Good morning Bookaholics, the book reviews are coming thick and fast at the moment. With good reason I may add as I've been reading so many good books. Today's is a cracker. I am honoured to be kicking off the Between the Lines book tour for this book.
Having read, and thoroughly enjoyed, Walled City, the first book in this series, I was on tenterhooks waiting for this one. You can see my review here. With such anticipation there is always a worry that the second book may not live up to the first, but my worries were needless. This book has managed to be even better than the first - a difficult feat. I should start by saying that this is a Young Adult book but I believe Adults would enjoy it just as much.
The premise of Beyond the Hills is that, Macia, a young girl in the city of Elabi, receives a letter from a 'friend'. Friendship is strongly discouraged in Elabi and the content of the letter shocks Macia to the core setting her life on a different trajectory. She is challenged to think, and starts to delve into a forbidden book - The Bible. As her faith grows her priorities change and she starts to question her well planned out life in Elabi.
The storyline is well written, strong, absorbing, trips along at a rapid pace, and makes you think. Mortimer uses words to good effect, drawing the reader in and making them feel as if they are in the heart of the story. Macia's character is expertly drawn, well rounded and believable. I felt as if I was inside her head and her heart and was rooting for her at every step. Like the first book, it is set in an alternative reality to the one we know and the reader gets to find out more about Elabi. Despite it not being real, I felt as if I was there walking the streets, exercising at the gymnasium and inside the counsellor's office with Marcia. There is a strong sense of place and time and for this the author is to be applauded.
Given that the forbidden book is a bible it will come as no surprise that this is a Christian book. However, the faith is well handled, adds to the story, and would not put off non-Christian readers. I feel there is something for everyone.
I will finish by saying this is a well written story which makes you think. You will find yourself grateful for the freedoms that you have in your own life and country.
I hope there will be a third book in this series.
You can buy the book from any bookshop or online retailer or via the affiliate links below.
I you want to find out other perspectives of the book you can follow the book tour, details which are on the image below.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for review purposes. At no point was I encouraged to write a positive review and my review is based on my own reading and enjoyment of the book. Thank you to Lynsey Adams of Between the Lines promotions for inviting me to be a part of this tour.
That's it for another week my Bookaholic friends. See you again soon and until then, keep reading and keep writing.
No comments:
Post a Comment