Alice M. Ross - The Nowhere Thief - Book Review - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

 

This is the debut book by journalist Alice M. Ross. The Nowhere Thief is due to be published by Nosy Crow books on 2nd March 2023. However, if you are lucky it has actually been spotted for sale in some good bookshops earlier than the publication date so get searching and hunting for an early copy! 

My first feeling after reading this book was: what next? The story is a multiverse adventure full of secrets and a little theft here and there! Twelve-year old Elsbeth takes trinkets from one place in the verse to bring back home to sell in the family's strangely quaint but failing antique store. She has discovered an extraordinary power where she can travel to parallel worlds by opening a rift. Hearing a familiar hum in the air, as the opening materialises, she can step into NOWHERE. 

The story feels like a cinematic cult movie. The feel of the story has a timeless science-fiction edge as you travel between the parallel worlds. If Doctor Who was a thief then he would sit right at home in this story. However, you don't need a tardis to travel just a rare talent! The story is a fantastic concoction of elements that fit together like a fantasy glove; hurtling along in a kaleidoscope of adventure, mystery, and a fantastic backdrop of different worlds. 

The two main characters (Elsbeth and Idris) start an unlikely friendship as they explore the dangers and their hearts by travelling together as part of this bizarre adventure. The story is very well-written - it is creatively compelling with a futuristic vision that is well-explored with enough detail to keep you on your fantasy Sci-Fi toes. I think a lot of readers will connect with the characters and be swept away into their own private fantasy world. 

Everybody needs to step inside a portal to NOWHERE and unlock their imagination. This is a great book to do that in my opinion. It is full of many possibilities, an unpredictable story, strange flying creatures, and worlds that are full of colour and life that you might want to linger in one place longer than another. In the meantime, you'll find me hiding in the dusty antique shop looking for treasure and a further story. This is an excellent debut book which is part of an exciting series to look forward to.