Wednesday, January 9, 2013

The Goldenwealth Light by Scott McCloskey

Title:  The Goldenwealth Light
Author:  Scott McCloskey
Series:  The Traveller of Ord #1
Published: November 20th 2012 by Scott McCloskey
Page Count: 249
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Shelf: Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

What do you do when a magic spell tries to cast YOU?

Theodore Nathan Ellsworth must be the only kid on earth who hated winning the lottery. His peaceful junior high life was turned upside down when his once-loving parents shipped him off to a stuffy prep school where bullies pick fights with him every day. Add in Marie, his overachieving little sister who loves to tease him, and it's no wonder Theo would rather escape into his beloved fantasy novels than read that fresh copy of the Wall Street Journal that's waiting for him at the breakfast table every morning.

When Theo dodges a crabby librarian and borrows a strange book he found deep in forgotten aisles at school, he's whisked away to a world that's not like anything he's ever read about before. There are a lot of important lessons to be learned in this strange land, like how many hooves an escarot has, and NEVER to stare at a reflectia tree! The good news is, it's a time of peace and prosperity for all. The bad news is, everybody's calling Theo a Traveler of Tarad Ord, sent to restore the balance between good and evil. But if the world is already good, then what team is he supposed to be playing for?

With the promise of high adventure and the fate of an entire world on his shoulders, Theo learns he'll need to grow up fast if he's going to protect Marie and survive for long in the Gossamer City, capital of the Goldenwealth Light of Quaylund!

...but you know what the worst part of all is? Theo's little sister can cast magic spells, but he can't. That just sucks.


My Review:

If I were to describe this novel in one word, that word would be cute. It is 2 fairytales all rolled into one: the modern day fairytale of becoming nouveau riche, and the stereotypical fairytale of a hero on a quest for the princess. Yes, it is a story with a real quest and a very creative travelling fellowship.

This novel was extremely well written. McCloskey’s words flow together to paint a brilliant picture for his audience. It progresses seamlessly from scene to scene and from character to character. It is entertaining for an audience of all ages but is geared towards young teens. It was a brilliant escape from reality and the usual.

The land of the Goldenwealth was very well laid out. The differences in the areas that were visited was apparent without becoming overbearing. You also get a feel for the political and social workings of this land. In some ways it reminds me of the European Union or the United Nations. The development of this land goes all the way back to a very clear and entertaining mythology of their gods and creationism.

The different races that play key roles in the novel are also described in such a way that you can picture them as they are meant to be. You do not need to fill invent characteristics or locales to fill in any gaps throughout this novel. The main characters, coming from a variety of these races, are all well developed and rounded. 

All in all, this was a very entertaining first installment in the series. I hope to revisit this mystical, magical world and read the rest of the books shortly.


Buy your copy online here today!


4 comments:

  1. Very well written review. :) I might have to look into this book. If I just saw this book on Amazon I might just pass it by because I'm not really so keen on that cover. New follower!

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    1. I'm glad that you enjoyed the review and found it helpful. I definitely enjoyed the book and agree that this book is one of the times that the old addage "Don't judge a book by its cover" definitely comes into play. Also, welcome to the site. I hope you enjoy it.

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  2. Hi Jonel,

    I actually couldn't agree more that the main thing lacking here is the cover design. So, I have since hired on Paul Beeley, a professional cover designer, to take this book's cover to another level. The book's description has also been updated. Check them out here:

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AAX3WF2?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links

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    1. I love the new cover Scott! I'll have to update the one here when I get to my computer. Cover designers can be great things.

      Now I really can't wait to read the next book! You've got me excited for it all over again.

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