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The Keeper of Portals
An epic time-slip fantasy novel for young adults that leads to a dramatic turn of events when the modern day begins to seep into the 17th century.
After the death of his dad, Martin and his mum move into an enormous stately home where they encounter a mysterious being called the Keeper of Portals, who claims to control every portal on the planet, except for the door at the end of Martin’s bedroom, which has been sealed for 400 years.
One morning, Martin wakes to discover the Keeper of Portals is missing and the door at the end of his bedroom has been opened. Martin steps through the door to find himself in the 17th century where he meets Isabel, the house’s maid. Martin and Isabel quickly learn that everything on earth, from time and causality, to pleasantries and buttons, is controlled by its own keeper. After discovering two imprisoned keepers, Martin and Isabel receive the ability to jump between doorways and change their time, but they soon become entangled in a battle against the master of the house, the Keeper of Questions.
The Keeper of Portals follows Martin and Isabel as they alternate between the present day and the 17th century, often returning to a time they have already been to and nearly running into past versions of themselves. They fight hordes of murderous villagers, escape from the Keeper of Questions by hiding in a sea cave for 400 years and confront the powerful Keeper of Causality. But there is something wrong with time itself as items from the present day begin to bleed into Isabel’s time. After driving an off-road 4x4 through the peaceful countryside of the 17th century, Martin and Isabel confront the Keeper of Questions in the city of London. But when they arrive they find it deserted – the Keeper of Questions has control of everyone in London and it won’t be long until Martin and Isabel are next.
The Keeper of Portals is a adventure story that explores the supernatural and is an ideal read for young adults. Inspired by authors such as Philip Pullman and Neil Gaiman, this book will be enjoyed by fans of time-slip fantasies, both children and adults alike.
After the death of his dad, Martin and his mum move into an enormous stately home where they encounter a mysterious being called the Keeper of Portals, who claims to control every portal on the planet, except for the door at the end of Martin’s bedroom, which has been sealed for 400 years.
One morning, Martin wakes to discover the Keeper of Portals is missing and the door at the end of his bedroom has been opened. Martin steps through the door to find himself in the 17th century where he meets Isabel, the house’s maid. Martin and Isabel quickly learn that everything on earth, from time and causality, to pleasantries and buttons, is controlled by its own keeper. After discovering two imprisoned keepers, Martin and Isabel receive the ability to jump between doorways and change their time, but they soon become entangled in a battle against the master of the house, the Keeper of Questions.
The Keeper of Portals follows Martin and Isabel as they alternate between the present day and the 17th century, often returning to a time they have already been to and nearly running into past versions of themselves. They fight hordes of murderous villagers, escape from the Keeper of Questions by hiding in a sea cave for 400 years and confront the powerful Keeper of Causality. But there is something wrong with time itself as items from the present day begin to bleed into Isabel’s time. After driving an off-road 4x4 through the peaceful countryside of the 17th century, Martin and Isabel confront the Keeper of Questions in the city of London. But when they arrive they find it deserted – the Keeper of Questions has control of everyone in London and it won’t be long until Martin and Isabel are next.
The Keeper of Portals is a adventure story that explores the supernatural and is an ideal read for young adults. Inspired by authors such as Philip Pullman and Neil Gaiman, this book will be enjoyed by fans of time-slip fantasies, both children and adults alike.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
15 people are currently reading
1563 people want to read
About the author
V.S. Nelson
3 books55 followersV S Nelson writes unconventional middle grade and young adult fantasy, science fiction and supernatural stories for readers who enjoy something a little strange.
His first story was The Keeper of Portals, a middle grade fantasy/sci-fi with plenty of portal jumping and time slipping. His second story, The Archivist, is a young adult dark fantasy all about death and what happens after. His most recent story is The Girl Who Sold Time, a middle grade science fiction adventure about friendship, discovery and finding your place in the universe.
V S Nelson loves big ideas, fantastical concepts and stories that unsettle the reader and set them thinking about something new.
V S Nelson lives in Winchester with his wife, two children and two cats. When not writing, he's either working as a scientist, out somewhere with explorer scouts or building Lego.
His first story was The Keeper of Portals, a middle grade fantasy/sci-fi with plenty of portal jumping and time slipping. His second story, The Archivist, is a young adult dark fantasy all about death and what happens after. His most recent story is The Girl Who Sold Time, a middle grade science fiction adventure about friendship, discovery and finding your place in the universe.
V S Nelson loves big ideas, fantastical concepts and stories that unsettle the reader and set them thinking about something new.
V S Nelson lives in Winchester with his wife, two children and two cats. When not writing, he's either working as a scientist, out somewhere with explorer scouts or building Lego.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 6, 2017
I received a free ecopy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.
After Martin and his mother move into this stately old mansion on a cliff's edge, he just happens to find a mysterious door in his room that when he walks through it it leads from the present day directly to the 1600s. While he's then and there he meets a maid called Isabel and the two learn that they'll have to move between time periods in order to stop her master from following through with his nefarious plan.
The Keeper of Portals by V.S. Nelson is a creative, action-packed, time-hopping middle grade novel with a dash of romance and some fantasy elements. The concept of this novel is brilliant and hooked me from the beginning. The short summary above just touches on the basic elements of the story as it would be difficult to say much more without spoiling some things that are better to go into fresh alongside Martin. It has so many things that I enjoy, including time travel (you can probably tell how much I like time travel, if you've spent any time following this blog or my Twitter account!) and the author explains how the time travelling via portals work well,. I particularly liked following Martin and discovering the differences between his home in his time as well as in Isabel's time. Of course, I also enjoyed Isabel quite a bit as she takes everything in and just how well she is able to cope with all of this crazy new information. And, on that note, Martin's reaction to how she is able to take it in stride as she does.
Unfortunately, as much as I enjoyed the novel, there are times where the storyline becomes a little confusing. I felt that there are a few too many characters to keep track of, and sometimes the pacing can be either too slow or too fast. As a result there are a couple moments when I had to reread a section to figure out who was talking and when and where they were. Finally, as I mentioned above there is some romance, but I found the romance unnecessary and at times it needlessly slows down the plot,
Overall, The Keeper of Portals is a fun and suspenseful time travelling adventure. Although it has a few weak points such as odd pacing and needless romance, it's still an entertaining read that does action well. If you are enjoy the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan, you may want to try V.S. Nelson's new release. Thanks again for the opportunity to read your new novel, V.S.
This review can also be found on my blog.
After Martin and his mother move into this stately old mansion on a cliff's edge, he just happens to find a mysterious door in his room that when he walks through it it leads from the present day directly to the 1600s. While he's then and there he meets a maid called Isabel and the two learn that they'll have to move between time periods in order to stop her master from following through with his nefarious plan.
The Keeper of Portals by V.S. Nelson is a creative, action-packed, time-hopping middle grade novel with a dash of romance and some fantasy elements. The concept of this novel is brilliant and hooked me from the beginning. The short summary above just touches on the basic elements of the story as it would be difficult to say much more without spoiling some things that are better to go into fresh alongside Martin. It has so many things that I enjoy, including time travel (you can probably tell how much I like time travel, if you've spent any time following this blog or my Twitter account!) and the author explains how the time travelling via portals work well,. I particularly liked following Martin and discovering the differences between his home in his time as well as in Isabel's time. Of course, I also enjoyed Isabel quite a bit as she takes everything in and just how well she is able to cope with all of this crazy new information. And, on that note, Martin's reaction to how she is able to take it in stride as she does.
Unfortunately, as much as I enjoyed the novel, there are times where the storyline becomes a little confusing. I felt that there are a few too many characters to keep track of, and sometimes the pacing can be either too slow or too fast. As a result there are a couple moments when I had to reread a section to figure out who was talking and when and where they were. Finally, as I mentioned above there is some romance, but I found the romance unnecessary and at times it needlessly slows down the plot,
Overall, The Keeper of Portals is a fun and suspenseful time travelling adventure. Although it has a few weak points such as odd pacing and needless romance, it's still an entertaining read that does action well. If you are enjoy the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan, you may want to try V.S. Nelson's new release. Thanks again for the opportunity to read your new novel, V.S.
This review can also be found on my blog.
December 29, 2016
V.S. Nelson was the second author to directly request a book review from me, and I got as giddy as I did when I received my first one! In all truth, though, this book was just okay. Not my favourite, but I have for sure read worse books.
For a quick summary, The Keeper of Portals revolves around a 15-year old boy named Martin. In this dystopian world, there are keepers guarding every object. When Martin moves to a mysterious new house, he notices an unusual door in his bedroom that raises eyebrows. Once it opens, he steps into it and discovers himself transported to the 1600s. He then meets a maid named Isabel, and together, they realize that they have to quickly jump between time periods in order to stop the master of the house from following through with his evil plan that could eventually destroy them.
It was mostly the characters in this book that left me a bit unsatisfied. I definitely liked the strong and brave character that Martin was, but honestly, I couldn't care too much for the others. Isabel was pretty bland, to say the least, and I felt that the romance between the two of them wasn't the strongest- to the point where it seemed a tiny bit unnecessary. These days, books like this tend to include just a bit too much romance, when really, it's not the point of the story at all.
The plot, though, was super exciting and enthralling! I am not the biggest fan of action, but I did really like the gripping premise of the story, and thought it was quite unique. I think I might've enjoyed it just a bit more if I were a hardcore fan of action and plot-oriented stories, but what I usually savour is a light, sweet character-oriented romance. I guess I'd get used to it if I'd read more books like this!
Overall, this book wasn't either a hit or a miss for me, as I found myself in the very middle of the scale. But that doesn't mean that readers who are more into action and time-travelling won't enjoy it more! V.S. Nelson is truly a great writer, and I just know you'll adore this book if you are more into gripping adventures. Be sure to mark your calendars for the release date of January 28th, and then rush to your local bookstore to get your hands on a copy and delve in! ;)
*I received a digital ARC of this book from author V.S. Nelson in exchange for an honest review.*
For a quick summary, The Keeper of Portals revolves around a 15-year old boy named Martin. In this dystopian world, there are keepers guarding every object. When Martin moves to a mysterious new house, he notices an unusual door in his bedroom that raises eyebrows. Once it opens, he steps into it and discovers himself transported to the 1600s. He then meets a maid named Isabel, and together, they realize that they have to quickly jump between time periods in order to stop the master of the house from following through with his evil plan that could eventually destroy them.
It was mostly the characters in this book that left me a bit unsatisfied. I definitely liked the strong and brave character that Martin was, but honestly, I couldn't care too much for the others. Isabel was pretty bland, to say the least, and I felt that the romance between the two of them wasn't the strongest- to the point where it seemed a tiny bit unnecessary. These days, books like this tend to include just a bit too much romance, when really, it's not the point of the story at all.
The plot, though, was super exciting and enthralling! I am not the biggest fan of action, but I did really like the gripping premise of the story, and thought it was quite unique. I think I might've enjoyed it just a bit more if I were a hardcore fan of action and plot-oriented stories, but what I usually savour is a light, sweet character-oriented romance. I guess I'd get used to it if I'd read more books like this!
Overall, this book wasn't either a hit or a miss for me, as I found myself in the very middle of the scale. But that doesn't mean that readers who are more into action and time-travelling won't enjoy it more! V.S. Nelson is truly a great writer, and I just know you'll adore this book if you are more into gripping adventures. Be sure to mark your calendars for the release date of January 28th, and then rush to your local bookstore to get your hands on a copy and delve in! ;)
*I received a digital ARC of this book from author V.S. Nelson in exchange for an honest review.*
February 7, 2017
Thoughts: I'll be completely honest: I wasn't expecting to enjoy THE KEEPER OF PORTALS as much as I did, which was why I was extremely delighted when I completed this book and realized it was one of the best books I've read in a long time. The characters, the setting, the action, the descriptions - Nelson nailed it all. Lately, I've been reading a lot of realistic fiction novels, so I was extremely pleased when Nelson offered me an ARC of THE KEEPER OF PORTALS in exchange for an honest review. Like I mentioned, I was completely caught off guard with how good this novel was.
Martin, the main character, felt in the vein of Percy Jackson or Harry Potter. Brave, kind, likable, easy to relate with. In my opinion, though, Martin wasn't what made this book amazing - Isabel, the supporting-ish character, was. She was completely atypical of how most 17th century girls are written in novels, which was why I was so excited when she entered the book. Isabel is a strong, stubborn, clever maid who readers will instantly like. She adds a lot of character to the story while still not detracting too much from the main action - which was also fantastic. Nelson is a very skilled writer - the action scenes felt as if I were right there, watching it happen before my eyes. There was also quite a bit of suspense in THE KEEPER OF PORTALS - the entire time, I was on the edge of my seat. I actually attempted to forgo a night of Chanukah in order to finish reading this book.
There was also a lot of creativity in this book. Readers looking for a fresh, but still familiar, story will be extremely pleased with THE KEEPER OF PORTALS. And although there is a little bit of romance between Isabel and Martin, nothing is taken too far, which makes it a wonderful read for kids 8 and on all the way into adults. The writing was sophisticated, but nothing younger kids would struggle with - in fact, I hardly thought about the writing at all since the story flowed so nicely. There were no flaws that I noticed, but then again, even if there were I don't think I would care, since the story pulled me in right from the start and never let go.
Overall, a fantastic read for kids and adults alike!
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchanged for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts are my own.
Martin, the main character, felt in the vein of Percy Jackson or Harry Potter. Brave, kind, likable, easy to relate with. In my opinion, though, Martin wasn't what made this book amazing - Isabel, the supporting-ish character, was. She was completely atypical of how most 17th century girls are written in novels, which was why I was so excited when she entered the book. Isabel is a strong, stubborn, clever maid who readers will instantly like. She adds a lot of character to the story while still not detracting too much from the main action - which was also fantastic. Nelson is a very skilled writer - the action scenes felt as if I were right there, watching it happen before my eyes. There was also quite a bit of suspense in THE KEEPER OF PORTALS - the entire time, I was on the edge of my seat. I actually attempted to forgo a night of Chanukah in order to finish reading this book.
There was also a lot of creativity in this book. Readers looking for a fresh, but still familiar, story will be extremely pleased with THE KEEPER OF PORTALS. And although there is a little bit of romance between Isabel and Martin, nothing is taken too far, which makes it a wonderful read for kids 8 and on all the way into adults. The writing was sophisticated, but nothing younger kids would struggle with - in fact, I hardly thought about the writing at all since the story flowed so nicely. There were no flaws that I noticed, but then again, even if there were I don't think I would care, since the story pulled me in right from the start and never let go.
Overall, a fantastic read for kids and adults alike!
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchanged for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts are my own.
February 7, 2017
3.5 stars!
ARC received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Martin and his mother move to mysterious and old house. Maybe house isn’t really the right term, more like mansion. He find a mysterious door in his room, and it turns out that this door leads directly to the past. Martin meets a lovely girl named Isabel, and they have to work together in order to stop the master of the house from fulfilling his evil plans that could put them all in danger.
I adore time travel books. They’re just so enchanting. Martin and Isabel’s adventures were quite exciting. This book is full of action, and I appreciated the little sprinkle of romance added. It did not overshadow the book, and it was just right for a middle grade novel. I admit that there were times wherein I was confused with the storyline. It was fast paced in some sections, and slow paced in others. I learned how to deal with it, and just read through those pages again.
I appreciate how this story was original and very imaginative. I would love to buy a physical copy of this book, and gift it to my little sister.
ARC received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Martin and his mother move to mysterious and old house. Maybe house isn’t really the right term, more like mansion. He find a mysterious door in his room, and it turns out that this door leads directly to the past. Martin meets a lovely girl named Isabel, and they have to work together in order to stop the master of the house from fulfilling his evil plans that could put them all in danger.
I adore time travel books. They’re just so enchanting. Martin and Isabel’s adventures were quite exciting. This book is full of action, and I appreciated the little sprinkle of romance added. It did not overshadow the book, and it was just right for a middle grade novel. I admit that there were times wherein I was confused with the storyline. It was fast paced in some sections, and slow paced in others. I learned how to deal with it, and just read through those pages again.
I appreciate how this story was original and very imaginative. I would love to buy a physical copy of this book, and gift it to my little sister.
March 12, 2017
3.5 stars
Before reading this book, I was a little apprehensive for several reasons: firstly, a google search of this book stated the target reading audience was middle grade. Secondly, this book falls in the sci-fi/fantasy genre, a genre I rarely read. However, when the author contacted me to say that in this book, everything in the universe has a keeper – a Keeper of Time, a Keeper of Casuality, a Keeper of Buttons etc etc – would I be interested in reading it? Curiosity proved strong and I gladly accepted a copy. (My blog name is Keeper of Pages)
I must say, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book; the level of creativity and imagination within the pages was a delight. The blurb is quite detailed so I won’t talk two much about the plot; as the reader you join Martin on his journey, and through the use of your imagination you can meet all the Keepers he encounters. Martin is a likeable character, as is Isabel and the friendship these too develop is really rather heartwarming. Martin is 15 years old, Isabel is of a similar age when he meets her, but she’s from the 17th century so technically she is 400 years older than him – that concept I was able to get my head around. However, some of the time-hopping elements confused me. The time-travel between the present time and the 17th century via a portal was fine, and I liked the contrasting descriptions between Martin’s house in the present compared to the past. However, when a few other time periods were introduced, I really had to pay attention to not get lost. If you’re a fan of time-hop and grasp the concept easily, I’m sure you’ll have no problem keeping up with this story.
The action in this book was enough to keep me entertained and I preferred the faster paced parts of the story. There was some well-placed elements of humour too! At times, I thought the pace slowed a little too much, it made the story feel incredibly long winded and I found myself thinking this book didn’t need to be quiet so many pages. Martin and Isabel’s relationship really stole the show for me though, I don’t want to call it romance as it was more like ‘ah bless, that’s so cute, they have a crush on each other.’ And the ending, well someone could have warned me, a book written for children had the potential to rip out my heart, in a good way, a way that let me know Martin and Isabel were such great characters that all I could think at the end of the book was ‘oh, bless ’em’ – this may be children’s fiction but you won’t find any spoilers here!
It’s important to mention, the themes featured in this story are written for a much younger audience so don’t expect anything too complex (except grasping the full concept of time travel!) If sci-fi/fantasy isn’t your usual reading genre, or you don’t enjoy books for a [much] younger audience, as an adult, you may find this book isn’t for you really but if you have a younger sibling, young children, cousin, niece, nephew etc etc, and they like time hop and fantasy books then I strongly recommend you buy them this book. While this book can be enjoyed by adults, it is age appropriate, there’s nothing within these pages, violence, humour or “romance”, that I wouldn’t be comfortable with my 10 year old son reading. That should give you an indication of the strength of said themes. Even though this is my first time reading this book, it reminds me of those books you read as a child, then read again as an adult and it brings back all those happy feelings/memories.
Throughout this read, I discovered many keepers. Fundamental Keepers were born with the earth and will die with it. Major Keepers arrived after the world was created and will live for millions of years. Minor Keepers can live from a nanosecond to thousands of years, and the Keeper of Pages falls within this group of Keepers. Sadly, I didn’t encounter a Keeper of Pages (V.S. Nelson, please let me know if there is one and I somehow missed it!) but there are approximately 75,567 Minor Keepers so I know out there somewhere I exist
Before reading this book, I was a little apprehensive for several reasons: firstly, a google search of this book stated the target reading audience was middle grade. Secondly, this book falls in the sci-fi/fantasy genre, a genre I rarely read. However, when the author contacted me to say that in this book, everything in the universe has a keeper – a Keeper of Time, a Keeper of Casuality, a Keeper of Buttons etc etc – would I be interested in reading it? Curiosity proved strong and I gladly accepted a copy. (My blog name is Keeper of Pages)
I must say, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book; the level of creativity and imagination within the pages was a delight. The blurb is quite detailed so I won’t talk two much about the plot; as the reader you join Martin on his journey, and through the use of your imagination you can meet all the Keepers he encounters. Martin is a likeable character, as is Isabel and the friendship these too develop is really rather heartwarming. Martin is 15 years old, Isabel is of a similar age when he meets her, but she’s from the 17th century so technically she is 400 years older than him – that concept I was able to get my head around. However, some of the time-hopping elements confused me. The time-travel between the present time and the 17th century via a portal was fine, and I liked the contrasting descriptions between Martin’s house in the present compared to the past. However, when a few other time periods were introduced, I really had to pay attention to not get lost. If you’re a fan of time-hop and grasp the concept easily, I’m sure you’ll have no problem keeping up with this story.
The action in this book was enough to keep me entertained and I preferred the faster paced parts of the story. There was some well-placed elements of humour too! At times, I thought the pace slowed a little too much, it made the story feel incredibly long winded and I found myself thinking this book didn’t need to be quiet so many pages. Martin and Isabel’s relationship really stole the show for me though, I don’t want to call it romance as it was more like ‘ah bless, that’s so cute, they have a crush on each other.’ And the ending, well someone could have warned me, a book written for children had the potential to rip out my heart, in a good way, a way that let me know Martin and Isabel were such great characters that all I could think at the end of the book was ‘oh, bless ’em’ – this may be children’s fiction but you won’t find any spoilers here!
It’s important to mention, the themes featured in this story are written for a much younger audience so don’t expect anything too complex (except grasping the full concept of time travel!) If sci-fi/fantasy isn’t your usual reading genre, or you don’t enjoy books for a [much] younger audience, as an adult, you may find this book isn’t for you really but if you have a younger sibling, young children, cousin, niece, nephew etc etc, and they like time hop and fantasy books then I strongly recommend you buy them this book. While this book can be enjoyed by adults, it is age appropriate, there’s nothing within these pages, violence, humour or “romance”, that I wouldn’t be comfortable with my 10 year old son reading. That should give you an indication of the strength of said themes. Even though this is my first time reading this book, it reminds me of those books you read as a child, then read again as an adult and it brings back all those happy feelings/memories.
Throughout this read, I discovered many keepers. Fundamental Keepers were born with the earth and will die with it. Major Keepers arrived after the world was created and will live for millions of years. Minor Keepers can live from a nanosecond to thousands of years, and the Keeper of Pages falls within this group of Keepers. Sadly, I didn’t encounter a Keeper of Pages (V.S. Nelson, please let me know if there is one and I somehow missed it!) but there are approximately 75,567 Minor Keepers so I know out there somewhere I exist
May 24, 2017
Well, that was a brain excercise and a half. Time travel, action, fights, mind control, portals, god-like creatures, the story had everything. It was clear from the beginning that this book is not intended for my age group but I sill enjoyed it very much. Martin, the main character felt kind of meh as a person, but he had real struggles and I appreciate seeing that. Sometimes he acted way more mature than his age and kind of became a superhero in certain situations (climbing 100-metre drop cliff walls, jumping out of windows and all that stuff). Isabel felt weird, I know it was intended so in the beginning when we didn't know much about her, but even at the end she was weird to me. Her speech was not the most consistent and she magically understood some modern words but not others. Also I feel like she would not have such an open mind and free way of thinking as a 16-year-old maid form the 17th century. The 'magic system' was pretty well built, the concept of there being a Keeper for everything is very interesting. The fact that time travel and other very complicated concepts were included is amazing in itself, I felt like the conundrums of time-travel were understandable from the explanations the various characters gave. Also I liked the sneaky history lessons in there. The basic conflict of the book was kind of wobbly for me, the Keeper of Questions going baddie and then the solution both felt like it was arbitrarily chosen and not backed up by the laws of the magic system. I liked that the story addressed the way people look at people with disabilities, however fleetingly. This book could be a very good educational piece as well as really good ebtertainment for 13-16 year-olds. Maybe with parental guidance, because there were some pretty gruesome events in the book (blood, death, torture).
The book cover is a bit cheesy though with the zodiac and biohazard symbols. I expected them to have significance but it turns out they are just decoration. I would probably be more enticed to read this book if it had illustrations of the Keepers or portals.
The book cover is a bit cheesy though with the zodiac and biohazard symbols. I expected them to have significance but it turns out they are just decoration. I would probably be more enticed to read this book if it had illustrations of the Keepers or portals.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2016
This ARC was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
Awaiting young adult readers in early 2017 is a fantasy story unlike any other. The Keeper of Portals is the debut novel of V.S. Nelson, the soon-to-be-published author with an imagination worth sharing. Incorporating the familiar concept of time travel into a new way of visualizing the world results in a story that will leave minds reeling.
Nelson’s theory is that every aspect of life has a keeper, a creature in charge of making sure their assigned element functions smoothly. There are the major keepers responsible for time, causality and other things that cannot be seen, yet objects as small as buttons have their own keeper, too. Humans, of course, are unaware of these keepers, therefore fifteen-year-old Martin Lockford initially believes he is going mad when the Keeper of Portals reveals his existence in Martin’s bedroom.
Martin and his mother, with nowhere else to go, have moved into a dilapidated manor once owned by a distant relative. Whilst exploring his new room, Martin is startled by a disembodied voice claiming to be the Keeper of Portals. Having not spoken to anyone for 400 years, Portals is eager to show off his role in the flowing of the unpredictable universe. The keeper’s task is to make sure each door leads to the correct place – something that he demonstrates by sending Martin to the wrong places. However, there is one door in the manor that he has been unable to open.
The very next morning, Martin awakes to discover the sealed door is no longer locked and, being the curious boy that he is, goes through to explore. The mystery door does not only transport Martin to a different place, it sends him back in time to 1623. Here he meets the young Isabel, a maid, who is intrigued with the inventions of the future, especially from a personal hygiene perspective. However, she is not the only one curious about the 21st century.
The irascible master of the manor is not who he initially seems. With the desire to control everything, he places Martin and Isabel in a grave predicament, trapping them in the 17th century. At risk of creating a paradox, Martin needs to return to his own time – a difficult feat in itself – however, with the Keeper of Portals missing, the master has caused many problems that need to be solved, otherwise a whole new future will be born.
Admittedly, it takes a while for the story to warm up – the reader may be introduced to the idea of keepers fairly early on, yet the key storyline does not reveal itself until much later. After perseverance on the reader’s behalf, The Keeper of Portals, becomes an exciting mix of fantasy and science fiction, cleverly thought out to create an unpredictable scenario. Adventure after adventure, until bittersweet conclusion, keeps readers engaged and compelled to read on long after bedtime.
Although Martin is the protagonist of the novel, Isabel’s role is equally important. Despite women in the 1600s being deprived on the rights they have in this day and age, Isabel is an intelligent, independent girl, perfectly able to handle everything that is thrown at her. She is an inspiration to teenage girls.
Written with teenage readers in mind, The Keeper of Portals is suitable for fantasy-loving adults, too. With equipoise of adventure and intellectual theory, as well as a touch of romance, it is definitely a book to look out for. V.S. Nelson writes with clarity, exuding remarkable intelligence; let us hope that there will be more from where this came from.
Awaiting young adult readers in early 2017 is a fantasy story unlike any other. The Keeper of Portals is the debut novel of V.S. Nelson, the soon-to-be-published author with an imagination worth sharing. Incorporating the familiar concept of time travel into a new way of visualizing the world results in a story that will leave minds reeling.
Nelson’s theory is that every aspect of life has a keeper, a creature in charge of making sure their assigned element functions smoothly. There are the major keepers responsible for time, causality and other things that cannot be seen, yet objects as small as buttons have their own keeper, too. Humans, of course, are unaware of these keepers, therefore fifteen-year-old Martin Lockford initially believes he is going mad when the Keeper of Portals reveals his existence in Martin’s bedroom.
Martin and his mother, with nowhere else to go, have moved into a dilapidated manor once owned by a distant relative. Whilst exploring his new room, Martin is startled by a disembodied voice claiming to be the Keeper of Portals. Having not spoken to anyone for 400 years, Portals is eager to show off his role in the flowing of the unpredictable universe. The keeper’s task is to make sure each door leads to the correct place – something that he demonstrates by sending Martin to the wrong places. However, there is one door in the manor that he has been unable to open.
The very next morning, Martin awakes to discover the sealed door is no longer locked and, being the curious boy that he is, goes through to explore. The mystery door does not only transport Martin to a different place, it sends him back in time to 1623. Here he meets the young Isabel, a maid, who is intrigued with the inventions of the future, especially from a personal hygiene perspective. However, she is not the only one curious about the 21st century.
The irascible master of the manor is not who he initially seems. With the desire to control everything, he places Martin and Isabel in a grave predicament, trapping them in the 17th century. At risk of creating a paradox, Martin needs to return to his own time – a difficult feat in itself – however, with the Keeper of Portals missing, the master has caused many problems that need to be solved, otherwise a whole new future will be born.
Admittedly, it takes a while for the story to warm up – the reader may be introduced to the idea of keepers fairly early on, yet the key storyline does not reveal itself until much later. After perseverance on the reader’s behalf, The Keeper of Portals, becomes an exciting mix of fantasy and science fiction, cleverly thought out to create an unpredictable scenario. Adventure after adventure, until bittersweet conclusion, keeps readers engaged and compelled to read on long after bedtime.
Although Martin is the protagonist of the novel, Isabel’s role is equally important. Despite women in the 1600s being deprived on the rights they have in this day and age, Isabel is an intelligent, independent girl, perfectly able to handle everything that is thrown at her. She is an inspiration to teenage girls.
Written with teenage readers in mind, The Keeper of Portals is suitable for fantasy-loving adults, too. With equipoise of adventure and intellectual theory, as well as a touch of romance, it is definitely a book to look out for. V.S. Nelson writes with clarity, exuding remarkable intelligence; let us hope that there will be more from where this came from.
January 7, 2017
Click here for the full review.
The plot
The story follows 15 year-old Martin, who recently moved in an enourmous, labyrinthine house, part of which is about to collapse into the sea. Little by little, due to some bizarre episodes that may or may not be related to the house itself, Martin discovers that the whole universe is under the protection of creatures called keepers. From the tiniest objects to time itself, everything has its very own such keeper. (...)
What I liked
First of all, I found the plotline to be highly original. Even though time travelling is a very exploited subject in the YA fantasy world, this particular story really stands out through its simplicity. It’s cleverly crafted, thus avoiding all the YA clichés I’ve heard of or experienced myself. The adventure is gripping and compelling; I just couldn’t put the book down and I’m not even a massive YA fantasy fan. Because this is a stand-alone volume, I didn’t feel the story needlessly stretching out or dragging – it’s just the perfect length!
I loved the fact that the bad guy is a greyish character. You could actually empathize with him and understand the reason behind his awful actions. Sadly, it’s not often I can say this about a YA book, or any book for that matter.
Isabel is another reason I enjoyed this book so much. The author did a great job with this character in particular. I found her determination fascinating and the way she deals with the present and reacts to the changes is endearing – it reminds me more of a generation gap than of a person who *actually* lives in the past. I liked her vocabulary and the fact that the author managed to create an authentic language for her, much different than the one used by the characters living in the present. Martin is great too, but I know these contemporary kids too well to be impressed by their manners or way of thinking, so Isabel stole the show. (...)
What I didn't like
Had I been V.S. Nelson, I would’ve written and re-written certain passages until they sounded just right. Although I appreciate the simplicity and elegance of the author’s approach to the more scientific part of the book, I would’ve liked for them to avoid confusion at all cost. There are times in which they get too carried away with the explanations and forget about concision, continuity and style. Fortunately, those bits were short and not very numerous.
Recommendation
I recommend this book to everyone who likes certain ideas of YA books, but is often disappointed in the writing or the plotlines. If you’re looking for an original, well-crafted fantasy story with gripping action and at least one remarkable character, pick up The Keeper of Portals. It is clever enough to stir a little something in everyone! (...)
The plot
The story follows 15 year-old Martin, who recently moved in an enourmous, labyrinthine house, part of which is about to collapse into the sea. Little by little, due to some bizarre episodes that may or may not be related to the house itself, Martin discovers that the whole universe is under the protection of creatures called keepers. From the tiniest objects to time itself, everything has its very own such keeper. (...)
What I liked
First of all, I found the plotline to be highly original. Even though time travelling is a very exploited subject in the YA fantasy world, this particular story really stands out through its simplicity. It’s cleverly crafted, thus avoiding all the YA clichés I’ve heard of or experienced myself. The adventure is gripping and compelling; I just couldn’t put the book down and I’m not even a massive YA fantasy fan. Because this is a stand-alone volume, I didn’t feel the story needlessly stretching out or dragging – it’s just the perfect length!
I loved the fact that the bad guy is a greyish character. You could actually empathize with him and understand the reason behind his awful actions. Sadly, it’s not often I can say this about a YA book, or any book for that matter.
Isabel is another reason I enjoyed this book so much. The author did a great job with this character in particular. I found her determination fascinating and the way she deals with the present and reacts to the changes is endearing – it reminds me more of a generation gap than of a person who *actually* lives in the past. I liked her vocabulary and the fact that the author managed to create an authentic language for her, much different than the one used by the characters living in the present. Martin is great too, but I know these contemporary kids too well to be impressed by their manners or way of thinking, so Isabel stole the show. (...)
What I didn't like
Had I been V.S. Nelson, I would’ve written and re-written certain passages until they sounded just right. Although I appreciate the simplicity and elegance of the author’s approach to the more scientific part of the book, I would’ve liked for them to avoid confusion at all cost. There are times in which they get too carried away with the explanations and forget about concision, continuity and style. Fortunately, those bits were short and not very numerous.
Recommendation
I recommend this book to everyone who likes certain ideas of YA books, but is often disappointed in the writing or the plotlines. If you’re looking for an original, well-crafted fantasy story with gripping action and at least one remarkable character, pick up The Keeper of Portals. It is clever enough to stir a little something in everyone! (...)
December 28, 2016
Isbn: 9781785898327. Release date: 28th January 2017. Matador Publishing. I received this book for review straight from the author.
‘All I have to do is think, walk through a door and I come out another. There is nowhere I cannot get to, nor any lock that can deny my passage.’
The Keeper of Portals lifted a hand and stroked the ancient black wood of the door.
‘I can do all that and yet, after 400 years, I still cannot open this door.’
Everything in the universe is maintained by its own keeper, from the most insignificant insect to time itself. When 15 year-old Martin moves into a stately home that’s dangerously overhanging a cliff, he meets the Keeper of Portals and learns of the mysterious door at the end of his bedroom.
One morning, Martin wakes to discover the Keeper of Portals is missing and the door at the end of his bedroom is open. Martin steps through the door to find himself in the 17th century where he meets Isabel, the house’s maid. Upon discovering two imprisoned keepers, Martin and Isabel gain the ability to control time and travel through portals.
After being attacked by hordes of brainwashed villagers, Martin and Isabel learn that the master of the house has a devious plan, one the keepers are powerless to stop. Martin and Isabel must jump between the present day and the 17th century in order to hide from the twisted master, avoiding past versions of themselves, as powerful keepers thwart them at every turn. But as items from the future begin to bleed into the past and the present day is plagued by malfunctioning portals, Martin and Isabel’s only option is to confront the master – the Keeper of Questions.
I actually entered a goodreads competition for this book, and was pleasantly surprised to find a message for V. S. Nelson offering me to read for a review, so ofcourse I jumped at the chance!
Going into this, I was both excited and apprehensive. I wanted to do it justice. It felt like to pulled you in quickly, introducing you to a handful of characters immediately, then slows right down and stretches out. If you keep pushing, a little bit later it picks up and kind of doesn’t stop. After struggling initially, I suddenly flew through it.
Isabel was a fascinating character, along with Martin himself. however, I felt in places the romance was being pushed too hard and that kind of let it down. The Master of the House would probably terrify me if I stumbled across him in real life. I thoroughly loved the idea of The Keepers! I was reminded of some of Pratchett’s works on occasion.
Over all, I rather enjoyed this book. The plot was interesting, and whilst I struggled with the odd place, it was worth pushing through to finish the story. I still have my fingers crossed that I might win a physical copy since the cover is super pretty.
I give this a 4 out of 5 stars.
‘All I have to do is think, walk through a door and I come out another. There is nowhere I cannot get to, nor any lock that can deny my passage.’
The Keeper of Portals lifted a hand and stroked the ancient black wood of the door.
‘I can do all that and yet, after 400 years, I still cannot open this door.’
Everything in the universe is maintained by its own keeper, from the most insignificant insect to time itself. When 15 year-old Martin moves into a stately home that’s dangerously overhanging a cliff, he meets the Keeper of Portals and learns of the mysterious door at the end of his bedroom.
One morning, Martin wakes to discover the Keeper of Portals is missing and the door at the end of his bedroom is open. Martin steps through the door to find himself in the 17th century where he meets Isabel, the house’s maid. Upon discovering two imprisoned keepers, Martin and Isabel gain the ability to control time and travel through portals.
After being attacked by hordes of brainwashed villagers, Martin and Isabel learn that the master of the house has a devious plan, one the keepers are powerless to stop. Martin and Isabel must jump between the present day and the 17th century in order to hide from the twisted master, avoiding past versions of themselves, as powerful keepers thwart them at every turn. But as items from the future begin to bleed into the past and the present day is plagued by malfunctioning portals, Martin and Isabel’s only option is to confront the master – the Keeper of Questions.
I actually entered a goodreads competition for this book, and was pleasantly surprised to find a message for V. S. Nelson offering me to read for a review, so ofcourse I jumped at the chance!
Going into this, I was both excited and apprehensive. I wanted to do it justice. It felt like to pulled you in quickly, introducing you to a handful of characters immediately, then slows right down and stretches out. If you keep pushing, a little bit later it picks up and kind of doesn’t stop. After struggling initially, I suddenly flew through it.
Isabel was a fascinating character, along with Martin himself. however, I felt in places the romance was being pushed too hard and that kind of let it down. The Master of the House would probably terrify me if I stumbled across him in real life. I thoroughly loved the idea of The Keepers! I was reminded of some of Pratchett’s works on occasion.
Over all, I rather enjoyed this book. The plot was interesting, and whilst I struggled with the odd place, it was worth pushing through to finish the story. I still have my fingers crossed that I might win a physical copy since the cover is super pretty.
I give this a 4 out of 5 stars.
January 29, 2017
I am always a bit nervous when reviewing a new author as you never know what it is you are letting yourself in for. I was a little more nervous because The Keeper of Portals is this authors first book! The start of this book was not so comforting, but I persisted through the first few chapters and was so pleased I did.
I agreed to review this book because the story really intrigued me. Martin has moved into a new home with his mother, and after a few days of exploring he hears a voice in his room – it is The Keeper of Portals, whose job it is to ensure that each door in the world always meets up with what it should be connected to. This meeting is just the beginning of the strange things that happen to Martin, including travelling back to the past and meeting Isabel, who works with him to try and stop her Master from bringing destruction to the world.
The story line and the alternate universe it is set in is the real strength of this book. The world where everything is its won Keeper to ensure it functions properly is so well developed you can almost believe it is true. The story moves backwards and forwards in time with intriguing twists and turns that keep you involved until the very end.
See the full review at http://thebookbubble.com/2017/01/the-...
I agreed to review this book because the story really intrigued me. Martin has moved into a new home with his mother, and after a few days of exploring he hears a voice in his room – it is The Keeper of Portals, whose job it is to ensure that each door in the world always meets up with what it should be connected to. This meeting is just the beginning of the strange things that happen to Martin, including travelling back to the past and meeting Isabel, who works with him to try and stop her Master from bringing destruction to the world.
The story line and the alternate universe it is set in is the real strength of this book. The world where everything is its won Keeper to ensure it functions properly is so well developed you can almost believe it is true. The story moves backwards and forwards in time with intriguing twists and turns that keep you involved until the very end.
See the full review at http://thebookbubble.com/2017/01/the-...
March 22, 2018
Received from NetGalley for my honest review
Completed 10/3/17
240 page ebook
This book was ok for me. I like time travel and I like funky mysterious houses so I thought this would be right up my alley. It had its good parts and boring parts and was just ok to good, not great.
I had a hard time connecting with the characters. They were pretty flat and dull though they did have a good adventurous spirit to them. They seemed to accept the abnormal pretty easily, which seemed weird at such young ages, but it made for the story to continue moving.
The Keepers themselves were an interesting lot and probably my favorite part of the books. Seeing who each new one was and what their ability was, was pretty interesting. It just wasn't enough for me to truly love this book.
Recommended for middle grade ages who like time travel. Some adults may like it, but if you like your characters with depth, you'd be better off skipping it.
Setting = A
Plot = B
Conflict = B
Characters = C-
Theme = A
Completed 10/3/17
240 page ebook
This book was ok for me. I like time travel and I like funky mysterious houses so I thought this would be right up my alley. It had its good parts and boring parts and was just ok to good, not great.
I had a hard time connecting with the characters. They were pretty flat and dull though they did have a good adventurous spirit to them. They seemed to accept the abnormal pretty easily, which seemed weird at such young ages, but it made for the story to continue moving.
The Keepers themselves were an interesting lot and probably my favorite part of the books. Seeing who each new one was and what their ability was, was pretty interesting. It just wasn't enough for me to truly love this book.
Recommended for middle grade ages who like time travel. Some adults may like it, but if you like your characters with depth, you'd be better off skipping it.
Setting = A
Plot = B
Conflict = B
Characters = C-
Theme = A
February 17, 2017
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book was pretty good. The plot was decent, if slightly confusing to follow at times, but it makes you look at buttons in a different way, which is not something I can often say about a book. The plot twist at the end was pretty predictable, being as I guessed it at the beginning of the novel, but it felt pretty rewarding to read it.
Overall, it was a good book.
This book was pretty good. The plot was decent, if slightly confusing to follow at times, but it makes you look at buttons in a different way, which is not something I can often say about a book. The plot twist at the end was pretty predictable, being as I guessed it at the beginning of the novel, but it felt pretty rewarding to read it.
Overall, it was a good book.
December 3, 2016
I ... well, I'm probably going to come up with a more coherent review at some stage, but right now I just need to kind of process because this book basically hit me round the head with sadness in the last five pages.
Ow.
Ow.
February 6, 2020
The keeper of Portals by V.S Nelson.
‘All I have to do is think, walk through a door and I come out another. There is nowhere I cannot get to, nor any lock that can deny my passage.’
The Keeper of Portals lifted a hand and stroked the ancient black wood of the door.
‘I can do all that and yet, after 400 years, I still cannot open this door.’
Everything in the universe is maintained by its own keeper, from the most insignificant insect to time itself. When 15 year-old Martin moves into a stately home that’s dangerously overhanging a cliff, he meets the Keeper of Portals and learns of the mysterious door at the end of his bedroom.
One morning, Martin wakes to discover the Keeper of Portals is missing and the door at the end of his bedroom is open. Martin steps through the door to find himself in the 17th century where he meets Isabel, the house’s maid. Upon discovering two imprisoned keepers, Martin and Isabel gain the ability to control time and travel through portals.
After being attacked by hordes of brainwashed villagers, Martin and Isabel learn that the master of the house has a devious plan, one the keepers are powerless to stop. Martin and Isabel must jump between the present day and the 17th century in order to hide from the twisted master, avoiding past versions of themselves, as powerful keepers thwart them at every turn. But as items from the future begin to bleed into the past and the present day is plagued by malfunctioning portals, Martin and Isabel’s only option is to confront the master – the Keeper of Questions.
A brilliant read. Great characters. Loved Isabel and Martin. Kept me hooked all the way through. 5*.
‘All I have to do is think, walk through a door and I come out another. There is nowhere I cannot get to, nor any lock that can deny my passage.’
The Keeper of Portals lifted a hand and stroked the ancient black wood of the door.
‘I can do all that and yet, after 400 years, I still cannot open this door.’
Everything in the universe is maintained by its own keeper, from the most insignificant insect to time itself. When 15 year-old Martin moves into a stately home that’s dangerously overhanging a cliff, he meets the Keeper of Portals and learns of the mysterious door at the end of his bedroom.
One morning, Martin wakes to discover the Keeper of Portals is missing and the door at the end of his bedroom is open. Martin steps through the door to find himself in the 17th century where he meets Isabel, the house’s maid. Upon discovering two imprisoned keepers, Martin and Isabel gain the ability to control time and travel through portals.
After being attacked by hordes of brainwashed villagers, Martin and Isabel learn that the master of the house has a devious plan, one the keepers are powerless to stop. Martin and Isabel must jump between the present day and the 17th century in order to hide from the twisted master, avoiding past versions of themselves, as powerful keepers thwart them at every turn. But as items from the future begin to bleed into the past and the present day is plagued by malfunctioning portals, Martin and Isabel’s only option is to confront the master – the Keeper of Questions.
A brilliant read. Great characters. Loved Isabel and Martin. Kept me hooked all the way through. 5*.
February 13, 2017
This is a difficult book to summarise, but I'll give it a go while trying to avoid being a spoilery spoiler who spoils.
15-year-old Martin and his mother have just moved into a once-grand house, which is now teetering dangerously on the edge of a crumbling cliff. As he's settling in to his new home, Martin meets a bizarre figure who can make doors lead to any other doorways in the world. He introduces himself as The Keeper of Portals ('Portals' for short), one of a series of Keepers tasked with making sure the world works as it should. There is a door in Martin's bedroom that has been there for 400 years - the only door that Portals has never been able to open. Martin wakes one morning to find the door open and Portals missing. With Portals gone, doorways start misbehaving themselves and leading to places they shouldn't. So, naturally, Martin goes through the door in his room in order to find the missing Keeper (it would have been a very short book if he hadn't). The door, it turns out, leads to the same room 400 years in the past, where Martin meets Isabel, the past-house's maid. Portal hopping and time dilating adventures ensue, featuring friendship, betrayal, romance, cliffs, caves, a sports car in post-Tudor London, a rogue Keeper, blue feathers and an army of mind-controlled villagers.
There are two main science-fiction/fantasy elements that drive the plot of The Keeper of Portals: portals and time travel. The portals were one of my favourite things in this book - it's such a great device! If you're familiar with the Portal computer games, you'll get the basic premise. In the games, you have a gun that creates two portal holes, and you can jump into one and out the other. It works very similarly in the book (there is a scene near the end of the book which feels very computer gamey - lining up portals to get the necessary speed and angles to take out a bad guy) except that instead of a gun, The Keeper of Portals does it with doorways. You know that feeling when you're reading a book or watching a show and you think "I wish I could do that"? Let's just say I had portal envy.
I'm quite picky about time-travel narratives. My personal preference is for a "closed loop" story, rather than one where the past gets changed by meddling time travellers (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban as opposed to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two, for example). I find them really satisfying when they are done well (one of my favourites is The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers - plus its got a killer clown, a body-swapping werewolf, Lord Byron and a time machine that is a giant slingshot. You should read it). The Keeper of Portals does a pretty good job with its time travel - it even has a Keeper whose job it is to prevent paradoxes. There were maybe a couple of moments where I felt the explanations for what was happening in the plot were a bit hand-wavy (it could just have been that I did not quite get the explanations, I suppose), but on the whole I really enjoyed the time-travel elements of this book.
The stories two main protagonists are Martin and Isabel, both about 15 years old. Isabel, a 17th Century maid, is a fantastic character (although I'm not sure how authentic her 17th Century lingo was) - I really liked how unflappable she was when confronted with both the magic of the Keepers (time travel, portals) and the magic of the 21st Century (laptops, women in trousers). Martin, a 21st Century school boy who's dad has recently died, is... OK. I didn't dislike him, I liked him well enough - but I didn't love him. And considering that we experience the story from his point of view, this is probably the book's biggest flaw for me. To be fair, he is written as a character that makes mistakes, gets pulled up and learns from them - you don't want your characters to be perfect, flawless one-dimensional bores. But I guess that some people you just connect with, others you don't. I was much more interested in Isabel - her situation, world view, character development - and whenever the narrative left her behind, I became impatient to get back to her (I guess this could also be because we are seeing her from Martin's perspective, and he pretty much feels the same way).
The other characters don't really have enough page-time for us to get to know them in any depth, but the population of Keepers - from Minor Keepers like Buttons to Fundamental ones like Time - is a many, varied and colourful cast.
I think I have enjoyed this book more in retrospect than I did while I was reading it. Part of this is to do with my issues with the formatting (I'm not a fan of pdf ebooks), and part of it is my ambivalence towards Martin. But overall, this is a fun read which zips along after a bit of a slow start. It has some great ideas, some enjoyable set pieces and a satisfying end with some real poignancy.
15-year-old Martin and his mother have just moved into a once-grand house, which is now teetering dangerously on the edge of a crumbling cliff. As he's settling in to his new home, Martin meets a bizarre figure who can make doors lead to any other doorways in the world. He introduces himself as The Keeper of Portals ('Portals' for short), one of a series of Keepers tasked with making sure the world works as it should. There is a door in Martin's bedroom that has been there for 400 years - the only door that Portals has never been able to open. Martin wakes one morning to find the door open and Portals missing. With Portals gone, doorways start misbehaving themselves and leading to places they shouldn't. So, naturally, Martin goes through the door in his room in order to find the missing Keeper (it would have been a very short book if he hadn't). The door, it turns out, leads to the same room 400 years in the past, where Martin meets Isabel, the past-house's maid. Portal hopping and time dilating adventures ensue, featuring friendship, betrayal, romance, cliffs, caves, a sports car in post-Tudor London, a rogue Keeper, blue feathers and an army of mind-controlled villagers.
There are two main science-fiction/fantasy elements that drive the plot of The Keeper of Portals: portals and time travel. The portals were one of my favourite things in this book - it's such a great device! If you're familiar with the Portal computer games, you'll get the basic premise. In the games, you have a gun that creates two portal holes, and you can jump into one and out the other. It works very similarly in the book (there is a scene near the end of the book which feels very computer gamey - lining up portals to get the necessary speed and angles to take out a bad guy) except that instead of a gun, The Keeper of Portals does it with doorways. You know that feeling when you're reading a book or watching a show and you think "I wish I could do that"? Let's just say I had portal envy.
I'm quite picky about time-travel narratives. My personal preference is for a "closed loop" story, rather than one where the past gets changed by meddling time travellers (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban as opposed to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two, for example). I find them really satisfying when they are done well (one of my favourites is The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers - plus its got a killer clown, a body-swapping werewolf, Lord Byron and a time machine that is a giant slingshot. You should read it). The Keeper of Portals does a pretty good job with its time travel - it even has a Keeper whose job it is to prevent paradoxes. There were maybe a couple of moments where I felt the explanations for what was happening in the plot were a bit hand-wavy (it could just have been that I did not quite get the explanations, I suppose), but on the whole I really enjoyed the time-travel elements of this book.
The stories two main protagonists are Martin and Isabel, both about 15 years old. Isabel, a 17th Century maid, is a fantastic character (although I'm not sure how authentic her 17th Century lingo was) - I really liked how unflappable she was when confronted with both the magic of the Keepers (time travel, portals) and the magic of the 21st Century (laptops, women in trousers). Martin, a 21st Century school boy who's dad has recently died, is... OK. I didn't dislike him, I liked him well enough - but I didn't love him. And considering that we experience the story from his point of view, this is probably the book's biggest flaw for me. To be fair, he is written as a character that makes mistakes, gets pulled up and learns from them - you don't want your characters to be perfect, flawless one-dimensional bores. But I guess that some people you just connect with, others you don't. I was much more interested in Isabel - her situation, world view, character development - and whenever the narrative left her behind, I became impatient to get back to her (I guess this could also be because we are seeing her from Martin's perspective, and he pretty much feels the same way).
The other characters don't really have enough page-time for us to get to know them in any depth, but the population of Keepers - from Minor Keepers like Buttons to Fundamental ones like Time - is a many, varied and colourful cast.
I think I have enjoyed this book more in retrospect than I did while I was reading it. Part of this is to do with my issues with the formatting (I'm not a fan of pdf ebooks), and part of it is my ambivalence towards Martin. But overall, this is a fun read which zips along after a bit of a slow start. It has some great ideas, some enjoyable set pieces and a satisfying end with some real poignancy.
February 9, 2020
This book was AMAZING. Sure, the prose isn't exactly top-notch, often coming across as simple and even childish at times, but plot has always been a more important factor for me, and the story's plot is phenomenal. Nelson describes complicated ideas in language easy to understand and masterfully weaves in concepts and scenes so clever that you NEED to read it. You'll be in for a refreshingly outstanding time-traveling tale.
April 7, 2018
This book starts off like a simple plot, but as the book continues, the plot splits into multiple avenues of thought and required concentration. The ending redeems all of the flaws with this book with the most satisfying conclusion to any book I have ever read. All the avenues of thought come together in a couple of pages.
March 13, 2017
The cover image is misleading--it suggests that the tone is mystical, magical, and arcane, but the nature of the book is more accurately, "The fundamental nature of the universe is much quirkier than you realized."
The Keeper of Portals is whimsical yet poignant, touching on some deep themes (in a YA scope) while staying fun and clever. It does take a bit more of an investment at the beginning of the book--there are a lot of disconnected details that pile up early on that you have to trust will be explained by the end. True to form for a time-slipping story, they are in due course. Go with it. The way in which paradoxes are avoided is particularly flavorful world-building.
As part of the book takes place in the 17th century, there may be some who can spot anachronistic turns of phrase (other than intentional ones), but I appreciate that the author doesn't try too hard and make it jarringly fake-olde-speake. If anything, this American reader got more tripped up by a few youthful Britishisms from the 21st-century character (not too many, though).
I am very pleased to have received this as a Goodreads Giveaway, as I probably would have passed over it at a bookstore or a library (due to the cover image), but the description intrigued me, and that curiosity was rewarded.
The Keeper of Portals is whimsical yet poignant, touching on some deep themes (in a YA scope) while staying fun and clever. It does take a bit more of an investment at the beginning of the book--there are a lot of disconnected details that pile up early on that you have to trust will be explained by the end. True to form for a time-slipping story, they are in due course. Go with it. The way in which paradoxes are avoided is particularly flavorful world-building.
As part of the book takes place in the 17th century, there may be some who can spot anachronistic turns of phrase (other than intentional ones), but I appreciate that the author doesn't try too hard and make it jarringly fake-olde-speake. If anything, this American reader got more tripped up by a few youthful Britishisms from the 21st-century character (not too many, though).
I am very pleased to have received this as a Goodreads Giveaway, as I probably would have passed over it at a bookstore or a library (due to the cover image), but the description intrigued me, and that curiosity was rewarded.
June 4, 2017
Fantastic journey! Recommended to science fiction fans! Suitable for children to adults.
-Won this book in a giveaway.
-Won this book in a giveaway.
July 22, 2017
I won this through Goodreads first reads and really enjoyed it. It was different than anything else I had read and that made it even better because it was all new and exciting.
February 15, 2023
Wow
Such a good read. Not like anything I've read before. Each page leaves you wanting more. Isabel and Martin, a love story.
Such a good read. Not like anything I've read before. Each page leaves you wanting more. Isabel and Martin, a love story.
March 19, 2017
I received my copy of The Keeper of Portals as a Goodreads giveaway - thank you!
The story follows teenaged Martin, living in the crumbling mansion of his ancestors with his mother, and Isabel, a feisty maid from the 17th century and the secret world of the Keepers, guardians of things great and small, tangible and intangible.
A hidden door opened, a portal to the past and race through time to stop a terrible future from happening.
A very enjoyable story.
The story follows teenaged Martin, living in the crumbling mansion of his ancestors with his mother, and Isabel, a feisty maid from the 17th century and the secret world of the Keepers, guardians of things great and small, tangible and intangible.
A hidden door opened, a portal to the past and race through time to stop a terrible future from happening.
A very enjoyable story.
May 13, 2017
Overall 4 and 1/2 stars. This is a fantasy story unlike any other. A great imagination. The book incorporates the concept of time travel to and back from the 17th century. Meet an amazing range of Keepers. A complex plot which is challenging. The ending deserves five stars!
January 27, 2023
It took me a while to finish it but this book is amazing. It's clearly aimed towards teens but sometimes that's the kind of book you need.i loved the writing so much <3
February 4, 2017
Originally posted on Daydreaming Books. Click this link to read an interview with the author!
*I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
This book was really fun to read, though it had its ups and downs but I loved the overall journey and I'm glad I got to read this book.
Martin has just shifted to his ancestral home with his mother where he meets a strange creature who calls himself the Keeper of Portals. He has the ability to open all the doors in the universe, except the one in Martin's room. When that door finally opens and Martin steps in, his whole world turns upside down. Will Martin be able to return to his home ever again or will he get stuck in the past forever?
The plot was really interesting but a little confusing at times. I liked how the author didn't waste much time and plunged directly into the action. This book narrates the story of Martin, a 15-year-old boy who has just moved into the massive new house which belonged to his ancestors. As he begins exploring the house he discovers a strange voice who reveals himself to be the Keeper of Portals. I liked the concept of the Keepers. There were so many Keepers for every little thing.
I enjoyed Martin's adventure. I felt like I was there with him. He was such a caring and sweet character. Isabel on the other hand, I was not much of a fan of her when the story started but she slowly warmed into my heart. I hated The Keeper of Questions who was Isabel's master as well, he was really twisted. The world-building was the one fact that disappointing me a little, I wished it was more concise and clear because it was really getting confusing to understand what was going one when Martin and Isabel were jumping from one portal to another.
Martin and Isabel formed a great team. I enjoyed how they tacked everything together. There was barely any romance in this book but I didn't mind the attraction that shimmered between the two characters. The ending was bittersweet and I really wished it was different but that made this story more realistic and rooted to the ground.
Overall, The Keeper of Portals was an enjoyable read. I enjoyed the plot, though it was complex at times and the characters were really well written. I liked the adventure and the action! The writing was easy to read and the pace was even throughout the book.
Recommend it?
Yes.
*I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
This book was really fun to read, though it had its ups and downs but I loved the overall journey and I'm glad I got to read this book.
Martin has just shifted to his ancestral home with his mother where he meets a strange creature who calls himself the Keeper of Portals. He has the ability to open all the doors in the universe, except the one in Martin's room. When that door finally opens and Martin steps in, his whole world turns upside down. Will Martin be able to return to his home ever again or will he get stuck in the past forever?
The plot was really interesting but a little confusing at times. I liked how the author didn't waste much time and plunged directly into the action. This book narrates the story of Martin, a 15-year-old boy who has just moved into the massive new house which belonged to his ancestors. As he begins exploring the house he discovers a strange voice who reveals himself to be the Keeper of Portals. I liked the concept of the Keepers. There were so many Keepers for every little thing.
I enjoyed Martin's adventure. I felt like I was there with him. He was such a caring and sweet character. Isabel on the other hand, I was not much of a fan of her when the story started but she slowly warmed into my heart. I hated The Keeper of Questions who was Isabel's master as well, he was really twisted. The world-building was the one fact that disappointing me a little, I wished it was more concise and clear because it was really getting confusing to understand what was going one when Martin and Isabel were jumping from one portal to another.
Martin and Isabel formed a great team. I enjoyed how they tacked everything together. There was barely any romance in this book but I didn't mind the attraction that shimmered between the two characters. The ending was bittersweet and I really wished it was different but that made this story more realistic and rooted to the ground.
Overall, The Keeper of Portals was an enjoyable read. I enjoyed the plot, though it was complex at times and the characters were really well written. I liked the adventure and the action! The writing was easy to read and the pace was even throughout the book.
Recommend it?
Yes.
January 30, 2017
If you like stories that are action driven, throwing you right into the plot from the very first moment and doesn’t waste much time getting to know characters or even what’s going on sometimes, then this book is for you. There’s lots of jumping through doors to other places, plenty of playing with time and rarely a page when something interesting isn’t either happening or about to.
Personally, that’s not my favourite kind of story. I like to get to know the characters involved so that I can care what happens to them. I also like to understand what’s going on at any given moment, feeling the emotion by being shown what’s going on rather than just being told. This book is very much told to the reader. Martin’s initial meeting with the Keeper of Portals is intriguing and potentially exciting, but it lacked emotion for me and so I didn’t care when just a few pages later the keeper vanished. And I wasn’t at all sure why Martin cared either.
Which is a shame. The action is exciting, but because I didn’t feel connected to either Martin or Isabel, I didn’t particularly care about what happened to any of them. Also there is so much action constantly going on that it might have been nice to have had a breather here and there to get to know the characters a bit and let the action sink in a bit. That might have helped with the romance too, which sadly felt unnecessary and unlikely.
The overall plot, though, is interesting. I loved the ideas of the keepers and the action smoothed out towards the end to set things up for a gripping finale. For most of the book it was almost impossible to predict where things were going to go next, which was a refreshing change for me. Although towards the end I was definitely sensing a certain influence from one of my favourite all-time trilogies, which meant the ending wasn’t a surprise at all.
On the whole this is interesting, but your enjoyment will vary depending on how you like your plots to be driven – by action or by characters. If it’s action you’re after, then this will deliver it in spades.
(ARC provided by the author.)
Personally, that’s not my favourite kind of story. I like to get to know the characters involved so that I can care what happens to them. I also like to understand what’s going on at any given moment, feeling the emotion by being shown what’s going on rather than just being told. This book is very much told to the reader. Martin’s initial meeting with the Keeper of Portals is intriguing and potentially exciting, but it lacked emotion for me and so I didn’t care when just a few pages later the keeper vanished. And I wasn’t at all sure why Martin cared either.
Which is a shame. The action is exciting, but because I didn’t feel connected to either Martin or Isabel, I didn’t particularly care about what happened to any of them. Also there is so much action constantly going on that it might have been nice to have had a breather here and there to get to know the characters a bit and let the action sink in a bit. That might have helped with the romance too, which sadly felt unnecessary and unlikely.
The overall plot, though, is interesting. I loved the ideas of the keepers and the action smoothed out towards the end to set things up for a gripping finale. For most of the book it was almost impossible to predict where things were going to go next, which was a refreshing change for me. Although towards the end I was definitely sensing a certain influence from one of my favourite all-time trilogies, which meant the ending wasn’t a surprise at all.
On the whole this is interesting, but your enjoyment will vary depending on how you like your plots to be driven – by action or by characters. If it’s action you’re after, then this will deliver it in spades.
(ARC provided by the author.)
February 7, 2017
I got this as an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The first thing I want to say, and the one comment I couldn't get out of my head, is that this is put as YA, but it reads like a Middle Grade . From the first page it felt like this, and I even questioned the choice to put it as a YA. However, after finishing it I can see why, there are some things that might not suit a Middle Grade novel.
The story follows Martin, a normal 15 year old, who just have been forced to move with his mum to a an old family house. There he meets a creature - The Keeper of Portals - and finds a door that hasn't been opened in 400 years. But one night he wakes up to find the door ajar. And from there the story starts...
The story changed a lot and I was never sure in which direction it was going. It felt like it got close to the ending so many times, and then something changed and the story continued. I am not sure what I think of this style, it felt a bit confusing, but at the same time it is wonderful, you have no idea where you're about to go.
I really like the concept of Keepers, but it got a bit confusing and it felt like the author hadn't it all figured out himself. I would have liked to get a bigger understanding about the keepers and especially how the Keeper of Portal's power worked. Talking about Portal's powers, during action scenes it could be difficult to follow or the portal jumping.
Loved time travel. Time travel might be dangerous to write about, but Nelson really got it to work. And the way he solved the problem time travel poses - e.g. paradoxes (example: What if I kill my father?) - was perfect.
I liked this book, but I'd have liked to get more information about the Keepers. The ending however, it was so beautiful. So if you want a quick time travel read with some fantasy this is perfect for you.
The first thing I want to say, and the one comment I couldn't get out of my head, is that this is put as YA, but it reads like a Middle Grade . From the first page it felt like this, and I even questioned the choice to put it as a YA. However, after finishing it I can see why, there are some things that might not suit a Middle Grade novel.
The story follows Martin, a normal 15 year old, who just have been forced to move with his mum to a an old family house. There he meets a creature - The Keeper of Portals - and finds a door that hasn't been opened in 400 years. But one night he wakes up to find the door ajar. And from there the story starts...
The story changed a lot and I was never sure in which direction it was going. It felt like it got close to the ending so many times, and then something changed and the story continued. I am not sure what I think of this style, it felt a bit confusing, but at the same time it is wonderful, you have no idea where you're about to go.
I really like the concept of Keepers, but it got a bit confusing and it felt like the author hadn't it all figured out himself. I would have liked to get a bigger understanding about the keepers and especially how the Keeper of Portal's power worked. Talking about Portal's powers, during action scenes it could be difficult to follow or the portal jumping.
Loved time travel. Time travel might be dangerous to write about, but Nelson really got it to work. And the way he solved the problem time travel poses - e.g. paradoxes (example: What if I kill my father?) - was perfect.
I liked this book, but I'd have liked to get more information about the Keepers. The ending however, it was so beautiful. So if you want a quick time travel read with some fantasy this is perfect for you.
February 14, 2017
Gotta have this book... seems pretty great!
Read
January 12, 2017I... I have failed. I tried so very hard to finish this book, but in the end I just couldn't.
At first it was interesting and I reached around 100 pages fairly quickly. I liked the idea of any door leading through to any other door, and I also enjoyed the humour. But beyond that, particularly when all the action began, I found my interest waning. Ultimately, it came down to the setting. The story is set in a big, old, rambling, crumbling mansion, which in itself has lots of potential, but causes much confusion when characters are constantly time-travelling by passing through countless doors, running from one nondescript room to another and being chased up and down corridor after corridor. It was really difficult to picture.
Another problem was that I didn't really like any of the characters. They weren't bad, but they weren't exactly interesting either.
So unfortunately this book wasn't for me.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an electronic copy in return for an honest review.
At first it was interesting and I reached around 100 pages fairly quickly. I liked the idea of any door leading through to any other door, and I also enjoyed the humour. But beyond that, particularly when all the action began, I found my interest waning. Ultimately, it came down to the setting. The story is set in a big, old, rambling, crumbling mansion, which in itself has lots of potential, but causes much confusion when characters are constantly time-travelling by passing through countless doors, running from one nondescript room to another and being chased up and down corridor after corridor. It was really difficult to picture.
Another problem was that I didn't really like any of the characters. They weren't bad, but they weren't exactly interesting either.
So unfortunately this book wasn't for me.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an electronic copy in return for an honest review.
February 3, 2017
This novel started off a bit like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe but ended up being a story much more about love, loss, and much more in the tradition of Roald Dahl than C.S. Lewis.
There is beauty in this book, as well as a childlike wonder at the organization of the world. No spoilers, but repeatedly this book holds up loyalty as a standard, loyalty and faith in each other.
This book is a treasure for people of all ages. The story was moving and bounced back and forth between different times without making them as simple as background imagery. The children in the story were interesting, and the attraction and interest in each other seemed appropriate for the most part.
This book was provided to me via NetGalley, which has not influenced my review in any way. After all, free is the same price as the library!
There is beauty in this book, as well as a childlike wonder at the organization of the world. No spoilers, but repeatedly this book holds up loyalty as a standard, loyalty and faith in each other.
This book is a treasure for people of all ages. The story was moving and bounced back and forth between different times without making them as simple as background imagery. The children in the story were interesting, and the attraction and interest in each other seemed appropriate for the most part.
This book was provided to me via NetGalley, which has not influenced my review in any way. After all, free is the same price as the library!
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