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Eight Doors from Dawn to Midnight
Long ago, Vích took her younger brother and fled the mysterious but terrible fate their mother intended for them both.
Bound together by her curse and his gift, neither Vích nor Lahn have ever needed to fear any of the ordinary dangers that beset mortal people. But they have never been safe from those who would use them both in pursuit of power beyond life and death.
Now those enemies have found them.
The world will never be the same.
Bound together by her curse and his gift, neither Vích nor Lahn have ever needed to fear any of the ordinary dangers that beset mortal people. But they have never been safe from those who would use them both in pursuit of power beyond life and death.
Now those enemies have found them.
The world will never be the same.
- GenresFantasyHigh Fantasy
451 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2025
About the author
Rachel Neumeier
60 books586 followersRachel Neumeier started writing fiction to relax when she was a graduate student and needed a hobby unrelated to her research. Prior to selling her first fantasy novel, she had published only a few articles in venues such as The American Journal of Botany. However, finding that her interests did not lie in research, Rachel left academia and began to let her hobbies take over her life instead.
She now raises and shows dogs, gardens, cooks, and occasionally finds time to read. She works part-time for a tutoring program, though she tutors far more students in Math and Chemistry than in English Composition.
She now raises and shows dogs, gardens, cooks, and occasionally finds time to read. She works part-time for a tutoring program, though she tutors far more students in Math and Chemistry than in English Composition.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 25, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up to four. I had to read the ending chapters twice, because the ending was mostly dictated by the Naga creature of five heads. "One head for truth, one for falsehood, one for riddles, one for poetry ... and the other head did not speak." There lies the confusion.
In this stand alone saga, Neumeier has created a world of tiers. There is a table of the tiers at the beginning and that helps. More complexing is Neumeier's creation of different souls within various characters and in which tier they are most comfortable. The more different souls a 'being' contains the easier it is for said 'being' to find and travel through doors which lead to the tiers. There is much to get your head around in this book, but once you figure it out, okay, mostly figure it out, you have a insight into the creativity that exists in Neumeier's head.
The characters are diverse and each contain special traits, not to mention souls. More credit to the authoress' imagination.
Rachel Neumeier is a prolific writer. She states that there are no sequels planned for this book, but does not rule that out entirely. 😉
In this stand alone saga, Neumeier has created a world of tiers. There is a table of the tiers at the beginning and that helps. More complexing is Neumeier's creation of different souls within various characters and in which tier they are most comfortable. The more different souls a 'being' contains the easier it is for said 'being' to find and travel through doors which lead to the tiers. There is much to get your head around in this book, but once you figure it out, okay, mostly figure it out, you have a insight into the creativity that exists in Neumeier's head.
The characters are diverse and each contain special traits, not to mention souls. More credit to the authoress' imagination.
Rachel Neumeier is a prolific writer. She states that there are no sequels planned for this book, but does not rule that out entirely. 😉
May 14, 2026
Fast-paced and gripping. The characters spend a lot of time fleeing and/or chasing people. I had trouble putting it down and going to bed.
There's a fun sibling dynamic between Vich and Lahn but this is not as character-focused as Neumeier's Tuyo series. I liked how Neumeier didn't tone down how terrifying Vich's nightmare tiger is, and wrote a main character who would be the villain in most other stories. (Don't worry, Vich is still likeable and there's an actual villain who is suitably evil.)
The worldbuilding strikes the right balance between being interesting and unusual without slowing down the pace with lots of exposition. The multi-level universe is definitely not a generic fantasy world.
There's a fun sibling dynamic between Vich and Lahn but this is not as character-focused as Neumeier's Tuyo series. I liked how Neumeier didn't tone down how terrifying Vich's nightmare tiger is, and wrote a main character who would be the villain in most other stories. (Don't worry, Vich is still likeable and there's an actual villain who is suitably evil.)
The worldbuilding strikes the right balance between being interesting and unusual without slowing down the pace with lots of exposition. The multi-level universe is definitely not a generic fantasy world.
September 5, 2025
Yet another completely different, wildly imaginative world from Rachel Neumeier. This one has a brother-sister duo with strange and terrifying powers who are just trying to keep their heads down and live a quiet life. Too bad everyone wants a piece of their powers. I don't want to spoil too much, but there are portals to different dimensions (layers of the world), and characters have different forms in each layer, so the chase scenes are really crazy! I wasn't sure if I would like Vich at first: she's pretty selfish and amoral. But she has good reason to be, and the give and take between her and her brother was believable and endearing.
If you're familiar with Neumeier's work, you'll see similar themes of love and loyalty, and learning to trust others. If this is your first of hers, it's a great starting place because it's a fast-paced, fun standalone. If you liked Martha Well's Raksura books, you'll like this one.
If you're familiar with Neumeier's work, you'll see similar themes of love and loyalty, and learning to trust others. If this is your first of hers, it's a great starting place because it's a fast-paced, fun standalone. If you liked Martha Well's Raksura books, you'll like this one.
September 8, 2025
Vích and Lahn have been simply trying to survive in hiding for hundreds of years. One small mistake leads to one big mess and then another and another until they realize that they’ve fallen into a trap created by their oldest enemy.
I love the lyrical writing, that is a key part of Rachel Neumeier’s style but she manages to make each of her unique books and series’ feel entirely different. I enjoyed the concept of different tiers or worlds, and kuay souls that allow some people to travel between them and adapt to each tier.
I didn’t completely like either Vích or Lahn, characters who have lived for a long time probably can’t be easy to relate to, at least if they are realistically written. But the side characters are also very well written and I adore Tayana the dragon woman, and Aûn the captain’s daughter. They are both exceedingly clever and save the day as much as the main characters.
I love the lyrical writing, that is a key part of Rachel Neumeier’s style but she manages to make each of her unique books and series’ feel entirely different. I enjoyed the concept of different tiers or worlds, and kuay souls that allow some people to travel between them and adapt to each tier.
I didn’t completely like either Vích or Lahn, characters who have lived for a long time probably can’t be easy to relate to, at least if they are realistically written. But the side characters are also very well written and I adore Tayana the dragon woman, and Aûn the captain’s daughter. They are both exceedingly clever and save the day as much as the main characters.
January 6, 2026
3 1/2, not sure how to rate it or how well i liked it. i love neumeier's fantasies and and this wasn't like them so maybe that made it a bit diffcult for me to really like this story. it had neumeir's excellent and flowing writing, and also the world was different, strange but maybe a bit complex yet not explained that well. too much and lots of surface descriptions without any depth sometimes which i think contracted from the people and the story in itself. so the ending also felt a bit hasty. that said i did enjoy it, wished for something else and would probably be re-reading another of her old books
October 19, 2025
i devoured this one swiftly. and made lots of bookmarks at key scenes. The descriptions of the various planes/levels were gorgeous. Would make for a some lovely art if I thought I could do any of them justice. (I ight try any way)
This author is new to me in that I haven;t read anyhting by her before but other books of hers have been sitting on my to be read lists, after this I think I should find some more of her books and see if they are just as lovely, because while the place desciptions are lovely the people where just as good well drawn and realistic in both their good and bad sides.
This author is new to me in that I haven;t read anyhting by her before but other books of hers have been sitting on my to be read lists, after this I think I should find some more of her books and see if they are just as lovely, because while the place desciptions are lovely the people where just as good well drawn and realistic in both their good and bad sides.
August 18, 2025
Wow! This is an exciting book. The characters seem to hurtle from one disaster to another. There are many unexpected twists, but it all comes to a satisfying conclusion.
The world in this book is at least as strange and interesting as the world in her Tuyo series, but it's also utterly different. This is a standalone work (so far), but I hope she explores more of it in future novels. It looks like there could be many more stories to tell.
The world in this book is at least as strange and interesting as the world in her Tuyo series, but it's also utterly different. This is a standalone work (so far), but I hope she explores more of it in future novels. It looks like there could be many more stories to tell.
November 4, 2025
An interesting read. 3.5 rounded up to a solid 4.
The setting and worldbuilding are quite outstanding, with constant action leaving little time for introspection on the finer point of this compelling world and its mysteries.
A bit hard to follow at times because of the dense setting and fast pace of events, but I would love to return for another book in this world or additional stories with the cast.
The setting and worldbuilding are quite outstanding, with constant action leaving little time for introspection on the finer point of this compelling world and its mysteries.
A bit hard to follow at times because of the dense setting and fast pace of events, but I would love to return for another book in this world or additional stories with the cast.
September 8, 2025
A new world(s)
Entirely unlike any of her previous fantasies, this standalone seems rooted in the mythology of South East Asia and the world and the souls of people are both multiplied. From the highest to the lowest tiers of existence, a brother and sister fight to find the freedom to be their true selves.
Entirely unlike any of her previous fantasies, this standalone seems rooted in the mythology of South East Asia and the world and the souls of people are both multiplied. From the highest to the lowest tiers of existence, a brother and sister fight to find the freedom to be their true selves.
September 9, 2025
Another stunning world from Neumeier!
Is it an easy, fast read? No. But it will give the reader a full immersion into a completely different, deeply layered world. Great storyline that can lead to discussions about the nature of religion and free will. Or just a riveting adventure through multiple words. Either way, a mind vacation from the ordinary.
Is it an easy, fast read? No. But it will give the reader a full immersion into a completely different, deeply layered world. Great storyline that can lead to discussions about the nature of religion and free will. Or just a riveting adventure through multiple words. Either way, a mind vacation from the ordinary.
September 5, 2025
A Brilliant Book
This story is full of characters that feel alive and worldbuilding that is unique. I especially delighted in the world building, and that, combined with Rachel Neumeier's standard of creating a cast of vivid characters, is a book approaching perfection.
This story is full of characters that feel alive and worldbuilding that is unique. I especially delighted in the world building, and that, combined with Rachel Neumeier's standard of creating a cast of vivid characters, is a book approaching perfection.
October 17, 2025
Awesome read!
Oh my gosh! Love, love, love this story! The characters are amazing and the setting is perfect! Honor and dishonor and duty and love all tied up in a glorious bouquet!
Oh my gosh! Love, love, love this story! The characters are amazing and the setting is perfect! Honor and dishonor and duty and love all tied up in a glorious bouquet!
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January 20, 2026A young woman bound to the soul of an immortal nightmare tiger & her nine-souled brother flee their enemies through the many tiers of a multilayered world. Imaginative Southeast-Asian inspired worldbuilding, gorgeous descriptions, TIGER!
September 6, 2025
An intriguing world and I really liked Vich's character, her human soul overburdened by her nightmare tiger soul. Some very nice plot twists too.
December 8, 2025
So unspeakably perfect I have actual, literal tears in my eyes. The kind of beautiful that hurts. Gorgeous alien fantasy worlds, dragons, portals, gods! Rich and decadent and wonderfully unique.
PERFECT. PERFECT PERFECT PERFECT.
rtc!
PERFECT. PERFECT PERFECT PERFECT.
rtc!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews