The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown
Stars: 3.5


Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Cassie, a young twenty-something in New York, works at a bookstore. Orphaned at a young age, raised by her grandfather, after his death, she finds herself a little aimless, a little unsure. While working in the bookstore, she meets an older gentleman and they strike up a friendship. One night, he passes away in the store, leaving Cassie with a small, nondescript book. But there is something a little different about it - if Cassie holds it in her hand, stands in front of a door, imagines where she wants to be, the book will take her there. But this is not the only magical book in the world and there are a lot of people that would like to get their hands on it. With the help of Drummond Fox, a Scot who is the Librarian protecting magical books, she sets out to make it, and others like it, don’t fall into the wrong hands.

The premise of the story intrigued me and initially, I loved the idea of being able to travel not just to different places but even through time. Add in the idea of a magical library in Scotland and it seemed like the perfect magical realism novel. But that seemed to become less and less important to the book as it went on. It felt almost like the book didn’t know what it wanted to be: fantasy, mystery, thriller, horror, or a meditation on evil. And novels can be all those things, but it is hard to pull off and I am not sure this one fully did. There were some really thought provoking aspects, but the story never let you sit with that. I don’t want to spoil it too much, but the time jumps were especially hard, one would have been good but the second one, it was just too much.

So while it was not my favorite book I’ve read this year, I will say, if there is a sequel, I would read it. Mostly because I think Brown has some really great ideas floating around and seeing the development of these characters could be really interesting.

This book was a trip, and a good one. If you aren't a fan of multiple perspectives or time/dimension travel it might be difficult to get into, but I really enjoyed both the premise and the way it was realised. I would not consider this book to have a happy ending, but it does have a satisfactory ending. The questions that build up throughout the book are answered, though not always in the way you wish.

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown is a captivating journey into the realms of mystery and imagination. The novel weaves together an intricate narrative that explores themes of identity, memory, and the passage between realities. Brown's prose is both lyrical and evocative, drawing readers into a world where the boundaries between the real and the surreal are often blurred.

The story centers around a mysterious book that holds the power to unlock hidden doors and secrets within the lives of its characters. Brown's ability to craft suspenseful and thought-provoking scenarios keeps readers on edge, while also offering profound reflections on human nature and the search for meaning.

Character development is a strong point in this book. Each character is richly portrayed with depth and complexity, making their journeys and transformations feel both impactful and authentic. The plot is meticulously crafted, with twists and turns that are both surprising and satisfying.

Overall, The Book of Doors is a compelling read for those who enjoy literary fiction with a touch of the fantastical. Gareth Brown has created a memorable and immersive experience that lingers long after the last page is turned.

If you could open a door to anywhere, where would you go?

The concept of this book instantly drew me in & kept my attention with its magical realism character driven plot. I’m grateful to have had the chance to read and review this book thanks to Transworld (Penguin Books) Publishing and NetGalley. This is one I’ll be thinking about for a long time!

The Book of Doors is a novel about Cassie Andrews and a special book that comes into her possession. Cassie and the reader both soon realize that this book has the ability to unlock any door in the world, so long as the possessor of the book pictures the door in their mind. Cassie also quickly unlocks a world of characters - dangerous and generous - and history that comes with them and this world of magical book(s).

It’s almost heartbreaking to not be able to discuss the plot any deeper than above, as I don’t want to spoil anything for potential readers. I’ll just share that there are brilliant, cozy characters and an imaginative, emotional storyline are well worth picking this book up!

My last, simple thought is that I wish this could’ve been 2 books - I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but I have a gut feeling that the story could’ve been wonderful as an extended novel or split between two books.

If any door were every door, where would YOU go?

I really enjoyed this one it was a beautifully written time traveling fantasy that I could not put down. The writing was easy to follow and atmospheric . The plot kept me flying through the pages and I loved the magic system as well it was unique but kept me guessing what could happen next! Look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was thrilled to receive an ARC of The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown from NetGalley and William Morrow, and it did not disappoint! I’m saddened it took me so long to read, after moving house I was just able to pick it up again and rejoin the story and I’m so thankful I did.
This novel is a captivating blend of mystery, adventure, and deeply woven character development. Brown’s storytelling is intricate yet easy to follow, pulling readers into a world where every door opens to new surprises—both literal and metaphorical. The pacing kept me engaged, and the vivid descriptions made me feel like I was walking through each of those doors myself. It’s a unique and thought-provoking read that I couldn’t put down. Highly recommend to fans of immersive, fantastical tales!

I tried several times to get into this, but it just wasn't for me. I couldn't connect with the characters and certain things were just too dark and disturbing. There was one scene where a villain did something awful to an innocent little girl that seemed completely random and pointless. It was too upsetting for me.

This book is magical and in fact, is about magical books. It has it all from books with secret powers and time travel to love and murder. I loved everything about this book. The writing is superb and all of the characters are very well developed. The story is beautiful and I teared up several times while reading. If you love books, I don't see how you can not love this story. This is one of my new favorites.

This book took me much too long to read.

I was looking for an escapist read, magical realism, urban fantasy, maybe some thoughtful reflection on society.

I liked Addie Larue, and Thousand Doors of January, and Caraval - each of which did a bit of what I was looking for.

I hoped this book would be the one that combined what I loved into a great adventure.

This? Wasn't that.

It was the author's debut novel, so I will likely give the author a second try. Much of my disappointment is with the writing, so a sophomore effort might bring me on board.

I loved this book! I was intrigued by the premise since I enjoy time travel books. Often times a book will have a great premise, but then the author can't pull it off. Gareth Brown pulls it off and then some. An enjoyable and satisfying read! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A woman is left a mysterious book that allows her to travel through doors around the world. However, this brings her into a dangerous world of book collectors who will do anything to get his valuable book.

I really liked the concept here and even the universe. I think my biggest problem was how many POVs there were. I understand why, but it definitely wasn’t my favorite here.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC of The Book of Doors!

Cassie is closing up at the bookstore she works at when one of her regular customers passes away in his chair nearby. As she is cleaning up his books once his body has been removed she discovers he has written a note giving it to her. As it turns out, this is no ordinary book. This magical book can make any door into a door leading anywhere. But Cassie is not the only one who wants to use it. Her life soon becomes more interesting and far more dangerous.

I was glad someone had given me a heads up that this book is GORY! I was not expecting that. Not a lot of instances but the few that are a pretty graphic for my taste. That being said, I really enjoyed the other parts of this book. It is hard to believe it is a debut as everything resolved itself by the end and that is no easy feat with time travel. It is a very unique premise that was well executed. This was a good book!

It was such a pleasure to read of this adventure. The writing style is so on point, a true revelation. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read it, a true self discovery

I wanted to love this based on the premise and from the recommendations I got but I just could not get into the book so it wasn't for me. For the right person, I'd still recommend but apparently I was not it.

For lovers of time traveling and all the effects it has on our reality.

Rating: 4.5/5⭐️
Release Date: Feb. 13 2024
Vibes:
🚪 Time Travel
🚪 Dangers of Magic
🚪 Bad People Do Bad Things

Review:

I cannot, in any real capacity, use my words effectively to tell you how dumbfounded I was by The Book of Doors. Even writing this review 6 months after my first read of it, I am in love with how well placed events were for the characters to develop how they did in such a strange magical system.

That said, if time-bending is one of those things that is difficult for you to follow, well... good luck.

Imagine finding yourself the owner of a strange book. It seems like nothing too out of the ordinary, until you turn the doorknob imagining, perhaps, somewhere tropical or luscious, somewhere far from your day to day life. And there it is, right in front of you. And suddenly, overnight, you are now the world's largest target, because you possess a very powerful magical book that can move not just to different places, but differents times too.

Are there parts of this book that were difficult to read? Absolutely. Characters say really hateful things, do horrendous things (torture included). That is part of the point of this story. Bad people will always look for more power so they can come out on top and squish everyone else in the process. But that is a select few characters. There are also characters that are fighting for the side of good even though they are terrified and have lost everything, and everyone before.

Keep in mind, this is written by a man. So some of the conversations between female characters is kind of... meh. But the story itself was so intriguing to me that I was able to pass over any food/body image comments without an issue. If you focus heavily on minor conversations, there will probably be some that you find upsetting.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.

Thank you to William Morrow, NetGalley, and Gareth Brown for this amazing book. Who has not ever wanted to escape to another world within a book? This is a book that tells of a book that allows the owner to open the book and step through a door into another world or even another time. Cassie works at a bookstore and one of her favorite customers passes away leaving her this very special book. Unfortunately there are some unsavory people also looking for the book. She does get some assistance from Drummond Fox but even with his help she still cannot avoid the fact that her book can be used for the purpose of evil. There is one enemy-The Bookseller—a woman that wants all the special magical books and she needs to try to keep them away from her.
Excellent writing and all the wide range of emotions for this book. I genuinely love it.

Y'all, this book was a ride - Of thrills, of feels, of so many things. Imagine having a book that was literal door that allowed you to enter into different places in space and time. Oh, and imagine, it was part of a set that did all kinds of things. And then imagine, that first book just came into your life - That's how Cassie's story begins. This one was a journey, but I loved the twists and turns. There were so many layers to this one, and I especially loved how it explored the emotions through Cassie's journey, especially with her relationships. I wasn't ever sure what might happen next and how everything connected, and that's what made this so, so wonderful. Thanks to NetGalley for the look at this February 2024 release!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for allowing me to read a digital ARC of "The Book of Doors" by Gareth Brown, an enthralling work of fantasy fiction. I finished the book after it came out on February 13, 2024, but I'm writing my review now. I apologize for the delay in writing this review.

I enjoyed reading "The Book of Doors." The characters, both good and evil, were engaging and well-developed. Cassie, a bookstore clerk, inherits the Book of Doors from an elderly gentleman who dies in the store one evening. Cassie had no idea of this book's magical abilities or the good and evil people who had spent decades looking for it; she, along with Izzy and Drummond, became entangled in a terrifying situation. The villains, who take pleasure in stalking, harassing, and murdering defenseless people, were especially chilling. They take what they want, using various books as weapons—the Book of Pain, etc. The use of time travel in the novel was well executed, and the plot was engaging and intriguing. The story portrays how books serve as portals, opening doors to different worlds in the past, present, and future, and how, sometimes, even good people do the unthinkable to protect them.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading "The Book of Doors" and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys good fantasy fiction.

4 out of 5 stars

This book left me with mixed feelings. While there were aspects I appreciated, others didn’t quite hit the mark.

The characters are a highlight, particularly Cassie, who discovers the Book of Doors and drives the plot. Cassie is compelling and relatable, not just because of her love for books but also due to her lonely circumstances. Unlike typical heroes, she’s nuanced and flawed, making her feel more authentic. Drummond Fox, the librarian who first encounters Cassie, adds intrigue with his mysterious and morally ambiguous nature. His perspective enhances the narrative by providing important background details.

The distinction between 'good' and 'bad' characters is well-executed. Cassie and Fox, despite their imperfections, are portrayed as morally better compared to The Woman, a sinister figure driven by a quest for power. While The Woman's motivations are revealed only at the end, her ruthlessness is clear throughout. However, one villainous character felt a bit over-the-top, bordering on the absurd, which detracted from his impact.

The writing style, unfortunately, was a stumbling block for me. It felt flat and simplistic, which diminished the tension in more intense scenes. This lack of emotional depth made it hard to connect with the characters, even though the plot itself was engaging enough to keep me invested.

On the plus side, the book’s use of time travel was excellent. The concept of the Book of Doors and its implications were well-explored, adding both excitement and emotional depth. Despite the prose's shortcomings, the time travel elements delivered some gripping and thought-provoking moments.

The ending left me torn. I’m still undecided about whether I loved the book or found it merely satisfactory. I rated it 4 stars because the elements I enjoyed were significant, but there were enough shortcomings to prevent it from being a standout read.

When you find a book that can take you anywhere and anytime what would you do with it? That is what this book asks and answers. I found it incredibly engaging and impulsively readable. I hoped for Cassie through the book that she would find a life she loves and can live in. I felt so bad for Drummond and hoped that meeting Cassie would help him move on from his past. Definitely a must read.