Review by Paul Zietsman: Readers’ Favourite, 2025

Escape by Alison Bellringer is an adventure story that deals with serious life issues. When sixteen-year-old Kaylee's parents disapprove of her marrying Carlos, the boy she has known and loved most of her life, she and Carlos decide to leave their village and get married without her parents' blessing. They plan their escape and get married in a village where they hope they will not be found. Kaylee keeps probing Carlos on when they will return to their childhood village, but Carlos keeps putting it off, saying that the time isn't quite right. Years that feel like only months go by, and Carlos transforms into a cruel and abusive husband, a shadow of the man Kaylee once admired and loved so much. When she falls pregnant, Kaylee puts her daughter's safety before her own, to the extent that she sends her away to find a better family… Escape, although part of a series, can be read as a standalone short story. It has an air of adventure about it and explores themes like betrayal, disillusionment, and forgiveness. I appreciated Bellringer's ability to compress important issues into this short story. I found it easy to read in one sitting, as the adventurous side kept me entertained. However, the story lingered with me for quite some time after reading: a testament to good writing that inspires on a deeper level. The question of whether Kaylee should forgive Carlos, who beat her and endangered their child, is important and challenging. The last time they saw each other, he had knocked her unconscious and left her close to death. Should the reader consider whether they can give second chances to past antagonists if they were to ask for forgiveness and change their ways? Full marks for an entertaining and engaging read.

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