Daylily and Foxbrush had been so expertly woven into their roles as 'secondary' and even 'unimportant' in previous books, that I perceived them exactly as that. It wasn't about characters I had expected. Moreso than any other of her books, all of which I have loved and enjoyed, this story held me spellbound. This seventh installment (okay, technically it's book #6, but I'm counting 'Goddess Tithe' as a 'tale') in Anne Elisabeth's Tales of Goldstone Wood has soared into the 'favorite' category in my heart. LOL But there were also many moments of lighthearted humor that made me chuckle. I'm pretty sure I sobbed through the last.erm. I believe that laughter and tears are among the top compliments that can be paid to any story-teller. What an amazing Lord we serve! Keep illuminating our God through your stories, Anne Elisabeth! ^_^ Her allegories of God’s unfathomable love, forgiveness, and grace never fail to pierce my heart and bring me to tears. God truly gave Anne Elisabeth Stengl a gift in storytelling. *smiles*Īll I can say now is, I can’t wait to read Golden Daughter! … And all the ones after that. I would like if the next book isn't quite so, darkly intense. However, Shadow Hand had an incredible story to share! I can say the complete story made up for the darkness and gruesomeness. Of course, anyone who knows me knows I don't prefer a lot of gruesomeness and darkness. Darkness was shattered by true light, the light of Lumil Eliasul. Just when you felt like you were suffocating, there was no joyous end in sight … in pops Sir Eanrin! The life of the story, as always! *winks and smiles* So, it wasn’t all darkness. Shadow Hand was definitely darker than the other books from TALES OF GOLDSTONE WOOD. Battling with their own inner selves … vulnerable to evil … will our beloved characters heed the gentle voice of speckled bird? Or will everything shatter into complete darkness and desolation?

We breathlessly watch one of Eanrin’s nursery rhymes unfold into reality!

We find out what happened to Sun Eagle after he was lost in the Wood Between. Who would have thought?!Ī masterful, dark, gripping tale that brings us along the paths that Daylily, Foxbrush, Lionheart, … and even, oh happiness, Sir Eanrin and Imraldera trod! We learn the dreadful secrets of the terrible Cren Cru and the Bronze stone. Shadow Hand was more intricate and mind-boggling than the last, with a complexness that just made me laugh in bewilderment. I don’t think I will ever comprehend how Anne Elisabeth Stengl comes up with each new story to the TALES OF GOLDSTONE WOOD.

Shadow Hand by Anne Elisabeth Stengl