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Empty Gold
To the outside world, Zoe Freeman was just another boring human trafficking statistic. Perhaps mildly interesting when she was found and recovered, alive.
If only they knew what the papers didn’t. In reality, those traffickers were actually a demon-worshipping cult intent on summoning High Prince of Hell and all-around d-bag Mammon with Zoe as his vessel.
However, it didn’t work as planned and Zoe is now ‘stained’ by the experience causing her to react to the presence of supernaturals.
Which would have been fine if she’d gone on living her boring everyday life, where all she wanted was her friends close, her family closer, and possibly the phone number of the cute new guy in her film class. Only something strange is happening to the students at Polk High. Something supernatural. Was this her doing? Did she bring something back from Hell ? Was she to blame?
Add to this encroaching evil the usual high school dramas, anxieties, insecurities, assemblies, gym classes, and Zoe caught between two boys vying for her attention.
At this point actual Hell was something of a picnic.
If only they knew what the papers didn’t. In reality, those traffickers were actually a demon-worshipping cult intent on summoning High Prince of Hell and all-around d-bag Mammon with Zoe as his vessel.
However, it didn’t work as planned and Zoe is now ‘stained’ by the experience causing her to react to the presence of supernaturals.
Which would have been fine if she’d gone on living her boring everyday life, where all she wanted was her friends close, her family closer, and possibly the phone number of the cute new guy in her film class. Only something strange is happening to the students at Polk High. Something supernatural. Was this her doing? Did she bring something back from Hell ? Was she to blame?
Add to this encroaching evil the usual high school dramas, anxieties, insecurities, assemblies, gym classes, and Zoe caught between two boys vying for her attention.
At this point actual Hell was something of a picnic.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 16, 2021
2 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 16, 2024
This was the second book I had read by Thomas, and he yet again did not disappoint.
In this story we do a little time jump in the beginning. Which did originally confuse me, but I knew it would only make this book better. And oh boy did it! Zoe is the main character who with her BFF, brother, and some unlikely characters. Is working to stop the demon that tried to take over her life. By the way, I do want to warn the reader. There is talk of child trafficking, and kidnapping in this book. It’s kind of a side plot that is nessaracy to the book. But it does not continue to be a big part of the story, in my opinion.
I really loved the fact that Thomas made Zoe and her family black. Coming from a mixed family myself, I love when a book portrays a character with as much detail as he did. While still keeping the characters relatable and realistic.
It was really fun watching Zoe deal with the issues of being a teenager, then a kidnapped person, possessed, and then a hero. Then to come back to her life, just to find out she is still having to deal with the demon. And all the weird things happening to her classmates. As if high school wasn't bad enough.
Reading this book was definitely different then other books I read like this. You get a good feel of Thomas’ writing abilities, while enjoying his easy going humor. This was an easy book that I and my teens found ourselves enjoying. Which was great because it is so hard to find a book both ages can read together. All in all it was easy to see why I not only gave “Empty Gold” a 9/10 rating. But that is why I am also already looking forward to the next book by Thomas on my list.
If you're thinking of grabbing a copy, I highly recommend doing so now. This is a wonderful spring read, to read with a nice cold drink in your hand. Thank you Ian for sending me your book.
#HaveYouReadReviews
In this story we do a little time jump in the beginning. Which did originally confuse me, but I knew it would only make this book better. And oh boy did it! Zoe is the main character who with her BFF, brother, and some unlikely characters. Is working to stop the demon that tried to take over her life. By the way, I do want to warn the reader. There is talk of child trafficking, and kidnapping in this book. It’s kind of a side plot that is nessaracy to the book. But it does not continue to be a big part of the story, in my opinion.
I really loved the fact that Thomas made Zoe and her family black. Coming from a mixed family myself, I love when a book portrays a character with as much detail as he did. While still keeping the characters relatable and realistic.
It was really fun watching Zoe deal with the issues of being a teenager, then a kidnapped person, possessed, and then a hero. Then to come back to her life, just to find out she is still having to deal with the demon. And all the weird things happening to her classmates. As if high school wasn't bad enough.
Reading this book was definitely different then other books I read like this. You get a good feel of Thomas’ writing abilities, while enjoying his easy going humor. This was an easy book that I and my teens found ourselves enjoying. Which was great because it is so hard to find a book both ages can read together. All in all it was easy to see why I not only gave “Empty Gold” a 9/10 rating. But that is why I am also already looking forward to the next book by Thomas on my list.
If you're thinking of grabbing a copy, I highly recommend doing so now. This is a wonderful spring read, to read with a nice cold drink in your hand. Thank you Ian for sending me your book.
#HaveYouReadReviews
July 27, 2023
Book: Empty Gold
Author: Ian Thomas
Rating: 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This story follows Zoe, just another sex trafficking statistic, but that is far from the truth. She was kidnapped by a cult and became demon stained as a result. Now figuring out what that truly means she discovers an evil in her school. This book was wonderfully written and had my attention right from page one. Ian captured perfectly the struggles teenagers go through, while the demon that was found in the school prayed on those struggles. Zoe had literally been to hell and because of this, she learned the difference between physical and psychological struggles how psychological struggles are just as difficult as physical, maybe even more so. I truly enjoyed this book and I definitely would recommend!
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About the book:
To the outside world, Zoe Freeman was just another boring human trafficking statistic. Perhaps mildly interesting when she was found and recovered, alive.
If only they knew what the papers didn't. In reality, those traffickers were actually a demon-worshipping cult intent on summoning prince of Hell and all-around d-bag Mammon with Zoe as his vessel. However, it didn't work as planned and Zoe is now 'stained' by the experience causing her to react to the presence of supernaturals.
Which would have been fine if she'd gone on living her boring everyday life, where all she wanted was her friends close, her family closer and possibly the phone number of the cute new guy in her film class. Only something strange is happening to the students at Polk High.
Something supernatural. Was this her doing?
Did she bring something back from Hell?
Was she to blame?
Add to this encroaching evil the usual high school dramas, anxieties, insecurities, assemblies, gym classes, and Zoe caught between two boys vying for her attention. At this point actually Hell was something of a picnic.
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Author: Ian Thomas
Rating: 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This story follows Zoe, just another sex trafficking statistic, but that is far from the truth. She was kidnapped by a cult and became demon stained as a result. Now figuring out what that truly means she discovers an evil in her school. This book was wonderfully written and had my attention right from page one. Ian captured perfectly the struggles teenagers go through, while the demon that was found in the school prayed on those struggles. Zoe had literally been to hell and because of this, she learned the difference between physical and psychological struggles how psychological struggles are just as difficult as physical, maybe even more so. I truly enjoyed this book and I definitely would recommend!
--------
About the book:
To the outside world, Zoe Freeman was just another boring human trafficking statistic. Perhaps mildly interesting when she was found and recovered, alive.
If only they knew what the papers didn't. In reality, those traffickers were actually a demon-worshipping cult intent on summoning prince of Hell and all-around d-bag Mammon with Zoe as his vessel. However, it didn't work as planned and Zoe is now 'stained' by the experience causing her to react to the presence of supernaturals.
Which would have been fine if she'd gone on living her boring everyday life, where all she wanted was her friends close, her family closer and possibly the phone number of the cute new guy in her film class. Only something strange is happening to the students at Polk High.
Something supernatural. Was this her doing?
Did she bring something back from Hell?
Was she to blame?
Add to this encroaching evil the usual high school dramas, anxieties, insecurities, assemblies, gym classes, and Zoe caught between two boys vying for her attention. At this point actually Hell was something of a picnic.
-------
August 24, 2023
4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Zoe Freeman has just made it back home after being rescued from a hellish nightmare. While trying to protect a 9 year old boy that she babysits, she was abducted by a child trafficking ring. Well that is what the rest of the world thinks anyways. Hellish nightmare is more accurate since the people who abducted Zoe were actually demon worshipping cult members attempting to find a vessel for a high ranking demonic Prince of Hell named Mammon. The whole process didn't work out entirely as planned and now Zoe is stained from the experience, meaning she now reacts to the presence of supernaturals both good and bad. And she already thought High School was Hell, it's about to get a whole lot worse for her and those around her.
Now when strange things start happening all over school Zoe can't help but wonder if it is just her stain reacting to the supernatural presences around her, or is it her doing? Did something evil hitch a ride back from hell with her?
Together with her best friends, her brother, the people who rescued her from the demonic cult, a cute new boy at school who is more than he seems, and her new Media Lit teacher who has secrets of his own, Zoe works to navigate her new life and unravel the mystery of the horrors going on behind the scenes of her school.
Will she be powerful enough to stop another summoning of a monster from hell, or will her stain prevent her from rescuing her classmates and being forced to watch everything fall apart around her?
I loved this book so much! It captured my attention from the very first sentence and didn't let me go until I had read the last page! This is my first book by this author, but I plan to read more in the future!
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes YA books and elements of the supernatural and magic and all the drama that goes along with being a teenager and high school 😅
I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest review.
Zoe Freeman has just made it back home after being rescued from a hellish nightmare. While trying to protect a 9 year old boy that she babysits, she was abducted by a child trafficking ring. Well that is what the rest of the world thinks anyways. Hellish nightmare is more accurate since the people who abducted Zoe were actually demon worshipping cult members attempting to find a vessel for a high ranking demonic Prince of Hell named Mammon. The whole process didn't work out entirely as planned and now Zoe is stained from the experience, meaning she now reacts to the presence of supernaturals both good and bad. And she already thought High School was Hell, it's about to get a whole lot worse for her and those around her.
Now when strange things start happening all over school Zoe can't help but wonder if it is just her stain reacting to the supernatural presences around her, or is it her doing? Did something evil hitch a ride back from hell with her?
Together with her best friends, her brother, the people who rescued her from the demonic cult, a cute new boy at school who is more than he seems, and her new Media Lit teacher who has secrets of his own, Zoe works to navigate her new life and unravel the mystery of the horrors going on behind the scenes of her school.
Will she be powerful enough to stop another summoning of a monster from hell, or will her stain prevent her from rescuing her classmates and being forced to watch everything fall apart around her?
I loved this book so much! It captured my attention from the very first sentence and didn't let me go until I had read the last page! This is my first book by this author, but I plan to read more in the future!
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes YA books and elements of the supernatural and magic and all the drama that goes along with being a teenager and high school 😅
I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest review.
August 29, 2025
This was so much better than I expected! I was definitely intrigued going into this, but the execution surpassed my initial expectations. I enjoyed the amount of detail Thomas puts into his writing - helped me feel more invested in the overall story and ability to relate/connect with the characters better! Character dynamics are on point, good humor weaved in and an original concept setting it apart from other books I've read with paranormal/supernatural aspects. Definitely has some mature themes with trauma and past events although a large contribution to her character, it is not the main focus and is very much still a YA/Coming of Age book.
January 17, 2025
Another highly recommended read! Empty Gold is a little different from Thomas' other books - told from a teen perspective and in first person. I really enjoyed the different perspective and the crossovers and references to other characters in the novels I have read. This book, as with Thomas' others, is full of witty, charming and relatable characters. The 7 day structure of the text chunked up the action nicely and it was easy to get lost in the world and the story.
December 17, 2025
This book was so good and had so many unexpected turns! I liked how it started in the beginning with the flashback and then it started showing how it got there. I liked the dynamic between Zoe and her brother and best friend! I also liked how there unlikely group of individuals came together and saved the school! This is a great read with likable characters and you really root for them to achieve their goal!
October 15, 2023
A book full of supernatural magic. Beautifully written. When Zoe was stained by a Demon, she struggles to find herself. She now carries a burden to recognize the supernatural both bad and good. This was an absolutely fantastic book.
August 10, 2022
Great YA
September 15, 2022
Art is subjective!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews