Title: The Celestial
Series: None
Author: Barry Brennessel
Genre: YA/Historical
Length: Novella (180 Pages)
Publisher: MLR Press (September 7th, 2012)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Blurb: Love was the last thing Todd Webster Morgan expected to find while searching for gold in 1870s California. But that was before he met Lâo Jian.
Hardened beyond his nineteen years, Todd Webster Morgan is determined to find gold high in the Sierra Nevadas. But his dream is violently upended. Complicating matters even more, he meets a young Chinese immigrant named Lâo Jian, whose own dreams of finding gold have been quashed by violence.
But life back in Sacramento isn’t any easier. Todd’s mother struggles to make ends meet. His invalid uncle becomes increasing angry. Todd seeks employment with little success. Meanwhile his friendship with Lâo Jian turns to love. But their relationship is strained as anti-Chinese sentiment grows.
Todd vows not to lose Lâo Jian. The couple must risk everything to make a life for themselves. A life that requires facing fear and prejudice head on.
Product Link: http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=BBCELEST
Reviewer: John
Review: I really wanted to like this novel. It was well written and thought out. The historical pieces in the novel seemed legit and it showed that the author really did his research; however, this wasn’t my thing.
The Celestials stars Todd Morgan. Now, Todd comes from a very humbled home. He’s very small and people still call him kid even though he’s an adult. Now, Todd wants to find gold in Nevada, but what he finds is the love of his life, a Chinese guy name Lao Jian.
I really liked Todd. He was very determined and outspoken. I loved the fact that he took matters into his own hand and decided to move to Nevada to find gold and a better life for his Ma and Uncle Ed. I also liked Lao Jian. He was sweet, but a part of me didn’t connect with him. There was one character that peek my interest and that was Breandan. He seemed like the perfect guy to take the lead role in the novel, but sadly, he died.
I wanted to like the novel, but after Breandan’s death, I lost interest in it. I liked Todd, but Lao Jian seemed un-relatable to me. What I did like about this novel was the historical parts. The way the Chinese were treated back then was horrible and sickening.
I recommend this novel to anyone who is into old western novels with a very unique young adult couple who would do anything to be together. You may like it. Give it a try.