The Gatekeeper's Daughter: Cavern of Light

by Susan Reimer

The balance of Maira's world is shifting.




The responsibilities as the next Gatekeeper leave 12-year-old Maira with little time to play beneath the waves. Instead, she works alongside her father learning the role held by her family for generations.




On a rare free morning, Maira discovers an extraordinary underwater cavern that resembles a long untold legend. She and her friends decide to keep their find a secret. But when Maira is confronted by treasure hunters, she learns their secret has been betrayed. Evil has once again entered her world.




Maira must find a way to protect the sea and unite her people to restore the balance of history, a task she can't do alone. But the survival of her way of life and the sea itself depend on it.

Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2024

Reviews

[Raaacz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gatekeeper's Daughter: The Cavern of Light is a heartwarming read. It follows the story of Maira, a young girl tasked with helping her father fulfill his duties as the gatekeeper of their community. Torn between the innocence of childhood and the weight of responsibility, Maira learns the value of honesty and friendship as she works to save the sea from greedy individuals seeking a legendary treasure.

Susan's writing style is simple yet vividly descriptive. Her portrayal of the world in which the protagonist lives makes it easy for readers to visualize. Maira's story is perfect for both the young and the young at heart, as it beautifully explores themes of family, community, and friendship. The ending is satisfying, providing a thoughtful resolution by revealing the characters' fates and the consequences of their choices. This book comes highly recommended!

Thank you to BookSirens for giving me an advance copy of this book.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written story that takes place in a mystical land where a young girl, Maira lives with her brothers and father; who guards the entrance to the sea.

This is a mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat as Maira and her friends battle against evil that threatens all they hold dear. All while they navigate the murky waters of growing up. And finding out who you are.

The characters will learn hard and painfull lessons. They learn to look inside themselves and believe in themselves.The scenes are well described and plotted well. You can actually believe that you are there. I look forward to reading this author again.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What worked:
This book presents a message that may evoke thoughts of our world today. Legend says, that many years ago people became greedy and took more from the sea than they needed. The Creator decided to separate the humans into four separate communities and the Gatekeeper controls who can enter the sea. People can breathe and talk as they do on land which may surprise some readers; it surprises some characters! Maira, daughter of the Gatekeeper, discovers the cavern mentioned in the synopsis and she fears it may be what created problems before. Of course, she keeps it a secret until strangers come to town. But. has she waited too long to stop disaster from returning?
An internal conflict is found in Maira as she begins to question whether she wants to become the next Gatekeeper. Many readers may relate to problems that come from parental expectations and traditions. Maira’s mother is dead so Maira is happy to help her father. However, gatekeeping and tending to the house don’t leave much time for herself and she wonders what she might be missing in the world. She also fears it’s getting harder to remember her mother. Maira knows the Gatekeeper is vital in guarding the sea but why does it need to be her?
The secret in the Cavern of Light is similar to some other books but it’s also innovative. It shows how greed can blind people to making bad choices and not foresee the consequences. The story addresses how humans sometimes need to protect nature from other humans before it’s ruined beyond repair. Maira takes charge of guarding the cavern although she learns it’s okay to ask for help. In the end, readers will see how Maira displays compassion and forgiveness when the town considers punishment for one of its citizens.
What didn’t work as well:
It’s hard to distinguish life in the sea and life on land since people can talk and breathe in both places. Kids play above and below the water and people garden on land and at the sea bottom. Mental images may be confused unless Maira visits the Cavern of Light.
The final verdict:
Readers can admire Maira’s honesty, caring, and bravery as she struggles in her role as the Gatekeeper’s daughter. Discovering the Cavern of Light creates different levels of conflict but Maira overcomes them in an exciting climax. I recommend you give this book a shot.

[Jessica Fizzell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible read! It was an adventure until the end, with a fun twist on what you might expect to happen with the Cavern of Light. This book has themes of faith, community, team work, self discovery, mercy, the importance of honesty, and so much more. I was particularly impressed by the way Susan gave the opportunity for children to see that they have the capacity for both wisdom and what would typically be considered an "adult responsibility", and that the adults in the novel were capable of both remorse, understanding, apology and respect for the points of view of their children. It was a brilliant display of the truth of humanity, and what society could look like if we choose a path that focused on values rather than the pursuit of wealth and excess.

The character development, world building and imagery in this book were wonderful and painted a very real image in your mind as you journeyed through the pages. The folksy lore was reminiscent of some of my favourite childhood reads and blended what could easily pass as a historical version of the real world with magical elements. I would be beyond excited if this was ever picked up as for a screen adaptation. This might be middle grade fiction, but I think it could be enjoyed by all ages. I highly recommend this book. It has the capacity to be an instant classic in your collection. I know I can't wait to share it with my son.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gatekeepers’ Daughter: The Cavern of Light The Gatekeepers’ Daughter: The Cavern of Light is a beautifully written story that takes place in a mystical land where a young girl, Maira lives with her brothers and father; who guards the entrance to the sea. An enthralling mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat as Maira and her friends battle against evil doers that threaten all they hold dear while they navigate the murky waters of growing up. Hard lessons are learned of being responsible and doing what is right and how to communicate their feelings and trust their instincts. They learn to reach inside themselves for the goodness and the answers that are within. Well described scenes bring the story so to life, you can imagine yourself floating in the undersea gardens and walking through the woods as little creatures called Mossies and rabbits scurry to meet you. My favorite scene is when Maira is sitting quietly thinking in the woods and a furry little fox slowly comes up to her and rests his head on Mair’s arm. It is one of many charming moments that make this a must read for every child.

[Debbie Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Readers who love nature and underwater adventures will enjoy this fantasy by Susan Reimer. Twelve-year-old Maira has shouldered extra responsibilities since her mother died six years ago and as she is apprenticing with her father as the next Gatekeeper of the sea. She is beginning to have conflicting feelings of missing out on the carefree childhood of her friends, and also wanting to be treated as a grownup rather than a child.

The job of the Gatekeeper is to always protect the sea. Long ago the sea was almost destroyed as greed drove people to treasure hunt, ignoring the health of fish, animals, plants, and other humans. Although Maira knows honesty is very important in life, one day she discovers something in the sea that she and her friend, Ewen, decide to keep secret. This secret could destroy the sea again and bring greedy men to Maira’s village.

I enjoyed the loving family relationships, the struggles and maturity Maira goes through, and the wonderful description of this land Reimer created. Being able to swim underwater without need for air was fun and I loved that she included a map to go with her fantasy.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gatekeeper’s Daughter: Cavern of Light is a delightfully imaginative tale! Maira is a 12-year-old girl who is at the age where she is eager to grow up but also missing the fun that comes with being a kid. When Maira and her friends discover an undersea treasure, they initially agree to keep it a secret. Unfortunately, this leads to unintended consequences, and she must fight to protect the treasure and restore harmony to her hometown. The themes of honesty, faith, community, teamwork, and friendship are abundant throughout the book. Susan Reimer created a descriptive and mesmerizing far-away land that really draws you in. This book is a pleasure for all ages and would be great for family read-aloud time!

[Jocelyn Peever · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gatekeeper's Daughter: Cavern of Light is a wonderful story that I could not put down. I was so drawn in that I became both Maira and her father Ari. The story is beautifully written and brings the sea and surrounding village to life so you can see yourself asking permission to enter the sea and drinking from the cup. There are so many life lessons learned by the children, but the parents also learn a lesson or two. I recommend that the parent and child both read this amazing story!

[Talitha Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gatekeeper's Daughter is a fun adventure with nuanced characters and relatable situations (albeit in a fantasy setting). Maira is an intelligent but fallible main character who acknowledges her mistakes and shows mercy for the mistakes of others. Her journey is one of growing up, enjoying childhood, taking accountability, and learning to value family and community.

[Susan Phelan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet gentle book with enough action to keep readers engaged. Some beautiful words like this:
The rain beat upon the roof but to Maira, it seemed
far away as she listened to the warm sound of the words.
Recommended.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent middle grade fantasy with a unique premise...being able to live part of life underwater!

[CYBILS Awards]

Recommendation from Mark Buxton: http://buxfantasy.blogspot.com/2024/1...