Synopsis
"When one enters a door, one must be brave enough to see the other side."
In a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artifacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored, and utterly out of place.
Then she finds a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds, and tells a tale of secret doors, or love, adventure, and danger. Each page turn reveals impossible truths about the world, and January discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own.
"When one enters a door, one must be brave enough to see the other side."
In a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artifacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored, and utterly out of place.
Then she finds a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds, and tells a tale of secret doors, or love, adventure, and danger. Each page turn reveals impossible truths about the world, and January discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own.
In a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artifacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored, and utterly out of place.
Then she finds a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds, and tells a tale of secret doors, or love, adventure, and danger. Each page turn reveals impossible truths about the world, and January discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own.
Loved
- Um first of all can we talk about that cover? Stunning.
- Doors that lead to different worlds- yes please! This was a fascinating idea that hidden doors exist all over that lead to different worlds. I really enjoyed the magic system and found it clever, interesting, and unique. The magic of the doors is thorough, and I loved learning about it through the writings and research of one of the main characters.
- The clever writing. This writing immediately stood out to me and grabbed my attention. It is very self-aware and witty, yet beautiful and lyrical. I was immediately drawn to January's sincere and comical narration of her life. Sometimes I don't enjoy first person narratives, but January could tell any story and it would be entertaining and genuine. I also loved how we get the stories of both Ade and January weaving throughout the book and becoming more entwined as the story progresses.
- The characters. These characters all have heartbreaking pasts, but they are quirky, strong and brave. They are willing to sacrifice and fight for what they love, even if it literally means crossing worlds to find each other. I really loved our MC- January- because of her strength, determination, and sharp wit. Also, one of the main characters is a dog, which you know is going to make a good story ;)
- The mystery. The mystery behind these doors and the characters' past was fascinating and very well-written. The pieces fit together beautifully and I loved the discoveries we readers make about characters' stories and pasts while discovering how the doors work.
- The worlds. I loved discovering new worlds and learning about the cultures, history and traditions in those places. The worlds themselves were fascinating, but the most gratifying aspect was seeing how relationships and love for each other can persevere across all worlds, cultures and time. This was the real magic and beauty of this story and it has stuck with me since I closed the book months ago.
Didn't Love
- At times I felt the story dragged just a little bit, but that may have been because it took me two weeks to read it, which is a long time for me :)
- There was also a Dracula-like moment where one character is revealed to be a vampire, which I was okay with since I'm all about Dracula, but it did feel a little contrived and random.
Content
- Language:
- Frequent uses of the Lord's name in vain, including a few uses of "Jesus" and "Christ" as curses.
- Some uses of "damn," "hell," and "sh**," and "bastard."
- Sexual content:
- Sexual references to characters kissing, pulling him downward, and "not emerging" from their room for several days. Mentions universe being "contained in a narrow cot" for these characters for that week. Talks about them "discovering their love through the strange and miraculous language of the body." Mentions "pink-edged creases left by rumpled sheets," the smell of each other's skin, and appreciating each other's naked bodies.
- Other references to the scenes mentioned above.
- Other kisses mentioned, but nothing sexual.
- Violence:
- One character is stabbed with a knife.
- Characters threatened at gunpoint.
- Mentions of people dying through burning, stabbing and shooting.
- Character put in an asylum and is restrained physically and chemically.
- Implication of violence to a dog.
- Character chased and threatened by vampire-like creature.
- Character's fingers get cut off and writhe even after being detached from body.
- Different characters describe being beaten and hurt throughout the book.
- One character is shot in the heart and dies.
- A lot of blood described used to fuel part of the magic system.
- Other themes:
- One character considers getting an abortion. Mentions that in one world, characters can "write away an unwanted child while it is still only a faint glimmer of potential in the mother's body."
- In another world, mentions of women having multiple husbands and wives.
- Frequent uses of the Lord's name in vain, including a few uses of "Jesus" and "Christ" as curses.
- Some uses of "damn," "hell," and "sh**," and "bastard."
- Sexual references to characters kissing, pulling him downward, and "not emerging" from their room for several days. Mentions universe being "contained in a narrow cot" for these characters for that week. Talks about them "discovering their love through the strange and miraculous language of the body." Mentions "pink-edged creases left by rumpled sheets," the smell of each other's skin, and appreciating each other's naked bodies.
- Other references to the scenes mentioned above.
- Other kisses mentioned, but nothing sexual.
- One character is stabbed with a knife.
- Characters threatened at gunpoint.
- Mentions of people dying through burning, stabbing and shooting.
- Character put in an asylum and is restrained physically and chemically.
- Implication of violence to a dog.
- Character chased and threatened by vampire-like creature.
- Character's fingers get cut off and writhe even after being detached from body.
- Different characters describe being beaten and hurt throughout the book.
- One character is shot in the heart and dies.
- A lot of blood described used to fuel part of the magic system.
- One character considers getting an abortion. Mentions that in one world, characters can "write away an unwanted child while it is still only a faint glimmer of potential in the mother's body."
- In another world, mentions of women having multiple husbands and wives.
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