Heartless [Paperback]

Heartless, by Anne Elisabeth Stengl, is a story of love and adventure. It is a fantasy novel about dragons and princesses and kings and magic. It is the story of 18 year old Una and how she finds her path to true love. This book was nothing I was expecting it to be. When you see the beautiful cover and read the back, you assume it will be a sleeping beauty type story. Handsome hero fights the evil dragon and claims beautiful heroin as his own. The plot however, was a far cry from the expected. Una is of marriageable age and the suitors begin to come calling. She scorns anyone who does not meet her expectations for romance and adventure and soon finds that true love is more than simple excitement. The twists and turns in this book will take you for a wild ride and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys romance, fantasy, or just a good read.

What I liked about this book: My favorite aspect of this book is the metaphorical. This book could be taken from the Bible. One of the characters, Una's main suitor Prince Aethelbald, is undeniably representing Jesus. And the dragon represents satan. I have read representations of the gospel before, and nothing compared to this. It is essentially a love story between Jesus and you. The theology is bang on too. For example, the dragon (or satan) could not take Una until she had given up all hope and gave in to him. To me, this was one of the most monumental truths in the book. That satan cannot have us as the rightful bride of Christ, unless we lose faith and hope in God and give ourselves to him.

What I didn't like about this book: Una is naiive, her view of love and life is a bit cliche. As a married sceptic of the wonder and joy and perfection and romance that young people think love is sickens me. Love is work, love is so much deeper than the thrill of his hand touching yours or the butterflies in your stomach. That is not love at all. So, to say the least, Una's perspective drives me nuts in the beginning. It isn't until life gives her a good knock on the head that I find her more tolerable as a person.

Who this book is good for: This book is pretty much the perfect gift for a teenage girl. They are naiive enough to be sucked into the romance and love story, and the metaphor of Jesus will give you something to discuss afterwards. They will be able to relate to Jesus in a whole new way as they see him as a suitor instead of a sacrificial lamb that is hard to picture and understand.

All in all, although there were things that drove me nuts, Heartless is a great book for anyone to read. I would strongly suggest reading it yourself before giving it to your daughter, or niece, or whoever as it will give you time to think about the many similarities in the book and the Bible. I highly enjoyed this book, it is one of the best I have read in a long time, despite my scepticism!

**I received a free copy of this book through Baker Publishing Group

Heartless showcases a world more complex than exists in many fairy-tale style novels. The Princess Una has come of age to accept suitors, but she's not smitten with the first few who come to show their respect: Prince Aethelbald seems stodgy, and the Duke of Shippening is a doddering old man. But Una's in love with being in love, and these men aren't her idea of the perfect guy. Only the jester makes her smile.

What Una doesn't know is that there is a huge plot underfoot to gain control of her father's kingdom, Parumvir, and that she is being manipulated to make wrong choices. The story takes a distinct turn into left field midway through when the Dragon appears and tosses Una into a dark whirlwind she couldn't have foreseen. Neither could the reader, honestly. In retrospect, there was foreshadowing, but I wasn't prepared for the completely different feel unfolding in the second half of the book.

Besides the characters and the specific plot, the author has created an interesting world. Adjoining Parumvir are the Goldstone Woods. Una and her brother are forbidden from crossing the bridge to discover the strange things that go on in these woods, though Una's pet cat, Monster, has come from there. Not only is he blind, but has no eyes at all, yet he seems attuned to the family and is just as agile and coordinated as any sighted cat. And oh the fun when the faerie folk cross the bridge and set up the Twelve-Year Market in Parumvir.

This is a novel in which the omniscient point-of-view worked for me most of the time. I believe any story would be strengthened by the use of specific viewpoint characters, but Stengl's style ebbs and flows with the story and does it justice.

Though touted as a Young Adult Romantic Fantasy, Heartless doesn't focus on the romance aspect as much as I expected. Instead it follows the choices someone might make and how those choices can bind them into slavery. Because the novel is loosely allegorical, the redemption aspect is somewhat predictable, but still within the story parameters Stengl has set. Heartless is the first book in the Tales of Goldstone Woods. I'm curious to see where Stengl will next take this series being as the story of Una seems complete. I'll be onboard.

Princess Una of Parumvir has finally come of age and is eagerly waiting for suitors to come pay their respects. What Una doesn't expect is the fabled Twelve-year Market or Prince Aethelbald from the legendary country of Fartheshore. These are things of nursery rhymes and old stories. Still, they are real, and right before Una's eyes. The prince is not as romantic or handsome as Una would like, and despite his kindness and concern, she refuses to marry him. Will she ever accept his love? Will she listen to his warning about the coming evil dragon? Will she give her heart to another? Can death really bring life?

Anne Elisabeth Stengl casts an amazing spell her debut novel. I enjoy reading Young Adult Fiction, and this book did not disappoint. The fantasy and fairytale aspects of the story drew me in and kept me reading. I can't wait to read the rest of the Goldstone Wood series. These are going to be great!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.