Blood Gold

"Blood Gold" is a fast-paced adventure story set during the California gold rush. Author Michael Cadnum does an excellent job of bringing to life the physical hardships faced by those traveling west, while maintaining a fast-paced and suspensful plot line that holds the reader's interest. We follow the young William Dwinelle, whose unusual quest does not take him west searching for gold but rather seeking to avenge the honor of a young lady from back home in Philadelphia. His journey leads him to discover not only the virtually lawless world of the gold-seekers, but also to discover things about himself--that he is capable of overcoming obstacles, able to take care of himself and his friends, and that he is beginning to experience the first sparks of romantic feeling for a young woman he meets during his travels. I particularly enjoyed the scene where William has convinced himself and the owner of a team of horses that he is fully capable of driving a team across extremely rugged terrain, when in fact he is not as experienced a driver as he represents himself to be. He finds himself plunging, terrified and barely in control of the team, down the backside of a steep hill, with another wagon behind him bearing down and threatening to overtake him. I highly recommend this book for its historical flavor, its light and yet well-chosen language, and its exciting plot. Well done!