Customer Reviews

Red Gold Bridge

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Red Gold Bridge" is the enormously satisfying conclusion to "Gordath Wood", and it matches the first book in its wonderful writing, inventive plot, true-to-life characters (with especially strong females) and flat-out excitement. The two books tell a story packed with unpredictable action and romance that is at once intelligent and thrilling.

This book actually gets a 4.67 from me. It was nearly perfect, yes, I said that.

It had the right mix of intrigue, thrills (not the cheap kind), suspense and wonder. The second book also got the POV's right, weaving them all together almost seamlessly and allowing every character to develop yet go further with the plot culminating back to the beginning to Joe. Joe started this book off and he ended the book, much like Lynne started the last book off.

I was afraid I was going to be left with the same feeling I had toward the romance of Aerin and Tor and the magic guy from "The Hero and The Crown" - but I wasn't. It was a good ending told realistically enough with Lynne, Joe and Crae and gave them enough of a good ending to believe anything else that followed.

Crae really grew on me in this book and I kept hoping for him to succeed and to be comfortable in his own skin as well as in his own lot. I didn't see him as an interloper between Joe and Lynne like the last book and I really felt he was coming into his own.

We learned more about Joe in this book. Between his own narration and the stories that his mother told, I got a better idea of just who Joe was and why he was so special.

Lynne took a bit of a backseat in this one and was more or less coming to terms with her own emotions and actions that occurred in the last book. Her choices have an effect on both men.

Kate Mossland is the object of a crazy man's affections and she grows up further in this book. She has an idea of what she wants to do and who she wants to be but it takes her a little while to get there. Her sacrifice is enormous and you can feel her loss, blunted only a little by the presence of Colar, and get a sense that maybe this sequel could lead to a third book.

This is a fantasy populated by realistic people with realistic conflicts. Rather than good v. bad, many of the conflicts in RGB are between well-meaning people who are struggling with hard circumstances or loss. At the same time, though, our world and Aeritan are again at risk.

As others have pointed out, Crae's story is a highlight. All the characters have grown. One of Joe's relatives enters the picture, adding some depth and laughter.

It's not a perfect book, but I'd rate it over 4. Definitely has more substance than your average fantasy. Worth every penny!

Patrice Sarath's RED GOLD BRIDGE tells of a portal between our world and another, where two girls journey and return after paying a price - with a young man in tow. Colar doesn't fit in on Earth - and war threatens to embroil both universes.

It's always good to see characters continue to develop through a series,and Sarath has done a terrific job with RED GOLD BRIDGE. Her world is complex enough to be fascinating, but it's always the characters who carry a story. Another fine read from a fine new author.