Gilded Spirits - by Amrit Kallar (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

When Georgia-born Emily Jones joins a mining party heading West with the Gold Rush of 1849, she dreams not merely of wealth, but of personal freedom. With her lively wit and her love, Jonah, by her side, the future seems to glitter--until fate delivers her, scarred though still holding fast to hope, to San Francisco.

Nearly two centuries later, Meera, a factory worker from small-town India, emerges from a mental health crisis to pursue a new future in California--a decision that leads her to her soulmate, Rahul, and the start of a family of her own. To make ends meet, Meera accepts a position at Silicon Valley's tech conglomerate WC Terra--only to discover an allegiance-based, profit-fixated culture that rains abuses upon employees and consumers alike.

As Meera finds herself unraveling under stress and isolation, it seems that not even her irreverent wit, her numbers-savvy mind, or her family's love can shield her in her efforts to address the corruption all around her.

Yet behind the veil of spirits, a cosmic intelligence has borne witness to each woman's journey, and it knows that Meera cannot take on her burdens alone. But before moving forward, Meera will first have to accept that the boundaries of reality are far thinner than she ever imagined--and that she really does have the power to change the world

Review Quotes

"Heartfelt and imaginative, Kallar's Gilded Spirits reminds us that courage is contagious--a message we need now more than ever . . . " --Karen Joy Fowler, New York Times bestselling author of We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves and The Jane Austen Book Club

"Kallar's hard-hitting novel embraces romance, risk-taking, and contrasts in historical events and perspectives . . . Gilded Spirits turns an overlooked urban legend into a golden yarn that spins a timeless tale that's gratifying 'til the last untangled knot. Highly recommended!" --Midwest Book Review

"Well-written, laced with appealing period details, lavish imagery, and the natural tenor of the eras . . . This women-centric portrait of courage enchants." --BookLife

"Rich with historical detail, lush prose, and heartfelt emotion, [Gilded Spirits] swept me off my feet and dropped me right into the dusty trails of Gold Rush-era California ... It left me teary-eyed and inspired--an emotional excavation I won't soon forget." --San Francisco Book Review

"A page-turner from the start! When looking for an absorbing historical fiction that is satisfyingly different, Gilded Spirits by Amrit Kallar is a must-read debut novel." --Reader Views

"A richly layered novel . . . beautifully matched to its atmospheric setting as Kallar's vivid descriptions bring both the Gold Rush era and modern-day California to life with remarkable authenticity." --Reader's Favorite