'm not bashing C.S Lewis. Narnia as both an allegory and a beautiful tale is fantastic. NOBODY needs to say that.
But the reason why I love this book series MORE , is because while I know OF Edmund , Lucy , Susan, and Peter , I KNOW Anne Elizabeth Stengl's characters down to their very hearts.
Lionheart , Una ,Rosered, Eanrin , Dame Imraldera, Foxbrush ( My baby), Daylily,Felix , even the dragon in an angry fond sense ( because a good villain is a great thing! Kind of !) and ... Aethelbald , the Aslanish figure of this whole shindig ,are all so memorable.
They are human , they make mistakes , but they are so fun to read about. One day I'm binge reading the whole series , I'm telling you.
Plus , If I could point to the most creative of my favorite author's , Anne Elizabeth Stengl would win , hands down.
Her books become more rich in world building and character development with every new installment. It's astounding. She has an enormous amount of talent.
So I wasn't really worried that I wouldn't love Draven's light. It took me a longggggggg while to read , but only because I feel you have to be in the right mindset to read these dense , history rich novels.
I got more insight into the brothers Etanun and Akilun , which was great. These dudes have always been SUPER FREAKING VAGUE.
I loved that Draven's tale was told as a story WHILE the House of Light was being built. Like , yes. Thank you.
Did I think Anne Elisabeth Stengl couldn't do brother / sister relationships ? WELL, SHE CAN.
Honestly , the romance was a bit tacked on but I didn't care because the prince was a necessary character and Draven's relationship with his sister Ita overshadowed it all.
The end killed me. So that was nice.
The only reason I didn't give this book five stars was because my reading enjoyment was a little less than usual because I read the first half of this in 2015 and the rest this year.
Also , The King of the Farthestshore DID NOT SHOW UP TO THIS PARTY. WHY.
His bird singing does not count.
Yes , Farthestshore is heaven. The author's world building in this series is so good she even has the afterlife figured out.
So this isn't my favorite book of the series. That would be a tie between Shadow hand and Veiled Rose. But it was still really stellar writing and definitely enhanced my love of this world.
I do HAVE to stress that if you pick up this series , you read the series in order. And if you feel halfhearted about heartless , JUST KEEP GOING.
Heartless is the intro. It's great , but its just the icing on TOP of the cake. Veiled Rose is where everything gets good. Plus, Leo and Rosie. LEO AND ROSIE. GAH.
Plus , there is a talking cat. AND HE'S SASSY.
Okay. So basically this is the best allegorical series I have ever read , but it doesn't read like an allegory. Trust me , I am VERY PICKY about my christian fiction.
But this is really fantastic. Almost anybody can find something to love about. Unless you don't love magicalness and evil unicorns.
Then maybe back away slowly.
Content : clean
April 30, 2015
This is the first book that I have read by Anne Elizabeth Stengl so I did not know what to expect. I really enjoyed what I got though. It is one of those books that kept me wanting to know what happens next so badly that I start skipping bits and then having to force myself to read through it properly. Draven’s Light is a tale within a tale, words mix together and weave an intricate story. It is like a folktale and is dark in places, but the darkness contrasts wonderfully to the light.
Lovely foreboding hinted through the book came out in the end just as terrifying as I guessed. The story drew me in completely, what with the vivid imagery and epic tale. I really liked how the story frame connects in with the story and even more so by the end, so that the two parts merged seamlessly into one.
The tension is high and the pacing fast but not so fast the reader gets left behind. I like how the red aster flowers pop up throughout the book binding it together in another way (making them a leitmotif.) The characters emotion came across as real, and I felt for them. The ending was sad, but it felt complete like an ending should.
I liked the characters a lot. Draven the coward had such courage though he spent the story believing the name given him. In the end he did realize though. He almost fits the description of an epic character, even making a journey into the underworld. Ita was a well written female character, strong of heart and mind, if not body. I could empathise in her going on despite pain, though a few times she did some things that seemed a bit out of character, but I liked her.
My favourite thing about the book would be the contrast of the darkness with the light and the moment when Draven is contemplating snuffing out the light so he can’t see the shadows. Light shines brighter in the darkness. True courage is going on despite fear.
Disclaimer: I received a PDF copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for my honest review. And that is five stars!
For a elongated review have a look at this post on my blog: http://claredot.blogspot.com.au/2015/...
Lovely foreboding hinted through the book came out in the end just as terrifying as I guessed. The story drew me in completely, what with the vivid imagery and epic tale. I really liked how the story frame connects in with the story and even more so by the end, so that the two parts merged seamlessly into one.
The tension is high and the pacing fast but not so fast the reader gets left behind. I like how the red aster flowers pop up throughout the book binding it together in another way (making them a leitmotif.) The characters emotion came across as real, and I felt for them. The ending was sad, but it felt complete like an ending should.
I liked the characters a lot. Draven the coward had such courage though he spent the story believing the name given him. In the end he did realize though. He almost fits the description of an epic character, even making a journey into the underworld. Ita was a well written female character, strong of heart and mind, if not body. I could empathise in her going on despite pain, though a few times she did some things that seemed a bit out of character, but I liked her.
My favourite thing about the book would be the contrast of the darkness with the light and the moment when Draven is contemplating snuffing out the light so he can’t see the shadows. Light shines brighter in the darkness. True courage is going on despite fear.
Disclaimer: I received a PDF copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for my honest review. And that is five stars!
For a elongated review have a look at this post on my blog: http://claredot.blogspot.com.au/2015/...
May 5, 2015
I am a huge fan of Anne Elisabeth Stengl's and have been ever since I read her book "Dragonwitch" two years ago. I love fantasy, but find it difficult to find wholesome fantasy stories that contain good morals and lack the crudeness that so many authors write into this genre. Not only are her books void of inappropriate sexual content and horrific violence, they are brilliantly created and written. Upon completely Dragonwitch in 2013, I promptly went out and bought the whole series…. as did a dear friend of mine who I leant Dragonwitch to.
You can imagine my excitement when I was given an advance copy of Draven's Light, her newest addition to the Tales of Goldstone Wood, to review!
This book was wonderful. It goes without saying to state that it was well written - all her books are, and that I couldn't help but become completely intwined in all of her characters. Draven's story is a painful one, full of despair and fear… and yet there is always a side of hope, redemption, and restoration. If I could describe this book in one word, it would be redemption…. and what a powerful tale it is that leads Draven the Coward to such a fate.
I loved how this book is told in story form….from the vantage points of a young girl's elders. It gave Draven's Light a very unique feel as the reader moved back and forth from "present" to past to learn about Draven and Ita. Typically, I find transitions like these can be a bit rough and that the "present" offers the dull part of the story. Not so with Draven's Light. The move between past and present in this story is done seamlessly and every page of this book was turned eagerly.
Absolutely loved it and will be buying a hardcopy version to put on my bookshelf.
Thank-you for the free copy that I received from Rooglewood Press in exchange for my honest opinion.
You can imagine my excitement when I was given an advance copy of Draven's Light, her newest addition to the Tales of Goldstone Wood, to review!
This book was wonderful. It goes without saying to state that it was well written - all her books are, and that I couldn't help but become completely intwined in all of her characters. Draven's story is a painful one, full of despair and fear… and yet there is always a side of hope, redemption, and restoration. If I could describe this book in one word, it would be redemption…. and what a powerful tale it is that leads Draven the Coward to such a fate.
I loved how this book is told in story form….from the vantage points of a young girl's elders. It gave Draven's Light a very unique feel as the reader moved back and forth from "present" to past to learn about Draven and Ita. Typically, I find transitions like these can be a bit rough and that the "present" offers the dull part of the story. Not so with Draven's Light. The move between past and present in this story is done seamlessly and every page of this book was turned eagerly.
Absolutely loved it and will be buying a hardcopy version to put on my bookshelf.
Thank-you for the free copy that I received from Rooglewood Press in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 14, 2017
Gaho faces a choice: to become a murderer or a coward. His decision to spare the prisoner’s life turns Gaho into Draven, the village coward whose only friend is his crippled sister, Ita. But a new enemy arises whose sole purpose is to destroy all human life, including everyone Draven and Ita hold dear.
Anne Elisabeth Stengl has done it again. I am a huge fan of her Christian fantasies, and this novella, Draven’s Light, is no exception. The complicated fantasy world, the depth of the characters, and the soul-touching message made me love this story as much as all of the Goldstone Wood books before it.
Draven’s Light touched the subjects of unconditional love, acceptance and rejection, conscience, and bravery. The two main characters, Draven and Ita, were placed in situations in which all of these were tested yet they both reacted differently. Although Draven’s initial act that branded him a coward was a worthy and courageous one, he believed the lies and rejection his village forced upon him and becomes the coward by refusing to face them. Ita, however, stands up for herself no matter what. She believes she has to prove she is capable because of her disability. Her fiery personality was memorable.
My favorite part was the fishing trip. It started out so unconventionally yet ended epically.
Both Draven and Ita grew throughout the story. Both sacrificed for one another. Both showed bravery in different ways. Theirs was a tale worthy of being told and retold. I would highly recommend it to Christian fantasy lovers.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Anne Elisabeth Stengl has done it again. I am a huge fan of her Christian fantasies, and this novella, Draven’s Light, is no exception. The complicated fantasy world, the depth of the characters, and the soul-touching message made me love this story as much as all of the Goldstone Wood books before it.
Draven’s Light touched the subjects of unconditional love, acceptance and rejection, conscience, and bravery. The two main characters, Draven and Ita, were placed in situations in which all of these were tested yet they both reacted differently. Although Draven’s initial act that branded him a coward was a worthy and courageous one, he believed the lies and rejection his village forced upon him and becomes the coward by refusing to face them. Ita, however, stands up for herself no matter what. She believes she has to prove she is capable because of her disability. Her fiery personality was memorable.
My favorite part was the fishing trip. It started out so unconventionally yet ended epically.
Both Draven and Ita grew throughout the story. Both sacrificed for one another. Both showed bravery in different ways. Theirs was a tale worthy of being told and retold. I would highly recommend it to Christian fantasy lovers.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2015
The little girl does not want to deliver water all by herself to the brothers working at the top of the hill. Yet, when she overcomes her fear, she finds a wonderful friend in the Kind One, who tells her the nearly unbelievable tale of Draven and his sister Itala. As the Kind One carves a memorial to Draven, the little girl learns of the power of love and the strength of light to give courage, save lives, and change even the hardest of hearts.
Draven’s Light is the eighth installment in the Tales of Goldstone Wood and what an installment it is! I so did not want this book to end. I was instantly captured by the little girl, finding shades of myself in her shyness and reluctance to step out of her comfort zone. Yet, when she does step out in faith, the gift she receives is beautiful. :) And the story of Draven and Itala was so perfectly crafted – a stirring meld of fear and courage, frustration and love, strength and dependence, darkness and the Light that always prevails.
This is definitely one to put on your read again and again (and again) list!
Draven’s Light is the eighth installment in the Tales of Goldstone Wood and what an installment it is! I so did not want this book to end. I was instantly captured by the little girl, finding shades of myself in her shyness and reluctance to step out of her comfort zone. Yet, when she does step out in faith, the gift she receives is beautiful. :) And the story of Draven and Itala was so perfectly crafted – a stirring meld of fear and courage, frustration and love, strength and dependence, darkness and the Light that always prevails.
This is definitely one to put on your read again and again (and again) list!
January 13, 2016
Intense and Heartwarming
A very gripping tale about the power of light over the darkness. This could have easily been a full length novel. I would have loved more time with Draven. The alternating timeline was surprisingly easy to follow and I enjoyed both perspectives equally. I also loved spending time with the Brothers. This story is appropriate for young adults and older, although some intermediate readers might enjoy it as well.
A very gripping tale about the power of light over the darkness. This could have easily been a full length novel. I would have loved more time with Draven. The alternating timeline was surprisingly easy to follow and I enjoyed both perspectives equally. I also loved spending time with the Brothers. This story is appropriate for young adults and older, although some intermediate readers might enjoy it as well.
June 13, 2015
Draven's Light was amazing, one of Anne Elisabeth's best works. Every last line was masterfully crafted, along with her character arcs, her allegories, and worldbuilding. One would be hard-pressed to find a better modern writer.
June 20, 2017
My rating 4.5 stars.
March 1, 2019
Way too short but what a thrilling ride! I missed all the fey people that were in the other books but this was tied nicely into the series. I shall never tire of the Tales of Goldstone Wood!
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