Okay so this has to be the most unique and brilliant book I have EVER read!!!! I don’t want it to ever end, I was entranced with it and dear god how I wanna read it all over again!!!

I can’t believe this is a debut….its a mesmerising and enchanting fantasy novel that transports readers to a world of magic and danger.

When Cassie is given a book by her favourite customer she realises it has powers to open any door you want, you think of somewhere you’ve been before, hold the book, open the door and you are there; soon her and her best friend Izzy are using the Book of Doors to travel the world and by doing so put themselves in immense danger, from people who want the book for its power; they meet Drummond Fox who who can help them as he himself has a whole library full of magical books!

Hence the adventures begin!!

A truly magical book full of adventure, romance, drama, edge of your seat stuff and totally unique in its plot.

Bravo it’s fantastic!

Beautifully written, descriptive and immersive.

I was pleasantly surprised how dark the story and characters could be, I will admit I was expecting a nice travelling story with some hijinx along the way, but boy was I wrong!

The plot starts from the get go, no messing around and I was hooked.
Just when I thought I had worked things out there was always something to keep me on my toes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher
4/5 ⭐️

I loved the premise of this book and couldn't wait to read it. It more than lived up to my expectations and I was completely immersed.

I’m a sucker for books about magical books, so The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown easily caught my attention. In Brown’s debut novel, Cassie is working her usual shift in a bookshop when she’s left a gift by a regular customer. The book is filled with odd writings and strange illustrations and has a message to Cassie informing her that telling her that this is the Book of Doors and that any door is every door. On the way home, she can’t get the message out of her head; does that mean what she thinks it means? No, that would be ridiculous, right? A book can’t open doors… can it?

When she gets home, she tells her friend and roommate Izzy about the book, and they find out that the does open doors. The two women don’t realise that their magical book is one of many, and that particular book is one that people would kill to get their hands on. Thrown into a dark and mysterious world, only one thing is for certain; Cassie and Izzy’s lives will never be the same again.

The synopsis for The Book of Doors hints at a lot; mystery, magic, dark powers, violence, and some unnamed evil. What it doesn’t mention is there’s a whole lot of time travel thrown in as well, and it is very well done. Brown has written an intense story that captures the essence of science fiction, the whimsy of fantasy and the thrill of mysteries. With interesting and charismatic characters, this is a book that will keep you glued to the pages until the very end. As mentioned, this book gets pretty dark and there is one particular character who is very repulsive (see content warnings for details). Overall, it’s a very clever story that isn’t afraid to show that people come in all shapes and sizes, with very different motivations and personalities.

The only thing that stopped this from being a five-star for me was that I felt the explanation about the creation of the books was a little lacking. Brown put a huge amount of detail into every other aspect of the Book of Doors, with every scene linking together perfectly. Yet with the books’ origin story, it felt like he dropped the ball a bit, and decided less was more. That would have worked if that approach had been taken with other areas of the book. Instead, it just felt out of place to me.

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown is stunning, especially when you realise that this is a debut. If this is Brown’s first book, I can’t wait to see what he does next.

The Book of Doors has been on my Amazon wishlist since last year so I was very grareful to receive a copy to review. What drew me to this book was the idea of a magic book that meant the owner could travel anywhere immediately, including to the past. When reading The Book of Doors I realised that it was more than just a book about a magic, it is a thriller, with lots of menace, it has adventure, time travel, and intrigue.

The Book of Doors was a revelation to me, in that there was a lot more to it than I originally thought. I loved the fast pace of this book, there was never a dull moment, meaning that I honestly couldn’t put it down. There is such a wonderful cast of characters, all have a quirkiness to them and some are absolutely terrifying. Cassie is the main protagonist of the book, a young woman working in a bookstore in New York who is left the Book of Doors by a regular customer Mr Webber. I loved Cassie and could relate to her on many levels, her joy in books, her wanting to use the book to visit her grandad rather than for the evil it could be used for. Her relationship with the other characters was very natural, she was kind and loyal to those she befriended, but as the plot progressed her dogged determination came out, her need to do the right thing even if it meant putting herself in danger. I was fascinated with her relationship with book collector, the enigmatic Drummond Fox, they had a lot in common including their wariness of trusting each other. Fox shows her the evil that wants to possess her book and others like it.I was really hoping for a romance between them, but Gareth Brown cleverly keeps this ambiguous.

Gareth Brown has a fantastic imagination that shines through in his writing. It is not only the Book of Doors that he creates, there are a whole library of others including The Book of Shadows, The Book of Despair, The Book of Pain and The Book of Mists. Some of these books, by account of their names, are used to control, to hurt and to kill. It is through these books that Gareth Brown adds a sinsister element and more than a touch of horror, most through a character that is simply called The Woman, a nightmarish character. This book flows beautifully, and kept my attention with the intrigue, adventure and twists and turns of the plot. For balance there is also Cassie’s heartwarming relationships with her Grandfather and Mr Webber.

The Book of Doors is a stunning debut from Gareth Brown. It works on so many levels and will appeal to so many readers with its complex plot and mix of magic, suspense, fantasy and a touch of horror. I found this an accomplished and beautifully written book with aimiable characters and compelling plot; who doesn’t like a book about books and saving books!!. Perfectly plotted with a dark undercurrent this is a stunning read.

I was sent a copy of The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown to read and review by NetGalley. The concept of this novel is brilliant and there are a lot of twists and turns to keep you interested. I did feel however, that it became a little confusing at times and somewhat repetitive in places. The story did jump around a lot, which you would expect when considering time travel and generally this was ok, but I did feel some episodes were unnecessary and there was one aspect in the book that wasn’t explained. I feel the prose could have been tightened up a bit, even though this is aimed at young adults, but overall it is a great read and I think it has the potential to turn into a series.

For me, this was a powerful book. I cried multiple times, especially so during the raw moments of grief and loss of paternal figures. There was an ache of loneliness that echoed throughout the book and it caught me unawares. I really connected with Cassie's desire to return to that feeling of home, of feeling displaced and adrift making her way through life.

From the beginning of the book, I was captivated by the irresistible bookish quotes and setting. Our main character works in a second-hand bookstore in New York, before being swept along on a journey to faraway places and high-stakes escapades. The glimpses of places such as Prague, Venice, New Orleans and New York have awoken my wanderlust and I'm now craving a solo trip to people watch and soak up a foreign city.

The magic system is a lovely metaphor for books holding power and having the ability to affect and transport you. All readers can relate to the feeling of getting lost or escaping within a book, as well as emerging having gained something unexpected. It reminded me a lot of The Starless Sea, The Midnight Library or The End of Mr Y, due to the prominence of books, libraries and doorways to other realities. However, this story felt more rooted in magical realism than your typical fantasy. Some twists (which I don't want to spoil) felt more sci-fi or paranormal in nature than magical and I'll be honest, many of the more scientific musings of the characters or events went over my head.

I don't disagree with other reviewers that some of the characters are abhorrent, designed to be shocking, racist, misogynistic and hateful and without those characteristics adding much to the plot. I can understand those who choose to avoid media with such content as that offends them. I am glad that I was able to stick with the story, to see the heroes take on such vile villains and values in the end.

Despite that, there is a coziness woven into the story that gives moments of comfort and respite. The Fox Library sounds like a reader's dream, made of old books, carved wood and comfy places to curl up with a cuppa. Regularly the characters steal precious minutes of camaraderie, croissants and coffee in far-flung corners of the world. I was generously provided with an e-book ARC and ended up switching to audiobook after the release and I really enjoyed the narrator's performance. She has a calm, soothing voice that lent itself to the story well. She also skillfully switched between accents and voices, Scottish, South African, French, English and American to name a few and that in itself left a lasting impression.

Thank you Random House UK and Gareth Brown for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is one of the most intelligent, heart-pounding, and enchanting books I've had the pleasure of reading in recent times. It resonates with both your intellect and your emotions. The author's imaginative storytelling whisks you away to diverse places and introduces you to intriguing, well-developed characters. You won't want to put this book down; it's the kind of story that makes you wish you could skip work and all other responsibilities, allowing you to immerse yourself in its mesmerizing words and magical universe.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

a captivating book that has you on the edge of your seat

and who wouldnt want to have all those adventures with all those doors at your finger tips.. but there are people after those special books for their own gain...

Cassie is a bookseller in New York, one day she’s gifted a book by a customer - a book that can open doors to anywhere in the world. At first Cassie finds this exciting….but then realises there are more books like this that do different kinds of things…and they are sought after- at any price.

This book is right up my street - magic, danger, excitement, and a little tinge of sadness.

It’s a fast paced read, and one that I really loved reading.

My thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for the copy

I loved the concept of this book so much. Books having different powers and the magic to do different things. I liked what was done with it. It didn’t disappoint me in that regard at all. It made me think of all the things I could do if I had the Book of Doors. Going anywhere I pleased. Which is what a book like this is meant to do. It makes you think about what you’d do if you had the powers in the book and takes you away into a new world.

I also liked the way it all fitted together. It was a really good standalone read. Everything was explained and it all fitted neatly together. I wasn’t confused or left wondering about any of it. I liked the ending, I felt it tied up all the loose ends nicely and though while I’d like to see another book with this magic and these characters, it didn’t feel like it needed one.

The only problem I had with it is that it needed a sensitivity reader in some parts. The author tried really hard to include diverse characters, but he didn’t treat them as well as they should have been treated. He fell into the trap of having the female main character look in the mirror and describe her boobs for one thing, which is something I hate to see. I was also particularly shocked to see him describe a black man as an animal. He meant it because he was evil, but considering the history of how black people and especially black men can be treated, it felt entirely inappropriate. A sensitivity reader could have picked up on these things and made it a much better book.

All in all though, I enjoyed it a lot, despite it’s flaws.

I really enjoyed this book, it was unique in its use of magic and the characters jumped off the page. I felt the main villain could have had more of an imposing presence on the story as a whole. There was however a lot I did enjoy about this story, the idea of having a book that can take you anywhere in time or space as long as you know the door you want to walk through.

What if you wanted to disappear into a book to your favorite place? Well that's what our heroine Cassie finds out. However not all is as it seems, as multiple people are after the book of doors. Danger lurks at every corner.

The characters leapt off the pages as I dove into this world. I love the writing style of this book!

Thanks for Net Galley for an early copy of this eARC.

“The Book of Doors” is a brilliant book by Gareth Brown.
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Plot: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Characters: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Adrenaline: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

This was a brilliant story! A book for books 🤯 ! What more can a bookworm like me ask? A perfect mixture of fantasy, adventure, good vs evil, moral ethics and of course books… magical books to be more precise! The writing style is good, reads quickly and has stories of multiple characters so you have a fuller idea of the story as you read all POVs. I loved that about this book. Language is simple without unnecessarily complicated words.

This book makes you want to be part of the story, wondering what you would do if you were to be gifted a book of doors that could lead you everywhere, even in the past. What would you give to have a chat with someone long gone? Or maybe a book of illusions is more your cup of tea? How many problems you could resolve if such books existed in real life, but also how dangerous it would be for humanity if they were to fall into the wrong pair of hands?

I would recommend it to all lovers of fantasy, magical powers, books about books and time travel. In my opinion is a must-read and I am definitely getting a copy for my library!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my early copy.

A captivating story which was whimsical and magical. I loved the writing style, would definitely recommend!

"Book of Doors" by Gareth Brown is a riveting fantasy novel that will transport readers into a world of magic, mystery, and adventure. The story follows Cassie Andrews, a New York bookseller who receives a mysterious gift from a favourite customer - a book filled with strange writing and drawings. This book, known as the Book of Doors, grants extraordinary powers to whoever possesses it, allowing them to travel to any desired location.
As Cassie and her best friend Izzy begin to explore the capabilities of the Book of Doors, they soon find themselves entangled in a dangerous game with individuals who seek to claim its power for themselves. With the help of Drummond Fox, a man with a collection of magical books, Cassie and Izzy must navigate violence and betrayal to protect the books and themselves.
The characters in the novel are well-developed and engaging, each grappling with their demons and insecurities. Cassie, in particular, is a relatable protagonist who is still coming to terms with the loss of her grandfather and the guilt she feels over his passing. Izzy provides a beautiful contrast to Cassie's introverted nature, adding humour and fun to the story.
Overall, "Book of Doors" is a captivating read that will appeal to fans of fantasy and adventure. Brown's imaginative world-building and suspenseful plot keep the reader hooked from beginning to end. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling escape into a world of magic and intrigue.

The Book of Doors is a journey of illusion and mystery. From the very beginning you are taken on an adventure where truth is distorted and belief is suspended.
I loved the idea of the different books and how they each had the power within them to manipulate and change things. Such a clever idea to use the physical form of the written word to hold such magic.
Cassie is a wonderful main character- her love of all things bookish so evident in her grasp for new adventures.
This is a story of friendship, of love and of grief and how it can make us stronger as we learn to live from the actions and stories of the past.

DNF @ 64%

I had such high hopes for this book but unfortunately, it had a lot of issues.

To start with the good, the concept was excellent. Such an interesting idea that drew me in completely and made me excited to read the story.

The not so good list is quite a bit longer.
I DNF’d at 64% for a few reasons - I was really struggling to stay interested in the story and as a result of that, didn’t really care what the outcome was. The obsession with food throughout the book was genuinely bizarre and a little concerning. The body shaming comments towards women were completely unnecessary. The racist slurs used (later in the book which I heard about from other reviewers) were again, completely unnecessary and if the writer has to resort to including those to make a character a villain, they should possibly consider another career.

Overall the bad far outweighed the good for me and having taken 4 days to get 64%, I felt I’d given it enough of a chance and have come to the realisation that this book isn’t for me.

The Book of Doors is a truly enjoyable read. Gareth Brown skilfully weaves together wonder and magic for this tale. I would recommend!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown 

Thank you Netgalley for the arc for an unbiased review.

This book is undoubtedly one some will enjoy. Indeed, it ticked off a lot of my preferences in the genre. 

And then it all began falling apart as I started reading. I was initially drawn into learning more about Cassie, the fmc. But on the introduction of Izzy, some of the unease I had on how the author was bringing in stereotypical tropes for women only began to increase.

The plot began to become overly lacklustre with pacing issues that were as up and down as much the book seemed to be. One minute I could enjoy something written, only to have it blown apart in the next sentence or paragraph. 

However, what really made the book stop being enjoyable, no matter how little I was gaining at this point, was the use of one bad guys outright racism, bigotry, misogyny and emotional brutality, that was frankly not at all needed. Some books that tackle certain subjects can use these as plotpoints. 

This is NOT that kind of book in my opinion. What on earth processed the author to write what he did I don't know? Or honestly why someone in the publishing team didn't flag it up as a poor idea! 

I did push myself to finish, but the book was ultimately ruined for me. Had I not got a review to write, I would have done something that is rare for me, with it becoming a DNF. As it was, I slogged through the rest, but nothing was able to pull it back for me. 

1 out of 5 stars and truthfully I have no regrets giving it such a low score.

Not a book I will bother with again, nor recommend. 

⭐️