The Book of Doors: A Contemporary Fantasy Race Against Time to Protect a Magical Library from Sinister Forces

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 LibraryThe Invisible Life of Addie LarueThe 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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Published Feb 13, 2024

416 pages

Average rating: 7.71

479 RATINGS

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What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say Gareth Brown’s *The Book of Doors* is a unique, fast-paced debut blending magic, time travel, and a vivid battle of good vs. evil. Many ap...

AgentH
Jan 06, 2026
7/10 stars
This was a compelling concept- in the nothingness Cassie created the magic books that cause wonder and chaos. The book seller, the librarian, the hunter, and the woman are all converging on Cassie and her bestie Izzy.
Kristin Rose
Sep 16, 2025
8/10 stars
Thoroughly enjoyed this one. The premise was at once familiar and unique, and it was not at all the story I thought it would be. My one gripe is that there’s a major plot hole to the story that I don’t feel was resolved or explained well enough at all. Otherwise, it was a great book.
Kris O.
Jan 05, 2026
8/10 stars
Overall this is a feel good kinda sappy book... with some really dark and gruesome elements. Kudos to the author for writing a book involving magic and time travel that still relies on the wits and intelligence of the characters to get them out of bad situations. The characters, at least the good guys, were nicely drawn with imperfections and indecisions like real people. The two villains were a bit cartoonish in their nastinees and unkillableness but not so bad that I stopped reading. The plot is smooth and pulls you along and even when it pauses, it doesn't do so long enough to bore the reader.
Amanda Lynne
Dec 04, 2025
9/10 stars
I loved the twists
NinjaNeo
Oct 06, 2025
10/10 stars
Several magical books exist, each one with its own unique magical ability, which in turn create an insane amount of plot twists! I thought I did a pretty awesome job at predicting what was coming next... and was wrong every time. The author was always one step ahead of me, and this book reminded me of why I love fantasy. You can literally invent a magical ability, change the magic rules, or introduce a new magical player. Brilliant creative imagery and beautiful writing!

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