This is a sci-fi dystopian fiction with some horror elements and very fast moving plot. The chapters are constructed like short stories, which was very interesting. My reading of this novel was very interactive, because I kept a graphic of characters and events and how they were connected, because the plot is not linear. Some of these stories are connected with the author’s first short story collection “The Isolationist”, which I’ve read and also very much enjoyed.
Tom and Pan are the main characters here. Their relationship is very complex and it concludes in a very emotional way. By the second half of the book the narrative reminded me of “Under the eye of the big bird”. The intruders that cost the extinction of the humans are very fascinating and I was really interested in their nature and motives. If everything feels a bit confusing and over flooded with concepts, don’t worry, because in the last chapter everything is explained and concludes beautifully.
My only complaints are about some of the word phrasing, the constant use of “he drew a breath” and the famous line “He let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding”, which at this point is a known turn off. I expect this to be redacted before publishing.
Overall, I very much enjoyed everything about this book, the bold and unique way of structure it has and the ideas and characters it presents.
Thank you to NetGalley and Manifold House for providing me with the ARC.

A bold and sometimes bewildering journey to the end of humanity, this is one of the strangest books I have ever read. You will find here a seamless blending of cosmic horror, time travel, post-apocalyptic despair, and a cultural nod to early 20th century New Orleans.

Throughout the story, Tom and Pan's relationship is undeniably compelling; I enjoyed the meeting of minds between artificial and organic intelligence, and particularly Pan's resulting emotional evolution. Mechanically, the creative incorporation of multidimensional doorways through spacetime is superbly done. Each portal leads to a new adventure/horror, and in the end the tying up of each storyline across dimensions was quite satisfying. Incidentally, the ending is absolutely beautiful and haunting… I am not normally an emotional reader, but the final chapters *may* have made me unexpectedly tear up.

The book's structure is deliberately fragmented and nonlinear, so chapters jump perspectives and timelines. While I found this intriguing, it was also confusing in some places. As each chapter begins, there is a reorientation where the reader must fill in the gaps with supposition until they are caught up to where (or who) they are. While I found myself wishing for a bit more grounding, this could also be my own issue, and I can imagine that a reread would offer more clarity.

This one is for you if you like thought-provoking, if a bit disorienting, scifi/horror. You will have to make your peace with a degree of confusion/disorientation, and be patient with mysteries that take some time to resolve… but you can also trust that things will wrap themselves up at the end, and you will be left with a story you won't soon forget.

Thank you to NetGalley, V.M. Harrigan, and Manifold House for sharing an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

"Four Doorways in or Near New Orleans" left a deep impression on me—a dystopian, time-bending odyssey full of loss, desperation, and hope. V.M. Harrigan uses intertwined, fragmented stories to show how ancient monsters invade Earth through mysterious portals, turning humanity into a threatened and haunted species.

Tom, a Cuban orphan in exile, finds unexpected guidance from Pan, a patient and enigmatic humanoid robot. Their unique relationship brings heart and a sense of possibility as they race across history, grasping at science and memory to fight back—not to save the world, but to transform what’s left. All around them, survivors, automatons, and even the monsters themselves wrestle with what it means to exist when everything you love is crumbling.​

The New Orleans setting adds magic and grit, tying the story to moments of wonder and terror, as doors open to new realities and impossible threats. The book blends cosmic horror and emotional insight, all set against the backdrop of a city that refuses to let go of its secrets. If you enjoy dark, imaginative fiction that makes you question time, love, and identity, this novel will linger with you.
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC

Four Doorways in or Near New Orleans by V.M. Harrigan is one of those rare novels that grabs you from the first chapter and refuses to let go. I devoured it in a single day because I simply could not put it down.

The story weaves together the lives of several characters and their encounters with mysterious “doorways,” which are thresholds that blur the line between the ordinary world and something far stranger. Each chapter follows a different thread, offering glimpses into these individuals' lives, fears, and choices. You can sense from early on that everything will eventually tie together, but Harrigan masterfully controls the pacing: every chapter builds just enough suspense, giving you clues without revealing too much too soon.

What impressed me most was the balance between intrigue and clarity. Harrigan trusts the reader, laying out breadcrumbs that never feel heavy-handed. By the time the connections snap into place, it’s both satisfying and surprising. It was exactly what I want in a multi-perspective, high-tension narrative. The final chapter left me a little teary-eyed.

Atmospheric, clever, and deeply engaging, Four Doorways in or Near New Orleans is a standout read. If you’re drawn to stories with interconnected mysteries and a strong sense of place, this one is absolutely worth your time. I’m already thinking about rereading it.

This was such an interesting take on the dystopian sci-fi subgenre, especially with the added horror elements. For people who like a linear story, this one is, unfortunately, not for you. The book almost feels like a compilation of short stories that you can only tell are connected part of the way through. Tom and Pan are complex and witty and their relationship is so emotionally gratifying. Their relationship is the emotional core of the story, for sure. The doorways between worlds were the intro to each story and I think the ending tied up the different stories in a satisfying manner. This is perfect for people that like weird sci-fi books that grasp you from the moment you start reading.

A very unique book that is challenging but oh so rewarding. With gorgeous writing and such developed world-building, this was a wonderful story that absolutely broke my heart. Highly recommended

Thank you Netgalley and Manifold House for an ARC of this book.

VM Harrigan's The Four Doorways In and Out of New Orleans is seriously one of the most unique, challenging, and profoundly weird novels I've ever read. It's a total waking fever dream, but in the best way possible—superb and totally unforgettable! Trying to explain this book is nearly impossible, but picture a high-octane collision of trippy, philosophical sci-fi and intense, cosmic Lovecraftian horror. Think of the Marvel show What If... but dial the weirdness up by a factor of ten. It's a fun, kinetic read that makes you immediately surrender to the chaos.

The novel’s greatest strength is its structure. What appears to be a bunch of disconnected, mind-bending stories eventually snaps perfectly into place. The way Harrigan interlocks these fragmented realities in the final act is pure genius and makes the whole journey incredibly rewarding.

Among the surreal spectacle, the characters of Pan and Tom are truly compelling, giving the story so much compassion and emotion. The complex relationships between all the characters are unique and honestly tear-jerking at times, which helps anchor the cosmic weirdness with a vital human core. Their journeys help us explore complex, profound themes like the slippery nature of identity, the fragility of memory, and piercing questions of existential crisis.

If you’re looking for a genuine departure from standard genre fare, you should absolutely grab The Four Doorways. It's a philosophical joyride right into the heart of the bizarre.

This was a lot and I'm still reeling. One of those books that would probably do well with a re-read.
Main story follows Tom through time, trying to save earth from invading aliens. I found his story very interesting, very emotional, loved his relationship with his teacher Pan and his early time in New Orleans. Roughly every other chapter is a side story, some of them connect with each other, some I couldn't really place in the story at first. These ones I struggled with a bit. Although they were interesting, I also found them very confusing and it always took me a bit to immerse myself. You definitely need a bit of imagination to fill in some of the blanks and you will just need to live with a lot of unanswered questions.

Overall really enjoyed it. It's a very unique take on scifi/horror/dystopian themes and I would love to read more about this universe.

Thanks to Netgalley, Manifold House and V. M. Harrigan for the Arc.

This is a really fun book. It’s an interesting story of time travel and alien invasion told in non-chronological chunks. Each chapter depicts an interesting and important-to-the-plot event that maintains remarkable continuity of character despite how out of order it is. The characters are interesting and well written. This book talks a lot about what it means to be human and what sacrifices survival takes. I really enjoyed this book and I will definitely read more from V. M. Harrigan in the future. Thank you NetGalley for my review copy!