Goddess Tithe Review

Those who’ve read Veiled Rose, the second in the Tales of Goldstone Wood series, might’ve wondered about Leonard’s travels. What happened to him on his travels aside from his stops in Shippening, Lunthea Maly, and Parumvir? Surely he didn’t make both journeys with no adventures besides those we’ve heard about?

             

He didn’t. Goddess Tithe is the story of Leonard’s journey from Shippening to Lunthea Maly, but it is not just his story. The story belongs to Munny, a cabin boy on the Kulap Kanya, to Tu Pich, his mentor, and to the ship’s captain, Sunan.

             

Like many of Anne Elisabeth Stengl’s books, my favorite part of Goddess Tithe is the characters. They seem alive, so much so that if one of them walked in my door, I’d be more surprised that he got in my house than that he was real. Besides just being real, the main characters make you like them from the start. Munny and Tu Pich seem like old friends. Captain Sunan is an excellent example of one of my favorite kinds of characters: those who are more than they seem, and certainly have had more than a few adventures of their own. The dialogue is another high point, particularly that between Munny and Leonard. Having two characters who can’t understand a word the other is saying must be challenging, but the author uses that obstacle to lighten many scenes and to help us get to know the characters.

             

Good characters deserve a good plot, and Goddess Tithe doesn’t fail to deliver. Set in a world like and yet unlike our own, this is a story you’ll want to savor. Some of the smallest things may prove to be important in the end, and many aspects of the story hint that this is only one small part of a much greater tale. The climax is absolutely thrilling, and though the ending is bittersweet in some ways, it’s also beautiful and satisfying. Themes of justice, grace, faithfulness, and sacrifice are woven through the story, and you’ll remember them long after its end.

             

Overall, I would definitely recommend Anne Elisabeth Stengl’s Goddess Tithe. Fans of the series will love this new addition to the Tales of Goldstone Wood, but it could definitely be enjoyed without confusion by those who haven’t read the rest of the series. Either way, the only thing disappointing about Goddess Tithe is that you won’t want it to end.

Today is the official release day of Goddess Tithe! For the next three days, you can get the Kindle or Nook version of this amazing novella for 99 cents. I definitely encourage you to check it out!