THE SAINT OF BRIGHT DOORS by Vajra Chandrasekera

An ARC was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. THE SAINT OF BRIGHT DOORS was be published on 11 July 2023.

After rejecting his mother's prophecy, Fetter ends up in the city of Luriat, where he finds shelter from the religious pogroms raveging his former home, a group of similarly Unchosen and love. But there is still the matter of his father, the Perfect and Kind, whose death was prophesied at Fetter's hands and the mysterious bright doors that call to him. And then, the plague hits.

Skillful, astounding, high concept debut

The Saint of Bright Doors has everything from a charismatic protagonist to prophecies, pandemics and persecution1 and does everything including nonlinear story-telling, heists and queer representation2. That can be a bit much at the beginning but following Fetter and trusting Chandrasekera's prose as he guides us makes everything easier. It is nothing short of astounding that the gorgeous, graceful juggling on display here is a debut novel.

It is hard to pin down how and why exactly everything just fits, but it does. There is something about Chandrasekera's style and way of telling the story that is reassuring, calm and confident. On top of that, there is Fetter, who, despite his unusual upringing, is immediately relatable while also seeming extremely capable. So there is no question about following him.

There is a point, about three quarters through the story, where Fetter loses himself somewhat. That sequence takes up a significant amont of page time and is obviously very deliberately written the way it is and ties into already well-established themes. However, this is also where the story begins to fray in a way that never really stops. Arguably, that is exactly the authorial intent here - the open ended conclusion to The Saint of Bright Doors certainly seems to support such an argument - but not all readers will like such a break in the story-telling and find it disappointing. Those that do, however, will admire Chandrasekera's skill and appreciate the way story and character are intertwined, especially as the later scences give more and more space to marginalised voices.

Rating

When I started reading The Saint of Bright Doors I found myself repeatedly torn between just letting Chandrasekera's prose carry me away and trying to figure out how he does it. I loved every moment of it and was immensely impressed. I would have followed Fetter anywhere. But then the wandering started and I, too, was lost and, eventually, sad that the story no longer was what I had fallen in love with. At the time it felt like a three-star book but the more I think about it, the more I think that that is really mostly - maybe only - on me and it really deserves at least four stars. The resonance and the rhythm of the story were still there, they were simply no longer aimed at me. However, there is no doubt The Saint of Bright Doors will resonate with a great many other people and I hope they will find this story and the story will find them.

“The Saint of Bright Doors” by Vajra Chandrasekera is a fantasy novel about a shadowless young man called Fetter who was raised by his mother to assassinate his father and destroy everything he stands for. However, Fetter doesn’t want the life his mother has chosen for him, and eventually flees his hometown for the bigger city of Luriat. Reasonably welcoming to refugees, Fetter joins group therapy, helps people navigate complicated bureaucracy and forms relationships all while keeping his parentage quiet. However, Luriat is a dynamic city and with visiting gods, laws in flux and mysterious Bright Doors, Fetter has to work out who he is, and who he wants to be.

This was an incredibly creative and layered story that subverts typical fantasy subgenres to create something fresh and relevant. The city of Luriat is both familiar and foreign. I really enjoyed Chandrasekera’s inclusion of modern features like emails and apartments, while maintaining subtle speculative elements. Fetter is a great character who, having tried to shed his past, tries to live as gentle a life as possible while remaining true to his loyalties. The constantly changing rules and shifting sentiments of the city evoked the kind of unstable regimes we experience here in the real world, and the scenes set in vast refugee camps were among the most hard-hitting in the book. There was some great commentary throughout this book about how quickly changes become the status quo, and how things considered ancient history may not be as distant as we believe.

The only challenge I had with this book was that with so much subterfuge, changes to the city and contested history it did at times feel like I was standing on shifting sands. While I appreciate this is reflective of many nations, especially those that persecute minorities, the additional magical elements meant that at times the logic of the book felt inconsistent.

Nevertheless, a highly original book with compelling characters and incisive messages.

a confusing and not particularly gripping novel that didn't capture me. i would encourage others to give it a go nonetheless .

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC. The Saint of Bright Doors is an intriguing story crafted with incredible prose. I enjoyed following Fetter's journey and the mystery behind the world and its cults.

I tried, I really did, I had high hopes for this but at 50% I decided it would be best to DNF. Maybe it was timing for me but I was so lost, like this book tried to do and he so many things. Maybe I'll come back to it, but I really just had no idea what was going on at any given time.

The Saint of Bright Doors is a South Asian fantasy about a man who was raised to kill one day kill his father. It never really kept my attention and I ended up dropping it before I could finish. I admired it but it just ended up not being for me.

The description is totally right in getting this book. It just nips the drama and spins it around in such a modern take that the reader just can't stop reading the book. Another great voice picked up by Tor. I am jealous. Very jealous.

This book is very much vibes over substance. That isn't a bad thing at all, I'm just letting you know. I loved the first hhalf of it, the writing was engaging and the myteries were really well set up. I also loved the worldbuilding! And a whole group of almost chosen ones? Such a great concept. Unfortunately when it came to actually uncovering mysteries and wrapping up plot threads the book lost some of it's magic for me. It just trickled at a very slow pace without really advancing the plot and then the resolution came way to quickly. Lovely read, just with a rather weak second half.

I'm torn on this one. "The Saint of Bright Doors" is definitely unique in it's own way. The author's prose is beautifully crafted, and the world-building is rich and imaginative. Chandrasekera explores complex themes with a deft touch, inviting readers to ponder the boundaries of reality, though his voice may sound pretentious from time to time. I liked how the author examines themes like facism, colonialism and extremism in a vivid city, but the main plot was not holding together for me and this couldn't be saved by the beautiful prose.

"The Saint of Bright Doors" might appeal to more die-hard fans of speculative fiction, but I was expecting a little more action and this book was probably not for me. However I will be following the author's future endeavors, as his style is captivating and he has some great ideas brewing there, so maybe his next book will be more successful with me.

- thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc to review!

- the concept is intriguing and has a lot of potential, but i felt it fell too flat for my liking. the writing style Chandrasekera shows throughout the novel is stunning in its own right, if not pretentious in a few instances, but that wasn't what deterred me from the book. it was more of the execution of the story, which felt lackluster and bare boned when telling the story. i have no doubt that I'll look into Chandrasekera's next works, but it was unfortunate that this wasn't for me.

A good debut for Chandrasekera. The world is vibrant and vivid. But it lacks an interesting factor for me. The premise is mid. The characters are also mid.

But I do like what Chandrasekera is doing with this debut novel. Great representation!

Such beautiful prose. The story is unique and engaging as are the characters and setting. The cover is just stunning. An all round winner for libraries.

Fetter was raised to kill with thebultimate goal of assassinating his father, the seeming divine leader of a religious organization. In this world of secret magics, doors that cannot be opened, and convoluted political and religious hierarchy, Fetter aspires to leave his past behind. But before long he finds himself acquainted with rebels and on the path to encounter his father, despite spending his young adult and early adulthood trying to forget the mandate engraved into him by his violent mother.

This is a fascinating magical realism novel set in a seemingly South Asian inspired world. While, overall I thought it was interesting and makes you think about apathy in an unjust world, I felt like there was so much going on that it's hard to wrap things up neatly. Ultimately, it's Fetter's life story as his violent past is left behind and he becomes a spy. But there were so many elements, the doors, people who study them, all these religious sects, magic, and power that I couldn't really wrap.my head around the whole. But still, overall, I liked the story and the ending.

Thank you to Tor Books and Netgalley for the gifted copy!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and of course the author for gifting me this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book that I had mixed feelings for. I found Vajra's writing style very unique, almost mesmerising, and the way he was writing the story moving between reality and an almost otherwordly way captured me but I also found it a bit disorientating to keep up with. I am a big fan of the esoteric and the spiritual and was intrigued by the interwoven culture and mystery of South Asia along with the more political side and although I feel I kind of grasp the concept what Vajra was trying to do with this story, I felt I had to really push myself to finish it and it ended up feeling like a bit of a chore.

I know this author has published some fascinating stories previously but unfortunately overall this didn't grip me.

With the world building I found it to be inconsistent and not really knowing exactly what it wanted to be since there were things in our modern times placed in this book which ended up making it feel jarring and awkward which pulls the reader out of the story.

The pacing was a hit or miss. There were a lot of moments where it was at a slow pace and then all of sudden it would pick up its pace.

I definitely did not hate the saints of Bright Doors but I also did not love it. It was okay and honestly pretty forgettable. I read this book back in July and am finally sitting down to write reviews on many titles and this was one that needed reviewing. I had a vague idea of the book but when it comes down to it I cannot recall everything in the
book.

Honestly, I feel if this book was more fleshed out on the world building and on executing the plot points better then I probably would have enjoyed this book more and would have not found it be unforgettable.

This was one of those books that I just got sucked into. It gave me such a hang over! It provided a unique point of view that I absolutely loved, and I highly recommend this to anyone looking for something a little strange.

Excellent prose and brilliant concept. I also really loved the subjects tackled in this book, as there were some really important ones. That's always so good to see. The complex timeline change was just unfortunately a bit too much for my little brain, and made the reading process overall not very cohesive.

"The Saint of Bright Doors" by Vajra Chandrasekera offers a unique and imaginative take on the speculative fiction genre, but it left me with mixed feelings.

Chandrasekera's prose is undeniably skillful, painting a vivid and surreal world that's a mesmerizing blend of science fiction and mythology. The narrative takes unexpected and often bewildering turns, making it a challenging but intellectually stimulating read.

One of the book's strengths is its exploration of complex themes, such as identity, consciousness, and the boundaries of reality. However, these themes sometimes become so abstract and convoluted that they obscure the story's emotional depth, making it difficult to connect with the characters on a personal level.

The fragmented narrative style, while intriguing, can also be disorienting, making it challenging to follow the plot cohesively. The story's non-linear structure adds to the sense of disconnection and can leave readers feeling somewhat detached from the characters' journeys.

"The Saint of Bright Doors" is a novel that demands patience and a willingness to grapple with its abstract concepts. While it offers a unique and thought-provoking reading experience, it may not be everyone's cup of tea. If you're a fan of experimental and cerebral speculative fiction, it's worth giving this book a try, but be prepared for a challenging and occasionally bewildering journey.

❥ 2 stars ☆

❝Behind every bright door is a world full of lost hearts. It matters.❞

I wanted to like this book because it seemed to be an interesting story about the mysterious bright doors and what they mean.

The book also has LGBTQ representation and brings up real topics and problems that exist in our world; like politics, religion, different countries and areas, different people and castes, LGBTQ relationships and homophobia, abuse and trauma, gods and saints and devils, magic, life and death, sickness and quarantines, etc.

Fetter was raised by his mother to be an assassin who was supposed to kill his father, who is seen as a god by many. But as Fetter gets older he escapes and moves away from his mother to a big city and he realises what an abusive upbringing he had and that he doesn’t have to be a killer or follow any of his mother’s beliefs that she taught him.

Fetter doesn’t have a shadow which is very interesting because that’s obviously not something you have heard of before, and he also sees any spirits and devils that may exist around him which is an ability that even his mother didn’t have.

While the book gives a lot of information it felt slow-paced, and even with all of the information it sometimes felt like information was missing or that the whole story should have been longer so it could have been told properly without giving the feeling of missing details or that the story was cut short.

The ending was a bit confusing and felt rushed so I didn’t really understand what happened. I guess Fetter was destined to change the world in some way and in the end, he just did and that’s it.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc of this title in exchange for this honest review.

My arc of this expired before i could finish it. This review shall be updated whenever i manage to finish the book.