When seventeen-year-old Tati sends a saliva sample to a DNA ancestry testing site, her results come back inconclusive. What’s wrong with her DNA? And does it have to do with her unexplained seizures and the beckoning tunnel she sees during them? What Tati discovers is more than she could have ever imagined possible. Parallel universes exist and her abnormal DNA compels and condemns Tati and her … her other selves–shy Ana, privileged Tatyana, and on-the-run Tanya–to a lifetime of ricocheting between their parallel lives in the multiverse.With knowledge of their existence a deadly threat in every universe, the only chance all four have to survive is to work together to take down the scientist responsible: their father.
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Ricochet by Kathryn Berla is a unique and interesting story. It is a fast paced story that is told from multiple points of view I really enjoyed how, even though it were essentially the same character we were reading about, the four girls were all different. I really felt a similarity about them while also see the differences.
The story itself was exciting although a little confusing at time’s. Once I had got a handle on the characters it was much easier to follow and everything fell into place. I thought the book was well written and really drew me me.
This is definitely a book I would recommend and I hope to see more like this from this author.
Ricochet by Kathryn Berla is a must read for those who likes YA science fiction stories. Berla grabbed at the very beginning of the story. The story encompasses mystery, science fiction, adventure, and some interesting characters. This book is told in different POV and the transitions between them are smooth and not choppy. This story is about Tati who sent a saliva sample to a DNA ancestry testing site. From that moment Tati’s world is turned upside down. Will Tati get to the bottom of her DNA information? What does Ricochet mean to Tati? I highly recommend this book.
Wow! I am such a fan of Kathryn Berla and she did not disappoint! Intricate details weaving the same story throughout multiple universes without any hesitation or confusion. I am in awe! Superb job. 5 stars.
Ricochet
By: Kathryn Berla
5 out of 5 stars
The story Ricochet by Kathryn Berla is a YA/science fiction book. It is a story that I found intriguing just by reading the description of it. The story takes you on a journey that had me wondering what was going to happen next. I enjoyed reading about the character of Tati. She finds herself noticing strange things happening around her and wants to find out the reasons. What is happening to Tati? What will happen if she finds the truth? What does the future hold for Tati? Read this book to find out. I was impressed with the depth of detail and information that is given in the story. I felt like I was right there with Tati. The story will have you turning pages and I didn’t want to put it down until I had finished the final page. The book is unforgettable and has amazing characters. I would highly recommend reading it.
This book caught my attention immediately. I found the premise fascinating and flew through the pages to find out how everything would resolve. I really enjoy Berla’s writing style and loved this mystery/fantasy twist. Fantastic characters and detail, this YA fantasy is one that will appeal to all ages. Loved it!
Ricochet is told in four points of view, from essentially the same person on four different plains of existence. We had Tati, Ana, Tanya, and Tatyana, so because of the similar names, it could get tricky to keep track at first, but I think once you got to know each of them a bit, it was much easier to follow.
It would be very easy to spoil the book in a review, so I’m going to try and keep this as vague as possible. As a believer in energy and the possibility of other plains of existence, this intrigued me, but I think even with genetic variants, your DNA would still be human, and that didn’t feel scientifically accurate to me. Each girl lives in a different area of the world, in what sometimes comes across as different timelines, though they aren’t. I appreciate the inclusion of a gay character, but at times it seemed forced. The fact they figure out how to reach out to each other is a great added element, and I liked that they finally took advantage of that ability.
There were some disappointing things as well that just didn’t work for me. The DNA test plot as described in the blurb isn’t the main focus of the story, and while it propels one of the characters to look deeper, there were still other characters that this wasn’t relevant, I feel the blurb should more accurately describe the story. The ending was a letdown because it rushed what the author had only alluded to in a few previous chapters, and I don’t feel it was the best resolution (and it just wasn’t scientifically believable). I think if you’re going to use scientific theories in a book that isn’t a fantasy, then they need to be accurate and believable. I was really excited about this one and grabbed it on Google because I had a gift card, and while I’ve given it 4 stars, I don’t feel this is worth the hefty price tag.
If I take away the things I don’t like about the book, I think there’s an intriguing storyline. The characters were fairly detailed, and I liked the suspenseful element that came with being a person that is a result of their father’s quest for fame. The little differences from world to world was interesting as well (even if I felt the author failed to resolve certain oddities about those details, such as thinking a towel and comforter were one color when they never were.) This is my first read by Berla, and while I didn’t adore this book, a few of her other books look really good, so I’m not giving up yet.
4 Stars
Ricochet is a fascinating and thought provoking story by Kathryn Berla. It is a YA sci-fi fantasy with a very intriguing premise, some drama, interesting characters, mystery, and adventure.
I have read most of Ms. Berla’s books now and have enjoyed how she manages to create such diverse fantasies. And this book is no different. I was attracted to this book entirely by the cover and the original concept- before I had even realised it was by Kathryn Berla.
Going in we meet seventeen year old Tati, who doesn’t realise that she will soon discover things that will turn her world upside down and change everything she thought she knew about the world, and herself. It all starts when she sends a sample off for ancestry DNA testing. When it comes back inconclusive, it sets off a chain of events (coupled with her unexplained convulsions) that reveals parallel worlds, and her other ‘selves’. And so, the adventure begins.
The story is fairly fast paced and does ‘jump’ around a bit between past and present, and the changes in character perspectives- which made it a little confusing at times- but after adjusting to the ‘jauntiness’ of it all, the story became much easier to read.
I really wish there had been more ‘world building’, as I really would have liked to explore that aspect of the story more. I also think that whilst the characters were good, they lacked the depth and complexity which would have made them ‘great’ and this story a lot more exciting- elevating it to a whole new level. With the promise that the premise held, this book could have been amazing, and although it was a ‘good’ read- I was left just a little disappointed.
Don’t be put off reading this story though, because it is well written and does deserve a read- I am just being greedy and wanted ‘more’ of the characters, their world/s, and the story.
I wonder what Ms. Berla has in store for us next?
Thank you, Ms. Berla!