Once you start reading this, it's hard to stop. I finished it in a few hours because I didn't want to leave the characters or the story. Magic books= good. Books=good. Book people=good. The story is well written. The characters give you all the feels. It's genre bending. Give it a go. You won't be disappointed. I loved this books so much I bought copies for friends when it was released.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy.

Thank you so much for the e-arc!
I was so intrigued by the premise of this book! It initially gave me vibes similar to the Starless Sea or Strange the Dreamer. I think if you liked those books/plots you will love this! This book is packed full of magic and danger. Cassie was such a great mc and I defiantly want to check out more by this author.

A book about discovering a magical book that will transform any door into a portal to wherever you want. Yes, please! This debut novel is a perfect example why I have found myself reading more and more fantasy books lately. In addition to the fantasy, there were elements of mystery, suspense and action. I love taking the idea that books can transport you figuratively and making it literal. Brown did a good job developing each character and having the supporting characters each own their unique personalities. The Book of Doors is a full fledged fantasy adventure that also delves into the grief of loss and how we can find joy. In all, I loved the end and how there’s questions swirling about which kept me thinking about it days after finishing the book. I highly recommend it!

Such a great story that grips you into Cassie's adventure through time and space. The adventure and mysteries of all the capabilities of the different books and the people who owned them made very compelling stories.

The only disappointing factor in the story was the explanation of creating the books. I understand that the author needed to do this but I just didn't enjoy the when and how in story.

Cassie is living a simple life but wants more. Then a long-time customer gifts her the wildest adventure she will have. The book of Doors will take the reader on an explosive adventure to try and answer the question: can you change your future or has it all been written for you? Brown weaves a mystery within ordinary life and how our choices build a life. Cassie is a multifaceted protagonist who brings empathy and grounds the story. where the story lacks is in momentum. At times it feels slow then fast never finding its stride.

It is an exquisite delight to realize halfway through a novel that the book you are reading will become one of your favorites of all time. The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown is a moving story of grief, power, ethics, and friendship. The novel is full of dizzying twists and turns that might have overwhelmed readers were any author other than Brown to attempt it. The complex magic system is well-explained and easy to understand. The chapters often switch perspectives to other characters, but it's never a drag or disappointing. The pacing is sublime. The story of these characters is so well-developed, and the stakes are just right. How remarkable to discover such a masterpiece in an author's debut novel.

Absolutely LOVED this book. It pulled me in from the beginning and had me hooked all the way through. Highly recommend.

With a single tear running down my cheek I tell you to go out and get a copy of this book.

The Book of Doors is an adventurous novel about various “special” books that give the person who possesses it special powers. With The Book of Doors any door is every door and the sweeping tale in front of and behind the book at any point in time is a marvelous one.

I simply cannot believe this is a debut novel. I LOVED it. I would not normally consider myself a fan of science fiction but this book has changed that for me.

This book has it all. Adventure, scares, tension, love, friendship, teamwork! The descriptions are well done, I could see it all. I hope there is some kind of follow up because I could see this story branching off into so many other tales. Highly recommend, an absolute favorite of the year so far.

I just reviewed The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown. #TheBookofDoors #NetGalley
I wanted to love it, but unfortunately the pacing made the book difficult to get through. Enjoyed the first half of the story, the places, description, Cassies time with Mr. Webber. After that story seemed to be dragged out.
Thank you nergalley and publisher.

Cassie Andrews is just a normal woman. She works in a book store that she loves and enjoys the company of her patrons. One day a regular, Mr. Webber gifted her a mysterious book and suddenly passed away. The book was the book of doors, a magical tome that allowed any door to be every door. When Cassie showed her best friend and roommate, Izzy, the magical book, things began to go awry in their lives.

This book is magically delicious. It’s a true urban fantasy. The writing is very well done. Some of the pacing is a bit clunky but not in a way that makes the book feel like a slog. I love a good story that contains a lot of interconnected moving parts and that’s exactly what this book has. The story is a bit on the nose but the adventure of getting there is still fun. Overall I give this a 4/5 stars.

4.5 Stars. Oh My Gosh! I couldn't get enough of this. I love how everything came together, how things connected at the end, the relationships, and the magic. I loved this so much. I got an e-arc from Netgalley, but ended up listening on Spotify (because I didn't read it before it released) and I just loved it! I will be buying a physical copy because I need this book on my shelf.

I did not enjoy this book. I had a hard time getting through it and I did not really enjoy the writing.

I read a review that compared this book to The Night Circus. It is not The Night Circus. The Night Circus is whimsical. This is dark and evil in some parts. The antagonist is very bad. But I love the premise and the way everything connects. A great read with twists and turns of magic and fantastical elements.

Hello, just your local killjoy here who can’t seem to enjoy something for the sake of enjoying it. In fact, i’m here to gripe.

This the second book this year that I liked the experience of reading it while I was actually reading it, but as soon as it was over I felt annoyed and even disappointed by the book as a whole.

Maybe it’s because I have found this done before and better ( The Starless Sea and The Cartographers come to mind). Maybe it’s because I found the premise initially intriguing but the delivery boring and overwrought.

Whatever it was, had me over it.

Spoiler, but here comes my biggest complain, if the main character simply didn’t exist, none of the book would have happened. The villain wouldn’t have become the villain. The society wouldn’t have formed. Literally none of it would exist and this book wouldn’t be written. A classic case of an author wanting to wrap up things so neatly that it in turn created paradoxes that devours itself.

I seem to be in the minority on this though, so feel free to ignore me and pick this one up if you feel like it.

I really enjoyed the mashup of thriller/fantasy here, and the realism of how magic books would immediately be hunted by the worst people. But it’s well balanced with hopeful choices and lovely, authentic characters as well. Perfect for daydreamers everywhere.

♡˳ final rating: 2.75/5 📘

before i start bashing on this book lemme explain. blurb is awesome. 10/10. the magic aspect of it really won me over at first. and i actually liked the villains a lot more than the protags lol. their motives were very believable and i liked one of the backstories in particular. the cover is super pretty too!!!!

but… the writing just completely falls flat. this book is supposedly marketed as an adult book, but it reads as a middle grade book. the word choice is very simple—even i could write better. i found myself cringing at some of the dialogue too 💀 really just can’t take it seriously tbh. so uhh yeah i got bored pretty quickly rip.

and i had such high hopes for this book too </3 mannnnn

A delightful journey into the realms of magic and adventure!

Allow me to keep this review concise yet full of praise...

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It brought to mind the essence of the Locke & Key TV series (not the graphic novels), with its array of keys each possessing unique abilities. Similarly, in this narrative, books hold significant power, much like the keys in the show.

Central to the tale is The Book of Doors, a gift bestowed upon our protagonist Cassie. This extraordinary book has the ability to open portals to any destination, at any point in time. Cassie and her companion Izzy embark on a whimsical exploration of Manhattan in the dead of night, testing the limits of the book's enchantment – an escapade anyone with such a book would undoubtedly indulge in.

In addition to The Book of Doors, other enchanted tomes akin to those in Locke & Key emerge. The Book of Shadows grants the ability to manipulate shadows, while The Book of Pain's purpose is rather self-explanatory. Then there's The Book of Memories, enabling its user to manipulate and even view the memories of others, among others.

Around the 40% mark, the narrative intensifies, becoming fast-paced as new characters enter the fray and multiple points of view are presented. Admittedly, I found myself momentarily disoriented midway through as the plot became somewhat convoluted, hence my rating of 4 stars instead of 5.

Navigating the intricacies of time travel can be challenging, but I assure you, the conclusion ties everything together seamlessly.

In summary, this book offers a fantastical, thrilling, and emotionally resonant experience that captivated me from start to finish. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone with a penchant for time travel and magic!

The book of Doors is a captivating fantasy.
Cassie inherits a mysterious eponymous volume from customer that has passed The book however is filled with strange writing and mysterious drawings,
which is the Book of Doors.
The book gives its owner the ability to open doors to anywhere they want to go.
However Cassie and her friend Izzy are not the only ones trying to get the book.
Some bad people want its power to do harm.
This is a thrilling adventure with time travel & wars and so much more.

"If you could open a door to anywhere, where would you go?"

4.5 stars!

This book explores the Book of Doors that opens any door and take you anywhere you want to go any anytime. The main characters in this story were fantastic and it had great pacing throughout. It really takes a second to get going; I would say around 40-45% things start ramping up.

Time travel media specifically books can get a little confusing or fuzzy and that's why I'd round to 4.5 stars just for those few moments it might have lost me.

This book follows Cassie, Izzy and Drummond as they navigate the world of magical books. The pacing and world building of the book didn't quite stand up. There were aspects that I felt could have been more developed and focused not just glossed over.


Multiple POV, Multiple Timelines, Magic