Literary Crush: Jefferson from The Gold Seer Trilogy

Walk on Earth a Stranger (The Gold Seer Trilogy, #1) by Rae Carson
Published by Greenwillow Books on September 22, 2015
Genres: Historical
Pages: 436
Amazon|IndieBound|B&N
Goodreads

Gold is in my blood, in my breath, even in the flecks in my eyes.
Lee Westfall has a strong, loving family. She has a home she loves and a loyal steed. She has a best friend—who might want to be something more.
She also has a secret.
Lee can sense gold in the world around her. Veins deep in the earth. Small nuggets in a stream. Even gold dust caught underneath a fingernail. She has kept her family safe and able to buy provisions, even through the harshest winters. But what would someone do to control a girl with that kind of power? A person might murder for it.
When everything Lee holds dear is ripped away, she flees west to California—where gold has just been discovered. Perhaps this will be the one place a magical girl can be herself. If she survives the journey.
The acclaimed Rae Carson begins a sweeping new trilogy set in Gold Rush-era America, about a young woman with a powerful and dangerous gift.

Our last Literary Crush was Chase from Some of the Parts by Hannah Barnaby, and today we bring you Jefferson from The Gold Seer Trilogy: Walk on Earth a Stranger and Like a River Glorious by Rae Carson. Yes, I’m waiting anxiously for the third and final book in The Gold Seer trilogy, Into the Bright Unknown, which comes out this Fall.

Name: Jefferson McCauley Kingfisher

Age: 17

What does he look like? He’s half Irish, half Cherokee: tall and lanky with dark hair, a strong nose, dark eyes, and killer cheekbones. After their time heading West, his lankiness turns to lean muscle.

What does he do? First he’s a farmer/the son of a small Georgia mining/gold town’s Irish drunk; then he’s a paid traveling aide for a caravan headed to California for the Gold Rush. But really what he does best is worry about/protect Lee Westfall.

Whom does he love? Leah aka Lee Westfall, the protagonist of the Gold Seer trilogy, who can secretly sense gold (a blessing but also a dangerous curse that led to the murder of her parents by her maniacal uncle who wants to control her and her ability). Despite trusting Jefferson with nearly every other aspect of her life, Lee is afraid to admit/confess her “witchy” skill to him. Lee and Jeff start out best friends, but it’s obvious from the first that he wants more. By the time Leah does too, she is masquerading as a boy (Lee) and convinced he likes someone else on their westward-ho caravan. Of course, she’s wrong, because there’s only ever been one person Jeff loves, and it’s Lee.

Why him? Jefferson is exactly the sort of love interest Rae Carson’s readers have come to expect from the author. He’s physically attractive, yes, but that’s not what makes him remarkable. He’s quiet, listens and supports Lee when others doubt her. He’s self sacrificing and in awe of her. A brilliant tracker (he tracks, she shoots), and patient best friend waiting for Lee to see the truth about their blossoming relationship, he reminds me of Mal from Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha trilogy. But he’s not just adoring; he also pushes back and tells Lee the truth when she’s too stubborn or willing to martyr herself to see the big picture. He also never lies to her about his conflicted feelings about claiming or owning land that used to belong to other Native Americans. Ultimately he’d do anything for her — and to convince her that his desire to be with her isn’t so he can control her or take away her agency, like most men, but because he sees her as an equal, partner, and best friend.

Memorable Quotes:

“Seems like I’ve been waiting for you to come around my whole life, Lee. But a man can’t wait forever and stay a man.” (Walk on Earth a Stranger)

——————————————

“I think you’d better stay extra alert tonight.”

“Okay.”

“I’m serious, Jeff. Someone snuck up on both Hampton and Martin, and neither of them are shirkers.”

He grins. “You’re worried for me, aren’t you?”

“Course I am.”

“Know what I think?”

I scowl at him, which only widens his grin.

He steps closer, puts a hand to my chin, and lifts it so I can’t avoid his gaze. “I think you’re in love with me,” he says.

I stare at his lips. What comes out of my mouth is: “Jefferson McCauley Kingfisher, you have the swagger of a rooster and the swelled head of a melon.” (Like a River Glorious)

——————————————

We’re tying off string at the edge of Hampton’s claim when I notice Jefferson staring at me. “You don’t have to watch my eyes,” I grumble. “When I sense gold, I’ll tell you straight.”

“That’s not why I’m looking,” he replies, and Hampton fails to keep the grin from his face. (Like a River Glorious)

Stumble

Shares 0

Comments

comments

Memorable Quotes:

Share this:

Comments

What Do You Think? Cancel reply