In her latest YA novel, Kristin Cashore (most well known for her Graceling Realm books), tells the story of a girl struggling with grief during COVID-19. Set to be released on June 11th, There Is a Door in This Darkness combines magic with reality in a unique way.

I really wanted to like this book but I just couldn’t relate to the main character at all. While I loved Wilhelmina’s aunts and friend, Wilhelmina herself just was so self-absolved and confused that I just couldn’t really empathize with her feelings. Due to the time and setting of this book, I can understand why Wilhelmina was characterized in this particular way, but I still found her dislikable and wish there would’ve been more moments with other side characters or an earlier realization from Wilhelmina about some of the positivities in her life rather than constantly have her be a pessimist being mad at the weirdest of triggers.

I appreciated the way that Cashore tried to showcase grief and coming of age during tough times, but I felt like some of the more supernatural/speculative portions of the book became too confusing paired with the real life events that happened in 2020. I just felt like the balance between reality and fiction in this book wasn’t quite there which led to more confusion than anything else.

I’m also not a fan of politics being heavily mixed into stories and having such a defined “this side is wrong and the side I’m on is right!” vibe to it and I had to keep putting this book down because of how much the politics of it were frustrating me. Being that this book is set during 2020, I’m sure you can guess what major political event occurred during this time, but it felt like the focus in that took away from Wilhelmina’s journey of grief and lonely instead of adding to it like I think the author intended it to.

While I could see the ways in which this book might resonate with some people, I just wasn’t one of them and instead found myself struggling to get through certain parts just so I could keep up with the portions I did like. Unfortunately, there ended up being more slow moments than good moments for me while reading this book which wasn’t justified enough for me by the end of the book.

*I received an ARC from Penguin Teen in exchange for my honest opinion.

There is a Door in This Darkness is a quiet, melancholy coming-of-age story about hope and grief that also has a little magic. It follows 18-year-old Wilhelmina during the fall of 2020, so not only is it a COVID book, but it's set in Boston and follows a character only a few years younger than I was at the time, so naturally I saw a lot of parallels between Wilhelmina's life and mine during the pandemic. Cashore deftly explores how Wilhelmina loses her late teens to the pandemic in the same way I lost my early 20s to it.

The book alternates between Wilhelmina's life in 2020 with her coming of age during the 2010s at her Aunt Margaret's house in Pennsylvania over the summers. We're introduced not only to Margaret, but to the other women she lives with, Esther and Frankie, and how impactful and important they are to Wilhelmina. I enjoyed reading about Wilhelmina's relationships with all three women. In 2020, it's Frankie's death that leaves Wilhelmina in a depressed stupor, and it also ends up being the thing that seemingly brings her to hope. This is where the magic realism piece comes in, with Wilhelmina seeing signs and messages that presumably only she and one of her old classmates, James, can see. I thought it was really intriguing how this led their lives to finally cross paths, and appreciated all of the little invisible strings that tied them together.

I wasn't sure if I was ready for a COVID book, but I'm glad this was the first I read. As a generation that doesn't really remember the pandemic comes of age, I can see them reaching for this book in 5-10 years to understand it.

Given the recent climate of our society it was difficult for me to fully invest in a book with political themes.

This novel is a deeply personal and introspective exploration of grief, uncertainty, and the weight of living through turbulent times. Cashore’s writing remains strong, weaving in magical realism elements that add an intriguing layer to Wilhelmina’s journey. However, the story is undeniably heavy, centering on themes of loss, depression, chronic pain, and the political and social upheaval of the late 2010s.

While the emotional depth is well-crafted, the pacing and structure make it a difficult read. The alternating timelines sometimes disrupt the flow, and the “magic” elements feel underdeveloped, leaving more questions than answers. Wilhelmina’s struggles are relatable, but the book leans so heavily into realism—especially the pandemic and political aspects—that it may be too raw for some readers.

This is a book that will resonate strongly with those who connect with its themes, but for others, it may feel more like a reminder of difficult years rather than an escape. A well-written but divisive read that depends on the reader’s tolerance for contemporary political and emotional narratives in fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was not expecting this book to center around the events of 2020 when I first picked it up. This book brought back all of the anger, uncertainty and terror of that time and it was difficult to be brought back into that head space. This book was heartfelt and made me feel so many emotions throughout. While it was hard to revisit this period in time, it was well written and provided some insight that I did not have at that time.

I actually had to pause this book because the recall back to 2020 was harder on me than I thought it would be. That being said once I sat down and restarted I really enjoyed the story. It really made the feelings of the pandemic and all things around it come to life.

Wilhelmina having finished school in 2020 is some what at a loss on how to move forward in life. The state of affairs has caused her to become stuck. In a house full of family but unable to really connect with people outside for fear of endangering loved ones. She has to overcome the feelings of being left behind by everyone else in the world. This does have a slight dose of magical realism but the bigger story is the thoughts and feelings of people during this hard time in our history.

I just finished reading There Is a Door in This Darkness by Kristin Cashore, and I’m thrilled to share my thoughts with you!

This book is an incredibly rich and atmospheric fantasy that pulls you into its world from the very first page. Cashore's writing is both mesmerizing and evocative, making this a standout read in the fantasy genre.

One of the most captivating scenes in the book is when the protagonist, Seraphina, discovers a hidden door in the ancient library of her family's manor. The description of the door, with its intricate carvings and mysterious aura, is so vivid that you can almost feel the chill in the air. When Seraphina steps through the door and finds herself in a dark, magical forest filled with secrets and danger, the tension and excitement are palpable. This moment perfectly captures the book's blend of mystery, adventure, and magic.

What I love most about There Is a Door in This Darkness is how it seamlessly weaves together elements of fantasy, suspense, and personal growth. Seraphina's journey is one of self-discovery and bravery, and her interactions with the richly developed characters add depth and complexity to the narrative. Cashore’s ability to create a world that feels both real and fantastical is truly remarkable.

If you’re looking for a book that will transport you to a magical world and keep you on the edge of your seat, There Is a Door in This Darkness is a must-read. Trust me, you’ll be entranced by Seraphina’s journey and the beautiful storytelling.

Just did not enjoy reading this title. The plot was all over the place and I wasn’t a huge fan of the mc.

I should've known from the small summary that this would end up one sided in politics, and it was. it was a huge disappointment with how alienated it made anyone feel that didn't share the authors political view. I was curious about how this would end up so I trudged through it and can say I definitely didn't like it and am very disappointed in the author for writing it.

This book was difficult for me to consume because of the politics. Cashore is one of my favorite writers, but I was a little thrown off by the substance of this book. I obviously still enjoy her writing style but it definitely wasn't my favorite.

A modern, whimsical story of politics and identity. This one is definitely a little different from other books out there and it was for that reason that I was looking forward to reading it. But it just wasn't it for me. I'm not going to lie, I had no idea what was going on or what was supposed to happen. I felt no plot going on here, even though it feels like a book that needed one. When I reached the end I was kind of just like ??? That was it??? The characters were pretty good, I will say that. I lived for the aunts. I just wish there was more to the story to grasp.

As a fellow COVID-changed-the-course-of-my-life girl, Wilhelmina and I share the perpetual grief for this version of ourselves that the world has left behind.
But trying to explain that to people through hallucinations might be a stretch.

I'm not sure things have gotten better since 2020, especially since this story was written with nowadays knowledge. Wars, inflation, another election, and whatever you wanna add in a few years are no joke, but the pandemic is still a tough subject for a valid reason.
So, keep in mind the book takes place in 2020 but was written with the understanding of 2023 (at least), it's on its whole pretty garbage.

Wilhelmina has depression, but everyone is too busy noticing - even her therapist of a mother. She can't properly grieve the loss of her beloved aunt and, due to COVID, doesn't have a goal in life, only the survival instinct of trying to keep her family alive by doing everything they need or can't do by themselves.
In the end, she comes to the realization - thanks to weird visions followed by odd dreams - that she needs to embrace the magic of the world to let herself move on and grieve her loss properly.
Honestly, how the subject is handled is bullshit. We gather she loved her aunt very much and she misses her dearly, but she's not grieving her: she feels stuck and she's suffocating in a small apartment with other six people, she doesn't know what to do with her life and how can she change it. She's miserable because she's in a miserable situation and her mental health went out of the window, but justifying all of this with grief and magic - again, more hallucinations than anything else - is kinda insulting.

And if that isn't enough, there's the other matter: for some inexplicable reason to me, she's in the wrong about how she behaves. I mean, she did her whole and now she's annoyed that people can't keep up with her?! Fuck that!
She's going through something very serious and pretty palpable if someone could just properly look at her for more than five seconds, and her supposed best friends don't even have the time to text her back.
But everything is obviously forgiven by the end because hey, she was in a bad place and she’s sorry she was so weird.

Also, and this is the last effort I’ll use for this book, the narration’s only flaw is being made way too many words for talking about nothing in moments where the focus is on something else.
For example, the political bits all the other reviews complain about are just this: too many words spent on a shitty situation, almost morbid, since we’re in the same crisis four years after that, not that Trump’s voters will miraculously stop voting for him after reading this rant about their idol.

Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Youn Readers Group and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

There is a Door in This Darkness by Kristin Cashore is a exploration of grief, loss, and the search for meaning in a world marked by uncertainty. Cashore's lyrical prose and Wilhelmina's relatable struggles create a powerful and intimate narrative. As the protagonist grapples with the weight of personal loss amidst a backdrop of national turmoil, readers are invited to journey through a complex emotional landscape. While the novel's pacing may be deliberate, it ultimately rewards patience with a profound and thought-provoking conclusion. This is a coming-of-age story for our times, one that resonates with the challenges faced by a generation searching for hope in the darkness.

"There Is a Door in This Darkness" by Kristin Cashore is a hauntingly atmospheric and beautifully written novel that explores themes of mystery and self-discovery. The book's evocative prose and intriguing plot create a deeply immersive experience. Cashore's ability to blend lyrical storytelling with suspenseful elements makes this a compelling and memorable read.

I love Kristin Cashore, and I think her talent for writing heartfelt and meaningful characters and stories is present here, however I struggled to get invested into these particular characters and their lives.

This was a really interesting book, but I didn't realize how political it would be! Read it for the author, because I love her fantasy novels, but this one didn't quite work for me. Still, a good read.

I wanted to give this book a chance because I love Kristin Cashore, but unfortunately it ended up being a DNF. I want to believe that this would resonate with the intended YA audience that was growing up during the pandemic and the political landscape portrayed in the book, but for me it was just dredging up a lot of feelings and memories that I don't want to be thinking about while reading for fun.

DNF @20%

Sorry, this just wasn't for me! It's not a bad book, I was just really bored. And not sure how I feel about something like this set during the height of the COVID pandemic. Truth be told, I only gave it a try because I've loved other books by Kristin Cashore, even though this type of YA contemporary novel (albeit with a bit of magical realism) isn't really my thing. Your mileage may vary. I like the idea of the queer aunts and plus size heroine, it was just so SLOW and had so much pandemic stuff I found I didn't really want to revisit right now. I received a copy of this book for review via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This story follows a young girl who navigates grief through COVID-19 and the 2016 election. I have heard a lot about Cashore and their fantasy series but I was disappointed with this book. When I first read the tagline, I thought this was a cute fantasy story with a character dealing with grief but instead, this was a rant about politics. When it comes to fantasy, I don’t mind politics but don’t enjoy it much in contemporary. It was way too focused on COVID and politics that there wasn’t much going on. Also I don’t see how this is a fantasy book because I might have missed that part of the book.

Wilhelmina is the main character of this book and she wasn’t a bad character. She was fine but I just couldn’t get much to her not because of the politics or the election but her attitude in the book. I wish she communicated more with her friends and showcased more of her other side. There were some side characters in this book but none who interested me.

The ending was fine but I didn’t really care for it. I did like the author’s note and how much of the book follows her story. Her note made a lot more sense and connected more with me than the entirety of the book. I just wish we got to explore more of the fantasy and the other parts of the world instead of just the two main topics.

*this e-arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*

gentle dnf at 20%. i liked the characters and vibe, but i think i'm just not emotionally ready to read about the pandemic and the 2020 election in the middle of another collapsing year. may give this another shot in a couple more years but for now it wasn't for me.