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Gates of Paradise (Casteel #4)

by V.C. Andrews, Andrew Neiderman

3.74 of 5 stars 3.74 · rating details · 6,246 ratings · 52 reviews

Stunned by tragedy, desperate and alone, Heaven's daughter clung to the frailest of dreams!

The car crash that killed Heaven and Logan left Annie Casteel Stonewall orphaned and crippled. Whisked off to Farthinggale Manor by the possessive Tony Tatterton, Annie pines for her lost family, but especially for Luke, her half-brother. Friend of her childhood, her fantasy prince

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Paperback, 488 pages

Published July 15th 1990 by Pocket Books (first published 1989)

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Apr 30, 2012 Jeni rated it 2 of 5 stars

Least favorite in the series.
Novels that were truly written by Ms. Andrews were Flowers in the Attic, Petals on the Wind, If There Be Thorns, Seeds of Yesterday, My Sweet Audrina, Heaven, and Dark Angel. When Virginia became seriously ill while writing the Casteel series, she began to work even harder, hoping to finish as many stories as possible so that her fans could one day share them. Since her death many have wondered whether there would continue to be new V.C. Andrews novels. Beginning wit...more

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Feb 19, 2013 Sarina rated it 5 of 5 stars

I find everyone's distaste for this book rather interesting, as it was my favorite of all five in the Casteel series. Even if the Troy-being-her-dad storyline was not new for the reader, it was new for Annie, and I liked seeing him through her eyes. Luke and Annie's relationship was cute to me, although on the incest-y side; when I heard that both Fanny and Heaven were expecting at the same time, I figured their offspring would either grow up hating or loving each other. I am glad to see it is t...more

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Oct 29, 2008 Erin rated it 2 of 5 stars

This is my least favorite book in the series and it grates on my nerves after just a few chapters. One thing that really bothers me throughout the novel is that eighteen-year-old Annie still calls her parents "Mommy" and "Daddy". The whole fantasy Farthy thing in the beginning is extremely repetitive and the recuperation at Farthy becomes that way after a while also. The only thing that saves this novel is the appearance of Troy at the end.

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Apr 12, 2012 V H rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bookcrossing

The three first books were told by Heaven, but this book is told by Heaven’s daughter Annie. It’s interesting to read about how she finds out her family’s secrets. It’s also interesting to see how she deals with everything after a terrible accident, what she does to deal with it and how other people treat her.

Some things in the book, and some characters, are just sick, unfortunately people like that exist in the real world as well, and what Annie thinks about it and how she deals with it is very...more

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Dec 29, 2009 Carrie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Gates of Paradise is the fourth book in V. C. Andrews’ Casteel series. The focus is on Heaven’s daughter, Annie, who is about to turn eighteen. She lives in Winnerow with Heaven and Logan and her sort-of-uncle Drake (now in college). There is no one she is closer to in the world than Luke Jr., the son of her aunt Fanny and father Logan. She often dreams of being with him forever, despite the fact that they are half-siblings (as far as they know). They fantasize together, often including Farthing...more

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May 17, 2012 Melody Manful rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: loved-it

Okay, I haven't read anyone of the Casteel series until my grandfather came home with Gates of Paradise from his ship, and I 'borrowed it', well stole it's more like it -- because once I read the prologue I couldn't put the book down! I loved every word in the book. It's safe to say that since I got the book in 2008, I've read it more than 200 times. This is how much I loved this book. V.C. Andrews is totally an inspiration, and this book was amazing. I get that people don't find it the stronges...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Billie rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: library-book, 2011

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 12, 2010 Michelle rated it 1 of 5 stars

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. This book was terrible, a sad, sad echo of the first book in the series. The main character Annie is sickeningly sweet and good, much like Heaven was but so much more annoying. The relationship with her half-brother/cousin is...strange and unbelievable. Tony Tatterton, sigh, it's just a rehash of the previous two books in the series. And most of the time Annie is stranded in one room, confused about her nurse, Tony, her half-brother/cousin/lover, blahblahblahblah....more

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Sep 29, 2011 Connie J.estrada rated it 5 of 5 stars

LIKED THE BOOK, BUT THE CREAPY WAY THAT TONY HAS THIS OBESSION WITH HIS WANTING TO CONTROLL ANNIE, AND HOW HE WANTS TO TURN HER INTO ANTOHER LIEGH. FULLY TAKES ADVANTAGE OF POWER HUNGRY DRAKE, AND HOW HE CONFUSES ANNIE AND THINK SHE IS HEAVEN, THEN TALKS HER INTO DYEING HER HAIR BLONDE. IT IS JUST TO SICK FOR THE REASONS BEHIND IT ALL. I FOUND IT SAD HOW MUCH OF HER LIFE TROY HAS MISSED. I THOUGHT THEY WERE ABLE TO RECONECT. WHAT I LOVED MOST WAS HOW FRANNY REALLY WANTED TO BE A DECENT MEMBER OF...more

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Jan 28, 2011 Melvin Mathews rated it 2 of 5 stars

Gates Of Paradise is the last novel, technically in the Casteel series and it feels like it too. All the loose ends are all tied up, the Tatterton, Casteel and Stonewall bloodlines are reconciled (Anne being the Tatterton and Luke being the Casteel-Stonewall mix) and everything is all hunky dory. Except it isn't when you read it.

Characters from the previous books are present here but their behavious is not what you'd expect. For instance the events in the book occur years after 'Fallen Hearts'...more Gates Of Paradise is the last novel, technically in the Casteel series and it feels like it too. All the loose ends are all tied up, the Tatterton, Casteel and Stonewall bloodlines are reconciled (Anne being the Tatterton and Luke being the Casteel-Stonewall mix) and everything is all hunky dory. Except it isn't when you read it.

Characters from the previous books are present here but their behavious is not what you'd expect. For instance the events in the book occur years after 'Fallen Hearts' but the Heaven-Logan-Fanny dynamic is still present, but more like a plot device. Thr car crash which leaves Anne an orphan is a result of Heaven and a drunken Logan's argument about his behaviour with Fanny at her 40th birthday party, but thing is you wouldn't expect Logan who has been pretty sober and decent all these to suddenly behave like a teenager drinking for the first time. And Tony is not the dapper enigma he was in the previous book, here he is a creepy old man who keeps the crippled girl a prisoner. Actually the characterization is pretty and good, you geniunely feel repulsed by him. Drake is a smart guy who goes all Dark side and corrupt, Fanny undergoes a personality change towards the end and Troy is the only one who seems somewhat normal and consistent through it all.

And Anne and Luke? What about them? They are whiter than snow apparently, overflowing with goodness and light. Except for being in love when they KNOW they are half-siblings. This isn't like Chris and Cathy, who were scarred by the years in the attic, nor is it like they fall in love first and THEN realise they are siblings. No they are in love knowing whole heartedly that they are related and consequently suffer pangs of longing and angst which made me want to shake some sense into them. And all this angst is especially boring when you KNOW they are not siblings through all the previous books. Matters are not helped by the fact that they are pretty boring by themselves. The thing here that it is impled that they are more perfect versions of Heaven and Logan/Luke which is pretty patronising, when you think about it. Anne's suffering in the mansion is tedious, Luke's role is insipid. And the HEA ending? Totally predictable.

The only good thing in it's favour, is that if you read it as a stand-alone novel, it is bearable, because you don't know that Anne and Luke are related. Which makes you wonder why they fall in love. But which makes all the revelations at the end a surprise, which is how my friend read it. Though the sib love was still yucky(less)

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Oct 27, 2012 Delicious Strawberry rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: v-c-andrews, andrew-neiderman

While not as good as the other Casteel books (possibly because it was finished by Andrew Neiderman after VCAndrew's death), this book is still a very good read. The ending felt a bit rushed, but if you read the first three Heaven books and want to see how the saga closes, pick up this book. There's not as much action in here since it's supposed to be the end of the Casteel saga so the ending might feel cliched and I definitely think it could have been better, but c'est la vie. 4 out of five star...more

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Jan 15, 2011 Victoria rated it 2 of 5 stars

The 4th book in the Casteel series. In this book, Heaven, Logan and their daughter Annie are living in Winnerrow. Annie and her half brother Luke have a close bond and even share the same birthday.

After attending Fannie's birthday party, Logan, driving drunk, crashes and he and Heaven are killed, leaving Annie alone and paralyzed. Drake, the son Heaven paid Fannie for in book 3 is now grown and in college. Because of Luke and Annie's fascination with Farthy, Drake visits and then decides after t...more

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Aug 13, 2009 Kim Smiley rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. One of my favorites, although I've noticed that in any VC Andrews series, by the 4th book, the main character has a child who takes over as narrator and the parents always end up dead. Typical writing for this author.

In any event, Annie Stonewall is turning 18 yrs. old, as is her half-brother Luke Casteel. These two were born on the same day and extremely close to one another, which kind of annoys Drake Casteel, Annie's 23 yr. old "brother" who Heaven and Logan raised as their own.

Everyone gets...more One of my favorites, although I've noticed that in any VC Andrews series, by the 4th book, the main character has a child who takes over as narrator and the parents always end up dead. Typical writing for this author.

In any event, Annie Stonewall is turning 18 yrs. old, as is her half-brother Luke Casteel. These two were born on the same day and extremely close to one another, which kind of annoys Drake Casteel, Annie's 23 yr. old "brother" who Heaven and Logan raised as their own.

Everyone gets ready to go to Fanny's 40th b-day party, where Heaven and Logan get into an argument over his dirty dancing w/ Fanny. When they leave, Logan is a bit drunk and drives off the road in an accident, killing himself and Heaven, and disabling Annie, who has temporarily lost the use of her legs.

This is where Tony Tatterton comes back into the picture. Annie, (who has become quite the artist) and Luke have always fantasized about Farthy, but Heaven would never talk of her experiences there. Annie, believing that Tony is her great-grandfather, agrees to recuperate at Farthy, as she has always wanted to see the place.

Well, it has become quite the run-down mansion. Tony once again takes control and employs Drake, who immediately becomes his "mini-me." Tony hires a nurse to help Annie w/ her therapy and what not and this woman does nothing but torture her w/ scalding hot baths and puts laxatives in her food to make her sick. After realizing this, Tony fires her and takes over her care. He begins confusing her w/ Heaven, her mother, and his dead wife. He keeps Luke away from her and won't even let her use a phone. He's paid off her Dr. to tell her what he wants her to hear, thus keeping her a prisoner at Farthy.

In the end, Annie begins to feel her legs and gets to a phone to call Luke. He comes to visit, but is turned away even before he gets to see her. She is eventually rescued by Luke and Aunt Fanny, after a phonecall from Troy Tatterson is made, telling them to get to her right away before something terrible happens.

In the end, Luke and Annie realize their love for eachother is wrong because they share the same father. Troy Tatterson calls Annie to let her know Tony had passed away and would she come to the funeral. Once at the funeral, she makes amends w/ Drake and Troy Tatterson reveals himself to be her true father, leaving Luke and Annie to be together and for the readers to have the happy ending they truly want for his couple.(less)

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Mar 02, 2013 Niobe Garcia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Not a big fan of this one. For starters, I couldn't get past the fact that Heaven had died (and so young). It just seemed unfair, the way life continued to play such mean tricks on the poor girl. I wasn't much of a fan of Annie Stonewall. The book just didn't seem part of the other 3 books. I know that the author changed by this point, but I was unable to become sympathetic with Annie. Her feelings for Luke were always described as fairy tales which made me think of young children love, which wa...more

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May 10, 2013 Salvina Lanfranco rated it 5 of 5 stars

though most readers found this book the least 'interesting' yet for me it was the best in the Casteel series as it answered most of my unexplained facts and as to Tony . . describing him as monster and lusty and everything so vile and horrid . . it was all over the other four books in the series and so for me nothing so new and so unexpected. And in the end at least he got what he deserved!!!!!!

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Jan 21, 2012 Winifred rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, second-hand, books-read-2012

Annie lives with her parents in Winnerrow. she has a half brother luke whom she really likes and luke has the same feelings for annie. Annie's parents are killed in a car accident which has left annie paralysed. Tony tatterton takes annie to fathingale manor for her to recuperate but he actually tries everthing to keep her an invalid. She also finds out tony's brother troy is not dead. Annie tries to find out why her mother left farthingale manor.

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Dec 11, 2008 Laura rated it 2 of 5 stars

This is my least favorite book in the Casteel series. (That's a pretty pathetic statement!) All I can say is, I'm glad I'm not V.C. Andrews' sibling since all of her books seem to involve brothers and sisters who fall in love. Ick.

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Jul 14, 2012 Kimberly rated it 4 of 5 stars

VC Andrews has always been a favorite of mine since my childhood days. I have read (and re-read) all of her books, and although I am much older now and find that some of her work is better than others, I still enjoy the twists and turns, strangeness and mystery that continues to captivate my interest. (even some of the ghostwriter's work)

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Jan 07, 2009 Rachel rated it 1 of 5 stars

First in a long line of "main heroine's daughter" books that the ghostwriter would spew out, and like all of the ghostwriter's books, "Gates of Paradise" was a predictable bore.

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Jun 20, 2012 Ilana Weiss rated it 5 of 5 stars

I like how Heaven's story ends in this book. I think it has a great and happy ending and I was very pleased. All of V.C. Andrews' books are amazing.

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Jan 26, 2009 Paula rated it 3 of 5 stars

Currently reading....normally have a few books going at once.
This one is going to be interesting I can tell!

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Apr 10, 2011 Lindsay rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

definitely the slowest book of the series. couldn't be read w/o reading the other 4 1st.

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Jan 24, 2010 Veronica Foale rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's like junk food for my brain. Don't judge me. Meh it was okay for a VA book.

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Dec 01, 2012 Erica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, series-best-in-order, four-and-five-star-reads

I remember reading this series in high school and loving them.

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Apr 17, 2012 Jaime rated it 3 of 5 stars

V.C. Andrew books has always been one of my little guilty pleasures!

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Sep 28, 2011 Donna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Excellent read, really enjoyed this book, love this collection! :-)

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Mar 20, 2013 Jennifer Holt added it

Twenty years of guilty soap opera drama reading... Love Andrews!

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Aug 08, 2012 Stephanie is currently reading it

Notto sure as of yet, just started, update soon :)

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Oct 31, 2012 Beth Sullivan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Good book in the Casteel Series

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Aug 06, 2011 Kailee Fogg rated it 3 of 5 stars

It was good, but it was pretty typical.

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About V.C. Andrews

Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The An...more Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.

While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.

Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.

After William Andrews died in the late 1960's, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.

Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.

Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the best-seller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.

Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times best-seller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many best-seller lists within its first two weeks.

Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.

Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels--Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts--were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by Andrews herself.

Her novels were so successful that after her death her estate hired a ghost writer Andrew Neiderman, to write more stories to be published under her name.(less)

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Gates of Paradise (Casteel #4)

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