Der Reizen

by E. Lynn Cormick

A hidden portal. A dangerous legacy. And a heroine who refuses to back
down.
Herta Tanner inherits an old cottage in rural Bavaria and an unusual job.
After surviving a nasty divorce from an emotionally abusive husband, Herta is simply
looking to start over, rebuild her life, and make a few friends. But she quickly realizes
her new home comes with a massive catch: she has just inherited the mantle of Der
Reizen, the ancient gatekeeper to a secret, declining parallel world inhabited by the
Tiel—humans adapted to a completely different light spectrum.
The locals are tight lipped, fearful, and anything but welcoming. To make matters
more complicated, a devastatingly handsome stranger named Turan arrives, showing
a suspicious amount of interest in the new gatekeeper.
As Herta is thrust into a complex web of cross world politics, local murder
investigations, and hidden history stretching back to World War II escape tunnels, she
faces a deadly threat. Someone wants her dead. With killers on her tail, Herta must
rely on her fierce stubbornness, practical survival skills, and a healthy dose of
skepticism just to stay alive.
What does Turan really want with Der Reizen? And who is trying to clear her out of
the picture for good?
Why Readers Are Falling in Love with Der Reizen
A Refreshingly Practical Heroine: Herta is a mature, down to earth protagonist who
faces crises with everyday tools, stubborn determination, and sharp wit.
Rich, Multi Layered World Building: A seamless blend of real world European
history, unique world science, and high stakes portal adventure.
Relentless Suspense: Equal parts adventure and a thrilling whodunnit mystery that
keeps you guessing until the final page.
Praise for the Book
"A normal person suddenly finding themselves in a situation that is a little bit more
unexpected... Herta finds herself some Adventure!" Gold Star Review by Amazon
Reviewer
"A classic fantasy with portals between this world and another... Herta is a fantastic
heroine who literally laughs in the face of danger." Gold Star Review by Goodreads
Reviewer
Perfect for fans of classic portal fiction, slow burn mystery, and fiercely independent
underdogs. Dive into the adventure and click Buy Now to start the five book series
today!

276 pages, ebook

First published January 14, 2018

Reviews

[Linda Strong]

3.5 Stars

Many thanks to the author and Book Lovers's Book Reviews for the digital copy of DER REIZEN. Opinions expressed here are unbiased ad entirely my own.

Der Reizen is a German word translated to mean TO IRRITATE / TO ANNOY

Herta is a young woman who has inherited a cottage in Bavaria, Germany. Along with the house comes the responsibility of being a pimp for vampires. She's not too certain exactly what's expected of her, but she's just gone through a nasty divorce and nothing could be worse than that.

She somehow gets involved as a murder suspect and must also select her soul mate. He will rule an alternate universe. Once her decision is made, she is to be treated like royalty for 25 years. But there are those who want her and her soul mate dead.

She deals with things as best she can ... until she loses her temper. Then it becomes no holds barred.

First of all, this is not a genre I read as a rule. I don't particularly care for vampires, witches, shapeshifters, etc. It's way out of my range of imagination. HOWEVER, this is well-written, easy to read for a novice in the alternate universe. Anyone who likes the paranormal will enjoy this one.

[Derby]

What starts as a simple inheritance story turns into a dark, twisting family saga full of secrets, superstition, and unexpected romance. I read this in two sittings. It’s creepy, smart, and surprisingly emotional, a perfect blend of gothic and human drama.

[Sandra Web]

I was hooked by the humor and the fast-paced plot of this novel. Herta's internal monologue and her sharp-witted comebacks are the absolute highlight of the book. She finds herself in some incredibly uncomfortable and dangerous situations, yet her coping mechanisms (and her sheer Canadian practicality) are brilliant. The romantic tension with Turan adds a great layer to the story without overshadowing the main mystery of who is trying to kill her. It’s an original, fun, and gripping start to a 5-book series.

[Courtney Lee]

I have been trying to finish this book since August 2018. It is now February 2019 as I finally review it. My reason for taking so long? The main characters made my blood boil. I have never read a book where I can't stand more than one character's personality. This caused me to start and stop a lot. Herta and Turan misunderstand each other constantly. I just want to crack their heads together at some points. I do admire her quick wit and how independent she is though. And the ending was pretty good. I give this book 5 stars because the author drew emotions out of me like no other book has.

[Dave Appleby]

I'm not sure you can cram much more into a novel. In the real world there is a whodunnit element mingled with escape tunnels for Jews hiding from the Nazis. And then there is the parallel world of the Tiel, a declining world of elf-like creatures with High Councils and swords who speak in a "strange combination of German, Latin and Celtic".

After inheriting a house in rural Bavaria, Herta, a down-to-earth Canadian, discovers she has also inherited the position of Der Reizen, a sort of gatekeeper between this world and the world of the Tiel. The locals seem to fear her or hate her and a very good-looking lad wants her as his soul-mate. She is chased by killers and becomes a suspect in a suspicious killing. Then, with the help of the local priest and the policewoman sent to investigate her, she discovers what it's all about.

Herta is a fantastic heroine who literally laughs in the face of danger. Her life in Canada has given her many skills (for example, a self-hypnosis tape has given her the ability to block out mind control, she carries WD-40 in her 'survival kit' (!), ) but her most endearing quality is her stubbornness and her ability to get angry very quickly.

There is a lot of everyday practicality about the book. After inheriting the house, Herta starts cleaning and arranging for a bank account and electricity and internet. These mundane things add verisimilitude and enable us to suspend disbelief when weird things begin to happen.

There is so much going on in this book that I have to admit to getting a little confused from time to time. But the action is unrelenting and what might otherwise be a kaleidoscopic plot is unified and carried by the wonderful heroine.

Some great moments:

"It was either seem rude and ignore him or be rude and belt him." (Ch 1)
"This man was chocolate on two legs," (Ch 4)
“My thoughts were elsewhere.” He smiled. “But now that I’ve seen you, they will, I think, remain here. One so lovely should not be left alone.” (Ch 4)
"I find I must live in the filthiest hut in Christendom, I’m treated like something that crawled out of the sewers and to top matters off, I’m expected to be a pimp for vampires.” (Ch 6)
"She struggled out of the bed, relieved and oddly dismayed to see she was still dressed." (Ch 9)
“Old hatreds don’t die. People do.” (Ch 10)
"Had she chosen correctly? Or had her big mouth just gotten both of them killed?" (Ch 22)
"Herta’s questions had questions but she asked only one." (Ch 23)
"This is supposed to be where the bad guy shows up and tells me his life story, right?" (Ch 28)
"This must be what it’s like to run into a beehive, she thought. Death by a thousand stings. She’d never been stung before, so she wasn’t sure." (Ch 28)
"The flapping fabric of her jeans rubbed against the bandages and the wounds beneath. As she carefully put one foot in front of the other, she deliberately focused on all the things that had happened. It helped to keep her anger alive and her thoughts away from self-pity and pain." (Ch 30)
A classic fantasy with portals between this world and another. June 2021

[Jasmine Mas]

I absolutely loved Der Reizen! Herta Tanner is exactly the kind of heroine the genre needs: down-to-earth, wonderfully stubborn, and incredibly practical. Watching a normal Canadian woman navigate a sudden inheritance in Bavaria while carrying a survival kit complete with WD-40 was both hilarious and empowering. The way she balances the mundane tasks of setting up electricity with discovering her role as a magical gatekeeper makes the story feel surprisingly real. E. Lynn Cormick has written a fast-paced, highly entertaining portal fantasy that I couldn't put down. Highly recommended!

[Julia Sanchez]

This book packs an incredible amount of story into its pages without ever slowing down. You get a parallel world filled with the elf-like Tiel, an ancient gatekeeper lore, local Bavarian mystery, and even historical elements involving hidden tunnels from WWII. Herta is a phenomenal main character who literally laughs in the face of danger and refuses to back down, even when the locals and strange High Councils are actively working against her. The action is relentless, the dialogue is witty, and the world-building is deeply intriguing. A solid 5 stars!

[Miranda Blake]

What makes Der Reizen so special is the brilliant contrast between the ordinary and the extraordinary. Herta is dealing with a fresh divorce and trying to start over by cleaning up an old inherited cottage, but she instantly gets sucked into a dangerous role as a bridge between our world and another. The author does a fantastic job making the mundane elements, like sorting out a bank account, feel essential, which makes the transition into swords, vampires, and parallel worlds completely seamless. Herta’s sharp tongue and quick anger keep the book moving at a delightful pace.

[Sharonw Watson]

If you love portal fantasy with a strong sense of place and a mature, capable protagonist, you need to read Der Reizen. Moving from Canada to rural Bavaria is adventure enough, but discovering a secret gateway to a declining world of magical creatures takes it to the next level. Herta is a refreshing heroine who relies on her own life skills and stubborn determination rather than instant magical superpowers. It’s the kind of book that keeps you turning the pages late into the night just to see how she’s going to talk her way out of the next trap.

[Margie D.]

A gripping mix of fantasy, mystery, and suspense. Herta felt like such a real and relatable character, and I loved watching her navigate this strange new world while trying to rebuild her life. The hidden portal, dark secrets, and growing tension kept me hooked from start to finish. Definitely an engaging and memorable read.

[Mandi Reader]

E. Lynn Cormick’s writing is elegant and detailed, you feel every creaking floorboard and cold draft of that ancient house. The story unfolds like an old legend rediscovered. It’s part mystery, part supernatural thriller, and completely immersive.

[Madisons]

I adored how the author wove a modern heroine into an old gothic setting. Herta’s sarcastic humor and resilience make her incredibly relatable. The German countryside setting, the suspicious villagers, and the whispers of vampirism gave me major Rebecca and Crimson Peak vibes.

[Adrlán Diáz]

I loved the concept of the Tiel and the light spectrum adaptation. It’s rare to find a portal fantasy that feels this grounded in science and history. Herta is a fantastic protagonist, her journey from a survivor of a bad marriage to a powerful gatekeeper was so empowering to read.

[E. Cormick]

I've read the book over and over again during editing and still find it interesting. My beta readers have had to read the book twice, at the very least - once for getting sucked into the story and again to edit it.