Behind That Door

by Hildan Loong

Two years back, Vinneta was left disabled after an explosion at her magic teacher's place, and everyone thought her beloved mentor had perished in the blast. But then, he unexpectedly appears at her door two years later, looking way younger. Shortly after, her sister and brother die under mysterious circumstances. Is she the next victim? And what’s her teacher’s true intention?

Following her tough times, Vinneta discovers she’s on track to become the Crown Princess. But is it possible for her to just ditch her father and pretend to be the king’s daughter for the world to see?

In the meantime, Isbet, a girl who secretly sells magical items, comes across a wild man in a secluded forest who appears to have lost all his memories. They soon learn that the missing townsfolk were subjected to experiments aimed at transforming them into fish. Can they unravel the mystery behind it all?

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 29, 2024

About the author

Swing by my website, https://hildanloong.com/. There, you can read some sample chapters from my books, and maybe even score a million-dollar prize, lol. I've included a ton of pictures in my books, so make sure to grab the latest version!

Reviews

[Kyle Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

In case you were curious, "Aiyee!" appears 75 times in this book. There are 270 pages. That's 27.77% of pages you get to read someone yelling "Aiyee!"

Also why were the AI generated images necessary? I'm perfectly capable of imagining a beautiful building or a dead woman in a bathtub on my own, thanks.

[Lumiina Soleil]

First of all, I won this book in a giveaway and am thankful to have had the chance to check it out like I have. I was lucky to grab a copy of it and appreciate the opportunity very much.

That being said, let me get into my honest thoughts, which I've been reticent to write because I'm aware they sound a bit harsh, but it's something I feel very strongly about. I read 28 pages into this book, and in that time I encountered 3 AI generated illustrations, iirc. I looked into the author, found their website, and found even more AI-generated slop. I can appreciate the idea of wanting to enhance your story with illustrations, but personally, as an artist, I do. not. want. them. if they are not made by human artists. If your writing is strong, I should be conjuring images in my head manifested by your vivid descriptions, and I have zero interest in seeing anything that was not ethically created by other humans who not only also saw those images in their heads but had the skill and passion to even try to express them and were fairly compensated for doing so. They are not necessary. Illustrations in a book are always a lovely bonus, but not AT ALL if they were just typed in to some model to create images made of stolen, uncredited, uncompensated work made only to replace the human beings whose bodies of work it was built from, without their knowledge or consent.

And THEN I factor in the stiff, archetypal, impersonal, terse impression I got from the writing, and can't help but wonder if the text itself was written if not at least in part by AI, which would also be guilty of the same sins as the visuals, and feel a pure revulsion. I could not, by my own personal ethics (and just... flat out vibes) read any more of it. The ick was undeniable. Which is nothing if not a shame.

If you also feel strongly negative about AI generated content (which I firmly believe you should) I can not recommend even checking out this book.

[Irina F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this might be the final book I dive into this year. It’s not the top pick of the year, but the story moves fast and deserves a solid 4 stars. I’m giving it an extra star for the lovely illustrations.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Thank you to the author and the publishers for allowing me the pleasure to read this book. I am extremely behind with my reading and reviews but this book was a very enjoyable experience.
I really liked the storyline and the illustrations were absolutely beautiful!

[Brian Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book you'll find family drama, avenging ghost, power struggle, and oh, nice illustrations

[Kathy Sewjeg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the prequel, and honestly, I like the other book better. I give 4 stars for this one.

[Ashley Dewnark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m never let down by this author! I just love her unique spin on fantasy stories.

[Nancy Mawkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s essentially a ghost story, but there are moments that read like a mystery novel, lol. I’d give it a full 5 stars if the last chapter didn’t exist.

[Hildan Loong · Rating 5 out of 5]

After I released my first book, I suddenly noticed my right arm feeling super weak one day. I couldn't even hold a pen! When I went for a check-up, the doctors found some growth in my spine and said I needed surgery. It was a risky situation, and I could end up in a wheelchair for life. That got me thinking about what life would be like in a wheelchair, which sparked the idea for this book. Thankfully, after more tests, they discovered it was just a blood clot in my spine, so surgery wasn’t necessary. Life really throws some curveballs! Vinneta faces a huge surprise when her legs heal, while Isbet hits a major snag in her sorceress career. We all have our share of challenges to deal with. And of course, my books are packed with magic and power struggles. Hope you enjoy reading it!