Book Review by Aarene Storms: Like a River Glorious

Like a River Glorious
by Rae Carson (Gold Seer Trilogy #2)

Lee Westfall and her companions have arrived (mostly) safely, in California. Soon Lee's "witchy" senses are detecting more gold than all of them will ever need -- it's in the water, in the dirt, and in the rock walls above the small encampment they build.

But the citizens of Glory are not the only gold seekers in California. Her wicked uncle Hiram still hunts her, and he has plans for Lee that she has never dreamed, even in her worst nightmares.

Solid historical fiction with just a touch of magic. The issues faced by the Chinese, the local native tribes, and the "confirmed bachelors" are not ignored, which is refreshing.

Of course the problems faced by women -- considered akin to property or livestock by U.S. and territorial law at the time -- are essential to the story.

This is a fitting companion to Walk on Earth a Stranger, with some (not lots) of cussing, discussions of drug use (laudanum), and some referrals to prostitution (not shown on the page).

Recommended for readers ages 12 to adult.


The events may not have happened; still, the story is true.  --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS