Review Detail

The Other Inheritance by Rebecca Jaycox

The Story:
When seventeen-year-old Reggie brings a dead frog back to life and is visited by a mysterious man in a series of very realistic dreams, she is on the precipice of learning about a whole other magical world, a whole other side to herself, and about an entirely new destiny mapped out for her.

The Characters:
One of the great things about The Other Inheritance is Reggie’s intelligence and confidence. She questions why things are happening to her and the reasons behind them. She is not content to be led around with blinders on. In saying that, I found myself wishing she was more selfish. There are a couple of instances where Reggie immediately forgave people who had betrayed and misled her, and I found myself questioning the believability of her response—regardless of the fact forgiveness is a great quality.
The complexities and revelations surrounding the antagonist were intriguing. Other notable characters are a loyal best friend, John, and of course the ‘at moral war with himself’ Asher.

The World:
The concept of a parallel world in which magic exists is clearly and simply explained. Upon entering into the Other, the differences between the Other and the Real (Earth) are well depicted. The cultures and intricacies of this fresh fantasy world are a pleasure to discover and hold the readers’ attention from the moment Reggie crosses through the barrier. The Author has done a wonderful job in bringing the Other to life.

The Readability
Medium-to-fast pace throughout. Professionally edited with an easy-to-read and vivid writing style. Rebecca Jaycox has put a lot of effort into the plausibility of this story. If Reggie is being misled, there is a perfectly good reason why she has believed the deception. Too often, authors rely on the age and naivety in their young adult characters, however the Other Inheritance has a water-tight structure, allowing the author to present us with an intelligent and strong young woman, and an unpredictable plot - so refreshing!

Final Verdict:
A highly enjoyable story of an ordinary girl thrown into extraordinary circumstances. I made the mistake of judging this book by its cover before reading—a big mistake it turns out, as I was pleasantly surprised with the professional quality of the story inside.


Favorite Quote:
“A dull throb began as she reached out toward it. The closer she came, the sharper the throbbing. Energy surged within her pushing to get out, her skin a poor casing for her power. She sensed the drowning emptiness of the beetle, the essential spark of life gone.”