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Reviewed by Hilary Hawkes for Readers' Favorite
A Step Beyond by Nancy M Bell is the story of what happens when Gort finds himself as another version of himself inside the legendary world of King Arthur. This happens when, in current real life, his abusive Uncle Daniel attacks him and Gort slides into unconsciousness. In this other world, he is brave and adventurous Knight Gawain and his war horse is Ailim. Ailim and the other horses have the ability to mind speak to each other and to certain humans, and this gift proves useful when Gawain sets off to help King Arthur rescue his Queen and the Lady Nuina from the wicked King March. The adventure takes place in the ancient Land of Lyonnesse which, according to legend, was in place of the sea between the coast of Cornwall in England and the Isles of Scilly. Gawain’s race across country involves mystery, danger, sword fights, and romance as he discovers the connection between this mythical world and the real world.
What a brilliant idea for a story. I loved the link to the King Arthur legends and the idea of past lives where different versions of our real selves play out their lives in different ways. Gort’s present life as a victim of abuse needing safety in order to heal is in great contrast to his earlier existence as a courageous Knight of King Arthur. But knowing friends from previous times are still present as different people in his current life gives him the courage to face the pain and move forward.
Bell’s A Step Beyond is a well written imaginative story that will appeal to teenage readers who like a mixture of legend and fantasy. The plot unfolds intriguingly with much time devoted to the journeying from one location to another. Gort (or Gawain) is a likeable character who matures and grows through the adventure until he fulfills his mission. I like the idea of telepathy as a means of communication between the horses and their owners, and thought it was a lovely development on the way animals can often sense their owners’ states of minds. The story comes to a satisfying end with the sense that life will unfold in a better way for Gort.
