Heartless
Tales of Goldstone Wood – Book I

by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

        Princess Una is eighteen, and soon she must choose a suitor. Several come to visit her at her father King Fidel's palace in Parumvir, but it is the first one who makes the deepest impression, even though this is not exactly favourable. Prince Aethelbald comes from Farthestshore, and with him comes the Twelve Year Market, which has actually not been seen for two hundred years. Here all kinds of strange creatures sell their wares, but it is the tale of impending trouble that their prince tells that is going to have the greatest impact on everybody in Parumvir.

Fantasy has changed a lot in the last few years, and its romantic side usually involves vampires and werewolves. This book appears like a breath of fresh air from a simpler time with its fairy tale setting and characters, and I admit to being charmed and totally engrossed from page one. There is more in here than just a good story; this is an allegory about faith, growing up and not judging books by their covers (although this one has a beautiful and very suitable cover). Una thinks that nearly every one of her suitors is very different from how they truly are, and both her and her younger brother have a lot to learn about taking their places in the adult world. By the end of the book there is much to ponder on, not least when and if there are going to be more Tales of Goldstone Wood. I do hope so.