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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
I never knew that I wanted to learn more about the Gold Rush. Now I do. This book was beautifully written, with a story that resonated and characters who lived and breathed. I feel like I was along for the journey as I experienced their triumphs and tragedies. This book is proof that Rae Carson is a genius.
Moving and powerful and hard to put down. Sometimes quite terrifying in its realistic portrayal of 1800s America, but mostly I appreciate an appealing character in a terrible situation, who is nonetheless fighting with all her spirit. I also particularly like that her gold witchery is just that -- a small talent like dowsing, that might be realistic in the context.
The strongest point of this whole book is the main character. I found her strangely believable, and able to keep to herself make sensible choices and try to escape when things get terrible for her. Girl is definitely a brave one, and what she does is rather classic of almost any other girl in such a system. Dress as a boy.
I just found her strangely relatable, since she doesn’t bitch about her life, neither does she seem like a hypocrite. And that there are some interesting female relationships here.
As for her uncle, I really hate him. Yes, the author succeeded in making me hate him as a person with a passion. Trust me, I will like to see him conveniently fall off a cliff so that he will no longer haunt Lee. Well, that is the one thing which I will like about them.
However the plot is for lack of better word nonexistent. Yes, it is nonexistent. And I found myself asking where this was going where in actual reality it is just setting up the next book. There is a lot of things that happen to Leah on the road, it just doesn’t seem that impactful if you ask me.
The writing flows very well, and I really could feel Leah as a character. Perhaps another reason why this worked so well for me, but sadly it lacked a lot of details on the plot or anything inventive which will really buy me.
Overall, I did find this okay if a little underwhelming. Leah is a good character, Hiriam is a good enough villain that I do hate him. But the rest of it, honestly could use some work.
I just found her strangely relatable, since she doesn’t bitch about her life, neither does she seem like a hypocrite. And that there are some interesting female relationships here.
As for her uncle, I really hate him. Yes, the author succeeded in making me hate him as a person with a passion. Trust me, I will like to see him conveniently fall off a cliff so that he will no longer haunt Lee. Well, that is the one thing which I will like about them.
However the plot is for lack of better word nonexistent. Yes, it is nonexistent. And I found myself asking where this was going where in actual reality it is just setting up the next book. There is a lot of things that happen to Leah on the road, it just doesn’t seem that impactful if you ask me.
The writing flows very well, and I really could feel Leah as a character. Perhaps another reason why this worked so well for me, but sadly it lacked a lot of details on the plot or anything inventive which will really buy me.
Overall, I did find this okay if a little underwhelming. Leah is a good character, Hiriam is a good enough villain that I do hate him. But the rest of it, honestly could use some work.
Oh. My. Gosh. No words! Rae Carson writes amazingly! Just the deaths! It makes the book much more real !
I dunno about this current trend in ya books to westerns. I want to like it because westerns are cool but the two I've read so far have been kind of boring (this one and vengeance road). this one had some few great moments of really descriptive and gripping writing but then mostly it lagged in execution with too many secondary characters, a lot of repetitive travel/trouble and unclear romance triangle. AND YET, I still want to read the sequel and see what happens to her in California so Rae Carson did something right.
I also like that I stopped reading my non fiction book on the Oregon trail for an evening to read a ya fiction book on the Oregon trail. at least this one had some call backs to the video game - list of supplies needed, some river fording, diseases and lots of death. so much death to whittle down the overabundance of secondary characters and yet in the last 5 pages there were still too many of them for me to keep their names straight. it took me forever to remember who Martin and Luther were, I'm just saying.
I also like that I stopped reading my non fiction book on the Oregon trail for an evening to read a ya fiction book on the Oregon trail. at least this one had some call backs to the video game - list of supplies needed, some river fording, diseases and lots of death. so much death to whittle down the overabundance of secondary characters and yet in the last 5 pages there were still too many of them for me to keep their names straight. it took me forever to remember who Martin and Luther were, I'm just saying.
This is a great book, it's full of developed characters who affect Lee's life and journey in the way you could imagine it occurring in real life. Lee doesn't miraculously come out on top in every situation but she does persevere.
I absolutely love that romance isn't the focus although it is part of Lees life (but it's not the only part, my god I have come to loathe YA fiction that ends up being only an unrealistic dramatic romance)
Anyways, this book was super well done and I'm actually so satisfied with it that I'm torn on reading the rest of the trilogy because I feel like this can stand alone with no problem.
I absolutely love that romance isn't the focus although it is part of Lees life (but it's not the only part, my god I have come to loathe YA fiction that ends up being only an unrealistic dramatic romance)
Anyways, this book was super well done and I'm actually so satisfied with it that I'm torn on reading the rest of the trilogy because I feel like this can stand alone with no problem.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This reminded me of Under a Painted Sky. A lot. There were little tiny miniature details that were very similar between the two. They are both really, really good.