Book Review of Starflower by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

This month we’re reviewing (as part of the Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog Tour) Anne Elisabeth Stengl‘s latest entry in her young adult Goldstone Wood Saga: STARFLOWER.

However, since I’m very busy with work, writing, and Christmas, my daughter Ness, aged 12, wrote the review. Here it is.

Review of Starflower, by Ness

The plot of Starflower is as follows:

When a cursed dragon-witch kidnaps fairest Lady Gleamdren, the Bard 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. As 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 rescue?

Starflower is definitely a symbolic book, though it is hard to tell what the allegory is. This book has several adult innuendos, and brief kissing. Though this is a young adult book, it has a slower moving pace not as attractive to younger readers, and also some adult issues are dealt with.

Overall this book has a good message and morals, but sometimes it is hard to tell whether the main characters are thinking morally or not. I’m not sure what to think of this book, it has some gripping suspense, but it is not used as widely as it could have been, though there are some factors of the book that would definitely attract readers.

The spiritual content is hard to understand as there is no direct mention of God. There are several mentions of “Lume” which could be the character’s name for God, but there is a lot of vagueness which make it a seemingly deep book.
Overall I would recommend this book for readers 16 and up.

I rate the book 3.5 out of 5 stars.

-Ness

DISCLAIMER #1: I received the book free in exchange for an honest review.
DISCLAIMER #2: I have not read the rest of the series, though this book does tie up at the end and can stand alone.

The other participants in the tour are:

Gillian Adams
Beckie Burnham
Nikole Hahn
Bruce Hennigan
Janeen Ippolito
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Anna Mittower
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Dona Watson
Shane Werlinger
Phyllis Wheeler