Another Raving Review from Midwest Book Review!
Diane B. Donovan, senior ebook editor at Midwest Book Review, wrote the following review of The Gatekeeper’s Challenge, Gatekeeper’s Saga, Book Two in this month’s publication:
Book 2 of ‘The Gatekeeper’s Saga’ (a powerful young adult fantasy novel with fifteen-year-old Therese Mills as its heroine and guiding force) begins where Book One left off and is especially recommended for those who have read and enjoyed its predecessor, The Gatekeeper’s Sons.
The Gatekeeper’s Challenge opens with seemingly Therese newly reunited with her god/love Than for a quick visit after a ten-month separation, and the perplexity over her mortal good friend Peter (who may be more than just a friend) when their relationship is threatened by Than’s return.
In quick succession appear the Furies, Poseidon in a chariot, and more figures from mythology – and with them, once again, is confusion over where Therese really belongs and the true nature of reality and fantasy itself… for her encounter with Than proves to be a dream, even as the real Than is spending his time and efforts trying to find a way to be together with Therese and make her his queen.
Therese doesn’t know this fact, however: to her it’s been ten long months with no communication with Than and no indication that he is still interested in her, and so when he shows up when her hamster dies (he is, after all, a god of the underworld), she still only gets a tidbit of conversation and not nearly enough time to discuss romance, intentions, or the future.
Her decision to search out and take a drug that provides a near-death experience so she can have a proper talk with her underworld boyfriend goes terribly awry and results in a challenge issued by Hades that will either make her a goddess or destroy her.
It’s Therese’s strong will, courage, and determination that will be the real tests of her capabilities under Hade’s near-impossible challenge: that and her ongoing love for Than, which continues, unchanging, through both worlds and under impossible conditions.
There are also surprising, humorous moments in Therese’s encounters – as when she pursues a treasure guarded by a monster and entices him with a (drugged) cinnamon roll: “Therese opened her purse and took out the cinnamon roll. “Hera gave me a gift to give to Ladon.” It wasn’t exactly true. Technically, Hera hadn’t given it to her. But it had been her idea. Too frightened to approach the tree and the nymphs, Therese tossed the roll through the air where it was caught and eaten by one of Ladon’s hundred heads.” Really: conquering a legendary monster guardians with SleepAid tablets and Prozac?
Even as Therese faces her own challenges, she’s tasked with protecting her mortal friends, occasionally with extraordinary means. Being mortal means she sometimes fails – as in trying to protect Vicki – but sometimes succeeds – as with her friend Jen. It also means she has a lot to give up in the process of making the right moral, ethical choices at times – possibly even her future with Than.
But one strong message in The Gatekeeper’s Challenge is ‘never give up’ – and Therese continually finds her approaches that allow her to keep her promises, protect her friends, and retain her own clear vision of what she wants from her life and the afterworld.
Speaking of which – also at the heart of the story is finding one’s purpose in life: a task that involves not just mortals but gods and goddesses alike: “Every god and goddess must serve humankind or the world in some way. We have to find a purpose for you, or this transformation won’t last.”
As Therese moves ever closer to her heart’s desire and to identifying what that desire might mean in the bigger picture of two worlds, she finds herself facing her greatest challenge.
Once again, expect no neat conclusions, here. The Gatekeeper’s Challenge is a complex, shape-shifting fantasy with an evolving protagonist and changes to all involved. The conclusion only sets the stage for more possibilities, drawing readers to a mercurial ending that cries out for more.
