Haunting, lyrical, and emotionally charged…
Dempsey delivers a mesmerizing tale of family, folklore, and resilience in her compelling YA fantasy, drawing readers into a world where dreams wield power and courage comes at a cost. Fourteen-year-old Rosetta, seeking refuge from her father’s escalating rage, stumbles upon ancient carvings at her family’s ancestral Welsh manor. A stone rose unleashes vivid dreams in which a dragon, wolf, and falcon test her with challenges steeped in mysticism. Guided by her grandmother’s Celtic wisdom and a falconer’s mentorship, Rosetta embarks on a transformative journey of self-discovery, uncovering hidden treasures and the strength to confront her family’s darkest truths.
Dempsey’s prose is evocative and atmospheric, steeped in the foreboding beauty of the Welsh countryside. The manor itself feels alive, its secrets mirroring Rosetta’s own struggles and growth. This rich setting blurs the lines between past and present, crafting a narrative that is both timeless and immediate. The characters shine with depth and nuance. Rosetta’s vulnerability and quiet determination make her journey profoundly relatable, while her family’s dynamics—her father’s anger, her mother’s quiet endurance, and her brother’s yearning for independence—ground the story’s fantastical elements in raw, emotional truths. Dempsey skillfully interweaves myth and reality, balancing deliberate pacing with moments of revelation and tension. The Dragon Stone itself symbolizes far more than power—it signifies the weight of inheritance, the transformative potential of understanding, and the courage required to bridge past and present. At its heart, Rosetta’s story is as much about unraveling the manor’s secrets as it is about finding her own identity within her family and their generational legacy.
A vividly crafted and deeply moving novel that seamlessly blends the mystical with the everyday. For readers who love tales steeped in folklore and family secrets, this is a journey worth taking.
ISBN: 979-8310483576
Publisher Kindle direct
Price: $11.95
Reading age 12 – 18 years
