⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I don’t usually read a lot of fantasy books, but this book pulled me into an exciting, magical world filled with danger and surprising twists. I was hooked right from the very first page and couldn’t put it down. The blend of action, emotional moments, and detailed world-building kept me up late turning pages. If you’re into fantasy that has high stakes, and strong characters you’ll genuinely cheer for, this one’s definitely worth reading.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Realms Beyond: The Asanja Saga Book One grabs you from the first page. Rico and his friends face epic dangers, mystical creatures, and high stakes, all while discovering courage and friendship. Fast-paced, magical, and impossible to put down!

⭐⭐⭐⭐ As someone who has dipped in and out of fantasy over the years—preferring the genre more as a viewer than a reader—I approached Realms Beyond with a degree of cautious curiosity. What I discovered, however, was a highly engaging and cleverly constructed novel that shows a deep respect for the genre without alienating novices like myself.
What sets Realms Beyond apart, for me, is its seamless weaving of the contemporary world with a richly imagined fantasy realm. The novel is peppered with cultural references—Lost, Star Wars, Minecraft, Captain America—there’s even a nod to The Wizard of Oz! These added humour but also helped me navigate the unfamiliar terrain of the fantasy world while staying anchored to the familiar, allowing the everyday and the extraordinary to coexist in a natural, enjoyable way.
This is an easy read, but that’s not to be mistaken for simplicity. Nick Child clearly knows his stuff, but he’s made what can often be a complex genre feel accessible and thoroughly engaging.
The cast of characters is refreshingly diverse and free of fantasy protagonist cliché. Suzame was a particular favourite: brave, forthright, and wonderfully stubborn. I also now realise I’m not cursed with clumsiness—I just need to channel my inner superpower!
At its heart, Realms Beyond is a story of love, loss, and enduring friendship. It’s imaginative, rewarding, and full of heart. I only gave it four stars because I wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye—and I’m going to be worrying about Wyrun until the next instalment. But seriously, I devoured this book in two days. For those, like me, who tend to watch rather than read their fantasy, this novel may serve as a gentle but compelling invitation to return to the page.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Nick Child’s “Realms Beyond” opens with thirty passengers from a Los Angeles airport shuttle awakening on a mysterious grassy plain beneath towering stone monoliths. What begins as confusion quickly escalates into a survival story that blends portal fantasy with coming-of-age themes, as a diverse group of strangers, ranging from children to elderly couples, must navigate an alien yet familiar world where latent abilities begin to emerge.

The story centres on Rico, a shy Costa Rican teenager, along with fellow passengers including sharp-minded 13-year-old Tabbi, charismatic footballer Sam, and quiet animal-lover Suzume. Under the reluctant leadership of Yang, a martial artist, the group must survive encounters with dire boars and other fantastical creatures while slowly discovering they possess supernatural abilities. When they’re eventually rescued by mysterious elf-like riders called the Wyrun, the survivors realize their journey has only just begun. Though they appear to still be on Earth, this version of their world is populated by mythical creatures and governed by very different rules, in a premise evoking the TV show La Brea.

Child excels at creating a memorable ensemble cast, particularly the teenage protagonists. Rico, the shy Costa Rican teen with uncanny luck; Tabbi, the sharp 13-year-old with eidetic memory; Sam, the charismatic footballer; and Suzume, the quiet runaway who can communicate with animals. Their abilities feel earned rather than arbitrary, growing organically from their personalities and backgrounds. The character dynamics are particularly strong and the dialogue between them enjoyable to read.

Child employs a smooth, easy-to-read prose style that focuses on accessibility for the book’s primarily younger audience. His use of tight third-person perspective prose, shifting between focal characters, works perfectly. Child also demonstrates a talent for pacing, using short, punchy paragraphs during action sequences while allowing quieter character moments to breathe. One of the novel’s most fun aspects is how it blends modern and mythic elements. The characters’ use of pop culture references, such as Dungeons & Dragons, Star Wars and Lost will make the novel enjoyable for a younger audience, although some older readers may feel that it dates the novel.

While the character development is strong, the plot occasionally feels a tad static. Extended flashback sequences such as in the opening chapter sometimes slow the momentum. While the teenage protagonists are well-realized, many of the adult passengers remain sketchy. Given the ensemble nature of the story, more development of the supporting cast would strengthen the overall narrative. Nonetheless, since this is only the first novel in the series, I’m sure these minor issues will all be improved in the future instalments, and they didn’t impede my enjoyment of it.

To sum up, “Realms Beyond” is a gripping read that young adults and older kids will surely be unable to put down. It thoughtfully explores themes of identity and coming of age. Fans of The Maze Runner and Percy Jackson will enjoy the blend of mythic elements with contemporary characters. However, “Realms Beyond” carves out its own identity through its focus on the way ordinary people adapt to extraordinary circumstances. Overall, Child has created a gripping adventure that feels both mysterious and believable, populated by characters readers will genuinely care about.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ A group of young people find themselves transported to a seemingly different world where they are caught up in the nefarious plots of the evil Chung. There they must do battle with all manner of fearsome beasts and use their burgeoning powers to combat the diabolical magic used against them. Nick Child creates a gripping tale that bowls along at a cracking pace, with some superb action sequences. All in all, a very enjoyable read.