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O Livro das Portas
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Fantasy (2024), Nominee for Readers' Favorite Debut Novel (2024)Cassie Andrews trabalha numa livraria de Nova Iorque e leva uma vida calma. Até que, certo dia, recebe do seu cliente favorito um presente um livro recheado de estranhos escritos e desenhos misteriosos. No frontispício, encontra uma dedicatória manuscrita dirigida a si própria e uma nota a explicar que está na posse do Livro das Portas.
O que não lhe é explicado é que este é um livro especial que confere poderes extraordinários a quem o possuir, mas Cassie não tarda a percebê-lo. Na companhia da sua amiga Izzy, começa a explorar as capacidades do livro, arrebatada pela possibilidade de viajar para qualquer lugar que consiga imaginar. Porém, as duas amigas rapidamente descobrem que o Livro das Portas não é o único livro mágico no mundo e que existem outros livros capazes de fazer coisas tão maravilhosas quanto terríveis...
De um momento para o outro, Cassie e Izzy veem-se perante pessoas impiedosas, dispostas a tudo para conseguirem o que querem, e o único que parece poder ajudá-las é Drummond Fox, um homem que há muito foge dos seus próprios demónios e que possui uma biblioteca de outros tantos livros com poderes especiais que precisa de manter em segurança.
O que não lhe é explicado é que este é um livro especial que confere poderes extraordinários a quem o possuir, mas Cassie não tarda a percebê-lo. Na companhia da sua amiga Izzy, começa a explorar as capacidades do livro, arrebatada pela possibilidade de viajar para qualquer lugar que consiga imaginar. Porém, as duas amigas rapidamente descobrem que o Livro das Portas não é o único livro mágico no mundo e que existem outros livros capazes de fazer coisas tão maravilhosas quanto terríveis...
De um momento para o outro, Cassie e Izzy veem-se perante pessoas impiedosas, dispostas a tudo para conseguirem o que querem, e o único que parece poder ajudá-las é Drummond Fox, um homem que há muito foge dos seus próprios demónios e que possui uma biblioteca de outros tantos livros com poderes especiais que precisa de manter em segurança.
543 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 13, 2024
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November 12, 2025
This book presents a dreamy formula for fantasy readers, complete with time travel, an epic battle between good and evil, and the tantalizing idea that the source of superpowers is intertwined with books. In this captivating narrative, seizing the most powerful books bestows wealth, invincibility, and unrivaled supremacy upon the possessor. As readers, we've always known that books are the most precious treasures in the world, and this riveting, action-packed, and magical adventure featuring the Midnight Library and time travel delivers a story that firmly underscores this belief.
The characters are vividly portrayed, and the magical system built around books is executed with intelligence, granting different powers to individuals based on their unique identities and characteristics. The significance of good books, which can transport you anywhere in the world, unlocking doors to limitless possibilities, is beautifully articulated. The "Book of Doors" becomes Cassie's key to turning her dreams into reality.
The story centers around Cassie, an introverted, orphaned, quirky young woman who finds solace working in a bookshop, preferring the enchantment of fantasy over the harshness of reality. Her polar opposite is her best friend and roommate, Izzy, an extroverted, energetic, and blunt young woman who, despite coming to New York to pursue a career in Broadway, eventually abandons her dreams due to lack of talent. With Cassie working night shifts and Izzy embracing the daylight, their paths barely cross. However, when they encounter each other at home, they share the mundane events of their days. Cassie confides in Izzy about losing her favorite customer, who left her a mysterious book covered in symbols created with special ink known as the "Book of Doors." Cassie discovers that when she visualizes a place and opens a door, her vision transforms into reality, allowing her to transport to that place. Cassie decides to use this extraordinary gift to explore different corners of the world. Izzy, though, has reservations, and she's not wrong because the book's power is so immense that it can open doors to any place in the universe. If it falls into the wrong hands, it could alter the course of humanity.
Cassie's life takes a perilous turn when she meets Drummond Fox, a mysterious and enigmatic Scottish man in his 40s, who inherited the Fox Library from his grandfather, Edmund. He warns her of the imminent danger she faces, explaining that there are numerous books in the world, each bestowing unique powers on its possessor. There's also a malevolent woman relentlessly pursuing Drummond, and she desires to possess all the books for nefarious purposes. Despite her initial skepticism, Cassie soon realizes that she is in grave danger. To protect her life, as well as Izzy's, she must join forces with Drummond to unravel the mystery of these powerful books, all while safeguarding the "Book of Doors." When she becomes trapped in an unimaginable place, Cassie must find a way to secure her freedom and protect her future.
This is one of the most intelligent, heart-pounding, and enchanting books I've had the pleasure of reading in recent times. It resonates with both your intellect and your emotions. The author's imaginative storytelling whisks you away to diverse places and introduces you to intriguing, well-developed characters. You won't want to put this book down; it's the kind of story that makes you wish you could skip work and all other responsibilities, allowing you to immerse yourself in its mesmerizing words and magical universe.
I'm eagerly looking forward to reading more works by this author, and I wholeheartedly award this book a well-deserved five stars. Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing a digital review copy of this incredible book with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. Special appreciation to Gareth Brown for crafting this remarkable journey!
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The characters are vividly portrayed, and the magical system built around books is executed with intelligence, granting different powers to individuals based on their unique identities and characteristics. The significance of good books, which can transport you anywhere in the world, unlocking doors to limitless possibilities, is beautifully articulated. The "Book of Doors" becomes Cassie's key to turning her dreams into reality.
The story centers around Cassie, an introverted, orphaned, quirky young woman who finds solace working in a bookshop, preferring the enchantment of fantasy over the harshness of reality. Her polar opposite is her best friend and roommate, Izzy, an extroverted, energetic, and blunt young woman who, despite coming to New York to pursue a career in Broadway, eventually abandons her dreams due to lack of talent. With Cassie working night shifts and Izzy embracing the daylight, their paths barely cross. However, when they encounter each other at home, they share the mundane events of their days. Cassie confides in Izzy about losing her favorite customer, who left her a mysterious book covered in symbols created with special ink known as the "Book of Doors." Cassie discovers that when she visualizes a place and opens a door, her vision transforms into reality, allowing her to transport to that place. Cassie decides to use this extraordinary gift to explore different corners of the world. Izzy, though, has reservations, and she's not wrong because the book's power is so immense that it can open doors to any place in the universe. If it falls into the wrong hands, it could alter the course of humanity.
Cassie's life takes a perilous turn when she meets Drummond Fox, a mysterious and enigmatic Scottish man in his 40s, who inherited the Fox Library from his grandfather, Edmund. He warns her of the imminent danger she faces, explaining that there are numerous books in the world, each bestowing unique powers on its possessor. There's also a malevolent woman relentlessly pursuing Drummond, and she desires to possess all the books for nefarious purposes. Despite her initial skepticism, Cassie soon realizes that she is in grave danger. To protect her life, as well as Izzy's, she must join forces with Drummond to unravel the mystery of these powerful books, all while safeguarding the "Book of Doors." When she becomes trapped in an unimaginable place, Cassie must find a way to secure her freedom and protect her future.
This is one of the most intelligent, heart-pounding, and enchanting books I've had the pleasure of reading in recent times. It resonates with both your intellect and your emotions. The author's imaginative storytelling whisks you away to diverse places and introduces you to intriguing, well-developed characters. You won't want to put this book down; it's the kind of story that makes you wish you could skip work and all other responsibilities, allowing you to immerse yourself in its mesmerizing words and magical universe.
I'm eagerly looking forward to reading more works by this author, and I wholeheartedly award this book a well-deserved five stars. Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing a digital review copy of this incredible book with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. Special appreciation to Gareth Brown for crafting this remarkable journey!
medium blog
November 30, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read The Book of Doors as an eARC in exchange for an honest review. If you are not a fan of negative reviews, I would probably not recommend reading this one. Potentially minor spoilers (just a few out-of-context quotes).
The Book of Doors is marketed as being "for the types of readers who have flocked to the Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Night Circus, and Babel". As these are three of my favorite books in existence, you can imagine how much I was looking forward to this title. Unfortunately, when new releases are marketed as being similar to these books, I find that I am often disappointed- this was no exception.
I had extremely high hopes for this book; even just the concept sounded like something I would enjoy, aside from being compared to some of my favorite books! Part of me does feel bad giving a negative review to this book, knowing that it just wasn't for me, (because that does not mean that YOU, as a reader, wouldn't enjoy it); but I knew within 6% of the way through that this book was not my cup of tea. There were things in this book that really rubbed me the wrong way; let me tell you why.
First of all- the pacing of this book felt completely off to me. I don't want to spoil anything, but even though this is a fantasy novel, the way that the plot began to unfold felt very.. unrealistic, for lack of a better word. Sort of rushed? Then, within the first few chapters, the fmc was described as being "in her own eyes, too tall/too thin/her hips too narrow/her chest too flat/her eyes were big and wide like deer's", which felt.. unnecessary. There were many additional unnecessary comments about eating/food, which was irrelevant to the plot (for example, fmc #2 talking about how she LOVES bread, but can't eat it because it'll go straight to her hips! She later goes on to call herself disgusting for eating pancakes and bacon). I understand how this kind of stuff isn't a big deal to other readers, and that's totally okay! For me, I find it unnecessary, and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth when I read it.
The pacing, writing style, and plot continued to disappoint me throughout the rest of the book, but the part that made me decide that this book was ABSOLUTELY not for me was some specific quotes from a specific character. The character in question is the villain of the story, and refers to another female character (who is Black) as "that f*cking Black, bald bitch", before referring to another character duo as "that Jap and his ape". This same character later on in the book says, "one of the worst things that ever happened was when all you women started thinking you were equal to us men... sometimes I wish I lived back in the 1970's when the natural order was still in place". And here's the thing- I get that this is "the bad guy". I understand that he's supposed to suck as a human being. But I feel like there was probably a way to write the exact same storyline, the exact same book, the exact same plot, without having to say those kinds of things.
If you're reading this review, or even this book, and think, "you know, that kind of stuff doesn't bother me, that's no big deal, it's just one character"- that's fine. In my eyes- I just find it unnecessary (and honestly, just icky). I don't think it is necessary in any sense to have a character say those kinds of things. By the time this book comes out, it will be 2024- I would hope that authors would no longer feel the need to include those kinds of quotes in their books by now. That content alone is plenty for me to have not enjoyed this book, but even if those quotes weren't included, I still don't think I would have enjoyed it.
Overall, I was disappointed in this book. I recognize that I used the word "unnecessary" probably too many times in this review, but I truly could not think of another word that better describes how I feel after reading this. I will be giving this title a 1-star for Netgalley and Goodreads' sake. This is the first truly negative review I have ever written, and I will be spending the rest of my evening trying not to apologize for it. (I'm sorry).
The Book of Doors is marketed as being "for the types of readers who have flocked to the Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Night Circus, and Babel". As these are three of my favorite books in existence, you can imagine how much I was looking forward to this title. Unfortunately, when new releases are marketed as being similar to these books, I find that I am often disappointed- this was no exception.
I had extremely high hopes for this book; even just the concept sounded like something I would enjoy, aside from being compared to some of my favorite books! Part of me does feel bad giving a negative review to this book, knowing that it just wasn't for me, (because that does not mean that YOU, as a reader, wouldn't enjoy it); but I knew within 6% of the way through that this book was not my cup of tea. There were things in this book that really rubbed me the wrong way; let me tell you why.
First of all- the pacing of this book felt completely off to me. I don't want to spoil anything, but even though this is a fantasy novel, the way that the plot began to unfold felt very.. unrealistic, for lack of a better word. Sort of rushed? Then, within the first few chapters, the fmc was described as being "in her own eyes, too tall/too thin/her hips too narrow/her chest too flat/her eyes were big and wide like deer's", which felt.. unnecessary. There were many additional unnecessary comments about eating/food, which was irrelevant to the plot (for example, fmc #2 talking about how she LOVES bread, but can't eat it because it'll go straight to her hips! She later goes on to call herself disgusting for eating pancakes and bacon). I understand how this kind of stuff isn't a big deal to other readers, and that's totally okay! For me, I find it unnecessary, and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth when I read it.
The pacing, writing style, and plot continued to disappoint me throughout the rest of the book, but the part that made me decide that this book was ABSOLUTELY not for me was some specific quotes from a specific character. The character in question is the villain of the story, and refers to another female character (who is Black) as "that f*cking Black, bald bitch", before referring to another character duo as "that Jap and his ape". This same character later on in the book says, "one of the worst things that ever happened was when all you women started thinking you were equal to us men... sometimes I wish I lived back in the 1970's when the natural order was still in place". And here's the thing- I get that this is "the bad guy". I understand that he's supposed to suck as a human being. But I feel like there was probably a way to write the exact same storyline, the exact same book, the exact same plot, without having to say those kinds of things.
If you're reading this review, or even this book, and think, "you know, that kind of stuff doesn't bother me, that's no big deal, it's just one character"- that's fine. In my eyes- I just find it unnecessary (and honestly, just icky). I don't think it is necessary in any sense to have a character say those kinds of things. By the time this book comes out, it will be 2024- I would hope that authors would no longer feel the need to include those kinds of quotes in their books by now. That content alone is plenty for me to have not enjoyed this book, but even if those quotes weren't included, I still don't think I would have enjoyed it.
Overall, I was disappointed in this book. I recognize that I used the word "unnecessary" probably too many times in this review, but I truly could not think of another word that better describes how I feel after reading this. I will be giving this title a 1-star for Netgalley and Goodreads' sake. This is the first truly negative review I have ever written, and I will be spending the rest of my evening trying not to apologize for it. (I'm sorry).
January 9, 2024
A magical read for booklovers everywhere. New Yorker Cassie is a little lost, mourning her grandfather and whiling her days away working in a bookstore...until a very unusual book comes into her life from a mysterious patron. The Book of Doors has the power to transport Cassie anywhere in the world she has the power to visualize, but a trail of danger comes in its wake as others scheme to take the book for themselves. A lovely read, and one I'll be recommending to many.
April 11, 2024
In a Nutshell: A contemporary fantasy-thriller combining low fantasy and time travel with the evergreen good vs. evil trope. Mindboggling plotting! Enjoyed this debut novel from start to end, despite a few minor niggles.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
The official blurb recommends this to readers of ‘The Midnight Library’, ‘The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue’, and ‘The Night Circus’. Of these, I have read only the first one, and this book is nothing like it except for the presence of doors. So I’m going to advocate this to readers who enjoyed Peng Shepherd’s ‘The Cartographers’ and Alix E. Harrow’s ‘The Ten Thousand Doors of January’, both of which I loved for their creativity.
Bookish Yays:
🚪 First things first. A debut novel, with a clear focus, and an ambitious storyline, and no overload of needless themes, and a plot that fits together almost like a jigsaw puzzle, a piece at a time. Well done!
🚪 This is a classic good vs evil fantasy. With most characters slotting neatly into either section, this is almost like watching a superhero movie where ordinary characters save the world.
🚪 On that note, the main characters are not heroes but realistic, flawed humans. Cassie is concerned only about her own wishes for a long while. Izzy is obsessed with staying thin. Drummond is a coward who chooses flight over fight. It’s amazing to see them grow in maturity and spirit over the course of the novel.
🚪 The secondary characters, though in somewhat limited roles, are also interesting. Book hunter Azaki, and Lottie aka The Bookseller are amazing grey characters. Azaki’s “bodyguard” Lund is the strong-silent type; I wish he had had a greater active role. The characters that sent a chill through my bones were the antagonists. The book has two of the most heinous villains I have read. (Admittedly, I don’t read a lot of villainous thrillers, so take this line with a pinch of salt.) The main antagonist – ‘The Woman’ – is 100% evil and creepy as heck!
🚪 There are multiple characters at the start, but introduced in a way that is easy to remember who's who. The identity of the characters doesn’t get confusing.
🚪 As a bibliophile, I loved not just that books played such an important role in the plot but also the reveal about how the books came into being. There was something almost spiritual in that scene. And who doesn’t want magical books!?
🚪 You will NEVER see me listing gore and/or brutality in the Yays column, and yes, this book has a quite a lot of brutality. (Remember? Heinous villains!) I actually have a poor tolerance for gory scenes. But the writing in this book is such that I was more fascinated+horrified than grossed out by the carnage.
🚪 The writing is descriptive without going over the top. I could visualise every scene vividly. (Which wasn’t a good thing during the bloodshed scenes; oh well!)
🚪 The pacing is somewhat uneven, but I didn’t mind it, as the story doesn’t regress or falter even during the slow moments. The tempo goes in sync with the characters’ actions and emotions at that time. It was almost as if the pace altered in accordance with the state of the character’s freedom. And hey, I still completed this 400+ pager within two days, so no complaints.
🚪 My favourite part of this book is the intricacy of the plotting and how it all comes together. Unlike the more grounded genres such as crime thrillers or historical fiction, genres such as fantasy and time travel cannot be overanalysed for logical accuracy as they are essentially imaginative. Keeping this in mind, the book astounded me with how neatly *almost* all its threads came together at the end. Moreover, the book offers plenty of twists and surprises along the way, while avoiding unwarranted infodumps and needless backstories for the characters. Most importantly, the book takes a couple of plotting calls that are hardly common in time travel stories – such a brave writing choice!
🚪 There is a hint of a romantic development, but thankfully, the story never deviates from its main track and the romance is kept exactly where it belonged – on the backburner.
🚪 I am not a fan of chapter titles in adult novels, but they are used wonderfully in this book.
🚪 Don't you just love authors who thank their pets in their final acknowledgement? I do!
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🔐 Some of the language is a bit awkward. One of the villains, Dr. Hugo Barbary, is exactly as his last name suggests – barbaric not just in his savagery but also in his uncivilised opinions, especially about women and those of non-white ethnic origins. While his lines are cringeworthy to read, they highlight what kind of a prejudiced jerk he is. If we remember that the language reflects the character, it is easier to ignore.
🔐 The plotting gets a bit too convenient at times. Some character decisions are annoying. There are also some question marks in a couple of the scenes. Actually, all this is a hallmark of most contemporary thrillers anyway, which is why I avoid thrillers. I guess I should be grateful this novel doesn’t go as much over the top and gets most things right.
All in all, I had plenty of fun reading this wonderful and entertaining debut novel. While the conveniences could have been toned down, the complicated storyline and the vivid writing ensured my utter satisfaction.
Definitely recommended to readers who enjoy low fantasy/magical realism and innovative storylines and imperfect characters. Just throw your overanalytical caps aside and enjoy the journey!
The author recently revealed on Instagram that he has finally started penning his next book, the title of which also begins with ‘The Book of [xxxxxxxxxxx]’. Sign me up for it!
4.5 stars. (For a long while, I debated about whether to round this down or up. I chose ‘up’ for two main reasons: 1. it is a mind-blowing debut work; and 2. I simply couldn’t keep it aside!)
My thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Book of Doors”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
New York City. Cassie, who works at a bookstore, is surprised when her favourite customer leaves her a book on his passing. The book seems to be full of strange writing and drawings, and has an inscription at the start revealing its name: the ‘Book of Doors’.
Soon, Cassie realises the significance of the title. Using the book, she can go through any door and enter any other place. Along with her best friend Izzy, Cassie begins exploring places using the magical book. Little does she know that this is not the only magical book in the world, and through their fun adventures, they have stirred the interest of some violent people who will do anything to get their hands on this powerful book. The only person who is equipped to help them is the mysterious Drummond Fox, but he seems to be escaping his own past.
The story comes to us through the third person perspectives of various characters.
The official blurb recommends this to readers of ‘The Midnight Library’, ‘The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue’, and ‘The Night Circus’. Of these, I have read only the first one, and this book is nothing like it except for the presence of doors. So I’m going to advocate this to readers who enjoyed Peng Shepherd’s ‘The Cartographers’ and Alix E. Harrow’s ‘The Ten Thousand Doors of January’, both of which I loved for their creativity.
Bookish Yays:
🚪 First things first. A debut novel, with a clear focus, and an ambitious storyline, and no overload of needless themes, and a plot that fits together almost like a jigsaw puzzle, a piece at a time. Well done!
🚪 This is a classic good vs evil fantasy. With most characters slotting neatly into either section, this is almost like watching a superhero movie where ordinary characters save the world.
🚪 On that note, the main characters are not heroes but realistic, flawed humans. Cassie is concerned only about her own wishes for a long while. Izzy is obsessed with staying thin. Drummond is a coward who chooses flight over fight. It’s amazing to see them grow in maturity and spirit over the course of the novel.
🚪 The secondary characters, though in somewhat limited roles, are also interesting. Book hunter Azaki, and Lottie aka The Bookseller are amazing grey characters. Azaki’s “bodyguard” Lund is the strong-silent type; I wish he had had a greater active role. The characters that sent a chill through my bones were the antagonists. The book has two of the most heinous villains I have read. (Admittedly, I don’t read a lot of villainous thrillers, so take this line with a pinch of salt.) The main antagonist – ‘The Woman’ – is 100% evil and creepy as heck!
🚪 There are multiple characters at the start, but introduced in a way that is easy to remember who's who. The identity of the characters doesn’t get confusing.
🚪 As a bibliophile, I loved not just that books played such an important role in the plot but also the reveal about how the books came into being. There was something almost spiritual in that scene. And who doesn’t want magical books!?
🚪 You will NEVER see me listing gore and/or brutality in the Yays column, and yes, this book has a quite a lot of brutality. (Remember? Heinous villains!) I actually have a poor tolerance for gory scenes. But the writing in this book is such that I was more fascinated+horrified than grossed out by the carnage.
🚪 The writing is descriptive without going over the top. I could visualise every scene vividly. (Which wasn’t a good thing during the bloodshed scenes; oh well!)
🚪 The pacing is somewhat uneven, but I didn’t mind it, as the story doesn’t regress or falter even during the slow moments. The tempo goes in sync with the characters’ actions and emotions at that time. It was almost as if the pace altered in accordance with the state of the character’s freedom. And hey, I still completed this 400+ pager within two days, so no complaints.
🚪 My favourite part of this book is the intricacy of the plotting and how it all comes together. Unlike the more grounded genres such as crime thrillers or historical fiction, genres such as fantasy and time travel cannot be overanalysed for logical accuracy as they are essentially imaginative. Keeping this in mind, the book astounded me with how neatly *almost* all its threads came together at the end. Moreover, the book offers plenty of twists and surprises along the way, while avoiding unwarranted infodumps and needless backstories for the characters. Most importantly, the book takes a couple of plotting calls that are hardly common in time travel stories – such a brave writing choice!
🚪 There is a hint of a romantic development, but thankfully, the story never deviates from its main track and the romance is kept exactly where it belonged – on the backburner.
🚪 I am not a fan of chapter titles in adult novels, but they are used wonderfully in this book.
🚪 Don't you just love authors who thank their pets in their final acknowledgement? I do!
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🔐 Some of the language is a bit awkward. One of the villains, Dr. Hugo Barbary, is exactly as his last name suggests – barbaric not just in his savagery but also in his uncivilised opinions, especially about women and those of non-white ethnic origins. While his lines are cringeworthy to read, they highlight what kind of a prejudiced jerk he is. If we remember that the language reflects the character, it is easier to ignore.
🔐 The plotting gets a bit too convenient at times. Some character decisions are annoying. There are also some question marks in a couple of the scenes. Actually, all this is a hallmark of most contemporary thrillers anyway, which is why I avoid thrillers. I guess I should be grateful this novel doesn’t go as much over the top and gets most things right.
All in all, I had plenty of fun reading this wonderful and entertaining debut novel. While the conveniences could have been toned down, the complicated storyline and the vivid writing ensured my utter satisfaction.
Definitely recommended to readers who enjoy low fantasy/magical realism and innovative storylines and imperfect characters. Just throw your overanalytical caps aside and enjoy the journey!
The author recently revealed on Instagram that he has finally started penning his next book, the title of which also begins with ‘The Book of [xxxxxxxxxxx]’. Sign me up for it!
4.5 stars. (For a long while, I debated about whether to round this down or up. I chose ‘up’ for two main reasons: 1. it is a mind-blowing debut work; and 2. I simply couldn’t keep it aside!)
My thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Book of Doors”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
April 12, 2025
If you could open a door to anywhere, where would you go?
4 Magical Stars!
I'm going to keep this short for right now...
I LOVED this book! It kinda reminded me of the show (not the graphic novels) of Locke & Key. You know how there are multiple keys that do multiple things in that show? Well, books act in that same way in this story.
The main book we learn about is The Book of Doors that our FMC Cassie is gifted. A book that will open any door and take you anywhere you want to go- anywhere/anytime.
Of course Cassie and her best friend Izzy go on a magical tour throughout Manhattan in the middle of the night, just to see how the book works- wouldn't you? Hell, I'd go much further than a few city blocks... but that's me.
As the story progresses, we meet Drummond Fox who only wants to help Cassie and Izzy because obviously there is a darker side to this magical book business and it's not all fun and games.
✧˚ ༘ •𓈒⋆｡˚ ⚬
* ੈ ➴ In addition to The Book of Doors, there are other books (hence the Locke & Key reference again) like The Book of Shadows - where you can turn yourself, someone else, or a solid item into a shadow. The Book of Pain - self explanatory yeah? The Book of Memories - this one you can take memories away and or see other people's memories. And more...
Around 40% things start getting really intense and fast paced- other characters start coming in and there are multiple POV's that we're hearing from. Honestly, I got a little lost a few times about midway- the plot got a little fuzzy for a while, which is why the 4 stars rather than 5.
Time travel can sometimes get a little weird, but hang on and I promise the ending makes all the sense in the world.
˗ˏˋ⊹ ࣪ ˖┈➤⋆.˚ Overall, this is a fantastical, magical, thrilling, and poignant story that I absolutely devoured and I highly recommend to anyone that loves time travel and magic!
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
William Morrow - much love even though you denied me like a mf for an advanced copy 😘
4 Magical Stars!
I'm going to keep this short for right now...
I LOVED this book! It kinda reminded me of the show (not the graphic novels) of Locke & Key. You know how there are multiple keys that do multiple things in that show? Well, books act in that same way in this story.
The main book we learn about is The Book of Doors that our FMC Cassie is gifted. A book that will open any door and take you anywhere you want to go- anywhere/anytime.
Of course Cassie and her best friend Izzy go on a magical tour throughout Manhattan in the middle of the night, just to see how the book works- wouldn't you? Hell, I'd go much further than a few city blocks... but that's me.
As the story progresses, we meet Drummond Fox who only wants to help Cassie and Izzy because obviously there is a darker side to this magical book business and it's not all fun and games.
✧˚ ༘ •𓈒⋆｡˚ ⚬
* ੈ ➴ In addition to The Book of Doors, there are other books (hence the Locke & Key reference again) like The Book of Shadows - where you can turn yourself, someone else, or a solid item into a shadow. The Book of Pain - self explanatory yeah? The Book of Memories - this one you can take memories away and or see other people's memories. And more...
Around 40% things start getting really intense and fast paced- other characters start coming in and there are multiple POV's that we're hearing from. Honestly, I got a little lost a few times about midway- the plot got a little fuzzy for a while, which is why the 4 stars rather than 5.
Time travel can sometimes get a little weird, but hang on and I promise the ending makes all the sense in the world.
˗ˏˋ⊹ ࣪ ˖┈➤⋆.˚ Overall, this is a fantastical, magical, thrilling, and poignant story that I absolutely devoured and I highly recommend to anyone that loves time travel and magic!
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
William Morrow - much love even though you denied me like a mf for an advanced copy 😘
July 31, 2025
I honestly don’t know the last time I read such a special book. Filled with magic, wonder, and mystery, The Book of Doors quite simply took my breath away. More than anything, though, it was profoundly thought-provoking as it managed to take me into another world with the stroke of a pen. In more ways than one, it reminded me of The Neverending Story combined judiciously with Recursion. Quite the heady mix, if I do say so myself.
I didn’t know what to expect before starting this book, and, to be frank, it surpassed anything and everything I could’ve imagined. A complex, intricate storyline packed full of blind twists and delicious surprises, it was the kind of book that I both couldn’t put down, but also didn’t want to finish. With a somewhat circuitous plot, this was one tale that had every right to feel repetitive, but somehow managed to not. As characters and events shifted into and out of frame, the sharp writing pulled them all together into perfect alignment. And by the end, this enigma of a puzzle hit just the right chord.
The characters themselves were simply divine. Flawed and genuine, they also all possessed an otherworldliness that few books can muster. From dastardly villains to epic heroes, they came together in a Marvel-esque way while also containing an edge that felt very Harry Potter to this fantasy novice. With poignant feelings running just below the surface, I was quite literally brought to tears. Somehow Brown managed to make me feel the thoughts and emotions of each and every character right along with them. In my eyes, it was pure magic.
Done and dusted, this extraordinary tale of magical realism threw away all of the rules as the evocative prose and nonstop suspense took me on the ride of my life. Well-plotted and perfectly paced, I’m utterly shocked that this addictive, mind-bending masterpiece was the work of a debut author. And the fact that it’s primed for a sequel? What could be better than that? All I know is that this is one book I’m going to scream about from the rafters. After all, it was simply that good. Rating of 5+++ stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Cassie seems to just be existing. Living a quiet life as a bookseller in New York City, she goes to work to be around the comfort of books. At home, she spends her evenings with her best friend, Izzy, never getting close to others her age. Her only other friend, if you could call him that, is an elderly customer named Mr. Webber. Accustomed to spending hours in Cassie’s bookshop, she’s content listening to his stories or musing together about their favorite stories.
One evening, however, while Cassie is staring out at the snow, Mr. Webber silently passes away. After calling the paramedics who take the kind, old gentleman for his very last trip, Cassie spies a book that’s been left behind. On the first page there’s a simple inscription: “This is the Book of Doors. Hold it in your hand, and any door is every door.” Inside, she sees mysterious drawings and unintelligible writing. Before the night is over, Cassie is going to learn that this book holds special powers. Magical powers. And Mr. Webber has left it to her.
As Cassie begins to experiment with the Book of Doors, she is confronted with the knowledge that it’s not the only book of its kind. Out there in the world she thought she knew so well, there are other books that contain the power to do both incredible and terrifying things. And just like with anything worth having, there are people who will do anything to get their hands not just on the Book of Doors, but every special book that exists. And without realizing it, Cassie has just become a target of their dangerous and vicious ways.
The only person who can help her is Drummond Fox. A man who has a secret library of magical books, he’s been keeping them safe from the malevolent forces by hiding them in the shadows. Because he knows first hand that there’s an unknown villain out there that will wreck havoc and destruction in order to get their hands on his books. After all, there have been rumors of a mysterious person combing the world for every special book that exists. Can he help keep Cassie—and the Book of Doors—safe? Or has their fate already been decided?
Thank you to Gareth Brown and William Morrow for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: February 13, 2024
Trigger warning: fatal shooting, heart attack, cancer, loss of a parent
I didn’t know what to expect before starting this book, and, to be frank, it surpassed anything and everything I could’ve imagined. A complex, intricate storyline packed full of blind twists and delicious surprises, it was the kind of book that I both couldn’t put down, but also didn’t want to finish. With a somewhat circuitous plot, this was one tale that had every right to feel repetitive, but somehow managed to not. As characters and events shifted into and out of frame, the sharp writing pulled them all together into perfect alignment. And by the end, this enigma of a puzzle hit just the right chord.
The characters themselves were simply divine. Flawed and genuine, they also all possessed an otherworldliness that few books can muster. From dastardly villains to epic heroes, they came together in a Marvel-esque way while also containing an edge that felt very Harry Potter to this fantasy novice. With poignant feelings running just below the surface, I was quite literally brought to tears. Somehow Brown managed to make me feel the thoughts and emotions of each and every character right along with them. In my eyes, it was pure magic.
Done and dusted, this extraordinary tale of magical realism threw away all of the rules as the evocative prose and nonstop suspense took me on the ride of my life. Well-plotted and perfectly paced, I’m utterly shocked that this addictive, mind-bending masterpiece was the work of a debut author. And the fact that it’s primed for a sequel? What could be better than that? All I know is that this is one book I’m going to scream about from the rafters. After all, it was simply that good. Rating of 5+++ stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Cassie seems to just be existing. Living a quiet life as a bookseller in New York City, she goes to work to be around the comfort of books. At home, she spends her evenings with her best friend, Izzy, never getting close to others her age. Her only other friend, if you could call him that, is an elderly customer named Mr. Webber. Accustomed to spending hours in Cassie’s bookshop, she’s content listening to his stories or musing together about their favorite stories.
One evening, however, while Cassie is staring out at the snow, Mr. Webber silently passes away. After calling the paramedics who take the kind, old gentleman for his very last trip, Cassie spies a book that’s been left behind. On the first page there’s a simple inscription: “This is the Book of Doors. Hold it in your hand, and any door is every door.” Inside, she sees mysterious drawings and unintelligible writing. Before the night is over, Cassie is going to learn that this book holds special powers. Magical powers. And Mr. Webber has left it to her.
As Cassie begins to experiment with the Book of Doors, she is confronted with the knowledge that it’s not the only book of its kind. Out there in the world she thought she knew so well, there are other books that contain the power to do both incredible and terrifying things. And just like with anything worth having, there are people who will do anything to get their hands not just on the Book of Doors, but every special book that exists. And without realizing it, Cassie has just become a target of their dangerous and vicious ways.
The only person who can help her is Drummond Fox. A man who has a secret library of magical books, he’s been keeping them safe from the malevolent forces by hiding them in the shadows. Because he knows first hand that there’s an unknown villain out there that will wreck havoc and destruction in order to get their hands on his books. After all, there have been rumors of a mysterious person combing the world for every special book that exists. Can he help keep Cassie—and the Book of Doors—safe? Or has their fate already been decided?
Thank you to Gareth Brown and William Morrow for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: February 13, 2024
Trigger warning: fatal shooting, heart attack, cancer, loss of a parent
February 1, 2024
Here’s the thing. I’m not really a hater. When I don’t like a book, I’ll generally rate it low, write a one sentence review in Goodreads, and move on.
But with The Book of Doors…I have a lot to say.
First, the things I liked about this book:
1. The cover is stunning. It would be a book I would be proud to show off, if I had liked it.
2. The premise sounds incredible: Magical books? Time travel? A main character who works in a bookstore? A big mysterious library? Great!
Cassie, our FMC, works at a bookstore and is given a book by an old man that has the magical power to turn doors into portals to take you anywhere in the world. The book takes her on a journey that leads to Cassie realising there are more books out in the world with magical powers, and “collectors” who want these books that lead her into danger.
Reading the plot summary, I was incredibly excited to start this as I was expecting a cozy fantasy filled with enchantment, wonder and action, but I’ve been left feeling very disappointed.
The pacing of the story was all over the place, with the first half of the story being really slow but at the same time shoving a lot of information at us and expecting us to remember it for the end of the book. It was a lot of telling and hardly any showing, and I kept waiting for something captivating to happen and it just…didn’t. There were POVs that to me were not needed, I felt myself wanting to skim read over a lot of the plot to try and see if it would get any better.
The characters felt incredibly one dimensional. I didn’t resonate with any of them at all and I did not care about the outcome of a single one. The hints of a romance that were sprinkled throughout the novel was in my opinion pointless and not needed, it felt forced and they had no chemistry whatsoever. The dialogue in general felt unnatural in a lot of parts and was clunky. It really was a struggle to read.
One of the villains to me is the most ridiculous and useless character in the book, perhaps ever. His approach to anger and his actions are almost comical, dare I say cringe. He’s also sexist and racist for absolutely no reason as his bigoted views were not integral to the plot in any way shape or form, other than the fact that the main character is a woman. For example:
“Sometimes I wish I lived back in the seventies, when the natural order was still in place. Life was so much simpler then. I could just give you a slap and send you away to make my dinner and nobody would even blink.”
The women are also written incredibly poorly. Think 2010-teen-dystopian-novel kind of poorly. The amount of times women are referred to as bitches is CRAZY. And say it with me, male authors need to learn how to write young women without the need to body shame them for content!!:
“To her own eyes she was too tall and thin. She thought her hips were too narrow and her chest too flat, and her eyes were big and wide, like a startled deer’s. She never wore make-up because she never really learned how to do it.”
“Look at me,” Izzy complained miserably, “I am disgusting, it’s midnight and I am doing this to my body.”
“There’s nothing wrong with your body and you know it.”
“There might be if I keep eating like this. Have you seen my aunts? They’re all huge. That is my genes, Cass.”
All in all, I am surprised I didn’t DNF this, but I was determined to finish it so I could write this review.. I know we’re only in January but I feel like it is the number one contender to be my biggest disappointment of the year.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
But with The Book of Doors…I have a lot to say.
First, the things I liked about this book:
1. The cover is stunning. It would be a book I would be proud to show off, if I had liked it.
2. The premise sounds incredible: Magical books? Time travel? A main character who works in a bookstore? A big mysterious library? Great!
Cassie, our FMC, works at a bookstore and is given a book by an old man that has the magical power to turn doors into portals to take you anywhere in the world. The book takes her on a journey that leads to Cassie realising there are more books out in the world with magical powers, and “collectors” who want these books that lead her into danger.
Reading the plot summary, I was incredibly excited to start this as I was expecting a cozy fantasy filled with enchantment, wonder and action, but I’ve been left feeling very disappointed.
The pacing of the story was all over the place, with the first half of the story being really slow but at the same time shoving a lot of information at us and expecting us to remember it for the end of the book. It was a lot of telling and hardly any showing, and I kept waiting for something captivating to happen and it just…didn’t. There were POVs that to me were not needed, I felt myself wanting to skim read over a lot of the plot to try and see if it would get any better.
The characters felt incredibly one dimensional. I didn’t resonate with any of them at all and I did not care about the outcome of a single one. The hints of a romance that were sprinkled throughout the novel was in my opinion pointless and not needed, it felt forced and they had no chemistry whatsoever. The dialogue in general felt unnatural in a lot of parts and was clunky. It really was a struggle to read.
One of the villains to me is the most ridiculous and useless character in the book, perhaps ever. His approach to anger and his actions are almost comical, dare I say cringe. He’s also sexist and racist for absolutely no reason as his bigoted views were not integral to the plot in any way shape or form, other than the fact that the main character is a woman. For example:
“Sometimes I wish I lived back in the seventies, when the natural order was still in place. Life was so much simpler then. I could just give you a slap and send you away to make my dinner and nobody would even blink.”
The women are also written incredibly poorly. Think 2010-teen-dystopian-novel kind of poorly. The amount of times women are referred to as bitches is CRAZY. And say it with me, male authors need to learn how to write young women without the need to body shame them for content!!:
“To her own eyes she was too tall and thin. She thought her hips were too narrow and her chest too flat, and her eyes were big and wide, like a startled deer’s. She never wore make-up because she never really learned how to do it.”
“Look at me,” Izzy complained miserably, “I am disgusting, it’s midnight and I am doing this to my body.”
“There’s nothing wrong with your body and you know it.”
“There might be if I keep eating like this. Have you seen my aunts? They’re all huge. That is my genes, Cass.”
All in all, I am surprised I didn’t DNF this, but I was determined to finish it so I could write this review.. I know we’re only in January but I feel like it is the number one contender to be my biggest disappointment of the year.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2024
I’m not being dramatic when I said this *could* have been a 5 star read… if it weren’t written by a man.
February 26, 2024
3.5⭐️
After a long-time customer passes away while visiting the bookstore where she works, Cassie Andrews finds herself in the possession of a strange little book, “The Book of Doors” – a magical book that leads Cassie and her friend Izzy to wherever they desire, opening any closed door to their destination of choice. Unbeknownst to Cassie, this special book is one of a unique collection - each of which possesses unique magical powers that can be harnessed for good or evil. The books have been hidden throughout history in different corners of the world and several people have devoted their lives to finding and owning them – each with their own agenda - Drummond Fox, the “Librarian” and owner of a magical library, a mysterious ”Detective” with a secret mission, book collectors who’d go to any length to find those books and use their magical powers to further their own interests, among whom is the “Woman” whose quest for the books has left death and destruction in its wake. We follow Cassie, Izzy, and Drummond as they try to find as many books as possible before they fall into the wrong hands.
With a cast of interesting characters, an imaginative plot, and an immersive setting, The Book of Doors by Gareth Jones is an engaging read. I loved the premise of this novel and thoroughly enjoyed following the adventures of Cassie, Izzy and Drummond, who I thought was an intriguing character. Cassie is an endearing protagonist and I enjoyed getting to know her. The narrative is shared through multiple perspectives and timelines and the author weaves a magical tale bringing all the threads together in a well-crafted narrative. Though the story flows well, it does suffer from inconsistent pacing, minor repetitiveness, and verbosity. (There were a few dialogues and descriptions I thought were offensive and unnecessary, but that’s more a personal observation.) The time travel element was interesting but left me with unanswered questions. I liked the protagonist and her friends and though the villains in the story were evil enough and also provided an element of comic relief, they weren’t strongly developed characters.
In short, though I loved parts of the story and was entertained, I didn't enjoy this novel as much as I had hoped.
Many thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on February 13, 2024.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
After a long-time customer passes away while visiting the bookstore where she works, Cassie Andrews finds herself in the possession of a strange little book, “The Book of Doors” – a magical book that leads Cassie and her friend Izzy to wherever they desire, opening any closed door to their destination of choice. Unbeknownst to Cassie, this special book is one of a unique collection - each of which possesses unique magical powers that can be harnessed for good or evil. The books have been hidden throughout history in different corners of the world and several people have devoted their lives to finding and owning them – each with their own agenda - Drummond Fox, the “Librarian” and owner of a magical library, a mysterious ”Detective” with a secret mission, book collectors who’d go to any length to find those books and use their magical powers to further their own interests, among whom is the “Woman” whose quest for the books has left death and destruction in its wake. We follow Cassie, Izzy, and Drummond as they try to find as many books as possible before they fall into the wrong hands.
With a cast of interesting characters, an imaginative plot, and an immersive setting, The Book of Doors by Gareth Jones is an engaging read. I loved the premise of this novel and thoroughly enjoyed following the adventures of Cassie, Izzy and Drummond, who I thought was an intriguing character. Cassie is an endearing protagonist and I enjoyed getting to know her. The narrative is shared through multiple perspectives and timelines and the author weaves a magical tale bringing all the threads together in a well-crafted narrative. Though the story flows well, it does suffer from inconsistent pacing, minor repetitiveness, and verbosity. (There were a few dialogues and descriptions I thought were offensive and unnecessary, but that’s more a personal observation.) The time travel element was interesting but left me with unanswered questions. I liked the protagonist and her friends and though the villains in the story were evil enough and also provided an element of comic relief, they weren’t strongly developed characters.
In short, though I loved parts of the story and was entertained, I didn't enjoy this novel as much as I had hoped.
Many thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on February 13, 2024.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
February 28, 2025
I give this a solid 3.5 rounded down, but I may be the unpopular opinion here.
If you liked “The Ten Thousand Doors of January” you will most likely find this book highly enjoyable.
The storyline was interesting and I appreciate all the time weaving from past to present, that, I thought was excellent. What was lacking was the time spent on some of the descriptors that didn’t really seem to matter. It felt like the author was trying to be thorough but fell a little flat and came off as page filler. The other aspect I didn’t like was the anti-climactic climaxes at some of the cruxes. So much build up and then, nothing…
This is a story of a woman who loves books and through a series of events has to save herself and her friend. The story itself is endearing but Cassie’s character was annoying to me at times. I know she wasn’t meant to be but I just wanted to reach in the book and shake her. Other readers may find her character a blend of soft and hard and like it, but I felt this blend of character to fall short and missed the mark for likability as a FMC.
Again, if you like “The Ten Thousand Doors of January”, I say jump right in. This is less flowery in language but near equal in storyline. If you didn’t- I don’t think I’d risk being disappointed twice…
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you liked “The Ten Thousand Doors of January” you will most likely find this book highly enjoyable.
The storyline was interesting and I appreciate all the time weaving from past to present, that, I thought was excellent. What was lacking was the time spent on some of the descriptors that didn’t really seem to matter. It felt like the author was trying to be thorough but fell a little flat and came off as page filler. The other aspect I didn’t like was the anti-climactic climaxes at some of the cruxes. So much build up and then, nothing…
This is a story of a woman who loves books and through a series of events has to save herself and her friend. The story itself is endearing but Cassie’s character was annoying to me at times. I know she wasn’t meant to be but I just wanted to reach in the book and shake her. Other readers may find her character a blend of soft and hard and like it, but I felt this blend of character to fall short and missed the mark for likability as a FMC.
Again, if you like “The Ten Thousand Doors of January”, I say jump right in. This is less flowery in language but near equal in storyline. If you didn’t- I don’t think I’d risk being disappointed twice…
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2024
I just don't need male authors referring to female characters' breast size as if it were a plot point. And why was the FMCs flat chestedness a bad thing anyway? Because she couldn't carry books in her cleavage?
The plot was weak, the descriptions felt like the way aliens might describe things their first time on earth, and a lot of the locations were watered down to their most basic stereotypes, i.e., croissants in Lyon.
Warning to those interested in the audiobook, the narrator can't do American accents, so all the American characters sound like extras from Newsies instead of the modern-day Oregon natives they are.
The plot was weak, the descriptions felt like the way aliens might describe things their first time on earth, and a lot of the locations were watered down to their most basic stereotypes, i.e., croissants in Lyon.
Warning to those interested in the audiobook, the narrator can't do American accents, so all the American characters sound like extras from Newsies instead of the modern-day Oregon natives they are.
May 28, 2025
**Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Gareth Brown for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 2.13!!**
What if any door was EVERY door?
If going ANYWHERE...even forward or backward in time was a simple as finding any open doorway, thinking about the desired entryway... and just walking through it?
Cassie isn't sure she believes in magic...but one special book might just change her mind. Working at a bookstore, Cassie's life revolves around finding the perfect read and helping others to do the same. She has many customers she cares for, and a best friend Izzy to pal around New York City with too, and life seems gratifying as is...even with the loss of her beloved grandfather still stinging from time to time. But when a customer hands her a book titled "The Book of Doors" with strange writings and drawings inside, Cassie is a bit confused...but like any good book salesperson, she just HAS to figure out what the book is...and WHY it was handed to her before this beloved elderly customer passed away.
Once Cassie spends some time with the book, she discovers it is nothing short of a portal, one that can take her to ANY door on earth...at any point in time. After going back in time to spend a few more precious minutes with her grandfather, she starts to realize the book's POWER...but she has no idea of the danger involved with even having it in her possession. Enter Drummond Fox, a book collector with a special library...a very COVETED library full of books that ALL have special powers of their own. And if any of these books gets into the wrong hands...it could be the end of life as EVERYONE knows it. Can Cassie keep the Book of Doors safe from the evil forces determined to add this particular book to their collection...no matter what the cost? Or will the Book of Doors lead Cassie to the ONE door that she just can't escape?
With comparisons to books such as The Midnight Library and The Ten Thousand Doors of January, the premise of this one grabbed my attention immediately. I feel as though bibliophiles everywhere gravitate towards ANY books involving libraries, librarians, books, bookstores, et al. and for good reason: a book about books is USUALLY a win in and of itself for an avid reader: we all love reading stories that take place in some of our favorite worlds. As much as I thought this premise didn't sound ENTIRELY fresh (as more of a mix of the two aforementioned books) I was hoping that our intrepid narrator would bring the sort of charm that would get me swept into her world, and the plot itself the sort of unique magic that books like The Wishing Game, Willy Wonka, and The Midnight Library had in spades. (I haven't read Ten Thousand Doors of January as of yet, so I won't comment on that one as of yet).
But by about 10-15% in, I realized this author was lacking in the magic department...lacking in the character development arena...AND that the only 'fantasy' I would experience while reading this book was a fantasy where I truly ENJOYED it.
I'm not an avid reader of fantasy in general, due to the over-complicated (at least for me!) nature of so many of these tomes, with complex and intricate worlds, scores of characters, and blink-and-you'll-miss-them CRUCIAL plot points. Funnily enough, though, this book almost didn't feel like fantasy at all, but a mishmash of different genres, from an attempt at mystery, to a half-baked magical realism story, to a drama of sorts...and I was left feeling more than a bit disoriented. Due to the nature of jumping across time and space, it also just seemed to take forever for us to get to anything important as an audience, and the novelty of the doors wore off pretty quickly. The true meat and potatoes of the story goes back to Drummond's past with the book(s) and not only was it not particularly interesting, I felt no emotional connection whatsoever to him or his plight, and even less invested in what was going to happen with ALL of the books.
There's also the small fact that there are MANY books, and the Book of Doors is just the beginning. Rather than fleshing out all of the various books and their powers in a cohesive and interesting way, they are sort of randomly woven into the narrative when its convenient...but to be honest, I could have lived without all of that extra detail anyway. I think there are ways this COULD have been presented as a sort of journey into the past that would have felt more meaningful, but it seemed like a device to increase page count rather than to provide meaningful dialogue on why collecting all of the books was SO important. Eventually, the plot 'comes together', but trust me when I say that not only did this BOOK cover the span of several years...but I felt like I spent several years of my own life reading it. 👵
There's also the slightly problematic fact that the author often chooses to characterize people in a...less than flattering light, to say the least. More often than not, there is telling rather than showing, and what the author chooses to tell us about these characters is that they like making problematic and at times judgmental comments. Sure, some of these characters are Bad Guys with a capital B, but at the same time, there is simply an air of ignorance and some 'old' ways of thinking that certainly won't jive with a Gen Z or Gen Alpha audience...which I find incredibly ironic, given that at times this certainly read more like YA, with our MC acting more like a teenager than I felt necessary...but not in ANY of the whimsical ways that could have made her endearing.
And though Cassie may have held the power to explore ANY door in her hand, I found myself wishing I had the book for one reason alone:
I just wanted to go through the nearest door marked "Exit." 🚪
3 stars
Nominated for Best Fantasy in the Goodreads Choice Awards!
What if any door was EVERY door?
If going ANYWHERE...even forward or backward in time was a simple as finding any open doorway, thinking about the desired entryway... and just walking through it?
Cassie isn't sure she believes in magic...but one special book might just change her mind. Working at a bookstore, Cassie's life revolves around finding the perfect read and helping others to do the same. She has many customers she cares for, and a best friend Izzy to pal around New York City with too, and life seems gratifying as is...even with the loss of her beloved grandfather still stinging from time to time. But when a customer hands her a book titled "The Book of Doors" with strange writings and drawings inside, Cassie is a bit confused...but like any good book salesperson, she just HAS to figure out what the book is...and WHY it was handed to her before this beloved elderly customer passed away.
Once Cassie spends some time with the book, she discovers it is nothing short of a portal, one that can take her to ANY door on earth...at any point in time. After going back in time to spend a few more precious minutes with her grandfather, she starts to realize the book's POWER...but she has no idea of the danger involved with even having it in her possession. Enter Drummond Fox, a book collector with a special library...a very COVETED library full of books that ALL have special powers of their own. And if any of these books gets into the wrong hands...it could be the end of life as EVERYONE knows it. Can Cassie keep the Book of Doors safe from the evil forces determined to add this particular book to their collection...no matter what the cost? Or will the Book of Doors lead Cassie to the ONE door that she just can't escape?
With comparisons to books such as The Midnight Library and The Ten Thousand Doors of January, the premise of this one grabbed my attention immediately. I feel as though bibliophiles everywhere gravitate towards ANY books involving libraries, librarians, books, bookstores, et al. and for good reason: a book about books is USUALLY a win in and of itself for an avid reader: we all love reading stories that take place in some of our favorite worlds. As much as I thought this premise didn't sound ENTIRELY fresh (as more of a mix of the two aforementioned books) I was hoping that our intrepid narrator would bring the sort of charm that would get me swept into her world, and the plot itself the sort of unique magic that books like The Wishing Game, Willy Wonka, and The Midnight Library had in spades. (I haven't read Ten Thousand Doors of January as of yet, so I won't comment on that one as of yet).
But by about 10-15% in, I realized this author was lacking in the magic department...lacking in the character development arena...AND that the only 'fantasy' I would experience while reading this book was a fantasy where I truly ENJOYED it.
I'm not an avid reader of fantasy in general, due to the over-complicated (at least for me!) nature of so many of these tomes, with complex and intricate worlds, scores of characters, and blink-and-you'll-miss-them CRUCIAL plot points. Funnily enough, though, this book almost didn't feel like fantasy at all, but a mishmash of different genres, from an attempt at mystery, to a half-baked magical realism story, to a drama of sorts...and I was left feeling more than a bit disoriented. Due to the nature of jumping across time and space, it also just seemed to take forever for us to get to anything important as an audience, and the novelty of the doors wore off pretty quickly. The true meat and potatoes of the story goes back to Drummond's past with the book(s) and not only was it not particularly interesting, I felt no emotional connection whatsoever to him or his plight, and even less invested in what was going to happen with ALL of the books.
There's also the small fact that there are MANY books, and the Book of Doors is just the beginning. Rather than fleshing out all of the various books and their powers in a cohesive and interesting way, they are sort of randomly woven into the narrative when its convenient...but to be honest, I could have lived without all of that extra detail anyway. I think there are ways this COULD have been presented as a sort of journey into the past that would have felt more meaningful, but it seemed like a device to increase page count rather than to provide meaningful dialogue on why collecting all of the books was SO important. Eventually, the plot 'comes together', but trust me when I say that not only did this BOOK cover the span of several years...but I felt like I spent several years of my own life reading it. 👵
There's also the slightly problematic fact that the author often chooses to characterize people in a...less than flattering light, to say the least. More often than not, there is telling rather than showing, and what the author chooses to tell us about these characters is that they like making problematic and at times judgmental comments. Sure, some of these characters are Bad Guys with a capital B, but at the same time, there is simply an air of ignorance and some 'old' ways of thinking that certainly won't jive with a Gen Z or Gen Alpha audience...which I find incredibly ironic, given that at times this certainly read more like YA, with our MC acting more like a teenager than I felt necessary...but not in ANY of the whimsical ways that could have made her endearing.
And though Cassie may have held the power to explore ANY door in her hand, I found myself wishing I had the book for one reason alone:
I just wanted to go through the nearest door marked "Exit." 🚪
3 stars
Nominated for Best Fantasy in the Goodreads Choice Awards!
November 29, 2023
This one was, regretfully, a DNF at 36% for me.
Cassie works at a bookstore in NYC. One night while closing, a regular customer dies while chilling in the bookstore. On his (dead) person is a book with a handwritten message to Cassie saying that it is the book of doors and it belongs to her now. The book turns out to be magic; it can open any door in the world. Cassie and her roommate Izzy start experimenting with the book, but their adventures are soon brought to a halt when they meet Drummond Fox who warns them they are in danger. There are more magic books and there are collectors of these books. Some of these collectors are very bad people. And that's as far as I read.
I appreciated what this book was trying to do, but it didn't work for me. Brown is trying very hard to appeal to readers and travelers--he describes each setting in the story which so much depth. The thing is, the descriptions weren't that great. At one point, Cassie, Izzie, and Drummond are eating croissants in Lyon after escaping a violent scene from a magic book hunter. Here are some of the MANY quotes about the croissant that Cassie ate:
" Finally Cassie relented, lifting the croissant to take a bite. It was good: hot and buttery and flaky."
"I love croissants in France."
"It was a cold morning, but she was wearing her old greatcoat, and her woolen scarf wrapped around her neck, and she felt warm and cozy in the chair, with the coffee in her stomach and the taste of the croissant on her lips."
"She once more felt herself trembling, as if the beneficial effects of the croissant were wearing off"
"'You don't have to like it,' Drummond said. 'But drink it. It's good for you; just like the croissants in Lyon.'"
This last croissant quote was my final straw.
There is a plot, but it's clunky. The storyline kind of gets lost in the onslaught of these commentaries on tiny details. My biggest issue with the book, though, was the flat characters and the showing rather than telling. I felt no connection to anyone we met in this story. I kept confusing Cassie and Izzy because neither of them had a personality. There were other characters being introduced, but I couldn't find the patience to explore them any further. I REALLY wanted to love this book, being a book-lover and a traveler myself, but it was a complete miss for me.
Cassie works at a bookstore in NYC. One night while closing, a regular customer dies while chilling in the bookstore. On his (dead) person is a book with a handwritten message to Cassie saying that it is the book of doors and it belongs to her now. The book turns out to be magic; it can open any door in the world. Cassie and her roommate Izzy start experimenting with the book, but their adventures are soon brought to a halt when they meet Drummond Fox who warns them they are in danger. There are more magic books and there are collectors of these books. Some of these collectors are very bad people. And that's as far as I read.
I appreciated what this book was trying to do, but it didn't work for me. Brown is trying very hard to appeal to readers and travelers--he describes each setting in the story which so much depth. The thing is, the descriptions weren't that great. At one point, Cassie, Izzie, and Drummond are eating croissants in Lyon after escaping a violent scene from a magic book hunter. Here are some of the MANY quotes about the croissant that Cassie ate:
" Finally Cassie relented, lifting the croissant to take a bite. It was good: hot and buttery and flaky."
"I love croissants in France."
"It was a cold morning, but she was wearing her old greatcoat, and her woolen scarf wrapped around her neck, and she felt warm and cozy in the chair, with the coffee in her stomach and the taste of the croissant on her lips."
"She once more felt herself trembling, as if the beneficial effects of the croissant were wearing off"
"'You don't have to like it,' Drummond said. 'But drink it. It's good for you; just like the croissants in Lyon.'"
This last croissant quote was my final straw.
There is a plot, but it's clunky. The storyline kind of gets lost in the onslaught of these commentaries on tiny details. My biggest issue with the book, though, was the flat characters and the showing rather than telling. I felt no connection to anyone we met in this story. I kept confusing Cassie and Izzy because neither of them had a personality. There were other characters being introduced, but I couldn't find the patience to explore them any further. I REALLY wanted to love this book, being a book-lover and a traveler myself, but it was a complete miss for me.
February 13, 2024
Update 2/13/24: Reposting my review to celebrate that today is publication day!
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sending me an ARC of The Book of Doors in exchange for an honest review.
Cassie Andrews lives a fairly simple twenty-something life in New York City. She lives with best friend Izzy, and works in a bookstore. When a customer passes away in the store, he leaves Cassie a book inscribed with a note that says it’s the Book of Doors. Cassie soon learns that this book has the extraordinary power to turn any door into any other door, allowing her to travel to and from anywhere in an instant. But she also learns that there people who will stop at nothing to take the Book of Doors from her, and that there are other magical books in our world that give their bearers’ other powers ….
To say more about The Book of Doors would run the risk of spoiling parts of the story, so I’m going to keep this review really short. But I can say I LOVED this book. The plot is full of twists and turns, not the gotcha type, but just the story going in unexpected directions as more is revealed about these magical books. Characters and plot threads arrive and then seemingly fade into the background but they circle back again and again and, by the end, every one ties neatly together. The book is so beautifully written and paced that I still can’t believe it’s the author’s first novel. It’s a story full of wonder that’s simply wonderful. And the fact that there’s an opening for a sequel? The cherry on top. This book deserves all the hype it’s getting and more. A must read!
This is the Book of Doors.
Hold it in your hand, and any door is every door.
…
Cassie knew she wouldn’t stop using the book. She wasn’t going to turn her back on magic and impossibility.
…
“It is not an accident that the magic is in books. I don’t know if it was a person who made them, or if that person loved books, but the magic is in books for a reason.”
…
“You are everything that’s wrong with this world,” Cassie continued. “You have all this magic at your fingertips and what do you use it for? To cause pain and suffering. That is all you can think of to do, when there are so many amazing and wonderful things you could do instead.”
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sending me an ARC of The Book of Doors in exchange for an honest review.
Cassie Andrews lives a fairly simple twenty-something life in New York City. She lives with best friend Izzy, and works in a bookstore. When a customer passes away in the store, he leaves Cassie a book inscribed with a note that says it’s the Book of Doors. Cassie soon learns that this book has the extraordinary power to turn any door into any other door, allowing her to travel to and from anywhere in an instant. But she also learns that there people who will stop at nothing to take the Book of Doors from her, and that there are other magical books in our world that give their bearers’ other powers ….
To say more about The Book of Doors would run the risk of spoiling parts of the story, so I’m going to keep this review really short. But I can say I LOVED this book. The plot is full of twists and turns, not the gotcha type, but just the story going in unexpected directions as more is revealed about these magical books. Characters and plot threads arrive and then seemingly fade into the background but they circle back again and again and, by the end, every one ties neatly together. The book is so beautifully written and paced that I still can’t believe it’s the author’s first novel. It’s a story full of wonder that’s simply wonderful. And the fact that there’s an opening for a sequel? The cherry on top. This book deserves all the hype it’s getting and more. A must read!
September 30, 2025
Have you ever read a book that you loved so much, you wish you could reread it again for the first time? Well, after reading this book, I am absolutely speechless and obsessed!
I won't lie the beginning was a tad slow but once I got to around 30% I was fully absorbed in the plot. I love the characters, the connections and twists, the combination of fantasy and suspense. It's a beautiful mix of magic, romance, and the unknown. The Books of Doors has become one of my all time favorite books and I can't wait to reread it all over again!!
I won't lie the beginning was a tad slow but once I got to around 30% I was fully absorbed in the plot. I love the characters, the connections and twists, the combination of fantasy and suspense. It's a beautiful mix of magic, romance, and the unknown. The Books of Doors has become one of my all time favorite books and I can't wait to reread it all over again!!
December 21, 2023
This book wasn't on my radar at all until the bookstagrammer @robyn_reads1 told me this is a book that I would absolutely love and I needed to read. Once I read the synopsis, I was confused because fantasy isn't a genre that I normally pick up, but I trusted her judgement, and boy did it pay off!
I won't go far into the details of the book, but it is centered around a big cast of characters, but mainly Cassie Andrews. Cassie works in a New York City bookshop and she lives a pretty boring life centered around reading and keeping to herself. When one of her favorite customers, an old man named Mr. Webber, passes away, he leaves her the book that he has in his hands specifically for her. When Cassie realizes that this is no ordinary book (in fact, it's the Book of Doors), she tries to interpret its unique inscriptions and drawings to no avail. Once Cassie realizes this book can make any door into EVERY door, she begins to see the book's power. Through this new magical book, Cassie and her friend Izzy meet a "librarian" named Drummond Fox who warns that Cassie is in danger now that she has this book in her possession. She's in danger from hunters and collectors who want to use the book for their own selfish interests, some more malevolent than others. Cassie's enemies list begins to grow, with each new adversary more intimidating than the next.
This book was the most fun journey I've ever had with a fantasy book, ever. If you like Blake Crouch's Recursion, the television show The Magicians, and anything by V.E. Schwab, THE BOOK OF DOORS should be a top priority for you to read. Just when I thought that I knew where the book was going, it changed course! The book isn't scared to shy away from the dramatics and violence, but ultimately it is an adventure of a lifetime. I will never forget this book, nor will I ever not recommend THE BOOK OF DOORS. Some books are worth killing for and the BOOK OF DOORS will show you why. I can't believe that this book is a debut and I can't believe that I've read one of my favorite books for 2024 in 2023!
I won't go far into the details of the book, but it is centered around a big cast of characters, but mainly Cassie Andrews. Cassie works in a New York City bookshop and she lives a pretty boring life centered around reading and keeping to herself. When one of her favorite customers, an old man named Mr. Webber, passes away, he leaves her the book that he has in his hands specifically for her. When Cassie realizes that this is no ordinary book (in fact, it's the Book of Doors), she tries to interpret its unique inscriptions and drawings to no avail. Once Cassie realizes this book can make any door into EVERY door, she begins to see the book's power. Through this new magical book, Cassie and her friend Izzy meet a "librarian" named Drummond Fox who warns that Cassie is in danger now that she has this book in her possession. She's in danger from hunters and collectors who want to use the book for their own selfish interests, some more malevolent than others. Cassie's enemies list begins to grow, with each new adversary more intimidating than the next.
This book was the most fun journey I've ever had with a fantasy book, ever. If you like Blake Crouch's Recursion, the television show The Magicians, and anything by V.E. Schwab, THE BOOK OF DOORS should be a top priority for you to read. Just when I thought that I knew where the book was going, it changed course! The book isn't scared to shy away from the dramatics and violence, but ultimately it is an adventure of a lifetime. I will never forget this book, nor will I ever not recommend THE BOOK OF DOORS. Some books are worth killing for and the BOOK OF DOORS will show you why. I can't believe that this book is a debut and I can't believe that I've read one of my favorite books for 2024 in 2023!
July 11, 2024
Many times it can be difficult to rate a book because you feel you're being too lenient or perhaps too judgmental, but the truth is it should mostly matter to you, because you're the one experiencing the written word and how that creates an impact on your daily life.
I had been wanting to read this book at first because of its cover and name, and then also because of its synopsis, but I had been putting it off because of some other books crossing my path. I believe it wasn't the right time for me to read it and then my co-worker started reading it which brought it back to my TBR and so it became a reality, I started reading it.
My experience reading this book has been superb and I can only appreciate the gift that Gareth Brown has given us by creating a world in which there are magic books that can help us make of this a much better world (or perhaps the opposite).
In any case, the Book of Doors is the story of Cassie Andrews who with her book will take us to places we have only thought/dreamed of...after all...any door is every door, isn't it? How and why does she get hold of such book? There are many questions that need answering, but only by getting to know Cassie and her friends Izzy and Drummond will we be able to satisfy our inquisitive minds.
Lastly, I would definitely consider this my favorite 2024 read (so far). Not always can you find a book that can put together different book genres all into one.
I had been wanting to read this book at first because of its cover and name, and then also because of its synopsis, but I had been putting it off because of some other books crossing my path. I believe it wasn't the right time for me to read it and then my co-worker started reading it which brought it back to my TBR and so it became a reality, I started reading it.
My experience reading this book has been superb and I can only appreciate the gift that Gareth Brown has given us by creating a world in which there are magic books that can help us make of this a much better world (or perhaps the opposite).
In any case, the Book of Doors is the story of Cassie Andrews who with her book will take us to places we have only thought/dreamed of...after all...any door is every door, isn't it? How and why does she get hold of such book? There are many questions that need answering, but only by getting to know Cassie and her friends Izzy and Drummond will we be able to satisfy our inquisitive minds.
Lastly, I would definitely consider this my favorite 2024 read (so far). Not always can you find a book that can put together different book genres all into one.
April 21, 2024
“The best place to enjoy a stormy night is in a warm room with a book in your lap.”
Cassie’s life has been confined to working in the bookstore and then going home to her apartment and maybe sometimes seeing her roommate, Izzy. Or has it?
And then, Mr. Webber dies at her bookstore and leaves her two books, The Count of Monte Cristo, and an unusual magical book, The Book of Doors.
What does this book have in store for her and Izzy? What will this book open for Cassie? And what will she discover about herself and her past? And possibly her future?
Also, what dangers does this book bring into her life?
Although this appears to be a fantasy tale adventure about magical books, the story does much more.
With quirky characters and magic and whimsy, and time travel (not always my favorite time bending genre), the story, moves along, sometimes bumpily.
But it is one that addresses loss and grief and the cyclical nature of trauma.
It also is about families, those that are made and those that are found. And that usually is the best part of a story.
Cassie’s life has been confined to working in the bookstore and then going home to her apartment and maybe sometimes seeing her roommate, Izzy. Or has it?
And then, Mr. Webber dies at her bookstore and leaves her two books, The Count of Monte Cristo, and an unusual magical book, The Book of Doors.
What does this book have in store for her and Izzy? What will this book open for Cassie? And what will she discover about herself and her past? And possibly her future?
Also, what dangers does this book bring into her life?
Although this appears to be a fantasy tale adventure about magical books, the story does much more.
With quirky characters and magic and whimsy, and time travel (not always my favorite time bending genre), the story, moves along, sometimes bumpily.
But it is one that addresses loss and grief and the cyclical nature of trauma.
It also is about families, those that are made and those that are found. And that usually is the best part of a story.
September 28, 2025
“The young have the loudest dreams. Unfettered by life and reality.”
Goodreads, so disappointing!
But what an alluring idea for a debut novel. The Book of Doors had a promising premise, but it ultimately fell flat. For me, this book was a bit of a snore. The writing style was dull, and it felt like Brown was just fumbling on. The characters lacked depth and were boring, the pacing felt uneven, the dialogue came off as cheesy, and what was with the repetitive, strange mention of baked goods? It honestly felt like all the scenes were at odds with themselves. Like the book wasn't quite sure what it wanted to be, and then couldn’t get out of its own damn way to really be anything. I was expecting vivid imagery, magical places, enchanting adventures, and interesting characters. To be drawn into a world I didn’t want to come back from. Instead, I kept checking to see how many pages I had left.
The company of my buddy read partner Daniel Montague was my saving grace on this one! (and my first review hyperlink lol 🤓) Much thanx, D! Your playful personality and sense of humor made this read so much better. We both felt pretty much the same about this book, so I’m glad we had each other’s encouragement and amusement.
Goodreads, so disappointing!
But what an alluring idea for a debut novel. The Book of Doors had a promising premise, but it ultimately fell flat. For me, this book was a bit of a snore. The writing style was dull, and it felt like Brown was just fumbling on. The characters lacked depth and were boring, the pacing felt uneven, the dialogue came off as cheesy, and what was with the repetitive, strange mention of baked goods? It honestly felt like all the scenes were at odds with themselves. Like the book wasn't quite sure what it wanted to be, and then couldn’t get out of its own damn way to really be anything. I was expecting vivid imagery, magical places, enchanting adventures, and interesting characters. To be drawn into a world I didn’t want to come back from. Instead, I kept checking to see how many pages I had left.
The company of my buddy read partner Daniel Montague was my saving grace on this one! (and my first review hyperlink lol 🤓) Much thanx, D! Your playful personality and sense of humor made this read so much better. We both felt pretty much the same about this book, so I’m glad we had each other’s encouragement and amusement.
December 22, 2024
RATING BREAKDOWN
Characters: 3⭐️
Setting: 5⭐️
Plot: 5⭐️
Themes: 5⭐️
Emotional Impact: 3⭐️
Personal Enjoyment: 5⭐️
Total Rounded Average: 4.5 ⭐️
Shucks this was great. I went in blind, but thought this would be a cozy-ish urban fantasy about a girl who can use her books to travel around the world, make some memories, maybe fall in love...ummm...NOPE. This thing was a high-stakes adventure, borderline thriller, with deeply tender themes of aging, loneliness, patience, loss, friendship, and purpose.
The plot was gripping and well-paced. It felt just random enough to feel real and relatable. The main character is flying by the seat of her pants, and discovering the truth as the reader is. As new characters are introduced, and the threads weave together, everything gets more exciting and nerve-wracking. I loved how the plot thickened as the story progressed, and each development got an explanation or tied back in by the end. It was well conceived and felt pulled tight. It was completely unpredictable and entertaining!
When it comes to the characters, I loved Drummond, Cassie was decent, and Mr. Webber was the best. Izzy wasn't very well developed, so she felt like a plot device for Cassie, to be the best friend. I didn't always buy their relationship, especially later in the story after they are separated for significant lengths of time. The villain was truly disturbing and made for a great foil to the protagonists.
The setting works really well too, between the Scottish countryside and New York haunts, the story has a very gritty, detailed, intimate feel. Locations are a big part of the story and the descriptions really pulled me in. The magic/tech/supernatural aspects of the story are so fun and the author really played with and explored them from a technical and moral standpoint which was so satisfying.
So much works well here, and will be a hit for many readers, from fantasy to sci-fi, to literary and speculative fiction. It didn't have quite the emotional impact that some stories do and the characters were not the highest caliber I've read, but the plot and setting are top-tier and everything else is so solid. Highly recommend!!
Characters: 3⭐️
Setting: 5⭐️
Plot: 5⭐️
Themes: 5⭐️
Emotional Impact: 3⭐️
Personal Enjoyment: 5⭐️
Total Rounded Average: 4.5 ⭐️
Shucks this was great. I went in blind, but thought this would be a cozy-ish urban fantasy about a girl who can use her books to travel around the world, make some memories, maybe fall in love...ummm...NOPE. This thing was a high-stakes adventure, borderline thriller, with deeply tender themes of aging, loneliness, patience, loss, friendship, and purpose.
The plot was gripping and well-paced. It felt just random enough to feel real and relatable. The main character is flying by the seat of her pants, and discovering the truth as the reader is. As new characters are introduced, and the threads weave together, everything gets more exciting and nerve-wracking. I loved how the plot thickened as the story progressed, and each development got an explanation or tied back in by the end. It was well conceived and felt pulled tight. It was completely unpredictable and entertaining!
When it comes to the characters, I loved Drummond, Cassie was decent, and Mr. Webber was the best. Izzy wasn't very well developed, so she felt like a plot device for Cassie, to be the best friend. I didn't always buy their relationship, especially later in the story after they are separated for significant lengths of time. The villain was truly disturbing and made for a great foil to the protagonists.
The setting works really well too, between the Scottish countryside and New York haunts, the story has a very gritty, detailed, intimate feel. Locations are a big part of the story and the descriptions really pulled me in. The magic/tech/supernatural aspects of the story are so fun and the author really played with and explored them from a technical and moral standpoint which was so satisfying.
So much works well here, and will be a hit for many readers, from fantasy to sci-fi, to literary and speculative fiction. It didn't have quite the emotional impact that some stories do and the characters were not the highest caliber I've read, but the plot and setting are top-tier and everything else is so solid. Highly recommend!!
January 27, 2025
Wow.
I honestly don’t think I am able to find the words to articulate just how beautiful this book and this story was. A truly incredible book with an incredibly satisfying conclusion. This book is unlike anything I have ever read and it moved me so completely.
“This world is awful and mean and I hate it … but books have always been a place I can go”
“Happiness is not something you sit and wait for. You have to choose it and pursue it in spite of everything else. It’s not going to be given to you.”
I honestly don’t think I am able to find the words to articulate just how beautiful this book and this story was. A truly incredible book with an incredibly satisfying conclusion. This book is unlike anything I have ever read and it moved me so completely.
“This world is awful and mean and I hate it … but books have always been a place I can go”
“Happiness is not something you sit and wait for. You have to choose it and pursue it in spite of everything else. It’s not going to be given to you.”
December 21, 2023
Nope, nope, nope. What a disappointment. I feel awful for dnfing an arc but I refuse to slog through this… in the nicest way possible.
The writing is so clunky and wooden. I could feel my eyeballs glazing over like I was reading a book for school or something. It was a lot of telling and not showing. Nothing takes me out of a story more than unrealistic dialogue and that’s prevalent. The characters don’t feel real to me at all. They just exist and speak like robots with no emotion.
I only made it to 15% and by that point nothing had really happened plot wise so I can’t speak to it. I don’t think the characters reactions were appropriate to the things that DID happen. “It’s like… the best thing ever” is not the appropriate reaction to opening a door in your apartment and finding Italy on the other side.
I can see what the author was trying to do, I really can. And I appreciate any attempt to write a book FOR people who love books… but I’ll go re-read The Starless Sea or Addie LaRue. They executed it flawlessly. Those are big shoes to fill if you wanna compare and this fell flat.
On a side note I saw another review talking about some icky things written about women in later chapters and just wanted to add that I didn’t love the talk surrounding food in the bit I did read -
“I am disgusting. It’s midnight and I am doing this to my body.” (She ate pancakes AND bacon *gasp*)
“There’s nothing wrong with your body and you know it.”
“There might be if I keep eating like this. Have you seen my aunts? They’re all huge. That’s in my genes.”
“Why are you eating then?”
“My mouth is bored.”
Like??? Incredibly unnecessary for a fantasy about magic, loving books, and traveling etc
The writing is so clunky and wooden. I could feel my eyeballs glazing over like I was reading a book for school or something. It was a lot of telling and not showing. Nothing takes me out of a story more than unrealistic dialogue and that’s prevalent. The characters don’t feel real to me at all. They just exist and speak like robots with no emotion.
I only made it to 15% and by that point nothing had really happened plot wise so I can’t speak to it. I don’t think the characters reactions were appropriate to the things that DID happen. “It’s like… the best thing ever” is not the appropriate reaction to opening a door in your apartment and finding Italy on the other side.
I can see what the author was trying to do, I really can. And I appreciate any attempt to write a book FOR people who love books… but I’ll go re-read The Starless Sea or Addie LaRue. They executed it flawlessly. Those are big shoes to fill if you wanna compare and this fell flat.
On a side note I saw another review talking about some icky things written about women in later chapters and just wanted to add that I didn’t love the talk surrounding food in the bit I did read -
“I am disgusting. It’s midnight and I am doing this to my body.” (She ate pancakes AND bacon *gasp*)
“There’s nothing wrong with your body and you know it.”
“There might be if I keep eating like this. Have you seen my aunts? They’re all huge. That’s in my genes.”
“Why are you eating then?”
“My mouth is bored.”
Like??? Incredibly unnecessary for a fantasy about magic, loving books, and traveling etc
December 19, 2023
The Book of Doors was such a fun concept and one I was eager to read. But ultimately, I found the author’s note at the end of the book that included his agent’s previous plea for “more wonder,” “put more wonder in it,” “where’s the sense of wonder!” to be interesting because that’s how I felt reading the book. I wanted more magic and more fun and instead it was a book with a lot of terror and gore and honestly, pretty amateur writing and unrealistic, lame dialogue. I want to reiterate that there is a lot of violence and gore in this book which was surprising due to my expectations on what this book would be about, so approach with caution if you’re squeamish and wish to avoid reading numerous instances of torture.
I didn’t care for any of the characters as the character development and description was pretty scarce. The antagonist was a complete sadist and killed for no reason other than she enjoyed it. The plot was either too fast (and skipped or sped through certain necessary parts) or meandered aimlessly describing croissants and other foods and pointless dialogue between the characters.
I think the description and comparisons to other books did it a disservice. It’s described as “a debut novel full of magic (eh), adventure (sure), and romance (nope), The Book of Doors opens up a thrilling world of contemporary fantasy for readers of The Midnight Library, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Night Circus.”
I know the cover and description will pull in a load of book-loving readers, and I’m curious to see whether others will think it delivers on what it advertises. For me, it was a definite no.
I didn’t care for any of the characters as the character development and description was pretty scarce. The antagonist was a complete sadist and killed for no reason other than she enjoyed it. The plot was either too fast (and skipped or sped through certain necessary parts) or meandered aimlessly describing croissants and other foods and pointless dialogue between the characters.
I think the description and comparisons to other books did it a disservice. It’s described as “a debut novel full of magic (eh), adventure (sure), and romance (nope), The Book of Doors opens up a thrilling world of contemporary fantasy for readers of The Midnight Library, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Night Circus.”
I know the cover and description will pull in a load of book-loving readers, and I’m curious to see whether others will think it delivers on what it advertises. For me, it was a definite no.
April 28, 2025
This book was so good that now I don’t want to read anything else because it won’t compare 😭😭😭
February 14, 2024
I was super excited about The Book of Doors since it is recommended for readers of some of my favorite books (Addie La Rue, Night Circus, and Babel). I still went in with low expectations. Comparing a debut to two authors who have had years to perfect their craft seems a little risky, so I went in with a desire to enjoy it but not expecting Schwab or Kuang-level writing.
Which ended up being a good thing.
Cassie has a mundane life, working at a bookstore. When a patron dies at the store and leaves her a book, Cassie is surprised at how nonsensical the book seems. Until it reveals itself to be magical, able to open any door in the world. Cassie is soon being hunted from all sides and has to find allies before it’s too late.
Starting with the good, I did like the magical books. Books in themselves are a sort of magic, and the author did a great job of amplifying that. The origins of the books remain a mystery til the end. But, I was still intrigued by how they work and the limitations of their powers. The author added unique powers and abilities to the books. Even the "mundane" books (Invisibility) were written in a way that made them exciting.
A unique magic system can't make up for poorly-writeen characters.
I didn't enjoy a single character, the heroes or the villains. First, I beg the author to talk to a woman or two. The way he writes his female main characters is very stereotypical. One woman complains about being too thin, and the other talks about how fat food makes her, and this was in the introductions to the characters, which set the tone. Something about women automatically
complaining about their bodies from the get-go didn’t sit right with me because it had no impact on the plot. Even the villain, known as “The Woman,” was weirdly cartoony and obsessed with her looks. At one point, she talks about how she dresses herself up as a doll, and her body is pleasing. Maybe I'm being nitpicky, but I’m allowed to do that.
Motivations and personalities are thrown out the window. Though Cassie does struggle bad things happen, the way she was written made her blasé towards everything. Most characters served one purpose and added nothing to the story outside that singular motivation. This directly impacted the platonic and romantic relationships the author tried to include. If the characters are as bland, their chemistry will follow suit.
The pacing of this book is stop-and-go. The first thirty percent is relatively exciting, moving along quickly. Then it just...stops? I blame this on a particular plot point the author utilized. The plot point wasn't bad, but the author didn't incorporate it cohesively. When the pace finally picked up again, I was just ready for the story to be over.
Overall, fun and imaginative world with weak characters and storylines. However, if you read more for vibes than anything, you might like this one!
Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for the advance copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Which ended up being a good thing.
Cassie has a mundane life, working at a bookstore. When a patron dies at the store and leaves her a book, Cassie is surprised at how nonsensical the book seems. Until it reveals itself to be magical, able to open any door in the world. Cassie is soon being hunted from all sides and has to find allies before it’s too late.
Starting with the good, I did like the magical books. Books in themselves are a sort of magic, and the author did a great job of amplifying that. The origins of the books remain a mystery til the end. But, I was still intrigued by how they work and the limitations of their powers. The author added unique powers and abilities to the books. Even the "mundane" books (Invisibility) were written in a way that made them exciting.
A unique magic system can't make up for poorly-writeen characters.
I didn't enjoy a single character, the heroes or the villains. First, I beg the author to talk to a woman or two. The way he writes his female main characters is very stereotypical. One woman complains about being too thin, and the other talks about how fat food makes her, and this was in the introductions to the characters, which set the tone. Something about women automatically
complaining about their bodies from the get-go didn’t sit right with me because it had no impact on the plot. Even the villain, known as “The Woman,” was weirdly cartoony and obsessed with her looks. At one point, she talks about how she dresses herself up as a doll, and her body is pleasing. Maybe I'm being nitpicky, but I’m allowed to do that.
Motivations and personalities are thrown out the window. Though Cassie does struggle bad things happen, the way she was written made her blasé towards everything. Most characters served one purpose and added nothing to the story outside that singular motivation. This directly impacted the platonic and romantic relationships the author tried to include. If the characters are as bland, their chemistry will follow suit.
The pacing of this book is stop-and-go. The first thirty percent is relatively exciting, moving along quickly. Then it just...stops? I blame this on a particular plot point the author utilized. The plot point wasn't bad, but the author didn't incorporate it cohesively. When the pace finally picked up again, I was just ready for the story to be over.
Overall, fun and imaginative world with weak characters and storylines. However, if you read more for vibes than anything, you might like this one!
Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for the advance copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
January 12, 2025
This book was great! This was a magical and unique book about friendship, magic, the cost of power and finding your path. The Book of Doors follows Cassie who works at a bookstore and is given a magical book by her favorite customer. The magical book is the Book of Doors which will let you travel anywhere in the world with a door and she takes her friend on a grand journey around New York. Cassie meets Drummond a librarian who is the protector of the magical books from bad people and discovers that there are many more books including the Book of Shadows, the Book of Joy, the Book of Illusions and many more.
I was completely immersed into this book from the very beginning. The idea of traveling anywhere in the world with a magical book is amazing. This honestly would be a dream, I love traveling I’ve been to several countries around the world and I want to travel more. If I were to travel anywhere I would pick Japan, France, Switzerland, to name a few places. I really liked the characters in this book and I loved the interactions between them. Cassie was great, she was kind, determined, loyal, and would do anything to protect her friend Izzy. I really liked Izzy too, she’s talkative, loyal, friendly, and determined. Drummond is a great character as well as Lund and Azaki. The writing was descriptive and engaging. The plot was very interesting and the pacing was nearly perfect. The plot twists were so surprising. There was an aspect of the plot at the end that wasn’t explained enough and I was a bit underwhelmed by. There were also a few confusing aspects of time travel and how the books were explained. The end was great and I’m glad that the plot was resolved.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves magical books, time travel, awesome characters and engaging writing.
I was completely immersed into this book from the very beginning. The idea of traveling anywhere in the world with a magical book is amazing. This honestly would be a dream, I love traveling I’ve been to several countries around the world and I want to travel more. If I were to travel anywhere I would pick Japan, France, Switzerland, to name a few places. I really liked the characters in this book and I loved the interactions between them. Cassie was great, she was kind, determined, loyal, and would do anything to protect her friend Izzy. I really liked Izzy too, she’s talkative, loyal, friendly, and determined. Drummond is a great character as well as Lund and Azaki. The writing was descriptive and engaging. The plot was very interesting and the pacing was nearly perfect. The plot twists were so surprising. There was an aspect of the plot at the end that wasn’t explained enough and I was a bit underwhelmed by. There were also a few confusing aspects of time travel and how the books were explained. The end was great and I’m glad that the plot was resolved.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves magical books, time travel, awesome characters and engaging writing.
March 21, 2024
4.5 rounded to 5 on GR! this book was so beautiful and well executed and well done and i quite literally loved escaping into this story✨✨✨
this is for fans of THE MEASURE & THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE. so it’s no wonder why i loved it bc those are two books i’d sell my soul to read again :)))
👉🏼 if you want an underrated good book to add to your TBR, this is it!
if you know me, you know i’m a biiiig fan of magical realism. but bc i read alot of it, i’m quite pick with the execution—it has to have the right mix of “how is this possible” without being super detailed. ya feel?
THE BOOK OF DOORS was captivating. there’s no other word to use. the story and writing was SO GOOD—this is my first time reading this author’s work but won’t be my last. the setting and concept was so original and creative. as someone who reads a lot, i’m always looking for books that are unique and not like the norm and this is certainly one of those.
it follows a girl who is semi “stuck” and just living life. when a favorite patron of hers dies in her bookstore, he leaves behind a special surprise for her (THE BOOK OF DOORS) that changes her life in ways she could NEVER imagine… 🤐🤐🤐
also, the characters and vibes and friendships and love stories in this book?! HELLO? how did he do it all? truly. i was writing down my spoiler details for this book and realized that 29272929 things happened in it. it’s one you definitely have to pay attention to because if you don’t, you could miss an important detail!! 👀
TLDR; unique and beautiful. fun to escape into and super creative. all the feels and vibes!!!
this is for fans of THE MEASURE & THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE. so it’s no wonder why i loved it bc those are two books i’d sell my soul to read again :)))
👉🏼 if you want an underrated good book to add to your TBR, this is it!
if you know me, you know i’m a biiiig fan of magical realism. but bc i read alot of it, i’m quite pick with the execution—it has to have the right mix of “how is this possible” without being super detailed. ya feel?
THE BOOK OF DOORS was captivating. there’s no other word to use. the story and writing was SO GOOD—this is my first time reading this author’s work but won’t be my last. the setting and concept was so original and creative. as someone who reads a lot, i’m always looking for books that are unique and not like the norm and this is certainly one of those.
it follows a girl who is semi “stuck” and just living life. when a favorite patron of hers dies in her bookstore, he leaves behind a special surprise for her (THE BOOK OF DOORS) that changes her life in ways she could NEVER imagine… 🤐🤐🤐
also, the characters and vibes and friendships and love stories in this book?! HELLO? how did he do it all? truly. i was writing down my spoiler details for this book and realized that 29272929 things happened in it. it’s one you definitely have to pay attention to because if you don’t, you could miss an important detail!! 👀
TLDR; unique and beautiful. fun to escape into and super creative. all the feels and vibes!!!
March 17, 2024
the book of stupidity (respectfully)
September 6, 2025
This book had everything from my favorite genres! An intriguing ‘magic system’ at the heart of the story, intense action at times, a bit of mystery, emotional conversations/actions, and satisfying revelations.
I think a lot of different readers will find something they love in this book, because it does bend genres SO WELL.
I felt like I was reading a book that was written by some of my favorite authors. It was a mix of Blake Crouch, Fredrick Backman, and a bit of Rachel Gillig?
My only complaint is I didn’t feel deeply connected to every character, but the premise of the story itself was compelling enough for me to still give it 5 stars!
I NEED THIS TO BE A LIMITED TV SERIES.
I think a lot of different readers will find something they love in this book, because it does bend genres SO WELL.
I felt like I was reading a book that was written by some of my favorite authors. It was a mix of Blake Crouch, Fredrick Backman, and a bit of Rachel Gillig?
My only complaint is I didn’t feel deeply connected to every character, but the premise of the story itself was compelling enough for me to still give it 5 stars!
I NEED THIS TO BE A LIMITED TV SERIES.
February 11, 2024
This is a well-written, entertaining, fast paced, fantasy novel. It has a likable and engaging female protagonist, an interesting and unique premise, books, magic, adventure, action, twists and turns, and a gratifying conclusion. Mr. Gareth Brown, William Morrow, and NetGalley kindly provided me with an advance reader copy of this fantastic novel, and this is my honest opinion.
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