Reviews

Stone Sky Gold Mountain by Mirandi Riwoe

april98's review

challenging informative tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

meldob's review against another edition

4.0

I read this for the upcoming UQ alumni book club and I’m really glad I did. I’ve never heard of the author before this, but it really shows that there is a lot of under appreciated talent in Brisbane.

I really liked the characters in the book and felt like they were people that I got to know as I read the story. I found it interesting how it told each character’s story, and showed how each person’s life merged and dispersed. With the growth of each character throughout, I found myself wondering as to whether, with more time to develop her thoughts, Merri may have made different decisions.

This book really kept me reading. It was enthralling. I wanted to know what happened to each person and I couldn’t wait to get back to it. It was a great story, with great characters and descriptive prose, and I learnt more about the Chinese experience of the Australian gold rush.

bozakrowka's review

mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

emily21's review

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

earlgreybooks's review against another edition

4.0

This was one of my most anticipated books for the year, and while I don't think it was quite what I was expecting, I still really enjoyed it. If you're looking for a little slower-paced, character-driven story then this is definitely worth picking up.

claudia_bow's review

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

ruthisheretoo's review

2.0

Just not my cup of tea. Too many fragments of backstory not fully explored, lots of graphic descriptions of illness/injury/violence/racism without the balance of a well told story as it ends super abruptly. It felt unfinished.

samsearle's review

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

shereadsshenoms's review

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

maree_k's review against another edition

5.0

Fantastic book! Fascinating main characters lead the reader through a version of colonial Australian history rarely written about in fiction.

I found Stone Sky Gold Mountain to be a real page turner, with each of the individual voices being strongly independent while merging effortlessly to keep the plot moving along.

Really enjoyed this novel’s combination of visceral and poetic language, it was a joy to read.