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The Book of Doors: A Novel
A debut novel full of magic, adventure, and romance, The Book of Doors opens up a thrilling world of contemporary fantasy for readers of The Midnight Library, The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, The Night Circus, and any modern story that mixes the wonder of the unknown with just a tinge of darkness.
Cassie Andrews works in a New York City bookshop, shelving books, making coffee for customers, and living an unassuming, ordinary life. Until the day one of her favorite customers--a lonely yet charming old man--dies right in front of her. Cassie is devastated. She always loved his stories, and now she has nothing to remember him by. Nothing but the last book he was reading.
But this is no ordinary book...
It is the Book of Doors.
Inscribed with enigmatic words and mysterious drawings, it promises Cassie that any door is every door. You just need to know how to open them.
Then she's approached by a gaunt stranger in a rumpled black suit with a Scottish brogue who calls himself Drummond Fox. He's a librarian who keeps watch over a unique set of rare volumes. The tome now in Cassie's possession is not the only book with great power, but it is the one most coveted by those who collect them.
Now Cassie is being hunted by those few who know of the Special Books. With only her roommate Izzy to confide in, she has to decide if she will help the mysterious and haunted Drummond protect the Book of Doors--and the other books in his secret library's care--from those who will do evil. Because only Drummond knows where the unique library is and only Cassie's book can get them there.
But there are those willing to kill to obtain those secrets. And a dark force--in the form of a shadowy, sadistic woman--is at the very top of that list.
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Community Reviews
Thank you so much to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!
I have so much to say about this book but I also donât want to give anything away because it was such a wonderful journey. First off, I cannot believe this is a debut novel. The prose is elegant with just the right amount of wonder. It pulled me in in a way that most books canât do: quickly and for almost 400 pages. Itâs long but not meandering, which is a feat in itself.
I think this book has everything someone could want in a book: beautiful imagery (and not so beautiful imagery), subtle romantic undertones, magic (but not the cheesy kind), and lovely characters that have unique and lovable personalities. There is excellent closure on all the important storylines that feels satisfying to the reader and still holds complexity of conflicting human emotion.
Seriously, an incredible debut and something that Iâll hold in my brain for a good while (and recommend to lots of friends the second it comes out). Congrats to Gareth Brown on a job well done!
I have so much to say about this book but I also donât want to give anything away because it was such a wonderful journey. First off, I cannot believe this is a debut novel. The prose is elegant with just the right amount of wonder. It pulled me in in a way that most books canât do: quickly and for almost 400 pages. Itâs long but not meandering, which is a feat in itself.
I think this book has everything someone could want in a book: beautiful imagery (and not so beautiful imagery), subtle romantic undertones, magic (but not the cheesy kind), and lovely characters that have unique and lovable personalities. There is excellent closure on all the important storylines that feels satisfying to the reader and still holds complexity of conflicting human emotion.
Seriously, an incredible debut and something that Iâll hold in my brain for a good while (and recommend to lots of friends the second it comes out). Congrats to Gareth Brown on a job well done!
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this - :) At first I was hesitant - although a big fan of fantasy in my youth I was not sure how much I would enjoy this genre in my adult years - HOWEVER I was pleasantly surprised and absolutely smitten by this story and it's characters - what a treat! What I enjoyed the most was the nostalgic tone and sentimentality woven throughout - there were many moments where I found myself drawn into a contemplative state vis-a-vis my own life and choices (and only good books have this effect on me!) This is a warm, heartfelt and deep read that encourages reflection and introspection - a must-read - :)
Magic, time travel, a little gore that came out of nowhere, and overall fantastic writing!!! I enjoyed every bit of this book (ok minus the gore but it made the villain as scary as she needed to be). A battle of good vs evil with vivid descriptions and a likable cast of characters. If you loved Addie LaRue, you’ll love Cassie! Book #80 in 2024
Gareth Brown's debut sci-fi novel, "The Book of Doors," is an exhilarating tale of adventure, magic, time travel, and the enduring struggle between good and evil. The story follows Cassie Andrews, a bookseller at Kellner Books in the Upper East Side of New York City, who receives the eponymous book as a gift from Mr. John Webber after his passing. The small, leather-bound book is inscribed with the words "This is the book of doors. Hold it in your hand, and any door is every door," along with a message from Mr. Webber expressing his gratitude for Cassie's kindness.
As Cassie reflects on her memories of Venice, she opens her apartment door and finds herself standing in the exact spot in Venice from her recollections. Discovering the book's mystical ability to transport her anywhere in the world that she envisions, Cassie embarks on a magical adventure with her roommate and best friend, Isabella "Izzy" Cattaneo. They travel to their favorite New York bars, libraries, and delis, but their journey takes a dangerous turn when they encounter Dr. Hugo Barbary, who possesses "The Book of Pain" and "The Book of Control."
Realizing the dangerous potential of "The Book of Doors" if it falls into the wrong hands, Cassie and Izzy team up with the enigmatic Scotsman, Drummond Fox, also known as "The Librarian," whose mission is to collect and safeguard the sacred books. Drummond possesses several other mystical books, including "The Book of Joy," "The Book of Memories," "The Book of Shadows," and "The Book of Luck." Together, they must protect these books from those who seek to use their powers for malevolent purposes.
Of the twenty books, Drummond has only cataloged seventeen and placed them into four categories:
1. Books that affect the external reality of the physical world
“Book of Illusion.”
2. Books that have an impact on the internal state of humans “emotions and feelings”
“Book of Joy,” “Book of Despair,” “Book of Pain,” “Book of Memories.”
3. Books that give those who wheeled them superhuman powers: Superpower books
“Book of Speed,” “Book of Faces,” “Book of Shadows,” “Book of Control,” “Book of Safety,” “Book of Health,” “Book of Destruction.”
4. Books that effect on the laws of the universe.
“Book of Light,” “Book of Luck,” “Book of Matter,” “Book of Mist,” “Book of Flame,” “Book of Doors,”
Drummond utilizes his Book of Memories to introduce Rachel Belrose, known as "The Woman," who embodies pure evil. She possesses several malevolent books, including "The Book of Despair" and "The Book of Destruction," and is determined to acquire all the books in existence, stopping at nothing to achieve her goal.
"She remembered how each of them had suffered, the sound of their pain. She thought about them often. Them and the other people she would make suffer in the future, the pain she would inflict."
Drummond, Cassie, and Izzy join forces with Hjaelmer Lund and Azaki, along with the enigmatic "Bookseller" Lottie Moore, in a bid to thwart The Woman's nefarious schemes. Together, they strive to put an end to her wickedness and protect the world from her destructive ambitions.
When Drummond reveals to Cassie that her Book of Doors can do more than just transport her anywhere in the present, it unlocks the book's full potential. Drummond explains, "You can open a door to the past," initiating a multilayered timeline encompassing the past, present, and future. As Cassie explores this newfound ability, she discovers how individual choices can profoundly impact future outcomes.
In the chapter "Nothing and Nowhere," the origin of the books and their placement throughout the world is revealed, albeit too swiftly and with insufficient explanation. While some reviewers have managed to grasp how the void enabled the creation of the books, there's a logical inconsistency in that the books needed to have been created in order to enter the void, creating a "chicken or the egg" scenario. The novel's timeline, starting in 2022 and ending in 2023 but jumping back to 2012 and even 1970, is confusing. Several aspects don't add up, especially when events in the current timeline are influenced by actions resulting from time travel. Additionally, Brown's use of derogatory statements, including racial slurs and racist animal attribute comparisons, adds nothing of value to the plot and is cringeworthy.
“My eye is bloodshot. Some fucking ape slapped me like I was his wife.”
“That Jap and his ape must have been working for her.”
“Some fucking ape slapped me like I was his wife.”
In addition to the problematic prose, Brown relies on stereotypical representations of American cuisine. Drummond, despite spending ten years in America, complains about hamburgers and hot dogs being the only food options. His comments about croissants and the portrayal of New Orleans are particularly inaccurate. It's puzzling how Brown conducted his research, if at all, because a basic Google search would have yielded a more accurate and detailed description of New Orleans' culture and cuisine.
I appreciated how this novel delved into themes of loss, pain, and the journey to overcome destabilizing grief. Drummond carries the heavy burden of guilt for not being able to save his friends from The Woman. He is described as attractive, but his smile, which hasn't appeared since witnessing his friends' demise at the hands of The Woman's superpowers, is a rare sight. Cassie, on the other hand, grapples with the grief of not being present with her father during his final moments. This weighty sorrow leads her to close herself off from love, punishing herself to avoid experiencing such pain again. Together, Drummond and Cassie gradually learn to move forward and open their hearts and minds to a life filled with laughter and healing, a transformation that was truly delightful to witness.
This book is a journey. Give it a chance. There comes a moment in the book where connections start happening giving reason and meaning. This leads you down one left turn after another. I truly felt like I did not expect the journey I went on and I enjoyed it even more for that reason. It was a full circle book. Well done.👌
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