Prince Lionheart is not living up to his name. Times have been difficult in his kingdom, and he’s had to do some unpleasant things to secure his right to the throne. Such as become betrothed to Daylily when his heart is conflicted. Daylily says his servant, Rose Red, has bewitched him and that he needs to send her away, but Rose Red is Lionheart’s only true friend. Still, with all the pressure of his kingdom pushing against Lionheart, he caves in, escorting Rose Red to the edge of Goldstone Wood himself. It doesn’t take him long to realize he’s made the biggest mistake of his life.
Meanwhile Princess Una from a neighboring kingdom confronts Lionheart and makes him face his true cowardice. She knows Lionheart made a bargain with the evil dragon rather than vanquishing the foe. She knows the Night of Moonblood is coming, when King Vahe seeks to wake the Dragon’s sleeping children.
Who, you may ask, is King Vahe? He’s the goblin king, and he has Rose Red. Will Lionheart find the needed courage to face his enemies and rescue Rose Red?
Moonblood is the third installment in the Tales of Goldstone Woods and a continuation of the story begun in Veiled Rose, which I reviewed here. The first book in the series, Heartless, is primarily Princess Una’s story. Veiled Rose and Moonblood follow Prince Lionheart and somewhat parallel the timeline found in Heartless. While you don’t have to have read Heartless to enjoy Moonblood, I think Veiled Rose is necessary.
What sticks with me about this book and series? That courage means putting other people ahead of yourself. That it’s darkest just before the dawn. That humans aren’t equipped to go it alone–we need each other, and we need God.
Anne Elisabeth Stengl makes her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, Rohan, and a passel of cats. When she’s not writing, she enjoys Shakespeare, opera, and tea; and studies piano, painting, and fencing. She studied illustration at Grace College and English literature at Campbell University. She is the author of Heartless and Veiled Rose.
I received this book free of charge from the publisher through the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance tour, for the purpose of review. Opinions are, as always, mine alone.
