I'd like to extend my thanks to the NetGalley team and to James Lance for the eARC of Locked In. My review is, as follows:

The Gateway is a fast paced, Sci-fi, adventure focused on 3 central characters who are whisked away into worlds unknown. The various locations and....fantasies (No Spoilers here!)....are described quite vividly and become very engaging. James Lance has a knack for describing truly fantastic settings and presenting complex concepts in a way that is quite digestible. Regular Sci-Fi readers will have no trouble picking this story up and following along. There are a few concepts blended, here, in a way that felt unique and kept me interested throughout the duration.

Unfortunately, the novel does fall short when it comes to the characters and emotional aspects of the story. It is clear that we, the readers, are meant to care a great deal about the protagonist and those he holds dear, but the depth just isn't there. His partner serves as a plot device and is oddly left forgotten for a surprising duration. Additionally, he narrates a great deal about the value of his friendships; but these relationships are never truly shown to the reader. We are simply told by the narrator that they are vastly important, but this is rarely (if ever) demonstrated through action or deep conversations.

Overall, I was able to finish the book in one afternoon/evening and felt satisfied by the conclusion. The plot was engaging and premise was quite intriguing. This book is great for a quick escape!

This text was more intellectual and multi-layered than I imagined; The Trial by Franz Kafka is the book I recall in my mind. Here, we have a similar setup whose true nature is not revealed to the protagonist until the end but serves as a subtextual commentary on a dystopian society. This was about how power and meaning shift without anyone truly knowing who holds it. I found it frightful, lucid and an unexpected treat of a book.

Enjoyed this more than Blake Crouch's latest. Ideal for sci-fi/thriller readers. Gripping and very fun.

4.5/5 Fast-paced thrillers like this don't require characters to have epic-fantasy-level depth, but the author has added great nuance to his primary characters anyway. A thrilling and pacey blast.

The Gateway was my cup of tea all the way. It had great characters, a well-told and engrossing mystery that kept you guessing, a likeable and understandable antagonist whom I felt for, and a nicely paced and realistic ending that wasn't like a cheesy fairy tale. Very well-written. There are loads of places it could go from here; I don't think we've seen the last of any of the characters. This reader wanted more of it all, but Lance was clearly putting the pieces into place.

That final moment had me smiling. I particularly appreciate the bittersweet ending the author went for. There is no happy magical payoff in life. Life is the gift, so start living. Couldn't agree more! I had a great time with it. Could easily see more titles in the series (with obvious places to go!), but liked the ending as is.

The Gateway James Lance
A very enjoyable thriller. Great characters and character development. Nice blend of sci-fi elements into the story. Well written and nicely paced. Raises questions worth asking. #TheGateway #NetGalley

Loved the vibes of this one. Very polished and engaging. Lance knows his sci-fi adventure audience. 4.5.

I liked the premise of this novel. However, but it had a seventies British science fiction vibe to it (I enjoyed them as a child of that era) and I could not engage with the narrative.

This is the story of Matthew Barker, a despondent teacher who explores the origins of a portal in the Scottish Highlands.

Things begin to change for Matt when his old university friend, Ethan Madison, contacts him and claims their former lecturer, Professor Joan Clarke, wants to share her discovery.

Little does Matt realise the life-changing journey he's about to embark on...

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Finished this quickly. A very fun read with next to no fat.

It was fast-paced with ample settings, which I love, but for me, the best part of the book was the main characters themselves. They were well-developed and likeable, and I found myself quickly invested. Each had their own personality and believable motivations (one especially tragic, which I can sadly relate to), which made the narrative more engaging. While the sci-fi elements were intriguing, compelling, and well-executed, the characters stood out the most. I had a great time and was sad to finish it. Perfect length for this reader.

The laser-focused prose keeps the pace swift and the twists exciting. It's a race-to-the-finish-line thriller with some great characterization and memorable scenes. Just wanted it to be a tad longer.

I truly truly truly wanted to like this book. It was right up my alley- Scotland, science fiction, adventure! Elements that I love in stories! But the story was bogged down by two dimensional characters that I, as a reader never connected with. In an effort to keep the mystery of the portal and what was happening with regards to it, Lance failed to deliver a compelling motive to engage the reader with continuing. There is no believable impetus for the antagonist to have turned from what they were at the beginning of the story to how they ended up at the ending. The denouement of the story came much too quickly and with little payoff. I am uncertain if Lance plans on this being the start of a series, but it lacks a good hook to make the reader want a second bite of the apple.

Really enjoyed this sci-fi thriller. Couldn't put it down. Knowing what you do at the end makes it highly re-readable. I thought the pacing was excellent, too. See this being a big hit.

A thought-provoking and stimulating novel with an enduring sense of mystery (that I don't want to spoil).

The characters in the story are complex and flawed, making them feel like real people rather than merely characters. It was a delight to see so many relatable and well-rounded female characters among them, notably Joan Clarke, who steals the show but maintains an endearing presence with what she's trying to accomplish.

I was pulled into the intrigue and suspense, wondering what would happen to the relatable Matthew and his challenging fate. The dialogue was authentic and believable, and the prose was easy to glide through.

I do hope there's more to come from Joan and the group.

This is the story of Matthew Barker, a despondent teacher who explores the origins of a portal in the Scottish Highlands.

Things begin to change for Matt when his old university friend, Ethan Madison, contacts him and claims their former lecturer, Professor Joan Clarke, wants to share her discovery.

Little does Matt realise the life-changing journey he's about to embark on...

A fun and quick science fiction/ thriller read that gave me Blake Crouch and early Michael Crichton vives. An easy, low commitment thriller that I really enjoyed:)

It was a fabulous read that reminded me of Doctor Who meets The Demon Headmaster and the Uglies series. I also detected a sprinkling of Kafka-like surrealism.

The characters were vivid, particularly the main three, and as a secondary school teacher myself, I relished Matt and Joan's sentiments!

The worldbuilding was terrific, and I cried more than once during my two sittings. It's confidently written, fun, sad, and engaging. I adore mysteries, character growth, and what-ifs; this book did all of them brilliantly.

Thank you so much for the advance reader copy!