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geneticginger's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Cassie works in a bookshop and one day is given a book that allows her to open any door in the world. She discovers that there are more 'special books' in the world along with a lot of danger from evil people wanting the books.
The premise of this book was fascinating, but the concept as a whole really fell flat. I've read all the books that this book is compared to (The Starless Sea, The Immortal Life of Addie LaRue, and The Midnight Library) and this book did not compare. It felt like this book was trying to do it all - fantasy, time travel, romance, mystery - without doing any of it well. The characters were underdeveloped and very one-note with no personality. The whole time travel feature was circular and had a weird element of mysticism that didn't make sense.
There were also several violent/gory scenes in the book that were hard to read with how descriptive they were and really turned my stomach.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.
The premise of this book was fascinating, but the concept as a whole really fell flat. I've read all the books that this book is compared to (The Starless Sea, The Immortal Life of Addie LaRue, and The Midnight Library) and this book did not compare. It felt like this book was trying to do it all - fantasy, time travel, romance, mystery - without doing any of it well. The characters were underdeveloped and very one-note with no personality. The whole time travel feature was circular and had a weird element of mysticism that didn't make sense.
There were also several violent/gory scenes in the book that were hard to read with how descriptive they were and really turned my stomach.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Violence
ninjamuse's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Gore
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Death, Death of parent, and Torture
alixgmartin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
This book is going to be a hit in 2024, I just know it. It's a book that speaks to the joy and magic of books, but also of travelling, scholarship, and friendship. We begin in one of a book lover's favorite places: a bookstore at closing time. One of Cassie's regular customers dies at his seat, leaving behind a mysterious book that takes Cassie on a trip of many lifetimes. I really don't want to say too much about how the plot works, because there are several surprises and I really enjoyed not knowing where we were going.
Cassie is such a good character, I actually wish we got to spend more time with her as her character grows over the course of the book. Cassie's relationships are important, and I loved how important her friendship with Izzy is. As I read, there were a few moments of confusion but I was delighted that every question I had (and a few I didn't know I had) were resolved in the very satisfying concluding part.
Definitely a book for those who believe that books are magic, and fans of Addie LaRue, 10,000 Doors of January, or The Ninth House.
Cassie is such a good character, I actually wish we got to spend more time with her as her character grows over the course of the book. Cassie's relationships are important, and I loved how important her friendship with Izzy is. As I read, there were a few moments of confusion but I was delighted that every question I had (and a few I didn't know I had) were resolved in the very satisfying concluding part.
Definitely a book for those who believe that books are magic, and fans of Addie LaRue, 10,000 Doors of January, or The Ninth House.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Murder
Moderate: Gore, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Misogyny, Vomit, and Racial slurs
fictionalsarah's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death of parent, and Gore
Moderate: Vomit
wyrmbergsabrina's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I am a huge fan of Stephen Moffat's era Doctor Who so I got on very well with The Book of Doors.
This tale is one that weaves it's spell as every step is crossed, as each link between events become clearer. It's a clever little number, even if some parts of it feel familiar. I really liked the main characters, Cassie and Izzy feel like real friends, people who have just hung out forever. The ones we meet along the way are an interesting mix, some using titles in this murky world of the Books.
While I felt that the ending was very neat (almost like a tick list that needed crossing off as it got it's own chapter) it was satisfying and the door was left open for new adventures in this world.
While I could go into huge details about the plot, that would spoil too much, so go into this one without knowing too much.
It's certainly clever, has some lovely rich details, and uses books in a way that many of us have sort of thought about, but not exactly like this.
Highly enjoyable.
This tale is one that weaves it's spell as every step is crossed, as each link between events become clearer. It's a clever little number, even if some parts of it feel familiar. I really liked the main characters, Cassie and Izzy feel like real friends, people who have just hung out forever. The ones we meet along the way are an interesting mix, some using titles in this murky world of the Books.
While I felt that the ending was very neat (almost like a tick list that needed crossing off as it got it's own chapter) it was satisfying and the door was left open for new adventures in this world.
While I could go into huge details about the plot, that would spoil too much, so go into this one without knowing too much.
It's certainly clever, has some lovely rich details, and uses books in a way that many of us have sort of thought about, but not exactly like this.
Highly enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gore, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Gun violence
eviethebookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Death of parent, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Cancer, and Vomit
Minor: Animal death and Terminal illness
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