Friday, December 14, 2012

Spotlight: Starflower by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

On Tour with Prism Book Tours...


Starflower  (Tales of Goldstone Wood #4)
Starflower

Tales of Goldstone Wood #4

by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

Paperback, 400 pages

Published: November 1st 2012 (Bethany House)



Premise:

When a cursed dragon-witch kidnaps the lovely Lady Gleamdren, Eanrin sets boldly forth on a rescue mission...and a race against his rival for Gleamdren's favor. Intent upon his quest, the last thing the immortal Faerie needs is to become mixed up with the troubles of an insignificant mortal. 



But when he stumbles upon a maiden trapped in an enchanted sleep, he cannot leave her alone in the dangerous Wood Between. One waking kiss later, Eanrin suddenly finds his story entangled with that of young Starflower. A strange link exists between this mortal girl and the dragon-witch. Will Starflower prove the key to Lady Gleamdren's rescue? Or will the dark power from which she flees destroy both her and her rescuer?




Part Two
To Love is to Know and to be Known


When Starflower was very young, her mother taught her about the true names of things. Like all the women of Starflower's tribe, she and her mother are both cursed to muteness. But they communicate with an expressive form of sign-language. And this is what Starflower's mother says:

"Before a creature may truly live, it must be known by name. Every living thing, be it man or woman, animal or angel, sleeps inside, waiting for that day when it will wake and sing. But until it is called by its true name, it will remain asleep." (p. 190)

Starflower's mother is talking about true love. When she speaks of calling someone by their true name, she means knowing them, down to the very heart of them; who they are, and who they were meant to be. In this knowing, love must spring to life.

But, just as Hri Sora and Eanrin both know in their selfish dread, there is always danger in loving. Starflower's mother is not unaware of this danger, and she tells her child:

"To know a true name is to have great power. The one who knows becomes so strong . . . and also, so weak. Just as you too, when your name is known, are both stronger and weaker than you would otherwise be."
I shook my head, confused by this. How can one be both strong and frail at once? It is a great mystery. Perhaps the greatest mystery of all. (p. 190)

Starflower will learn more of this mystery as the story progresses. For the sake of love, she will even offer up her own life in exchange for that of her most beloved. For the sake of love, she will be made absolutely weak, absolutely vulnerable.

And in that weakness, she becomes stronger than her enemies can ever imagine.



About the Author:


Anne 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 HEARTLESS, VEILED ROSE, MOONBLOOD, and STARFLOWER, with DRAGONWITCH due to release in 2013. HEARTLESS and VEILED ROSE have each been honored with a Christy Award.




Find & Follow:



The Dragonwood Series:





Bethany House


Get Your Copy:



Bethany House

Barnes & Noble

The Book Depository

Amazon:





Check out the entire December Tour!


3 - Laura @ Colorimetry - Launch!

3 - Sarah @ Letters to the Cosmos - Review

4 - Kathy @ I Am a Reader, Not a Writer - Excerpt

4 - Kari @ Kari's Crowded Bookshelf - Review

5 - Aleksandra @ Aleksandra's Corner - Guest Post - Inspired by Cats I

6 - Lisa @ Bookworm Lisa - Guest Post - Inspired by Cats II

6 - Mandy @ The Reading Diaries - Review

7 - Alicia @ Mortality Bites - Dragonwitch page REVEAL

7 - Naj @ Unputdownable Books - Guest Post - Inspired by Cats III
9 - Lissette @ Passion and Life - Guest Post - Night Terrors
10 - Laura @ Colorimetry - Review
10 - Bonnie @ A Backwards Story - Review
12 - Aimee @ Getting Your Read On - Guest Post - The Faces of Love I
12 - Kimberly Krey @ Kimberly Krey - Guest Post - Drafts
13 - Abbi @ Christian Novels - Tales of Goldstone Wood Reviews
13 - Mandy @ The Reading Diaries - Interview
14 - Ivy @ Open the Page - Guest Post - The Faces of Love II
16 - Alicia @ Mortality Bites - Review
17 - Len @ Musings of a Reader Happy - Hightlight/Excerpt - Meet Dragonwitch
17 - Jen @ Literally Jen - Review
18 - Beth @ Living a Goddess Life - Review
19 - Rach @ Stressed Rach - Guest Post - Illustrated Sneak Peak
19 - Christy @ Christy's Cozy Corners - Review
20 - Heather @ Proud Book Nerd - Review
20 - Heidi @ Geo Librarian - Guest Post - The Faces of Love III
21 - Jaime @ Goodreads - Review
21 - Finale @ Colorimetry - Giveaway winner announced.




Catch the Christmas Read-along!





Giveaway:



Grand Prize


GRAND PRIZE:  The first four books The Tales of Goldstone Wood: HeartlessVeiled RoseMoonblood and Starflower + SWAG!  2nd place is a copy of Starflower + SWAG!



2nd Prize


Enter to win until 12/20. Winner to be announced 12/21. Open to anyone who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here & on Colorimetry as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Void where prohibited by law. 



a Rafflecopter giveaway

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