"To have courage is to step forward in the face of fear."

The Gatekeeper of Pericael is a fun fantasy adventure with a believable magic system and solid characters who grow and are challenged. The world-building is vivid and I found myself easily swept up in the action. The magic was consistent and intricately woven into the story to further the character growth for Porter, the main character, rather than being a crutch for the story in itself.

Porter starts out as the reluctant hero who has inherited a huge responsibility that he doesn't want, but he's thrust into an adventure with world-ending stakes and he fights for what he believes is right, even against great odds. Raspurn is one freaky villain. Porter's friend Ames gets swept up in the adventure too. He provides some comic relief and serves as a foil with a different perspective due to his unflappable spirit and endearing belief in Porter.

Yes, there are loads of action and battle scenes, with creatures and with enemies, but what really solidified the _story_ was Porter’s evolution, his coming into his own skin with who he is and his responsibility. But I liked that he also remained a kid. Having Ames to share his secret with rang true.

I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced action fantasy with imaginative world-building, vivid prose, and a satisfying character arc.