The Book of Doors, Gareth Brown

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown takes readers on a journey across past, present, and future. For any true booklover, starting a new book feels exactly like this — stepping into a completely new world. And here, we are given not just one, but many worlds, with The Book of Doors being only one of them. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Cassie receives a magical book from a customer — one that allows her to open any door and step into any place on Earth. The only one who truly senses the danger behind it is her best friend, Izzy. Soon, they cross paths with the mysterious Drummond Fox, who warns them they are in mortal danger — and that only he can help them.

Except… this is where the novel does something interesting.

Drummond is not the classic savior figure. In reality, he is the one who needs saving. It’s a refreshing break from the usual trope, and one of the novel’s stronger elements.

He is the heir to the Fox family of Scotland, a lineage that has spent generations searching for magical books. But they are not the only ones. While Drummond seeks to protect them, others hunt these books for far darker purposes. Each book grants unique abilities to its owner. And perhaps this is where the novel resonates most with readers — because isn’t that what books do to us as well? Still, while I would rate the concept five stars, my overall rating is closer to three. Because readers can be demanding. We look for consistency, for answers, for internal logic — especially in stories involving time travel.

And this is where the novel struggles. The Book of Doors allows time travel, yet we are told the past cannot be changed. However, Cassie’s actions seem to contradict this, creating situations where cause and effect blur into confusion. At times, the narrative becomes difficult to follow — with multiple versions of Cassie existing within the same timeline, influencing events in ways that feel unclear rather than intentional.

Another question remains unresolved: who created the magical books? The novel hints at an answer but never fully commits, leaving the mystery feeling incomplete rather than intriguing.

That said, this is not a dismissal. Overall, The Book of Doors is an enjoyable read with a compelling idea at its core.

And maybe that’s the most important part. What about you — would you pick it up? Or if you already have, what stayed with you after the final page?