Dina L. Sleiman’s Dauntless ~ Reviewed

Where Legend and History Collide, One Young Woman Will Fight for the Innocent

Bethany House, 2015

Born a baron's daughter, Lady Merry Ellison is now an enemy of the throne after her father's failed assassination attempt upon the king. Bold and uniquely skilled, she is willing to go to any lengths to protect the orphaned children of her former village—a group that becomes known as "The Ghosts of Farthingale Forest." Merry finds her charge more difficult as their growing notoriety brings increasing trouble their way.

Timothy Grey, ninth child of the Baron of Greyham, longs to perform some feat so legendary that he will rise from obscurity and earn a title of his own. When the Ghosts of Farthingale Forest are spotted in Wyndeshire, where he serves as assistant to the local earl, he might have found his chance. But when he comes face-to-face with the leader of the thieves, he's forced to reexamine everything he's known.

REVIEW:

Dina L. Sleiman has written a wonderful, fast-paced tale of adventure in Dauntless, book one in the Valiant Hearts series. The action was intriguing, but gentle enough for its YA target audience. Still, make no mistake—Dauntless was sophisticated and well-written enough for any avid reader.

Review by Elizabeth Ludwig