Today I’m wrapping up the blog tour for Like A River Glorious by Rae Carson. I absolutely loved Walk on Earth a Stranger, the first book in the Gold Seer trilogy, so I couldn’t wait to dive in to this one!
About the Book:
After a harrowing journey across the country, Leah Westfall and her friends have finally arrived in California and are ready to make their fortunes in the Gold Rush. Lee has a special advantage over the other new arrivals in California—she has the ability to sense gold, a secret known only by her handsome best friend Jefferson and her murdering uncle Hiram.
Lee and her friends have the chance to be the most prosperous settlers in California, but Hiram hasn’t given up trying to control Lee and her power. Sabotage and kidnapping are the least of what he’ll do to make sure Lee is his own. His mine is the deepest and darkest in the territory, and there Lee learns the full extent of her magical gift, the worst of her uncle, and the true strength of her friendships. To save everyone, she vows to destroy her uncle and the empire he is building—even at the cost of her own freedom.
The second epic historical fantasy in the Gold Seer trilogy by Rae Carson, the acclaimed author of The Girl of Fire and Thorns.
My Thoughts:
In my review for Walk on Earth a Stranger, I focused on my love for the characters, the storytelling, and the history. I was all about those three things again in book two! Like A River Glorious is a strong follow-up. It kept me up way past my bedtime because I needed to know how it ended 🙂
One of the things I liked best about this one was seeing how the characters (and their relationships with one another) grew and changed. They are no longer on the trail West. They’ve arrived in California and they quickly find a place to settle. Life setting up a mining camp is different from the worlds the characters knew before. Their group is made up of people from all different walks of life. Things changed on the trail West, but it’s even more evident now that they’re building a new life. The characters really start to open up to one another and coming together in ways they hadn’t previously. I just loved seeing this.
And the history! Again, this part was so huge for me. Seeing how Carson showed what life was like in mining towns/camps and the hardships people faced was so interesting. Even more interesting was the exploration of how the California gold rush affected more than just the men and women who traveled in search of gold… the Native Americans already living on the land, former slaves or slaves on the run, and the Chinese immigrants trying to get by in a strange new land are all portrayed.
Like a River Glorious was everything I hoped it’d be. It seamlessly continues the story from Walk on Earth a Stranger and left me feeling content with where the characters are. Such a great feeling.
About the Author:
I write books about teens who must do brave things. I’m originally from California, but I now live in Arizona with my husband, who is the smartest and therefore sexiest man I know. My books tend to contain lots of adventure, a little magic and romance, and smart girls who make (mostly) smart choices. I especially love to write about questions I don’t know the answers to.
LINKS: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Tour Schedule:
Week 1:
Giveaway:
3 Finished Copies of LIKE A RIVER GLORIOUS (US Only)
danielle hammelef
Excellent review! I’m so excited that this sequel stays strong and doesn’t disappoint the reader. This author has amazing story telling abilities.
Brittany
So glad this sequel was everything you wanted it to be. It’s so wonderful when that happens! I’ve heard a lot of great things about this series. Awesome review, thanks for sharing ^_^
Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
Penny Olson
Great review. Knowing that the second book is good is great incentive to start the series.
Cassie H
I am really excited about this sequel!
Alexa S.
I absolutely adored Like A River Glorious! I thought it was terribly fascinating to see more of the Gold Rush/pioneer life, and like you, I also enjoyed seeing how the character relationships developed. Can’t wait for the next one!