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The Purple Door District #1
The Purple Door District
Bianca was supposed to attend art school in Chicago, not run for her life from Hunters. The only chance she has to survive is to find The Purple Door District, a safe haven for a parahuman like herself. When she stumbles upon a magus named Gladus and a fellow avian named Carlos, she thinks she's found safety. But the Hunters are relentless, as is the dark force driving them. Vampire, werewolf, avian, magus It's up to the parahumans of the Purple Door District of Chicago to put their differences aside to save Bianca and stop a dark threat from destroying their peaceful community.
- GenresFantasyParanormal
210 pages, Paperback
First published December 15, 2018
12 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Erin Casey
12 books120 followersErin Casey graduated from Cornell College in 2009 with degrees in English and Secondary Education.
She attended the Denver Publishing Institute in 2009 and has been a recruiter ever since. She is the Communications and Student Relationships Manager at The Iowa Writers’ House and one of two Directors of The Writers’ Rooms, a non-profit corporation that focuses on creating a free, safe environment for writers no matter their experience, gender, background, and income. Just like in her book, community is very important to her.
An advocate for mental health, Erin’s written and published several articles on the Mighty, specifically about anxiety and depression.
She’s also a devoted bird mom.
When not volunteering and working, she’s writing LGBT/urban/medieval YA fantasy and sharing her literary journey on Instagram and Twitter. One of these days, she might actually get some sleep.
Learn more about The Writers’ Rooms: www.thewritersrooms.org
Learn more about The Iowa Writers’ House: www.iowawritershouse.com
She attended the Denver Publishing Institute in 2009 and has been a recruiter ever since. She is the Communications and Student Relationships Manager at The Iowa Writers’ House and one of two Directors of The Writers’ Rooms, a non-profit corporation that focuses on creating a free, safe environment for writers no matter their experience, gender, background, and income. Just like in her book, community is very important to her.
An advocate for mental health, Erin’s written and published several articles on the Mighty, specifically about anxiety and depression.
She’s also a devoted bird mom.
When not volunteering and working, she’s writing LGBT/urban/medieval YA fantasy and sharing her literary journey on Instagram and Twitter. One of these days, she might actually get some sleep.
Learn more about The Writers’ Rooms: www.thewritersrooms.org
Learn more about The Iowa Writers’ House: www.iowawritershouse.com
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 31, 2019
The Purple Door District is an interesting book. Set in Chicago, it features a young were-bird looking for the Purple Door District, a sanctuary within the city where non-humans (called “parahumans” in the book) can hide away from normal humans. These two elements already set this book apart.
In addition to tweaking traditional creatures like werewolves and vampires and featuring mages, the author is commendable for creating her own were-beast, which is to my knowledge sadly uncommon. It’s all too common for writers to just rely only on pre-established tropes and creatures without tweaking them sufficiently or creating anything of their own. While it may seem minor, I find this small bit of originality refreshing, especially in modern fantasy.
The Purple Door District also feels like its own community that could plausibly exist. The idea that a “special world” could exist alongside the world of everyday is interesting, especially considering the potential stories that could be told and other kinds of races that could potentially exist. Instead of just creating a few isolated locations and just leaving it at that, though, the Casey also included laws, law enforcers (which interestingly aren’t portrayed to be unanimously good or evil), and a hierarchy of authority. This shows that this setting had more thought put into it than simply as a backdrop for events.
The plot is fairly basic, but it’s not about the end of the world, which is nice. Instead, it’s more about family, community, and overcoming prejudice. As such, the cast of characters is fairly small but relatively tight knit. Most of the characters are also well-thought-out. There are few if any one-dimensional characters, and most change throughout the course of the story. One of the women is even portrayed as a bit of a bitch (understandably) for a good portion of the book. So if you expect all women to be perfect, you won’t find that here.
The plot isn’t quick by any means. Instead it’s more of a slow burn where the pace is leisurely except for a few spots of action. Honestly, I don’t think an action-packed series of events would have matched what the author set out to do. In this case, the relatively slow pace complements the story, which isn’t about action but—as stated earlier—primarily about family, community, and those associated relationships. Yes, relationships are the primary focus in this novel.
As for the plot twist given later in the story, while shocking, it’s not exactly out of the blue. The author—consciously or not—included enough details and hints for a keen reader to predict the main character’s unrealized secrets chapters before they come to light.
The villains were a missed opportunity in my opinion. Unfortunately, the villains were all men. In fact, out of the three white men portrayed in the book, only one isn’t depicted as unambiguously bad. There is a female antagonist, but she’s written as more misunderstood or morally misguided and not as truly villainous. I think she would have been a far more interesting character if she whole-heartedly joined the villains and willfully acted against the characters she knew. The big bad also comes out of nowhere and wouldn’t have been less evil if he twirled a mustache. Nowhere previously in the book was he or what he was even referenced. *spoiler* Despite what I said about the book not needing to be action-heavy, I think it would have been phenomenal had the villain actually won and sent the “heroes” regrouping while dealing with the consequences. The fight against him, though, was pretty cool. *end spoiler*
Another oversight on the part of the writer is the exclusion of traditional families. There are functional and even admirable families in the book, but none are traditional. By that I mean that the only families mentioned are those with a traditionally married husband and wife with adopted children. There are no children related by blood to their parents, although the main character belonged to one before the story began.
On a final note, the author, Erin Casey, is an author of LGBT literature. As such, you should expect that in her work. She also has a few characters included for representation. The good news is that the author doesn’t go overboard with those elements like so many modern writers would. Instead, they’re included and treated like normal parts of daily life. They’re downplayed to the point where they’re easily handled, even by those that may be wary of them.
All in all, I’d say this is an enjoyable book. If you have a teen in your life or are a teen struggling with issues of belonging, I’d say this is a good book for you. Even if you aren’t and are just looking for a good YA book to read, I’d recommend this book.
In addition to tweaking traditional creatures like werewolves and vampires and featuring mages, the author is commendable for creating her own were-beast, which is to my knowledge sadly uncommon. It’s all too common for writers to just rely only on pre-established tropes and creatures without tweaking them sufficiently or creating anything of their own. While it may seem minor, I find this small bit of originality refreshing, especially in modern fantasy.
The Purple Door District also feels like its own community that could plausibly exist. The idea that a “special world” could exist alongside the world of everyday is interesting, especially considering the potential stories that could be told and other kinds of races that could potentially exist. Instead of just creating a few isolated locations and just leaving it at that, though, the Casey also included laws, law enforcers (which interestingly aren’t portrayed to be unanimously good or evil), and a hierarchy of authority. This shows that this setting had more thought put into it than simply as a backdrop for events.
The plot is fairly basic, but it’s not about the end of the world, which is nice. Instead, it’s more about family, community, and overcoming prejudice. As such, the cast of characters is fairly small but relatively tight knit. Most of the characters are also well-thought-out. There are few if any one-dimensional characters, and most change throughout the course of the story. One of the women is even portrayed as a bit of a bitch (understandably) for a good portion of the book. So if you expect all women to be perfect, you won’t find that here.
The plot isn’t quick by any means. Instead it’s more of a slow burn where the pace is leisurely except for a few spots of action. Honestly, I don’t think an action-packed series of events would have matched what the author set out to do. In this case, the relatively slow pace complements the story, which isn’t about action but—as stated earlier—primarily about family, community, and those associated relationships. Yes, relationships are the primary focus in this novel.
As for the plot twist given later in the story, while shocking, it’s not exactly out of the blue. The author—consciously or not—included enough details and hints for a keen reader to predict the main character’s unrealized secrets chapters before they come to light.
The villains were a missed opportunity in my opinion. Unfortunately, the villains were all men. In fact, out of the three white men portrayed in the book, only one isn’t depicted as unambiguously bad. There is a female antagonist, but she’s written as more misunderstood or morally misguided and not as truly villainous. I think she would have been a far more interesting character if she whole-heartedly joined the villains and willfully acted against the characters she knew. The big bad also comes out of nowhere and wouldn’t have been less evil if he twirled a mustache. Nowhere previously in the book was he or what he was even referenced. *spoiler* Despite what I said about the book not needing to be action-heavy, I think it would have been phenomenal had the villain actually won and sent the “heroes” regrouping while dealing with the consequences. The fight against him, though, was pretty cool. *end spoiler*
Another oversight on the part of the writer is the exclusion of traditional families. There are functional and even admirable families in the book, but none are traditional. By that I mean that the only families mentioned are those with a traditionally married husband and wife with adopted children. There are no children related by blood to their parents, although the main character belonged to one before the story began.
On a final note, the author, Erin Casey, is an author of LGBT literature. As such, you should expect that in her work. She also has a few characters included for representation. The good news is that the author doesn’t go overboard with those elements like so many modern writers would. Instead, they’re included and treated like normal parts of daily life. They’re downplayed to the point where they’re easily handled, even by those that may be wary of them.
All in all, I’d say this is an enjoyable book. If you have a teen in your life or are a teen struggling with issues of belonging, I’d say this is a good book for you. Even if you aren’t and are just looking for a good YA book to read, I’d recommend this book.
January 5, 2020
I love this book, and I loved that it was the most unique shifter story line that I've read. The characters were diverse in all aspects from age, parahuman species, race, gender, and sexuality. The author writes in a way that doesn't cram her belief's down your throat, but allows you to relate to the characters.
The Purple Door District gives you insight to several of the characters view points, and you either fall in love with them, or can sympathize with their motives. The plot line is well thought out and not predictable at all. Throughout the story you can see the main character Bianca's growth as she copes with everything that has happened to her.
Erin Casey does a great job of writing and it is hard to believe that she is a first time author. She is very talented and I look forward to seeing what comes next from her.
If you like anything in the fantasy, mythical, or paranormal genre I would highly recommend taking the time to check this book out. It was definitely a feel good book with strong characters across the board.
The Purple Door District gives you insight to several of the characters view points, and you either fall in love with them, or can sympathize with their motives. The plot line is well thought out and not predictable at all. Throughout the story you can see the main character Bianca's growth as she copes with everything that has happened to her.
Erin Casey does a great job of writing and it is hard to believe that she is a first time author. She is very talented and I look forward to seeing what comes next from her.
If you like anything in the fantasy, mythical, or paranormal genre I would highly recommend taking the time to check this book out. It was definitely a feel good book with strong characters across the board.
December 15, 2018
In a crowded fantasy market of vampires and werewolves, Casey brings a refreshing perspective in the form of a werebird protagonist, Bianca, who is on the run from paranormal operatives hunting her for her burgeoning, mysterious powers she’s only beginning to realize herself. Yes, vampires and werewolves (and magi and other magical folk) are present in the Purple Door District (PPD) (a code for safehouses for parahumans like Bianca) set in present-day Chicago, but the originality of Casey’s universe resides not only in the relationship between Bianca’s human form and the caracara she can shift into, but in the telepathic communications she has with the other avians and parahumans she (sometimes) co-exists with. It is fascinating to learn of the social rules keeping the uneasy alliance of the PPD in check (e.g., it is rude to telepathically project your bird into the mind of another avian without their permission, but you can do so as a weapon against other parahumans), and the shadowy, vaguely threatening institution of Legion that governs them all.
While the story is told primarily from Bianca’s perspective, it is ultimately a multi-narrative that bounces from the viewpoints of Bianca to Gladus, the Violet Marshall of the PPD and Bianca’s mentor, Carlos, a fellow avian and Bianca’s hopeful adoptive father, Trish, a newly-made vampire with an itch for causing trouble, and Paytah, the Alpha of his wolfpack who senses trouble in Bianca’s introduction to the PPD. While the shift between these narrators is a bit disorientating at first, the novel truly shines in the moments of interaction between these various characters and the factions they represent as they attempt to suss out just how dangerous Bianca’s growing powers are.
Because this is the first book in what I am imagining is a longer series, the story takes some time to establish the parameters of its universe, which still leaves questions for me as I finished it (but I am eager to learn more as the series progresses). For that reason, the pacing is a bit uneven at times with exposition in some places and then a sudden boost of action in others, but I imagine that the series will get its bearings more once the initial foundation of the universe is settled. Some of the writing is also a little too on-the-nose in places and could allow the reader to infer context that is suggested by the writing, but these are some minor critiques in an otherwise overall solid introduction to this urban fantasy series.
One last (but not least, or only) strength to this series is the variety of diverse characters, including Bianca herself, that is a welcome change from the mostly white protagonists and secondary characters of fantasy fiction; those looking for more inclusivity in terms of race, gender, and sexuality will find it in the District.
Overall, I found PPD a great introduction into the series, and I’m eager to read more.
This review is in exchange for an ARC I received. All opinions are my own.
While the story is told primarily from Bianca’s perspective, it is ultimately a multi-narrative that bounces from the viewpoints of Bianca to Gladus, the Violet Marshall of the PPD and Bianca’s mentor, Carlos, a fellow avian and Bianca’s hopeful adoptive father, Trish, a newly-made vampire with an itch for causing trouble, and Paytah, the Alpha of his wolfpack who senses trouble in Bianca’s introduction to the PPD. While the shift between these narrators is a bit disorientating at first, the novel truly shines in the moments of interaction between these various characters and the factions they represent as they attempt to suss out just how dangerous Bianca’s growing powers are.
Because this is the first book in what I am imagining is a longer series, the story takes some time to establish the parameters of its universe, which still leaves questions for me as I finished it (but I am eager to learn more as the series progresses). For that reason, the pacing is a bit uneven at times with exposition in some places and then a sudden boost of action in others, but I imagine that the series will get its bearings more once the initial foundation of the universe is settled. Some of the writing is also a little too on-the-nose in places and could allow the reader to infer context that is suggested by the writing, but these are some minor critiques in an otherwise overall solid introduction to this urban fantasy series.
One last (but not least, or only) strength to this series is the variety of diverse characters, including Bianca herself, that is a welcome change from the mostly white protagonists and secondary characters of fantasy fiction; those looking for more inclusivity in terms of race, gender, and sexuality will find it in the District.
Overall, I found PPD a great introduction into the series, and I’m eager to read more.
This review is in exchange for an ARC I received. All opinions are my own.
July 20, 2019
What a fantastic debut novel!
Setting:
This book features a unique world filled with shifters (parahumans) and magic. The atmosphere is excellently explained, and there is a nice mix of modern day technology with magic.
Our heroine, Bianca, is a werebird whose sister was just murdered; before she died, her sister told Bianca to find refuge in a place called "The Purple Door District." Bianca has been on the run for days, chased by the Hunters who killed her sister. She finally arrives in Chicago with Hunters close on her heels, but she manages to find the Gladus, the Violet Marshall for the Chicago Purple Door District.
The District is a safe place for parahumans where discrimination is highly discouraged. Humans tend to dislike parahumans, and often seek to hunt them for sport, which is why Bianca believes the Hunters are chasing her.
Characters:
We meet a diverse cast of characters, including werewolves and vampires in addition to the werebirds. The characters feature a great variety of ethnic minorities, and the author does a great job demonstrating the eclectic group that is the District.
Gladus is a powerful magus who protects the District from negative outside forces such as Hunters, and who keeps the peace among the District's residence. Gladus offers to take Bianca in and to help her find an avian family because werebirds need a family to blossom and be happy.
The characters are all excellently developed and easy to like (or dislike, as villains go...I'm looking at you, Trish).
Patyah is hands-down my favorite. I hope to see more of that werewolf in future books!
Plot:
A very unique plot with an unexpected villain.
This is dual POV that switches clearly between chapter breaks between a few different characters. I think we're in everyone's head at some point. It's a little disorienting at first, but you quickly get used to it -- stick with it!
There is a lot of magic, which is pulled from "The Ether" in this book. There is teleportation, telepathy, inner creature halves that interact with their human halves (i.e. birds, wolves, etc.)
Bianca believes Hunters are chasing her for sport but it soon becomes clear there are even more sinister intentions at work.
I did not see that ending coming!
This book is action-packed and full of magic, conflict, and adventure.
There is a hint of LGBT romance toward the end, but there is not much romance in the main storyline.
Favorite quotes:
"I suppose that once we stop hating each other because of color and origin, we start finding other ways to despise one another.”
"Just a stupid girl with stupid dreams."
"I hear stupid dreams are some of the best ones if you know how to follow them."
Final thoughts:
I loved everything about this book. I would never have guessed it is a debut novel.
There is excellent world building, fantastic characters, and a great story. The story is smooth with an interesting plot and great voice.
Setting:
This book features a unique world filled with shifters (parahumans) and magic. The atmosphere is excellently explained, and there is a nice mix of modern day technology with magic.
Our heroine, Bianca, is a werebird whose sister was just murdered; before she died, her sister told Bianca to find refuge in a place called "The Purple Door District." Bianca has been on the run for days, chased by the Hunters who killed her sister. She finally arrives in Chicago with Hunters close on her heels, but she manages to find the Gladus, the Violet Marshall for the Chicago Purple Door District.
The District is a safe place for parahumans where discrimination is highly discouraged. Humans tend to dislike parahumans, and often seek to hunt them for sport, which is why Bianca believes the Hunters are chasing her.
Characters:
We meet a diverse cast of characters, including werewolves and vampires in addition to the werebirds. The characters feature a great variety of ethnic minorities, and the author does a great job demonstrating the eclectic group that is the District.
Gladus is a powerful magus who protects the District from negative outside forces such as Hunters, and who keeps the peace among the District's residence. Gladus offers to take Bianca in and to help her find an avian family because werebirds need a family to blossom and be happy.
The characters are all excellently developed and easy to like (or dislike, as villains go...I'm looking at you, Trish).
Patyah is hands-down my favorite. I hope to see more of that werewolf in future books!
Plot:
A very unique plot with an unexpected villain.
This is dual POV that switches clearly between chapter breaks between a few different characters. I think we're in everyone's head at some point. It's a little disorienting at first, but you quickly get used to it -- stick with it!
There is a lot of magic, which is pulled from "The Ether" in this book. There is teleportation, telepathy, inner creature halves that interact with their human halves (i.e. birds, wolves, etc.)
Bianca believes Hunters are chasing her for sport but it soon becomes clear there are even more sinister intentions at work.
I did not see that ending coming!
This book is action-packed and full of magic, conflict, and adventure.
There is a hint of LGBT romance toward the end, but there is not much romance in the main storyline.
Favorite quotes:
"I suppose that once we stop hating each other because of color and origin, we start finding other ways to despise one another.”
"Just a stupid girl with stupid dreams."
"I hear stupid dreams are some of the best ones if you know how to follow them."
Final thoughts:
I loved everything about this book. I would never have guessed it is a debut novel.
There is excellent world building, fantastic characters, and a great story. The story is smooth with an interesting plot and great voice.
February 5, 2020
THE PURPLE DOOR DISTRICT (REVIEW))
WROTE BY ERIN CASEY
PUBLISHED IN 2018 URBAN FANTASY
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Bianca is a young werebird, that finds herself without a family, and on the run from hunters. She thought she was safe when she found the purple door district just to be rejected by some that lived there.
WHAT I LIKED:
Bianca is a strong character, even when she thinks there is no hope. This is a well written book with characters that you can feel the love, that the author has for them. Gotta say that is missing from 99% of books nowadays
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
Authors worries at this point. Miss Casey shouldn’t worry about this section to much.there was a few parts that need a little more attention during editing, I have found more wrong with books from King and Butcher then I did in this book.
MY THOUGHTS:
This book is well done, with characters that is believable. This is the first book I read with Werebirds in it as a main character which I loved. There is a couple of things I would like to bring to the attention of the author and her editors.
1)I would like to see more description in the story.
2) I would loved to see this book a lot longer. It ended way to soon I just wanted to keep reading.
I RECOMMEND TO
If you like Urban fantasy, you will love this book this is a must read.
WROTE BY ERIN CASEY
PUBLISHED IN 2018 URBAN FANTASY
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Bianca is a young werebird, that finds herself without a family, and on the run from hunters. She thought she was safe when she found the purple door district just to be rejected by some that lived there.
WHAT I LIKED:
Bianca is a strong character, even when she thinks there is no hope. This is a well written book with characters that you can feel the love, that the author has for them. Gotta say that is missing from 99% of books nowadays
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
Authors worries at this point. Miss Casey shouldn’t worry about this section to much.there was a few parts that need a little more attention during editing, I have found more wrong with books from King and Butcher then I did in this book.
MY THOUGHTS:
This book is well done, with characters that is believable. This is the first book I read with Werebirds in it as a main character which I loved. There is a couple of things I would like to bring to the attention of the author and her editors.
1)I would like to see more description in the story.
2) I would loved to see this book a lot longer. It ended way to soon I just wanted to keep reading.
I RECOMMEND TO
If you like Urban fantasy, you will love this book this is a must read.
July 29, 2019
I enjoyed this book greatly when I was reading but found myself having to convince myself to pick it back up after putting it down.
I was never able to become attached to any particular character because we are put in the point of view of so many. In a longer book, that would be lovely! I love seeing in the minds of the characters. But due to the shorter length of the story, the consistent switching and new points of views almost every other chapter were disorienting and prevented me becoming invested in any particular characters story. For example, we are introduced to two new points of view in the last third of the book! I would have loved to see them both earlier, or not at all.
I will say that the diversity of the characters is amazing! I love the amount of cultures we see throughout the book, and nothing felt like a caricature of a certain group. As a white girl, I loved being introduced to so many characters who are NOT like me. I see enough of that elsewhere! The author took care to make sure that she wrote each character with respect and didn’t perpetuate stereotypes. (But I should perhaps leave that up to people of those groups to decide.)
Overall, the story is very strong and well thought out! It highlights the importance of belonging, home and family, all while allowing the definition of those things to be up to the reader. For a debut novel, it is strong and worth a read, despite the difficulty with points of view.
I was never able to become attached to any particular character because we are put in the point of view of so many. In a longer book, that would be lovely! I love seeing in the minds of the characters. But due to the shorter length of the story, the consistent switching and new points of views almost every other chapter were disorienting and prevented me becoming invested in any particular characters story. For example, we are introduced to two new points of view in the last third of the book! I would have loved to see them both earlier, or not at all.
I will say that the diversity of the characters is amazing! I love the amount of cultures we see throughout the book, and nothing felt like a caricature of a certain group. As a white girl, I loved being introduced to so many characters who are NOT like me. I see enough of that elsewhere! The author took care to make sure that she wrote each character with respect and didn’t perpetuate stereotypes. (But I should perhaps leave that up to people of those groups to decide.)
Overall, the story is very strong and well thought out! It highlights the importance of belonging, home and family, all while allowing the definition of those things to be up to the reader. For a debut novel, it is strong and worth a read, despite the difficulty with points of view.
December 5, 2018
Wow! What an exciting and fun urban fantasy debut. The world Casey has built in The Purple Door District is full of interesting, diverse characters that are instantly relatable. Bianca is a werebird just trying to find her place in the world. After the loss of her immediate family, and on the run from Hunters, she makes her way to The Purple Door District of Chicago. There she meets a plethora of parahumans (including magi, werewolves, vampires, and fellow werebirds) and she must decide where she fits and who she can trust. This world has a lot of potential for further stories - I'm so excited to see where Casey takes it next!
(Disclaimer: ARC provided by the author.)
(Disclaimer: ARC provided by the author.)
February 18, 2019
Erin Casey weaves together 3-dimensional characters like a fine blanket. Each story adds greatly to the other and the imagination of this author is barely paralleled. The story is about a woman on the run at its most basic level, but there is an entire world akin to Harry Potter and Twilight (without the ridiculous love story). The characters are all relatable in one way or another and the cast is highly diverse, but not in a way that suggests an extra effort to build diversity, it feels natural, like these are people we've met throughout our lives. This author is definitely going places and I highly recommend picking this up!
January 11, 2019
THE PURPLE DOOR DISTRICT has everything I want from an urban fantasy series--a big, diverse community of characters who have the same general goals but are at odds with each other as far as how to achieve them, a great blend of high stakes action scenes and poignant emotional moments, and the looming threat of a group of Hunters determined to track down and eliminate magical beings.
Although I would've loved to see Bianca, the werebird protagonist who's being hunted for reasons she can't explain, take a more active role in the narrative during the first third of the story, her struggle to find safety and home is still memorable and relatable. In fact, the strength of the novel lies in how easy it is to connect with ALL the characters. I was equally intrigued by all the POVs, which is no small feat considering there were at least six of them, and I can't wait to find out what will happen to all of them over the next few books.
Although I would've loved to see Bianca, the werebird protagonist who's being hunted for reasons she can't explain, take a more active role in the narrative during the first third of the story, her struggle to find safety and home is still memorable and relatable. In fact, the strength of the novel lies in how easy it is to connect with ALL the characters. I was equally intrigued by all the POVs, which is no small feat considering there were at least six of them, and I can't wait to find out what will happen to all of them over the next few books.
December 6, 2018
I love this book! Erin does a great job bringing her reader into the amazing world she's built behind closed doors in Chicago. She describes the ways of the world throughout the story and the readers learn more as the characters do, which really makes the reader connect with them. Casey caught me hook, line, and sinker and I'm already impatient for the sequel!
March 24, 2019
This was a great book...I enjoyed it immensely and I couldn't put it down... the story kept you guessing nearly the whole way through, but I didn't feel lost or confused. I found myself drawn into the story, and while I didn't like at least one character, I'd have to say that was intentional... you weren't supposed to like the character...I'd tell you which one, but that would be a spoiler :p ...There were no steamy love scenes, and only hints of romance of any sort, making this book great for all ages :) ...I recommend this book for anyone who wants a well-written fantasy with believable characters...
November 20, 2018
:D A fun and mystical read from a debut author. I had the pleasure of picking up this novel for a sensitivity read (as I'm a native Chicagoan), and I really enjoy the concept behind it.
Shifters, birds of a feather, taking flight, all to survive.
Shifters, birds of a feather, taking flight, all to survive.
January 26, 2019
In The Purple Door District by Erin Casey, we are introduced to a new parahuman world. Beyond the world of vampires and werewolves, this parahuman community has werecats, werebirds, and Magus that are a part of it.
For me, the book was a quick read with a real connection to community. I loved being pulled into the thoughts of main character, Bianca, as she tried to navigate why she could see the future through her drawings. The twist that comes as a result of this is sure to grasp your attention until the end.
If you enjoyed Twilight or The Southern Vampire series, you'll enjoy this book.
February 4, 2019
I love the world Casey creates in the Purple Door District. It felt very well fleshed-out and considered. She does a great job, too, of differentiating between different species of parahumans--the wolves, for example, being quite distinct from the avians.
What an imaginative novel, and I appreciated the diversity represented with people of color and diverse sexualities and abilities all integrated into the story in a natural way. All in all, a fantastic debut!
What an imaginative novel, and I appreciated the diversity represented with people of color and diverse sexualities and abilities all integrated into the story in a natural way. All in all, a fantastic debut!
December 23, 2018
Leaves you wanting more!
Casey’s writing is more on par with authors who have published more than just one book. Her world-building, her character development and especially her ability to create characters that are at once relatable and actually believable is a breath of fresh air. Can’t wait for the next one!
Casey’s writing is more on par with authors who have published more than just one book. Her world-building, her character development and especially her ability to create characters that are at once relatable and actually believable is a breath of fresh air. Can’t wait for the next one!
January 26, 2019
An interesting take on fantasy and paranornal
I enjoyed the development of magic/paranormal systems and creatures throughout this book. The idea of the Purple Door District was interesting. Every chapter left you wanting more.
I enjoyed the development of magic/paranormal systems and creatures throughout this book. The idea of the Purple Door District was interesting. Every chapter left you wanting more.
October 2, 2020
The world presented is fun to explore, and I like the variations put into new were-creatures, and the independent societies that each group works within.
September 6, 2020
I had a few reading goals for 2020 that The Purple Door District satisfied: read fantasy (because I never read fantasy), read local.
I was nervous to read this book for those reasons. It's not a genre I am particularly drawn to AND if I don't love it there's a real human out there who could be affected by my review.
Luckily, it was excellent. Oh, man, I have so much praise for this book. I don't even know where to start.
The Purple Door District was easy to read, suspenseful, and rewarding. I learned a ton about mythology, about birds (the main character is a werebird!), and I was invested in the characters' struggles. The (very very very loose) summary is this: Orphaned shape-shifter is being chased by hunters, looks for sanctuary, finds it, but can't outrun herself and still needs to figure out why she's being chased. The characters are compelling, believable, and personable. The plot is complex. The book is short. What's not to recommend?
Notes:
1. Representation: There is not a person I can think of who won't see themselves in a character in this book. Casey manages to represent all sorts of folks from different backgrounds so easily it almost goes unnoticed because the characters have full, real personalities and lives and you're not sitting there reading thinking anything is forced or pandering. Casey knows that all sorts of humans exist (many authors seem not to since so many stories have such monolithic characters).
2. Plot: I watch some fantasy-based TV shows so I know that the plots can get really complicated but having little experience with written fantasy, my mind was blown by how complicated and well-thought-out such a short book could be. Casey gives her readers little bitty breadcrumbs to follow her foreshadowing but I was still caught off guard several times.
I was nervous to read this book for those reasons. It's not a genre I am particularly drawn to AND if I don't love it there's a real human out there who could be affected by my review.
Luckily, it was excellent. Oh, man, I have so much praise for this book. I don't even know where to start.
The Purple Door District was easy to read, suspenseful, and rewarding. I learned a ton about mythology, about birds (the main character is a werebird!), and I was invested in the characters' struggles. The (very very very loose) summary is this: Orphaned shape-shifter is being chased by hunters, looks for sanctuary, finds it, but can't outrun herself and still needs to figure out why she's being chased. The characters are compelling, believable, and personable. The plot is complex. The book is short. What's not to recommend?
Notes:
1. Representation: There is not a person I can think of who won't see themselves in a character in this book. Casey manages to represent all sorts of folks from different backgrounds so easily it almost goes unnoticed because the characters have full, real personalities and lives and you're not sitting there reading thinking anything is forced or pandering. Casey knows that all sorts of humans exist (many authors seem not to since so many stories have such monolithic characters).
2. Plot: I watch some fantasy-based TV shows so I know that the plots can get really complicated but having little experience with written fantasy, my mind was blown by how complicated and well-thought-out such a short book could be. Casey gives her readers little bitty breadcrumbs to follow her foreshadowing but I was still caught off guard several times.
August 13, 2022
If you're looking for a different sort of urban fantasy, this is it. The Purple Door District offers an enticing cast of characters, including a sort of shifter seldom seen: avians. (In fact, off the top of my head I can't recall reading any books with avian shifters.) There's also your standard werewolves, werecats, vampires, and magi, all co-existing in Chicago's Purple Door District, a safe haven from Hunters and the rest of society.
There are so many amazing characters in this book. It took me a little bit to warm up to the MC, Bianca, but I think that was a *me* thing. She's on the run, hunted, at the start of the book, looking for sanctuary when she comes across the Purple Door District. Gladus, a mage, takes her in and protects her. (I really enjoyed Gladus as a character/mentor figure.)
Other awesome characters: Carlos, a hawk shifter, who wants to (literally) take Bianca under his wing. Haley, his owl shifter wife who rages against the idea for heartbreaking personal reasons. Their two adopted avian kids, Maddie and Henry. Henry definitely became a favorite of mine!
The local werewolf pack we meet about halfway through also has notable characters: Paytah, the alpha, is everything an alpha should be--a protector of the weak. Like Carlos, he and his wife have wolf "pups" (not that young!) under their roof to care for, and the formerly abused wolf Kat becomes an inspiring force to be reckoned with.
If you want a series with deep, relatable characters, give this one a try!
There are so many amazing characters in this book. It took me a little bit to warm up to the MC, Bianca, but I think that was a *me* thing. She's on the run, hunted, at the start of the book, looking for sanctuary when she comes across the Purple Door District. Gladus, a mage, takes her in and protects her. (I really enjoyed Gladus as a character/mentor figure.)
Other awesome characters: Carlos, a hawk shifter, who wants to (literally) take Bianca under his wing. Haley, his owl shifter wife who rages against the idea for heartbreaking personal reasons. Their two adopted avian kids, Maddie and Henry. Henry definitely became a favorite of mine!
The local werewolf pack we meet about halfway through also has notable characters: Paytah, the alpha, is everything an alpha should be--a protector of the weak. Like Carlos, he and his wife have wolf "pups" (not that young!) under their roof to care for, and the formerly abused wolf Kat becomes an inspiring force to be reckoned with.
If you want a series with deep, relatable characters, give this one a try!
December 5, 2024
Wow! I am speechless! Words can't describe how beautiful and fantastic this first book was! I am grateful that I got this series on Kickstarter as well! Time and time again I appreciate these hidden gems that I found on there! This story, and most likely the series, has become one of my favorites! The plot and the characters were *Chef's Kiss*! It has everything that I look for in these kinds of genres and stories! Even a few grammatical errors weren't enough to dampen or take away from what was written. With the first book being this excellent, I look forward to the rest of them being the same!
October 9, 2025
This was my first Erin Casey read but I did get to meet and talk with her at a local con last month. While she was telling me about her books I read the first couple of pages and immediately knew I needed this trilogy. The writing style, the story telling, the world building, and the character development alone in this book has me ready for Wolf Pit. My heart aches for Bianca but I'm also happy that she found the PPD and a cloister that will help keep her safe.
August 31, 2023
3.5 I want to thank the author so much for sending me a copy of this book!!!! As a huge vampire diaries fan, I loved how intricate the supernatural lore of the book was. I’m def interested to learn more about the world that this is set in. When Gladus died, I was so sad :( I loved her. I really did enjoy this book and I definitely recommend it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2024
To me this book had an almost cozy vibe. I loved how all the characters were so well fleshed out and it felt like I knew them. This isn't normally the type of book I read as I normally find fantasy books too heavy on world building. The world building was really interesting but not overly complex. Really liked this book and I can't wait to read more from this series!
January 21, 2020
Loved this book! First of all, I love Chicago as a backdrop! Very cool magic system and I love the inclusion of different types of shifters. I also felt that the characters had great depth to them. Can’t wait to read book 2!
April 9, 2024
This story really grabbed me. I ordered the next as soon as it was out!
May 17, 2024
Creative easy read. Loved it.
November 7, 2025
I’ll admit that when I was given a copy of this book, my first thought was “Not another vampire book!” But while I tend to ignore books with vampires and werewolves like the plague, I was so drawn into the story that I quickly forgot that. Additionally, we were invited into a diversely magical world. Not only were there werewolves and vampires (to which even Erin’s book could not endear me), there were avians and mages of various cultures and backgrounds.
Bianca, a Mexican avian, is on the run from Hunters after they killed her sister. Her flight takes her to the Purple Door District, where she meets Gladus, a magician, protector, and leader of the community. She soon crosses paths with other avians, werewolves, and vampires who work with her (mostly) to help her hide from these hunters as well as learn more about her unusual gifts and visions. The avian ability to shapeshift but also to send their inner bird into each other’s minds was fascinating. Avians were also characterized as needing a family to be whole. Fortunately for Bianca, other avians were willing to foster her so that she wouldn’t remain an orphan.
The book fluctuated between Bianca’s loneliness and her fear of the Hunters. When things finally came to a head, it wasn’t a world-shattering conclusion, but a lot of shocking family secrets came to life in the process. There are a lot of things in this book that leave us in a world of grey – vampires who take either side, hunters who only go after dangerous shifters, and even Bianca’s own biological family were not all they seemed to be.
The Purple Door District is nothing like Cassandra Clare’s world of magic where everything is larger than life and the fate of the world is at stake. Part of the appeal of this book is that the characters are so ordinary. Bianca is an orphan. Carlos and his wife were recovering from the loss of their daughter, and raising their grandchildren. Gladus was the older, wiser matriarch of the community, just trying to keep the peace and help everyone to get along and live well together. Kat had recently escaped an abusive relationship. And the world was not at risk of being destroyed. At worst, this community faced implosion due to a leadership void, but at best, this was just a group of people who had been misunderstood by the world and faced ordinary challenges like loss, abuse, or misunderstanding. It is a beautiful story of friendship and compassion as strangers stepped up to help Bianca, many of which had to fight their own inner demons to do so. The friendship and solidarity was such a strong theme, in fact, that the romance, in the end, felt forced and unnecessary.
Erin’s novel is a refreshing new addition to the world of vampires and werewolves. It reminds us that while families are complicated, they can still be a place of welcome and home.
Bianca, a Mexican avian, is on the run from Hunters after they killed her sister. Her flight takes her to the Purple Door District, where she meets Gladus, a magician, protector, and leader of the community. She soon crosses paths with other avians, werewolves, and vampires who work with her (mostly) to help her hide from these hunters as well as learn more about her unusual gifts and visions. The avian ability to shapeshift but also to send their inner bird into each other’s minds was fascinating. Avians were also characterized as needing a family to be whole. Fortunately for Bianca, other avians were willing to foster her so that she wouldn’t remain an orphan.
The book fluctuated between Bianca’s loneliness and her fear of the Hunters. When things finally came to a head, it wasn’t a world-shattering conclusion, but a lot of shocking family secrets came to life in the process. There are a lot of things in this book that leave us in a world of grey – vampires who take either side, hunters who only go after dangerous shifters, and even Bianca’s own biological family were not all they seemed to be.
The Purple Door District is nothing like Cassandra Clare’s world of magic where everything is larger than life and the fate of the world is at stake. Part of the appeal of this book is that the characters are so ordinary. Bianca is an orphan. Carlos and his wife were recovering from the loss of their daughter, and raising their grandchildren. Gladus was the older, wiser matriarch of the community, just trying to keep the peace and help everyone to get along and live well together. Kat had recently escaped an abusive relationship. And the world was not at risk of being destroyed. At worst, this community faced implosion due to a leadership void, but at best, this was just a group of people who had been misunderstood by the world and faced ordinary challenges like loss, abuse, or misunderstanding. It is a beautiful story of friendship and compassion as strangers stepped up to help Bianca, many of which had to fight their own inner demons to do so. The friendship and solidarity was such a strong theme, in fact, that the romance, in the end, felt forced and unnecessary.
Erin’s novel is a refreshing new addition to the world of vampires and werewolves. It reminds us that while families are complicated, they can still be a place of welcome and home.
July 6, 2022
Urban fantasy and found family
A great start to a series. I look forward to what may happen and what creatues we may meet.
A chunk of hurt/comfort with everyone having found family
A great start to a series. I look forward to what may happen and what creatues we may meet.
A chunk of hurt/comfort with everyone having found family
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