Alaska, historical-fiction, historical-research, historical-setting, history-and-culture, adventure, coming-of-age, YA-only-means-no-gratuitous-erotica*****

A pair of young men who are best friends took the advice Jack London gave them at their high school graduation in San Francisco in 1898 and went off to spend the summer panning for gold in Alaska and learned a lot of life lessons. The characters are all believable and interesting, especially the Norsemen who practice the old religion (we are Norse). Lots of adventure with plenty of twists and surprises. We loved it!
Frank Block is a very good narrator but it is clear that he is not a voice actor. That was perfectly fine for me and the teenager!
I won this audiobook in a giveaway! Yay me! ( )

Sam Rothman and Liam Kampen are headed for the wilds of Alaska in an attempt to strike it rich and have some adventure. After a stirring speech by Jack London at their high school graduation, Sam and Liam leave their hometown of San Francisco to venture to the Turnagain Arm region. Before departure, Sam's father warns him that his Jewish name may not be the best to use in Alaska and Sam decides on the name of Percy Hope. Upon the boy's arrival, Magnus Vega, a local saloon owner, declares that he will name the neighboring town after the first person off the boat. Percy becomes the talk of the town before even striking gold. As Percy and Liam get settled and learn the ways of the land, they see that Hope follows the rules of the Catholic church and Reverend O'Hara while the neighboring town of Sunrise is ruled over by Magnus and his devious ways. Percy and Liam find out what they are made of as they are captured in the rivalries between towns, enemies and religious groups.

As Jack London tells Sam, every good story needs conflict, danger, a battle between good and evil, a relatable hero as well as twists and turns. This is exactly what Hope City delivers in a fast-paced and exciting read. I loved the setting of wild Alaska during the gold rush and the many different settings that Sam and Liam's adventures took them through from the rivers of the Turnagain Arm, to the new towns, the native villages and the open waters. Both Liam and Sam were great characters who took different paths while in Alaska offering two different views. The point of view switched between Sam/Percy and Magnus which confused me a little at first, but became clear after the first few chapters. Through these two different points of view the fight between good and evil was evident; however, what makes a person good or bad was more difficult to tell. The inclusion of the Asatru religion made for many more interesting twists and turns as well. With a very exciting and unexpected ending, Hope City makes for a wonderful historical adventure.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. ( )