Golden Daughter (Tales of Goldstone Wood)

Disclaimer: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My copy of Golden Daughter, by Anne Elisabeth Stengl, came last Wednesday. If you live in North Carolina, you'll remember that it was the first cold rain of the year, made more miserable by the fact that I had forgotten my literature teacher's porch didn't have an overhang, so my lovely, furry boots were soaked. I crept miserably home, determined to curl up somewhere warm with a nice book. But, luckily, I thought to check my e-mail first. And there, glowingly, I beheld my ARC. Eagerly, I began to read. And so we come to what you have been waiting for: the review. Masayi Sairu has been a Golden Daughter her whole life, confined in an emperor's palace, where she learned the skills of intrigue, cunning, and, above all, protection. For as soon as the Golden Mother deems her training complete, Sairu will be married off to a political ally, whom she must protect for the rest of her life. But arranged marriage holds no appeal for Sairu, and when she sees a chance to escape the traditional role of the Golden Daughters, she takes it. Her new charge, the beautiful temple girl, Lady Hariawan, is a gifted Dream Walker, capable of exploring worlds far beyond her own. But an encounter in the Dream left her scarred, both physically and spiritually. And how can Sairu protect her mistress from enemies in a different world?Golden Daughter is unlike any of Stengl's previous novels. For one thing, it takes place largely in the Near World, and there only in one region-- something Stengl hasn't done since Heartless. Although the adventures do bleed over into the Wood and the Dream, the characters have less knowledge of it, so it reads quite differently. That being said, Stengl handled it excellently. It is, to the best of my knowledge, the first time her characters have interacted with a crowded city or travelled across the Near World. (I am discounting summarized journeys.) In addition to forging new territory, Stengl shows great restraint as a writer when she refrains from overtly referencing the rest of the series. A certain, familiar character goes almost the entire novel without being named. So yes; Golden Daughter is quite different, almost disconnected, from its peers. And although I am sad not to see more of the familiar Wood, this forces the novel to stand on its own-- and, dear readers, Golden Daughter does just that. Despite having more unfamiliar characters than I anticipated, I quickly connected with our three heroes: Sairu, Jovann, and Sunan (although I did not pick up on the allegory until deplorably late in the novel). In fact, I enjoyed all the characters... except Lady Hariawan. She set me on edge, and I could not fathom her role in the story aside from a focus of the characters' interest; she literally spends most of it comatose, emerging only long enough to make cryptic comments. Towards the beginning of the novel, I worried that I was meant to sympathize with Lady Hariawan as a heroine of the novel. I didn't sympathize with her, not at all. She irritated me by never doing anything, but her non-actions still retained consequence. As events transpired, I felt more comfortable disliking Lady Hariawan, but even now I can't figure her out. After five hundred pages, I know precisely nothing about her besides her name. And because I never understood the motivations behind her actions, I lost interest in them. Why was she beautiful? Why was she silent? Why did she change? I still don't know. Yes, it is frustrating. But remember the ending of Veiled Rose, when it seemed no one could possibly sink any lower? Or-- dare I mention-- the ending of Shadow Hand, that left me a complete wreck after finishing it? Although Stengl does not pull her punches, she always, always, delivers a great ending. Maybe not a happy one. But certainly never a pointless one. Although I didn't understand the character of Lady Hariawan, I trust that Stengl has more to say on the topic. Until then, I can only keep reading. I am reasonably confident that I will love anything in this series, and Golden Daughter is no exception. I loved reading it; you should do so, too, at your earliest convenience. I would recommend that you read at least Veiled Rose, Starflower, and Moonblood first, preferably in that order. Because the series spans such a vast frame of time, it runs the risk of losing the reader along the way, and I fear that might happen if you read Golden Daughter unprepared. To recap: Golden Daughter, by Anne Elisabeth Stengl, is an excellent addition to the series. Although quite different from the previous books, it retains her trademark wit, charm, and vision that leaves me speculating what comes next. I, personally, would love to see Imraldera again. Because we only get one character's perspective of her in Golden Daughter, I'd like to reconnect with one of my favorite characters, because I suspect that she still has some growing to do.

Golden Daughter is the most vivid and endearing tale in Mrs. Anne Elisabeth Stengl's series thus far. While eache tale grows more complex, this story stands out because of the vividness of the culture presented. I was immersed in this world from the beginning and found it difficult to leave.Golden Daughter tells the story of a usurped people who seek vengeance, a prince betrayed by his brother, a lonely scholar embroiled in a dangerous pact, and a warrior princess who will protect her mistress at any cost. When a Dream Walker, (one who can leave the mortal realm and travel into worlds unknown), is attacked by forces not seen, the High Priest of the Crown of the Moon enlists the help of a Golden Daughter. Bred as bodyguards, golden daughters are demure but deadly. Contracted in marriage to wealthy patrons, the daughters will protect their "husbands" the rest of their lives. Yet Masayi Sairu chooses a different path. She will protect the Dream Walker. Sairu's decision will thrust her into a perilous journey that will test her to the very limits of her strength.Characterization is so vivid in this tale, the reader truly feels for each person. They spring to life before you with unforgettable clarity. Sairu is one of the most endearing heroines I have encountered in quite some time. Fierce, kind, loyal beyond reason at times, and determined, she truly stole my heart. Jovann, a Chhayan prince taken captive, is another amazing character. His steadfastness, pain vulnerability, love and humor shine forth. I also loved becoming better acquainted with Sunan, a character featured in earlier books. It was truly wonderful to discover a portion of his backstory. His character is so complex that one aches for him. And, perhaps the most enigmatic character of all is Lady Hariawan, the Dream Walker. A character of unfathomable mystery, Hariawan is both unempathetic and oddly strong. I could not fully grasp her motivations for many of her actions, which perhaps is why she is so unforgettable. At times, I felt true sorrow for her and at other times she infuriated me. To be fair, I will say I do not loathe her, but I do not love her, either. This, of course, is the mark of a superb storyteller, for Mrs. Stengl draws these characters in such a way the reader can identify with each individual.Golden Daughter will transport you to a world of pain and hope, a world where a malevolent Dragon seeks to destroy and a Song Giver rules with ultimate power. Enter a world where hidden temples built from voices reside and where the Moon's Garden blooms with blossoms of opals. Travel through a beautiful palace and a Valley of Suffering. Most importantly, meet amazing people who, although different in some ways from ourselves, are not so different after all. Meet people who hurt and seek vengeance, and meet people who love despite their baser instincts. This novel reminded me of Romans 8:28 through the end of the chapter. Through God's help, we are more than conquerors. All things work together for good to them that love God.

Bigger than the other books, it gives very early history to the series even though written later. I wouldn't read it first or second though because it deals with two different fantasy worlds concurrently (The Dream and the Wood between) which would probably confuse more than help if you weren't already familiar with one of them.

Love her books!