A Step Sideways

by Nancy Marie Bell

This book is out of print and no longer available. Republished with additional material as A Step Beyond   Publisher  Books We Love

134 pages, Paperback

First published December 11, 2011

About the author

Nancy Marie Bell is a proud Albertan and lives near Balzac, Alberta with her husband and various critters. She is a member of The Writers Union of Canada and the Writers Guild of Alberta. Nancy has numerous writing credits to her name, having three novels published and her work has been published in various magazines. She has also had her work recognized and honoured with various awards, and most recently, a silver medal in the Creative Writing category of the Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games in 2013. Nancy has presented at the Surrey International Writers Conference in 2012 and 2013, and at the Writers Guild of Alberta Conference in 2014. She has publishing credits in poetry, fiction and non-fiction.

Reviews

[V. Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Step Sideways is a sequel to Laurel's Miracle but not at the same age level. This is a rather interesting novel that involves a kind of time travel or parallel time existence by one of the young characters from the first book in the series. The young lad lives with a most abusive uncle and while receiving an horrific beating, during his unconscious state, goes off on a journey with his war horse to the time of King Arthur and the Round Table. It seems this young lad was in fact a Knight of the Round Table in that lifetime. So, the adventure starts out almost middle grade and within a few pages we are reading an adult story about an adult world. Once again the descriptions are breath taking and the plot exciting with a paranormal bent. The horses converse with each other and their riders telepathically adding an interesting side plot to the story. Great adventure and action. In some places almost a guy's novel. Ms. Bell writes super war action almost like she has been there. Must read. Five stars*****

[Marva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this continuation from the English kids we met in Laurel's Miracle. This time, the focus is on Gort, a boy who is traumatized by the death of his parents and the abuse of a drunkard uncle. He's rescued in Laurel's Miracle from the uncle and is living with his friend Coll's family.

Gort's uncle returns to town, catches up to the boy, and beats the bloody hell out of him. Unconscious in a shed where nobody knows he is, Gort slips into an alternate reality and persona. He becomes Sir Gawain of King Arthur's court.

The book proceeds completely in Gawain's point of view except for occasional slippages between the modern world and the time of Arthur.

This central part with Gawain, his mighty stallion Ailin, and Gawain's crush on the lady-in-waiting to Gwenhwyfar. The ladies have been taken by the villain, who remains a shadowy figure for the most part. After all, the point of this story is showing poor little Gort as the strong noble Gawain.

It's a totally original Arthur story, no re-hashing of how Arthur becomes King, but a tale of Camelot in full power.

Now the weak part for me is not enough Gort. Bare little shreds of memory pass through Gawain's aching skull (he's clouted in the head early on) of his identity as Gort. This really isn't confusing when you read it. It's just hard to say in a few words. I would have liked to see Gort fully going back and forth between the modern world where he's being beaten to a pulp by his lousy uncle, and Gawain as he helps rescue the ladies. I just think it should be more Gort's than Gawain's.

On the other hand, I found Gawain's story compelling and strong. It didn't need a time travel wrapper to stand on its own. There are two stories here, both interesting and worthy. I don't believe they meshed as well as they could. I'd be perfectly happy with one or the other.