The Gatekeeper

The Gatekeeper Trilogy #1

by Scott Ferrell

What if there’s more to a city’s name than anybody ever imagined?

What if there’s more to a boy than he ever imagined?

Three years after his parents’ car accident left his father dead and his mother with severe brain damage, fifteen-year-old Gaige Porter still battles with the after effects. His temper is short, his friends are few, and he struggles to find his place in the world as everything he thinks matters to him falls apart.

Just as his life hits a new low, Seanna Bryant, steps from his dreams (literally) and into his life. With promises of help for his mom and finding meaning for his life, she lures him into a gateway that transports him to another world. On this new world, along with his friend, Aoife Connelly, Giage must follow Seanna on an adventure to find himself.

With large, bull-like monsters hot on their heels, if Gaige and his friends are to survive the journey, they must face new creatures unlike anything on Earth and overcome dangers that threaten their lives around every corner. Along the way, he must learn to trust and find out what it means to be the Gatekeeper.

THE GATEKEEPER is a novel that crosses two worlds and explores the depths of what it means to be a hero and a friend.

Genres: Fantasy

281 pages, Paperback

First published January 17, 2015

About the author

The year Scott was born was like any other, though a commemorative quarter was produced to celebrate his arrival (or so he assumes). He grew up in a place in America that’s a little too hot and now lives in a place in America that’s a little too cold. Growing up, he hated reading anything that didn't have cool drawings of muscular men wearing spandex punching other muscular men wearing spandex. That is until he found a book that transported him to a world full of knights, elves, dragons, and gods. In the time that followed, he’s devoured many worlds.

Now, he's coming forward to tell the stories he has collected.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. The story moved at a good pace and kept me reading. I liked the characters and look forward to reading more of this series. This author is off to a great start with this book!

[Beagle Lover (Avid Reader) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 disappointing stars

My feelings regarding this book list as such: Overly long, slightly humorous, extremely concerned with walking great distances, extreme abuse of a 15 year-old teen boy with an anger management issue by beings from another realm (world?) and minimal suspense.

The only strong point: the author's world building ability.

Loaded with editing mistakes, including the use of incorrect words within sentences, grammatical oversights and punctuation errors.

The concluding chapters were a complete letdown written only with a sequel in mind. Which would have worked had the first book not been so dang disappointing.

Although I own the complete trilogy, I do not feel compelled to read book two until I feel the need for self-punishment.

[Mikey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hated the ending, but then I remembered there were three books. I knew I should have bought all three.

[Ezra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scott is a friend from high school. We played D&D and terrorized our hometown. I wanted to read this because I figured it would incorporate elements from that experience. Maybe I would even recognize someone I know?

Stories like this about the hero stuck in another world are among my favorites. The D&D cartoon from the 80s, The Sleeping Dragon , and others unveil the challenge of learning to deal with a realm possessing unfamiliar physics, more sentient beings than just humans, and everyone looking at Terrans like they are idiots. Dealing with our world is hard enough. Getting thrown into something very different should break anyone. Relating to the protagonist, Gaige, was easy because I was the outsider kid struggling with parents and other kids not understanding.

The Gatekeeper started strong and kept up the pace. Gaige, Aoife, and Seanna were enjoyable. Foreshadowing of the twist was there but not too obvious where it would go. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Gatekeeper is a coming of age story with a broad and complex world view. That being said the pacing and the general lack of exposition leaves the reader identifying with the main character, though not in an entirely positive way. I would recommend The Gatekeeper to those with an interest in the genre while cautioning them to have patience for I have great hopes for Scott Ferrell and the world he has created.