‘The Book of Doors’ a mixture of genres rolled into a remarkable story from start to finish

Review by Tina, Library Specialist

“Any door is every door.”

So, begins Cassie Andrews’ journey that is, at times, exhilarating, sometimes terrifying, and at other times absolutely gut-wrenching. Through it all, Cassie has no way of knowing how her story will conclude, or if she and her friends will even be alive at the end.

The Book of Doors is classified as a handful of genres: Fantasy fiction; thriller; magical realism; romance; time travel fiction. It is truly all of these genres, rolled into one, and, as the author’s first published novel, it’s remarkable.

Cassie has no biological family left in the world. She was relinquished to her grandparents after she was born and, shortly after that, Cassie’s mother died from an overdose. Her grandmother passed away while Cassie was still a baby, leaving her grandfather to raise her. What followed was a very deep relationship between Cassie and her grandfather, until he died of cancer when she was in her late teens. His illness and death were very traumatic for Cassie, and she carried the images within her.

After her grandfather died, Cassie decided to travel around Europe to honor his memory, as he had never had the chance to go abroad. Once she finished traveling, Cassie moved to New York City, where she eventually landed a job at Kellner Books, a bookstore where she became friends with a young woman named Izzy. The two friends became roommates shortly after Cassie was hired.

During her time working at Kellner Books, Cassie met an elderly man named Mr. John Webber. They also became friends, and Mr. Webber loved to tell Cassie many stories about his travels. He encouraged her to get out and travel the world, saying that that was what young people should do.

Later on, Mr. Webber died at Kellner Books, while having coffee and reading one of his favorite stories, The Count of Monte Cristo. After the medical personnel and police left, Cassie found two books where Mr. Webber had been sitting. One was The Count of Monte Cristo, and the other was a small, nondescript book with a couple of inscriptions on the first page: One was older, reading, “This is The Book of Doors. Hold it in your hand, and any door is every door.” The other dedication was a personal note from Mr. Webber, which read, “Cassie, this book is for you, a gift of thanks for your kindness. May you enjoy the places it takes you to and the friends you find there. John Webber.”

What follows is an absorbing tale describing Cassie’s journey. She learns that the book has magical qualities, enabling her and Izzy to travel anywhere, simply by holding the book in her hand, visualizing where she wants to go, and stepping through any open door.

Unfortunately, there are many dangers associated with the use of The Book of Doors, and Cassie and Izzy are soon embroiled in a life and death struggle, involving people who seek her book, as well as other, unique and magical books. Each book gives users special abilities that can be used for good or evil, and some of the individuals chasing down the books are evil. One seeker, in particular, is a sadistic woman whose mission is to cause as much agony and suffering as possible in the world. She derives a special pleasure from torturing and killing people, including her own parents.

Along the way, Cassie meets a haunted man named Drummond Fox, who possesses a number of magical books, and who owns the Fox Library. His mission is to protect as many books as possible from falling into the hands of evil people. Drummond lost all of his close friends in one night, 10 years ago, at the hands of the sadistic woman, forcing him to hide the Fox Library in the shadows, and to go on the run from the woman. He takes Cassie under his wing, acting as her protector, and teaching her about the full extent of what the Book of Doors is really capable of. Cassie learns that any door is truly every door, including doors that lead across time.

Throughout this gripping book, there are a number of characters who come into and out of Cassie’s life, traveling on several timelines. The story culminates in a final showdown of good and evil, between the woman and Cassie and her friends. Until the very end, the reader is left wondering; will they, the books, and the Fox Library survive the woman’s brutal evilness?