Draven's Light ~ Review

Draven's Light
A Novella of Goldstone Wood
By Anne Elisabeth Stengl

Those familiar with the vast world that Anne Elisabeth Stengl has created will enchanted by this newest layer in the Goldstone Wood series.

This is two stories within one in a sense.  The first is a young girl who must face her fears and deliver a daily water gift to the two strange Brothers who live upon the hill building the Great House. The darkness of the Great House was more than she could bear to face.  And then there were the Brothers whom she referred to as the Strong One and the Kind One.

The Kind One could almost make her fears disappear as he told a story from long ago - the story of Draven.

Draven was born the night Gaho failed to take the blood of tribe's enemy.  Branded a coward for his lack of courage, he is now an outcast among his own.  Except for his sister Ita, none acknowledge his existence.  But to Ita, Gaho's refusal to take a life without cause was the greater honor, the greater act of bravery.

But Draven can't see himself through the eyes of his sister, he sees instead the coward his father named him to be.  But when a curse follows the warriors of his tribe home following a battle all are in danger from this deadly illness.  And the one branded a coward may be the only hope for his tribe and the one who is dearest to his heart.  But he must face an enemy unlike any that he has seen before, an enemy who lives out of sight and in the shadows.  But can he face the darkness and the terrors that lie hidden in the deep and find his true name?

I was provided an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.  I so enjoyed it that I purchased a copy of the published book to add to my Goldstone Wood collection.


About the Book:

In the Darkness of the Pit The Light Shines Brightest

Drums summon the chieftain’s powerful son to slay a man in cold blood and thereby earn his place among the warriors. But instead of glory, he earns the name Draven, “Coward.” When the men of his tribe march off to war, Draven remains behind with the women and his shame. Only fearless but crippled Ita values her brother’s honor.

The warriors return from battle victorious yet trailing a curse in their wake. One by one the strong and the weak of the tribe fall prey to an illness of supernatural power. The secret source of this evil can be found and destroyed by only the bravest heart.

But when the curse attacks the one Draven loves most, can this coward find the courage he needs to face the darkness?