The Door in Lake Mallion has an interesting premise, but ultimately, this is high school romance, in which two strangers meet and fall instantly in love, right after one of them is dumped by an abusive, lying former partner. Their relationship forms the basis for the rest of the novel. I had difficulty getting into the beginning, and had to really push to get through to the meat of the plot. There were parts that I enjoyed, but overall, while there's nothing wrong with this book, it's simply not to my taste; given that this is book two in a quartet, which I didn't realize until after I read it, it's possible that I'd feel differently if I'd read book one. Still, I don't feel like I was missing plot points; rather, the story doesn't flow quite enough to create the suspension of belief, the visualization, that novels that truly capture my attention do. Given the age of the characters, this is a novel that may appeal more to middle and high school age readers, and that is who I would recommend it for.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lyrical writing and stunning cover, but this moved too slow for me. A quieter book might be totally up someone else’s street, but I’d like to be pulled into the story faster.

DNF review

The premise sounded really intriguing, but unfortunately the story didn't grab me as I hoped.

However, I recommend it for those who enjoy YA romantasy with monsters, LGBTQIA and disability representation.

I loved the first book in this quintet so I was over the moon to receive the second. I was expecting the story to continue where it left off, but instead we are sent back into another town on the lake for a whole new story. There are mentions of Quixx, and a little “linkage” made but as a book it does stand on its own.

Once again, this is a really good read, I did sometimes want to give Dunstan a good shake though! Overall, a great read, it was good to see another town (or two). The characters are excellent and the world/town building was fantastic- I did feel like I was there.

I look forward to the next instalment!

My thanks to Netgalley and ECW Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ultimately, this was not quite the book for me.

I appreciate how distinct Dunstan felt, he felt very well realised, and I did not enjoy the structure of the story using theatrical elements. But I couldn't connect to Dunstan's journey and his relationship with Prince Ven - to me it felt a little inauthentic and forced. I understand the genre convention of feelings developing quickly, but here it didn't land for me personally.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC for my honest review!

This sequel in the Brindlewatch Quintet continues to build on its magical world, introducing readers to a mesmerizing blend of fantasy elements and enchanting settings. The plot kicks off with Dunstan’s dramatic plunge into Lake Mallion, leading him to a realm where he meets the mysterious Prince Ven. While the premise of a magical door and an alternate world is intriguing, the story felt a bit slow for me. I struggled with the initial setup and had a hard time getting fully immersed. I’m planning to read the first book in the series before revisiting this one to see if my perspective changes. For now, it’s a solid three stars.

If I could term this book as something, it would be a very warm hug. It's the epitome of cozy fantasy. It made me nostalgic and the writing was just so soothing. The characters were so well written that you could and would root for them. Love this one! (Original rating - 4.75 stars).

An atmospheric, fantastical world all in one story. I really enjoyed it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this.

DNF, could not get passed the first chapter. I do not like the set up of the book or how they start it by deliberately telling us the ways of the first chapter.