The Gateway

It was a fabulous read that reminded me of Doctor Who meets The Demon Headmaster and the Uglies series. I also detected a sprinkling of Kafka-like surrealism.

The characters were vivid, particularly the main three, and as a secondary school teacher myself, I relished Matt and Joan's sentiments!

The worldbuilding was terrific, and I cried more than once during my two sittings. It's confidently written, fun, sad, and engaging. I adore mysteries, character growth, and what-ifs; this book did all of them brilliantly.

Thank you so much for the advance reader copy!

This is the story of Matthew Barker, a despondent teacher who explores the origins of a portal in the Scottish Highlands.

Things begin to change for Matt when his old university friend, Ethan Madison, contacts him and claims their former lecturer, Professor Joan Clarke, wants to share her discovery.

Little does Matt realise the life-changing journey he's about to embark on...

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Finished this quickly. A very fun read with next to no fat.

The laser-focused prose keeps the pace swift and the twists exciting. It's a race-to-the-finish-line thriller with some great characterization and memorable scenes. Just wanted it to be a tad longer.

It was fast-paced with ample settings, which I love, but for me, the best part of the book was the main characters themselves. They were well-developed and likeable, and I found myself quickly invested. Each had their own personality and believable motivations (one especially tragic, which I can sadly relate to), which made the narrative more engaging. While the sci-fi elements were intriguing, compelling, and well-executed, the characters stood out the most. I had a great time and was sad to finish it. Perfect length for this reader.

Really enjoyed this sci-fi thriller. Couldn't put it down. Knowing what you do at the end makes it highly re-readable. I thought the pacing was excellent, too. See this being a big hit.

A thought-provoking and stimulating novel with an enduring sense of mystery (that I don't want to spoil).

The characters in the story are complex and flawed, making them feel like real people rather than merely characters. It was a delight to see so many relatable and well-rounded female characters among them, notably Joan Clarke, who steals the show but maintains an endearing presence with what she's trying to accomplish.

I was pulled into the intrigue and suspense, wondering what would happen to the relatable Matthew and his challenging fate. The dialogue was authentic and believable, and the prose was easy to glide through.

I do hope there's more to come from Joan and the group.

Loved the vibes of this one. Very polished and engaging. Lance knows his sci-fi adventure audience. 4.5.

This text was more intellectual and multi-layered than I imagined; The Trial by Franz Kafka is the book I recall in my mind. Here, we have a similar setup whose true nature is not revealed to the protagonist until the end but serves as a subtextual commentary on a dystopian society. This was about how power and meaning shift without anyone truly knowing who holds it. I found it frightful, lucid and an unexpected treat of a book.

Enjoyed this more than Blake Crouch's latest. Ideal for sci-fi/thriller readers. Gripping and very fun.

4.5/5 Fast-paced thrillers like this don't require characters to have epic-fantasy-level depth, but the author has added great nuance to his primary characters anyway. A thrilling and pacey blast.

The Gateway was my cup of tea all the way. It had great characters, a well-told and engrossing mystery that kept you guessing, a likeable and understandable antagonist whom I felt for, and a nicely paced and realistic ending that wasn't like a cheesy fairy tale. Very well-written. There are loads of places it could go from here; I don't think we've seen the last of any of the characters. This reader wanted more of it all, but Lance was clearly putting the pieces into place.

That final moment had me smiling. I particularly appreciate the bittersweet ending the author went for. There is no happy magical payoff in life. Life is the gift, so start living. Couldn't agree more! I had a great time with it. Could easily see more titles in the series (with obvious places to go!), but liked the ending as is.

The Gateway James Lance
A very enjoyable thriller. Great characters and character development. Nice blend of sci-fi elements into the story. Well written and nicely paced. Raises questions worth asking. #TheGateway #NetGalley

This is the story of Matthew Barker, a despondent teacher who explores the origins of a portal in the Scottish Highlands.

Things begin to change for Matt when his old university friend, Ethan Madison, contacts him and claims their former lecturer, Professor Joan Clarke, wants to share her discovery.

Little does Matt realise the life-changing journey he's about to embark on...

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This was an excellent read. The author excels at making complex sci-fi accessible, and the text gave this reader strong Crichton/Turton vibes throughout. I cared a great deal about the characters in what is a typical thriller runtime—in other words, pretty short. I have to say, that's rare for me. It easily met the genre's expectations and ticked off pretty much everything I like to see. I would love to see more from the author.

Great characterization, memorable themes, and thrilling from start to finish. There's depth here, too, particularly in the subtext and character motives, although Lance is clearly performing a delicate balancing act between entertaining first and educating second. It has more depth than the average genre fiction but keeps itself fast and engaging. It felt like hybrid fiction to me. Lance knew exactly what he was doing with this polished text; absolutely an author to watch.

The most fun I've had with a sci-fi this year!! I can't be the only one who got some spicy sexual tension there, either. Can we have a steamy romance circle next time?! :)

The novel is a critique of the dangers of technology and consumerism. It raises important ethical questions about the role of science and technology across society in a way Crichton would have. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is engaging, with several unexpected twists and turns. The exploration of deep philosophical themes is shown as the characters grapple with questions of power, destiny, and the nature of humanity, while the futuristic city is a metaphor for the ecological costs of resource exploitation.

The story challenges readers to question their own values. It is a cautionary tale and a must-read for anyone interested in science fiction and dystopian literature.