Margo is on the train to boarding school when she falls through an interdimensional portal. Moon is travelling between worlds for work when he meets a girl from a place he’s never heard of. They soon discover that there’s more to Margo than meets the eye as a mystery begins to unravel around them that could spark a rebellion and change the universe.
I had very mixed feelings about this book. While I enjoyed the dual narrative and found it easy to read, the first half of the book was often frustrating, taking a little too long for certain aspects of the world to be explained. O’Donoghue also uses a mix of formal and informal language, which threw me off. As the book progressed I began to really enjoy the worldbuilding, as well as the plot’s mystery at the heart of the story. The book was very well paced, there was always a chance for danger but there were also moments for rest that allowed characters’ relationships to build and some themes to be explored further. I enjoyed it when I picked up on the clues O’Donoghue wove into the story, and had the chance to tweak my theories as the plot progressed. There were also very moving character moments.
Overall the book is an epic tale of rebellion and love with unique worldbuilding, well-paced plot, and compelling characters. While there were aspects I found frustrating, I had a very enjoyable reading experience and cannot wait for the sequel due to come out next year.
Freddie Higgins, 17
Skipshock
Caroline O’Donoghue
Walker, 2025
Paperback, £16.99
ISBN: 9781536228816
