Hello Readers!
I had the privilege to read and review Benson's debut novel Blood and Silver, so with no further ado, enjoy the review.
Synopsis:
What is a twelve-year-old girl to do when she finds herself in the silver boomtown of Tombstone, Arizona, in 1880, and her only home is a brothel and her only parent is a drug-addicted mother? If she is Carissa Beaumont, she outsmarts the evil madam and figures a way out.
After tricking the madam, Miss Lucille, into summoning a doctor for her mother, Lisette, she discovers that Miss Lucille has been drugging her. She and the kind doctor make a plan to try to save Lisette by dosing her down on the drug.
Doctor Henderson tells Carissa that the only source for the drug is a Chinese immigrant named China Mary, who lives in Hoptown, at the other end of Tombstone. Carissa has no choice but to go to the powerful woman for help. Many say that China Mary is the one who really controls Tombstone.
China Mary admires Carissa's brave spirit and uses her influence to get her a job at the new Grand Hotel, which will free Carissa from her many duties at Miss Lucille's. She will work along with Mary's twelve-year-old niece, Mai-Lin. The two girls become fast friends.
Then, disaster strikes, and the two girls must work together to stay alive.
With a host of colorful characters and meticulous attention to period detail, Blood and Silver is a story of the best and worst of human nature, the passion for survival, and the beauty of true friendship.
***
Blood and Silver is a historical fiction novel that shows what life was like in the silver mining town of Tombstone AZ. It follows the story of a young girl who wants more than anything else for her and her mother to escape their employer.
I enjoyed the fact that Benson paid attention to historical accuracy and included actual people living in Tombstone. I also appreciated that each of the characters had a distinct voice. Carissa and Mai-Lin's friendship was very sweet.
The only thing I disliked about the story was the occasional misuse of the Lord's name.
If you're looking for historical fiction with colorful characters and the feeling of the Old West, you'll enjoy this story!
That's all for today, y'all! I'll hopefully have another post before the month ends... but we'll see.
Blessings,
Mattie May
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