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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
Graded By: Mandy C.
Cover Story: There Be Gold
BFF Charm: Heck Yes
Swoonworthy Scale: 4
Talky Talk: Real (Historical) Talk
Bonus Factors: Gender Swap, Hints of Fantasy
Anti-Bonus Factor: Series Starter
Relationship Status: See You in Cali
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: There Be Gold
BFF Charm: Heck Yes
Swoonworthy Scale: 4
Talky Talk: Real (Historical) Talk
Bonus Factors: Gender Swap, Hints of Fantasy
Anti-Bonus Factor: Series Starter
Relationship Status: See You in Cali
Read the full book report here.
Damn good story, excellent character development with a dynamic cast and a heroine I can respect and root for.
Only thing that upsets me (and this doesn’t detract from the story)
But Jeffersonnnn :(
Spoilers ahead:
I don’t like how he failed to even look around town the entire time Lee was waiting for him in town. She was sleeping in the woods, turning down good offers for travel and basically being a sitting duck for her uncle, all to meet with him. And where was he? Distracted by another lady.
Not a huge fan of the way his eyes lit up when she finally confessed her skills. Then all of sudden he wants to kiss her? Wasn’t he just complaining that she didn’t know his dead ex-girlfriend enough to make a pile of stones? Oh so now that you know Lee can find gold the mourning period is over?
Maybe I’m just overprotective of this character that I love so much, but I only want the absolute best for her.
Only thing that upsets me (and this doesn’t detract from the story)
But Jeffersonnnn :(
Spoilers ahead:
I don’t like how he failed to even look around town the entire time Lee was waiting for him in town. She was sleeping in the woods, turning down good offers for travel and basically being a sitting duck for her uncle, all to meet with him. And where was he? Distracted by another lady.
Not a huge fan of the way his eyes lit up when she finally confessed her skills. Then all of sudden he wants to kiss her? Wasn’t he just complaining that she didn’t know his dead ex-girlfriend enough to make a pile of stones? Oh so now that you know Lee can find gold the mourning period is over?
Maybe I’m just overprotective of this character that I love so much, but I only want the absolute best for her.
Wauw this book was amazing. In the beginning I wasn't really into it but when I was finished I'd realized how attached I became to some of the characters. I loved Leah's developments throughout the book. Moreover, the Gold Rush is such an interesting time for historical fiction and it is something that is not done quite that often. Reading about this time period during this book, I became more interested in that part of history and actually started looking up things about the Gold Rush. I think this is one of the features of a good book, a book that makes you want to learn more. Another amazing feature of the book for me was how we could see how priviliged men were in that era. Leah or Lee was treatly totally different when she posed as a man. It was really interesting to see how she struggled with wanting to be a women but at the same time wanting to enjoy the freedom that men have.
The only critic that I have is that in the beginning I was a bit dissappointed by the lack of fantasy in it. The synopsis is quite misleading about the fact that it is more historial fiction than fantasy. Leah's magical talent is more of a background theme than the main theme.
I am really looking forward to reading the second book!
The only critic that I have is that in the beginning I was a bit dissappointed by the lack of fantasy in it. The synopsis is quite misleading about the fact that it is more historial fiction than fantasy. Leah's magical talent is more of a background theme than the main theme.
I am really looking forward to reading the second book!
“It turns out that a girl with all the friends in the world is still lonely when she’s keeping secrets.”
So, apparently I have a love for books with a Western setting, because just like Vengeance Road & Retribution Rails, I adored this book!
In this book we follow Lee, a girl who has the power to sense gold… Sound intriguing enough, well to make things even more interesting she lives in Georgia during the time of the Gold Rush. With her ability, she has been able to provide for her family and help through hard times. But after a tragic turn of events, Lee has to run for her life. Still trying to keep her power a secret, she decides to head to California in hopes of using her ability to start a new life & run from her past.
I don’t know what made me like this book as much as I did, I feel like I must have a secret love for western books! I enjoyed the setting & reading a historical fiction that wasn’t set in Victorian London or the World War era (which I still adore reading books in those settings by the way!) Plus, I feel like this was pretty historically accurate and there were times that it my heart broke because things like that happened during those times.
So, like I said, I guess I like western books because I'm already itching to continue on with the trilogy!
I can't stop thinking about this book.
I picked up "Walk on Earth a Stranger" because a book tuber, Reagan from PeruseProject, told me to. Well, not this book specifically, but you see, she had been bingeing Rae Carson's other trilogy ("A Girl of Fire and Thorns") and liked it. And so, when I went to the library next, I made a visit to the Carson shelf.
I wanted to check out her debut series, the one Reagan had shown on her channel, but only the third book in the trilogy was checked in. When I grabbed "Walk on Earth a Stranger," I was a bit bummed... Until I read the inside cover.
Holy. Cannoli.
It's 1848, and news about gold in California is starting to spread. Leah Westfall has the innate ability to sense that gold--but it's a secret. If anyone knew, they'd hang her for witching, or greedily steal her away. She could make a fortune out West, but she'd rather stay with her family and best friend Jefferson McCauley in her small hometown. That is, until she is orphaned for her gift. She dresses like a boy to traverse the country and make a new life for herself out West. Along the way, she meets a strong cast of supporting characters (who change and are dynamic in their own right?? Like secondary characters are usually just static?? I'm so impressed at this book?!) and becomes stronger, braver, and smarter as she fights to survive on the notoriously brutal trail leading west.
Lee Westfall is the protagonist in this under appreciated gem of a book. She's spunky and smart, but she's also feminine, empathetic, and impulsive. Her well-roundedness shines through, making her a heroine I won't forget. She's empowering; she shows you can be hardcore but love dresses as well. It was awesome to see such a complex character. She grows so much throughout the story, and I'm excited to see what she'll do in future books.
(I could spend hours on how much I love secondary characters Jeff, Jasper, and Mrs. Joyner, but I'd rather just let you discover them for yourselves)
The time period and its history were spot on. Every detail seemed to be meticulously thought out. The trek seemed realistic and treacherous; the group faced problems I could easily imagine happening in the mid 1800s. In my APUSH class, we learned about the Gold Rush while I was reading this book, so it was really cool how everything seemed accurate. I loved how Carson chose German for the nationality of the immigrants on the trail, for example.
The themes in "Walk on Earth a Stranger" were artfully woven into the plot. Carson does a good job of getting her message across without standing on a soapbox. My favorite (and the most important) theme was about choosing your own family, and Carson integrated this through symbols, action, dialogue, and characterization. It was complete, and totally awesome!
And the writing. The writing. It's so beautiful.
Carson's prose is so easy to get into. The book plays out like a movie. Honestly, though it may sound like an insult, Carson's writing fades right into the background, letting her story shine for itself. It was refreshing, clear, and perfect.
After reading this book, I can't wait to get my hands on more. Leigh Bardugo, George Orwell, and Orson Scott Card will always be my favorite authors, but Rae Carson is close to elbowing her way in there.
I picked up "Walk on Earth a Stranger" because a book tuber, Reagan from PeruseProject, told me to. Well, not this book specifically, but you see, she had been bingeing Rae Carson's other trilogy ("A Girl of Fire and Thorns") and liked it. And so, when I went to the library next, I made a visit to the Carson shelf.
I wanted to check out her debut series, the one Reagan had shown on her channel, but only the third book in the trilogy was checked in. When I grabbed "Walk on Earth a Stranger," I was a bit bummed... Until I read the inside cover.
Holy. Cannoli.
It's 1848, and news about gold in California is starting to spread. Leah Westfall has the innate ability to sense that gold--but it's a secret. If anyone knew, they'd hang her for witching, or greedily steal her away. She could make a fortune out West, but she'd rather stay with her family and best friend Jefferson McCauley in her small hometown. That is, until she is orphaned for her gift. She dresses like a boy to traverse the country and make a new life for herself out West. Along the way, she meets a strong cast of supporting characters (who change and are dynamic in their own right?? Like secondary characters are usually just static?? I'm so impressed at this book?!) and becomes stronger, braver, and smarter as she fights to survive on the notoriously brutal trail leading west.
Lee Westfall is the protagonist in this under appreciated gem of a book. She's spunky and smart, but she's also feminine, empathetic, and impulsive. Her well-roundedness shines through, making her a heroine I won't forget. She's empowering; she shows you can be hardcore but love dresses as well. It was awesome to see such a complex character. She grows so much throughout the story, and I'm excited to see what she'll do in future books.
(I could spend hours on how much I love secondary characters Jeff, Jasper, and Mrs. Joyner, but I'd rather just let you discover them for yourselves)
The time period and its history were spot on. Every detail seemed to be meticulously thought out. The trek seemed realistic and treacherous; the group faced problems I could easily imagine happening in the mid 1800s. In my APUSH class, we learned about the Gold Rush while I was reading this book, so it was really cool how everything seemed accurate. I loved how Carson chose German for the nationality of the immigrants on the trail, for example.
The themes in "Walk on Earth a Stranger" were artfully woven into the plot. Carson does a good job of getting her message across without standing on a soapbox. My favorite (and the most important) theme was about choosing your own family, and Carson integrated this through symbols, action, dialogue, and characterization. It was complete, and totally awesome!
And the writing. The writing. It's so beautiful.
Carson's prose is so easy to get into. The book plays out like a movie. Honestly, though it may sound like an insult, Carson's writing fades right into the background, letting her story shine for itself. It was refreshing, clear, and perfect.
After reading this book, I can't wait to get my hands on more. Leigh Bardugo, George Orwell, and Orson Scott Card will always be my favorite authors, but Rae Carson is close to elbowing her way in there.
So here's the thing with this book: it's dense and slow moving, but not terribly complicated. As a result, it felt a bit like a funeral dirge at times, and I really needed speedier pacing to be able to say I truly enjoyed it. However, in standard Rae Carson style, it is well crafted and filled with solid characters. I'd argue that Leah is a better protagonist that Carson's previous female leading ladies (sorry, Girl of Fire and Thorns lovers), too.
And, this book feels complete, to me. It's a strong enough ending that I don't need another book, though this is part of a trilogy, and that is always a good thing.
And, this book feels complete, to me. It's a strong enough ending that I don't need another book, though this is part of a trilogy, and that is always a good thing.
So I sort of feel as though [b:Walk on Earth a Stranger|17564519|Walk on Earth a Stranger (The Gold Seer Trilogy, #1)|Rae Carson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1424451210s/17564519.jpg|24498341] is a good introduction to what could be a great series. It's been said, but I'll say it again - the plot in this book is very slow. It's very much a character driven book, telling the story of Leah/Lee, a young girl from Georgia who disguises herself as a boy and runs away to California for the Gold Rush after her parents are murdered. Lee is able to sense gold, so naturally, heading to a huge amount of just-discovered gold makes sense, even before her Uncle who's definitely up to something nasty is thrown into the mix. After Lee's initial departure from Georgia, the majority of the book is her looking for her childhood best friend Jefferson (who set off for California just a few days before she did) and, well, the journey to California. As I say, there is a lot of character development in this book, but it worked so well. I often struggle with slow-paced books, but I couldn't put this down, and found myself staying up for hours just to carry on reading it.
There is a bit of a romance between Lee and Jefferson, but it is done so well - they've known each other basically their whole lives and are still shy about admitting their obvious feelings towards each other, and frankly I'm just shipping them so much.
This book also deals with quite a few social issues - for example, Jefferson is half Native American, and since this book is set in 1849, faces a lot of racism because of this. I know very little about American history (unless The Revenant counts as historical information?) and it was interesting (but also really irritating) to see the obvious prejudices towards Jefferson's people group, despite the fact that the people targeting them had been the ones to invade the Native American's land. There's also naturally a lot of sexism during this era - Lee has always helped out on her family's farm, both through hunting and panning for gold, and was bullied for this at school. When she becomes a boy, she finds that she's able to do so many things that would be seen as unacceptable or improper if the people she travelled with knew that she was a girl. She even starts to think it'd be easier to just disguise herself as a man forever, purely so she can live her life how she wants to without judgement.
Overall, Walk on Earth a Stranger was a very strong start to this trilogy, and I'm really looking forward to reading the sequel!
There is a bit of a romance between Lee and Jefferson, but it is done so well - they've known each other basically their whole lives and are still shy about admitting their obvious feelings towards each other, and frankly I'm just shipping them so much.
This book also deals with quite a few social issues - for example, Jefferson is half Native American, and since this book is set in 1849, faces a lot of racism because of this. I know very little about American history (unless The Revenant counts as historical information?) and it was interesting (but also really irritating) to see the obvious prejudices towards Jefferson's people group, despite the fact that the people targeting them had been the ones to invade the Native American's land. There's also naturally a lot of sexism during this era - Lee has always helped out on her family's farm, both through hunting and panning for gold, and was bullied for this at school. When she becomes a boy, she finds that she's able to do so many things that would be seen as unacceptable or improper if the people she travelled with knew that she was a girl. She even starts to think it'd be easier to just disguise herself as a man forever, purely so she can live her life how she wants to without judgement.
Overall, Walk on Earth a Stranger was a very strong start to this trilogy, and I'm really looking forward to reading the sequel!
“It’s the easiest thing in the world to get to California—you just aim yourself west and start walking.”
3.75?⭐I'm very undecided on how I want to rate this book. On one hand, I think the story was very well done and I enjoyed reading about a time period/part of history that is not often written about. However, at the same time, I was quite disappointed that there were not more fantasy elements to the plot since it was advertised as a fantasy and that was what I was hoping for/expected. So therefore my interest is quite so-so moving forward when considering reading two more books within this world.
One should also be prepared going into this that it is a traveling story. While there are action/events that take place, it is very much about the characters along a journey.
One should also be prepared going into this that it is a traveling story. While there are action/events that take place, it is very much about the characters along a journey.