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ursociallyawkwardbud's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Acephobia/Arophobia
melaniereadsbooks's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really enjoyed this book! It is definitely a slow-paced one and felt like it was taking a while for me to really get into the story, but I loved it! The world building is so interesting and dark and creepy! I really loved Kamai and thought she was an amazing main character. I also liked some of the side characters a lot! I really loved the Soul Chart and discussions of the Asexual and Aromantic Spectrum!
Really great book!
Really great book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Blood, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Misogyny
story_goblin's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I don't even remember how I heard about this book- some algorithm somewhere I think pulled it as similar to what else I read. Honestly, the premise did sound interesting, but I read "asexual main character" and immediately put it on my TBR list. It took me a while to get my hands on it and then even longer to finally find the time and space to read it. Even then, I almost couldn't. I was extremely stressed when I started this book and seeing a young girl think she has a voice when she's really just being manipulated and controlled by men was just too much; I had to set it down until I wasn't as stressed. But I finally finished it and am very glad I did. Overall this is a unique premise/world with great characters and a promise that a path CAN indeed be found no matter how dark or hopeless things may seem.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, and Self harm
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Pregnancy
readandfindout's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Style/writing: 3.5 stars.
Themes: 4 stars
Characters: 3.5 stars
Plot: 4.5 stars
Worldbuilding: 4.5 stars
Themes: 4 stars
Characters: 3.5 stars
Plot: 4.5 stars
Worldbuilding: 4.5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Grief, Blood, and Death
Minor: Suicide attempt and Pregnancy
alex_reads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Blood, Death, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
scribblesandsuch's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
It was so good. The universe, the queerness, the plot. All incredible. I so deeply enjoyed reading this book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Self harm
booksthatburn's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Beyond the Black Door is a magical journey of introspection and buried secrets in the wake of tragic loss, where the kingdom's fate depends on what's been hidden in several souls.
I appreciate that this book which is called “beyond the black door”, and begins with the MC talking about how they’re not allowed to open said door, doesn’t let the story drag on before the door is opened and exploration begins. There’s enough of a lead-up to build anticipation for the door opening, but the book doesn’t tease about whether or not it will indeed be opened. It has an inevitability and a poignancy without taking too long.
Around halfway through some information about a character was revealed which confirmed something about their identity that I’d been wondering since they first showed up. It was well done, especially since from the start they were behaving in ways that first made me guess at the information, then their actions made me dare to hope I was right, then it was confirmed. It felt like getting a glimpse into someone else's story, besides the MC, I mean. I'm writing this about a very specific thing, but it could actually apply to several things because of how good this book is at foreshadowing.
The pacing felt a little uneven but I think it ultimately works. The first third or so passed very quickly then around the halfway mark the story slowed to a crawl as a lot of information was conveyed through various conversations which were mostly infodumps and revelations. It then picked back up again as it became time to do something about all that information the MC had been given. I do like how when information we already had was discussed, the book tended to refer to the information rather than saying the details all over again. At least partly due to the first-person narration it's a very introspective book. We stay locked in on what's happening in the MC's head, and while she's pretty good about telling us what's going on around her, the focus is definitely internal for much of the time. It works well, especially since the ability to travel inside people's soul rooms allows for a kind of magical mind reading that isn't as direct as the more conventional depictions of it, while narratively allowing for some of the same mischief as the typical kind permits.
The world-building is great and the characterization is really well done. I love the way the antagonists are handled. You could argue for several different people to be the true villain, but there are definitely several antagonists who all get their own resolutions. The thing I love so much about it is that even if that resolution is that they weren't as evil or nefarious as the MC originally thought, there are still consequences for their actions in a way that doesn't lock the MC into requiring a particular kind of vengeance, if any. Attempting to say it simply: this book explicitly leaves space for everyone's actions to be understandable without requiring that they also be forgivable. It's such a vital distinction, and the way it plays out across the whole book was fantastic to read.
I appreciate that this book which is called “beyond the black door”, and begins with the MC talking about how they’re not allowed to open said door, doesn’t let the story drag on before the door is opened and exploration begins. There’s enough of a lead-up to build anticipation for the door opening, but the book doesn’t tease about whether or not it will indeed be opened. It has an inevitability and a poignancy without taking too long.
Around halfway through some information about a character was revealed which confirmed something about their identity that I’d been wondering since they first showed up. It was well done, especially since from the start they were behaving in ways that first made me guess at the information, then their actions made me dare to hope I was right, then it was confirmed. It felt like getting a glimpse into someone else's story, besides the MC, I mean. I'm writing this about a very specific thing, but it could actually apply to several things because of how good this book is at foreshadowing.
The pacing felt a little uneven but I think it ultimately works. The first third or so passed very quickly then around the halfway mark the story slowed to a crawl as a lot of information was conveyed through various conversations which were mostly infodumps and revelations. It then picked back up again as it became time to do something about all that information the MC had been given. I do like how when information we already had was discussed, the book tended to refer to the information rather than saying the details all over again. At least partly due to the first-person narration it's a very introspective book. We stay locked in on what's happening in the MC's head, and while she's pretty good about telling us what's going on around her, the focus is definitely internal for much of the time. It works well, especially since the ability to travel inside people's soul rooms allows for a kind of magical mind reading that isn't as direct as the more conventional depictions of it, while narratively allowing for some of the same mischief as the typical kind permits.
The world-building is great and the characterization is really well done. I love the way the antagonists are handled. You could argue for several different people to be the true villain, but there are definitely several antagonists who all get their own resolutions. The thing I love so much about it is that even if that resolution is that they weren't as evil or nefarious as the MC originally thought, there are still consequences for their actions in a way that doesn't lock the MC into requiring a particular kind of vengeance, if any. Attempting to say it simply: this book explicitly leaves space for everyone's actions to be understandable without requiring that they also be forgivable. It's such a vital distinction, and the way it plays out across the whole book was fantastic to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Sexism, Blood, Violence, Kidnapping, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal death and Suicide
CW for animal death (not depicted), misgendering (brief), sexism, blood, violence, kidnapping, self harm, attempted suicide, major character death, parental death, death.
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