I can’t say enough great things about “Earth’s Door: The Song of Immaru” by PJ Dudek! It definitely made my top 3 list for 2024, and I can totally see it becoming a best seller!

Set 100 years in the future, in a sort of dystopian setting, it follows the story of Tarin, and his troubled past. Much of his past he can’t even remember, which has caused further problems for him. One night at Old Cotton’s Bar, he meets a stranger named Gil, who knows Tarin, but Tarin has no recollection of. Could Gil really have answers to Tarin’s past?

For Tarin, life on earth is not all it seems anymore. Strange sightings in the sky, much of the world on the brink of war- Is there more out there than he can see? Tarin will have to face the ultimate battle between good and evil, but is he strong enough to withstand the memories he’s shut out?

If you’re a fan of Dune, Star Wars, Brandon Sanderson novels, or The circle Trilogy by Ted Dekker you will LOVE this book! The world building was magnificent, the characters were so relatable and lovable, and it had the perfect balance of action and real life friendships.

I especially loved that this is a book I could easily share with my teenagers! There was no swearing, and no spicy content. You get to read about Tarin growing as a person and facing very uncomfortable challenges from his past. There’s a very obvious good versus evil theme going throughout much of the book, which I thought was very well done! I cant wait to read book 2!

I rate this book as 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received a free copy of this book from @netgalley in exchange for my honest, unbiased opinion.

I would like to thank the author and the publisher for the chance to read this book and for the e-copy provided in order to provide an independent review. This book had some good things going for it. Without giving away too much, it has elements of a portal fantasy, apocalyptic fantasy and a whiff of sci-fi. I felt like the novel wanted to do a few things too many, though it was interesting and definitely had a novel feel to it. I always ask for something new, and then the new either ends up being really great or ends up not quite clicking. For me I eagerly started and it took me a bit too long to really get pulled into the story. I felt like the story could end up starting much closer to the end-or even, much closer to the middle. The non earth world was much more compelling to me than a Dakota rest stop, though that would also be alien to me, ironically. The elements for something great are here, and I feel bad that I couldn't love this book the way it deserves to be. I think fans of Terry Brooks or Steven Donaldson may like to give this a try.

In the theatre you have suspend your disbelief. A good actor will make you forget about this. A bad one will remind you at every turn. This book unfortunately felt like the latter. The characters weren't having a dynamic conversation between them, but it was the author having a conversation with themselves. All I could think while reading this was: This is not how people talk. It made the characters feel like cardboard, with Tarin being the most egregious example.

The writing is fine for the most part (other than conversations). Descriptions were enough to get a general sense of the scene. I will say there's a couple of odd descriptions of characters, particularly women. Abigail seems to be the worst example of this. She is described as 'very pretty, even if a tad plain, but somehow that made her seem more approachable'. The writing in the book is the strongest part.

I don't have much to say about the story. It's been told before and it's been told better. The issue with telling a story that's already been told is that the only way to stand out is excellence. Something about your book needs to be phenomenal to not get lost in the sea of mediocre facsimiles. This book, in my opinion, does not have that.

In conclusion, I don't think you will leave this book thinking it's the greatest thing you've ever read, but you can definitely do a lot worse than this one. I really wish I saw in this what everyone else seems to see. That said, I do think the author should keep writing, as I do see the potential. I just don't think this is the one.

Excellent book. I was lucky enough to beta read this book before its release and it was a real treat. The story is awesome and the characters feel real and unique. It appealed to my inner geek and is for sure one not to miss.

"The Song of Immaru: Earth's Door" by P.J. Dudek is a captivating blend of mystery, sci-fi, and fantasy that transports readers to the vast plains of South Dakota where protagonist Tarin seeks solace from his troubled past. The narrative weaves together elements of memory loss, global unrest, and cosmic revelations, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they unravel the secrets of Tarin's forgotten past and the true nature of the world around him. With vivid imagery and a gripping plot, Dudek crafts a mesmerizing tale that explores the depths of human consciousness and the interconnectedness of the universe. Fans of thought-provoking speculative fiction will find themselves immersed in this intricately crafted story from beginning to end.

Set against the backdrop of both a fantastical past and a tumultuous present, "The Song of Immaru" follows Tarin, a young man haunted by vivid dreams and a troubled past, who discovers that his nightmares might be more than mere figments of his imagination. As he navigates a life filled with ordinary challenges—like his job at a ranch and his battle with alcoholism—the line between reality and dreams blurs, unveiling secrets that could change the course of his life.

I really enjoyed Dudek's writing and the way he bridged the gap between the fantastical and the everyday. As I was reading, I was eager to keep turning pages because of the way the story gradually unfolds. The length of the book felt daunting at the start, but actually reading through was a fun experience. I appreciated that the main character, Tarin, felt so relatable as a person. Even though I couldn't relate to the exact struggles he had, I appreciated that he wasn't the picture-perfect hero. Overall, I really enjoyed this read and would definitely recommend it to other fans of this genre.

This was a classic good versus evil story. I enjoyed it, and the role playing game made it fun. I also enjoyed the references to greys and other aliens. It has potential. Thank you for a fun read.