The Door in Lake Mallion is a cozy fantasy with some world-building sprinkled about, but it can be a bit tricky to follow at times. Dunstan, the main character, gets swept into a mysterious new world after a dramatic plunge into a lake, where he meets Ven. The setting is detailed with a unique storytelling device that alternates between present adventure and “scenes” that set the story, but the narrative doesn’t always move forward enough, which can make it hard to stay hooked.

The plot takes its time to develop, which might leave you feeling a little lost here and there. The romance between Dunstan and Ven also feels a little off, which doesn’t help with following the emotional beats of the story.

The narrator does a great job, no complaints about that. However, the sound quality isn't always consistent. I had to equalize the audio with a third party app because the quiet parts are too low and had to be turned up, which led to the loud parts hurting my ears. Because there's always the possibility this is on my end, I will only include this in my NetGalley feedback.

All that said, the book has a cozy atmosphere and the way it explores identity and personal struggles is fun. If you're into slower, character-driven stories with a unique fantasy world, it’s worth sticking with, but be prepared for a bit of a meandering journey.

Unfortunetly this book just wasn't as good as I expected. The writing was confusing and I just didn't connect with any of the characters. I enjoyed the world settings but that is pretty much the only saving grace of this book.

I was really confused for a good part of the begining of this story. The play narration was a neat premise but as far as setting up a book and pulling me in it really made it dis-conjoined for me. It made it really impersonal and like I was being told what was happening instead of letting me be there in the story. I think this was made a little worse when the audio track made a weird glitch and sounded like I was listening to it under water. The world building was unique and I like the idea of the lake and the realm where the MMC can see and is not going blind. I think that the premise of this book is great and I may pick up a physical copy to see if I can get a better grasp on the parts that confused me so much.

Thank you to Netgalley and ECW Press for the Advanced Listener’s Copy.

I’ll start with the bad. There were some audio quality discrepancies that made for an inconsistent listening experience. There was an entire scene that sounded like it had been recorded with a potato and was really grating on the ears.

Personally I am not a big fan of insta-love which this book very much exhibits. Dunstan and Ven meet, flirt, and kiss all within the span of about five minutes. By day two of knowing each other they are “boyfriends.” The chemistry between them is undeniable and endearing but it was hard to forget they had spent mere hours together and were so immediately attached, especially given the inter-species nature of their relationship.

I really couldn’t get ahold of what the physical description of the Jetties was supposed to be. They’re described as lizard people with scales but never find out exactly how close or far from human they appear. My mental picture of Ven was a constantly amorphous physique that ranged from a D&D Dragonborn to Voldemort depending on the needs of the scene. We find out the town’s commemorative mermaid statue is in fact a sculpture o Jettite so do they look like mermaids? It’s all very confusing without any character art to accompany the book.

That said, the world building for Lake Mallion is phenomenal. We’re dropped into a queer-normative world where no one questions the star quarterback for the football team having a boyfriend and half the town believes in a magic door beneath the lake. The town is essentially ran by a posse of boss moms and the reveal of character as trans is taken in stride. The underground kingdom of Jet is described beautifully and the ambiance of Knockum is cozy and intriguing. We also get to find out a bit how this expands out into the rest of the world toward the end.

The best aspect of Lake Mallion is its characters. Ven in particular is clever and quippy (and every time he called Dunstan “bright eyes” my heart melted), and Dunstan is infectiously optimistic. They are so fun to follow about and root for and near impossible not to like even with all their flaws. Even the characters who are adversarial have their chance to grow and become quite endearing.

I found the plot quickly addictive and had a hard time putting the story down once I had started. I wanted to listen to it all the time, and though I’m a person who usually needs something to do with my hands to process audiobooks well, I spent the second half of the story mostly just laying on my back listening intently to absorb every second of Paul van Dyck’s narration.

Speaking of the narration, it was quite engaging and I was very impressed with the variety of voices Paul was able to use to make characters distinct. He did an amazing job bringing everyone to life. There were times Dunstan was a little annoying to listen to but it fit very much within his character I think to be a bit squeaky and all over the place. I think If I had been reading instead of listening to Paul tell the story, some of the lightheartedness and whimsy would be lost.

Overall, Lake Mallion’s audiobook was a very enjoyable experience. There are a few flaws but nothing that outweighed the fun ride you go on with the characters.

DNF review

The premise sounded really intriguing and the narrator was top notch, but unfortunately the audiobook didn't grab me as I hoped.

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

Thank you to net galley and the author for this arc copy. Sadly i didn’t like this audio book at all. I found it hard to get into it I ended up forcing myself to finish the book. I wish I hadn’t of forced my self as it was not the book for me. Xxx

A Fantasy World Brought to Life (a 3.5 star that’s rounded up to 4)

S.M. Beiko’s The Door in Lake Mallion, the second installment in the Brindlewatch Quintet, immerses readers in a richly imaginative world filled with magic, mystery, and the complexities of identity. The novel features a diverse cast of characters, including strong LGBTQIA+ representation, and explores themes of self-discovery, courage, and rewriting one’s story. Paul Van Dyck’s narration enhances these fantastical elements with his varied tone and inflection, making it easy for listeners to get lost in the narrative. His skillful delivery adds depth to the characters, especially during scenes where the protagonist, Dunstan, and Prince Ven’s storylines intersect. I found that listening at a speed of 1.50x best maintained the story’s rhythm and clarity, allowing Paul’s performance to truly shine.

However, I noticed some technical inconsistencies in the audiobook. In Act 2, Scene 6, Part 1 and Part 2, the audio quality noticeably shifts, with the narration suddenly becoming either muffled or louder than the rest of the book. This discrepancy creates an awkward listening experience, as it feels as though these segments were recorded separately, disrupting the overall flow. While it’s not a deal-breaker, this variance in sound quality might take some listeners out of the immersive world that Beiko and Van Dyck work hard to create.

The novel itself is filled with beautiful world-building and complex storytelling. But the beginning of the book can feel a little disjointed, making it difficult to grasp the full context of what’s happening. I found myself having to rewind often to catch critical details that were either not fully explained or introduced too abruptly.

Given the dense world-building and the novel’s intricate structure, I believe The Door in Lake Mallion is best enjoyed when read physically. Using the audiobook as a supplement while reading along can help provide a fuller understanding of Beiko’s lush prose and vivid storytelling, especially during parts where the plot becomes more convoluted or when technical audio issues are present.

Overall, while The Door in Lake Mallion is engaging and creative, the complex storytelling might not be fully appreciated through the audiobook format alone. I’d recommend combining both formats to experience the narrative’s full impact.
Thank you to ECW Press Audio, NetGalley, and S.M. Beiko for providing this eARC!

The beginning of this book was very confusing and made it hard to get into. There was a lack of world building that the book really needed and there was almost nothing to set up the plot of the book. Also the parts of the book that were written like a play, didn't work for me.

Sometimes the main character was likeable and I found myself rooting for him being able to stay in the underwater world where he wasn't losing his sight, but other times, he annoyed me and I didn't want that for him.

Unfortunately, I just wasn't able to become invested in this book or characters otherwise.

Thank you to S.M. Beiko, ECW Press Audio, and NetGalley for the Advanced Listener's Copy of this book.

“The Door in Lake Mallion,” by S. M. Beiko

I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars because I see how I would’ve loved this book when I was in middle school/ high school, and I think it’s perfect for those ages. I would’ve given it below a 3 if it was purely on my own taste. I did not like the play write layout to the story with interludes and such. The main character was a little annoying how he wanted to constantly be the star and outshine everyone else at all times, kind of gave me pick me girl vibes but I think all little kids have a very annoying side, so it fits in with the age range. I did like the M/M story and the fact that MMC is going blind in his world but not the lake world, which is why he wants to stay so bad. The audiobook narration for this book fits the age range and brings out the characters.

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

I really struggled with this book and almost DNF a few times.
This is very much on the younger end of YA. The disability rep felt awkward and at times problematic. The narration itself was average, it wasn't terrible and it wasn't stand out either. I feel like the premise of this book promised alot but it fell flat for me.

I loved the concept of this book, but didn’t enjoy the execution at all. That’s not to say that this is a terrible story, but I didn’t enjoy it.

I also wasn’t the greatest fan of the narration. Sometimes I felt myself really wandering when listening, and usually like to feel myself more drawn into the story.

I’ve chosen not to review this one on public channels as it may just be that this story wasn’t for me.

I received an advanced listeners copy of the Door In Lake Mallion by S. M. Beiko from NetGalley. The visual of the underwater city is fun, and would be great to see as an animated setting. Overall, this book feels like it leans towards the younger side of YA, but I liked the idea of a dramatic theatre kid as the main character. It just wasn’t for me though, and I ended up DNFing it at 25%. Rounding up to 3 from 2.5.

Thank you to NetGalley for approving my request to listen to an audio arc of this book.

On first inspection this book sounded unique and interesting, but sadly I had to DNF a quarter of the way through. This book just didn’t grab me and I also was put off by the way Dunstan’s sight disability was written. I don’t know if he comes to accept it later in the book, and I hope he does. But having a character believe he is going blind as a punishment for his sins is very offensive and to have his sight be completely clear in the other realm seemed like the common “fix it” trope I was hoping we’d moved past.

I wanted to like this. The premise is right up my alley, but the execution leaves something to be desired. It's just dull. Which is crazy to say when the book starts off with the attempted murder of the MC by his classmates.

I love the idea of this book, but the writing isn't working for me at the moment; there seems to be more telling than showing, with interludes telling a lot of the story.

As for the narration, this was fine but not my favourite.

I may try this again as I hate DNFing review copies, but for now I'm not into it.

Overall, I'd rate it 2.5 stars, because I see a lot of potential and I liked the creativity.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ALC