How she is able to create this fantasy with all the twist and turns, creatures great and small and the wide range of characters is beyond me. But in the Wilderlands looks can be deceiving, nothing is as it seems.Įlisabeth Anne Stengl's creative writing in this fantasy novel is the best I have ever read. Off she runs from her homeland torn apart by the dragon to try and disappear forever in the Wilderlands. A note arrives for Lady Daylily and as she reads it, she realizes she cannot carry out her father's wish to marry Foxbrush. Lady Daylily is dressed for her wedding to Foxbrush - not her true love Lionheart. Many did not survive the dragon's poison and the land will take years to heal. The homelands have been torn apart by a dragon. In her latest book 'Shadow Hand' Anne Elisabeth Stengl takes you to a fantasy world full of creatures big and small from mortal loving sylphs to dragons with poison. She never wanted to wanted to marry Foxbrush - Lionheart was her love.

***Ī note from her betrothed, sends Lady Daylily fleeing on her wedding day. ***I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. Stengl has gained another lifetime reader and I will recommend her every chance I get! This is my second trip into Goldstone Wood and I am so eager to read the rest of the series. She has spent so many years attempting to hide her true self that she has forgotten who she really is which leaves her vulnerable to a sinister plot that has all of Southlands hanging in the balance. Daylily is a powerful female lead that more than makes up for any strength and bravery Foxbrush may lack. He is quiet, immaculate and very timid, which made for a different and refreshing character arc.

I loved Foxbrush as the hero of this story.

Foxbrush impulsively decides to follow her and ends up far out of his time on an adventure he could not be less thrilled about. Hiding a darker side that no one could imagine, Daylily decides to flee into the Wood Between. Daylily is being pushed into this marriage by her father, Baron Middlecrescent, who wants control of Southlands. Shadow Hand tells the story of Crown Prince Foxbrush and Lady Daylily, whose ill fated wedding days starts the novel. Unfortunately, I got a little out of order reading the series and while I was still able to appreciate the central story, I would recommend starting at the beginning and going in order. Every time I read one of her Goldstone Wood novels I'm more blown away by how intertwined her characters and legends become. Anne Elisabeth Stengl has become a staple of fantasy as far as I'm concerned.

Shadow Hand by Anne Elisabeth Stengl