Through the Door (The Thin Veil, #1)

Aug 22, 2012 Andor rated it 2 of 5 stars

The book started off nicely and I thought it would be an enjoyable quick read, but my enthusiasm broke down fast.
The story isn't really gripping, and the thousand questions we have in the beginning are ridiculously held back. Everyone seems to know everything except the lead character, and nobody says anything to her. They pass seemingly significant references to all kind of things over her head, and Cedar is left out from the party, everyone acts like an ass towards her. Her mother is the most...more

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Apr 20, 2013 Beth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: author-review-requested, own, kindle, celtic, fae, gods, romance

Cedar McLeod lost the love of her life. Finn disappeared without a trace over 7 years ago, but he gave her a wonderful gift...her daughter Eden. When Eden starts to exhibit a very unique ability, which could only be described as magic, Cedar realizes she needs to find Finn.

When others discover Eden’s abilities, she is kidnapped. Cedar must dive head first into a world filled with magic and myths while swimming through the lies, omissions and outright deceptions to save Eden.

I loved Cedar’s devo...more

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May 13, 2013 Elspeth rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: but-not-for-me, 2013, arc, good-from-far-but-far-from-good, netgalley, not-us, urban-fantasy

I received this book thought Netgalley for an honest review.

Disclaimer: Contains Spoilers

I am going to start off in this review and say this book wasn’t written badly, or was the story all that bad. Mostly the low rating is due to the book just not being for me. It has a couple instances that just put me off so much that drove the rating down.

The first, and largest one being when the main characters mother being so sure that she can do everything, leaves her daughter with the people she hates s...more I received this book thought Netgalley for an honest review.

Disclaimer: Contains Spoilers

I am going to start off in this review and say this book wasn’t written badly, or was the story all that bad. Mostly the low rating is due to the book just not being for me. It has a couple instances that just put me off so much that drove the rating down.

The first, and largest one being when the main characters mother being so sure that she can do everything, leaves her daughter with the people she hates so much.

Nice one mum, leave your seriously distraught daughter with her missing boyfriends parents after her daughter has been kidnapped. You hated her boyfriend, you instantly hate his parents, but just because she wants their help as well as yours you pull a bitch fit toss out an ultimatum.

I hate ultimatums.

So when your daughter does not bow down to your demands instantly you take off in a snit leaving her with said hated parents. It’s not liked you explain anything, you just say you can help and that is the end of it.

At this point the main character, Cedar, is slightly aware that there is something mystical about her in-laws. So Mum, when you get all belligerent and SAY you can help, but don’t EXPLAIN anything you don’t have any right to be all put out and pissy. To your daughter you are completely mundane, so when you get all butt hurt with her “betrayal” you can take that and shove it up your hypocritical ass.

This is all annoying, but still not what REALLY pissed me off and lowered the rating; It’s what her mother does when she runs off with her panties in a twist, unbeknownst to Cedar, but her mother is a Druid. I know Druids in past times were all blood and guts, and they sacrificed pretty much anything they could get their hands on, but Mum did you have to choose a cat. That ended my enjoyment of this book, done, gone, poof into thin air it goes. Maybe there is something is wrong with me, but I could have dealt with live stock being gutted, but please leave house hold pets out of it.

The rest of the things that bugged me were all minor, just issues with the main character forgiving her boyfriend for ditching her for seven years. Oh and the Huzzah magic ending is magic, but not explained all that thoroughly.

It was mostly brushed over in a this is what happened moment.

So if you are looking for a dark Urban Fantasy where emotions run high, and events unfold quickly then maybe this book is for you, but not for me.
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Jun 07, 2013 Joanna (Sweet Tooth) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, arc-netgalley

Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for providing a free copy of this book for an honest review.

There's mythology (Celtic), there's fantasy and there's mystery. I should have loved it. But even though the writing was good, and the pacing average, it didn't strike me much. The protagonist Cedar, for instance was again, like most of the protagonists, a love and hate. Love, because this character just acted nothing like a superhero after a tragedy whatsoever happened. She acted what a real life mot...more Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for providing a free copy of this book for an honest review.

There's mythology (Celtic), there's fantasy and there's mystery. I should have loved it. But even though the writing was good, and the pacing average, it didn't strike me much. The protagonist Cedar, for instance was again, like most of the protagonists, a love and hate. Love, because this character just acted nothing like a superhero after a tragedy whatsoever happened. She acted what a real life mother should act after discovering her child being kidnapped (adding her feelings behind her daughter's supernatural abilities) - she whined a lot, she easily became angry at everyone else around her, she panicked, she was clueless. However, I basically could put the book down from time to time to take a break from Cedar's too confused attitude. I have expected her to cool down a bit, open her mind and create a better strategy in the journey but she was too consistent, too dramatic for my taste in this genre, I can easily get tired of her.

Supporting characters that revealed the world with the Celts though was what made me interested nearly halfway through the book because even if I didn't have idea about this kind of mythology, the narration helped me understand the history gradually. It was told in third person that divided three scenarios of Cedar with the Dannans, Eden with the female antagonist Nuala, and a scene with Maeve, Cedar's mother. These three characters shared relevant yet different goals which created the conflict between them as they unraveled one mystery after another. It built the climax of the plot in the middle when all characters finally meet destinations thus adding a hint of action. But speaking of action, I thought I should hate the main antagonist Lorcan being a wicked High King and all, however he didn't play much role in this debut. He wasn't developed that much, and it felt like the story was forced to have a happy ending.

Lastly, the hint of love story from the beginning and reuniting it at 70% of the book somewhat captured my emotions. Finn actually made my day when he went back for Cedar. And since he's Cedar's initial weakness, he's the one who calmed the situation down as he comforted her and continued to give her hope that everything will be all right. Indeed, he was able to protect them and his race.

Overall, it's a fine read, just not so spectacular as I expected. Hopefully the next book will! :)(less)

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Sep 09, 2012 James Schmidt rated it 4 of 5 stars

BONUS: You can read my interview with author Jodi McIsaac at my blog here:

http://civilwarmed.blogspot.com/2012/...

The Rocky Road to Tir na nOg...

My favorite genre is historical or literary fiction set in the 19th century, generally in England, but also America. Every now and then, though, I get out of my "comfort zone," and read something else...maybe I should do it more, because every time - usually based on a recommendation of a friend - it has proven to be a great reading experience. In just...more BONUS: You can read my interview with author Jodi McIsaac at my blog here:

http://civilwarmed.blogspot.com/2012/...

The Rocky Road to Tir na nOg...

My favorite genre is historical or literary fiction set in the 19th century, generally in England, but also America. Every now and then, though, I get out of my "comfort zone," and read something else...maybe I should do it more, because every time - usually based on a recommendation of a friend - it has proven to be a great reading experience. In just the past year, I'd include Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Scandinavian crime/mystery), Defending Jacob (modern courtroom drama), and A Discovery of Witches (vampire romance), as books I might not otherwise read but ended up thoroughly enjoying. I can now add Through the Door (Celtic urban fantasy) to that list.

The imagination and storytelling in this book is very impressive for a debut novel. The story really grabs you from the beginning and the stakes are very high: to get back her missing daughter. On top of that is a thrilling world of ancient Celtic gods and goddesses making their way in the modern world while trying to get back to their homeland. The references to creatures I'd never heard of kept me (happily!) running to Wikipedia to learn even more. There are familiar characters like leprechauns, but even then you'll want to learn more if your only exposure to them is from a box of Lucky Charms. Added to the mermaids and druids and characters like the Morrigan (my favorite) and the world she has adopted is dizzying but fanciful.

If there are faults, it's in 1) the dialogue of the main characters Cedar and Finn, which tends to the melodramatic rather than dramatic, and 2) the evil king, who is written a bit over-the-top. However, the writing and dialogue for the rest of the characters, especially the mother/grandmother and the venomous but beautiful Nuala is splendid and believable. The descriptive prose is really wonderful as witnessed by this excerpt:

"When she turned back around, a small cry escaped her lips. On the other side of the clearing ran a river, and on the far bank of the river stooped a woman dressed in nothing but her long, raven black haor. Crows perched on her shoulders and head as she squatted down to wash something in the running water. The clear water turned red and murky as it flowed past.

"The Morrigan," Nuala whispered. She had never met the Morrigan, and was glad for it, but she knew about her all the same. The Morrigan was the goddess of death. There was a time when every soldier in Ireland had lived in dread of stumbling upon a woman washing his clothes in the river, for it meant he would soon doe in battle. Despite herself, Nuala moved closer, staring at the cloth in the woman's hands. Then the woman stood up and rung out the cloth, and Nuala screamed, for turning the river red with blood were the very rags she was wearing on her violently shaking body."

AWESOME!

At just over 300 pages, the book is a fairly quick read and hard to put down because the author has an exceptional sense of pacing...the last 1/3 of the book is frenetic as it draws to a conclusion and is very hard to put down.

Highly recommended! I look forward to more from Jodi McIsaac and book #2 of the trilogy! (less)

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Jun 14, 2012 M.A. Bronson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: runawaypen-reviews, ebooks

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Loved it! The book follows Cedar and her daughter, Eden as they discover they're not who they thought they were.

I loved all the Celtic mythology in the book and the whole 'door' concept was also awesome. I really liked the fact that Cedar had a daughter. Obviously a big part of the story but most of the books I read never have the main characters have children. So I thought that made the story unique from the very beginning.

I don't want to give too much away but...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Donna rated it 3 of 5 stars

I picked this up because I saw an 'if you like Outlander, you will like this' ad. I'm not sure that comparison is totally accurate though.

The story line was good, but I would liked to have gotten a bit more detail on the characters rather than just dive into the story. A lot was revealed at the end and it would have been helpful to know some of those things at the beginning. Then again, it made the ending a bit more interesting. The ending was fast paced and a lot of things were pulled into the...more

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Jun 16, 2013 Douglas Meeks rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Through the Door (The Thin Veil) was a bit of a surprise since I received what appeared to be an advanced reading copy (ARC) and now that I finish it I find it has 700+ reviews and obviously has been released for a very long time.

The story is a delightful mix of UF and true fantasy, the author misdirects you all throughout the story which allows her to surprise you at some key points. The only complaint might be that the secrets and lies are revealed to the reader VERY slowly.

Cedar is a normal h...more

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May 21, 2013 Angie ~aka Reading Machine~ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads-review-books

Cedar MacLeod is trying to raise young daughter all by herself. Cedar misses Eden's father Finn everyday like an ache that never truly goes away. Cedar's life is about to take an unexpected turn for both her and her daughter. Eden can create magical portals to places that she's never been but only thru pictures she's seen on calendars and tv shows watched. This new found ability is complete shock to Cedar's system and begins to wonder if all the stories Finn told might be true after all. Cedar g...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Jeannie Zelos rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Through the Door (The Thin Veil) Jodi McIsaac

I love fantasy books especially those with an element of romance in so was excited to be able to review Through the Door. Cedar was deeply in love with Finn, then just before she could tell him she was pregnant he disappeared without trace. Now its seven years alter and her daughter Eden opens her bedroom door and … there's a portal to the pyramids. Frightened and confused, scared for her daughter Cedar seeks some answers, but gets mired onto deeper...more

Through the Door (The Thin Veil) Jodi McIsaac

I love fantasy books especially those with an element of romance in so was excited to be able to review Through the Door. Cedar was deeply in love with Finn, then just before she could tell him she was pregnant he disappeared without trace. Now its seven years alter and her daughter Eden opens her bedroom door and … there's a portal to the pyramids. Frightened and confused, scared for her daughter Cedar seeks some answers, but gets mired onto deeper dangers for both her and Eden and finds out the world and the people she thinks she knows are just a fragment of what really exists.

There are some great characters in this book – I felt for Cedar with her love for Finn and then her despair at being abandoned. When she does find some of his family they aren't exactly welcoming to her but they do want Eden. Anyway she gets taken into adventures she never would have dreamt of, placed in all sorts of danger trying to do her best for Eden and finds out that magic and myths are based in reality. I loved the people Jodi created – its good to have some grumpy anti hero types, it gets old and dull when everyone is helpful and pleasant when in real life people dislike each other and are difficult. Some of Jodi people were like that too and it adds to the realism created in a fantasy world. Eden was sweet too – and the cruel and manipulative Nuala was perfect for the role she was in. Cedars mum Maeve seemed quite cold at first and then as things happened and her role expanded, secrets came out and I understood what she did and why – she loved Cedar and Eden and thought she was protecting them. Finn....ah Finn, he was lovely and had his reasons for abandoning Cedar. The romance side was quite a small part of the story, and really there's nothing more happening that a few kisses so those worried about explicit sex in books have to problems with this one. Despite that his love for her shows through and is steadfast.

I really didn't envisage what would happened at the end – it tied up nicely though with magics and mystery we know that all is not always as it seems. I look forward to reading more from Jodi and where she takes Finn, Cedar and Eden next in their journey.

I really enjoyed reading this story but would have liked the romance to be a bit more in the fore (that’s just me though – a sucker for romance in everything!) In a way the main plot was quite simple, and yet Jodi drew it out and made it become quite convoluted and open to letting lots of side issues in. Clearly we (well I do !) want to know what is going to happen with the mystical land that was so wonderful but had deteriorated so badly and how Cedar and the others fit into it. I loved the way Jodi took bits of ancient legends and built on the to suit her own purpose, and how knowing parts of legends already made so much feel familiar to me. I've always had a love for ancient myths and wondered how they share such common themes even though created by people thousands of miles away and who've no connection. I guess there's a part of me that feels they could have a root in truth and that’s why my mind is so open to fantasy books and the stories they tell.

Its a well written and edited book, with plots that flow seamlessly into one another and are quite in depth and complex at times and yet easy to follow. The quality of the writing is superb, and kept me immersed in the book for a few hours (I’m a quick reader). Its a great length book at 294 pages – I love longer books, and its priced at £3.99 for the kindle version and also available in paperback. Definitely one for my keeper files and looking forward to more from Cedar and co.

Stars: I really, really want to give it five, but its missing that extra spark that does it for me – not sure what, the romance maybe? So four and a half for this first part – I’m sure that five will come with further books.

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Apr 20, 2013 Amanda Croley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-reviews

First of all, thank you Jodi McIsaac for the ARC copy of Through the Door.

Cedar loved Finn more than anyone, and after two years was about to give him the news that she was pregnant. That was before he disappeared without ever knowing they were having a child. Six years later, Eden opens a door into wherever her mind can take her. Cedar has no idea what is going on, but she's convinced that Finn must be the link to Eden's ability to open these portals. During her search she finds Finns parents,...more First of all, thank you Jodi McIsaac for the ARC copy of Through the Door.

Cedar loved Finn more than anyone, and after two years was about to give him the news that she was pregnant. That was before he disappeared without ever knowing they were having a child. Six years later, Eden opens a door into wherever her mind can take her. Cedar has no idea what is going on, but she's convinced that Finn must be the link to Eden's ability to open these portals. During her search she finds Finns parents, whom she was told were both deceased. While Cedar is on her quest for information, Eden disappears from their home. Cedar is desperate to find Eden and despite her fear of this new world she knows she must accept help from the only people who can help her.

***Spoilers***
Finn and his family are all Tuatha De Danann, from the land of Tir na nOg. Sometimes referred to as the "little folk" of Irish folklore. Eden must have inherited her abilities from her fathers family. Nuala who always wanted to be with Finn, but was rejected for Cedar kidnaps Eden to force her to open a portal back to Tir na nOg, where her kind have been unable to go for thirty years. Lucan, a nasty Danann whose power is absorbing others gifts upon their death, started a war with their previous High King long ago, and took over Tir na nOg with his other followers. They were all intent on returning here, to Eriu, and defeating the humans and taking their rightful place. Finns group and several others escaped after a lengthy battle, and hid in Eriu posing as humans. Finns father closed the portal, stopping anyone of Lucans group from coming here, but also preventing anyone from returning. Nuala travels with Eden all over searching for a picture of Tir na nOg, so that Eden can open the portal. After a visit with the mermaids she has what she needs, but because Tir na nOg is no longer how they left it, the painting they found doesn't allow Eden enough information to go there. Cedar finds out that her mother is a Druid who fell in love with the High King Brogan. Once the war started he left Maeve to return, telling her he must fight with his people and stand by his wife. He later comes to Maeve in a dream asking for her help, they are all in danger and he needs Maeve to hide his wife Kier and their unborn child. Kier comes through the portal, but she is in bad shape. Once the baby is delivered, Kier uses the last of her power to help Maeve turn her into a human, giving her the gift of humanity and preventing anyone who would use her from finding her. Maeve raises her lovers child as her own, and no one is aware that Cedar is really the princess of Tir na nOg. That is until the Danann find out she gave birth to a Danann child. Cedar and Finn follow Nuala and Eden into what was once the beautiful fairyland, only to find it a shell of it's former beauty. Cedar knows that her gift is humanity, and knows how to save Eden. When Lucan kills her, he automatically absorbs her humanity and turns into a very old man. Finn is able to kill him easily and escape with Cedar's body and Eden. A few days later Eden wakes up and is told that Lucans gift held the souls of those he killed, and with his death they were all returned. None of them knew if Cedars soul would return through the portal, but she was too broken to be moved back and wake up only to die. In the end Cedar and Finn decide to return back to Tir na nOg to help their people restore it to it's former glory. (less)

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Nov 08, 2012 K.C. Rivers rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, retold-fairy-tales

The premise of the story started out strong. I was intrigued by the characters and the air of magic and mystery surrounding them, despite some grammatical errors. However, as the book progressed, I found that the suspense that first held me captivated began to wane. There was an overuse of certain phrases or words that simply became repetitive after a while. (Though looking for all of the times the word “slightly” appears would make for a fine drinking game. In truth, I probably only noticed thi...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Cardmaker rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'll admit that I bought this book because I read a very positive review of it in our local newspaper. I was also intrigued because the author was born and brought up here in my home Province of New Brunswick (in Eastern Canada, for those not familiar with my country).

I'm very happy to tell you that the book is well written and the story held my interest right to the end. It's not a big book (288 pages) and I read it in a day and a little. It's an easy read as far as the story goes but there are...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Shannon rated it 4 of 5 stars

I found this book on the Goodreads list of new books that readers could win. And although I didn't win the book, the book blurb was so engaging that I decided I had to read it! I was not disappointed - Through the Door held my interest from page one all of the way through. Cedar McLeod is in love with a handsome young man named Finn. They are at a festival, enthralled with each other and wildly happy. Cedar is looking for a way to tell Finn that she is pregnant. Suddenly, Finn becomes spooked by...more

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May 21, 2012 Heather Ann rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

I intended to read this over the next 2 weeks or so. It went a bit faster than that! More like 4 hours, with periodic breaks to refill my wine glass. :)

Through the Door is the first book in a trilogy, which is fortunate because I'm not nearly satisfied with my quick journey into its world yet.

The basic plot is that of a single mother (Cedar) raising a daughter (Eden) in Halifax. Eden, it turns out, has some odd abilities that start to show up when she's 6. Odd abilities like being able to open a...more I intended to read this over the next 2 weeks or so. It went a bit faster than that! More like 4 hours, with periodic breaks to refill my wine glass. :)

Through the Door is the first book in a trilogy, which is fortunate because I'm not nearly satisfied with my quick journey into its world yet.

The basic plot is that of a single mother (Cedar) raising a daughter (Eden) in Halifax. Eden, it turns out, has some odd abilities that start to show up when she's 6. Odd abilities like being able to open a door to anywhere she wants to go. Her bedroom door becomes a gateway to Egypt, the family cottage, or a Disneyland castle. Cedar is skeptical of such things, but this is in-your-face real magic. Suddenly a lot of family secrets start coming out of the woodwork, turning her worldview upside-down.

I'm still trying to put my finger on the thing that's different about the way Cedar is written, but I think it's this: Cedar is a mother of a young girl written by a mother of young girls. The book touches on family pressures, work/life balance, and the desire to be a great mom with a satisfying career. The conflict between being home with your child and working to pay for that home. The stress of raising a young kid and trying to figure out how to tell your kid that you adore them AND this might not actually be the most awesome chapter of your life. And no matter what, ancient gods be damned, no one's making decisions about your kid without your say-so.

It may be that I'm not used to reading fantasy novels written by women. It almost feels like a mash-up between Neil Gaiman and Alice Munro, which CLEARLY needed to happen.

The other thing I like is that the characters are complicated. We do have a clear hero and villain, but most of the characters are neither (or both?). Nuala is the main example of this. For the first half of the book, she seems like a fairly classic villain, but then things start shifting and getting more complicated. She has her reasons for what she's doing, and they don't mesh very well with Cedar's reasons. I can't decide how I feel about her and that's a very good thing.

Five stars! And I can't wait for the rest of the trilogy.(less)

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Aug 26, 2012 Lainy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Time Taken To Read - 1.5 days

Blurb From Goodreads

Cedar McLeod lives an ordinary but lonely life, raising her six-year-old daughter Eden on her own while trying to balance the demands of her career and the expectations of her mother. Everything seems normal until the day Eden opens her bedroom door and finds herself half a world away – and then goes missing. Suddenly, Cedar realizes her daughter is anything but normal.

In a desperate search for answers, Cedar tries to track down Eden’s father, who...more Time Taken To Read - 1.5 days

Blurb From Goodreads

Cedar McLeod lives an ordinary but lonely life, raising her six-year-old daughter Eden on her own while trying to balance the demands of her career and the expectations of her mother. Everything seems normal until the day Eden opens her bedroom door and finds herself half a world away – and then goes missing. Suddenly, Cedar realizes her daughter is anything but normal.

In a desperate search for answers, Cedar tries to track down Eden’s father, who mysteriously disappeared from her life before Eden was born. What she discovers is far beyond anything she could have imagined. As she joins unlikely allies in the hunt for her daughter, Cedar becomes torn between two worlds: the one she thought she knew, and one where ancient myths are real, the stakes are impossibly high, and only the deepest love will survive.

My Review

Cedar McLeod is raising her daughter, 6 years after her man left suddenly without finding out she was with child. Flick to present day and Eden can suddenly open doors to anywhere she has seen, either in her head or a picture. Cedar has to try and find Eden's father and get some answers however she comes to the attention of some other magical creatures and soon a battle to save her daughter, herself and even her world begins.

Firstly I am not often bothered with covers but when I opened the parcel and saw this one I was delighted - yes it is a door and a keyhole but something about it and the design created an impressive first reaction.

The story for me started a bit slow, it lays a good background and build up but I wanted answers so found myself unable to put it down (what can I say I am nosey and like to know what is the deal with my characters). There is a lot of questions raised as we go along, and we meet many mythical creatures (which I found a fabulous surprise which I won't spoil for you).

When it gets going it is a great wee story and well written. There are a few big words that you will find a mouthful, mostly names (this is always a bug bear with me) however the author has put a list at the front of the book explaining how they are pronounced.

The story has action, murder, love, mystery, mythical creatures, history and a whole other world. This is the first in a series and I will look out for the next one to follow our characters adventures. For a while I thought this was going to be a 3 star book but towards the last quarter or the book, the action picked up and the questions I had built up as I was getting deeper into the story firing it up to a 4/5. Thanks so much to the author for offering me the chance to read and review her work and introducing me to a new world. Available now on Amazon in paperback and for the kindle.(less)

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May 10, 2013 Jennie Pratt rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was lucky enough to score this book in exchange for an honest review. I went back and forth as I was reading this book like a pendulum. This book was brilliant at times, other times such a disappointment, and I just couldn't decide how I should rate it. I settled on 3.5 stars, but because overall this is a great story, I was inclined to round up.

The characters were all pretty cliche and stereotypical. (Ugh!!! such promise) The love interest made me gag most of the time because I have never me...more

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Sep 19, 2012 Marsha rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Adults

(3.5 stars). Rarely do we find paranormal books written about mothers and their children. That is one of the things that makes "Through the Door" so refreshing. Cedar McLeod and Finn Donnelly have been dating for two years and they are in love. However, one day out of the blue, Finn leaves before Cedar can tell him that she is carrying his child. Now, fast forward six year into the present. Cedar is a single parent raising a precocious but precious daugher named Eden. Eden is at an age where she...more (3.5 stars). Rarely do we find paranormal books written about mothers and their children. That is one of the things that makes "Through the Door" so refreshing. Cedar McLeod and Finn Donnelly have been dating for two years and they are in love. However, one day out of the blue, Finn leaves before Cedar can tell him that she is carrying his child. Now, fast forward six year into the present. Cedar is a single parent raising a precocious but precious daugher named Eden. Eden is at an age where she wants to know who her father is. Unfortunately, Cedar is uncomfortable with her questions.

Then, Eden begins developing the unique ability to touch a door and create a portal to anyplace she can visualize. She takes her mother to Egypt, the local library and to a vacation cabin in the woods. Cedar is reeling with her daughters new skills and needs to find out how she came by them. So, with the help of her friend, Jane, she located Finn's parents who she previously believed was deceased. However, this only makes her world even more confusing as they seems to be holding back information.

While Cedar and the Donnelly's try to sort out just how much they are willing to share with each other, Eden is taken hostage. It seems someone else is interested in her ability to open doors or sidhs. In a frantic effort to find her, Cedar will have to join forces with the very people her mother has tried to keep her away from, the Donnelly's; not to mention, Finn has become aware of his daughter's existence and comes back into Cedar's life.

This plot is filled with Irish folklore/myths and with the unique twist of a mother discovering her daughter's magical abilities. There were various twists and turns; unfortunately, they were all pretty predictable and provided no element of surprise. While I enjoyed the writing, characterizations and plot, there were times I was a little unenthusiatic. I managed to make it through the book with some areas that were quite memorable and others not so much. This is one of those books that is truly hard to review because you enjoy it but just short of loving it. I think that the biggest problem for me was the lack of romance. What's a good book without some steamy passion? It just was not there and I for one need kissy face in my books! It is definitely worth reading I am interested in seeing just where the author plans to take the series in the future.(less)

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Aug 06, 2012 K. Bird rated it 4 of 5 stars

The book's trailer on Youtube caught my eye, and did a good job of convincing me to buy this indie ebook. Cedar is a single mother with a child from a boyfriend that disappeared years ago.

She comes home from work one day to find out that her child has an amazing ability; to open a door to anywhere.

This realization sends Cedar and her daughter, Eden, hurtling down a path of discovery towards Eden's true parentage the world of the Tuatha De Danaan.

For an indie release, this book was excellent, on...more

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Nov 07, 2012 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm kinda digging the new twist on "supernatural creatures among us" without it involving vampires, werewolves, or some other crazy phenomenon!

This book is about a single mom, Cedar, whose daughter, Eden, suddenly discovers she is able to open doors to other places - literally. As in, opening a door in her home can open a portal that can go anywhere she wants - as long as she's seen a picture of the place or been there before. Eden is a product of a relationship Cedar had with someone who left h...more

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Aug 03, 2012 Trisha rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have to say I am a bit perplexed by the number of 5 star reviews this book got. I had high expectations going into it, but was disappointed in it as a whole. I was able to finish the book, although there were a few times I wanted to just stop. It wasn't really bad, it just didn't really compel me to read on like it should have, if that makes sense. I did want to see how it ended, though, which is why I pressed on. *SPOILER ALERT* I just didn't find it believable that Cedar's mom would just off...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Shelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews-requested

I originally posted this review, complete with the the book trailer, on my blog {Dive} Under the Cover.

I really loved this book! I am not going to try to summarize it, because the synopsis is perfect. It's exactly what a synopsis should be, in fact. I am also going to keep this spoiler free so this may be a short review, but in this case it's not a bad thing at all.

I was pulled into the story immediately and I couldn't put it down. It didn't take me long to finish this book and I will be anxious...more I originally posted this review, complete with the the book trailer, on my blog {Dive} Under the Cover.

I really loved this book! I am not going to try to summarize it, because the synopsis is perfect. It's exactly what a synopsis should be, in fact. I am also going to keep this spoiler free so this may be a short review, but in this case it's not a bad thing at all.

I was pulled into the story immediately and I couldn't put it down. It didn't take me long to finish this book and I will be anxiously waiting for the next book in the trilogy to come out. I am a sucker for any kind of story with Celtic lore in it. I always have been drawn to it ever since I started reading Nora Roberts Celtic Trilogies over 10 years ago. The world that Jodi has started to build in the series is a fresh new take, at least for me. She does such a wonderful job with her descriptions that you are pulled right into the story along with Cedar.

I would be hard-pressed to tell you which character is my favorite. I think that I would have to say Eden, she really steals the story. She is such a sweet girl and I can't wait to see how she grows as the trilogy continues. I don't really think of this as a love story, there are elements of a love story in it, but it's more centered on the "fae" aspect. They aren't called fae in the series, that's just how I tend to classify them since it's easier to say that Tuatha De Dannan!

This book has a nice pace to it, there is a lot of action, but it's not all action from the get go. It has a good balance and well thought out plot and pacing. Reading this, I would never have guessed that this is Jodi's first book. The characters are also very well developed and were very real to me as I was reading. I was sad when they were sad, happy when they were happy, etc...

Overall, I really loved it, just in case that wasn't clear! It's always a treat to come across the start of a new series like this. Especially one from a new author. This isn't one of those underdeveloped, poorly edited releases that have become so common since Amazon publishing has become so accessible. Don't let the lower eBook price fool you!

I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good paranormal read, especially if you like Celtic Lore. I am sure that when the 2nd book is released I will be re-reading this one to prepare for it.

(less)

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May 14, 2013 Melinda (Mel Reviews Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-copy, couple-i-love, faeries, female-lead, i-love-a-side-character, magic, main-character-i-love, mythology, review-on-blog, series, third-person, three-stars

I am still not really sure how I feel like this book. I found it to be a quick and easy read, and I liked it, but I felt that it was missing something. I really enjoyed the mixture of our modern day world with Celtic and Irish mythology.

When I read the synopsis, I was immediately intrigued by the idea. I felt that it could be a really interesting story if it was executed correctly. In terms of the plot, I did feel that it was well done, but there was a certain predictability that didn’t make th...more I am still not really sure how I feel like this book. I found it to be a quick and easy read, and I liked it, but I felt that it was missing something. I really enjoyed the mixture of our modern day world with Celtic and Irish mythology.

When I read the synopsis, I was immediately intrigued by the idea. I felt that it could be a really interesting story if it was executed correctly. In terms of the plot, I did feel that it was well done, but there was a certain predictability that didn’t make the read as enjoyable as it could have been. I found that I was guessing what was going to happen before it did happen and not once was I surprised by the storyline. In saying that, I still enjoyed the story, it just wasn’t as captivating as I would have liked.

As I said earlier, I really liked the Celtic and Irish Mythology that was incorporated into the story. The addition of magic and mythical beings really added to the story. I felt that the mixture of mermaids, leprechauns, druids and old gods/fairies was really well balanced.

The writing style was reasonably good. I felt that sentence structure was good and made it easy to read. I did feel that maybe things were described in too much detail, or unnecessary things were mentioned. I felt that this took away from the pacing of the story, and I often found myself skimming through the descriptions because I wanted to know what was happening in the story.

Another thing that I didn’t really like was the changing in perspectives. I was never confused by which character’s point of view I was currently reading but it made the story feel a little choppy and I felt at times that the story was jumping around different time points of the story when we changed perspective.

I also felt that I couldn’t connect the characters that well. There were times in the story when I should have felt emotion and I didn’t really feel anything and I think it was because I couldn’t relate to the characters. It may be because I have never been in the character’s shoes, but that hasn’t really stopped me from connecting before. In saying that, I did like the characters. I felt that each character was an individual and there were no unnecessary characters. I liked that despite everything she had been through, Cedar was a strong character and I also liked how twisted Nuala was.

Overall it was a good read, but not a story that I felt was memorable. I give it 3/5 stars, because I did like the story, I just feel it could have been executed better.

Mel.
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Aug 24, 2012 Serenity rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, uncertain, kindle, awesome-universe, series

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Okay, lets give this a whirl~!

I saw this book featured in an email-sent daily blog about current free books going around on amazon for the kindles~ Through the Door was free for a promotion day and when I read the little excerpt blurbs. It sounded really interesting and though I didn't know how soon I'd get to read it, it looked good enough that I wanted to keep on my shelves anyway. Well, after going on a "Song of Fire and Ice" binge, reading 1-3 back to back, I needed something lighter to read...more Okay, lets give this a whirl~!

I saw this book featured in an email-sent daily blog about current free books going around on amazon for the kindles~ Through the Door was free for a promotion day and when I read the little excerpt blurbs. It sounded really interesting and though I didn't know how soon I'd get to read it, it looked good enough that I wanted to keep on my shelves anyway. Well, after going on a "Song of Fire and Ice" binge, reading 1-3 back to back, I needed something lighter to read and picked this one~

I went into this warily because it wouldn't have been the first free kindle book to have put me off. I was surprised to find that I genuinely liked the book. I loved the writing style most of all. It was very sweet and simple in a way that made it feel like I was being told a fairy tale, pun not intended. I definitely liked that. The story was very easy to follow and though it didn't have huge dramatic twists and turns, I felt that I was being nicely glided through the story. It was very relaxing after having read over 3000+/- pages of nail-biting, jaw dropping fantasy.

I wasn't super attached to the characters and I wasn't jerked to tears, but I genuinely did wonder what would happen next to that or that character. I felt like this story was to introduce me to the cast, considering it is meant to be part of a series, and that later down the road I grow attached to the familiar faces. So, there's no question that I will be looking out for the sequel. Definitely want to see where this is heading.

I'm super curious to learn bout Eden and her alter dream personality, that was pretty cool. I also want to see how Cedar deals with the "new identity"; I had a lot of mixed feelings about her. I loved how she had the balls to tell Fionn that just donating sperm didn't make him a daddy. I also loved how it turned out that she was a Dannan (and the one of prophecy to be specific). However, she felt very pouty and crybaby like all through out the book. Maybe it was just because her daughter was stolen... kidnapping is a stressful situation. Anyway, I'm willing to overlook that. Otherwise the Dannan were cool and I felt horrible for Maeve, but loved her back story. Nuala was pretty cool as a character too, and I loved the merrow.

Also, I read in the end of the book, about how the author Jodi M. was an "indie writer". Thanks to Kindles new independent publishing opprotunities now, independent authors (aka indies) are being about to spread their books and stories without the help of a publisher. A lot of new and great authors are being discovered in this revolutionary new way of publishing. However, as stated in her message, being that independent means that they also don't get the marketting help and the big bucks like mainstream authors do.

The indie writers are publishing with genuine expression for their love of writing, desire to amuse the readers, and grow as an author. I think we shoud all give them their support, because true treasures can be found from them. I'm pleased to say that Jodi M. is the first indie writer that I have decided to be a fan of. I am very interested in seeing her grow as a write and where she will we take her readers.

I definitely suggest getting Through the Door.

You're doing great, Jodi~! Keep up the good work!(less)

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May 30, 2013 Anya rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: traveling, own

From my blog On Starships and Dragonwings

Through the Door by Jodi McIsaac is a very fun introduction to fantasy based on celtic mythology. Through the Door also has the interesting aspect of focusing on a single mother as the main character, though her daughter is the one with the special powers. This is a dynamic I haven’t read ever before, and so I was quite happy to see this portrayal of a woman making the best of a difficult situation with the help of her single mother as well. My biggest su...more From my blog On Starships and Dragonwings

Through the Door by Jodi McIsaac is a very fun introduction to fantasy based on celtic mythology. Through the Door also has the interesting aspect of focusing on a single mother as the main character, though her daughter is the one with the special powers. This is a dynamic I haven’t read ever before, and so I was quite happy to see this portrayal of a woman making the best of a difficult situation with the help of her single mother as well. My biggest suggestion is not to let the title or cover put you off, since I was not immediately drawn to either, didn’t know what to expect from Through the Door, and was very pleasantly surprised.
Note: I received Through the Door through Netgalley for an honest review.

Strengths:
The fantasy world with celtic influences that Through the Door introduces was very cool and I look forward to finding out more!
Because Cedar’s mother raised her alone in addition to Cedar raising her own daughter as a single mom, there is a great theme of single mothers being awesome and completely capable of forming a loving family.
The writing of Through the Door was strong and quite enjoyable to read.
There are several twists, one of which I did not see coming, and you know how I love my plot twists ;-).

Weaknesses:
Mermaids made a brief appearance and I got all excited that we would get to follow the characters underwater with them, but then we didn’t at all. It was so sad. I would really love more description of the celtic mermaids, at least I assume these mermaids were faithfully based on celtic lore?
The ending of Through the Door was a bit too convenient with a special gift showing up just in the nick of time.
I am not a fan of the title of Through the Door, I just don’t think it grabs the reader or gives them any idea what the book is about. I know where the title comes from after reading the book, but I’m still not intrigued strictly based on the title. I think Tuatha de Danaan would have been a much better title. Also I’m not in love with the cover and it only kind of fits a scene in the book….

Summary:
I am fairly certain Through the Door is still available on Netgalley for review and I do recommend fantasy fans to go check it out. Through the Door is a fairly easy read with fun celtic influences and a new fantasy world for us all to enjoy. Mothers saving their daughters are like the epitome of kick-butt heroines right? I certainly don’t want to get in the way of this mother-daughter team ever ;-). I’m looking forward to the next in the Thin Veil series, but I’m not on the edge of my seat.(less)

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Jun 07, 2013 Caroline rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-received-from-netgalley

[I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy (i.e., free) from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review on both Goodreads and LibraryThing.]

This is a nice fantasy story, but really, just nice. Nice and very simple. The plot is a very basic, single-layered good versus evil-—in this case, (view spoiler) versus evil king. Author Jodi McIsaac seemed to be striving for something unique, cool, and deep by weaving Celtic lore into her story, but the lore...more

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May 17, 2013 Cheryl Henderson-khalid rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoy mysteries, fantasy and light romance, so this book was just perfect for me. In the beginning I feared that it was going to be a sappy lost love story, but then Eden's daughter disappeared and I became fully engaged. As a mom, I had a lot of empathy for Eden and her quest to find her lost daughter. I really enjoyed the scenes with Eden's "other" family members as they become involved in the hunt. I found the pace of the story to be good. Jodi McIsaac also made the story come alive as well...more

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May 04, 2013 Sue Bleiweiss rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was an enjoyable read from start to finish but t is not however without a few flaws. The storyline is engaging, based in celtic mythology and magic and the author has a gift for being able to create clear, vivid imagery in the readers mind with her writing. There were parts of the book where it felt like she was trying to stretch the storyline. Conversations between characters are ended abruptly during explanations to the main character which were no doubt intended to keep the reader intere...more

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May 27, 2013 April Adams rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone who loves the Tuatha de Dannan

Recommended to April by: audiobooks.com

I absolutely loved it! I admit, I'm obsessed with all things Celtic and especially Druids and the Tuatha de Dannan.

This was an entirely fresh take from Karen Marie Moning's Highlander and Fever series. For one, it's not a romance novel or too gritty, which I liked for the most part. I didn't cringe when my headphone plug came out and my 4 year old child was standing by. He was safe. Loved the Canadian point of view as well. That was an added bonus.

Well written, beautiful, exciting, complex, sur...more

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Dec 13, 2012 Tracey rated it 2 of 5 stars

Usually as I read I make notes, either on the Word doc I write my reviews on or on actual paper with an actual pen. But on going through my list of books read this year, trying to see just how far behind I was with reviews, I suddenly realized that not only had I not reviewed Through the Door (which, I'm afraid, is not a reach-out-and-grab-you sort of title), I hadn't even added it my "read" list or to the body of the page with a space under it to remind myself to start a review. It's not that I...more

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Through the Door (The Thin Veil #1)

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