The Labyrinth Gate

by Kate Elliott

Transported to a magic-filled alternate world, a newlywed couple must find the treasure hidden in a labyrinth city if they ever wish to return home
With marriage comes change, and for Sanjay and Chryse, that change is literally world altering. After their wedding reception, they accidentally drop a gift--a pack of special tarot cards--onto an elevator floor. The cards scatter, the lights go out, and all at once, they find themselves transported to Anglia. It's a strange parallel world not unlike Victorian England, but matriarchal in nature and shaped by powerful sorcery.
While fleeing a riot in the streets, the pair is rescued by aristocrats Julian and Kate, the first of many new friends and adventures. To get home, they must find a treasure in the labyrinth city of Pariam--a quest that becomes ever more daunting as it attracts the attention of the evil Princess Blessa. Wonderfully conceived and full of memorable characters, The Labyrinth Gate is vibrant fantasy on every level.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Romance, Tarot, Magic, Adventure

345 pages, ebook

First published December 1, 1988

About the author

As a child in rural Oregon, Kate Elliott made up stories because she longed to escape to a world of lurid adventure fiction. She now writes fantasy, steampunk, and science fiction, often with a romantic edge. She currently lives in Hawaii, where she paddles outrigger canoes and spoils her schnauzer.

Reviews

[Krista D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Underappreciated portal book.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kat's Book Report - Contains Spoilers - For my own failing memory...

It's funny, sometimes, how you fall into a book. Recently, I was reading Appropriately Aggressive: Essays About Books, Corgis, and Feminism by Krista D. Ball (although not the subject of this review, I recommend this book as Krista's brand of sarcastic wit provides a highly entertaining delivery mechanism for serious essays about women in literature and the craft of writing). In an essay about how to support women in literature, the following passage caught my attention: "Pick up an author's debut novel. I can recommend Kate Elliott's as a great standaone alt-Victorian portal fantasy." What?! Alt-Victorian portal fantasy?? Uh, yes, please! I feverishly texted Krista. "What is the name of this book?" She quickly replied, "The Labyrinth Gate!" and I couldn't be happier to have stumbled in to such a satisfying read.

There are many enjoyable elements of The Labyrinth Gate, but the element that really shines for me is its fast-paced, plot-driven story. To understand why this book's plot is so compelling, let's first take a look at the world in which it's set. As Krista points out, this book is an alt-Victorian portal fantasy, but what exactly does that mean? Our FMC and MMC, Chryse and Sanjay (I actually consider this an ensemble cast, but more on that later), are magically transported from modern-day US to an alternate Victorian-era England, where places and names are somewhat familiar, and yet different, but the patriarchy of the peerage and Christianity are both turned upside down, and a matriarchy governs all aspects of society. Layered on top of this alternate foundation is magic. The world is filled with Tarot-card driven sorcery, goblins, ogres, and elves, and a lost pagan history that speaks of a secret source of even greater magical power. Chyrse and Sanjay are thrust into a quest to find this treasure, motivated as it is said to be the key to finding their way back home, while powerful sorcerers vie for the find, their own agendas far more sinister.

Several aspects of our own Victorian-era England are preserved. Here, the significant class divide between the aristocracy and the commoners is ever present and shapes societal expectations and moraes. In fact, Chryse and Sanjay enter the world amid a riot in a lower-class, poverty-stricken part of town. There are violent uprisings, and the commoners are pushing for a new, more equal way of life. Herein lies one of the main themes of this book - the old ways versus new and the rocky transition that exists between the two. Elliott presents this theme to the reader again by weaving sacred holidays into the ritual that becomes central to uncovering the secrets of the gates. The pseudo-Christian holidays are celebrated as the year moves along, but these holidays are simply replacements for the old pagan celebrations - much like was done in our own world - and these holidays held far more power in the magic that surrounds their original intent. Old versus new and the cycle of time are concepts at the forefront of this book.

The search for the treasure of the labyrinth via a massive archaeological expedition forms the backbone of the plot. Chryse, Sanjay, and their new group of friends (and frienemies!) travel North to the site of the mythical Pariam in the hopes of uncovering the secret buried therein. Throughout the preparation for and during their quest, unexpected events, both magical and mundane, start happening to members of their party, those they left behind, and in the area surrounding the dig that leave the reader speculating about how these clues all fits together. The story is most definitely a mystery, and Elliott plants so many of these questions in preparation for the ending that you cannot help but frantically turn pages to find out how it all comes together. I honestly do not want to provide any more detail about the plot than that, because further discussion will invariably lead to spoilers, and I would be truly remiss as a reviewer if I ruined any of the surprises this book has in store for you!

Another element of this book that I unexpectedly appreciated was the vagaries surrounding the prophecy and ritual central to the plot. Generally, I'm the type of reader that wants everything explained. I am an engineer after all - there must be a succinct explanation for everything! But the softness and purposeful haze surrounding magic, the fact that the prophecy and ritual are veiled in mystery and ambiguity, actual serves the tone of this book perfectly and surprised me in how satisfying it was. In fact, it struck such a chord with me that I was reminded of Guy Gavriel Kay's 2021 J.R.R Tolkien Lection on Fantasy Literature (if you haven't seen it, please do yourself a favor and listen to his insightful talk) in which he makes a case for leaving some questions unanswered in your story, especially in regards to magic. In other words, leave some magic in magic. To me, what Elliott accomplishes in this book is a perfect example of what Kay was referring to in his lecture. The prophecy and the ritual felt inherently magical to me - other-worldly - and that made for a far more rewarding experience than I would have expected.

I said that this book is plot-driven, and I believe that to be a true statement, but that doesn't mean this book lacks in characterization. The characters are developed and presented (just like the world-building) in what is just enough detail to support and enhance the plot such that the plot remains the focal point. The ensemble cast forms right from the beginning; as soon as Chryse and Sanjay are transported to Anglia, they are rescued from a riot by Julian and Kate. From that moment forward, the cast grows to include characters that range from Julian's opinionated, but wise, old Aunt Laetitia to the mysteriously evil Earl of Elen who finances their trip North and for unknown reasons wishes to marry the archaeology professor's daughter. This unlikely crew have such varied personalities, backgrounds, and motivations, and yet they are all pointed toward the same purpose: to uncover the treasure at Pariam.

One of the things that really stood out to me about this book was the casual and natural way interpersonal relationships are depicted and how simple, but meaningful interactions are sprinkled thorughout the story alongside the plot. There is a familiarity that develops among the characters, and the author interleaves talk of friendship, sex, love, and marriage nonchalantly which lends an authenticity to the various relationships that I found delightful, especially within a high-stakes fantasy setting. The relationship-building, which took unexpected and starkly different paths depending on the couple, was remarkable in and of itself, but even more impressive when considering how each couples' path added a richness to the story that would not have otherwise been there. The ultimate outcomes of these pairings varied significantly, and I found that to be a unique and adeptly contrived aspect of this book.

I'm legitimately baffled as to why this book isn't more widely known and read. It is a fantastic example of standalone, high fantasy that had me reading well into the night. If you are a fan of plot-heavy mystery, alternate historical world-building with a healthy serving of magic, and casual relationship-building between delightful and varied characters from an ensemble cast, The Labyrinth Gate might just be the book for you!

[gwayle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh, gosh. I said I would read all of Kate Elliott's books, and I intend to make good on that. This just goes to show you that Elliott didn't emerge Athena-like as the kickass craftsman she is now. Let's all raise a loving toast to our roots and to the fruits of experience!

[Rachael Gaffney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years ago. It was left behind at my former in-law's house and I thought it lost for over a decade. I thought about it constantly and could never find a copy. But, I received a surprise when the in-law's moved in with my ex and brought my books with them. I have my book again and I am so happy. I re-read it all the time.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have mad crazy love in my heart for this book.
It's rich in plot, has incredibly likeable characters, and has a great blend of imagery, symbolism and religion thrown in - kind of like if Joseph Campbell wrote fiction.
If you can find it, buy it - you won't be disappointed!

[Christine Ku · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do like the setup where each chapter is named for a tarot card but I only like the story so-so. I guess this is more of a romance-fantasy (portal fantasy with Victorian English vibes) as opposed to fantasy with romantic vibe to me.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mysterious, intriguing, and so good. All the elements of classic Elliot are present. Wonderful story.

[Mervi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is apparently Kate Elliott’s first book.

Sanjay Mukerji and Chryse Lissagaray are newly wed. They’re surprised to find a beautiful deck of tarot cards as one of their wedding gifts. They’re even more surprised when the cards transport them to a fantasy land.

Anglia is troubled. The ruler is Regent, Princess Blessa, the aunt to the 15-year old Heir, Princess Georgianna. Also, many of the rich exploit the poor people ruthlessly and many of the poor people are rising up for their rights, because they’re too desperate to do anything else. They also loath the Regent and many assume that she’s going to do anything she can to stay in power. And they’re right: the Regent is a gifted mage and she uses her own deck of tarot cards, her connections, and her ability to manipulate people to get rid of the Heir in a way that she can’t be implicated.

But Chryse and Sanjay have more immediate problems because they’re trying to find a way back to home. However, while fleeing rioters, they stumble upon Julian and his dear old friend Kate. Both are drunk but agree to help the couple. At the Vole house, Chryse and Sanjay meet Lady Trent who takes an interest in them. Lady Trent is Julian’s grandaunt and she knows many people. She advises the couple to seek an appointment with a famous seer. When they finally meet with the seer, she gives them a task: to find her the treasure from the mythical Labyrinth.

But others are also after the treasure. The Regent is one them and another is the infamous Earl of Elen. He’s arrogant, cold, and has a terrible reputation for abusing everyone he can. Another is Professor Farr. He’s an elderly archaeology professor obsessed with the Labyrinth and it’s history.

This is a mystery fantasy and I quite enjoyed it. It’s not a thriller. It does have a lot of characters. Chryse is the main POV character but there a lot of others, such as the Regent and Maretha who is the only daughter of Professor Farr. Earl of Elen demands that Maretha marries him and she has no choice.

This book has a lot of things I really liked. Of course, Chryse and Sanjay are already an established couple and lovely together. Archaeology is another: most of the book is an excavation trip to the ancient city where the Labyrinth is supposed to be. Tarot cards used as magic is a third.

Also, the book has a wonderful wealth of interesting and different women characters. Kate is a tomboy who dresses in men’s clothing and isn’t afraid to say what she means. She’s an aristocrat but has been disinherited by her parents. Lady Trent is in her eighties and has seen a lot of life. Chryse is a musician and a composer. Maretha is devoted to her father. She’s a very capable archaeologist in her own right but is in her father’s shadow. Maretha’s orphan cousin Charity is living with the Farrs. She’s demure but also vain about her looks and we find quite interesting things about her at the end. And of course the Regent who manipulates everyone around her. Basically, where a more common fantasy book would have male characters, we get woman. Which was great.

On the other hand, the world-building was more common. The world has other creatures than humans, such as ogres and fairies, but we saw them only briefly. Mostly, we got street urchins who don’t look like humans. While most of the magic is done through the cards, there are other magical forces in the world, too. The Earl uses them quite casually. In place of great men, we again got women. For example, Shakespeare and Mozart where both women in this world and so were most of the rulers of Anglia. Also, I couldn't puzzle the religion together: people talked of the Bible but seemed to revere Queen of Heaven who has both a Son and a Daughter. The Daughter is the Queen of the Underworld who is also called the Sinner. Fascinating but not enough details.

[SBC · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was the first Kate Elliott book I've read, although I have a few of hers on my to-read list, and I believe it was also her first published novel (published under the pseudonym Alis A. Rasmussen). I enjoyed the book but I did read it with many interruptions over the Christmas period so my opinion of it may have been altered by only getting to read a few paragraphs here and there at times! I did want to keep getting back to it so it did have a good impetus that kept me reading on.

The story was about a newly-wed couple who, departing their wedding for their honeymoon, are swept into another world instead. This other world is in many ways a parallel Britain - they speak English and have similar historical events and historical figures (although most of the historical figures are female rather than male - e.g. Anne Shakespeare, Queen Carolina instead of King Charles). There was some attempt at suggesting a more matriarchal society but ultimately I felt this didn't work as there was plenty of evidence of patriarchy. The world also has magical beings - goblins, ogres, dragons, elves, and mages who perform magic through sets of tarot cards and something complicated known as 'Gates'.

There was a lot going on in this book and the reason I have ultimately given it 3.5 stars rather than 4 is because although there were many interesting characters and events, we never really got beyond the surface of any of these. We had occasional focalisation through certain characters but mostly we can only guess what most of the characters are thinking and feeling. The descriptions are often cryptic and I felt there were several loose ends at the end of the novel which made me wonder if a sequel was originally planned. The events were rapid and fast-paced but with massive gaps in time between chapters, which added to the distancing from the characters' experiences. Spoilers follow.


Several things I would have liked to know by the end of the novel include:
Who was Madame Sosostris (beneath her veil) and did her daughters' conversation suggest that Sanjay was their father?
Why did the water elemental who rescued Chryse from the waterfall call her 'Mother'?
Who gave them the cards as a wedding gift (to bring them to the fantasy world)?
Who left the missing card at the Labyrinth (allowing them to return home)?


The cards and the Gates were complicated and I never really got my head around those, although the rest of the world-building was easy enough to follow. It was worth reading and I enjoyed the 80s fantasy feel.

[Ashley Lambert-Maberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This, in the abstract, has all the hallmarks of something I'd like--except I didn't, and I tried. When multiple things irk me that early on, it doesn't bode well:

1. The couple magically transported into an alternate world are wearing approximately appropriate clothing because they decided to have a fun dress-up wedding instead of what people would normally wear (which I could forgive if, say, a magic corset then transported them, but no).
2. They are as unfazed as possible to be magically transported to an alternate world, accepting it with the equanimity of a 4-year old child in a book aimed at 4-year old children.
3. They manage to be interested in and understand the complex social and political relationships between the world's key players, overnight, when someone who lives there claims it took her years to master it.
4. On and on with lists of cards, descriptions of cards, what's usually on cards, what's on these cards instead, blah blah blah blah blah.

So I went back to goodreads to see if reviews converge on "after a weak beginning, it gets amazing," but no, the closest I can see to agreeance is that the couple is lame, but not important to the plot. Well, sorry, but if they're not important to the plot, and the writer spends that much time getting them there, and getting them up to speed, and alienating me in the process, then she's not making choices that endear me to her. So, it stops here. Because--I just can't. So on to something else.

(Note: 5 stars = rare and amazing, 4 = quite good book, 3 = a decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. There are a lot of 4s and 3s in the world!)

[Stefanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this is the first Kate Elliot book I've read and it was...okay. I can give it some leeway because it was her first novel. It has a major telling vs. showing problem. There were lots of conversations where the characters would talk about something that happened and I couldn't help but feel that the story would have been better served if that scene were actually in the book.

Also, the two "main" characters fell pretty flat for me. I will say that I found the cast of characters enjoyable and likeable overall, but the majority of the character archs were plot driven, not character driven. It's no wonder that the two characters that had the best character driven archs (enemies to lovers) were my favorite.

The world building was really fun and the action scenes were great.

In all, a fun story even if it has problems. I'll definitely be reading more by Kate.

[Kiwi Carlisle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am of two minds about this book. On the one hand, it’s an entertaining fantasy wit several fascinating love stories at the core. On the other hand, it’s filled with punny callouts to our world, eg, a character named Madam Sosostris, as in T S Elliot’s The Wasteland. I found them distracting. Although the concept of the deck of gates was interesting, I couldn’t help comparing them to the Sibylline Oracle used to such brilliant effect in Sarah Monette’s Doctrine of Labyrinths series. So, just a three for a book that could have been a five.

[Eve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Portal fantasy with adult newlyweds, aka the main characters are an already established couple from the start. Good. To return home, they must find an object also sought by the regent who plans on usurping the throne. The final battle is too short but that's just because I read too many shounen series (it's my problem, definitely not the book's). Overall a happy-making book. It was published in 1988 and the author, now writing under the name of Kate Elliott, has a distinctly different style.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's got some good features, especially Maretha, the earl, and Lady Trent. It's got some terrible features, especially anything involving the mustache-twirling villain who announces all plots and schemes out loud as if the reader would otherwise be too stupid to follow. Then it's got some meh features, like Sanjay and Chryse who are goofily competent at whatever is happening to them.

I mostly enjoyed it, though I rolled my eyes each time the Regent was on the scene.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a bit of a sucker for book settings that feature a tarot like deck or magic system involving cards. Which was the main reason I decided to try this book. (it didn't hurt that the price was set quite low as well)

Happily I also got a book with interesting characters and a plot that was not hard to follow but also not too predictable. So money and time well spent. This seems to be a singular self contained tale so not likely to have a sequel.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A good adventure novel about a newly wed couple from our world who are magically transported to another dimension, kind of like a grown up version of 'The Lion, the witch, and the wardrobe'. I believe this was Kate Elliott's first novel, while entertaining and well written it does lack the depth of her later creations.

[Cathie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. There wasn’t a lot of character development, and the plot seemed to jump from on point to another without any flow. The ideas and world were interesting but those aspects weren’t really explored.

[Tascha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable novel that also beautifully cuts to the core of what really matters - love, courage, kindness, faith, forgiveness, equality....

[3sm3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

surprised at how much i enjoyed it

[MK · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my favourite earlier books. Coherent, fun read.

[Tara Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my top favorite books ever.

[Dulcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An old fave.

[Adobe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Newlyweds Chryse and Sanjay are transported, via a mysterious deck of tarot cards, to an alternate 19th-century England filled with magic and machinations. Trying to find their way home, Chryse and Sanjay become attached to an archaeological dig and royal intrigue.

This was cute. It doesn't break new ground on the "Victorians with magic wands" genre (which is an oddly old and venerable one), but it deals out the traditional elements (top hats, classical artifacts, and demons) with generosity. I had mixed feelings about the presence of space-time-travelers Chryse and Sanjay, who are not the focus of The Labyrinth Gate and don't really do anything during the course of the novel, but on the final assessment, I suppose they're an easy entry point for the reader. All the weird and unsettling elements of this new world must be explained to Chryse, Sanjay, and (by extension) the reader, who then comprehends the situation.

The novel suffers from a surfeit of characters who fail to justify their existence, but it does boast one tremendous figure: the Earl of Elen, an (allegedly) demonic lord funding the archaeological dig for his own dark and devious designs. The Earl's plans are both bleaker and better than anyone suspects; his maturation during the novel is the best part of The Labyrinth Gate.

[Matko · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whatever you might be doing in life, there was a time you were new at it. Maybe you were savant but it is more probable that you weren’t. You probably faced that before, but without a doubt, whatever you were doing, you sucked. Looking back to that time, you can probably pinpoint where and when you sucked the most, but apart from moments of silly recollection, you never think about those times. You moved on and have become proficient in whatever you do. Now you suck on a whole another level, and you’ll notice that in a few years. That’s yet to come so no sense worrying about it now.

There was a time Kate Elliot sucked. She was called Alis A. Rasmussen back then, and the best thing she managed to do in that period was putting that dot in the end of the final sentence. “The Labyrinth Gate” was her first novel (no short stories were published prior to this) and the fact that you can get first edition for a dollar or two speaks enough for itself. It wasn’t that “The Labyrinth Gate” was so terrible (we all can recall some of the cringier moments of nineties fantasy…I’m looking at you Modesitt, Jr.), it was just overall lack of focus, execution, and total absence of character(s) you could fall in love with, that did her in.

“The Labyrinth Gate” is a mixture of alternative history (more of a parallel universe story, really), low fantasy, Victorian period piece and magical info-dump about magic system resembling tarot which comes of rather disappointing in the end. Other reviewers already commented on a rather nonchalant way in which modern characters are introduced to this fantastic world full of strange creatures and sorcery having free rain. Happy-go-lucky Sanjay and his equally unconcerned wife Chryse spend quite a lot of time prancing about, connecting dots, enabling other people to do what “needs to be done” and having quite a lot of merriment in the process. Amongst all other things here, that ‘all is jolly good’ sentiment is the most fantastical thing present. You can see it happening, can’t you? Going into the elevator one fine, ordinary day, getting magically transported into a different time and different dimension, take a look around and say: “What’s all this, then.”

One has to take a step back, though, and think about all the junk that’s getting published under fantasy keyword these days. While married to tropes and staples, “The Labyrinth Gate” does it’s best to avoid traps and pitfalls of cliched fantasy novels. Never you mind that it’s best isn’t very good. There are moments you could even call refreshing. And while it doesn’t do much in “grand scheme of things”, while it doesn’t change genre landscape in any meaningful way, “The Labyrinth Gate” still offers a fine, entertaining read. It does try to go outside of usual boundaries, it doesn’t really try to please the public (and you can applaud it just for that), and it does fold upon itself. But that’s usually a thing with first novels, and Rasmussen’s wasn’t an exception. What can you do.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, this book was all over the place for me, particularly with characterization. Chryse, in particular. She's kind of a nothing person for most of the book,then she gets really catty out of nowhere to someone she has no reason to dislike. Then she becomes nothing again. What's with that? But I can definitely see the seeds of Elliott's Crown of Stars series in here, which is much better.

[Li · Rating 2 out of 5]

A standalone fantasy - decent read, though felt a bit dated. There was a bit too much mystical stuff happening for me (and yes, I realise it’s a fantasy…). I found the protagonists engaging, and can definitely see the seeds of her more recent books in this one.

[Lisa]

Labyrinth Gate by Alis A. Rasmussen (1988)

[Jennifer Bowie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This seems to be the Labyrinth Gate by Kate Elliot. Perhaps a pseudonym?

[Jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF