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The Gold-Son
All sixteen-year-old Tommin wants is to make beautiful shoes and care for his beloved granny, but his insatiable need to steal threatens to destroy everything. Driven by a curse that demands more and more gold, he’s sure to get caught eventually.
When mysterious Lorcan Reilly arrives in town with his “niece,” Eve, Tommin believes the fellow wants to help him. Instead, Lorcan whisks him off to the underground realm of the Leprechauns, where, alongside Eve, he’s forced to prepare to become one of them.
As Lorcan’s plans for his “gold-children” are slowly revealed, Tommin and Eve plan their escape. But with Tommin’s humanity slipping away, the fate-crossed pair has everything to lose unless they can find a way to outsmart a magical curse centuries in the making.
When mysterious Lorcan Reilly arrives in town with his “niece,” Eve, Tommin believes the fellow wants to help him. Instead, Lorcan whisks him off to the underground realm of the Leprechauns, where, alongside Eve, he’s forced to prepare to become one of them.
As Lorcan’s plans for his “gold-children” are slowly revealed, Tommin and Eve plan their escape. But with Tommin’s humanity slipping away, the fate-crossed pair has everything to lose unless they can find a way to outsmart a magical curse centuries in the making.
304 pages, Paperback
First published June 20, 2017
452 people are currently reading
2389 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Anne Noble
14 books390 followersCarrie Anne Noble is the author of fantasy fiction infused with fairy tales, folklore, and wonder. She lives in the woods of Pennsylvania but can be lured out with cheese or chocolate. You can read more about her at http://www.carrienoble.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
July 19, 2017
Sixteen-year-old Tommin is cursed by a compulsion to steal at regular intervals. All he wants is to be free of the curse, so when a stranger named Lorcan Reilly arrives in town with his niece, Eve, and claims he can break the curse, Tommin willingly follows Lorcan to the underground city of Neathgillan. There, Tommin discovers a realm of leprechauns and is faced with a choice: Should he break the curse to regain his humanity or succumb to the lure of gold and learn the ways of the leprechaun?
The truth was [Tommin] had two lives, and one of them could not go on – unless he fancied swinging from the gallows or rotting in prison. Every theft carried him closer to his doom. But when the lust for treasure and the agony of wanting gripped him, he was too often helpless to resist.
Tommin is a character defined by his internal struggle. He’s deeply troubled by his inclination to steal and by the feeling of immeasurable bliss he experiences after each successful theft. Akin to an addict, his inward conflict often clouds his judgement, especially when he arrives in Neathgillan. Though it’s a place of great temptation, more likely to feed his inclination for theft rather than cure it, Tommin is quite taken with the realm of the leprechauns and embraces the chance to learn more about them.
And so class began. O’Ferrell described the subjects they’d study: Leprechaun rules and customs, histories and legends; principles and magical qualities of the various Faerie tribes – including Elves, Ogres, Pixies, the dreaded Trolls, and other beings Tommin had thought imaginary until now.
Eve plays a central role in The Gold-Son, too, with several chapters devoted to her storyline. She’s been enslaved to a leprechaun for most of her life and is driven by a desire for revenge. She vows to “ruin the Leprechaun who had stolen her past.” She’s is a markedly capable young woman and so makes for a striking female protagonist. However, in her desire for revenge Eve maintains a startlingly cavalier attitude about murder.
While the first half of The Gold-Son is thoroughly engaging, the narrative loses its way after the midpoint. The second half of the book feels rushed and hastily thrown together. Further, Tommin suddenly comes across as a judgmental stick-in-the-mud. He stumbles into a Halloween party and describes hearing “pulsating demon music.” On that same night, he is tempted by the scent of gold which “beckoned from nearby, singing his name and teasing him like a loose-moraled woman."
Since Tommin is sixteen years old, wouldn’t it be more fitting to say the gold beckoned to him like a beautiful young woman? Better yet, since he struggles repeatedly with a lust for gold and silver, why not say the gold beckoned to him like a silver-tongued siren? Take it one step further to include Irish folklore, and it could be that the gold beckoned to him like a silver-tonged merrow (a merrow is a mermaid in Irish folklore).
A neat and tidy ending is swiftly reached. While all elements of the story are more or less resolved, the concluding chapter is lackluster in comparison to the book’s enchanting opening pages.
While exploring themes of the true cost of lusting for wealth and how love and hope are worth their weight in gold, The Gold-Son proves a fanciful story with charmed writing, characters driven by clearly defined desires, and a bumpy plot.
The truth was [Tommin] had two lives, and one of them could not go on – unless he fancied swinging from the gallows or rotting in prison. Every theft carried him closer to his doom. But when the lust for treasure and the agony of wanting gripped him, he was too often helpless to resist.
Tommin is a character defined by his internal struggle. He’s deeply troubled by his inclination to steal and by the feeling of immeasurable bliss he experiences after each successful theft. Akin to an addict, his inward conflict often clouds his judgement, especially when he arrives in Neathgillan. Though it’s a place of great temptation, more likely to feed his inclination for theft rather than cure it, Tommin is quite taken with the realm of the leprechauns and embraces the chance to learn more about them.
And so class began. O’Ferrell described the subjects they’d study: Leprechaun rules and customs, histories and legends; principles and magical qualities of the various Faerie tribes – including Elves, Ogres, Pixies, the dreaded Trolls, and other beings Tommin had thought imaginary until now.
Eve plays a central role in The Gold-Son, too, with several chapters devoted to her storyline. She’s been enslaved to a leprechaun for most of her life and is driven by a desire for revenge. She vows to “ruin the Leprechaun who had stolen her past.” She’s is a markedly capable young woman and so makes for a striking female protagonist. However, in her desire for revenge Eve maintains a startlingly cavalier attitude about murder.
While the first half of The Gold-Son is thoroughly engaging, the narrative loses its way after the midpoint. The second half of the book feels rushed and hastily thrown together. Further, Tommin suddenly comes across as a judgmental stick-in-the-mud. He stumbles into a Halloween party and describes hearing “pulsating demon music.” On that same night, he is tempted by the scent of gold which “beckoned from nearby, singing his name and teasing him like a loose-moraled woman."
Since Tommin is sixteen years old, wouldn’t it be more fitting to say the gold beckoned to him like a beautiful young woman? Better yet, since he struggles repeatedly with a lust for gold and silver, why not say the gold beckoned to him like a silver-tongued siren? Take it one step further to include Irish folklore, and it could be that the gold beckoned to him like a silver-tonged merrow (a merrow is a mermaid in Irish folklore).
A neat and tidy ending is swiftly reached. While all elements of the story are more or less resolved, the concluding chapter is lackluster in comparison to the book’s enchanting opening pages.
While exploring themes of the true cost of lusting for wealth and how love and hope are worth their weight in gold, The Gold-Son proves a fanciful story with charmed writing, characters driven by clearly defined desires, and a bumpy plot.
June 20, 2017
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really wanted to like it. The cover is gorgeous and the description great. Seemed like it would be a fun read.
For starters, the story should have been centered around Eve instead of Tommin. He never changes or takes initiative and feels very flat. He's driven by his curse throughout the story and is nothing but a naive follower. Eve is much more interesting, does all the planning, leg work, and saving, and IMO has a much more interesting story that we hardly get to hear about. The book shifts in perspective between the two of them, written in third person.
With the magical, mysterious beginning of the book, I fully expected to love the whole story. Noble does an amazing job of describing nature and settings in the first half of the book. She has some really beautiful lines. But the characterization is sorely lacking.
The first thing that bothered me about The Gold-Son was that after meeting Eve twice for less than ten minutes, and hardly communicating with her because she doesn't speak, we get this line: "Strange as it was after knowing her such a short time, he thought he might miss her a little." He didn't know her "a short time;" he DIDN'T know her at all. His attraction to her makes absolutely no sense. From there, I continued to see how Noble relies on telling rather than showing in her writing.
Down in the Neathlands, certain death or a harsh beating loom over Tommin and Eve's heads to keep them in check, but neither of them really seems scared. Their fear doesn't come off the page at all. So I was never afraid for them, and sure enough, neither of them died or got beaten to a pulp. The story was interesting enough, but it felt like it was passing by before me. I never really felt connected to it or drawn in.
When something exciting actually happens halfway through the book, we get the best examples of Noble's failings in this regard. The narrative devolves into a 'this happened, and then this happened.' Literally going "And then" or ", and then" several times. At the outbreak of the excitement, the only clue about how Tommin is reacting emotionally or physically is summed up in a single line: "Heart pounding with terror, he ducked down behind the table and then peered over the edge at the Great himself." Seriously. That's it. AND "and then" is in the sentence. So while the action should be exciting, I again, didn't really care because Tommin doesn't seem to. Oh, but a few lines down we get a great description of how the cats are handling the situation: "Cats hissed and howled and scrambled between legs and out the narrow windows." They seem more scared than Tommin.
The first half of the book was a 3-4 star read. But then Part two happens, and it gets terrible. From chapter 37, the story jumps to chapter 1, restarting. So from 56% through 67% of the book, I was screaming inside, "why is this not two separate books?!?!" There is a major disconnect from the first half of the book, and the narrative wanders with absolutely no direction. I had no idea where it was going. Looking back, that section needs to be a whole lot shorter. The return of another character should happen sooner too to help the reader feel like the whole thing is still one story.
The next section of the story is the greatest. From around 70-81%, it's a five star read. The characterization is wonderful.
Then the climax (sort of) begins with Tommin proving himself to be a naive idiot who is incapable of change, growth, or taking action for himself. From there, the problems begin.
There are a lot of minor problems throughout the book. I could make a list, a large list. But aside from spoilers, it feels very nitpicky to do so. Just trust me that several things stick out, making you furrow your brow, roll your eyes, or groan in annoyance. The worst of them hit after the exciting events at the halfway mark and surrounding the climax (so sprinkled throughout the story but mostly from 50-67% and 81%-the end). Things either don't make sense, are inconsistent, too convenient, or not explained well enough. All these little things pretty much ruined the climax and resolution.
Another thing that ruined the climax was the odd pause right in the middle of it. Seemed like a complete waste of time and was very frustrating. After the climax, the narrative gets insanely cheesy and is full of awkward 'explaining' conversations. As I said before, Tommin gets saved at the end. I really don't understand why the story is focused on him at all. He doesn't do anything exciting in the book other than steal.
Overall, a disappointing read. The story has/had a lot of potential, but Noble failed to deliver it well.
For starters, the story should have been centered around Eve instead of Tommin. He never changes or takes initiative and feels very flat. He's driven by his curse throughout the story and is nothing but a naive follower. Eve is much more interesting, does all the planning, leg work, and saving, and IMO has a much more interesting story that we hardly get to hear about. The book shifts in perspective between the two of them, written in third person.
With the magical, mysterious beginning of the book, I fully expected to love the whole story. Noble does an amazing job of describing nature and settings in the first half of the book. She has some really beautiful lines. But the characterization is sorely lacking.
The first thing that bothered me about The Gold-Son was that after meeting Eve twice for less than ten minutes, and hardly communicating with her because she doesn't speak, we get this line: "Strange as it was after knowing her such a short time, he thought he might miss her a little." He didn't know her "a short time;" he DIDN'T know her at all. His attraction to her makes absolutely no sense. From there, I continued to see how Noble relies on telling rather than showing in her writing.
Down in the Neathlands, certain death or a harsh beating loom over Tommin and Eve's heads to keep them in check, but neither of them really seems scared. Their fear doesn't come off the page at all. So I was never afraid for them, and sure enough, neither of them died or got beaten to a pulp. The story was interesting enough, but it felt like it was passing by before me. I never really felt connected to it or drawn in.
When something exciting actually happens halfway through the book, we get the best examples of Noble's failings in this regard. The narrative devolves into a 'this happened, and then this happened.' Literally going "And then" or ", and then" several times. At the outbreak of the excitement, the only clue about how Tommin is reacting emotionally or physically is summed up in a single line: "Heart pounding with terror, he ducked down behind the table and then peered over the edge at the Great himself." Seriously. That's it. AND "and then" is in the sentence. So while the action should be exciting, I again, didn't really care because Tommin doesn't seem to. Oh, but a few lines down we get a great description of how the cats are handling the situation: "Cats hissed and howled and scrambled between legs and out the narrow windows." They seem more scared than Tommin.
The first half of the book was a 3-4 star read. But then Part two happens, and it gets terrible. From chapter 37, the story jumps to chapter 1, restarting. So from 56% through 67% of the book, I was screaming inside, "why is this not two separate books?!?!" There is a major disconnect from the first half of the book, and the narrative wanders with absolutely no direction. I had no idea where it was going. Looking back, that section needs to be a whole lot shorter. The return of another character should happen sooner too to help the reader feel like the whole thing is still one story.
The next section of the story is the greatest. From around 70-81%, it's a five star read. The characterization is wonderful.
Then the climax (sort of) begins with Tommin proving himself to be a naive idiot who is incapable of change, growth, or taking action for himself. From there, the problems begin.
There are a lot of minor problems throughout the book. I could make a list, a large list. But aside from spoilers, it feels very nitpicky to do so. Just trust me that several things stick out, making you furrow your brow, roll your eyes, or groan in annoyance. The worst of them hit after the exciting events at the halfway mark and surrounding the climax (so sprinkled throughout the story but mostly from 50-67% and 81%-the end). Things either don't make sense, are inconsistent, too convenient, or not explained well enough. All these little things pretty much ruined the climax and resolution.
Another thing that ruined the climax was the odd pause right in the middle of it. Seemed like a complete waste of time and was very frustrating. After the climax, the narrative gets insanely cheesy and is full of awkward 'explaining' conversations. As I said before, Tommin gets saved at the end. I really don't understand why the story is focused on him at all. He doesn't do anything exciting in the book other than steal.
Overall, a disappointing read. The story has/had a lot of potential, but Noble failed to deliver it well.
November 25, 2017
3.5-4 stars. I definitely did like it.
February 5, 2018
4 Stars
Review:
I wasn't sure this would be my kind of book, but it's about leprechauns, and I love reading about uncommon paranormal creatures/beings, so of course I wanted to read it. And I'm so glad I did because I really liked it!
For starters, I was delightfully swept away by the 1800s Ireland setting where most of the book took place and the atmospheric, fairytale-esque feel of the writing and the story.
Even better was the amazing creativity of the leprechaun aspect! I really want to read more books about leprechauns now, except I feel like all other versions of them would pale in comparison to the version this author has created. The curse on Tommin that compelled him to steal gold was so unique and well-written, and I felt so bad for him. He was ashamed of his stealing, but if a leprechaun went too long without stealing, they'd get itchy hands, then they'd get seriously ill. They could also smell gold, and whenever they stole some, they would get basically drunk on the good feeling it gave them. There were also mentions about things like burying their treasure and creating rainbows. And I loved the way gold and silver and shiny things were described from Tommin's POV, how they called to him. It was such good writing. Then there was the underground city and the whole leprechaun society, the way they cursed babies and then took them once they got older to teach them and transform them into full-blown leprechauns.
I also loved seeing our modern times through the eyes of a leprechaun when the story jumped forward. Tommin was horrified that people used paper money and credit cards, and online banking was the absolute worst!
And speaking of the jump forward in time, the author did a great job of showing that through Tommin's perspective. *SPOILER* *END SPOILER*
I had a few small issues with the plot though. It was a bit slow, and it seemed like Eve was the one moving it forward and doing things to reach their goal more than Tommin was. I also think there were a few things that could've been explained better. *SPOILER* *END SPOILER*
It also made me uncomfortable that Tommin tried to use charm on "Penny" in order to make her like him more and not turn him down when he asked her on a date or put his arm around her. He didn't use it for anything more serious than that, and it's believable that someone would do that, but I still felt uncomfortable because if it had worked on her, it might've given her more feelings for him than she would've had naturally, and then consent would've become a blurred line.
As for the characters themselves, Tommin was a good guy (despite what I just said above). He loved his granny, he cared for the shoemaker he apprenticed under when he was ill, he risked his life for Copper, and he tried to do good things to counteract the thieving. Even when he started turning into a leprechaun, he tried to hold onto his humanity and fought a constant inner battle. Eve was tough as nails. The poor girl had an awful life, being kidnapped, raised, and abused by Lorcan. I didn't blame her one bit for wanting freedom or revenge. She was also smart and clever and fiercely determined. And I felt terrible for Copper as well. He was also kidnapped and abused, plus forced to be Lorcan's slave. But Copper was a sweetheart to Tommin and Eve, and he never let Lorcan crush his bright, feisty personality.
Overall, I adored the creativity in this book, I loved this author's portrayal of leprechauns, and the atmospheric writing and setting really pulled me into the story!
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes historical paranormal books, uncommon paranormal creatures, creative stories, and sweet characters.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Review:
I wasn't sure this would be my kind of book, but it's about leprechauns, and I love reading about uncommon paranormal creatures/beings, so of course I wanted to read it. And I'm so glad I did because I really liked it!
For starters, I was delightfully swept away by the 1800s Ireland setting where most of the book took place and the atmospheric, fairytale-esque feel of the writing and the story.
Even better was the amazing creativity of the leprechaun aspect! I really want to read more books about leprechauns now, except I feel like all other versions of them would pale in comparison to the version this author has created. The curse on Tommin that compelled him to steal gold was so unique and well-written, and I felt so bad for him. He was ashamed of his stealing, but if a leprechaun went too long without stealing, they'd get itchy hands, then they'd get seriously ill. They could also smell gold, and whenever they stole some, they would get basically drunk on the good feeling it gave them. There were also mentions about things like burying their treasure and creating rainbows. And I loved the way gold and silver and shiny things were described from Tommin's POV, how they called to him. It was such good writing. Then there was the underground city and the whole leprechaun society, the way they cursed babies and then took them once they got older to teach them and transform them into full-blown leprechauns.
Shame made his face hot as a demon’s cook fire. Yet as much as he regretted stealing the coin, he loved the thing. It sparkled at him, wooing him, stirring his heart more than any girl ever had.
I also loved seeing our modern times through the eyes of a leprechaun when the story jumped forward. Tommin was horrified that people used paper money and credit cards, and online banking was the absolute worst!
And speaking of the jump forward in time, the author did a great job of showing that through Tommin's perspective. *SPOILER* *END SPOILER*
I had a few small issues with the plot though. It was a bit slow, and it seemed like Eve was the one moving it forward and doing things to reach their goal more than Tommin was. I also think there were a few things that could've been explained better. *SPOILER* *END SPOILER*
It also made me uncomfortable that Tommin tried to use charm on "Penny" in order to make her like him more and not turn him down when he asked her on a date or put his arm around her. He didn't use it for anything more serious than that, and it's believable that someone would do that, but I still felt uncomfortable because if it had worked on her, it might've given her more feelings for him than she would've had naturally, and then consent would've become a blurred line.
As for the characters themselves, Tommin was a good guy (despite what I just said above). He loved his granny, he cared for the shoemaker he apprenticed under when he was ill, he risked his life for Copper, and he tried to do good things to counteract the thieving. Even when he started turning into a leprechaun, he tried to hold onto his humanity and fought a constant inner battle. Eve was tough as nails. The poor girl had an awful life, being kidnapped, raised, and abused by Lorcan. I didn't blame her one bit for wanting freedom or revenge. She was also smart and clever and fiercely determined. And I felt terrible for Copper as well. He was also kidnapped and abused, plus forced to be Lorcan's slave. But Copper was a sweetheart to Tommin and Eve, and he never let Lorcan crush his bright, feisty personality.
Overall, I adored the creativity in this book, I loved this author's portrayal of leprechauns, and the atmospheric writing and setting really pulled me into the story!
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes historical paranormal books, uncommon paranormal creatures, creative stories, and sweet characters.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Read
May 24, 2020
Goodreads | 
June 20, 2017
Charming and delightful, THE GOLD-SON reads like a classic fairytale but with a modern day twist. From its traditional opening, to its quaint setting, to its folkloric characters, to its heroic protagonists, to its evil antagonist, to its innocent romance, it is an enchanting and magical and whimsical tale that will immediately grab hold and will keep readers captivated.
Tommin Kelly had no idea why he was so consumed with the need to steal. Had he known the true circumstances of his birth he might not have felt so guilty. He might have been more suspicious of the unpleasant stranger who came to town. And he might not have made a deal that would take him away from his home and his granny and put him on a path to becoming a Leprechaun.
Escaping the cruel and scheming Lorcan Reilly would be challenge enough, but breaking the curse that drove him to take, filled him with intense need, and left him debilitated would be impossible. And if he couldn’t do it before he’d be forced to take the third and final step in the transition process, he wouldn’t want to.
Carrie Anne Noble invites readers into a world beneath, full of strange yet fascinating creatures who are motivated by greed and selfishness above all else. She takes them on an adventure as her characters fight against the lure of the curse and the magic that binds them. She gives them both a hero and a heroine who prove that love and kindness and generosity and sacrifice can triumph over evil. And she throws in a surprise that changes everything.
THE GOLD-SON is a fun, imaginative, and well-written story told in two parts, from two characters’ perspectives. Its hero is kind-hearted, conflicted, cute, clumsy, and cursed. Its heroine is strong, clever, determined, and crafty. And its villain is brutish, arrogant, power-hungry, greedy, selfish.
It offers a bit of a love story, a touch of humor, interesting lore, the possibility of a happily ever after, and the unexpected, as well as an eccentric leprechaun king, malodorous trolls, Irish chapter titles that are thankfully translated into English, the mention of a triple rainbow, a stick named Gladys, and so much more. It is a story that’s just so easy to fall in love with and is a must for anyone looking for a read that will take them back to once upon a time.
Tommin Kelly had no idea why he was so consumed with the need to steal. Had he known the true circumstances of his birth he might not have felt so guilty. He might have been more suspicious of the unpleasant stranger who came to town. And he might not have made a deal that would take him away from his home and his granny and put him on a path to becoming a Leprechaun.
Escaping the cruel and scheming Lorcan Reilly would be challenge enough, but breaking the curse that drove him to take, filled him with intense need, and left him debilitated would be impossible. And if he couldn’t do it before he’d be forced to take the third and final step in the transition process, he wouldn’t want to.
Carrie Anne Noble invites readers into a world beneath, full of strange yet fascinating creatures who are motivated by greed and selfishness above all else. She takes them on an adventure as her characters fight against the lure of the curse and the magic that binds them. She gives them both a hero and a heroine who prove that love and kindness and generosity and sacrifice can triumph over evil. And she throws in a surprise that changes everything.
THE GOLD-SON is a fun, imaginative, and well-written story told in two parts, from two characters’ perspectives. Its hero is kind-hearted, conflicted, cute, clumsy, and cursed. Its heroine is strong, clever, determined, and crafty. And its villain is brutish, arrogant, power-hungry, greedy, selfish.
It offers a bit of a love story, a touch of humor, interesting lore, the possibility of a happily ever after, and the unexpected, as well as an eccentric leprechaun king, malodorous trolls, Irish chapter titles that are thankfully translated into English, the mention of a triple rainbow, a stick named Gladys, and so much more. It is a story that’s just so easy to fall in love with and is a must for anyone looking for a read that will take them back to once upon a time.
December 31, 2017
Had this book stopped or resolved at 57%, it would have been a five star book. But Part II made me go completely cold on the novel, which is a shame, because Part 1 was wonderful. The setting and descriptions are vivid and clear, and as a reader, I immediately felt for Tommin, the main character, who comes to discover that the reason he feels such an intense, obsessive need to steal is because he was cursed at birth by a leprechaun, and is destined to become one.
Along the way, Tommin meets a cast of characters including his villain, nemesis, and gold-father, Lorcan (who is a bit of a stereotypical mad leprechaun, but as it is not a stereotype that you find yourself tripping over constantly, it didn't bother me). He also meets Eve, a girl who has been raised in captivity by Lorcan and is going to be used as, basically, a magical experiment to enhance Lorcan's position. Tommin and Eve become friends, then slowly fall in love, and the race is on to find a way to reverse the curse, use their new magics, escape from the faerie world, all the while dodging other leprechauns and killer cats.
Sounds great, right? Because it is. But then comes Part II.
It feels massively, wildly inconsistent with the first part of the book. It's not just the setting change, it's the entire feel and tone of the later chapters that really threw me off while reading. It was a bold authorial choice, and one that I did not particularly care for.
When we finally meet back up with we find that the character has undergone massive changes. At this point, the novel felt slightly reminiscent of the Artemis Fowl books to me, what with secret agencies and tech and rogue agents. That wasn't the book I thought I was signing up for, but yet that sounded interesting! So many throw away lines were given to mentioning this aspect of life after Tommin, which were all 100% more interesting to read than their mall antics. At this point, I stopped liking her all together. Previously, she had felt a bit like a Hermione Granger. But Hermione Granger wouldn't be likely to throw her life away on a boy and straight up stalk him.
This was frustrating for me, because I really couldn't buy this century-spanning love story that was so apparently strong. Other than being held captive together, I didn't see the evolution of what bound them together.
In the end, all is resolved, and it was a neat, tidy ending, though I was unsatisfied. What did Tommin do to deserve it? Absolutely nothing. It was a good book, and I enjoyed reading it, but it will be difficult to shake some of my disappointments.
Along the way, Tommin meets a cast of characters including his villain, nemesis, and gold-father, Lorcan (who is a bit of a stereotypical mad leprechaun, but as it is not a stereotype that you find yourself tripping over constantly, it didn't bother me). He also meets Eve, a girl who has been raised in captivity by Lorcan and is going to be used as, basically, a magical experiment to enhance Lorcan's position. Tommin and Eve become friends, then slowly fall in love, and the race is on to find a way to reverse the curse, use their new magics, escape from the faerie world, all the while dodging other leprechauns and killer cats.
Sounds great, right? Because it is. But then comes Part II.
It feels massively, wildly inconsistent with the first part of the book. It's not just the setting change, it's the entire feel and tone of the later chapters that really threw me off while reading. It was a bold authorial choice, and one that I did not particularly care for.
When we finally meet back up with we find that the character has undergone massive changes. At this point, the novel felt slightly reminiscent of the Artemis Fowl books to me, what with secret agencies and tech and rogue agents. That wasn't the book I thought I was signing up for, but yet that sounded interesting! So many throw away lines were given to mentioning this aspect of life after Tommin, which were all 100% more interesting to read than their mall antics. At this point, I stopped liking her all together. Previously, she had felt a bit like a Hermione Granger. But Hermione Granger wouldn't be likely to throw her life away on a boy and straight up stalk him.
This was frustrating for me, because I really couldn't buy this century-spanning love story that was so apparently strong. Other than being held captive together, I didn't see the evolution of what bound them together.
In the end, all is resolved, and it was a neat, tidy ending, though I was unsatisfied. What did Tommin do to deserve it? Absolutely nothing. It was a good book, and I enjoyed reading it, but it will be difficult to shake some of my disappointments.
July 29, 2017
This review was originally published on Spinatale Reviews.
While I enjoyed The Gold-Son, I felt as if it was written for younger readers. It didn’t quite have the depth or development that I typically look for in a story. That being said, I think I would have loved it when I was in middle grade. There was an almost fairytale feel to the writing. Adventure and magic abound and it’s hard to go wrong with Leprechauns.
The story begins with Tommin beginning to change into a leprechaun after he was claimed at birth. He was a likeable enough character but I was never able to emotionally connect with him. His struggle between the decency he was taught and the desperate need for gold was interesting to watch, particularly because it lent the air of a morality tale to the story.
The other main character was Eve, another one of Lorcan’s “gold-sons”. Despite her importance to the story, she felt more like a background character at times, swooping in to clean up Tommin’s messes or to save him. She sounded incredibly interesting but isn’t developed fully as her own character outside of interactions with Tommin.
The story itself was interesting, I loved the unique take on leprechaun mythology. It spans a huge timeframe and the contrast between the two times was interesting. The villain was pretty one dimensional, I would have liked more depth to him. There weren’t any huge surprises with the plot. I would have liked more worldbuilding/explanation in the second half of the novel but overall, the world-building was pretty good.
The Gold-Son was an interesting read that I think middle grade or younger YA readers would enjoy.
*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
While I enjoyed The Gold-Son, I felt as if it was written for younger readers. It didn’t quite have the depth or development that I typically look for in a story. That being said, I think I would have loved it when I was in middle grade. There was an almost fairytale feel to the writing. Adventure and magic abound and it’s hard to go wrong with Leprechauns.
The story begins with Tommin beginning to change into a leprechaun after he was claimed at birth. He was a likeable enough character but I was never able to emotionally connect with him. His struggle between the decency he was taught and the desperate need for gold was interesting to watch, particularly because it lent the air of a morality tale to the story.
The other main character was Eve, another one of Lorcan’s “gold-sons”. Despite her importance to the story, she felt more like a background character at times, swooping in to clean up Tommin’s messes or to save him. She sounded incredibly interesting but isn’t developed fully as her own character outside of interactions with Tommin.
The story itself was interesting, I loved the unique take on leprechaun mythology. It spans a huge timeframe and the contrast between the two times was interesting. The villain was pretty one dimensional, I would have liked more depth to him. There weren’t any huge surprises with the plot. I would have liked more worldbuilding/explanation in the second half of the novel but overall, the world-building was pretty good.
The Gold-Son was an interesting read that I think middle grade or younger YA readers would enjoy.
*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
April 6, 2017
I greatly enjoyed this book. It has the feel of the old Irish Faerie Tales, but it also has a bit of a modern twist. Noble's story-line is well thought out. Although you think that you know the ending when you start reading it, there are several major plot changes along the way so that this story is far from boring. This is a more mature work than her first volume (The Mermaid's Sister) in that she has more developed characters and explores more complex themes this book.
Although this book would be appropriate and emjoyable for a middle-schooler to read, teens and adults will get more out of this story. This is a book about choices, which is something that people understand more and more and more about as they get older.
The only critique that I have is that the transition between the first and second parts was a little bit choppy.
Overall this is a very good book that I would recommend to anyone looking for an enjoyable trip to the land of Faerie.
Although this book would be appropriate and emjoyable for a middle-schooler to read, teens and adults will get more out of this story. This is a book about choices, which is something that people understand more and more and more about as they get older.
The only critique that I have is that the transition between the first and second parts was a little bit choppy.
Overall this is a very good book that I would recommend to anyone looking for an enjoyable trip to the land of Faerie.
December 3, 2024
2.5 rounded down. I was actually really enjoying this for the first half, despite the so-so reviews. It was an interesting concept, used lesser known mythology, had decent enough writing, and it looked like the guy's creepy Insta-love was going to be rejected, sensibly, by the girl. Unfortunately the plot became very meandering in the second half, starting at 60% of the way through, and the entire thing delineated into a by-the-numbers YA love story. I kept hoping the author was going to surprise me, but instead I got the exact ending I could have told you would happen 4 hours earlier. Which is really unfortunate given how much else the author had to work with. Using the gold lust as an allegory for drug and/or alcohol addiction would have made a much more compelling story. I'm not angry I read the whole thing, but I would never recommend this one nor waste my time with any of the author's other works.
June 30, 2020
Excellent book! I first read The Mermaid's Sister, which I absolutely adored, and immediately snatched up a review copy and an interview with the author once I found out The Gold-Son was coming out. I was not disappointed.
I never knew much about the world of the Leprechauns, but everything from their greed to their rainbows to their mushroom tea made them seem absolutely real to me. Carrie Anne Noble writes in rich historical and fantastical detail. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves fairy tales. Well done!
I never knew much about the world of the Leprechauns, but everything from their greed to their rainbows to their mushroom tea made them seem absolutely real to me. Carrie Anne Noble writes in rich historical and fantastical detail. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves fairy tales. Well done!
September 27, 2019
4.5 stars
What a delightful book! A fairy tale that involves teen protagonists that nevertheless doesn't feel like a modern writer inserting teen angst/modern teen characters into historical fiction/fantasy. It just feels so authentically old-school fairy tale.
I listened to the audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed it. (The marvelous Irish accent didn't hurt.)
What a delightful book! A fairy tale that involves teen protagonists that nevertheless doesn't feel like a modern writer inserting teen angst/modern teen characters into historical fiction/fantasy. It just feels so authentically old-school fairy tale.
I listened to the audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed it. (The marvelous Irish accent didn't hurt.)
July 15, 2021
From what I’ve read of Carrie Ann Noble’s books, she is a very creative author, inventing book ideas far from anything I could have dreamed — and this book is no exception. Leprechauns, love, plot twists, magic, and underground worlds made for a pretty interesting novel!
I could see a little bit of Christian allegory woven into the story: The way Tommin struggled with the curse kleptomania from birth is SO like our struggle against sin/evil. And even when the hero (Jesus/Eve) charges in to defeat the enemy (Satan/Lorcan), the individual/Tommin still has a choice to accept the love and freedom from uncontrollable evil desire ... or to stay in it. The beautiful allegory was my favorite part of the story!
But the allegory wasn’t perfect. Eve and Lorcan, though perhaps representing Jesus and Satan in some way, were just people, not supernatural beings. And the way Tommin craved gold was very similar to a drug addiction with horrible withdrawal symptoms. It was interesting to see how the author layered the ideas into the story.
The biggest thing I didn’t like about the story was how slowly it moved. I usually have a high tolerance for slow-moving, contemplative books, but this one got me. It took over a month to finish, and the plot twists were so big and unexpected that I was at a loss as to whether or not I wanted to finish. I did finish, though, and am glad I did.
If you’ve read this novel, let me know — I’d love to chat about it!
I could see a little bit of Christian allegory woven into the story: The way Tommin struggled with the curse kleptomania from birth is SO like our struggle against sin/evil. And even when the hero (Jesus/Eve) charges in to defeat the enemy (Satan/Lorcan), the individual/Tommin still has a choice to accept the love and freedom from uncontrollable evil desire ... or to stay in it. The beautiful allegory was my favorite part of the story!
But the allegory wasn’t perfect. Eve and Lorcan, though perhaps representing Jesus and Satan in some way, were just people, not supernatural beings. And the way Tommin craved gold was very similar to a drug addiction with horrible withdrawal symptoms. It was interesting to see how the author layered the ideas into the story.
The biggest thing I didn’t like about the story was how slowly it moved. I usually have a high tolerance for slow-moving, contemplative books, but this one got me. It took over a month to finish, and the plot twists were so big and unexpected that I was at a loss as to whether or not I wanted to finish. I did finish, though, and am glad I did.
If you’ve read this novel, let me know — I’d love to chat about it!
August 8, 2020
FAN-MADE TRAILER HERE: https://youtu.be/DAvas7O3kGM
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book! It was very different than what I usually read (or have ever read I think). The way the author portrayed the leprechauns is something else! I'm not sure if I'll look at nice shoes the same way again (might be wondering just who made it so wonderfully).
Tommin might have the urge to steal, but I still found him relatable in his struggles of wanting to do right and love his family to the fullest. Eve was also very relatable. I greatly admired her strength and her willingness to help her friends to the best that she could, all the while putting herself second. She shows so much strength throughout the course of the story.
My favorite parts about this book were definitely learning about the histories and the way of leprechauns. Truly they are nothing like I thought they were (looking at you Lucky Charms for my inaccurate representation) and found the tidbits of their livelihood to be very fascinating (especially in part two).
Lastly, I LOVED that ending! It was perfect and everything I wanted it to be for a great hero and heroine.
I wouldn't mind rereading this again as I enjoyed the author's storytelling, characters, and different settings. Recommend to those who enjoy reading fantasy with a sweet romance.
*(I received this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own and was not required to write a positive review.)*
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book! It was very different than what I usually read (or have ever read I think). The way the author portrayed the leprechauns is something else! I'm not sure if I'll look at nice shoes the same way again (might be wondering just who made it so wonderfully).
Tommin might have the urge to steal, but I still found him relatable in his struggles of wanting to do right and love his family to the fullest. Eve was also very relatable. I greatly admired her strength and her willingness to help her friends to the best that she could, all the while putting herself second. She shows so much strength throughout the course of the story.
My favorite parts about this book were definitely learning about the histories and the way of leprechauns. Truly they are nothing like I thought they were (looking at you Lucky Charms for my inaccurate representation) and found the tidbits of their livelihood to be very fascinating (especially in part two).
Lastly, I LOVED that ending! It was perfect and everything I wanted it to be for a great hero and heroine.
I wouldn't mind rereading this again as I enjoyed the author's storytelling, characters, and different settings. Recommend to those who enjoy reading fantasy with a sweet romance.
*(I received this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own and was not required to write a positive review.)*
August 27, 2019
I had such high hopes for a leprechaun book set in Ireland, but it fell flat. The Gold-Son is just not a good book. The lore behind the gold-sons and how they make leprechauns is super interesting, but the plot is entirely focused on the weird romance between Tommin and Eve. Eve didn't even like Tommin for half the book until she had a sudden realization that she was in love. Since when? I also really disliked Tommin. He was sweet at first but he's such a dead weight protagonist. Eve does all the legwork and this book doesn't even show it. The author simply tells you she's found the cure, and she got the ingredients, and she's found a map out of the tunnels to Above. Ugh. The 200 year time skip is jarring. Tommin passes out FOR 200 YEARS and wakes up in the 21st Century, and just gets a job at a smoothie place. The setting in the second half was less intriguing, and Eve does all the work to free Tommin, yet again. I don't know why I stuck with this to the end but I was hoping it would turn out okay.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2017
I really enjoyed this tale of a teenage boy who learns he was, at birth, destined to become a Leprechaun. We follow him as he tries to balance his two sides and determine what kind of person he is and what kind of life he wants to have. Well told, this is a nice YA book. Part folk tale, there is romance, though sedate. A nice read.
Full disclosure - I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Full disclosure - I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2019
Even better than The Mermaid's Sister!
I enjoyed The Mermaid's Sister when I read it a few months ago, though I did have some trouble with the first person present tense narrative. Just hard to get used to. But the story was good and I can't resist a story with magic being part of the normal world! So when I saw The Gold-Son on sale and was enchanted by the possibilities of the story based on the description, I was willing to give it a try. The Gold-Son is in the normal third person past tense narrative that most novels are, so I was already a bit more willing to read this story once I started it. And then I couldn't stop!
What a wonderful experience and adventure this was! I was so invested in the characters and what they were experiencing. And that complete shift in the story in part two was so unexpected but eventually worked! I was actually quite upset about it at first because of how it disrupted the story and I really wanted to know what had happened during all the time that passed in between. I liked the older setting in Ireland and wanted it to somehow magically set everything right again and back to the right time, back before everything went wrong. But everything still worked out, if not exactly how I wanted. Haha!
I have to say, there are a few large gaps in the story that implied there was more to be told before moving on, and I was frustrated about those gaps. (Some spoilers or clues following with a *...skip to the end if you don't want to know...)
*I would have liked more time spent on
*And that sort of incidentally rushed Go ahead and draw it out a bit more, let us get to know the characters and how they cope in this new environment, teach us more about this new setting! I'll read more!
*We never find out if But I still feel a bit unresolved about that.
*We never find out exactly how It just completely brushes past those unsolved mysteries and moves on!
*I could have used at least a few chapters about Eve's backstory. She seemed like more of a main character to me, and she acted like one too.
And what was going on with Too many missed opportunities that seemed so obvious to me not to skip!
The story was so great and I read it in all the little free time I had in 2 days! It definitely could have been longer to flesh out some of these and more issues, but I would look forward to reading more stories in this setting. So full stars for the creative story and the descriptive writing, but a star taken off for the frustrating gaps, in my opinion, even though I still loved it!
I enjoyed The Mermaid's Sister when I read it a few months ago, though I did have some trouble with the first person present tense narrative. Just hard to get used to. But the story was good and I can't resist a story with magic being part of the normal world! So when I saw The Gold-Son on sale and was enchanted by the possibilities of the story based on the description, I was willing to give it a try. The Gold-Son is in the normal third person past tense narrative that most novels are, so I was already a bit more willing to read this story once I started it. And then I couldn't stop!
What a wonderful experience and adventure this was! I was so invested in the characters and what they were experiencing. And that complete shift in the story in part two was so unexpected but eventually worked! I was actually quite upset about it at first because of how it disrupted the story and I really wanted to know what had happened during all the time that passed in between. I liked the older setting in Ireland and wanted it to somehow magically set everything right again and back to the right time, back before everything went wrong. But everything still worked out, if not exactly how I wanted. Haha!
I have to say, there are a few large gaps in the story that implied there was more to be told before moving on, and I was frustrated about those gaps. (Some spoilers or clues following with a *...skip to the end if you don't want to know...)
*I would have liked more time spent on
*And that sort of incidentally rushed Go ahead and draw it out a bit more, let us get to know the characters and how they cope in this new environment, teach us more about this new setting! I'll read more!
*We never find out if But I still feel a bit unresolved about that.
*We never find out exactly how It just completely brushes past those unsolved mysteries and moves on!
*I could have used at least a few chapters about Eve's backstory. She seemed like more of a main character to me, and she acted like one too.
And what was going on with Too many missed opportunities that seemed so obvious to me not to skip!
The story was so great and I read it in all the little free time I had in 2 days! It definitely could have been longer to flesh out some of these and more issues, but I would look forward to reading more stories in this setting. So full stars for the creative story and the descriptive writing, but a star taken off for the frustrating gaps, in my opinion, even though I still loved it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2019
SUMMARY OF THE BOOK, BASED ON BACK COVER BLURB:
The Gold Son is about a human boy named Tommin. He is an ordinary sixteen-year-old who wants to make beautiful shoes and take care of his granny. The thing about Tommin that is not ordinary is his insatiable need to steal. He’s driven by a curse that demands more and more gold.
One day the mysterious Lorcan Reilly comes to town with his “niece”, Eve. Tommin believes Lorcan wants to help him, but instead Lorcan whisks him off to the underground realm of the Leprechauns, where he and Eve are forced to prepare to become one of them.
Eventually, Tommin and Eve find themselves falling in love with one another, and they begin to plan their escape. However, things don’t go according to plan, and Tommin’s humanity is slipping away. If Eve can’t find the remedy in time, Tommin will be destined to become a thieving trickster for all eternity.
MY REVIEW:
I have to say that I had trouble getting hooked into the story. I felt that the beginning seemed a little slow and repetitive.
In chapter three when Lorcan Reilly and Eve came on the scene, things began to pick up, but I didn’t really get caught up in the story until they were in the underground realm of Leprechauns. There things became interesting as other characters were introduced and Tommin’s struggles began — struggles of missing his Granny and wanting to return home; struggles as his urges to steal gold became almost unbearable and affected his health. As his feelings for Eve strengthened and problems continued to keep them apart, I couldn’t stop turning pages to see if they would overcome the issues and finally be together.
An unexpected twist made me gasp and nearly broke my heart, but I kept turning pages. Now I had to know how this book would end.
In the end, I enjoyed the book and its characters. Ms. Noble’s portrayal of the Leprechauns and their realm was very interesting. I had never researched much about Leprechauns. What I thought was that they guarded the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and that they wore green clothing and shamrocks. Ms. Noble showed me new things about Leprechauns that I didn’t know and I found it all very fascinating.
I do think the book is geared more for middle grade readers, which is not my normal reading material, but I enjoyed The Gold Son and look forward to reading Ms. Noble’s first book, The Mermaid’s Sister in the near future.
The Gold Son is about a human boy named Tommin. He is an ordinary sixteen-year-old who wants to make beautiful shoes and take care of his granny. The thing about Tommin that is not ordinary is his insatiable need to steal. He’s driven by a curse that demands more and more gold.
One day the mysterious Lorcan Reilly comes to town with his “niece”, Eve. Tommin believes Lorcan wants to help him, but instead Lorcan whisks him off to the underground realm of the Leprechauns, where he and Eve are forced to prepare to become one of them.
Eventually, Tommin and Eve find themselves falling in love with one another, and they begin to plan their escape. However, things don’t go according to plan, and Tommin’s humanity is slipping away. If Eve can’t find the remedy in time, Tommin will be destined to become a thieving trickster for all eternity.
MY REVIEW:
I have to say that I had trouble getting hooked into the story. I felt that the beginning seemed a little slow and repetitive.
In chapter three when Lorcan Reilly and Eve came on the scene, things began to pick up, but I didn’t really get caught up in the story until they were in the underground realm of Leprechauns. There things became interesting as other characters were introduced and Tommin’s struggles began — struggles of missing his Granny and wanting to return home; struggles as his urges to steal gold became almost unbearable and affected his health. As his feelings for Eve strengthened and problems continued to keep them apart, I couldn’t stop turning pages to see if they would overcome the issues and finally be together.
An unexpected twist made me gasp and nearly broke my heart, but I kept turning pages. Now I had to know how this book would end.
In the end, I enjoyed the book and its characters. Ms. Noble’s portrayal of the Leprechauns and their realm was very interesting. I had never researched much about Leprechauns. What I thought was that they guarded the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and that they wore green clothing and shamrocks. Ms. Noble showed me new things about Leprechauns that I didn’t know and I found it all very fascinating.
I do think the book is geared more for middle grade readers, which is not my normal reading material, but I enjoyed The Gold Son and look forward to reading Ms. Noble’s first book, The Mermaid’s Sister in the near future.
April 20, 2019
Carrie Ann Noble unveils the schemes of the little, green men we call leprechauns in her book The Gold-son where they meddle with more than just gold. Noble draws on the mystical ambience of Ireland to tell a story of internal struggles and love.
Young Tommin has an unnatural compulsion to steal. He knows it isn’t right, but try as he might, it’s too hard to stop. When a man claims to have a cure, Tommin is skeptical, but a deal is made. Tommin realizes too late the plans the man has for him, and the only way out is with the help of a girl called Eve. Eve has been longing to escape the underground world of leprechauns, but her plans of escape become more complex when she realizes her love for Tommin. She knows that Tommin cannot save himself, so Eve will do whatever she can to free him even if it requires waiting.
I enjoyed the way Noble wrote Tommin’s desire to do right and fight to resist his other nature. It was realistic and relatable as not all fights are won. Also, the contrast of Eve’s external struggles and internal strength with Tommin’s internal struggles really resonated with me. Not all struggles are visible, and sometimes the invisible ones are harder to bear, but the external ones cannot be discounted either. Eve’s resolve and dedication was inspiring and gave the story hope.
The Gold-son, had the pacing of a fairytale but a modern flair. It was satisfying, lovely, and paired perfectly with a cup of Irish breakfast tea.
Young Tommin has an unnatural compulsion to steal. He knows it isn’t right, but try as he might, it’s too hard to stop. When a man claims to have a cure, Tommin is skeptical, but a deal is made. Tommin realizes too late the plans the man has for him, and the only way out is with the help of a girl called Eve. Eve has been longing to escape the underground world of leprechauns, but her plans of escape become more complex when she realizes her love for Tommin. She knows that Tommin cannot save himself, so Eve will do whatever she can to free him even if it requires waiting.
I enjoyed the way Noble wrote Tommin’s desire to do right and fight to resist his other nature. It was realistic and relatable as not all fights are won. Also, the contrast of Eve’s external struggles and internal strength with Tommin’s internal struggles really resonated with me. Not all struggles are visible, and sometimes the invisible ones are harder to bear, but the external ones cannot be discounted either. Eve’s resolve and dedication was inspiring and gave the story hope.
The Gold-son, had the pacing of a fairytale but a modern flair. It was satisfying, lovely, and paired perfectly with a cup of Irish breakfast tea.
July 13, 2017
Going into this book I really wasn't expecting much. I knew it was a fairy tale about leprechauns and that's about it. I was honestly really surprised by how much I ended up enjoying this book! It does have a very classic fairy tale feel (especially in the first half) but it's written in a very modern way. It definitely had the enchanting old school fairy tale feel with none of the confusing puzzles or games that old fairy tales tend to throw your way. It's about a boy who's cursed from the time he was born to become a leprechaun. This is a tale about him finding out about the curse and what he decides to do with that information including all the hurdles he faces throughout his life. The only thing I can say that threw me off a bit was I felt like (at least in the first half of the book) the main character was written younger. He's supposed to be 16 in the beginning and I kept getting a little confused because to me, it felt like it was written as if he was like 10. Not a huge fault. I'd honestly probably rate this a 4.5 instead of a 4 and I would definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for a good enchanting story.
October 3, 2021
An Irish boy has an unnatural ability to sense any gold or silver around him, and then has the compulsion to take it by thievery once he finds it. He also has quite a gift for making shoes. His parents died while he was young and he has no idea about his early life. A seemingly chance encounter with a gentleman and his niece may change that and offer him a cure for his kleptomania, assuming he agrees to the gentleman's demands and help him on a magical quest. Perhaps Tommin (the boy), the gentleman, and the niece aren't exactly what they all seem, though.
All in all a decent read, the book is divided into two sections. Personally to me, the transition from the first part to the second part seems a bit rushed and contrived. I mean it just comes out of nowhere with little explanation or exposition. Otherwise, it's a fun read full of lore and speculation as to how some of the old myths might live on today.
All in all a decent read, the book is divided into two sections. Personally to me, the transition from the first part to the second part seems a bit rushed and contrived. I mean it just comes out of nowhere with little explanation or exposition. Otherwise, it's a fun read full of lore and speculation as to how some of the old myths might live on today.
Read
June 28, 2017Graded By: Mandy C.
Cover Story: Oh, What a Tangled Web We Weave
BFF Charms: Oda Mae Brown, Natalie Imbruglia
Swoonworthy Scale: 4
Talky Talk: Folkloric
Bonus Factor: Leprechauns
Anti-Bonus Factor: Awful Grownups
Relationship Status: Hiding My Valuables
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Oh, What a Tangled Web We Weave
BFF Charms: Oda Mae Brown, Natalie Imbruglia
Swoonworthy Scale: 4
Talky Talk: Folkloric
Bonus Factor: Leprechauns
Anti-Bonus Factor: Awful Grownups
Relationship Status: Hiding My Valuables
Read the full book report here.
April 28, 2022
This felt like the lead-up to the story. And then there was no story. This was such a cool idea but the execution was not good. I'm so disappointed! I loved her mermaid book!
March 17, 2021
I didn't finish. It's an interesting story, but after a couple of busy days where I didn't get a chance to listen, I didn't miss it. I wasn't excited to get back to it so I didn't.
September 9, 2018
I enjoyed Carrie Anne Nobles last book- The Mermaids Sister, and The Gold Son was also good. The characters were well written, the plot was interesting. I enjoyed the time jump of the story. I liked that it was a story about ‘leps’, which I don’t know that I’ve read a story from a leprechaun’s perspective. It was a love story, but not to YAish.
August 29, 2018
First off, I'm going to have to echo what others have said in this review section and agree that Tommin is not a good protagonist. I don't mind the idea of a role-reversal-princess-saving-the-prince concept, but, whether princess or prince, the one doing most of the legwork and actually going through character development should be the primary focus.
This, of course, brings me to Eve: the reason this score is a three and not a two. While her switch from meek, shy girl to revenge-driven, fearsome woman is a bit too sudden in the narrative, Eve's goal of bringing down Lorcan and everything she does to make it happen is infinitely more compelling than anything Tommin does. It's just a pity that the majority of her actions are offscreen until the book's end.
The plot is... Well, it's a thing. A messy, muddled thing. And from here on we're in spoiler territory because I can't criticise this plot properly without mentioning its big shakeup.
The first half of the book is actually quite compelling. Each character grows in their own way and adapts to the strange world they've been dragged into. There are a few holes here and there, but overall they aren't the sort to sock you in the nose and drag you into the back alley of skepticism.
Then the trolls attack.
There's no leadup to this moment. No foreshadowing, no casual dialogue, no one running in with words of warning beforehand, nothing. Just the ceremony setting up what's likely to be Tommin and Eve's escape and then trolls. Everywhere. Madness.
Oh and then Eve dies. And, presumably, the cute servant boy, Copper.
I was upset with this turn of events at first--after all, my favorite character had just died out of nowhere, hallway through the book--but that gave way to intrigue. Where were we going from here? How was Tommin going to change with this over his head?
Not much, turns out. Oh, and now we've coma'd our way into modern times.
Already I felt like the book had jumped the shark, but I was most of the way through and determined to finish. Then Eve came back! YAY! But also, what? There's no real explanation as to how she survived, just that it was because she wasn't quite a leprechaun. How did that stop her from bleeding out? Who helped her out of that situation?
And, of course, the most important question of all: why the hell are we following this leprechaun plot still when we could have had a book about Eve's adventures in the Fairy FBI?! No, seriously! I'm still upset about that! Why are we glossing over the fact that she's stopped wars?! That's a WAY more interesting book there on its own!
Oh by the way, Copper somehow survived too. And Lorcan. No explanation, just that they're alive. Convenient, huh?
I don't think the author knew exactly what she wanted to do here. There's a lot of drama for drama's sake that resolves itself into a neat and tidy bow made of shrugs and glosses by the end. This book could have been so much more, but it wasn't, and that's the most disheartening part.
It could have been Fairy FBI.
This, of course, brings me to Eve: the reason this score is a three and not a two. While her switch from meek, shy girl to revenge-driven, fearsome woman is a bit too sudden in the narrative, Eve's goal of bringing down Lorcan and everything she does to make it happen is infinitely more compelling than anything Tommin does. It's just a pity that the majority of her actions are offscreen until the book's end.
The plot is... Well, it's a thing. A messy, muddled thing. And from here on we're in spoiler territory because I can't criticise this plot properly without mentioning its big shakeup.
The first half of the book is actually quite compelling. Each character grows in their own way and adapts to the strange world they've been dragged into. There are a few holes here and there, but overall they aren't the sort to sock you in the nose and drag you into the back alley of skepticism.
Then the trolls attack.
There's no leadup to this moment. No foreshadowing, no casual dialogue, no one running in with words of warning beforehand, nothing. Just the ceremony setting up what's likely to be Tommin and Eve's escape and then trolls. Everywhere. Madness.
Oh and then Eve dies. And, presumably, the cute servant boy, Copper.
I was upset with this turn of events at first--after all, my favorite character had just died out of nowhere, hallway through the book--but that gave way to intrigue. Where were we going from here? How was Tommin going to change with this over his head?
Not much, turns out. Oh, and now we've coma'd our way into modern times.
Already I felt like the book had jumped the shark, but I was most of the way through and determined to finish. Then Eve came back! YAY! But also, what? There's no real explanation as to how she survived, just that it was because she wasn't quite a leprechaun. How did that stop her from bleeding out? Who helped her out of that situation?
And, of course, the most important question of all: why the hell are we following this leprechaun plot still when we could have had a book about Eve's adventures in the Fairy FBI?! No, seriously! I'm still upset about that! Why are we glossing over the fact that she's stopped wars?! That's a WAY more interesting book there on its own!
Oh by the way, Copper somehow survived too. And Lorcan. No explanation, just that they're alive. Convenient, huh?
I don't think the author knew exactly what she wanted to do here. There's a lot of drama for drama's sake that resolves itself into a neat and tidy bow made of shrugs and glosses by the end. This book could have been so much more, but it wasn't, and that's the most disheartening part.
It could have been Fairy FBI.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2017
*I received a free copy of this ebook through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
2.5 stars.
There wasn’t necessarily anything wrong with this book, I just couldn’t get into it. All that time that passed from start to finish? Yeah, I kind of felt like that’s how long it took me to read The Gold-Son. I found myself rushing through it so I could be done. It’s a shame actually because the idea behind it is interesting. It just wasn’t my style of writing, I guess.
Eve and Tommin were all right. They each had interesting aspects that set them aside from the rest of the Leprechauns. Tommin, though compelled to thievery, loathed doing it. Eve, as the only female, appeared to have some different advantages and limitations from the others. But to be honest, neither of them really captured my interest. In addition, the love story didn’t feel very well developed to me, either. Sure, they had ample time, but it was as if by merely being in proximity to each other, they fell in love. I dunno.
How it ends:
Note: Nothing bad.
2.5 stars.
There wasn’t necessarily anything wrong with this book, I just couldn’t get into it. All that time that passed from start to finish? Yeah, I kind of felt like that’s how long it took me to read The Gold-Son. I found myself rushing through it so I could be done. It’s a shame actually because the idea behind it is interesting. It just wasn’t my style of writing, I guess.
Eve and Tommin were all right. They each had interesting aspects that set them aside from the rest of the Leprechauns. Tommin, though compelled to thievery, loathed doing it. Eve, as the only female, appeared to have some different advantages and limitations from the others. But to be honest, neither of them really captured my interest. In addition, the love story didn’t feel very well developed to me, either. Sure, they had ample time, but it was as if by merely being in proximity to each other, they fell in love. I dunno.
How it ends:
Note: Nothing bad.
October 12, 2018
I loved Ms. Noble's first book, "The Mermaid's Sister" so I was thrilled when she released "The Gold-Son," her second novel. The characters here are compelling and real, even within the fantasy world she created. And that world is a fresh and clever take on Leprechauns and Fairies. I appreciated the carefully woven world, full of details and rich descriptions that really brought it to life.
I greatly enjoyed, too, the positive traits of the main protagonists, Tommin and Eve. Both suffered greatly as children as a result of Lorcan Reilly's lust for power, but in spite of this retained their sense of compassion and mercy.
The only downside of this story for me was Tommin's attitude of defeat throughout. In the beginning I could understand this and sympathized with him, but as the story continued on, he never seemed to learn from or grow out of this, and it became annoying. Every time he got caught up in a Lorcan Reilly/Leprechaun scheme, instead of maintaining hope or searching for a way out of the predicament, he immediately gave in. With that came a paragraph or two (or three) of Tommin's thought process which went something like this: "Oh, darn. Caught by the Leps again. Guess I'll just give up and go along with whatever evil they've concocted for me. No use in fighting back. The human world is probably an awful place anyway so I'm not even going to try anymore. I'll guess be better off doing whatever they want blah blah whine whine."
For the parents out there, there is no cursing that I recall. Aside from some kisses, Tommin and Eve's romance is modest. There is no sex. Also, although not graphically described, there are references to childhood physical abuse suffered at the hands of the antagonist, Lorcan Reilly. There is a scene where Tommin in punched in the nose, and another when he is punched in the gut. As a parent, I would recommend this for children age 14 and up.
All in all, a solid, enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to more from Carrie Anne Noble.
I greatly enjoyed, too, the positive traits of the main protagonists, Tommin and Eve. Both suffered greatly as children as a result of Lorcan Reilly's lust for power, but in spite of this retained their sense of compassion and mercy.
The only downside of this story for me was Tommin's attitude of defeat throughout. In the beginning I could understand this and sympathized with him, but as the story continued on, he never seemed to learn from or grow out of this, and it became annoying. Every time he got caught up in a Lorcan Reilly/Leprechaun scheme, instead of maintaining hope or searching for a way out of the predicament, he immediately gave in. With that came a paragraph or two (or three) of Tommin's thought process which went something like this: "Oh, darn. Caught by the Leps again. Guess I'll just give up and go along with whatever evil they've concocted for me. No use in fighting back. The human world is probably an awful place anyway so I'm not even going to try anymore. I'll guess be better off doing whatever they want blah blah whine whine."
For the parents out there, there is no cursing that I recall. Aside from some kisses, Tommin and Eve's romance is modest. There is no sex. Also, although not graphically described, there are references to childhood physical abuse suffered at the hands of the antagonist, Lorcan Reilly. There is a scene where Tommin in punched in the nose, and another when he is punched in the gut. As a parent, I would recommend this for children age 14 and up.
All in all, a solid, enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to more from Carrie Anne Noble.
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