When forbidden, eye-opening truths about the secrets of the universe are exposed, an unlikely team scrambles to save worlds and each other.
A magical doorway. A terrifying demon. An enchanting paradise. When thirteen-year-old Colin Doyle and his friends arrive in a mysterious and perilous world, they discover evidence of the inconceivable, and with dark forces in hot pursuit, they must unravel the truth before the unthinkable happens.
Penelope Brown grew up in England in a magical little village that has been her inspiration for the Gatekeeper series. Many of the ideas came from dreams that she journaled growing up. She later researched her notes to find out they were uncannily accurate. She has decided to share her stories with the world. She now lives in Florida. Her future plans are to expand her Gatekeeper series, her focus being based on truths and scientific research. She believes that anything is possible, and she is willing to explain how. Visit the author's website at www.PenelopeABrown.com
When I first picked this up, I put it down after reading a few chapters, they were so disappointing, I just couldn't read further. That time, I thought this was nauseating and annoying with a bland contexture, characters that were not well crafted. I don't expect much when our protagonists are basically kids, but there are some authors who can make a person's naivete look charming. It wasn't the case here. Their personalities changed according to the scene. Like when there was something pivotal about to happen, they were suddenly very mature and bam: heroes. Otherwise, they are dull to the bone. I couldn't mark my disappointment on scale for it exceeded all limits. Then I decided to take a break from this.
After a few days, I cracked this open again, and I have to say, I did enjoy it the second time. Even though I didn't find our characters lovable. But I finished it, and I had fun. It was a decent read, I think more suitable for youngins, but would recommend this to everyone. Maybe you'll absolutely love it. This is just my opinion, anyway. Give it chance, and decide for yourself.
Very disappointed. I wanted to like this book; I wanted to love it, but it was not meant to be. The story line had potential, but was not well executed. This was simply a poorly written novel. The editing and proofreading was worse; somebody was using spell check and/or autocorrect. More important than any of these, I have an extreme grievance with the author.
I saw all the five star ratings and had to wonder if we read the same book. We’ll start from the “small” and work our way to bigger things. If you want the most damning accusation first, jump down to #5 and don’t even bother with the rest.
I felt less like a reader and more like a teacher grading a freshman paper. If I had the loose-leaf manuscript and a red pen I would be able to critique it all together, but as it is I hardly know where to start.
1. There’s not enough room or time to go over each little thing, one or two examples of each problem will have to do. Suspension of disbelief is critical in any fantasy novel, but if the author can’t even represent reality in a believable way, the fantasy element has no chance. Inaccuracy is an automatic killer. Example: “Colin and Addy lay down on a large crocheted blanket that their mom had knitted.” Which was it, crocheted or knitted? Now, while this example may seem like a very small thing remember; this is only one example, but it is important. All details are. This is where an author gains the reader’s trust that they know what they’re talking about, and that will translate to trust as the fantasy elements are introduced. As a reader who knows these two things are not synonymous it stopped me. Does the author not realize that these are two distinct art forms, or does she not care?
2. Awkward sentences and phrases was another rampant problem. “He motioned for Addy to stay behind him while he grabbed the umbrella with all his strength.” My first thought, (while laughing at the mental image of Collin pulling the umbrella like it was the fabled Sword in the Stone) was, “Wow. That must be a hell of a heavy umbrella!” This is an example where I had to reread the passage in order to understand what was really going on. I think she meant he gripped the umbrella as tightly as he could. Again, this is only one example and probably not even the best; there are too many to choose from.
3. Redundancy, or using the same word or phrase too many times, can indicate a lack of creativity. And it can become irritating or ridiculous. The characters seemed to spend a lot of time winking, smirking, chuckling, and having their eyes grow wide in amazement. Many times the action didn’t fit the context. My favorite redundant phrase had to be, “He dosed off to sleep thinking about…” He took medication? (Remember what I said about proofreading?) First, let’s change “dosed” to “dozed”, and then let’s consider that dozing off and sleeping are two ways of saying the same thing. This was only the third chapter and I’m beginning to think I’ll never make it through this book.
4. I’m going to pick up some speed here. The characters’ dialogue is inconsistent and again, sometimes didn’t fit the context. The characters have very little to no personality. The author didn’t even give the parents’ names. The dog has a name. The car has a name, for heaven’s sake. They are called Mom and Dad. The writing is rushed in places where it would have been better to have more detail to the point where some things just don’t make sense. Obviously the author had a very firm idea of what she was seeing in her own mind, but the vision doesn’t carry through to the reader because of the lack of details. I had a really good example, but I want to move on, O Patient and Intrepid Reader of Reviews.
5. I’m going to jump to Chapter 31, because that’s where I got pissed. There are no credits to any illustrators, unless you count the cover art. As this book is sprinkled with little sketches, most would assume they come from the author. In Chapter 31 I was floored when I saw a sketch I recognized. I looked all over the book; no credits. She uses a sketch of the Lord of Darkness from the 1985 film “Legend.” As if that’s not enough, she goes further by describing her Crimson Devil King (a stupid name in any case) like this:
“He was a frightening image, gigantic with a muscular crimson-red body resembling the hard shell of a cockroach. Thick, black horns ascended straight up and his eyes were yellow with black slits. His chin jutted out, framing his fangs, sharp like those of a shark. His hands were huge with black, sharp claws. The beast wore a black robe adorned with many colored gems.”
This is a perfect, word-by-word description of the Lord of Darkness from “Legend” that she’s passing off as an original description of an original character that she created. This illustration is not her original creation. The description is not her original creation. How can this not be plagiarism?? Even the description of how the Crimson Devil King’s end comes about seems to be taken from the movie.
“He forced the golden dagger down into the demon’s chest, penetrating the beast’s hard skin. The Devil King roared in pain as he stumbled backward. A wormhole opened behind the injured devil, and he fell backwards into it.”
In the movie the Lord of Darkness was stabbed with a unicorn horn, in the chest, and roared in pain. The room behind him opened and he fell into a night sky filled with stars.
There was another illustration that looked very familiar and I’m investigating it’s origin as well. I’ll have to update my findings later. Badly done Mrs. Brown, badly done.
I was surprised by this story, in several ways. Ms. Brown has a nice voice in her prose and has crafted an intricate and imaginative story that holds together. It would be possible for a lesser author to get lost in the maze of the interwoven worlds, but she holds it all together. The characters are the greatest contribution to this fantasy. They are unique and captivating. My only fault is that some additional backstory would have helped understand some of the motivation of the characters, thus the 4 star. In retrospect, there is so much going on and such a diversity of characters that the balance between letting the characters move forward and adding plot detail is a hard call. That said, she uses a series of circumstances that put trust and motivation of characters at question. As a reader I liked that there was always a question of whether the supporting cast was good or bad and if they were being honest or manipulative. It was never trite or expected. That progressive creation of depthy characters was the first surprise. The second was that as soon as I thought I had a good handle on who was up to what, she pulled the plot right out from under me. In the end it all made sense, but getting there was a series of twists and turns, both subtle and in your face, that made for great reading enjoyment. I will offer that I don't read a lot of fantasy, so I don't have a lot of comparisons to make. My rating is purely on the enjoyment, which was plenty, in the reading and how I felt the story held together. I don't write plot reviews. I review the books and the writing. My ratings are based on whether I would recommend this book to anyone, and this case I would. Let me put it another way. Ms. Brown has a great talent and her next offering in this series will be even better. Her rhythm of the story was much more evident in the second half of the book.
The Gatekeeper's Forbidden Secret surprised me. It is geared for a younger audience but as a thirty something adult I enjoyed reading it.
Colin and his sister Addy get into a bit of trouble with their parents one day while out looking for their lost dog Buddy. So as punishment they have to go to a friend of their father's to help work around his castle for the summer. It's here that they meet the owner's nephew Peter. The three of them become instant friends. Colin and Addy share an incredible and almost unbelievable story with Peter. But together they hope that they can uncover the truth and find a missing piece that could help them get their dog back. Peter will do anything he can to help his new friends but at the same time keeping his own secret hidden.
I had fun reading this story, it is quite an adventure. The author describes everything with such detail that I felt as though I was there in the castle with them. It took me back to my childhood when my friends and I would get ourselves into some crazy adventures. The characters are very likeable and the story is well written. I would give this a 3.5 star rating. You will get lost in the story and be on a wild ride adventure with Colin, Addy, Peter and some unusual friends they meet along the way. This e-book was provided to me by the author for review. This did not affect my review in any way.
I noticed a few typos, but I wasn't too concerned with them. I was intrigued by Mrs Hekate and her collection. Addie was rather cute at times, particularly when she entered the Gatekeeper's world and foraged about the place.
I thought about what it would be like to have Alan's job. I don't think I would mind doing what Alan does. It must have been hard for him being in a nice hotel. Although at the time I was reading this book, I started to become more engaged in climate change. I wouldn't mind doing environmental research as my job.
In some ways I felt sorry for Peter. Having to conceal his true identity. I can relate to that. As for Colin, he has his head screwed on, but sometimes he overlooks things. Possibly?
I never lost interest in this book. I kept on reading. It was the first book I read in my free time. At that time, I was moving into the world of books. I was sort of living two separate lives, I was studying computing, but part of me wanted to focus on climate change instead. You may be asking, why can't I do both? Well it's complicated. I just feel doing both contradict each other. I don't want to study computing anymore if I am to embrace nature. I want to read books, drink tea, engage with the real world. I know this may be a little irrelevant, I just wanted to open up and share my experience.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in fantasy. It's not a bad read at all. It could have more potential, but there is excitement in various parts.
I give The Gatekeeper’s Forbidden Secret by Penelope A. Brown 4 out of 5 stars.
I think this may be the first time I’ve ever said this, but the blurb for this book does not do it justice. Occasionally, I find blurbs that sensationalize and exaggerate what the book is about (leading to one disappointed reviewer), but in this case, the blurb really does not say enough.
Set in southern England, The Gatekeeper’s Forbidden Secret kicks off when Colin and Addy’s dog, Buddy, mysteriously disappears. It seems normal enough, but Addy makes some outlandish claims regarding his departure, an elderly neighbor is exhibiting creepy behavior, and their father’s employer is harboring some dark secrets. Add to that a fairy, a hummingbird, and a troll in the body of a dog, and you have memorable characters to go with the setting and imaginative plot.
Addy was my favorite character, reminding me of my younger self with her wild imagination and dolls and stories. When I was little I had a fake phone on which I talked to all of my imaginary friends. Anyway, as I got older my grandma told me that the way I talked she would have sworn someone was on the other end. Maybe there was, Grandma. Maybe there was. Roger was also a great character, with his flighty nature (no pun intended) and concern for his family. Then there was the mom, a storyteller, optimistic, human, and loving all at once – exactly what I want to be like as a mom.
In the story, Brown takes on the task of explaining some complex physical and scientific concepts, like wormholes and black holes and parallel universes. Maybe it’s because I’m fascinated by these things and have spent time studying them, but I enjoyed the way science was woven with fantasy in this story. It was engaging, and not at all boring.
Brown also does an excellent job of foreshadowing and red herring placement. My closest friends will tell you I always know who the bad guys and good guys are in a story before anyone else, but The Gatekeeper’s Forbidden Secret kept me guessing. I had my suspicion, but I really didn’t know who to trust until the end.
My one complaint is that the action slowed slightly once Colin and company entered the other world, and didn’t pick up again until the climactic finale. The parallel world was interesting enough, I just wanted more.
The story is unique, and I wish I knew what to compare it to, but I don’t. It’s a fun read, and I highly recommend it for young fans of fantasy stories like the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series, but it will appeal to older readers as well.
The Gatekeeper’s Forbidden Secret begins when Colin and his sister Addy attempt to find their lost dog Buddy. In the process, adventure ensues, and the siblings not only find themselves in some trouble with their parents, they also meet some interesting characters—a witch, a fairy, a troll-dog, and even some goblins. All of this leads to a discovery of a different universe and a quest for Colin and his helpers. Author Penelope A. Brown has an unbelievable imagination, presents a beautiful book cover, and offers a unique concept. It was wonderful to read about the castle, Colin, Addy, their friend Peter, and their adventures with the many fantasy characters. There are some twists and turns along the way as well, ending with a tale that is action-packed and well-paced.
The plot in The Gatekeeper’s Forbidden Secret and the overall concept was very strong. I enjoyed the writer’s imagination in reference to the plot, although I did feel the writing fell just a bit short in some areas. I would have loved a touch stronger connection to Colin and Addy, a bit less of the chapters highlighting the adult character Alan, and more imaginative prose in some areas. However, I believe the book will appeal to the intended audience and should please readers of this genre. In addition, I enjoyed the sketched pictures here and there and felt that added a little something extra to the book and the overall visualization of the fantasy characters. Overall, I liked the book and had fun with the characters and the different universe presented. I recommend the book to a younger audience and to those who enjoy fantasy reads.
I was sent this book in exchange for an honest review. I read all the reviews before reading this book and so I was surprised. I really really enjoyed this story. I understand the upset in thinking the author was stealing from other works of art however if you read the book form the cover then you will see that the author addresses that and even credits the previous works of art. I usually read romance novels however I am a Harry Potter and Narnia fan. This was around that age group and a very fun read. The book was well written and easy to read. I enjoyed all the details put into the story and the characters were very easy to relate to. I absolutely recommend this book and plan to read more work from Penelope Brown.
Bought this book for my 14 year old son for a little summertime reading (based on a recommendation from my neighbor, who is a school principal). My son thoroughly enjoyed this book, which was evident in his daily ramblings as he reviewed to me what he had read the night before. He really seemed to enjoy the colorful characters and the fantasy world that they encountered. It's hard to get kids to read for pleasure, so finding a book that they really get into deserves some applause and appreciation for the author.
Okay, I have to admit I couldn't finish this book. The writing was pretty poor. I did read another reader's review so had to peek near the end, and she was right. The illustration was from a movie and the description was too close to the movie to be considered original. I'm not sure how she could be allowed to do that. But even without that, the writing was seriously lacking, and it was really choppy too. Definitely would not recommend!
The Gatekeeper’s Forbidden Secret was a pleasure to read just before the holiday season. I absolutely love the UK, enchanting tales and magic. This book has all three! If you are looking for a read to take your imagination for a ride, this is the book!
Great book for kids though I lived every page being a kid at heart. Nice plot twists and great characters. Recommend it highly for those who have kids or have a kid hidden within themselves.