This was a wildly inventive new addition to the fantasy genre and I wish I loved it more than I did. This feels more like a case of "it just wasn't for me" than "it was bad" though. There's no denying Chandrasekera can write!

The plot was very intricate and confusing, and it took a long time before I felt like I had an understanding of the world we were thrust into. I feel like this is a book I'll come back to and will get more out of on a re-read.

I’ve never read anything like The Saint of Bright Doors – wildly inventive, totally mesmerizing, and it upended my expectations at every turn. It reads like an established author’s career-defining masterpiece, rather than a debut novel. 

Vajra Chandrasekera paints a vivid picture of a city on the brink – told through the eyes of a man born and raised to be a master assassin, a catalyst of change in the world, bound for one singular purpose – but his skills dull from disuse and he strays from his destined path. The synopsis may not sound unique, but the tale and its telling are wholly original.

I was so impressed with Chandrasekera’s ability to craft a complex, political, and also surreal story in such an intelligible way. I was spellbound the entire time I spent with this book and I can’t wait to read it again, just to recapture some of the awe I felt the first time around.

I wish I liked this book more than I actually did.

The writing wasn’t bad per se but it didn’t feel cohesive at times and it definitely would benefit from more editing.
The plot could have been less confusing and intricate, it made it a little difficult to go through the book for me.

Chandrasekera does know how to write a nuanced character though: Fetter was a very interesting and realistic main character. The worldbuilding too was excellent, it’s obvious the author spent some time crafting it.

The potential is there: The Saint of Bright Doors is only a debut novel and the author has time to improve his work. I will look out for what happens next!

I like the premise of this book but if was a little to scattershot for me to follow. I feel it could have done with a more concise plot and editing. It just was a no go for me .
Thanks for letting me review this book to Netgalley and the publisher

What a gorgeous novel full of loveable characters and a storyline that I couldn't put down. This one is a must read!