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100 Cupboards #0
The Door Before
Open the cupboard door to this action-packed fantasy that will take readers to the very beginning of the bestselling 100 Cupboards series !
100 Cupboards, 100 Worlds of Adventure!
When Hyacinth finds an unusual door, two boys in search of vengeance, and a witch intent on destroying the world, the ultimate battle of good vs. evil begins!
Hyacinth Smith can see things that others miss, stop attack dogs from attacking, and grow trees where no trees have grown before. But she’s never had a real home. When her father tells them they’ve inherited a house from their great-aunt, Hyacinth sees trouble brewing. Their great-aunt has been playing with forces beyond her control, using her lightning-tree forest to create doors to other worlds. When one door opens, two boys tumble through . . . bringing with them a battle with the undying witch-queen, Nimiane. Hyacinth, together with the boys, must use her newfound magic and all of her courage to journey straight into the witch’s kingdom in a daring plan to trap evil and kill the immortal.
“A must-read series!” — The Washington Post
“[100 Cupboards] is my favorite kind of fantasy.” —Tamora Pierce, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"This fast-paced fantasy features empathetic heroes." — School Library Journal
100 Cupboards, 100 Worlds of Adventure!
When Hyacinth finds an unusual door, two boys in search of vengeance, and a witch intent on destroying the world, the ultimate battle of good vs. evil begins!
Hyacinth Smith can see things that others miss, stop attack dogs from attacking, and grow trees where no trees have grown before. But she’s never had a real home. When her father tells them they’ve inherited a house from their great-aunt, Hyacinth sees trouble brewing. Their great-aunt has been playing with forces beyond her control, using her lightning-tree forest to create doors to other worlds. When one door opens, two boys tumble through . . . bringing with them a battle with the undying witch-queen, Nimiane. Hyacinth, together with the boys, must use her newfound magic and all of her courage to journey straight into the witch’s kingdom in a daring plan to trap evil and kill the immortal.
“A must-read series!” — The Washington Post
“[100 Cupboards] is my favorite kind of fantasy.” —Tamora Pierce, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"This fast-paced fantasy features empathetic heroes." — School Library Journal
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2017
41 people are currently reading
1687 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
April 8, 2017
Young fans of N.D. Wilson's fantasy fiction, once they find out about the pending release of this book, will be jumping up and down with barely contained excitement. In some cases, it won't be barely contained. It will be unbridled glee. In other instances, perhaps, it will be untrammeled joy. Whatever it is, The Door Before is releasing on June 27, 2017.
The Door Before is a prequel to the 100 Cupboards trilogy -- 100 Cupboards, Dandelion Fire, and The Chestnut King. But wait . . . there is way more than that. It also weaves this Cupboards backstory together with the world of the Ashtown Burials -- The Dragon's Tooth, The Drowned Vault, and Empire of Bones. A fourth installment on that series is still pending, entitled The Silent Bells. Without getting into the Byzantine world of New York publishing house decision-making, those who have been wanting an interim Ashtown fix can get it here -- even though the book is technically a Cupboards prequel. Don't you get what I am saying? This is a Prequel, people.
Hyacinth Smith is the heroine of this story, and she comes from the Smiths of Ashtown fame. She has the gift of summoning growth out of living things, which lands her in the dangerous position of opening up ways between worlds. What with one thing and another, she teams up with Caleb and Mordecai Westmore, who tumbled into our world from Hylfing as part of their fight with Nimiane the witch. Before we are done, we are briefly walked through Henry, Kansas, we meet Rupert Greeves as a young boy, we spend time on an island full of raggants, and once again learn from the heroism of dogs. Whatever it is you think, dogs are more important than we realize.
This book is truly a satisfying read. Lots of little pieces clicking into place. I wouldn't want to bind anyone's conscience on this, but only wicked people haven't preordered it yet.
The Door Before is a prequel to the 100 Cupboards trilogy -- 100 Cupboards, Dandelion Fire, and The Chestnut King. But wait . . . there is way more than that. It also weaves this Cupboards backstory together with the world of the Ashtown Burials -- The Dragon's Tooth, The Drowned Vault, and Empire of Bones. A fourth installment on that series is still pending, entitled The Silent Bells. Without getting into the Byzantine world of New York publishing house decision-making, those who have been wanting an interim Ashtown fix can get it here -- even though the book is technically a Cupboards prequel. Don't you get what I am saying? This is a Prequel, people.
Hyacinth Smith is the heroine of this story, and she comes from the Smiths of Ashtown fame. She has the gift of summoning growth out of living things, which lands her in the dangerous position of opening up ways between worlds. What with one thing and another, she teams up with Caleb and Mordecai Westmore, who tumbled into our world from Hylfing as part of their fight with Nimiane the witch. Before we are done, we are briefly walked through Henry, Kansas, we meet Rupert Greeves as a young boy, we spend time on an island full of raggants, and once again learn from the heroism of dogs. Whatever it is you think, dogs are more important than we realize.
This book is truly a satisfying read. Lots of little pieces clicking into place. I wouldn't want to bind anyone's conscience on this, but only wicked people haven't preordered it yet.
April 14, 2018
“There really is only one world, but it’s a tangle of branches and grains and rings and times…”
Of N.D. Wilson’s 10+ children’s novels, The Door Before scores several “most”s. Most heroine-centric. Most magical and growing and alive (besides perhaps Dandelion Fire). Most demonic. Most scary (if demons are what scare you). And since it’s a prequel, most likely to get you to jump straight into the 100 Cupboards trilogy and the (to-be-continued) Ashtown Burial series. Surprise! Yes, the front cover advertises Door Before as a prequel to Cupboards, but as for how it ties into Ashtown too—read the book, or read below, if you don’t mind spoilers.
The closest I can compare it to is actually a movie. As The Force Awakens is to the original Star Wars trilogy, so Door Before is to Cupboards & Ashtown, only in reverse, seeing as it’s a prequel, not a sequel. Did I just confuse you? I mean that Door Before introduces a lot of characters and themes we already know and love—and even though you could enjoy the book as a standalone, the real pleasure lies in spotting all the tie-ins. Besides such characters as raggants and faeren and Mordecai and Caleb (Caleb was always my favorite from Cupboards), you’ll also meet a young Rupert Greeves and Lawrence Smith, father of my other favorite, Cyrus, the hero of Ashtown Burials.
The opening chapters set a new Wilson record for heating up mystery in a pressure cooker. Like its young heroine who feels much and says little, the beginning feels heavy, tense, ticking. Why are the parents always running? Who is the man with two mouths? Who is the aunt REALLY? What does she want with this house? What do the wooden walls and burnt forest mean? Why did the cliff fall into the sea? And who, who, is this intriguing little girl named Hyacinth who speaks with nature through her fingertips? In a plot as twisting and unstoppable as a tree clenching dirt with root fists, follow Hyacinth to find out.
Stand up to the spellbindingly repulsive Nimiane, witch of Endor and chief villain of 100 Cupboards. Fight an army of walking, talking fungal infections that are just as terrifying as they sound. Do battle alongside heroes that will make you want to have three kids and named them Hyacinth, Caleb, and Mordecai—oh, and instantly get a dog and name him Squid.
I mentioned that this book is the scariest—if demons are what get you. Plenty of gruesome, thrillingly creepy villainy has come from Wilson’s pen the past ten years, but none so intense as the witch of Endor. Holy yikes, that woman is terrifying. Weird or campy or obnoxiously unterrifying demonic powers abound in Hollywood. I’m thinking of Charlize Theron in Snow White and the Huntsman and her ilk. Cartoonish, right? Wilson takes “witch” and plugs it into an amplifier. This is what consorting with the powers of hell looks like. You should tremble, reading this. I did.
The book’s reigning theme is magical realism. Without so many “death by living” speeches as you’ll find in Ashtown Burials or Outlaws of Time, Door Before instead fleshes out a major point that Wilson hammers home in Notes From the Tilt-A-Whirl: This planet brims with magic. All creation hums with life. You just have to have eyes to see, ears to hear. Reach out your hand and check the world’s pulse—it’s alive. Alive with story and possibility and the love of its ever-speaking Creator.
Here’s an example. The man with two mouths is seriously (almost too realistically) gross. A creature that could easily be excessively alien, Wilson describes as precisely and whole-heartedly as he would a bizarre deep-sea fishfreak. I roll my eyes when other writers try this; their monsters come across like pink dragons or metal trash cans with mouths. Not Wilson’s. His monsters are rooted in this world. The very reason he is able to concoct such hideous new combos is because he has opened his eyes and seen God’s world first—this one, this bizarre, rough-as-rodeo gem of a planet teeming with beauty like stallions and nonsense like platypuses. Wilson copies the fantasy he sees.
When I first read The Chronicles of Narnia, I never got the sense that I could open a door and step into a different world. Even when I was a kid, I knew the plot was fake. This realization probably kept me from enjoying the books quite as much as I should have; what I loved (and love) about Narnia, I loved despite the moment each hero is whisked away. But Wilson employs magic with such detailed realism that by the time I closed the book, I really did feel like trees could open to different worlds, if only you have the God-given touch to turn bark into doorways.
The Door Before is both root and keystone—the beginning of two marvelous adventure series as well as the final brick that slides into place to complete the bridge that you never knew existed between 100 Cupboards and Ashtown. Read. Enjoy. Raise children. Fight evil. Open good doors and shut bad ones. See the world as it is meant to be seen: speaking, because it is spoken.
Of N.D. Wilson’s 10+ children’s novels, The Door Before scores several “most”s. Most heroine-centric. Most magical and growing and alive (besides perhaps Dandelion Fire). Most demonic. Most scary (if demons are what scare you). And since it’s a prequel, most likely to get you to jump straight into the 100 Cupboards trilogy and the (to-be-continued) Ashtown Burial series. Surprise! Yes, the front cover advertises Door Before as a prequel to Cupboards, but as for how it ties into Ashtown too—read the book, or read below, if you don’t mind spoilers.
The closest I can compare it to is actually a movie. As The Force Awakens is to the original Star Wars trilogy, so Door Before is to Cupboards & Ashtown, only in reverse, seeing as it’s a prequel, not a sequel. Did I just confuse you? I mean that Door Before introduces a lot of characters and themes we already know and love—and even though you could enjoy the book as a standalone, the real pleasure lies in spotting all the tie-ins. Besides such characters as raggants and faeren and Mordecai and Caleb (Caleb was always my favorite from Cupboards), you’ll also meet a young Rupert Greeves and Lawrence Smith, father of my other favorite, Cyrus, the hero of Ashtown Burials.
The opening chapters set a new Wilson record for heating up mystery in a pressure cooker. Like its young heroine who feels much and says little, the beginning feels heavy, tense, ticking. Why are the parents always running? Who is the man with two mouths? Who is the aunt REALLY? What does she want with this house? What do the wooden walls and burnt forest mean? Why did the cliff fall into the sea? And who, who, is this intriguing little girl named Hyacinth who speaks with nature through her fingertips? In a plot as twisting and unstoppable as a tree clenching dirt with root fists, follow Hyacinth to find out.
Stand up to the spellbindingly repulsive Nimiane, witch of Endor and chief villain of 100 Cupboards. Fight an army of walking, talking fungal infections that are just as terrifying as they sound. Do battle alongside heroes that will make you want to have three kids and named them Hyacinth, Caleb, and Mordecai—oh, and instantly get a dog and name him Squid.
I mentioned that this book is the scariest—if demons are what get you. Plenty of gruesome, thrillingly creepy villainy has come from Wilson’s pen the past ten years, but none so intense as the witch of Endor. Holy yikes, that woman is terrifying. Weird or campy or obnoxiously unterrifying demonic powers abound in Hollywood. I’m thinking of Charlize Theron in Snow White and the Huntsman and her ilk. Cartoonish, right? Wilson takes “witch” and plugs it into an amplifier. This is what consorting with the powers of hell looks like. You should tremble, reading this. I did.
The book’s reigning theme is magical realism. Without so many “death by living” speeches as you’ll find in Ashtown Burials or Outlaws of Time, Door Before instead fleshes out a major point that Wilson hammers home in Notes From the Tilt-A-Whirl: This planet brims with magic. All creation hums with life. You just have to have eyes to see, ears to hear. Reach out your hand and check the world’s pulse—it’s alive. Alive with story and possibility and the love of its ever-speaking Creator.
Here’s an example. The man with two mouths is seriously (almost too realistically) gross. A creature that could easily be excessively alien, Wilson describes as precisely and whole-heartedly as he would a bizarre deep-sea fishfreak. I roll my eyes when other writers try this; their monsters come across like pink dragons or metal trash cans with mouths. Not Wilson’s. His monsters are rooted in this world. The very reason he is able to concoct such hideous new combos is because he has opened his eyes and seen God’s world first—this one, this bizarre, rough-as-rodeo gem of a planet teeming with beauty like stallions and nonsense like platypuses. Wilson copies the fantasy he sees.
When I first read The Chronicles of Narnia, I never got the sense that I could open a door and step into a different world. Even when I was a kid, I knew the plot was fake. This realization probably kept me from enjoying the books quite as much as I should have; what I loved (and love) about Narnia, I loved despite the moment each hero is whisked away. But Wilson employs magic with such detailed realism that by the time I closed the book, I really did feel like trees could open to different worlds, if only you have the God-given touch to turn bark into doorways.
The Door Before is both root and keystone—the beginning of two marvelous adventure series as well as the final brick that slides into place to complete the bridge that you never knew existed between 100 Cupboards and Ashtown. Read. Enjoy. Raise children. Fight evil. Open good doors and shut bad ones. See the world as it is meant to be seen: speaking, because it is spoken.
December 26, 2025
November 2025: Figured I'd reread this one as a follow-up to Ashtown.
*****
September 2021: Man, my story memory is almost nonexistent. Almost nothing of this seemed familiar—just that there were Smiths involved and a crazy old lady. So pretty much a brand new book for me.
I can't believe it didn't register with me last time, and that I didn't register my deepest mock offense over the fact, that Nimiane's cat is named Bast. My surname was spelled Bast till my nth-great-grandfather left Germany for the New World, and either he or his children switched the a out for a short o to better accommodate English pronunciation. I rather suspect they were subjected to too many puns that called into question the legitimacy of their parentage when their fellow North Carolinians pronounced ba- as in back rather than as in Bach. But really...of all the characters in all the Wilson books, the one whose name is closest to mine is a witch's familiar? Hmph. (Of course the name comes from an Egyptian feline deity and has naught to do with my ancestry, but it wouldn't'a been any fun to leave it at that, now would it?)
I enjoyed the story and characters rather much, and perhaps as I enjoy further rereads of this and Cupboards and Ashtown, I'll get all the interconnectedness more firmly cemented in my brain.
*****
July 2017: Satisfying.
The collective noun for raggants is rumpus. This is also satisfying.
For once the action was not too frenetic for me to keep up. This was especially helpful here, because this was a book of explanation: How are Cupboards and Ashtown related? How do the cupboards work? How does Nimiane get imprisoned? Of course some questions go unanswered, and some answers I've forgotten because the details of the other books haven't stuck sufficiently in my Teflon brain. But that just means I'll need to visit them again. Hardly a hardship!
I generally liked the reader—her voice was very pleasant. But she fell short in a couple of places. Most notably, her attempt at Robert Boone's drawl was kinda lame.
And now I can resume my restless impatience and deep discontentment over the looooooong delay in seeing Ashtown 4 in print. C'mon, Random House... stop depriving us!
*****
September 2021: Man, my story memory is almost nonexistent. Almost nothing of this seemed familiar—just that there were Smiths involved and a crazy old lady. So pretty much a brand new book for me.
I can't believe it didn't register with me last time, and that I didn't register my deepest mock offense over the fact, that Nimiane's cat is named Bast. My surname was spelled Bast till my nth-great-grandfather left Germany for the New World, and either he or his children switched the a out for a short o to better accommodate English pronunciation. I rather suspect they were subjected to too many puns that called into question the legitimacy of their parentage when their fellow North Carolinians pronounced ba- as in back rather than as in Bach. But really...of all the characters in all the Wilson books, the one whose name is closest to mine is a witch's familiar? Hmph. (Of course the name comes from an Egyptian feline deity and has naught to do with my ancestry, but it wouldn't'a been any fun to leave it at that, now would it?)
I enjoyed the story and characters rather much, and perhaps as I enjoy further rereads of this and Cupboards and Ashtown, I'll get all the interconnectedness more firmly cemented in my brain.
*****
July 2017: Satisfying.
The collective noun for raggants is rumpus. This is also satisfying.
For once the action was not too frenetic for me to keep up. This was especially helpful here, because this was a book of explanation: How are Cupboards and Ashtown related? How do the cupboards work? How does Nimiane get imprisoned? Of course some questions go unanswered, and some answers I've forgotten because the details of the other books haven't stuck sufficiently in my Teflon brain. But that just means I'll need to visit them again. Hardly a hardship!
I generally liked the reader—her voice was very pleasant. But she fell short in a couple of places. Most notably, her attempt at Robert Boone's drawl was kinda lame.
And now I can resume my restless impatience and deep discontentment over the looooooong delay in seeing Ashtown 4 in print. C'mon, Random House... stop depriving us!
June 28, 2017
I'm excited....
February 21, 2018
My favorite of Wilson's so far, I think. Hyacinth is a fantastic character.
July 23, 2021
Great story. Like many of Wilson's books the ending felt rushed. I could use another 50 pages or so, please!
January 17, 2025
1/16/25: CHAT IT'S THINKING ABOUT HY AND THE TWINS HOURS!!!!!
i woke up at six ay em this morning after a healthy four hours of sleep and simply could nawt go back to sleep probably because i was lying there just thinking very hard about fictional characters as one does (hello syndicate) and. 100c has been on my mind recently anyway (when is it not it's unhinged) but hy and the twins are in the complement of fictional characters that just kind of live rent free in the back of my head at all times tbh (i was busy contemplating the in between times again.. hello 2022 me... twelve years is a Long Time). so of COURSE i went to reread this today which is kind of unfortunate bc i leave again tmrw and therefore cannot reread 100c in print but Oh Well lol
thoughts this time include:
- this is so short but it packs a PUNCH good Lord
- when did i get it in my head that the twins were 13?? that's straightup not in the text????!? the only mention of age is when it's like "they might be younger than her" but you cannot tell me the twins are 11 i simply won't believe you (yea i'm aware that sentence didn't mean they were younger but like. lol) but why has it been in my head this entire time i'm really good at retaining textual information..,
- cannot believe it took me Six Reads to completely realize they got the prison idea from robert boone going on about Burials. that's really funny to me
- hyacinth you absolute queen she is out here taking absolutely no crap from anybody least of all kibs it is SO funny to me i love her so much. wish she'd been concepted in her own right before 100c but oh well
- love how the twins are fully on a suicide mission and then this girl shows up and just... gets so tangled up with them she refuses to let them die
- imagine you are mordecai westmore extremely lost and injured and desperate and this random girl shows up and roasts you so bad and your twin brother is like L (except she's wrong)
- these are KIDS!!!! i love them all so much your honor
- mordecai going from "you're a witch" to "fine do your thing" to "she's not a witch" classic
- imagine you are nimiane and you get bested by the freaking boys (and a random girl) LMAO
- have i ever mentioned i love the 100c faeren because i do. insane take on fae. obsessed
- the Wilson classics: boys and socks, random animal POV switches, extremely banger lines involving glory and life and green things, Sudden Christianity
- me when trees and universes and life yeeha w
- hi young rupert and lawrence. hello order of brendan. man i REALLY need to reread ashtown !!! spring break perhaps
--
10/23/22: young hy and the twins are my absolute FAVORITE. massive fan of them. what IS it about these books i don't get it they're not even like. top tier middle grade but i LOVE LOVE them like nothing else. help. It's not even just nostalgia like with some other books - I actively still thoroughly enjoy them. me when I'm 18 and still rereading books meant for 12 year olds gg
I am however more than slightly curious about the in between times now ngl - many, many years between TDB and 100C - that is grounds for so much story. anyway yea shoutout to Kibs always iconic and to Caleb for being Caleb and RIP to the many people who had the misfortune of seeing me reread this in the dining room.
--
2017: This book did not disappoint even though it's rather shorter than the original Cupboards/ Ashtown books and more slow-paced. It's kinda interesting hearing about Rupert Greeves and Robert Boone as younger people, too........
2.15.19 - I think what I appreciate most about this is the fact that I can pretend it's the multiverse lol - and that Wilson found a loophole and took the the beautiful opportunity... also it really does clear up some from the actual trilogy... also YOUNG LAWRENCE AND RUPE AND CIRCE AND HARRIET AND DANIEL AHAHHH -screams-
also the younger twins I can't even XD Caleb is so... Caleb though
1/26/20 - I'm realizing that I actually really love the Cupboard books. And the characters. (Honestly, Hy & the twins are my favorites through the entire series hhmmm)
2/13/21 - I cannot believe I've only read this three times through it feels more like five or six *stares blankly at Goodreads*
Everytime I reread this I suddenly remember why I like these books and Wilson's writing and I have a lot to say this time around about the world of 100C + Ashtown but I'm gonna hold off on that until I finished rereading both series because I wanna make sure my theories/speculations have some basis behind them this time (MULTIVERSE LET'S GOOOO)
Although I can say that Hyacinth was WAY underused in general and I know it's bc Wilson didn't originally plan to write her as an actual character but holy heck the things she can do-
Also I take back what I said in 2017 about it being slow paced it's way faster paced than the original 100C books because of its length.
(Also don't read this unless you've read the original books. It hurts a lot more if you've read Ashtown, too - especially ch1 of Silent Bells. Which is the only chapter I've been able to read.)
i woke up at six ay em this morning after a healthy four hours of sleep and simply could nawt go back to sleep probably because i was lying there just thinking very hard about fictional characters as one does (hello syndicate) and. 100c has been on my mind recently anyway (when is it not it's unhinged) but hy and the twins are in the complement of fictional characters that just kind of live rent free in the back of my head at all times tbh (i was busy contemplating the in between times again.. hello 2022 me... twelve years is a Long Time). so of COURSE i went to reread this today which is kind of unfortunate bc i leave again tmrw and therefore cannot reread 100c in print but Oh Well lol
thoughts this time include:
- this is so short but it packs a PUNCH good Lord
- when did i get it in my head that the twins were 13?? that's straightup not in the text????!? the only mention of age is when it's like "they might be younger than her" but you cannot tell me the twins are 11 i simply won't believe you (yea i'm aware that sentence didn't mean they were younger but like. lol) but why has it been in my head this entire time i'm really good at retaining textual information..,
- cannot believe it took me Six Reads to completely realize they got the prison idea from robert boone going on about Burials. that's really funny to me
- hyacinth you absolute queen she is out here taking absolutely no crap from anybody least of all kibs it is SO funny to me i love her so much. wish she'd been concepted in her own right before 100c but oh well
- love how the twins are fully on a suicide mission and then this girl shows up and just... gets so tangled up with them she refuses to let them die
- imagine you are mordecai westmore extremely lost and injured and desperate and this random girl shows up and roasts you so bad and your twin brother is like L (except she's wrong)
- these are KIDS!!!! i love them all so much your honor
- mordecai going from "you're a witch" to "fine do your thing" to "she's not a witch" classic
- imagine you are nimiane and you get bested by the freaking boys (and a random girl) LMAO
- have i ever mentioned i love the 100c faeren because i do. insane take on fae. obsessed
- the Wilson classics: boys and socks, random animal POV switches, extremely banger lines involving glory and life and green things, Sudden Christianity
- me when trees and universes and life yeeha w
- hi young rupert and lawrence. hello order of brendan. man i REALLY need to reread ashtown !!! spring break perhaps
--
10/23/22: young hy and the twins are my absolute FAVORITE. massive fan of them. what IS it about these books i don't get it they're not even like. top tier middle grade but i LOVE LOVE them like nothing else. help. It's not even just nostalgia like with some other books - I actively still thoroughly enjoy them. me when I'm 18 and still rereading books meant for 12 year olds gg
I am however more than slightly curious about the in between times now ngl - many, many years between TDB and 100C - that is grounds for so much story. anyway yea shoutout to Kibs always iconic and to Caleb for being Caleb and RIP to the many people who had the misfortune of seeing me reread this in the dining room.
--
2017: This book did not disappoint even though it's rather shorter than the original Cupboards/ Ashtown books and more slow-paced. It's kinda interesting hearing about Rupert Greeves and Robert Boone as younger people, too........
2.15.19 - I think what I appreciate most about this is the fact that I can pretend it's the multiverse lol - and that Wilson found a loophole and took the the beautiful opportunity... also it really does clear up some from the actual trilogy... also YOUNG LAWRENCE AND RUPE AND CIRCE AND HARRIET AND DANIEL AHAHHH -screams-
also the younger twins I can't even XD Caleb is so... Caleb though
1/26/20 - I'm realizing that I actually really love the Cupboard books. And the characters. (Honestly, Hy & the twins are my favorites through the entire series hhmmm)
2/13/21 - I cannot believe I've only read this three times through it feels more like five or six *stares blankly at Goodreads*
Everytime I reread this I suddenly remember why I like these books and Wilson's writing and I have a lot to say this time around about the world of 100C + Ashtown but I'm gonna hold off on that until I finished rereading both series because I wanna make sure my theories/speculations have some basis behind them this time (MULTIVERSE LET'S GOOOO)
Although I can say that Hyacinth was WAY underused in general and I know it's bc Wilson didn't originally plan to write her as an actual character but holy heck the things she can do-
Also I take back what I said in 2017 about it being slow paced it's way faster paced than the original 100C books because of its length.
(Also don't read this unless you've read the original books. It hurts a lot more if you've read Ashtown, too - especially ch1 of Silent Bells. Which is the only chapter I've been able to read.)
July 22, 2017
Um this was 221 pages of happiness. I wish it was closer to 400 pages but I guess I can get over that.
May 28, 2018
My standard for five stars is simple: to get the big five from me, my life must be changed. I don't know that it was (I don't know that it wasn't.) But that alone is the only reason this review doesn't have five twinkles attached. In every other sense of the term, this was a five star read. For sure.
Back when I first read the Ashtown Burials series (after the 100 Cupboards) a random thought occurred to me: It wouldn't be hard to blend the story worlds of the two series. Lucky for us, the same thought occurred to dear Mr. Wilson. He thought, he wrote, he conquered. And his execution was flawless After reading The Door Before I can't even picture the two worlds as separate any more. They are one. They have always been. If you were a fan of Wilson's other series, but weren't sure if blending them together would ruin them somehow, please put all out fears to rest. He nailed it.
The Door Before weaves a masterful tale of simple virtue and determination waging war against dark magic and true, often scary evil, in a gripping tale of "ways", faerie mounds, the Order's rules, and crazy old aunts. The story is far out. Very far out. But it is told in such a "taken for granted" way that it feels natural as it's events unfold. If there is anything wrong with this book, it's this: I'm done reading it. It's over. It's... short. Maybe too short. A lot of dark corners were left unexplored in Door, maybe more than in his other series. (Maybe that has something to do with it being a 200-page children's book that's... not really for children.)
Regardless, my first read of Door is finished... and I shall forever want it back. Thank you, Mr. Wilson, for the wonderful adventure. (Now can we have the next Ashtown book please? I... kind of need it.)
Back when I first read the Ashtown Burials series (after the 100 Cupboards) a random thought occurred to me: It wouldn't be hard to blend the story worlds of the two series. Lucky for us, the same thought occurred to dear Mr. Wilson. He thought, he wrote, he conquered. And his execution was flawless After reading The Door Before I can't even picture the two worlds as separate any more. They are one. They have always been. If you were a fan of Wilson's other series, but weren't sure if blending them together would ruin them somehow, please put all out fears to rest. He nailed it.
The Door Before weaves a masterful tale of simple virtue and determination waging war against dark magic and true, often scary evil, in a gripping tale of "ways", faerie mounds, the Order's rules, and crazy old aunts. The story is far out. Very far out. But it is told in such a "taken for granted" way that it feels natural as it's events unfold. If there is anything wrong with this book, it's this: I'm done reading it. It's over. It's... short. Maybe too short. A lot of dark corners were left unexplored in Door, maybe more than in his other series. (Maybe that has something to do with it being a 200-page children's book that's... not really for children.)
Regardless, my first read of Door is finished... and I shall forever want it back. Thank you, Mr. Wilson, for the wonderful adventure. (Now can we have the next Ashtown book please? I... kind of need it.)
July 28, 2018
I carried it around with me all day and when I finally sat down to read it, it was over. And it was beautiful. And crazy. And hilarious.
"She Got What She Wanted."
"She Got What She Wanted."
August 6, 2021
This book is really fun! It's one of N.D. Wilson's scariest books, what with the very creepy Fungus-men (the best monsters I've seen in Fiction) and Nimiane's pure evil and unleashing of power that we see in this book. I mean, this book has Nimiane at her worst. If you thought she was bad in 100 Cupboards, watch out!
This book follows Hyacinth (mother of Henry from the 100 Cupboards Trilogy), her little brother Lawrence (father of Cyrus, Antigone, and Dan from Ashtown Burials series) and two boys from another world, Mordecai and Caleb as they battle the evil witch Nimiane and her creepy, awesome monsters.
Hyacinth has a gift for living things. It's not magic - as the MC insists repeatedly throughout the book - she simply is good at communicating to plants and animals and encouraging them to grow. Because of this, she's grown massive trees from twigs in only months and she's re-awakened trees everyone else thought was dead. But to the people in her father's organization, the Order of Brendan, this gift is considered dangerous, even a threat. Hyacinth's new home has been lived in by an old lady who's been experimenting with things outside her control. She's been trying to open portals through the rings of linking trees in other worlds. Hyacinth learns that her gift of helping trees is a lot more powerful than she thinks, and it may be the only thing that can stop the evil witch Nimiane from killing the last green man who opposes her.
The setting is fantastic, the build-up is very intriguing, and the characters are a joy to follow. The magic and worldbuilding makes sense and is consistent with N.D. Wilson's Christian worldview.
Probably what makes this book stand out more than anything else to me, though, is how this book inspires so much wonder for the glory of God's creation. I mean, since reading this book I can't look at a tree (or anything made of wood for that matter) in the same way. I love how in so many of N.D. Wilson's books, instead of making up fantasy creatures, he takes real creatures God created and shows how awesome and fantastical they are.
The 100 Cupboards trilogy made me fascinated with dandelions, aspen trees, chestnut trees, thistles, and mushrooms. Ashtown Burials showed off God's creation focusing more on creatures, the alligator tortoise, snakes, gorillas, spiders, birds, etc. Boys of Blur showed how amazing created things like panthers, rabbits, alligators, snakes, and sugar-cane are. Outlaws of Time, of course, focused primarily on snakes. (I love how snakes are prevalent themes through all N.D. Wilson's books).
While all N.D. Wilson's books really help the reader appreciate God's creation more, I would say none is better at doing this than "The Door Before". Through N.D. Wilson's powerful magic system built around trees (and grape-vines) that appeared in this book, he touched on themes of heritage, nostolgia, grandeur, etc.
Trees are awesome, and so is this book. It's deliciously creepy at points, but it's also overwhelmingly beautiful and wonderful.
Even if you have not read 100 Cupboards or Ashtown Burials, this book is a must-read and will still be very enjoyable. You don't have to read any of N.D. Wilson's other books to appreciate "The Door Before" by N.D. Wilson.
And actually, I think this book may be the best of all the bestselling, well-known 100 Cupboards books, despite being only the prequel.
Go read it!!!
This book follows Hyacinth (mother of Henry from the 100 Cupboards Trilogy), her little brother Lawrence (father of Cyrus, Antigone, and Dan from Ashtown Burials series) and two boys from another world, Mordecai and Caleb as they battle the evil witch Nimiane and her creepy, awesome monsters.
Hyacinth has a gift for living things. It's not magic - as the MC insists repeatedly throughout the book - she simply is good at communicating to plants and animals and encouraging them to grow. Because of this, she's grown massive trees from twigs in only months and she's re-awakened trees everyone else thought was dead. But to the people in her father's organization, the Order of Brendan, this gift is considered dangerous, even a threat. Hyacinth's new home has been lived in by an old lady who's been experimenting with things outside her control. She's been trying to open portals through the rings of linking trees in other worlds. Hyacinth learns that her gift of helping trees is a lot more powerful than she thinks, and it may be the only thing that can stop the evil witch Nimiane from killing the last green man who opposes her.
The setting is fantastic, the build-up is very intriguing, and the characters are a joy to follow. The magic and worldbuilding makes sense and is consistent with N.D. Wilson's Christian worldview.
Probably what makes this book stand out more than anything else to me, though, is how this book inspires so much wonder for the glory of God's creation. I mean, since reading this book I can't look at a tree (or anything made of wood for that matter) in the same way. I love how in so many of N.D. Wilson's books, instead of making up fantasy creatures, he takes real creatures God created and shows how awesome and fantastical they are.
The 100 Cupboards trilogy made me fascinated with dandelions, aspen trees, chestnut trees, thistles, and mushrooms. Ashtown Burials showed off God's creation focusing more on creatures, the alligator tortoise, snakes, gorillas, spiders, birds, etc. Boys of Blur showed how amazing created things like panthers, rabbits, alligators, snakes, and sugar-cane are. Outlaws of Time, of course, focused primarily on snakes. (I love how snakes are prevalent themes through all N.D. Wilson's books).
While all N.D. Wilson's books really help the reader appreciate God's creation more, I would say none is better at doing this than "The Door Before". Through N.D. Wilson's powerful magic system built around trees (and grape-vines) that appeared in this book, he touched on themes of heritage, nostolgia, grandeur, etc.
Trees are awesome, and so is this book. It's deliciously creepy at points, but it's also overwhelmingly beautiful and wonderful.
Even if you have not read 100 Cupboards or Ashtown Burials, this book is a must-read and will still be very enjoyable. You don't have to read any of N.D. Wilson's other books to appreciate "The Door Before" by N.D. Wilson.
And actually, I think this book may be the best of all the bestselling, well-known 100 Cupboards books, despite being only the prequel.
Go read it!!!
June 29, 2017
Wow! Totally amazing!
April 29, 2022
2022: What A Ride. I love how real and true this story is, in the midst of the wildness. The truthfulness of people and folly and honesty and loyalty and selfishness and pride. The truthfulness of how wildly lives are connected. The love of sacrifice and protection. How Mordecai is fully willing to make this a dying mission - until Hyacinth comes along and she is his friend to protect. I love this book and I can't wait to watch my kids read it and experience it.
Also, in a twist of beautiful, real life story: that "B" who loaned me his copy of this book the last two times I read it is now my husband and I'm gonna have his baby this year. Bless.
2018: I really love this book. It makes me want to laugh and cry and hug the whole world. I liked Mordecai more than last time (app last time I was pretty indifferent). Just, characters and story and friendships and endings that aren't fairytale, but feel like home. (Also, thanks again for the loan, B. Haha)
2017: GUYS. (Spoiler alert. Even though I'm probably the last of my friend group to read this.)
I don't even really know how to sum this up, so I probably won't.
I felt like every time I turned a page, something else was connecting a story dot, something else was falling into place. Or someone else was being introduced that made me go, "Them too?! No way!"
Caleb was possibly my favorite character. His quick laughter and confident strength and leadership definitely won me over.
Although Mordecai's character growth was pretty impressive. And I liked his kindness with Hy.
Speaking of Hy, she was brilliant. So Smith-like, and smart, and determined, and observant. I wish I were more like her. (In the end, though, of the sisters, I'm pretty sure I'm Circe. A quick and never quiet laugh. That's me.)
Can we talk about Squid, too?
Actually, let's not. I cried.
Basically, I loved it. Thanks for the loan, B.
Also, in a twist of beautiful, real life story: that "B" who loaned me his copy of this book the last two times I read it is now my husband and I'm gonna have his baby this year. Bless.
2018: I really love this book. It makes me want to laugh and cry and hug the whole world. I liked Mordecai more than last time (app last time I was pretty indifferent). Just, characters and story and friendships and endings that aren't fairytale, but feel like home. (Also, thanks again for the loan, B. Haha)
2017: GUYS. (Spoiler alert. Even though I'm probably the last of my friend group to read this.)
I don't even really know how to sum this up, so I probably won't.
I felt like every time I turned a page, something else was connecting a story dot, something else was falling into place. Or someone else was being introduced that made me go, "Them too?! No way!"
Caleb was possibly my favorite character. His quick laughter and confident strength and leadership definitely won me over.
Although Mordecai's character growth was pretty impressive. And I liked his kindness with Hy.
Speaking of Hy, she was brilliant. So Smith-like, and smart, and determined, and observant. I wish I were more like her. (In the end, though, of the sisters, I'm pretty sure I'm Circe. A quick and never quiet laugh. That's me.)
Can we talk about Squid, too?
Actually, let's not. I cried.
Basically, I loved it. Thanks for the loan, B.
May 25, 2020
The Door Before, review
I can’t remember the last time I read a book in 24 hours.
Maybe it was the holiday. Or that I hadn’t read a book geared to youth in a long while. The Door Before was a real treat.
A prequel that connects to his 100 Cupboards and Ashtown burials series, N.D. Wilson explores themes of courage in the face of evil, learning about yourself, parenting young people wisely, and more. On the writing side, sometimes the author tries too hard and it shows. But usually his writing is vivid, striking and fresh.
Some themes I found interesting:
Courage in the face of evil
The world is a dangerous place. It’s Author has made it so. Wilson has traced that theme in non-fiction in “Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl.” The evil witch-queen simply steps into our world and wreaks havoc, unbidden and unwanted.
In a world clamoring for safety, especially now during a pandemic, Wilson swims against the tide. Perhaps ways between worlds aren’t inherently evil and wrong, just because it caused a lot of damage that first time. The author definitely leans toward going out and fighting evil, instead of “mitigating risk.”
This isn’t an absolute, of course. Sometimes the good guys retreat, but it’s always to regroup and fight again. We attack the gates of hell, in Jesus’ metaphor, but most of our spiritual energy seems to go to repelling Satan’s attacks. Maybe there should be more to the picture we have of our Christian lives?
Wilson paints the portrait deftly, with the main characters set on mission to go conquer the witch, while side characters offer resistance and objections, but come along in the end. There are echoes there of Jesus going to Jerusalem to die, with Peter objecting.
Learning about yourself
The main character, Hyacinth, discovers she has a secret magical power, and learns to use it on the fly. My interpretation may be simplistic, but magic is usually a metaphor in fantasy for spiritual power generally, and/or a natural talent given to some and not others. In The Door Before it is a bit of both.
It’s important for kids to learn what they can do well, what they enjoy, and how they can be useful in the world. And where those three intersect is the vocational sweet spot. Showing that in a story kids can identify with gives real hope, when they are wondering about their future.
You can’t!
Institutional opposition is a common theme in youth literature. It’s an overdone yawner for me, but maybe that’s because I’m not 17 anymore. Yes, Hyacinth’s secret power of course is forbidden by her social group, the Order of Brennan, but she uses it anyway, and it’s a good thing she does! Wilson on this point inadvertently plays into an individualism he tends to oppose otherwise. He may have a point, though, that the strength of the individual is to fight evil more courageously than an institution can. The Order of Brennan I think may have been RIGHT to have a general policy against opening ways between worlds, but can exceptions be made? Institutions tend not to, even when they should, to be consistent. Wilson may be pointing out true flaws in institutionalism, I just wish he’d swim against the tide here as elsewhere, and point out the flaws of individualism in going off half-cocked, too. The shooting of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia recently may be an example.
Irreconcilable War
Wilson opposes individualism well in showing the true-to-the-Bible war between the seed of the woman and seed of the serpent. One characteristic of that war is that it is inter-generational. Because she was born into the Smith family, her loyalties are with the O of B, against the witch and her ravens, and so on. We are all situated in specific life circumstances without our input: gender, family, religion, geography, etc.
But this is not fatalistic. For one thing, kids need to adopt or reject the view of life they’ve been given and raised in. Wilson shows this well with the parents fighting evil with the kids knowing little about it, at the beginning. But they learn and start to fight, too. For another thing, the author has a couple scenes that show people discerning where the loyalties of others lie, when it’s unclear. The acid test: how do they respond to obvious evil and to clearly good characters? This gives growing kids an excellent tool kit to know how to read new people who come into their lives.
Parenting young people wisely
One subplot is the parents. How much do they tell the kids? When do they release them into the dangerous world? The parents make a mistake or two here, and they belong to a group bigger than the family that points it out to them. That is good. One thing parents tend to do is withhold information when adolescents are crying out for it. Instead we (I’m a parent of 4 teens!) let them figure life out on their own, while we are occupied with other things, to their detriment. Taking the time to explain why we do what we do is important. Else when they hit the world, they are engaging without critical information.
That’s enough for now. The Door Before is packed with good stuff like this.
I recommend it for young and old alike. There is a fair bit of violence described – probably best for 11 or 12 years old on up.
I can’t remember the last time I read a book in 24 hours.
Maybe it was the holiday. Or that I hadn’t read a book geared to youth in a long while. The Door Before was a real treat.
A prequel that connects to his 100 Cupboards and Ashtown burials series, N.D. Wilson explores themes of courage in the face of evil, learning about yourself, parenting young people wisely, and more. On the writing side, sometimes the author tries too hard and it shows. But usually his writing is vivid, striking and fresh.
Some themes I found interesting:
Courage in the face of evil
The world is a dangerous place. It’s Author has made it so. Wilson has traced that theme in non-fiction in “Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl.” The evil witch-queen simply steps into our world and wreaks havoc, unbidden and unwanted.
In a world clamoring for safety, especially now during a pandemic, Wilson swims against the tide. Perhaps ways between worlds aren’t inherently evil and wrong, just because it caused a lot of damage that first time. The author definitely leans toward going out and fighting evil, instead of “mitigating risk.”
This isn’t an absolute, of course. Sometimes the good guys retreat, but it’s always to regroup and fight again. We attack the gates of hell, in Jesus’ metaphor, but most of our spiritual energy seems to go to repelling Satan’s attacks. Maybe there should be more to the picture we have of our Christian lives?
Wilson paints the portrait deftly, with the main characters set on mission to go conquer the witch, while side characters offer resistance and objections, but come along in the end. There are echoes there of Jesus going to Jerusalem to die, with Peter objecting.
Learning about yourself
The main character, Hyacinth, discovers she has a secret magical power, and learns to use it on the fly. My interpretation may be simplistic, but magic is usually a metaphor in fantasy for spiritual power generally, and/or a natural talent given to some and not others. In The Door Before it is a bit of both.
It’s important for kids to learn what they can do well, what they enjoy, and how they can be useful in the world. And where those three intersect is the vocational sweet spot. Showing that in a story kids can identify with gives real hope, when they are wondering about their future.
You can’t!
Institutional opposition is a common theme in youth literature. It’s an overdone yawner for me, but maybe that’s because I’m not 17 anymore. Yes, Hyacinth’s secret power of course is forbidden by her social group, the Order of Brennan, but she uses it anyway, and it’s a good thing she does! Wilson on this point inadvertently plays into an individualism he tends to oppose otherwise. He may have a point, though, that the strength of the individual is to fight evil more courageously than an institution can. The Order of Brennan I think may have been RIGHT to have a general policy against opening ways between worlds, but can exceptions be made? Institutions tend not to, even when they should, to be consistent. Wilson may be pointing out true flaws in institutionalism, I just wish he’d swim against the tide here as elsewhere, and point out the flaws of individualism in going off half-cocked, too. The shooting of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia recently may be an example.
Irreconcilable War
Wilson opposes individualism well in showing the true-to-the-Bible war between the seed of the woman and seed of the serpent. One characteristic of that war is that it is inter-generational. Because she was born into the Smith family, her loyalties are with the O of B, against the witch and her ravens, and so on. We are all situated in specific life circumstances without our input: gender, family, religion, geography, etc.
But this is not fatalistic. For one thing, kids need to adopt or reject the view of life they’ve been given and raised in. Wilson shows this well with the parents fighting evil with the kids knowing little about it, at the beginning. But they learn and start to fight, too. For another thing, the author has a couple scenes that show people discerning where the loyalties of others lie, when it’s unclear. The acid test: how do they respond to obvious evil and to clearly good characters? This gives growing kids an excellent tool kit to know how to read new people who come into their lives.
Parenting young people wisely
One subplot is the parents. How much do they tell the kids? When do they release them into the dangerous world? The parents make a mistake or two here, and they belong to a group bigger than the family that points it out to them. That is good. One thing parents tend to do is withhold information when adolescents are crying out for it. Instead we (I’m a parent of 4 teens!) let them figure life out on their own, while we are occupied with other things, to their detriment. Taking the time to explain why we do what we do is important. Else when they hit the world, they are engaging without critical information.
That’s enough for now. The Door Before is packed with good stuff like this.
I recommend it for young and old alike. There is a fair bit of violence described – probably best for 11 or 12 years old on up.
April 28, 2018
This book was amazing i really liked how it had younger characters from both 100 Cupboards and the dragons tooth, this was probably my favorite of 100 Cupboards i just loved it that much It was great!!!
August 24, 2024
I’d forgotten how much I love the 100 cupboards series and the amazing world(s) N.D Wilson has created.
March 26, 2017
Hyacinth, the fourth of five Smith children, has looked forward all her life to the day the family finally settles down in a home of its own. After years of moving from place to place on assignments her parents do for a mysterious Order, it finally seems this will happen. But waiting for them in their house on the California seashore is a shady old lady who is trying to achieve something very wrong with a grove full of lightning-struck trees. While the three older siblings head off to a special camp, and their parents are called on the carpet to report their capture of a man-shaped mushroom monster with (count 'em) two mouths, Hy and little brother Lawrence are left alone with Granlea Smith and whatever mischief she is up to.
It turns out she is trying to open doorways to other worlds. She has already let in four mushroom hunters (and not the kind who look for morels in the woods), and the two boys they are hunting. Hyacinth has barely started getting to know the brothers - Caleb, who is an excellent shot with a bow and arrow, and Mordecai Westmore, who can shoot vines out of his hands - before her own little-understood power becomes the key to their survival. For Granlea has foolishly opened a way for Nimiane, the immortal witch-queen of Endor, to enter our world and drain all its life to fuel her evil magic. And though Hyacinth's parents work for people who deem her worthy of death because of a power she hardly understands, the fate of many worlds depends on her - one girl with a knack for communicating with dogs, with trees, and with the invisible force of life.
A reasonable number of authors have tried to achieve something like what C.S. Lewis did with his "Chronicles of Narnia." As far as I can tell, N.D. Wilson is the guy who's doing it. He is writing young-adult fiction full of breathtaking fantasy imagery, big world-building gestures, colossal conflicts between ineffable good and terrifying evil, and characters who hail from multiple dimensions yet all seem to know the same Bible stories (not to mention other literary traditions, such as Arthurian legend). He isn't thrusting religion down anybody's throat, but adding a new layer to a rich background of stories, drawing on their story-shapes, and portraying heroes whose values seem to be formed by the assumption they are true stories. He also writes rich, vivid, economical prose that hooks right into the mind's senses, and never says the expected thing in the expected way. From the overall shape of his stories to the quirky details, he knows his business and does it well.
This review is based on a pre-production proof I received from the publisher's publicity department through the kindness of the author's wife. Nate and Heather have five kids and, according to his about-the-author blurb, an unreasonable number of pets. N.D. Wilson is also the author of the wilderness-survival classic Leepike Ridge, the Beowulf update Boys of Blur, the (so far) two "Outlaws of Time" novels The Legend of Sam Miracle and The Song of Glory and Ghost (which they also sent me; thanks folks!), and several children's picture-books, such as Ninja Boy Goes to School. But he is best known for his mythic "100 Cupboards" and "Ashtown Burials" trilogies. The Door Before is officially a prequel to the former, but in a funky crossover-type way, it is kind of a prequel to both, revealing (in case you never guessed before) that the worlds built around these two series of magical, Christianity-tinged adventures are somehow connected at the ground floor. This new book goes into circulation June 27, 2017.
It turns out she is trying to open doorways to other worlds. She has already let in four mushroom hunters (and not the kind who look for morels in the woods), and the two boys they are hunting. Hyacinth has barely started getting to know the brothers - Caleb, who is an excellent shot with a bow and arrow, and Mordecai Westmore, who can shoot vines out of his hands - before her own little-understood power becomes the key to their survival. For Granlea has foolishly opened a way for Nimiane, the immortal witch-queen of Endor, to enter our world and drain all its life to fuel her evil magic. And though Hyacinth's parents work for people who deem her worthy of death because of a power she hardly understands, the fate of many worlds depends on her - one girl with a knack for communicating with dogs, with trees, and with the invisible force of life.
A reasonable number of authors have tried to achieve something like what C.S. Lewis did with his "Chronicles of Narnia." As far as I can tell, N.D. Wilson is the guy who's doing it. He is writing young-adult fiction full of breathtaking fantasy imagery, big world-building gestures, colossal conflicts between ineffable good and terrifying evil, and characters who hail from multiple dimensions yet all seem to know the same Bible stories (not to mention other literary traditions, such as Arthurian legend). He isn't thrusting religion down anybody's throat, but adding a new layer to a rich background of stories, drawing on their story-shapes, and portraying heroes whose values seem to be formed by the assumption they are true stories. He also writes rich, vivid, economical prose that hooks right into the mind's senses, and never says the expected thing in the expected way. From the overall shape of his stories to the quirky details, he knows his business and does it well.
This review is based on a pre-production proof I received from the publisher's publicity department through the kindness of the author's wife. Nate and Heather have five kids and, according to his about-the-author blurb, an unreasonable number of pets. N.D. Wilson is also the author of the wilderness-survival classic Leepike Ridge, the Beowulf update Boys of Blur, the (so far) two "Outlaws of Time" novels The Legend of Sam Miracle and The Song of Glory and Ghost (which they also sent me; thanks folks!), and several children's picture-books, such as Ninja Boy Goes to School. But he is best known for his mythic "100 Cupboards" and "Ashtown Burials" trilogies. The Door Before is officially a prequel to the former, but in a funky crossover-type way, it is kind of a prequel to both, revealing (in case you never guessed before) that the worlds built around these two series of magical, Christianity-tinged adventures are somehow connected at the ground floor. This new book goes into circulation June 27, 2017.
August 26, 2018
I was so happy to see that our Quebec government-funded library saw fit to purchase this fine book and make it available. It fit very nicely with the rest of the 100 Cupboards series. And now I find that it is also a prequel to the Ashtown series, which my provincial bureaucratic overlords haven't yet secured. I may need to get them myself.
The book itself was very enjoyable, and almost too concise. The action was fast-paced and continuous much like the Chestnut King.
Looking forward to re-reading these with the kids when they are a bit older and can handle dismembered two-mouthed humanoid-fungus killers and cats licking up pools of blood.
The book itself was very enjoyable, and almost too concise. The action was fast-paced and continuous much like the Chestnut King.
Looking forward to re-reading these with the kids when they are a bit older and can handle dismembered two-mouthed humanoid-fungus killers and cats licking up pools of blood.
October 9, 2023
I absolutely loved seeing Hyacinth, Mordecai, and Caleb as teens!
note: The Door Before ties into both the 100 Cupboards series and the Ashtown Burials series
Content:
Violence and general creepiness.
note: The Door Before ties into both the 100 Cupboards series and the Ashtown Burials series
Content:
Violence and general creepiness.
November 8, 2017
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
I became a fan of N.D. Wilson's writing after the release of his very first book Leepike Ridge. I am an enthusiastic fan and pusher of both his 100 Cupboards trilogy and Ashtown Burials series. His latest book, The Door Before, is billed as a prequel to the 100 Cupboards, but it is also a prequel to the Ashtown Series as well.
Hyacinth Smith has a gift. Her father refers to it as a green touch. Hyacinth just knows she can coax life from growing things making them larger and bigger-giving them the power to reach their full potential. Hyacinth's family has always traveled around, staying in other people's homes and doing odd jobs. Now they finally have a home of their own, but the family is splitting up. Her older siblings are going to a special camp for children in the Order her parents are a part of. Her parents are going to an important meeting for that same Order. She is being left (along with her younger brother) at the new house, which is currently occupied by an odd great aunt who is cultivating a field of lightning struck trees. It turns out Granlea has been trying to open doors to other worlds and is responsible for letting in an ancient evil force. She also let in two boys determined to face off against that evil. Hyacinth teams up with these boys as they all desperately try to survive and keep the evil from spreading.
Hyacinth has a quiet strength and calmness about her that helps her get through even the toughest of situations and hardest of times. She is often scared and terrified, but she is good at persevering. Readers of the 100 Cupboards trilogy will recognize this in her, as it is the same quiet strength matured by age she has in that trilogy. Family is fiercely important to Hyacinth and she loves her siblings as much as she loves to be quiet and observe the world around her. She is a main character whose life and mind it is easy for a reader to slip into and assume. Her interactions with Mordecai and Caleb upon meeting them are interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed Caleb's humor, wit, and common sense. (Again, traits we see matured but still there in his later life.) It was slightly more difficult for me to get a real handle on Mordecai. He is full of angst and a healthy dose of a martyr complex for sure. He seems to change his mind about Hyacinth awfully fast and for little reason I could see except the plot required him to start trusting her. I also felt like there wasn't enough relationship development between Mordecai and Hyacinth in this book to justify Caleb's comment at the end that Mordecai was keeping Hyacinth near for himself and not for her. Readers of Wilson's other books know that they obviously eventually develop a close relationship as they are the parents of the hero of the 100 Cupboards books, but taking this book on its own, it didn't make sense.
The plot of The Door Before is fast paced. There is a lot going on and the scenes jump quickly from one to another with a lot of action and peril. Nimiane is full of rage and anger over the loss of her eyes and bent on avenging herself on Caleb and Mordecai. The Smiths happen to be in her way so she will crush them too because she can. Nimiane is truly great villain in every sense of the word. She always has been, but here you get to see her prior to her years of entrapment full of rage, power, and with an organized force. It takes everything the heroes have to hold her back and attempt to stop to her.
This is the shortest of Wilson's books in either the Cupboards or the Ashtown series and it relies quite heavily on world building already accomplished in both. The Order isn't really explained and the references to Henry, Kansas might be a tad confusing to any reader who is starting with this book. That being said, I do think it can be read and enjoyed on its own. You don't have to fully understand the Order to see what it does and how messed up it is in this book. You may question why the author cared enough about this random town to actually mention it specifically, but it won't throw you out of the story. If it's read first, it should lead to readers to the other two series. And then it would be fun to go back and look at it with fresh eyes and all that combined knowledge.
If you've already read the Cupboards Trilogy and the Ashtown Burials, you definitely want to read this too. It's an action filled, satisfying story that gives some insight into the past and there are a lot of cameos from characters you know and love you will appreciate.
I became a fan of N.D. Wilson's writing after the release of his very first book Leepike Ridge. I am an enthusiastic fan and pusher of both his 100 Cupboards trilogy and Ashtown Burials series. His latest book, The Door Before, is billed as a prequel to the 100 Cupboards, but it is also a prequel to the Ashtown Series as well.
Hyacinth Smith has a gift. Her father refers to it as a green touch. Hyacinth just knows she can coax life from growing things making them larger and bigger-giving them the power to reach their full potential. Hyacinth's family has always traveled around, staying in other people's homes and doing odd jobs. Now they finally have a home of their own, but the family is splitting up. Her older siblings are going to a special camp for children in the Order her parents are a part of. Her parents are going to an important meeting for that same Order. She is being left (along with her younger brother) at the new house, which is currently occupied by an odd great aunt who is cultivating a field of lightning struck trees. It turns out Granlea has been trying to open doors to other worlds and is responsible for letting in an ancient evil force. She also let in two boys determined to face off against that evil. Hyacinth teams up with these boys as they all desperately try to survive and keep the evil from spreading.
Hyacinth has a quiet strength and calmness about her that helps her get through even the toughest of situations and hardest of times. She is often scared and terrified, but she is good at persevering. Readers of the 100 Cupboards trilogy will recognize this in her, as it is the same quiet strength matured by age she has in that trilogy. Family is fiercely important to Hyacinth and she loves her siblings as much as she loves to be quiet and observe the world around her. She is a main character whose life and mind it is easy for a reader to slip into and assume. Her interactions with Mordecai and Caleb upon meeting them are interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed Caleb's humor, wit, and common sense. (Again, traits we see matured but still there in his later life.) It was slightly more difficult for me to get a real handle on Mordecai. He is full of angst and a healthy dose of a martyr complex for sure. He seems to change his mind about Hyacinth awfully fast and for little reason I could see except the plot required him to start trusting her. I also felt like there wasn't enough relationship development between Mordecai and Hyacinth in this book to justify Caleb's comment at the end that Mordecai was keeping Hyacinth near for himself and not for her. Readers of Wilson's other books know that they obviously eventually develop a close relationship as they are the parents of the hero of the 100 Cupboards books, but taking this book on its own, it didn't make sense.
The plot of The Door Before is fast paced. There is a lot going on and the scenes jump quickly from one to another with a lot of action and peril. Nimiane is full of rage and anger over the loss of her eyes and bent on avenging herself on Caleb and Mordecai. The Smiths happen to be in her way so she will crush them too because she can. Nimiane is truly great villain in every sense of the word. She always has been, but here you get to see her prior to her years of entrapment full of rage, power, and with an organized force. It takes everything the heroes have to hold her back and attempt to stop to her.
This is the shortest of Wilson's books in either the Cupboards or the Ashtown series and it relies quite heavily on world building already accomplished in both. The Order isn't really explained and the references to Henry, Kansas might be a tad confusing to any reader who is starting with this book. That being said, I do think it can be read and enjoyed on its own. You don't have to fully understand the Order to see what it does and how messed up it is in this book. You may question why the author cared enough about this random town to actually mention it specifically, but it won't throw you out of the story. If it's read first, it should lead to readers to the other two series. And then it would be fun to go back and look at it with fresh eyes and all that combined knowledge.
If you've already read the Cupboards Trilogy and the Ashtown Burials, you definitely want to read this too. It's an action filled, satisfying story that gives some insight into the past and there are a lot of cameos from characters you know and love you will appreciate.
March 12, 2020
4 ⭐
Fun, imaginative, magical, and action packed! I really enjoyed this story and got strong Narnia vibes as it is a portal story with an evil witch queen. The bonds of family and friends is another main theme of the book and I thought it was enchanting.
Fun, imaginative, magical, and action packed! I really enjoyed this story and got strong Narnia vibes as it is a portal story with an evil witch queen. The bonds of family and friends is another main theme of the book and I thought it was enchanting.
July 12, 2017
An excellent prequel to 100 Cupboards. I really enjoyed Hyacinth as a character and the connections between the Smith family of Ashtown Burials and the characters of 100 Cupboards.
June 9, 2024
It was amazing, exciting, and entertaining all the way through. I 100% recommend. It picks up very quickly and I simply couldn't put it down!!!!!!!! I adore how there is so many unexpected twists to the plot line and how well it connects to the 100 Cupboards series; helping me relate the characters' backgrounds and understand how they think and concept their everyday problems. Enjoyed it thoroughly!!!
December 29, 2022
I have been a fan of N.D. Wilson's writings since reading 100 Cupboards back in 2009. When I found out that he was writing a prequel to the 100 Cupboards series I could not wait to read it. But even if you have not read that series this book in a wonderful read. In fact I really hope this book is the first in a new series. This book opens with these words:
"Trees keep time the way time is meant to be kept.
They wrap the years around themselves in ringed layers,
expanding as the ages do. And when time forks,
so do the trees, stretching branches into cousin futures,
plunging roots into sister pasts, binding
every leaf into the one story, the only story.
The story that began. The story that cannot end,
because it can never stop growing."
This is a story about family, about bonds, about friendship, and about magic. In the vein of the Lord of the Rings, or better yet the Narnia Chronicles. Like C.S. Lewis, N.D. Wilson is going back and telling the origin story after the first three books were published, and like Lewis this origin story is packed full of adventure. One of the main focuses of the book is a powerful young woman named Hyacinth Smith. She can stop dogs in their tracks, she can grow plans, and she sees what others miss. Her father inherits a house from a distant relative. Everything starts to go sideways when they get to this house. For her great aunt has been playing with powers well beyond her control. She has collected a forest of trees that were struck by lightning and has used them to create doorways into other worlds.
When one of these doors open two boys tumble through, but so does a creature of great evil, the queen witch Nimiane. And the battle begins. Hyacinth, her brother, and the strange boys must find a way to stop the witch or she will not only destroy our world but all the worlds she can reach through the doors.
Like Wilson's other books this story has a great pace. Incredible characters, and a whole lot of adventure. I love the strong female character and cannot wait to read this book with my girls when they are a little older. I greatly enjoyed this book, and really hope that Wilson blesses us with more.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by N.D. Wilson. As well as an author profile and interview with N.D.
"Trees keep time the way time is meant to be kept.
They wrap the years around themselves in ringed layers,
expanding as the ages do. And when time forks,
so do the trees, stretching branches into cousin futures,
plunging roots into sister pasts, binding
every leaf into the one story, the only story.
The story that began. The story that cannot end,
because it can never stop growing."
This is a story about family, about bonds, about friendship, and about magic. In the vein of the Lord of the Rings, or better yet the Narnia Chronicles. Like C.S. Lewis, N.D. Wilson is going back and telling the origin story after the first three books were published, and like Lewis this origin story is packed full of adventure. One of the main focuses of the book is a powerful young woman named Hyacinth Smith. She can stop dogs in their tracks, she can grow plans, and she sees what others miss. Her father inherits a house from a distant relative. Everything starts to go sideways when they get to this house. For her great aunt has been playing with powers well beyond her control. She has collected a forest of trees that were struck by lightning and has used them to create doorways into other worlds.
When one of these doors open two boys tumble through, but so does a creature of great evil, the queen witch Nimiane. And the battle begins. Hyacinth, her brother, and the strange boys must find a way to stop the witch or she will not only destroy our world but all the worlds she can reach through the doors.
Like Wilson's other books this story has a great pace. Incredible characters, and a whole lot of adventure. I love the strong female character and cannot wait to read this book with my girls when they are a little older. I greatly enjoyed this book, and really hope that Wilson blesses us with more.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by N.D. Wilson. As well as an author profile and interview with N.D.
March 18, 2020
I loved this book, Wilson does an amazing job at combining the Ashtown Burials and the One Hundred Cupboards. The way he weaves them together just laces all of the books with possibilities and really makes you want him to write a book where Cyrus and Henry meet.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2017
The premise of "The Door Before" surely fascinated all of N.D. Wilson's readers, for the way that he has weaved the "100 Cupboards" and "Ashtown Burials" series' together. I'm happy to say that he delivered on the vision.
"The Door Before" is a fun, fast-paced story that introduces us to younger versions of characters we're already familiar with. These young heroes do some mighty deeds and set the scene for both of the series without diminishing them. Indeed, the premise of joining these series together enhances his vision for the world that we are all part of one story playing itself out in manifold ways.
It is exciting to think how Ashtown #4 will be able to explore this territory in new ways. This is a great addition to both series!
"The Door Before" is a fun, fast-paced story that introduces us to younger versions of characters we're already familiar with. These young heroes do some mighty deeds and set the scene for both of the series without diminishing them. Indeed, the premise of joining these series together enhances his vision for the world that we are all part of one story playing itself out in manifold ways.
It is exciting to think how Ashtown #4 will be able to explore this territory in new ways. This is a great addition to both series!
June 30, 2017
WOW! WOW! WOW!!!!!!! My two favorite series combined in one book. Mr. Wilson does not disappoint. The only thing that would have made this book better would have been the addition Of the fourth Ashtown book. The Door Before is a prequel to both The Hundred Cupboards and Ashtown Burials. If you are reading this book because you loved The Hundred Cupboards but have never read Ashtown, stop what you are doing right now and start reading The Dragons Tooth( book 1 in Ashtown Burials) . I think this may be my favorite ND Wilson book.
April 20, 2017
Everything is connected, WAT. I had a great time peeling back one generation of several of ND’s series and finding narrative streams criss crossing. Hyacinth SMITH?! The Door Before also features a discussion about the distinction between forbidden sorcery and the kind of magic that comes with a world spoken into existence. It turns out the christian bookstores that equivocate the two, also have majority power in the Order of Brendan.
August 9, 2019
Not nearly as good as 100 Cupbard series. Felt rushed and as though there was pressure from others to write it instead of the wanting to. Did provide more details about Henry's parent but really, this book wasn't needed.
June 27, 2017
N. D. Wilson is one of the finest children's fantasy writers today and I am always surprised that he receives as little attention as he does. The word "lyrical" has been overused on book covers to the point where it has become a bit of a joke. But Wilson's books really are songs. And with their emphasis on sacrifice, love, and loyalty, they are songs that have the ring of truth. The Door Before, like the other books in the 100 Cupboards series, possesses that rare, almost ineffable quality that raises the book above fantasy to make it feel real and beautiful.
Of course, many fans are celebrating not only a new installment in the bestselling 100 Cupboards series, but also the fact that this book ties the world of 100 Cupboards into the world of Wilson's Ashtown Burials series. It's been a long wait for the final installment in Cyrus and Antigone Smith's adventures. While I maintain that the Ashtown Burials books are by far Wilson's best works, it's still a welcome treat to have a story featuring the Smith siblings' ancestors--as well as a young Rupert Greeves!
While the tie-ins would have been enough to make this book interesting to me, Wilson does more than provide a cute little crossover to satiate fans. Rather, he brings back his signature attributes--his love of words, his unflinching look at the costs of virtue, and his belief that children need not be sheltered from the dark. Wilson's books hurt because he refuses to protect his characters. And that raises them to a level few children's books achieve.
The Door Before is a solid fantasy that stands well enough on its own, though it will probably hold the most interest for fans of either the 100 Cupboards or the Ashtown Burials series. But if it gets readers interested in continuing either series, I suspect it will have done its work.
Of course, many fans are celebrating not only a new installment in the bestselling 100 Cupboards series, but also the fact that this book ties the world of 100 Cupboards into the world of Wilson's Ashtown Burials series. It's been a long wait for the final installment in Cyrus and Antigone Smith's adventures. While I maintain that the Ashtown Burials books are by far Wilson's best works, it's still a welcome treat to have a story featuring the Smith siblings' ancestors--as well as a young Rupert Greeves!
While the tie-ins would have been enough to make this book interesting to me, Wilson does more than provide a cute little crossover to satiate fans. Rather, he brings back his signature attributes--his love of words, his unflinching look at the costs of virtue, and his belief that children need not be sheltered from the dark. Wilson's books hurt because he refuses to protect his characters. And that raises them to a level few children's books achieve.
The Door Before is a solid fantasy that stands well enough on its own, though it will probably hold the most interest for fans of either the 100 Cupboards or the Ashtown Burials series. But if it gets readers interested in continuing either series, I suspect it will have done its work.
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