The Keeper of Portals

This novel started off a bit like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe but ended up being a story much more about love, loss, and much more in the tradition of Roald Dahl than C.S. Lewis.

There is beauty in this book, as well as a childlike wonder at the organization of the world. No spoilers, but repeatedly this book holds up loyalty as a standard, loyalty and faith in each other.

This book is a treasure for people of all ages. The story was moving and bounced back and forth between different times without making them as simple as background imagery. The children in the story were interesting, and the attraction and interest in each other seemed appropriate for the most part.

The keeper of Portals by V.S Nelson.
‘All I have to do is think, walk through a door and I come out another. There is nowhere I cannot get to, nor any lock that can deny my passage.’
The Keeper of Portals lifted a hand and stroked the ancient black wood of the door.
‘I can do all that and yet, after 400 years, I still cannot open this door.’
Everything in the universe is maintained by its own keeper, from the most insignificant insect to time itself. When 15 year-old Martin moves into a stately home that’s dangerously overhanging a cliff, he meets the Keeper of Portals and learns of the mysterious door at the end of his bedroom.
One morning, Martin wakes to discover the Keeper of Portals is missing and the door at the end of his bedroom is open. Martin steps through the door to find himself in the 17th century where he meets Isabel, the house’s maid. Upon discovering two imprisoned keepers, Martin and Isabel gain the ability to control time and travel through portals.
After being attacked by hordes of brainwashed villagers, Martin and Isabel learn that the master of the house has a devious plan, one the keepers are powerless to stop. Martin and Isabel must jump between the present day and the 17th century in order to hide from the twisted master, avoiding past versions of themselves, as powerful keepers thwart them at every turn. But as items from the future begin to bleed into the past and the present day is plagued by malfunctioning portals, Martin and Isabel’s only option is to confront the master – the Keeper of Questions.
A brilliant read. Great characters. Loved Isabel and Martin. Kept me hooked all the way through. 5*.

Received from NetGalley for my honest review
Completed 10/3/17
240 page ebook

This book was ok for me. I like time travel and I like funky mysterious houses so I thought this would be right up my alley. It had its good parts and boring parts and was just ok to good, not great.

I had a hard time connecting with the characters. They were pretty flat and dull though they did have a good adventurous spirit to them. They seemed to accept the abnormal pretty easily, which seemed weird at such young ages, but it made for the story to continue moving.

The Keepers themselves were an interesting lot and probably my favorite part of the books. Seeing who each new one was and what their ability was, was pretty interesting. It just wasn't enough for me to truly love this book.

Recommended for middle grade ages who like time travel. Some adults may like it, but if you like your characters with depth, you'd be better off skipping it.

Setting = A
Plot = B
Conflict = B
Characters = C-
Theme = A

The story changed a lot and I was never sure in which direction it was going. It felt like it got close to the ending so many times, and then something changed and the story continued. I am not sure what I think of this style, it felt a bit confusing, but at the same time it is wonderful, you have no idea where you're about to go.Loved time travel. Time travel might be dangerous to write about, but Nelson really got it to work. And the way he solved the problem time travel poses - e.g. paradoxes (example: What if I kill my father?) - was perfect.