I could not finish this book. The writing seemed childish and there was so much description going on I was confused, in multiple scenes I had no idea who was speaking. The plot was decent but it felt so rushed.

This book made me so restless that i finished it in one day, I can't wait for the second part! The writing is brilliant and it helped my imagination.

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Stuck in a place of habit where every day is the same, for who would go against the master and cause change. Of the six children stuck inside the boundary Penny wants change, freedom. Will it be everything she ever wanted or simply another version of the mind numbing state they’re currently in. Book one of three is like a cross between The Hunger Games and Grossman's The Magicians. 


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Six children have grown up inside the boundary, all they know of outside comes from books and who knows how much of that is fiction? One dreams of freedom, days that are not repeats, where the master does not control them. Will their friendships survive the trails that will grant such freedom. Will they survive at all?

I got just over 10% of this and while I did really like the Beauty and the Beast-esqe of the story I beca,e increasingly frustrated with the writing - to the point of me googling the author to see why this might be. I found my answer with the author being a teenager when she wrote this, and although I do find that commendable I felt like I could not read further as I did not want to be critical. A good editor would be beneficially.

I really wanted to like this book but had a hard time getting through. The plot centres around children who are mysteriously kept captive in an eerie mansion. A series of events puts into motion deadly 'trials' but these fell pretty short in my opinion. I did finish the book but felt the ending was underdeveloped and not as exciting as the cliff-hanger lead up to. Unfortunately, will not be continuing on with the series even though the ending sets up a nice bridge to book 2 in the series.

Boundary by Mary Victoria Johnson had me hooked from the very start. I can't wait for the next book to come out. The characters were interesting and so was the plot. This is a must read for all great storytelling.

This was one of the greatest books I've read all year long.  Penny and her friends that she grew up with in the house under the care of Beutrix, and The Master was a plot that I could not put down. I read this book in a few hours today. I didn't even want to stop for restroom breaks!! The challenge put upon Penny and the others was a wonderfully imaginative storyline. Fantasy to the fullest! I don't want to give the story away for anyone who should want to read it but I must say the ending was a twist I did not expect. I can't wait to read the next book in this series!! Great Read....

A promising debut skilfully blending suspense and the supernatural

Penny and her five friends live in an isolated Victorian Gothic mansion surrounded by a dense forest. All their material needs are met: new clothes and good food, as well as lessons and books from which they learn about the outside world. 

However, it is clear from the outset that there is a dark underpinning to this tale. For the fifteen years of their lives, Penny and the other children have been confined to the house and its grounds, forbidden to venture beyond the Boundary, an invisible, impenetrable, deadly entity that surrounds the estate. The only other people they have ever seen are Beatrix, the sixty-year-old housekeeper, tutor and cook, and the terrifying, sadistic figure known as the Master, who rules their lives with seemingly omnipotent means of magic at his disposal.

Increasingly stifled by captivity, Penny’s strange dreams and yearning for freedom lead her to question why she and the others are being kept inside the Boundary. Her rebellion sets off a chain of events that shatters the children’s hermetic existence. Secrets, mysteries, mistrust and betrayal ensue as a sinister battle of wills begins to threaten the very lives of Penny and the other children. Can Penny outwit the forces behind the Boundary, and save herself and her friends before it is too late?

The plot moves at a fairly slow pace but this serves to heighten the tension, adding intrigue and curiosity, and it is full of unexpected twists. The reader is drawn in to share Penny’s frustration as she navigates her everyday existence while trying to solve the mystery of the bizarre world around her. When the action occurs, it is both shocking and exciting, increasing the suspense. The uneasy atmosphere of the beautiful mansion and forest is effectively conveyed, lending the story the essence of a dark fairy tale. While the villains remain opaque, the children are well-drawn, though occasionally jarring in the way they speak: sometimes they sound too young for their age and at other times too old. However, this works in context: having known no one but each other, it makes sense that they would not be like other children and would have their own unique way of talking.

All in all, this is an excellent first novel and one recommended for Young Adult readers. The final twist and cliffhanger are superbly rendered, which bodes well for the sequel. It has to be said that the book is in serious need of a proof-reader; there are much glaring spelling and grammatical errors throughout. However, this does not detract from the quality of the content nor the writing style of a very promising young author.

Arwen Evenstar

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. My heartfelt thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for this opportunity. It is very much appreciated. 

This is the first book in (what will eventually become) a trilogy. The tone of this novel is very dark and dreary and suits the atmosphere of the novel very well. The author made the children very believable characters who were all very easy to empathize and connect with on many different levels. The story moved forward at a decent pace and kept my interested in the plot from beginning to end. 

One of the most appealing aspects of this novel for me was the setting. I am a huge fan of Victorian novels and love to be immersed in the period in any way possible. I feel that this novel will leave readers wanting more and I am eagerly awaiting the next instalment in this series and cannot wait when it comes out later next year.

The book has a very intriguing premise of the children being kept by a "master" who will not let them leave the premises. It really did make me want to dive right in and read this book. However, I felt it fall short of its initial promise but it was an enjoyable read in the end. I had questions I need answers to and I do hope there will be a follow up book. Overall, a unique premise with some slow spots.

I really liked the premise of this book, but unfortunately I found this book hard to follow, too hard to keep track of the plot and all the characters.

First of all, the cover is perfect! It made me want to read this book. 
The story was very original, I have never really read something like this.
Very well written, I read it in like two days, couldnt put it down! And with me that's a good thing because I usually take my time with books. Thankyou for giving met the opportunity to read this amazing book, I really enjoyed it!

Boundary is the story of children who are being held captive, essentially, by a "master" he has raised them and allowed them to live in his house for the last fifteen years. But Penny wishes to escape, she'll do whatever it takes to escape the boundary... including risk her life and the lives of her friends.

A must read! This book was extremely well written, when you realize that Mary wrote this when she was 14, WOW! It was very much a page-turner, wanting to find out more about the Boundary and the Master. Leaving you with suspense and wanting more details on how the children came to be there in the first place. Looking forward to Book 2.

Boundary
4/5 Stars


A very engaging book full of questions that demand answers. The characters are all well done, if a bit whiney at times – but then, what teenager isn’t whiney? As Avery mentions, the plot twist was rather unexpected, and very well done. The premise is kind of like Under the Dome but on a much much smaller scale, it’s the sort of story that stays with you, I still don’t understand some of it and that’s going to drive me mad until I can read the sequel. 

A solid 4 out of 5 stars, and a book I definitely recommend to any fans of the genre.

Although well written, I didn't find this book to be up my alley. Though please take my review with a grain of salt, as I felt it just didn't speak to me. I found myself lack-luster in enthusiasm as I began this book, and by page 110 I was no more interested in the plot than I had be at the beginning. Something about the way that the characters are presented make them less relateable to me, and I am unable to connect.

6 teenagers are trapped inside the barrier. Penny gets curious and starts asking questions. She is given things that start something that can't be stopped. Can they figure out the puzzles before they all die?

This was an oddly intriguing book. I loved the level of details and the plot twists. It kind of reminds me of the move "The village". But nothing is told about hte outside world until the last chapter when one of them makes it to the year 1939. Eagerly moving on to the second one.

Oh wow, this was a surprise!  What a fantastic concept - 6 teenagers mysteriously being raised by a cruel and barely / non- human master, in a mansion totally segregated from the rest of the world.

Penny is inquisitive, questioning and has many dreams of other people and wonders what exactly is beyond the boundary of the mansion.  Her questions cause her to break some of the rules, and put in motion a test for them all.

I really want to read what happens next....

I have a very short attention span and this book had me hooked almost instantly. I loved the voices of the characters and the creativity of the story

I got a copy of this for a fair and honest review. Penny and the others seem to live in a world that seems perfect, but that is only a smoke screen. They are cut off from the outside world and thing change when Penny longs for something that is just out of her grasp. This is the first book in The Other Horizons. What she wants changes the fates of all those involved.