I was really excited to dive into The Book of Doors because the concept sounded great.

Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. There were some good moments, but overall, it felt like a bit of a slog to get through.
If you’re into unique concepts, you might enjoy it more than I did. For me, it was just okay.

Wow just wow! I loved this book.
It started off fairly innocently, A young American woman Cassie working in the café of a bookshop and the always friendly old man dies leaving his books behind. One book is a mysterious book which turns out to have magical powers of travel. Being a traveller myself, I quite like the idea of a magical travelling book. This book turns out to be so much more though revealing a very sinister world and the true power of her book is very much sought after by others who are prepared to kill for it!
Thankfully Cassie and her flatmate friend stumble across Drummond Fox or does he stumble across them? He recognizes that they are in possession of this magical book that he had heard of but not really sure if it existed and is the proprietor of his own collection of magical books. He also realises what mortal danger they are in.
Fantasy is not usually a genre that I read unless you count Harry Potter and some really good children's boooks.by other authors and didn't really feel that thus was high fantasy until I was a good way through. but was loving the story so much especially the likeable characters of Cassie and Drummond who will never turn down the chance of a Scotch and his fabulous library. I thought there may be some room for romance unless it was so subtle that I missed it. This is a book that would be enjoyed by readers of fantasy, mystery, teens and young adults but also older adults like myself (middle aged).
Will definitely be on the look out for more books by this author.

With thanks to #NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and Bantam Press for this preview read of #TheBookofDoors

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this review copy. Words cannot truly express how much I loved this book. I now have a signed copy and can’t wait to read their next book.

I'm quite late to the party but it was a great party as a book about books that opens doors to other places is very high in my list of what i want to read
Great, excellent world building, dreamlike atmosphere and excellent storytelling.
I loved the characters and I suffered by book hangover when I have to say goodbye
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Brilliant book! Very, very clever. High-octane and gripping but so well-written and literary at the same time. It made my brain melt.

Books exist and they are magic. But what if there were others, containing actual spells to allow for your transportation or the conjuring of any image from your imagination or any number of other phenomena? Cassie is about to discover this for herself but it won't be all magical outings and fairy tales as a deadly pursuit starts that will take place both through time and space as enemies untold seek to gain these books for their own immoral gains.

This book in one word: phenomenal! Everything about the concept enraptured me and there existed as much action as it did plot progression throughout to ensure no part felt too stodgy or too rushed. I hadn't any idea of where the book would go and did have to go back and reread the latter sections in order to process the path the book actually took. When I realised I had, in fact, read what I thought I had, I became astounded all over again with Gareth Brown's brilliance. This was utter perfection!

This wasn’t truly my cup of tea but I did enjoy my read through! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

This story has such an amazing plot! So clever how it all links, surprised me every time …

I loved the underlying emotional needs of each character and by the end of the story, there wasn’t one character I didn’t understand or empathise with. Villains? Oh yes! Those book hunters have no compassion and only darkness in their souls. They turned my stomach every time they appeared in a scene (and let me tell you there are some really gory scenes). But I had a change of heart. Not that I’m excusing such evil behaviour but it’s hard not to care once you know!

Cassie is a great lead, she’s strong and likeable. Izzy is the voice of reason from the beginning. Drummond Fox I saw as the ‘rock,’ he’s the one with the knowledge and experience. One character is more important than I ever guessed. And there’s one character who is at the heart of everything and I mean EVERYTHING. I’m going to leave that there.

At first it all seems amazing, Cassie and Izzy jumping through time and space with the Book of Doors. Until they get noticed. And then the chase is on. It’s nerve-wracking! I didn’t know who would be victorious and felt my emotions plummeting each time, waiting for the worst to happen.

Two scenes stand out for me – one with Cassie on her own is really nebulous and I loved it. The other, again Cassie, with her grandad. I was in bits.

The Book of Doors was so much more than I expected. I LOVED it. Is there going to be a sequel? I can’t find the answer. There’s definitely more to explore …

An easy 5 stars from me.

Ich weiß ehrlich gesagt nicht, wie ich dieses Buch bewerten soll, da ich es aufgrund relativ kurzer Ausleihdauer (ohne Verlängerung) nicht lesen konnte.

This is such an original concept. I was utterly entranced by this magical tale. A tale of many moving parts, they all fitted into a perfect puzzle that I loved watching the author piece together masterfully. Just fabulous.

The Book of Doors is brilliant, of that there is no doubt. A tale of magic and good vs evil. It's rich with intrigue and twists. Exquisitely crafted, and the complexity of the plot blew my mind. The author answered every question, but whilst some people love time travel tropes, I've always found them confusing. That's definitely a me problem. There's a lot of moving forward and backward in time to explain plot lines and I personally just find this hard to get my head around. But if you love a complex plot, this one is for you. Fantastic characters and a compelling story made this a great read overall.

Books about books are often catnip for readers. Reading is such a joy that libraries, books and the power fo reading are to us readers unique. Fantasy increases such power tenfold from Genevieve Cogman’s Invisible library series to TL Huchu’s The Library of the Dead and Terry Pratchett’s wonderful idea of L-Space. In Grath Brown’s contemporary fantasy we get a thriller style adventure using the power of books again but ultimately it treads an overly familiar path too much to stand out.

In New York Cassie lives her life day to day as a not that well paid bookseller but who loves her job. One night the kindly old regular Mr Webber has one of their familiar chats but passes away in the store but leaves Cassie a mysterious book. A book that Cassie finds can give the holder the power to imagine a door to anywhere. Cassie and her flatmate Izzy soon find they can see Venice or appear at a luxury bar. But just before this becomes too much fun, they find other people want this Book of Doors. A sadist named Hugo Barbary is on the trail and Drummond Fox a man all too aware of the dangers of the books is desperately trying to find Cassie to warn her before things are too late. These books of power all have unique abilities, and they are both rare highly valuable, but they also can be used for great good and evil so some people will do whatever they feel is right to get hold of one.

This was a frustrating read for me. On the one hand Brown excels at structure and pacing. This is a fast-paced thriller that starts with a little strange mystery and Cassie finding out about a magical world where people, pay or do anything for magical Books. The Book of Doors has other less known powers that are a very cool idea. The story switches global locations and there is a strong set of action set pieces, revelations and dangerous foes to face. There is a doozy of an idea in the final sections that is quite unique in how a character prepares to face a foe again.

But the problem for me is largely this is just another magical object tale. It reminds me so much of many movies I’ve found where someone finds a magical object or ability, finds the world is not what you think it is and then peril ensues. We have Cassie as the unknown reader and Drummond her exposition/mentor/companion. We have the villains and the villain behind the villain and Izzy the funny but strong friend carried along. Its all very well poised but feels incredibly mechanical. The action sequences follow the standard path; allowing ability to be used/learnt and things progress. The doozy of an idea is ultimately a good one, but its use is a little too dull to really make things work. Brown’s style of writing is good but with a slight tendency to really underline a point that a character is already making or a lot of exposition and backstory that feels a little clunky.

The Book of Doors often feels like a movie script. This is because you and I have probably seen this type of story many times – its delivered as said with call the characters, pace and structure of one. But its missing adding anything really new to this type of story. Add the right actors, director, music, and special effects, then you could I’m sure create something special but ultimately in a book I expect that to be in the novel itself and this feels a little soulless as a consequence. Brown has lots of potential, so I’ll be interested to see how they develop but for now not a book that lasts in the memory.

Imagine being able to step through your front door and instantly find yourself in the destination of your dreams. For me, that would undoubtedly be a library or a bookshop. This is a surprisingly exhilarating tale that intertwines time with the enchantment of a magical book.

When Cassie discovers her beloved customer lifeless in the bookshop where she works, she's overcome with shock and sorrow. Initially drawn to the books left behind on the table—the one he was reading and the one they had been discussing—Cassie's attention is soon captured by a second book, personally inscribed to her by the deceased. Thus begins Cassie's odyssey through countless doors, leading to diverse places, encounters with various people, and journeys through time, all centered around a magnificent library.


I found immense pleasure in this book, though I wasn't prepared for its darker moments. it didn't diminish my enjoyment. The themes explored are wide-ranging, touching on bereavement, loss, companionship, friendship, murder, psychological turmoil, nostalgia, memory, magical realism, the allure of books and libraries, time, time travel, history, booksellers, book enthusiasts, resilience, perseverance, and integrity. This novel brought to mind "The End of Mr Y" by Scarlett Thomas, a book I read many years ago, and it was a delightful reminder of similar literary gems.

I really loved this book. It proved a really good getaway from real life due to how it blended the fantastical and realistic into one. The characters were all really interesting to follow especially when the real action was going down and the stakes were raised. I would read more by this series and author if that was possible as this was everything i wanted from it. The writing was excellent and i feel like it delivered exactly what it promised.

This is an incredibly complex, intricate narrative weaving past and present together. Cassie is given a book by a customer in the bookstore where she works. The book has magical properties but more than this it leads her into a world where other such books exist and have been used to manipulate society - generally for harm.. There are so many strands to this book and yet the writing is such that it is not difficult to keep track of all the action.

As a debut book It is a staggering work -which I am sure will lead to many more from the author. Perhaps become a series??

amazing… i am struggling for words as i loved this. the journey, the friendships, the horror, the fantasy and the hope. this book has everything and leaves you wanting more. maybe a book 2?

I really enjoyed this book. I always love books that feature books and libraries and this did not disappoint.
Perfect for fantasy readers, I absolutely loved it, I felt completely immersed in the world that I was actually sad when I finished.

This book is just about a love letter to the magic of books, perfect for fantasy readers and book fanatics (as we all are). I just wanted to jump into this book and be Cassie, but as it is, this was a wonderful vicarious experience. Stakes are high and the adventure is twisting, plus I'm just about hungover after this. Thank you so much for the ARC!

This book was amazing and definitely read it in one sitting. As a fantasy reader, this book felt like a summer fever dream. It was so good and honestly a very cozy read for me.

Thank you Netgalley and Publishers

The book of doors was a great read filled with magic. I really enjoyed the world building and the characters. I felt the descriptions were lavish and made the whole story come together.
I really enjoyed the direction the story went and found I really enjoyed it.