Review brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

Synopsis:

Eric Albright is leading a normal life until a small red door appears under a train bridge near his home. Then a ghostly being wakes him in the dead of night, with a message from another world: You are Shadow. In Levaal, the world between worlds, the dragon-gods grow restless in their sky prisons, and the Great Spirits struggle to contain them. Vous, the worlds Friend and Lord, simmers in madness as he schemes to join the ranks of gods. He and the Arch Mage have almost won their final victory over the Free Cities. A dark age dawns. But Eric and his friend Case are now Pilgrims, called to Levaal for a battle more ancient than the petty squabbles of men. And they will learn why some doors should not be opened.  (Goodreads)

Review:

Fantasy all the way.  The writing was vivid, descriptive and dynamic and for that I am grateful.   The story seemed to drag occasionally, but if one perseveres….you get to the end.

Vous….definitely an odd character.  Especially the section where he describes the five whom he murdered with their spirits living within or around his mirror, that was actually creepy.  His goal is to rise to the rank of a god…in his mad way.

Eric is your run of the mill character; he does not stand out in any way.  Once he crosses into Levaal, he seems to get more backbone and character.  Case is a homeless drunk living by the portal to Levaal.  He also enters through the door, trying to follow Eric.  Case seems to come alive as a character for me as the story continues.  At first, the two “Otherworlders” are separated and the story begins detailing their separate journey until they meet up again.  I must say that Case’s journey was certainly more interesting…keeping my reading interest.

If I had to choose, I would say I found the Invia most intriguing of all the characters.  Though Loup, the magician was entertaining.

I read this book until the end ……..thinking, I want to LOVE it.  Unfortunately, I just barely liked it.  I just did not seem to gel with the story or the characters.  However, I did enjoy the writing.  If fantasy is your genre, give this book a try.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*