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The Book of Lost Doors #4
Gingerbread Wolves
“Everyone dies. But not everyone can die killing a god.”
Gingerbread Wolves, the fourth volume of The Book Of Lost Doors, pits Outsider modified humanity against the Outsiders themselves as Agony Delapour vows to make war against deep heaven.
James is caught in the middle, between those he loves and the alien madness of the old gods, with the future of the human race hanging in the balance. His fragile community must risk everything to prevent the Outsiders from triggering a nova event—a collision of universes that would end all life on Earth.
Agony says that she has a plan, and that even gods can die.
But, as usual in James' world, nothing is exactly what it seems.
63,495 words.
Gingerbread Wolves, the fourth volume of The Book Of Lost Doors, pits Outsider modified humanity against the Outsiders themselves as Agony Delapour vows to make war against deep heaven.
James is caught in the middle, between those he loves and the alien madness of the old gods, with the future of the human race hanging in the balance. His fragile community must risk everything to prevent the Outsiders from triggering a nova event—a collision of universes that would end all life on Earth.
Agony says that she has a plan, and that even gods can die.
But, as usual in James' world, nothing is exactly what it seems.
63,495 words.
- GenresUrban FantasyFantasy
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 20, 2015
1 person is currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Misha Burnett
67 books61 followersI want to write stories unlike any that have ever been written before.
Yes, I know that there are only a few basic plots and everything has been done before, but I think there is still room for a personal vision.
I have always been fascinated by writers who invent their own worlds, their own cosmologies. That's my goal as a writer, to take my readers on a trip to a place where they have never been before, a place where no one has ever before.
I believe in that place, and I think it's all around us, just around the corner. I think the world is a stranger place than we imagine, a more dangerous and a more beautiful place than can imagine, and I want to share my world with you.
Come with me, I'll show you...
Yes, I know that there are only a few basic plots and everything has been done before, but I think there is still room for a personal vision.
I have always been fascinated by writers who invent their own worlds, their own cosmologies. That's my goal as a writer, to take my readers on a trip to a place where they have never been before, a place where no one has ever before.
I believe in that place, and I think it's all around us, just around the corner. I think the world is a stranger place than we imagine, a more dangerous and a more beautiful place than can imagine, and I want to share my world with you.
Come with me, I'll show you...
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 29, 2015
In a world filled with "monsters" life is as normal as one would expect that is of course until all hell breaks loose. The fourth installment in the "The Book of Lost Doors" brings back all the key players, re introduces a dew others and yet again took me on a wild ride with twists, turns and new creations.
There are bloody battles, surprises, new creatures, sub cultures and well imagined weaponry. All of it makes for more great reading from an author I have come to love.
Another page turner i couldn't put down and like all great science fiction it is the humanity or as the case may be the modified humanity, their strange alliances, complicated relationships, and inability to determine their own fates that make the book so appealing. After all aren't we all just pawns in someone else's game
There are bloody battles, surprises, new creatures, sub cultures and well imagined weaponry. All of it makes for more great reading from an author I have come to love.
Another page turner i couldn't put down and like all great science fiction it is the humanity or as the case may be the modified humanity, their strange alliances, complicated relationships, and inability to determine their own fates that make the book so appealing. After all aren't we all just pawns in someone else's game
September 7, 2019
And here we are at the conclusion of Misha Burnett’s bizarre, yet beautiful series. This will likely be a series review just as much as a review of the last book, Gingerbread Wolves. Allow me to put things in perspective for a bit. I have a full-time job, a wife, three kids, and another on the way. Somehow, I still managed to finish this entire series in about 10 days. That says more about the quality of the books than it says about me.
Everything seems to have lead to this. James finds himself swamped by his sister’s, Agony’s, suicidal desire to use her corporate empire to challenge the power of the Outsiders. Worse, Agony has been planning this for a long time, and, given her inhuman and amoral nature, there is nothing and no one she will not use to achieve her goals of world domination, oops, I meant beating the Outsiders.
Just like all the previous books, we get thrown into the action from the very beginning as a normal reporter asks to interview Agony, who decides to tell him everything. As innocuous as that might sound, it’s a declaration of war against mankind’s secret overlords. You best be buckled in for this ride because it’s a wild one.
Burnett’s signature clarity returns as well as his poetic prose. Burnett is one of those rare breed of writers who can be poetic without sacrificing clarity. It’s gift that far fewer writers than you might think have. Even his book blurbs on the Amazon store page are short little poems. It’s a gusty move that only someone like Burnett would do.
In addition to his science-fantasy-horror-thriller-gothic genre-bending, Burnett manages to inject a dose of Lovecraftian horror and a great nod to the master himself. There’s a scene where James and Catskinner trek through a seemingly abandoned town. That scene, oh boy was it creepy. And it’s been a long while since I’ve been legitimately creeped out by something.
And that final battle. Only Burnett could have come up with hot-hermaphroditic-plant-women clad in bondage gear who ingest poison to spray at their enemies. We have a wild, awesome imagination on display. It’s what you see in some of the best stories from the golden age of pulps.
At first, I was a bit disappointed with the ending, but, upon thinking about it and reading the last couple pages again, I realize that the ending couldn’t have been done differently. *******SPOILER ALERT******* In a world of inhuman monsters and amoral, manipulative creatures, every relationship is a doomed one. The characters don’t try to deceive themselves, and neither should the reader. Monsters don’t have happy endings where everything turns out good. There’s no way a series like this could have done otherwise and made sense. This isn’t the say the characters don’t succeed. They do, but that success exacts a high price in more ways than one.
Like Cannibal Hearts, Gingerbread Wolves features another graphic sex scene, and it’s even weirder than the one in Cannibal Hearts. This is not so much a complaint as it is an appreciation for what Burnett doesn’t do. Burnett doesn’t ask the reader to approve of the unnatural couplings present in the book. The characters admit they are monsters and, despite their very human need for love and companionship, they don’t try to fool themselves into thinking anything they do is natural or somehow “normal”. I can appreciate that even while my religion prevents me from approving of the sometimes graphic depiction of sex in these novels.
All that said, Gingerbread wolves isn’t perfect. First, the ending, while it works in a sense, doesn’t dwell enough with the characters. We spend a lot of time, more than necessary, watching James get subjected to a government investigation. In a character-driven series like this one, I want to know what the characters are doing, how the battle affected them and where they plan on going from there. Beyond a few select characters, we don’t get that. I feel that was a missed opportunity.
Finally, I simply don’t understand Godiva’s departure. Sure I understand her motives, but what was the point? The way her departure was cloaked in mystery made me think she would be coming back. The way the characters half-suspected Godiva to be behind Agony’s kidnapping in The Worms of Heaven made me think we’d be seeing a return of Godiva in some form. Obviously I wasn’t expecting a happy reunion with James, but I was expecting something. I feel that was another missed opportunity.
This was a wild ride. A fantastical, horrific, and beautifully tragic ride. You simply have to read this series. It’s one of those series that will stay with you. Misha Burnett is author to look out for and deserves much more. The fact that he isn’t more widely known with the world of speculative fiction is a terrible indictment against the state of fantasy and sci-fi.
4.5 stars out of 5
*As a bonus, if you find yourself reading these books, put on some Tiamat or Trees of Eternity. They’re great metal bands that I believe will enhance the mood of the books.
Everything seems to have lead to this. James finds himself swamped by his sister’s, Agony’s, suicidal desire to use her corporate empire to challenge the power of the Outsiders. Worse, Agony has been planning this for a long time, and, given her inhuman and amoral nature, there is nothing and no one she will not use to achieve her goals of world domination, oops, I meant beating the Outsiders.
Just like all the previous books, we get thrown into the action from the very beginning as a normal reporter asks to interview Agony, who decides to tell him everything. As innocuous as that might sound, it’s a declaration of war against mankind’s secret overlords. You best be buckled in for this ride because it’s a wild one.
Burnett’s signature clarity returns as well as his poetic prose. Burnett is one of those rare breed of writers who can be poetic without sacrificing clarity. It’s gift that far fewer writers than you might think have. Even his book blurbs on the Amazon store page are short little poems. It’s a gusty move that only someone like Burnett would do.
In addition to his science-fantasy-horror-thriller-gothic genre-bending, Burnett manages to inject a dose of Lovecraftian horror and a great nod to the master himself. There’s a scene where James and Catskinner trek through a seemingly abandoned town. That scene, oh boy was it creepy. And it’s been a long while since I’ve been legitimately creeped out by something.
And that final battle. Only Burnett could have come up with hot-hermaphroditic-plant-women clad in bondage gear who ingest poison to spray at their enemies. We have a wild, awesome imagination on display. It’s what you see in some of the best stories from the golden age of pulps.
At first, I was a bit disappointed with the ending, but, upon thinking about it and reading the last couple pages again, I realize that the ending couldn’t have been done differently. *******SPOILER ALERT******* In a world of inhuman monsters and amoral, manipulative creatures, every relationship is a doomed one. The characters don’t try to deceive themselves, and neither should the reader. Monsters don’t have happy endings where everything turns out good. There’s no way a series like this could have done otherwise and made sense. This isn’t the say the characters don’t succeed. They do, but that success exacts a high price in more ways than one.
Like Cannibal Hearts, Gingerbread Wolves features another graphic sex scene, and it’s even weirder than the one in Cannibal Hearts. This is not so much a complaint as it is an appreciation for what Burnett doesn’t do. Burnett doesn’t ask the reader to approve of the unnatural couplings present in the book. The characters admit they are monsters and, despite their very human need for love and companionship, they don’t try to fool themselves into thinking anything they do is natural or somehow “normal”. I can appreciate that even while my religion prevents me from approving of the sometimes graphic depiction of sex in these novels.
All that said, Gingerbread wolves isn’t perfect. First, the ending, while it works in a sense, doesn’t dwell enough with the characters. We spend a lot of time, more than necessary, watching James get subjected to a government investigation. In a character-driven series like this one, I want to know what the characters are doing, how the battle affected them and where they plan on going from there. Beyond a few select characters, we don’t get that. I feel that was a missed opportunity.
Finally, I simply don’t understand Godiva’s departure. Sure I understand her motives, but what was the point? The way her departure was cloaked in mystery made me think she would be coming back. The way the characters half-suspected Godiva to be behind Agony’s kidnapping in The Worms of Heaven made me think we’d be seeing a return of Godiva in some form. Obviously I wasn’t expecting a happy reunion with James, but I was expecting something. I feel that was another missed opportunity.
This was a wild ride. A fantastical, horrific, and beautifully tragic ride. You simply have to read this series. It’s one of those series that will stay with you. Misha Burnett is author to look out for and deserves much more. The fact that he isn’t more widely known with the world of speculative fiction is a terrible indictment against the state of fantasy and sci-fi.
4.5 stars out of 5
*As a bonus, if you find yourself reading these books, put on some Tiamat or Trees of Eternity. They’re great metal bands that I believe will enhance the mood of the books.
January 25, 2025
This book is available on KU.
I feel like I wasted almost a month of my life on this series. The first three books built up to what promised to a great ending; instead it fell so far short to even an even lower point than being anticlimactic. The big event was built up over nearly 60% of the book, only to be dealt with in a couple of non-descriptive paragraphs. So many questions are left unanswered, and there's more plot holes than story at this point. The event the entire series built up to and the final chapters were insanely rushed to the point of being nonsense. More time was spent within 10% of the "climax" and the end that could have been used for something actually relevant to the story. The other three books are worth the read; this last one not so much.
I give this book 1 of 5 Paws
I feel like I wasted almost a month of my life on this series. The first three books built up to what promised to a great ending; instead it fell so far short to even an even lower point than being anticlimactic. The big event was built up over nearly 60% of the book, only to be dealt with in a couple of non-descriptive paragraphs. So many questions are left unanswered, and there's more plot holes than story at this point. The event the entire series built up to and the final chapters were insanely rushed to the point of being nonsense. More time was spent within 10% of the "climax" and the end that could have been used for something actually relevant to the story. The other three books are worth the read; this last one not so much.
I give this book 1 of 5 Paws
June 23, 2018
The ending makes me mad!
Such an amazing series, and then you just march the main character off into the proverbial sunset with an author's note that you tried to come up with a fifth book but decided to let it rest?!! Agony Delapour couldn't come up with anything so insidious! That being said, I can't recommend this series enough. Wildly imaginative, delightfully evil, brutally awkward. Start the series and you'll understand my grousing when you reach the end!
Such an amazing series, and then you just march the main character off into the proverbial sunset with an author's note that you tried to come up with a fifth book but decided to let it rest?!! Agony Delapour couldn't come up with anything so insidious! That being said, I can't recommend this series enough. Wildly imaginative, delightfully evil, brutally awkward. Start the series and you'll understand my grousing when you reach the end!
April 10, 2016
This book left me feeling slightly let down. It is the fourth in The Book of Lost Doors series and I have read them all. The author says a fifth book is due out this summer (2016), but I don't know that I will continue with it.
I posted reviews for the first two books on Amazon. For me, the first book showcased all the good reasons why indie publishing is a great thing. It gives voice to authors who would otherwise not have a chance to be heard. It gives readers like me a chance to find rare, unique stories we would not otherwise have found.
was so unique. I loved it. I really did. It was genre-bending for me, as well, because I am not a fan of monsters and aliens from deep space, nor of H.P. Lovecraft.
As the series progressed, I became more aware of indie publishing's biggest flaw: crappy editing. This is compounded when indie authors brag about how well their books have been edited. The first two books of this series have reviews on Amazon where readers point out the lack of editing. They claim the story is so good, the reader can "skip over" or "fill-in-the blanks." With Catskinner's Book, that's pretty much true. The story is indeed worthy of glossing over the poor editing.
My contention as the reader is, I shouldn't have to work to read a story. Granted, a lot of major publishing house books are also badly edited these days. I think true editing may be a lost art. As a reader, if I'm paying money, I expect a finished product. This series as of this review retails for $2.99 each. Still a bargain for any book. I read all of them for free through Kindle Unlimited (awesome program - thank you, Amazon).
If I had paid money, I'd be pissed having just finished this fourth installment.
The editing has continued to decline, rather than get better. This fourth book seemed to me to just be a rushed End-of-the-World scenario that wasn't. Truthfully, I didn't get it. Mostly, now, this series strikes me as a man's ultimate wet-dream of deep-space hermaphrodite bimbo threesomes and world annihilation based on confusing daddy issues. Without the annihilation. That part was unclear and vague to me. Like I said: I didn't get it.
Catskinner was a great character. By this fourth book, he has been reduced to almost not-there status. What a shame. The ending was also too abrupt, giving the whole thing a rushed feel. And what's with the great title? Nothing within the book explains it. Nonetheless, it was a great meaningless title.
I am giving this a very generous 3-stars, based on the past storyline. True rating: 2 to 2.25 stars.
I posted reviews for the first two books on Amazon. For me, the first book showcased all the good reasons why indie publishing is a great thing. It gives voice to authors who would otherwise not have a chance to be heard. It gives readers like me a chance to find rare, unique stories we would not otherwise have found.
was so unique. I loved it. I really did. It was genre-bending for me, as well, because I am not a fan of monsters and aliens from deep space, nor of H.P. Lovecraft.As the series progressed, I became more aware of indie publishing's biggest flaw: crappy editing. This is compounded when indie authors brag about how well their books have been edited. The first two books of this series have reviews on Amazon where readers point out the lack of editing. They claim the story is so good, the reader can "skip over" or "fill-in-the blanks." With Catskinner's Book, that's pretty much true. The story is indeed worthy of glossing over the poor editing.
My contention as the reader is, I shouldn't have to work to read a story. Granted, a lot of major publishing house books are also badly edited these days. I think true editing may be a lost art. As a reader, if I'm paying money, I expect a finished product. This series as of this review retails for $2.99 each. Still a bargain for any book. I read all of them for free through Kindle Unlimited (awesome program - thank you, Amazon).
If I had paid money, I'd be pissed having just finished this fourth installment.
The editing has continued to decline, rather than get better. This fourth book seemed to me to just be a rushed End-of-the-World scenario that wasn't. Truthfully, I didn't get it. Mostly, now, this series strikes me as a man's ultimate wet-dream of deep-space hermaphrodite bimbo threesomes and world annihilation based on confusing daddy issues. Without the annihilation. That part was unclear and vague to me. Like I said: I didn't get it.
Catskinner was a great character. By this fourth book, he has been reduced to almost not-there status. What a shame. The ending was also too abrupt, giving the whole thing a rushed feel. And what's with the great title? Nothing within the book explains it. Nonetheless, it was a great meaningless title.
I am giving this a very generous 3-stars, based on the past storyline. True rating: 2 to 2.25 stars.
February 4, 2019
Drawing the reader deeper into his universe of gnostic metamathmatical outsider gods and human insignificance – but rejecting Lovecraft’s obsession with depressed moaning about degeneracy – Burnett delivers a fast-paced thriller that doesn’t skimp on consequences.
The rest of this review might contain spoilers for the previous volumes: Catskinner’s Book, Cannibal Hearts, and The Worms of Heaven.
Following the oblique hints and tangential moves of The Worms of Heaven, Agony Delapour finally reveals her strategy: to kill a god destined to end existence – or at least the bit that is of use to her. James’ grasp of the limits of flesh combined with Catskinner’s talent for moving other people past them have helped him protect the life he has built, but how can he fight an enemy that is beyond the limits of flesh and time?
On the surface, this is the obvious escalating threat of high fantasy and science fiction: having discovered his past and defeated both mortal threats and anti-heroes, the mighty warrior sets forth against a threat to all humanity. However, the second war in heaven trope is only tangential to the real conflict: saving existence without losing what makes it worth having.
A fusion of force and emotion, James-Catskinner is a creature of action not intellect. Faced with events he cannot understand and an enemy he cannot kill, he is forced to watch people he loves get hurt. And the person who does have a plan, Agony, makes no secret that any universe that isn’t uninhabitable to Agony is a win; the rest of humanity is a price to be paid.
Intellectually, sacrificing a few people (or even a significant proportion if humanity) to save existence is clearly the better choice. But, as the injuries and arguments mount, Burnett makes full use of the fact neither James nor Catskinner have the faculties to know whether Agony’s plan is the only way. Should he be the footsoldier Agony’s plan (allegedly) needs? Or should he do what he thinks is right, even if it risks everything?
As in previous volumes, the engaging metaphysics is mixed with even more engaging character arcs. As befits entities outside comprehension, the ancient gods and their influence are ciphers crafted from logic and surrealism, with the focus of the book on the humans, unaltered and variant, facing the same struggles of love, trust, and happiness as before the apocalypse was to come.
As with the previous volumes, this is one of my favourite books. I recommend it to readers seeking fast-paced action with n-dimensions.
The rest of this review might contain spoilers for the previous volumes: Catskinner’s Book, Cannibal Hearts, and The Worms of Heaven.
Following the oblique hints and tangential moves of The Worms of Heaven, Agony Delapour finally reveals her strategy: to kill a god destined to end existence – or at least the bit that is of use to her. James’ grasp of the limits of flesh combined with Catskinner’s talent for moving other people past them have helped him protect the life he has built, but how can he fight an enemy that is beyond the limits of flesh and time?
On the surface, this is the obvious escalating threat of high fantasy and science fiction: having discovered his past and defeated both mortal threats and anti-heroes, the mighty warrior sets forth against a threat to all humanity. However, the second war in heaven trope is only tangential to the real conflict: saving existence without losing what makes it worth having.
A fusion of force and emotion, James-Catskinner is a creature of action not intellect. Faced with events he cannot understand and an enemy he cannot kill, he is forced to watch people he loves get hurt. And the person who does have a plan, Agony, makes no secret that any universe that isn’t uninhabitable to Agony is a win; the rest of humanity is a price to be paid.
Intellectually, sacrificing a few people (or even a significant proportion if humanity) to save existence is clearly the better choice. But, as the injuries and arguments mount, Burnett makes full use of the fact neither James nor Catskinner have the faculties to know whether Agony’s plan is the only way. Should he be the footsoldier Agony’s plan (allegedly) needs? Or should he do what he thinks is right, even if it risks everything?
As in previous volumes, the engaging metaphysics is mixed with even more engaging character arcs. As befits entities outside comprehension, the ancient gods and their influence are ciphers crafted from logic and surrealism, with the focus of the book on the humans, unaltered and variant, facing the same struggles of love, trust, and happiness as before the apocalypse was to come.
As with the previous volumes, this is one of my favourite books. I recommend it to readers seeking fast-paced action with n-dimensions.
February 4, 2016
So I get it: the author believes the story arc is done.
I get that.
One - small - problem.
I. Am. Not. Done.
I don't know how to make myself more clear. James is a friend of mine, now, you see. I've even grown quite fond of Catskinner. We've spent some time together and I'm invested, here.
You don't just abandon your friends, especially not in central Florida. ( I know: I live there.)
So I get it, Mr. AuthorMan. Your story arc is over.
That's nice.
Now, I'm just going to sit here and wait for my next book. Please don't wait too long. Neither Catskinner nor I like to be kept waiting.
I get that.
One - small - problem.
I. Am. Not. Done.
I don't know how to make myself more clear. James is a friend of mine, now, you see. I've even grown quite fond of Catskinner. We've spent some time together and I'm invested, here.
You don't just abandon your friends, especially not in central Florida. ( I know: I live there.)
So I get it, Mr. AuthorMan. Your story arc is over.
That's nice.
Now, I'm just going to sit here and wait for my next book. Please don't wait too long. Neither Catskinner nor I like to be kept waiting.
September 20, 2015
Sigh ... I want more. Loved Burnett's fourth book, but so many loose ends. I need to know what happens next.
January 7, 2016
I love this series.
I just love this whole series. Catskinner is a much more complex character than the title suggests. A must read .
I just love this whole series. Catskinner is a much more complex character than the title suggests. A must read .
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews