My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it
Desperate to save her siblings from poverty, a young woman discovers magic fueled by gold . . . and a love for the man who wields it.
Abandoned by their father for the gold rush, Gentry and her siblings labor to survive alone in the inhospitable west. When bizarre natural disasters begin wreaking havoc on the land, Gentry discovers a world of magic. Desperate for help, she accepts aid from a mysterious stranger.
Winn not only sees the magic, but controls its hunger by feeding it gold—the very thing Gentry’s father left to acquire. But the earth’s unrest only grows worse, and Gentry’s fear leads her to a terrible choice: marry a wealthy man she does not love, or trust in Winn’s unpredictable power to save her family.
My Review
This is the first book I've read by the author, and I didn't really know what to expect, other than she had great reviews from reader friends and authors. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of writing, and was easily drawn into the story and its characters. I always enjoy a western setting, and the addition of the paranormal/magic element made it exciting and new, with lots of unknowns. It was a nice balance of 1800's reality and imaginative fantasy. Gentry is strong and devoted to her family, and their increasingly desperate circumstances worry her to the point of anxiety. She has support from the Mormon family who adopted her half brother, and they help keep her grounded and hopeful. Winn is charming and sweet, and Gentry doesn't quite know what to make of her new friend. There are themes of self-reliance, trust, grief, and forgiveness that brought depth to the story. The concept of gold mining and the effect it had on the spirit of the land was intriguing, and I liked the way the author wove in elements of a Native American tribe, the crickets, and the seagulls- nods to the rich history of Utah. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author!
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
GIVEAWAY
a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the Author
Born in Salt Lake City, Charlie N. Holmberg was raised a Trekkie
alongside three sisters who also have boy names. She is a proud BYU
alumna, plays the ukulele, owns too many pairs of glasses, and finally
adopted a dog. Her fantasy Paper Magician series, which includes The Paper Magician, The Glass Magician, and The Master Magician, has been optioned by the Walt Disney Company. Her stand-alone novel, Followed by Frost, was nominated for a 2016 RITA Award for Best Young Adult Romance, and her novel The Fifth Doll won the 2018 Whitney for Speculative Fiction. She is a board member for Deep Magic Ezine and lives with her family in Utah.
GIVEAWAY
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Follow the Book Tour:
July 16th: Book Geek Reviews
July 17th: Katie’s Clean Read Collection / Min Reads and Reviews
July 18th: Wishful Endings / The Bibliophile Files
July 19th: Heidi Reads... / Books in the Skye
July 20th: R.Q. Woodward / Bookworm Lisa
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for your comment!