The description is totally right in getting this book. It just nips the drama and spins it around in such a modern take that the reader just can't stop reading the book. Another great voice picked up by Tor. I am jealous. Very jealous.

This book is very much vibes over substance. That isn't a bad thing at all, I'm just letting you know. I loved the first hhalf of it, the writing was engaging and the myteries were really well set up. I also loved the worldbuilding! And a whole group of almost chosen ones? Such a great concept. Unfortunately when it came to actually uncovering mysteries and wrapping up plot threads the book lost some of it's magic for me. It just trickled at a very slow pace without really advancing the plot and then the resolution came way to quickly. Lovely read, just with a rather weak second half.

I'm torn on this one. "The Saint of Bright Doors" is definitely unique in it's own way. The author's prose is beautifully crafted, and the world-building is rich and imaginative. Chandrasekera explores complex themes with a deft touch, inviting readers to ponder the boundaries of reality, though his voice may sound pretentious from time to time. I liked how the author examines themes like facism, colonialism and extremism in a vivid city, but the main plot was not holding together for me and this couldn't be saved by the beautiful prose.

"The Saint of Bright Doors" might appeal to more die-hard fans of speculative fiction, but I was expecting a little more action and this book was probably not for me. However I will be following the author's future endeavors, as his style is captivating and he has some great ideas brewing there, so maybe his next book will be more successful with me.

- thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc to review!

- the concept is intriguing and has a lot of potential, but i felt it fell too flat for my liking. the writing style Chandrasekera shows throughout the novel is stunning in its own right, if not pretentious in a few instances, but that wasn't what deterred me from the book. it was more of the execution of the story, which felt lackluster and bare boned when telling the story. i have no doubt that I'll look into Chandrasekera's next works, but it was unfortunate that this wasn't for me.

A good debut for Chandrasekera. The world is vibrant and vivid. But it lacks an interesting factor for me. The premise is mid. The characters are also mid.

But I do like what Chandrasekera is doing with this debut novel. Great representation!

Such beautiful prose. The story is unique and engaging as are the characters and setting. The cover is just stunning. An all round winner for libraries.

Fetter was raised to kill with thebultimate goal of assassinating his father, the seeming divine leader of a religious organization. In this world of secret magics, doors that cannot be opened, and convoluted political and religious hierarchy, Fetter aspires to leave his past behind. But before long he finds himself acquainted with rebels and on the path to encounter his father, despite spending his young adult and early adulthood trying to forget the mandate engraved into him by his violent mother.

This is a fascinating magical realism novel set in a seemingly South Asian inspired world. While, overall I thought it was interesting and makes you think about apathy in an unjust world, I felt like there was so much going on that it's hard to wrap things up neatly. Ultimately, it's Fetter's life story as his violent past is left behind and he becomes a spy. But there were so many elements, the doors, people who study them, all these religious sects, magic, and power that I couldn't really wrap.my head around the whole. But still, overall, I liked the story and the ending.

Thank you to Tor Books and Netgalley for the gifted copy!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and of course the author for gifting me this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book that I had mixed feelings for. I found Vajra's writing style very unique, almost mesmerising, and the way he was writing the story moving between reality and an almost otherwordly way captured me but I also found it a bit disorientating to keep up with. I am a big fan of the esoteric and the spiritual and was intrigued by the interwoven culture and mystery of South Asia along with the more political side and although I feel I kind of grasp the concept what Vajra was trying to do with this story, I felt I had to really push myself to finish it and it ended up feeling like a bit of a chore.

I know this author has published some fascinating stories previously but unfortunately overall this didn't grip me.

With the world building I found it to be inconsistent and not really knowing exactly what it wanted to be since there were things in our modern times placed in this book which ended up making it feel jarring and awkward which pulls the reader out of the story.

The pacing was a hit or miss. There were a lot of moments where it was at a slow pace and then all of sudden it would pick up its pace.

I definitely did not hate the saints of Bright Doors but I also did not love it. It was okay and honestly pretty forgettable. I read this book back in July and am finally sitting down to write reviews on many titles and this was one that needed reviewing. I had a vague idea of the book but when it comes down to it I cannot recall everything in the
book.

Honestly, I feel if this book was more fleshed out on the world building and on executing the plot points better then I probably would have enjoyed this book more and would have not found it be unforgettable.

This was one of those books that I just got sucked into. It gave me such a hang over! It provided a unique point of view that I absolutely loved, and I highly recommend this to anyone looking for something a little strange.

Excellent prose and brilliant concept. I also really loved the subjects tackled in this book, as there were some really important ones. That's always so good to see. The complex timeline change was just unfortunately a bit too much for my little brain, and made the reading process overall not very cohesive.

"The Saint of Bright Doors" by Vajra Chandrasekera offers a unique and imaginative take on the speculative fiction genre, but it left me with mixed feelings.

Chandrasekera's prose is undeniably skillful, painting a vivid and surreal world that's a mesmerizing blend of science fiction and mythology. The narrative takes unexpected and often bewildering turns, making it a challenging but intellectually stimulating read.

One of the book's strengths is its exploration of complex themes, such as identity, consciousness, and the boundaries of reality. However, these themes sometimes become so abstract and convoluted that they obscure the story's emotional depth, making it difficult to connect with the characters on a personal level.

The fragmented narrative style, while intriguing, can also be disorienting, making it challenging to follow the plot cohesively. The story's non-linear structure adds to the sense of disconnection and can leave readers feeling somewhat detached from the characters' journeys.

"The Saint of Bright Doors" is a novel that demands patience and a willingness to grapple with its abstract concepts. While it offers a unique and thought-provoking reading experience, it may not be everyone's cup of tea. If you're a fan of experimental and cerebral speculative fiction, it's worth giving this book a try, but be prepared for a challenging and occasionally bewildering journey.

❥ 2 stars ☆

❝Behind every bright door is a world full of lost hearts. It matters.❞

I wanted to like this book because it seemed to be an interesting story about the mysterious bright doors and what they mean.

The book also has LGBTQ representation and brings up real topics and problems that exist in our world; like politics, religion, different countries and areas, different people and castes, LGBTQ relationships and homophobia, abuse and trauma, gods and saints and devils, magic, life and death, sickness and quarantines, etc.

Fetter was raised by his mother to be an assassin who was supposed to kill his father, who is seen as a god by many. But as Fetter gets older he escapes and moves away from his mother to a big city and he realises what an abusive upbringing he had and that he doesn’t have to be a killer or follow any of his mother’s beliefs that she taught him.

Fetter doesn’t have a shadow which is very interesting because that’s obviously not something you have heard of before, and he also sees any spirits and devils that may exist around him which is an ability that even his mother didn’t have.

While the book gives a lot of information it felt slow-paced, and even with all of the information it sometimes felt like information was missing or that the whole story should have been longer so it could have been told properly without giving the feeling of missing details or that the story was cut short.

The ending was a bit confusing and felt rushed so I didn’t really understand what happened. I guess Fetter was destined to change the world in some way and in the end, he just did and that’s it.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc of this title in exchange for this honest review.

My arc of this expired before i could finish it. This review shall be updated whenever i manage to finish the book.

More of a 3.5 but I’m rounding up.

This turned out to be one of those books where I’m completely confused as to what I feel about it and what can I even write in this review. It was a very intriguing read in parts while very slow to get through in others, and throughout my reading I kept wondering where it was going and what was the point of it all. I can see the influences of Sri Lankan politics in the world building but I guess it was the writing style that just wasn’t for me.

But I’m still glad I finally got to read this author’s work. And the well narrated audiobook definitely helped me to want to pick it up whenever I could find little time.

I've read some of Chandrasekera's short fiction before and absolutely loved it (the one with the time traveller and King Parakramabahu is still so clear in my memory). But I wasn't jiving with this at all. The writing felt really clunky, and while I did really enjoy some of the concepts in this book, there were just... way too many crammed in there for me.

It's so sad. I was so here for a Sri Lankan flavoured fantasy, and really wanted to love this. Maybe I'll come to this some day and give it another go, but it's been sitting unfinished in my kindle for two months now, and I think it might just be time to call it.

I do like Chandrasekera's concepts and ideas, so I'll definitely be interested in seeing more of his work. This one just wasn't for me.

DNF at 72%

This is one of the few situations where I think the quote on the cover is perfect. It reads, “a spellbinding labyrinth of mysteries.” Notice it does not say intricate character development or expect a meticulously plotted book. The pacing is off, and I never fully connected with Fetter and Fetter’s relationships. I was more interested in the world and topics being covered. The intricacies of the world are impressive and there are discussions of current issues and topics. It is well done, but there is always a sense of separation. This is a journey book and not a destination book. That is especially true with an ending reveal, which may or may not land well for you. I was not entirely happy with it, and it felt unfinished. Still, the journey was enough for me to give it 4 stars, but I could see it not being for some readers especially with the ending.

I loved the immersive world building and characters. The plot itself is very interesting. However, I just found this book to be okay. Some parts of the book were so gripping and others were boring. I look forward to trying more of this author's work in the future.

Maybe I'm just not in the mood for it right now, but I'm sick of children protagonists raised in a wondrous magical environment. I tried to immerse myself, but lacked the patience to let go of my bitter, real life adult disbelief even for the briefest of stories. This annoyed me, and I can't quite put my finger on the reason why.

Score: ⅘

Pros:
A Fascinating World…
…that is rolled out slowly through the book, making it mysterious and surprising;
Well crafted prose that is, at times, truly beautiful;
The plot is littered with well earned surprises;
Fetter is a relatable and likable protagonist;
A patient, almost meditative pace…
Cons:
…that at times can drag;
Several elements presented as important early in the book amount to little in the end;
An eleventh hour twist that did NOT work for me.

Review:

Fetter was destined from birth for one purpose: to murder the world-renowned saint The Perfect and Kind. His Father. Choosing a different path for himself, Fetter fled and built a new life in the city of Luriat. But he soon learns that destiny doesn’t let go so easily…

I truly wanted to love this book - the premise grabbed my attention immediately, and the opening of the book fully hooked me. And The Saint of Bright Doors has a LOT of good going for it! The world Vajra Chandrasekera has built here is fascinating and mysterious; it’s never laid out directly for the reader, leaving you to discover it little by little throughout the book (imagine my surprise when I discovered this seeming fantasy world had things like television and computers), and the plot often drops a significant twist right when things are starting to feel comfortable. Perhaps most importantly, Chandrasekera has a real talent for prose - I like to highlight striking lines, and this is probably one of my most highlighted books in recent memory.

That being said…it never quite got there for me. While The Saint of Bright Doors does have several very impactful surprises throughout, the middle of the book goes far too long without one, to the point where I almost put it down entirely because the pace was dragging so significantly. Further, the opening sections set up several elements as significant parts of the story (including the titular Bright Doors), but ultimately these elements end up insignificant. Most problematic for me personally is the eleventh hour twist (literally with 50 pages or so to go), one that reframes the entire book up to that point, absolutely did not feel earned and did not work for me at all.

In the end, while I didn’t love this book, I did really really like it, and would recommend it to anyone interested in the premise with the caveat: be ready to push through the middle.