The national bestselling author of the Mithgar fantasies, Dennis L. McKiernan, returns to his enchanting seasonal fairytale cycle with a story of love, courage, and hope against the forces of darkness.
Once upon a spring morn in Faery, the gallant knight Roél rides into the Springwood and finds his true heart’s desire in Céleste, princess of that domain. But before their love can blossom, Roél must rescue his sister from a dreadful lord who steals the souls of those he bears away.
Wishing to aid her champion, Céleste tells Roél of a city in which a mysterious map lies—a map that may reveal the route to the dread lord’s secret realm. Aided by the Fates themselves, who guide them in riddles they must first unravel, the princess and her knight follow their hearts on a desperate odyssey across shadow-lit borders to save Roél’s soul-reft sister ere the dark of the moon.
“An enchanting tale that will have readers spellbound.”—Midwest Book Review
“An inspired re-envisioning of two classic tales of love and adventure.”—Library Journal
The national bestselling author of the Mithgar fantasies, Dennis L. McKiernan, returns to his enchanting seasonal fairytale cycle with a story of love, courage, and hope against the forces of darkness.
Once upon a spring morn in Faery, the gallant knight Roél rides into the Springwood and finds his true heart’s desire in Céleste, princess of that domain. But before their love can blossom, Roél must rescue his sister from a dreadful lord who steals the souls of those he bears away.
Wishing to aid her champion, Céleste tells Roél of a city in which a mysterious map lies—a map that may reveal the route to the dread lord’s secret realm. Aided by the Fates themselves, who guide them in riddles they must first unravel, the princess and her knight follow their hearts on a desperate odyssey across shadow-lit borders to save Roél’s soul-reft sister ere the dark of the moon.
“An enchanting tale that will have readers spellbound.”—Midwest Book Review
“An inspired re-envisioning of two classic tales of love and adventure.”—Library Journal
Description:
The national bestselling author of the Mithgar fantasies, Dennis L. McKiernan, returns to his enchanting seasonal fairytale cycle with a story of love, courage, and hope against the forces of darkness.
Once upon a spring morn in Faery, the gallant knight Roél rides into the Springwood and finds his true heart’s desire in Céleste, princess of that domain. But before their love can blossom, Roél must rescue his sister from a dreadful lord who steals the souls of those he bears away.
Wishing to aid her champion, Céleste tells Roél of a city in which a mysterious map lies—a map that may reveal the route to the dread lord’s secret realm. Aided by the Fates themselves, who guide them in riddles they must first unravel, the princess and her knight follow their hearts on a desperate odyssey across shadow-lit borders to save Roél’s soul-reft sister ere the dark of the moon.
“An enchanting tale that will have readers spellbound.”—Midwest Book Review
“An inspired re-envisioning of two classic tales of love and adventure.”—Library Journal
**
From Publishers Weekly
The fairy Princess Céleste of Springwood finds a lover in the chevalier Roél after he rescues her from brigands in McKiernan's entertaining fourth and final "seasonal" fantasy (after Once Upon an Autumn Eve), which takes its inspiration from the Childe Roland fairy tale. The feisty princess joins Roél on his quest to rescue his virginal sister, Avélaine, from the Lord of the Changelings before the evil ruler can defile the girl, impregnate her and steal her soul. On their travels through exotic kingdoms, Céleste and Roél must solve the Fates' riddles, outwit an Ogre, navigate past the Sirènes, best Greek mythical figures in Elysian Fields and pass through the Egyptian Underworld. Though McKiernan's characters have no depth and inconsistent sexual mores, the relentless, fantastical action will satisfy series fans. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Although expert with bow and arrow, Princess Celeste welcomes handsome knight Roel's aid when she is beset by would-be kidnappers one beautiful Springwood morning. This being at heart a romance, the two are instantly smitten. Soon he proposes, and she accepts. Before wedding, however, Roel must find and rescue his sister, Avelaine, and two brothers from the Changeling Lord--in one month, or the Changelings will possess Avelaine forever. The Fates assist the couple (Celeste having joined forces with Roel) en route but can advise them only in riddles. And so they are chased by goblins and ogres, Celeste is imprisoned by a troll, they encounter and are often terribly challenged by the Sphynx, the god Thoth, Cerberus the guardian dog of Hades, Hercules, Jason, Aeneas, and a mob of rotting, walking dead. When they reach the Changeling Lord's realm, things really get rough. McKiernan seamlessly sews together two fairy tales and adds unique twists and enhancements in his fourth seasonal volume of a world of Faery that ought to have been. Paula Luedtke
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
The national bestselling author of the Mithgar fantasies, Dennis L. McKiernan, returns to his enchanting seasonal fairytale cycle with a story of love, courage, and hope against the forces of darkness.
Once upon a spring morn in Faery, the gallant knight Roél rides into the Springwood and finds his true heart’s desire in Céleste, princess of that domain. But before their love can blossom, Roél must rescue his sister from a dreadful lord who steals the souls of those he bears away.
Wishing to aid her champion, Céleste tells Roél of a city in which a mysterious map lies—a map that may reveal the route to the dread lord’s secret realm. Aided by the Fates themselves, who guide them in riddles they must first unravel, the princess and her knight follow their hearts on a desperate odyssey across shadow-lit borders to save Roél’s soul-reft sister ere the dark of the moon.
“An enchanting tale that will have readers spellbound.”—Midwest Book Review
“An inspired re-envisioning of two classic tales of love and adventure.”—Library Journal
**
From Publishers Weekly
The fairy Princess Céleste of Springwood finds a lover in the chevalier Roél after he rescues her from brigands in McKiernan's entertaining fourth and final "seasonal" fantasy (after Once Upon an Autumn Eve), which takes its inspiration from the Childe Roland fairy tale. The feisty princess joins Roél on his quest to rescue his virginal sister, Avélaine, from the Lord of the Changelings before the evil ruler can defile the girl, impregnate her and steal her soul. On their travels through exotic kingdoms, Céleste and Roél must solve the Fates' riddles, outwit an Ogre, navigate past the Sirènes, best Greek mythical figures in Elysian Fields and pass through the Egyptian Underworld. Though McKiernan's characters have no depth and inconsistent sexual mores, the relentless, fantastical action will satisfy series fans. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Although expert with bow and arrow, Princess Celeste welcomes handsome knight Roel's aid when she is beset by would-be kidnappers one beautiful Springwood morning. This being at heart a romance, the two are instantly smitten. Soon he proposes, and she accepts. Before wedding, however, Roel must find and rescue his sister, Avelaine, and two brothers from the Changeling Lord--in one month, or the Changelings will possess Avelaine forever. The Fates assist the couple (Celeste having joined forces with Roel) en route but can advise them only in riddles. And so they are chased by goblins and ogres, Celeste is imprisoned by a troll, they encounter and are often terribly challenged by the Sphynx, the god Thoth, Cerberus the guardian dog of Hades, Hercules, Jason, Aeneas, and a mob of rotting, walking dead. When they reach the Changeling Lord's realm, things really get rough. McKiernan seamlessly sews together two fairy tales and adds unique twists and enhancements in his fourth seasonal volume of a world of Faery that ought to have been. Paula Luedtke
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved