Gold Rush

Title:	Gold Rush
Cover Artist:	Don Semora
Genre:	Christian, Scifi, Survival, Adventure
Series:	The Offworld Chronicles
Publication Date:	July 2019
Media Types:	Print (paperback) and Ebook
ISBN:	978-0463970102 (ebook) TBA (print)
Preceded By:	Dragon's Gambit
Followed By:	The White Mountains

Gold Rush is the third novel in The Offworld Chronicles series and picks up the story of Simon's Team, The Dragons of Offworld, The Syndicate, and many others, while also adding a new team into the mix, lead by Arthur Holland, and discusses events that will likely become the greatest challenge that Simon and his friends have faced thus far.

Back Cover Blurb

Winter has come, and the race that once haunted Simon's team is now but a shadow and a fading memory. But as Simon and his team winter over in the Kestrel Weyr, resting from their travels, and sheltered by the dragons who have sworn to protect them from all harm and danger, greater events are unfolding behind them; consequences of their desperate struggle to survive the prior year that will in turn bring about the greatest gold rush of men and women the distant planet of Offworld has ever seen.

Summary

The book starts with a flashback to a hundred years earlier about the winning of the race. In the present, Arthur Holland, a master woodcrafter, talks with his friend Dexter Dramond, about strange events that are occurring of late, including the strange calmness of The Reaping Sea. After this Arthur and Dexter learn of the fall of the Four Kingdoms. They bring this news to the mayor of Donville and talk about how this is a great time for the racers in the village to continue onward. But the mayor rejects this and forbids everyone from leaving for fear of losing power. Eventually, though, with the help of Ebenezer, and some others, the mayor is convinced to let everyone go.

Back at Kestrel Weyr, both Garloond and Maggy, as well as Aria and Trevor, spend time together, and draw closer in their relationships. Meanwhile, [[Zek], Akhur, Shuman and Fallon plot together the events of the coming year, using the abandoned Mongangro Weyr as their meeting place. At Hollow Manor, they receive word of the fall of the Four Kingdoms, which Jeremy brings to the attention of the Baroness. After some coaxing by Jeremy, Lord Trig and Lord Camton, the Baroness (whose real name is Susan Wheaton), gathers a team, comprised of racers from the three Christian manors of The Keep of Woes and sets out on the trail again.

Back at Kestrel, Simon's Team gathers their things and heads out on the trail again after wintering over in Kestrel. They're seen off by Garloond and Maggy, who they've become good friends with over the winter. Eventually the team reaches the borders of Venodor when they come to a crossroads. As they're discussing which route to take, Sheobaal, disguised as an old man in a cloak and hood, tricks them into taking the path towards [[Forlorian] with plans to use the Queen to destroy them. As they head towards Forlorian, they meet Esther, who takes them in for the night, and then gifts them her late husband's horse Bellimeir the next day, to replace Tiny as Birash's riding animal. This now brings the number of horses in Simon's team to seven.

The team then sets off again, eventually arriving in Forlorian where they get rooms at one of the local Inns. However, as they're exploring the city, Simon is taken captive, at the orders of Narcella, and taken to the castle where she tries to seduce him. But Simon rebuffs her, causing her to fly into a rage, after which she orders her guards to severely beat Simon nearly to death. He's then thrown in prison until he changes his mind. Narcella's soldiers then try to capture the rest of Simon's team, but come up against unexpected resistance, and eventually set the Inn on fire. After a bit of struggling, the team escapes the Inn, and then the city, eventually retreating to Esther's house, where they share with her the sad news.

Fallon, after having to leave briefly to recharge, returns and tries to heal Simon. But he is stopped by Caleb who informs him that this is God's will. The next morning Simon awakes and finds himself in so much pain that he's barely able to move. Even so, Simon gladly sings praises to God, which allows him the opportunity to lead some of the prisoners to Christ. Not long after this, a group of rebels, disguised as palace guards, enters the dungeon and carries them away to safety. Narcella soon finds out about this, and pursues them in a rage. But, as they're leaving, a gray haired old man appears in the room and is pleased to hear what has happened, as it may allow him to finally get rid of the queen and all of her evil once and for all.

Awards and Reviews

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