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The Eternal Artifacts #1
The Green Door
They thought it was just a game.Meg wants one thing. For her best friend to be happy. If it were up to her, Brek would leave their hometown, attend college on a scholarship, marry the woman of his dreams, and have two-point-five kids.That is until they see the flyer for the game.Brek doesn't only want Meg's happiness. He wants her. Even if it means putting his own life at risk by playing a game with unknown dangers. And the game has built-in consequences, testing their moral compasses and friendship to its limits.Because opening the Green Door is not only a game, but a one-way ticket to something much more deadly.Read the entire Eternal Artifacts series. Books 1 - 4 now available.* Due to adult situations, The Green Door is considered an upper YA book.*The first review contains spoilers*
Customer Reviews"Kindt's stories have some of the most intriguing premises I've read in a while.""I LOVED this book LOVED it. If I had a chance to reread it for the first time, I would.""This book exceeded expectations and gave me the drive I needed to get back into reading.""This is storytelling at its very best!"
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 11, 2020
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November 13, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All opinions and views are my own.
I wanted so badly to love this book. The concept of a hallway lined with gorgeous doors, each leading to a different universe and adventure, is incredibly compelling.
Maybe I didn't realize the age this was geared towards; even so, the characters are beyond immature. This may have appealed to me when I was thirteen, give or take. Even so, I think there are elements I would have cringed over back then. And yet, other elements struck me as being too mature for a thirteen year old. I'm not sure which age group this is targeting.
The non-flirting-flirting occurring between the main character and her best friend are cringey. The "wrong-side-of-the-tracks" trope is so painfully on the nose it's cringey. This is a trope I usually like. But it has to be original and/or well written in some way. The love triangle is cringey. The characterization was flat. The "woe-is-me-that-painting-could-feed-my-dad-and-me-for-months" entitlement was hard to wade through after a while. And the special princess persona for no apparent reason was tough to swallow; after the reader repeatedly asks "why" people are fighting over her and falling over themselves to put everything she needs in her hands without fight or explanation, the story really fell flat for me.
I REALLY wanted to like this book. I'm bummed. Maybe the finished product will be polished and conditioned...maybe this book wasn't a hit for me but will be for others.
I'd rate this a PG-13 for some violence, adventure/peril, and sexual themes.
I wanted so badly to love this book. The concept of a hallway lined with gorgeous doors, each leading to a different universe and adventure, is incredibly compelling.
Maybe I didn't realize the age this was geared towards; even so, the characters are beyond immature. This may have appealed to me when I was thirteen, give or take. Even so, I think there are elements I would have cringed over back then. And yet, other elements struck me as being too mature for a thirteen year old. I'm not sure which age group this is targeting.
The non-flirting-flirting occurring between the main character and her best friend are cringey. The "wrong-side-of-the-tracks" trope is so painfully on the nose it's cringey. This is a trope I usually like. But it has to be original and/or well written in some way. The love triangle is cringey. The characterization was flat. The "woe-is-me-that-painting-could-feed-my-dad-and-me-for-months" entitlement was hard to wade through after a while. And the special princess persona for no apparent reason was tough to swallow; after the reader repeatedly asks "why" people are fighting over her and falling over themselves to put everything she needs in her hands without fight or explanation, the story really fell flat for me.
I REALLY wanted to like this book. I'm bummed. Maybe the finished product will be polished and conditioned...maybe this book wasn't a hit for me but will be for others.
I'd rate this a PG-13 for some violence, adventure/peril, and sexual themes.
June 21, 2020
Read thanks to NetGalley (English below!)
Update: le subí el puntaje. Hablé por privado con la autora, quien me contactó para contarme que hizo los cambios necesarios con respecto a lo que digo en la reseña. También hablamos sobre la importancia de educarse sobre estos temas y creo de corazón que una persona que hace un esfuerzo sincero por educarse y cambiar, sobre todo en la sociedad en la que vivimos, merece que le den una mano y no un empujón.
Por esto mismo, dejo acá mi reseña original para que le sirva a otres autores (publicades o no), pero con el puntaje cambiado:
La reseña es muy larga en inglés como para también ponerla acá en español, pero aquí un resumen:
1) No hay construcción de mundo, jamás sabés lo que pasa y la información que te da es nula o mínima y no te sirve para entender nada. Una paja leer un libro así.
2) Los personajes son inverosímiles, insoportables y tenemos a una clara Mary Sue.
3) Todo el tiempo plantea soluciones mágicas a los problemas de les protagonistas, sin siquiera hacer una mínima mención antes. Saca conejos del sombrero en todo momento.
4) Usa la palabra "gitane", lo cual es un racial slur. Podría llegar a entenderlo porque no es algo que se sepa mucho y simplemente mencionarlo, PERO hace que une de les villanes sea gitane, y la verdá tamos grandes y en el 2020 como para seguir basando villanes en estereotipos étnicos.
5) Relaciona a las mujeres a las tareas de la casa, y estas a la feminidad de los hombres gays.
Nada más que decir. Edúquense, y, si les da paja, entonces al menos no escriban libros.
------✄------
Update: I changed the rating. I talked privately with the author, who reached out to me to tell me she made the necessary changes regarding the things I say in my review. We also talked about the importance on educating ourselves and I think from the bottom of my heart that if a person makes a sincere effort to get educated and change, even more in the society we live today, they deserve a helping hand to do so and not a push into the void.
Therefore, here's my original review that other authors (published or not) might find useful, but with the rating changed:
Wow. Okay. I wanted to like this book, I really did. I didn't-- found it kinda boring and almost DNF it, the worldbuilding was not there at all, the characters were incredibly plain (even with a Mary Sue kind of main character) and the writing felt all over the place with rabbits pulled out of a hat moments and not really knowing what was going on half the time. I still thought I'd give it two stars, maybe three, because the idea was interesting and it could be a good kind-of-middle-grade if the sex parts were written off.
BUT THEN. THEN. The second half of the book happened. And I'm livid.
First of all, I want to talk about what I've already said. The worldbuilding was absent, there was none of it-- why did this "game" exist? How was the world behind the first door possible? What were the rules of that said world? What the hell was happening? And I guess you could just ignore this part, because it's possible that the whole thing is about knowing as much (or as none) as the characters, and that'd be okay. I still have my doubts since the little details we do get to know are basically told by other characters when you need to know them-- but not in like an "ah, this whole situation led to this explanation" fashion but in a "oops, I forgot to write this in a previous chapter lol take this information with you so you can make sense of like 13% of what's happening" situation.
That leds me to the pulling rabbits out of the hat all the time. I can totally understand if it happens once, maybe twice... but damn, this book was full of it. "Hey, I got this glove from this X place that's similar to the ones they use at the palace, so this means this character is a traitor-- I never told you I got it nor was shown in the book, but believe me, I DID took it from there" is not a plot twist, is pulling a rabbit. Someone from the palace taking someone as their servant after founding them in the woods (and afther them saying "oh, I stole this from the person I currently serve!!"--"oh... okay. How convenient, I've been looking for a servant") is not a plot twist, is pulling a rabbit. Meeting two characters that are the ones that've been trying to do a certain thing (trying to avoid spoilers, sorry) for a WEEK and only doing it (with incredible ease, may I mention) when the main characters just arrived is not a plot twist, is pulling a rabbit. The only two "plot twists" regarding two characters after like half of the book were boring, because I didn't care about the characters at all.
And that brings me to the characters being incredible plain. They don't have traits, they don't have personalities (carrying sticky notes with you is not a personality-- also, I didn't get the need for them, since everything they did with them could have been done writing on the ground or something like that) and therefore there's not a possible coherent relationship between them.
The bullies are often mentioned-- but we don't get a single anecdote about them before entering this world, and only once (that I recall of) inside the world, one Meg didn't even know about. Videogames are also often mentioned regarding Brek-- but, again, we don't get a single mention of it before entering the world. What we do get is a kinda musician Brek, with an old guitar and Meg's desire to buy him a new one with the money they could win. BUT, excepting a couple of Meg's thoughts about this, they never mention it again. But they DO mention videogames and apparently Brek's a big gamer?? Always playing videogames and *checks notes* Mortal Kombat???
I won't even talk about Carter. A rich, heartbreaker clichéd boy that apparently wants to get into Meg's heart after an instalove that shouldn't exist, only to make sense of a love triangle that's really fake, because apparently Brek's never implied even a little bit of romantic interest in Meg but now he's kind of jealous of Carter? And also, even if this detail is mentioned, at almost the end of the book Meg remembers when Brek tried to kiss her when they were sixteen??
I didn't want to be rude and actually planned this review very differently, because I don't really enjoy leaving these kind of hurtful reviews. But. BUT.
Let me just say something, not only to the future readers but also the author and publisher-- first of all, I didn't really like the bad one being described as, and I quote, "black hair. Scarves. Long skirt. Typical gypsy". Do you really think it's okay for this stereotype to come up when talking about the villain? Would you say "black hair, black skin, street clothes, typical n-word"? Please research antiziganism (antigypsyism, for some people). G*psy is actually a slur for Romani people. You can read this piece by a Romani woman talking about this issue: https://now.org/blog/the-g-word-isnt-...
Second of all, and I think this will be the last part of this long, angry review: the sexism in this book was off the hooks. I mean, the Mary Sue thing is kinda sexist, but it's usually not used as a sexist concept-- just marysue-writing.
But the sexist comments and situations were off limits, for me. I have little patience when it comes to the low treatment of women and feminine characters, even more when it's about "feminine" situations.
The first comment that draw my attention was (and I quote) "[I'm] tidying up. (...) Maybe if you were raised by a mother and not a father, you'd have turned out different, too." That's incredibly sexist, puts down women to teaching house chores and "manners" to their children. I was REALLY mad when I read that.
But the one that made my blood BOIL was about a character that another one kinda outed??? As in "ah, but we all know you're gay". And the quote after this reads "yeah, he had FEMININE TENDENCIES at times, LIKE HIS ROOM WAS MUCH CLEANER THAN MINE, but he was far from gay" (capital letters mine, of course). Again, sexist, puts down women AND gay men.
You don't have to look much for why this is incredibly wrong-- take Wikipedia, for example, aka the first result when you look for "feminine tendencies": the effeminacy article. "The avoidance of effeminacy by men, including gay ones, has been linked to possible impedance of personal and public health". So you're telling me that we're STILL linking the feminine expression of our both feminine and masculine performances in society in men to homosexuality in 2020? Has the author ever read of the concept of gender performativity? Even if she didn't, did she REALLY have to write that, when minorities (women, gay men, Romani people...) face such discrimination in the modern world? When their rights are being taken by goverments in different societies?
Even with the writing mistakes, the plain characters, the lack of real world building, this book could have been a good read, even if only for passing the time. But these remarks, mostly in the second half of the book, not only ruined it for me but made me incredibly mad and I still can't believe this was being published this year and not in 2011.
I don't think the author meant wrong nor wanted to hurt any minority-- but ignorance can be not only hurtful but accomplice to the discriminatory and rights-refuser bigots. I stronly beleive educating ourselves and other people is the only solution to stop them.
Update: le subí el puntaje. Hablé por privado con la autora, quien me contactó para contarme que hizo los cambios necesarios con respecto a lo que digo en la reseña. También hablamos sobre la importancia de educarse sobre estos temas y creo de corazón que una persona que hace un esfuerzo sincero por educarse y cambiar, sobre todo en la sociedad en la que vivimos, merece que le den una mano y no un empujón.
Por esto mismo, dejo acá mi reseña original para que le sirva a otres autores (publicades o no), pero con el puntaje cambiado:
La reseña es muy larga en inglés como para también ponerla acá en español, pero aquí un resumen:
1) No hay construcción de mundo, jamás sabés lo que pasa y la información que te da es nula o mínima y no te sirve para entender nada. Una paja leer un libro así.
2) Los personajes son inverosímiles, insoportables y tenemos a una clara Mary Sue.
3) Todo el tiempo plantea soluciones mágicas a los problemas de les protagonistas, sin siquiera hacer una mínima mención antes. Saca conejos del sombrero en todo momento.
4) Usa la palabra "gitane", lo cual es un racial slur. Podría llegar a entenderlo porque no es algo que se sepa mucho y simplemente mencionarlo, PERO hace que une de les villanes sea gitane, y la verdá tamos grandes y en el 2020 como para seguir basando villanes en estereotipos étnicos.
5) Relaciona a las mujeres a las tareas de la casa, y estas a la feminidad de los hombres gays.
Nada más que decir. Edúquense, y, si les da paja, entonces al menos no escriban libros.
------✄------
Update: I changed the rating. I talked privately with the author, who reached out to me to tell me she made the necessary changes regarding the things I say in my review. We also talked about the importance on educating ourselves and I think from the bottom of my heart that if a person makes a sincere effort to get educated and change, even more in the society we live today, they deserve a helping hand to do so and not a push into the void.
Therefore, here's my original review that other authors (published or not) might find useful, but with the rating changed:
Wow. Okay. I wanted to like this book, I really did. I didn't-- found it kinda boring and almost DNF it, the worldbuilding was not there at all, the characters were incredibly plain (even with a Mary Sue kind of main character) and the writing felt all over the place with rabbits pulled out of a hat moments and not really knowing what was going on half the time. I still thought I'd give it two stars, maybe three, because the idea was interesting and it could be a good kind-of-middle-grade if the sex parts were written off.
BUT THEN. THEN. The second half of the book happened. And I'm livid.
First of all, I want to talk about what I've already said. The worldbuilding was absent, there was none of it-- why did this "game" exist? How was the world behind the first door possible? What were the rules of that said world? What the hell was happening? And I guess you could just ignore this part, because it's possible that the whole thing is about knowing as much (or as none) as the characters, and that'd be okay. I still have my doubts since the little details we do get to know are basically told by other characters when you need to know them-- but not in like an "ah, this whole situation led to this explanation" fashion but in a "oops, I forgot to write this in a previous chapter lol take this information with you so you can make sense of like 13% of what's happening" situation.
That leds me to the pulling rabbits out of the hat all the time. I can totally understand if it happens once, maybe twice... but damn, this book was full of it. "Hey, I got this glove from this X place that's similar to the ones they use at the palace, so this means this character is a traitor-- I never told you I got it nor was shown in the book, but believe me, I DID took it from there" is not a plot twist, is pulling a rabbit. Someone from the palace taking someone as their servant after founding them in the woods (and afther them saying "oh, I stole this from the person I currently serve!!"--"oh... okay. How convenient, I've been looking for a servant") is not a plot twist, is pulling a rabbit. Meeting two characters that are the ones that've been trying to do a certain thing (trying to avoid spoilers, sorry) for a WEEK and only doing it (with incredible ease, may I mention) when the main characters just arrived is not a plot twist, is pulling a rabbit. The only two "plot twists" regarding two characters after like half of the book were boring, because I didn't care about the characters at all.
And that brings me to the characters being incredible plain. They don't have traits, they don't have personalities (carrying sticky notes with you is not a personality-- also, I didn't get the need for them, since everything they did with them could have been done writing on the ground or something like that) and therefore there's not a possible coherent relationship between them.
The bullies are often mentioned-- but we don't get a single anecdote about them before entering this world, and only once (that I recall of) inside the world, one Meg didn't even know about. Videogames are also often mentioned regarding Brek-- but, again, we don't get a single mention of it before entering the world. What we do get is a kinda musician Brek, with an old guitar and Meg's desire to buy him a new one with the money they could win. BUT, excepting a couple of Meg's thoughts about this, they never mention it again. But they DO mention videogames and apparently Brek's a big gamer?? Always playing videogames and *checks notes* Mortal Kombat???
I won't even talk about Carter. A rich, heartbreaker clichéd boy that apparently wants to get into Meg's heart after an instalove that shouldn't exist, only to make sense of a love triangle that's really fake, because apparently Brek's never implied even a little bit of romantic interest in Meg but now he's kind of jealous of Carter? And also, even if this detail is mentioned, at almost the end of the book Meg remembers when Brek tried to kiss her when they were sixteen??
I didn't want to be rude and actually planned this review very differently, because I don't really enjoy leaving these kind of hurtful reviews. But. BUT.
Let me just say something, not only to the future readers but also the author and publisher-- first of all, I didn't really like the bad one being described as, and I quote, "black hair. Scarves. Long skirt. Typical gypsy". Do you really think it's okay for this stereotype to come up when talking about the villain? Would you say "black hair, black skin, street clothes, typical n-word"? Please research antiziganism (antigypsyism, for some people). G*psy is actually a slur for Romani people. You can read this piece by a Romani woman talking about this issue: https://now.org/blog/the-g-word-isnt-...
Second of all, and I think this will be the last part of this long, angry review: the sexism in this book was off the hooks. I mean, the Mary Sue thing is kinda sexist, but it's usually not used as a sexist concept-- just marysue-writing.
But the sexist comments and situations were off limits, for me. I have little patience when it comes to the low treatment of women and feminine characters, even more when it's about "feminine" situations.
The first comment that draw my attention was (and I quote) "[I'm] tidying up. (...) Maybe if you were raised by a mother and not a father, you'd have turned out different, too." That's incredibly sexist, puts down women to teaching house chores and "manners" to their children. I was REALLY mad when I read that.
But the one that made my blood BOIL was about a character that another one kinda outed??? As in "ah, but we all know you're gay". And the quote after this reads "yeah, he had FEMININE TENDENCIES at times, LIKE HIS ROOM WAS MUCH CLEANER THAN MINE, but he was far from gay" (capital letters mine, of course). Again, sexist, puts down women AND gay men.
You don't have to look much for why this is incredibly wrong-- take Wikipedia, for example, aka the first result when you look for "feminine tendencies": the effeminacy article. "The avoidance of effeminacy by men, including gay ones, has been linked to possible impedance of personal and public health". So you're telling me that we're STILL linking the feminine expression of our both feminine and masculine performances in society in men to homosexuality in 2020? Has the author ever read of the concept of gender performativity? Even if she didn't, did she REALLY have to write that, when minorities (women, gay men, Romani people...) face such discrimination in the modern world? When their rights are being taken by goverments in different societies?
Even with the writing mistakes, the plain characters, the lack of real world building, this book could have been a good read, even if only for passing the time. But these remarks, mostly in the second half of the book, not only ruined it for me but made me incredibly mad and I still can't believe this was being published this year and not in 2011.
I don't think the author meant wrong nor wanted to hurt any minority-- but ignorance can be not only hurtful but accomplice to the discriminatory and rights-refuser bigots. I stronly beleive educating ourselves and other people is the only solution to stop them.
June 12, 2020
The concept behind The Green Door is fascinating. People have the opportunity to play, in pairs, a game. This game begins in a long hallway with a bunch of different colored doors. Each door is a portal that leads to a magical world (participants don’t know this before they begin), and contestants must find a specific object. If the object is found, they win the prize money marked on the door.
The story focuses on best friends Meg and Brek as well as Carter, Meg’s love interest. Meg and Brek enter a magical game in the hopes of earning money for college. Meg and Brek choose the green door which has a payout of $10,000 if they find a special seed. This task takes them on a dangerous and action-packed quest in a world much different from their own.
Early in their journey Carter, alone and terrified after the horrific death of his partner, joins the pair. Captain of their high school football team, popular, and rich, Carter is very different from the less popular and financially struggling duo. However, their dissimilarities become inconsequential in this magical world where trusting each other could be the difference between life and death.
In order to find the seed, the trio works with a tribe of humans-turned-animals. Cursed into their animal forms by a rival leader, the group is desperate to return to their human selves. Meg, Brek, and Carter travel to find the seed and help their new allies only to be thrust into one conflict after the other.
They meet others, human and animal, who have problems that Meg, Brek, and Carter feel honor-bound to solve. However, helping the people of this world is dangerous and could mean extending their stay and losing their reward money. The trio must decide if they want to take the risk and face the consequences of their actions. This aspect of the story is interesting, as each character has to examine their own morals and truths before deciding on their course of action.
Their decisions result in a fast-paced and action-packed odyssey through a fantastical world of magical beings, magical powers, ruthless leaders, deadly sirens, and enemies hiding in plain sight. It’s a world and a story that easily immersed me.
The world behind the green door is vivid and immense. Described with such depth and clarity, it is easy to visualize the enormous trees that are the width of an airplane and the massive, ferocious wolves that stalk all who enter the door. It’s a world similar to ours in the struggles for power, the political divisiveness, and the development of personal relationships, yet the setting, the anthropomorphism, and the unique powers that many possess are very different.
In addition to the amazing world-building and the fascinating concept behind the story, the character development is wonderful. Meg is snarky, sarcastic, and selfless. Brek is understanding, loyal, and brave, and Carter is helpful, smart, and strong. They, as well as the characters they meet along their journey, are richly developed.
Meg and Brek have a fabulous relationship. Friends for years, they are comfortable and sure of each other. Their camaraderie, affectionate teasing, and deep love for each other show how beneficial friendships are. However, I think that Brek’s feelings for Meg run pretty deep. There are hints along the way that Brek might like Meg as more than a friend, but he holds back in fear of ruining their wonderful friendship.
Unlike Brek, Carter’s interest in Meg is obvious. His flirtations and behavior make it clear that he wants to be more than friends. Meg is unlike any girl he’s dated, and he is intrigued. Carter, used to getting what he wants, seems to like that Meg challenges him. He also admires her quick wit, courage, and selflessness.
For her part, Meg doesn’t seem to know how she feels. She’s strongly attracted to Carter, but she feels a deep bond (and some attraction) with Brek. Though her budding romance with Carter develops throughout the story, I have a feeling that this love triangle will be explored further in the next book.
The Green Door is a great start to what promises to be a fun and action-packed series. I can’t wait to find out what’s behind the red door in the next book and the other doors in subsequent books in the series! Thanks so much to Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
The story focuses on best friends Meg and Brek as well as Carter, Meg’s love interest. Meg and Brek enter a magical game in the hopes of earning money for college. Meg and Brek choose the green door which has a payout of $10,000 if they find a special seed. This task takes them on a dangerous and action-packed quest in a world much different from their own.
Early in their journey Carter, alone and terrified after the horrific death of his partner, joins the pair. Captain of their high school football team, popular, and rich, Carter is very different from the less popular and financially struggling duo. However, their dissimilarities become inconsequential in this magical world where trusting each other could be the difference between life and death.
In order to find the seed, the trio works with a tribe of humans-turned-animals. Cursed into their animal forms by a rival leader, the group is desperate to return to their human selves. Meg, Brek, and Carter travel to find the seed and help their new allies only to be thrust into one conflict after the other.
They meet others, human and animal, who have problems that Meg, Brek, and Carter feel honor-bound to solve. However, helping the people of this world is dangerous and could mean extending their stay and losing their reward money. The trio must decide if they want to take the risk and face the consequences of their actions. This aspect of the story is interesting, as each character has to examine their own morals and truths before deciding on their course of action.
Their decisions result in a fast-paced and action-packed odyssey through a fantastical world of magical beings, magical powers, ruthless leaders, deadly sirens, and enemies hiding in plain sight. It’s a world and a story that easily immersed me.
The world behind the green door is vivid and immense. Described with such depth and clarity, it is easy to visualize the enormous trees that are the width of an airplane and the massive, ferocious wolves that stalk all who enter the door. It’s a world similar to ours in the struggles for power, the political divisiveness, and the development of personal relationships, yet the setting, the anthropomorphism, and the unique powers that many possess are very different.
In addition to the amazing world-building and the fascinating concept behind the story, the character development is wonderful. Meg is snarky, sarcastic, and selfless. Brek is understanding, loyal, and brave, and Carter is helpful, smart, and strong. They, as well as the characters they meet along their journey, are richly developed.
Meg and Brek have a fabulous relationship. Friends for years, they are comfortable and sure of each other. Their camaraderie, affectionate teasing, and deep love for each other show how beneficial friendships are. However, I think that Brek’s feelings for Meg run pretty deep. There are hints along the way that Brek might like Meg as more than a friend, but he holds back in fear of ruining their wonderful friendship.
Unlike Brek, Carter’s interest in Meg is obvious. His flirtations and behavior make it clear that he wants to be more than friends. Meg is unlike any girl he’s dated, and he is intrigued. Carter, used to getting what he wants, seems to like that Meg challenges him. He also admires her quick wit, courage, and selflessness.
For her part, Meg doesn’t seem to know how she feels. She’s strongly attracted to Carter, but she feels a deep bond (and some attraction) with Brek. Though her budding romance with Carter develops throughout the story, I have a feeling that this love triangle will be explored further in the next book.
The Green Door is a great start to what promises to be a fun and action-packed series. I can’t wait to find out what’s behind the red door in the next book and the other doors in subsequent books in the series! Thanks so much to Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
July 8, 2020
•I’ve received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review•
I’m not really sure about this book.
The plot premise is intriguing, that’s for sure, but at the same time I think the writing is a little bland and sometimes boring, also there were some unnecessary dialogues.
The characters were somewhat flat, the only one that was interesting for me was Brek. The main protagonist, Megan, was really boring most of the time apart from the last chapters.
The plot was too rushed for me, I stumbled in many point where I didn’t quiet get what was happening and what lead to that.
I was expecting more from this book, so I’m a little disappointed.
I’m not really sure about this book.
The plot premise is intriguing, that’s for sure, but at the same time I think the writing is a little bland and sometimes boring, also there were some unnecessary dialogues.
The characters were somewhat flat, the only one that was interesting for me was Brek. The main protagonist, Megan, was really boring most of the time apart from the last chapters.
The plot was too rushed for me, I stumbled in many point where I didn’t quiet get what was happening and what lead to that.
I was expecting more from this book, so I’m a little disappointed.
partly-read
June 24, 2020DNF at 30%, for a number of reasons.
1. The punctuation is by Jackson Pollock, and there are quite a few other issues too (missing past perfect tense, homonym errors/eggcorns as basic as "your/you're"). I read a pre-release version from Netgalley, so this may not represent the final book, but even an excellent editor would struggle to polish out all of them.
2. The worldbuilding is inconsistent. Of the talking animals, the cat is specifically stated to have no opposable thumbs - yet is somehow an herbalist - but the badgers and warthogs can shoot bows with great accuracy and no apparent issues. Somebody must have made the cat-sized clothes, so some of these animals can use sewing needles... it's not thought through.
3. The characters are showing strong signs of being Spoiled Protagonists, handed trust and help they haven't earned by people they've just met, who have no reason to give it to them except that they're the protagonists.
4. Apart from that, it's fairly average YA. Where I stopped, cliche was looming in the form of probably a love triangle.
No rating because DNF, but DNF because I could see it was going to be three stars.
1. The punctuation is by Jackson Pollock, and there are quite a few other issues too (missing past perfect tense, homonym errors/eggcorns as basic as "your/you're"). I read a pre-release version from Netgalley, so this may not represent the final book, but even an excellent editor would struggle to polish out all of them.
2. The worldbuilding is inconsistent. Of the talking animals, the cat is specifically stated to have no opposable thumbs - yet is somehow an herbalist - but the badgers and warthogs can shoot bows with great accuracy and no apparent issues. Somebody must have made the cat-sized clothes, so some of these animals can use sewing needles... it's not thought through.
3. The characters are showing strong signs of being Spoiled Protagonists, handed trust and help they haven't earned by people they've just met, who have no reason to give it to them except that they're the protagonists.
4. Apart from that, it's fairly average YA. Where I stopped, cliche was looming in the form of probably a love triangle.
No rating because DNF, but DNF because I could see it was going to be three stars.
July 17, 2020
Ooh I love the premise of this! A mansion with different colored doors that lead to different worlds is so awesome! I have so many questions about what's behind each door and I can't wait for the sequel to see about the red door.
I liked the main character, Meg, a lot. She's a strong girl who can hold her own and doesn't let guys push her around. I thought her friendship with Brek was sweet, although there seems to be some possibly romantic feelings there? Carter also turned out to have more to him than a high school jock and I love how much he cares for Meg.
The plot moved pretty quickly and kept me intrigued throughout. A couple times I got a little confused about their plan to get the seed, but the magic and different characters were fun. So excited for the next book!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I liked the main character, Meg, a lot. She's a strong girl who can hold her own and doesn't let guys push her around. I thought her friendship with Brek was sweet, although there seems to be some possibly romantic feelings there? Carter also turned out to have more to him than a high school jock and I love how much he cares for Meg.
The plot moved pretty quickly and kept me intrigued throughout. A couple times I got a little confused about their plan to get the seed, but the magic and different characters were fun. So excited for the next book!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
June 15, 2020
I received an E-ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Green door follows Meg, Brek and Carter as they go on a quest in a magical world after agreeing to participate in a game for cash prizes.
I honestly don’t want to give a more detailed description because it would give the game away. The premise is something I’ve mostly seen in horror movies. Contestants agreeing to a game, with no prior knowledge just to realise that the games involve mutilating themselves or worse. So this was a delightful twist on that trope. Instead of something grisly, the protagonists were presented with different quests that took place behind different door. In this instance they decided to go with the Green one. The plot also sets up the upcoming sequel very well and we see an off shoot of their current quest.
It’s very well written and pretty fast paced, making for a good short read. It took me about 2 and a half hours to read the whole thing. The writing was very engaging and the author kept you hooked throughout. I especially loved the Characters. Meg was an instant hit and I adore Brek. I really want to like Carter too but I’m suspicious 😂
I do feel that the world building specifically for behind the green door could be a little more detailed or fleshed out. There were instances where I found myself asking ‘why?’ When something was mentioned.
The book had a very narnia-esque feel to it that left me absolutely delighted. I’m not sure if that’s where the inspiration for the book came from but it’s brilliantly done.
I will certainly be reading the sequel and can’t wait for the release.
The Green door follows Meg, Brek and Carter as they go on a quest in a magical world after agreeing to participate in a game for cash prizes.
I honestly don’t want to give a more detailed description because it would give the game away. The premise is something I’ve mostly seen in horror movies. Contestants agreeing to a game, with no prior knowledge just to realise that the games involve mutilating themselves or worse. So this was a delightful twist on that trope. Instead of something grisly, the protagonists were presented with different quests that took place behind different door. In this instance they decided to go with the Green one. The plot also sets up the upcoming sequel very well and we see an off shoot of their current quest.
It’s very well written and pretty fast paced, making for a good short read. It took me about 2 and a half hours to read the whole thing. The writing was very engaging and the author kept you hooked throughout. I especially loved the Characters. Meg was an instant hit and I adore Brek. I really want to like Carter too but I’m suspicious 😂
I do feel that the world building specifically for behind the green door could be a little more detailed or fleshed out. There were instances where I found myself asking ‘why?’ When something was mentioned.
The book had a very narnia-esque feel to it that left me absolutely delighted. I’m not sure if that’s where the inspiration for the book came from but it’s brilliantly done.
I will certainly be reading the sequel and can’t wait for the release.
October 10, 2020
The idea behind this book was so awesome! What could be behind the green door? I was so excited as a reader to find out. A long hallway with a bunch of different colored doors. I think this could not have been a better hook for me. I was on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed the book, but I think I was expecting just a bit more. In the end, I think I missed just a bit in the world building but I did think the story was very unique. I really enjoyed the magic and the characters. I think I would check out another book from this author! *This book was given to me for free at my request from Netgalley and I provided this voluntary review.*
June 11, 2020
When I originally read the synopsis and it mentioned elements from novels like Chronicles of Narnia and The Hunger Games I was truly intrigued. God knows I adore those series. Then I started reading and I have to say that it was definitely nostalgic of those. This through-the-magical-door novel has everything from adventure to a Twilight-esqu love triangle without the bad acting.
Meg and her best friend, Brek, are close to the end of High School. Meg sees herself stuck in her small town, helping her dad and not really catching a break while Brek goes off to college. Then the opportunity to win money by playing a game crosses Meg’s path and the future starts looking a little brighter. I don’t want to say more simply because what exists behind door number one should be experienced by the reader.
I will say that the characters are 18 and the writing style at times feels like it could be geared towards a middle-grade level. Mind you, it does not take away from the story. It actually made it easier and quicker to read. If you hate tropes, you may not enjoy this novel because there are a good bit of them (love triangle, reluctant hero, powerful artifact, quests, etc). Personally, Kindt handles them smoothly and subtly places them throughout the novel. It’s fantasy folks!!! I say bring ‘em on!
There are a few areas where forced sexual encounters come into play. The scenes are mild in comparison to some of the more adult ones I’ve read but this is where I see the rating being more young adult. It does broach an interesting concept I haven’t seen in too many of my fantasy reads: leading someone on. There is a point where Meg feels bad for possibly leading on another character. Hello book club chat on that one!
Overall, I truly enjoyed this read. It’s fast paced, high action, well laid world building and an easy magic system to grasp. The characters have a little more fleshing out to do but I am fairly certain that has to do with the secrets they harbor. I have SO many theories on these characters I cannot wait to see what happens next.
I want to thank Heather Kindt for the opportunity to read and review this novel for an honest and unbiased opinion. All thoughts are solely my own.
Meg and her best friend, Brek, are close to the end of High School. Meg sees herself stuck in her small town, helping her dad and not really catching a break while Brek goes off to college. Then the opportunity to win money by playing a game crosses Meg’s path and the future starts looking a little brighter. I don’t want to say more simply because what exists behind door number one should be experienced by the reader.
I will say that the characters are 18 and the writing style at times feels like it could be geared towards a middle-grade level. Mind you, it does not take away from the story. It actually made it easier and quicker to read. If you hate tropes, you may not enjoy this novel because there are a good bit of them (love triangle, reluctant hero, powerful artifact, quests, etc). Personally, Kindt handles them smoothly and subtly places them throughout the novel. It’s fantasy folks!!! I say bring ‘em on!
There are a few areas where forced sexual encounters come into play. The scenes are mild in comparison to some of the more adult ones I’ve read but this is where I see the rating being more young adult. It does broach an interesting concept I haven’t seen in too many of my fantasy reads: leading someone on. There is a point where Meg feels bad for possibly leading on another character. Hello book club chat on that one!
Overall, I truly enjoyed this read. It’s fast paced, high action, well laid world building and an easy magic system to grasp. The characters have a little more fleshing out to do but I am fairly certain that has to do with the secrets they harbor. I have SO many theories on these characters I cannot wait to see what happens next.
I want to thank Heather Kindt for the opportunity to read and review this novel for an honest and unbiased opinion. All thoughts are solely my own.
July 21, 2020
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Green Door follows high school seniors Meg and Brek, desperate to escape the wrong side of the tracks after they graduate. Meg, as the sole source of income for her and her dad hasn't had the time to properly apply herself to her studies. She fears she'll be stuck in the run down side of town forever after Brek leaves for college on a track and field scholarship. Opportunity presents itself in a flyer posted at the record store Meg works at...a game with prizes up to a million dollars. Meg and Brek decide to team up and explore this game, but it becomes more than they bargined for when a hallway of doors leading to other worlds await them, all with the same task: to bring back a requested item. The dollar amounts posted on the doors were the only way to gage difficulty of the task, so Meg and Brek decide to go through a lower dollar amount to get the feel. After going through the Green Door, looking to find a seed, they are faced with magic curses, tyrannical kings, sirens, and even their high school quarterback. Will they be able to get back with the seed to collect?
This story was such a pleasure to read. The characters were all super likable and relatable, and the romantic storyline had just the right amount of presence. The world was rich and emmerced you in a realm not too far off from our own, with magic for a chosen few. The pacing of this book was absolutely fantastic, and I never once got bored. My one critique would be that I wanted more of the Sirens, they were so cool! Who knows though, perhaps more Siren's will sing to me in the sequel.
Overall, a magical 5 stars and I would recommend this book to anyone 13+ as there is some content that could be inappropriate for younger readers, but nothing graphic.
The Green Door follows high school seniors Meg and Brek, desperate to escape the wrong side of the tracks after they graduate. Meg, as the sole source of income for her and her dad hasn't had the time to properly apply herself to her studies. She fears she'll be stuck in the run down side of town forever after Brek leaves for college on a track and field scholarship. Opportunity presents itself in a flyer posted at the record store Meg works at...a game with prizes up to a million dollars. Meg and Brek decide to team up and explore this game, but it becomes more than they bargined for when a hallway of doors leading to other worlds await them, all with the same task: to bring back a requested item. The dollar amounts posted on the doors were the only way to gage difficulty of the task, so Meg and Brek decide to go through a lower dollar amount to get the feel. After going through the Green Door, looking to find a seed, they are faced with magic curses, tyrannical kings, sirens, and even their high school quarterback. Will they be able to get back with the seed to collect?
This story was such a pleasure to read. The characters were all super likable and relatable, and the romantic storyline had just the right amount of presence. The world was rich and emmerced you in a realm not too far off from our own, with magic for a chosen few. The pacing of this book was absolutely fantastic, and I never once got bored. My one critique would be that I wanted more of the Sirens, they were so cool! Who knows though, perhaps more Siren's will sing to me in the sequel.
Overall, a magical 5 stars and I would recommend this book to anyone 13+ as there is some content that could be inappropriate for younger readers, but nothing graphic.
July 18, 2020
I really liked this book. A lot. When I first picked up this book... ok my Kindle, I expected it to be another YA fantasy and it is BUT it is more than that. I felt like I had been transported to a Narnia type world that was more suited to teens and up rather than children.
I absolutely LOVED the humor and irony in the book especially some of the main protagonist's inner monologue. I could have done without some of the romance but that is my own issue and I can see where it would appeal to the intended audience. Some of the animals and ideas were hard believe but then this IS a fantasy novel so I focused on the chuckles and just enjoyed the story. There were a few spelling/grammar errors but as I was reading an ARC, I know they have been corrected by the time this book was published. I liked this book so much that I actually asked if I could read an ARC of the second novel in the series. It is THAT good. If you are a teen who like fantasy; particularly mysterious doors that lead to another world then give this one a try.
I absolutely LOVED the humor and irony in the book especially some of the main protagonist's inner monologue. I could have done without some of the romance but that is my own issue and I can see where it would appeal to the intended audience. Some of the animals and ideas were hard believe but then this IS a fantasy novel so I focused on the chuckles and just enjoyed the story. There were a few spelling/grammar errors but as I was reading an ARC, I know they have been corrected by the time this book was published. I liked this book so much that I actually asked if I could read an ARC of the second novel in the series. It is THAT good. If you are a teen who like fantasy; particularly mysterious doors that lead to another world then give this one a try.
June 22, 2022
The premise sounded so fun, but I didn't feel like it lived up to its promise. Both the world building and the characterization felt wildly inconsistent, and I thought the author needed to lay a lot more groundwork before I believed anything that happened. Bummer.
September 16, 2020
I loved the idea of this book and I am a reader who loves to get lost in new worlds. Thats what the green door did it took me to a new world. I loved the characters and I loved the cliffhanger. Now I want all the other books with all the other colored doors. Also spoiler stop reading, i really hope she chooses to be with Brek and not Carter, she already loves him.
June 14, 2020
*3.5/5 stars*
**I received a digital ARC of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
When Kindt emailed me about her upcoming book, I was SO excited. I have loved reading her The Weaver series, and if you have not checked that out, you totally should. So, another story from her was definitely exciting!
The Green Door is yet another super interesting and unique premise from the mind of Heather Kindt. Her stories have some of the most intriguing premises I’ve read in a while. This story is just so fun! Different colored doors that lead to different worlds where the characters must search for one specific artifact to bring back in exchange for a sum of money, but it isn’t that easy! They have no idea what is behind said doors or what they may face behind them. So interesting, and so fun!
I really enjoyed the writing style, which I knew I would based on how much I love her other novels. She has a way of pulling you in from the beginning and just needing to know what will happen. I was instantly pulled into this book. The characters are written well. Meg is such a strong female lead, and you all know I love that! We got to see multiple sides of Carter, and I enjoyed that! Sweet, sweet Brek. I just want to hug him! There is pretty decent character development as well.
There are some pretty heavy tropes, and I do think the world-building could have been a bit more. I was a little confused for a second at times, but overall, the world is written well. It had a very Narnia-like feel to it, which was really fun! (There are hints to the next book being Wonderland-like, which I’m definitely here for!)
I will say that I think this book would benefit more from being catagorized as Middle Grade instead of YA Fantasy. Although the characters are 18 and seniors in high school, for me it read and felt more like a MG novel. Which is fine! I enjoy MG. There were a couple scenes that made it YA, so I get it, but it did feel more MG to me with the main storyline of the novel. But, our characters are about to graduate and head to college, so I’m excited to see how the next book may fit more in the YA category.
Overall, I did really enjoy this book and I’m definitely looking forward to the sequel!
Thanks so much to the author, Heather Kindt, for allowing me to read and review your book!
Review also posted here: https://katelynpdickinson.wordpress.c...
**I received a digital ARC of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
When Kindt emailed me about her upcoming book, I was SO excited. I have loved reading her The Weaver series, and if you have not checked that out, you totally should. So, another story from her was definitely exciting!
The Green Door is yet another super interesting and unique premise from the mind of Heather Kindt. Her stories have some of the most intriguing premises I’ve read in a while. This story is just so fun! Different colored doors that lead to different worlds where the characters must search for one specific artifact to bring back in exchange for a sum of money, but it isn’t that easy! They have no idea what is behind said doors or what they may face behind them. So interesting, and so fun!
I really enjoyed the writing style, which I knew I would based on how much I love her other novels. She has a way of pulling you in from the beginning and just needing to know what will happen. I was instantly pulled into this book. The characters are written well. Meg is such a strong female lead, and you all know I love that! We got to see multiple sides of Carter, and I enjoyed that! Sweet, sweet Brek. I just want to hug him! There is pretty decent character development as well.
There are some pretty heavy tropes, and I do think the world-building could have been a bit more. I was a little confused for a second at times, but overall, the world is written well. It had a very Narnia-like feel to it, which was really fun! (There are hints to the next book being Wonderland-like, which I’m definitely here for!)
I will say that I think this book would benefit more from being catagorized as Middle Grade instead of YA Fantasy. Although the characters are 18 and seniors in high school, for me it read and felt more like a MG novel. Which is fine! I enjoy MG. There were a couple scenes that made it YA, so I get it, but it did feel more MG to me with the main storyline of the novel. But, our characters are about to graduate and head to college, so I’m excited to see how the next book may fit more in the YA category.
Overall, I did really enjoy this book and I’m definitely looking forward to the sequel!
Thanks so much to the author, Heather Kindt, for allowing me to read and review your book!
Review also posted here: https://katelynpdickinson.wordpress.c...
June 8, 2020
I must say, I do find myself reading young adult fiction here and there, just to see how that genre is. It wasn't readily available when I was growing up. I really enjoyed this book. It felt like a cross between Narnia and Wonderland, which I really enjoyed. This book centers on best friends Meg, Brek and new friend Carter, who find themselves on a magical quest type game that offers cash prices. Each doors completion offers a different amount of money, which is determined by the level of difficulty it takes to complete it. It's an interesting and fun sounding premise.
Contestants agree and sign documents stating that they won't sue, etc if something happens to them while they are in the game. The game involves choosing a room to go into. Each room involves entering a colored door. Next to the door are colored bracelets, the same color as the door that you go into. The plot is very well devised, setting up subsequent books in the series so that we see what possible next choices they will have.
I thought that it was extremely well written, and the main characters are interesting and richly developed. The storyline is so good and fast paced that I had a difficult time putting it down, which made for a fairly short read for me. Ms. Kindt made the characters engaging and interesting; you are instantly hooked from page one.
An excellent start to a new series and I really find myself looking forward to book two. The red book. The Red Door has hearts on it. Please, please, please have a Wonderland feel to it! I will definitely be reading the sequel and I'm super excited for the release. Kudos!
I would like to thank Heather Kindt and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and exchange for a fair and honest review.
Contestants agree and sign documents stating that they won't sue, etc if something happens to them while they are in the game. The game involves choosing a room to go into. Each room involves entering a colored door. Next to the door are colored bracelets, the same color as the door that you go into. The plot is very well devised, setting up subsequent books in the series so that we see what possible next choices they will have.
I thought that it was extremely well written, and the main characters are interesting and richly developed. The storyline is so good and fast paced that I had a difficult time putting it down, which made for a fairly short read for me. Ms. Kindt made the characters engaging and interesting; you are instantly hooked from page one.
An excellent start to a new series and I really find myself looking forward to book two. The red book. The Red Door has hearts on it. Please, please, please have a Wonderland feel to it! I will definitely be reading the sequel and I'm super excited for the release. Kudos!
I would like to thank Heather Kindt and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 14, 2020
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What a damn pick-me-up! Not that this was charming or smothered be in all kinds of romantic things. No, it was just a nice change of pace from my last eARC. Oh lord, thank you for giving me The Green Door.
Might be weird but I kind of got Narnia vibes? But instead of just people in that world possibly dying.. people entering the world could do as well? Not sure if I'm making complete sense or not but go with it folks! It was a pretty fun adventure and you get to see three people come out closer than ever.
Ah, those three people: Meg, Brek, and Carter. Meg and Brek are the very best friends that any friend could ever have. They are each other's people and I was all for it. Then Carter comes into the mix and we are not quite sure what his plan is. Low and behold, we do find a potential romance but the book doesn't focus on it that much. I mean, we have a whole new world to adventure through and somehow save everyone in it? So yeah, romance is there but it's not the main topic.
Other than that, I loved the twists and turns. Even if I had to be like, 'FINALLY! Someone is paying attention," a couple of times. I just really enjoyed this book and I'm kind of excited to dive into the next one. Only because I seriously want to know what is behind the red freaking door. Evil cupids? Alice and wonderland theme??
..I can't really think about anything else at the moment but I need the book!
What a damn pick-me-up! Not that this was charming or smothered be in all kinds of romantic things. No, it was just a nice change of pace from my last eARC. Oh lord, thank you for giving me The Green Door.
Might be weird but I kind of got Narnia vibes? But instead of just people in that world possibly dying.. people entering the world could do as well? Not sure if I'm making complete sense or not but go with it folks! It was a pretty fun adventure and you get to see three people come out closer than ever.
Ah, those three people: Meg, Brek, and Carter. Meg and Brek are the very best friends that any friend could ever have. They are each other's people and I was all for it. Then Carter comes into the mix and we are not quite sure what his plan is. Low and behold, we do find a potential romance but the book doesn't focus on it that much. I mean, we have a whole new world to adventure through and somehow save everyone in it? So yeah, romance is there but it's not the main topic.
Other than that, I loved the twists and turns. Even if I had to be like, 'FINALLY! Someone is paying attention," a couple of times. I just really enjoyed this book and I'm kind of excited to dive into the next one. Only because I seriously want to know what is behind the red freaking door. Evil cupids? Alice and wonderland theme??
..I can't really think about anything else at the moment but I need the book!
January 14, 2021
THE GREEN DOOR by Heather Kindt is a YA fantasy and reminded me of a combination of the following movie and books: Pretty in Pink, Alice in Wonderland, Hunger Games, and Narnia. Poor girl & best friend guy but her eyes are on the rich kid; a village filled with talking animals wearing clothes, and an enemy King who normally gets what he wants; a contest of survival; and kids turned warriors. Add a magician and you've got it.
I did enjoy the story and found it captivating as I cheered the teens onward in their mission. If they could locate and bring back a "seed" then the teens would get paid $10,000 - prize money that each had specific plans for. However, once they learn that the seed is tied into a curse that would kill all the inhabitants of a village, their plans changed. There are double-crossers, spies, and a hedgehog guard that is intent on killing the teens.
The king of a former friendly village has his eyes on Meg and wants her to bear his male child. His daughter, a thirteen-year-old princess comes across like the Queen of Hearts. The king forces his magician to cast spells for his benefit, keeping his wife captive in an enchanted cell that he can't break her out of without a special magical key.
The kids make it their goal to save the villagers, rescue the magician's wife, and take home the seed before leaving through the door to return home. Will they succeed? Who will survive and what changes occur? I have already downloaded the next book in the series to see what happens next. Recommended read for any age.
I did enjoy the story and found it captivating as I cheered the teens onward in their mission. If they could locate and bring back a "seed" then the teens would get paid $10,000 - prize money that each had specific plans for. However, once they learn that the seed is tied into a curse that would kill all the inhabitants of a village, their plans changed. There are double-crossers, spies, and a hedgehog guard that is intent on killing the teens.
The king of a former friendly village has his eyes on Meg and wants her to bear his male child. His daughter, a thirteen-year-old princess comes across like the Queen of Hearts. The king forces his magician to cast spells for his benefit, keeping his wife captive in an enchanted cell that he can't break her out of without a special magical key.
The kids make it their goal to save the villagers, rescue the magician's wife, and take home the seed before leaving through the door to return home. Will they succeed? Who will survive and what changes occur? I have already downloaded the next book in the series to see what happens next. Recommended read for any age.
December 24, 2021
This will be a short review since I don't really like being negative. I really wanted to like this, I went in with no expectations and an open mind and was almost instantly off put by the main character. Keep in mind it could easily just be me, but the main character was not very likable and very one dimensional- as were all the characters, to be honest- she basically had one personality that was a combo stubborn/mean snarky and I just couldn't get behind her. I was given an early copy to read but ended up purchasing a copy and it was not well edited at all, grammatical errors littered the pages which I tend to hyper focus on against my will when reading a story.
I will say the concept behind the story was really interesting with doors leading to new fantasy worlds and quests and the world building was very detailed, just the overall execution and characters fell flat and I needed them to be able to really get invested in the book. Also, the ending set up a forced love triangle which I always hate, but that is just me. Keep in mind this is the first book in a series which might get better as it goes but I am not going to continue this journey.
I will say the concept behind the story was really interesting with doors leading to new fantasy worlds and quests and the world building was very detailed, just the overall execution and characters fell flat and I needed them to be able to really get invested in the book. Also, the ending set up a forced love triangle which I always hate, but that is just me. Keep in mind this is the first book in a series which might get better as it goes but I am not going to continue this journey.
August 13, 2020
I cannot for the love of God continue reading this book. Dnfing this at 42%.
The premise of the book was something like a game or a hunt or a quest of sorts, one which gave cash rewards in the end, once you manage to complete a said task.
Meg and Brek, best friends since forever, decide to take up the challenge. And find themselves walking through a door to find a certain seed. Little did they know that they had walked into a portal of a land unknown to them, with magic.
As much as the storyline was supposed to go, so far, all I get is Meg's narrative peppered constantly her infatuation on Carter, who is also playing the game/quest. Every now and then, the description is her raging desires, infatuation and related thoughts, the colour of his hair, his eyes.... I am sorry, but this wasn't what I was expecting. Also some things like the author describing "the town had its own set of debauchery like plunging necklines and feathered hats" had me raising my eyebrows.
I do not think I would pick this book again.
The premise of the book was something like a game or a hunt or a quest of sorts, one which gave cash rewards in the end, once you manage to complete a said task.
Meg and Brek, best friends since forever, decide to take up the challenge. And find themselves walking through a door to find a certain seed. Little did they know that they had walked into a portal of a land unknown to them, with magic.
As much as the storyline was supposed to go, so far, all I get is Meg's narrative peppered constantly her infatuation on Carter, who is also playing the game/quest. Every now and then, the description is her raging desires, infatuation and related thoughts, the colour of his hair, his eyes.... I am sorry, but this wasn't what I was expecting. Also some things like the author describing "the town had its own set of debauchery like plunging necklines and feathered hats" had me raising my eyebrows.
I do not think I would pick this book again.
June 24, 2020
“The Green Door” is a YA fantasy that focuses on the lives of two teens in their last year of high school. Meg works at a record store to make ends meet at home, while her best friend, Brek, is preparing for college. They find a flyer about a game, and the two teens try it. The first step is to choose a door that is based on the money awarded if they complete the task. The action starts the moment they open the door. I enjoyed what was behind the entrance and the unknown world’s storyline that included magic. I liked the friendship between Meg and Brek and how protective they were of each other. Then enters someone from their school, and it sets up a romantic triangle. There are a couple of adult scenes in this story; otherwise, this would be an enjoyable read for younger readers too. The story is a quest with some moral decisions. The book ends at a place where some questions were answered, but others were left unanswered for the next book — which I will be reading.
June 26, 2020
Choose a door, bring back the prize, get paid.
When she finds a flyer advertising a cash prize for anyone who wins the game, Meg, in need of funds for college, applies together with her best friend & teammate, Brek. What neither of them know, is that the game is one of life and death, in another world, where magic and tyrants and talking animals and lots of danger exists. When winning the game means going against their morals, Meg and Brek have to make some complicated decisions.
See full review at: https://tbrnext.com/2020/06/25/the-gr...
This book had some great world building. In some ways, it was like Narnia - a portal world, talking animals, an enemy to vanquish and magic to fix. But it was also more young adult, since the characters are just finishing high school, and there's a bit more death. But I really enjoyed the world it was set in, and the magic and challenges they faced.
The characters weren't the most developed, but they were good enough. I still wish they had a bit more depth. I'd have liked to see them having more serious reactions to death, especially when they killed someone for the first time, or when one lost a teammate, but barely mentioned it thereafter. They did react, but they moved on too quickly in my opinion.
The romance moved as expected. It wasn't a rushed affair, and it wasn't the sole focus of the book, which I greatly appreciated.
The plot was fun and it was an engaging read. I enjoyed it right from the start. There's a nice mix of magic and adventure. Now I'm going to find the next book in this series.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
When she finds a flyer advertising a cash prize for anyone who wins the game, Meg, in need of funds for college, applies together with her best friend & teammate, Brek. What neither of them know, is that the game is one of life and death, in another world, where magic and tyrants and talking animals and lots of danger exists. When winning the game means going against their morals, Meg and Brek have to make some complicated decisions.
See full review at: https://tbrnext.com/2020/06/25/the-gr...
This book had some great world building. In some ways, it was like Narnia - a portal world, talking animals, an enemy to vanquish and magic to fix. But it was also more young adult, since the characters are just finishing high school, and there's a bit more death. But I really enjoyed the world it was set in, and the magic and challenges they faced.
The characters weren't the most developed, but they were good enough. I still wish they had a bit more depth. I'd have liked to see them having more serious reactions to death, especially when they killed someone for the first time, or when one lost a teammate, but barely mentioned it thereafter. They did react, but they moved on too quickly in my opinion.
The romance moved as expected. It wasn't a rushed affair, and it wasn't the sole focus of the book, which I greatly appreciated.
The plot was fun and it was an engaging read. I enjoyed it right from the start. There's a nice mix of magic and adventure. Now I'm going to find the next book in this series.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 15, 2020
I became an ARC reader in exchange for an honest review.
I LOVED this book. LOVED IT. If I had the chance to reread it over for the first time I would. Fantasy, for me, isn't difficult to get into because I love magic but this book exceeded expectations and gave me the drive I needed to get back into reading. I've been having a rough go of it recently and this daring, edge of your seat adventure kept me on my toes. An ominous game where you could possibly get hurt or even killed? Did you read the fine print? If you've been looking for a book where you're walking through portals into new worlds in order to gain riches beyond your wildest dreams, this book is for you.
**Spoilers to come **
I'm a big side-character fan and let me tell you-- I loved all the side characters even the villains. Everyone felt real, complex and interesting. I loved Brek, sorry Carter. Yes, I understand he was different from the typical quarterback persona but I love my childhood friends tropes. The chemistry between Brek and Meg is undeniable even if Meg tries to keep him at arm's length. Maybe Carter and Meg can date for a little bit but Brek and Meg are endgame for me. I have a guy best friend too who's been my rock and everything but I don't know, their relationship is way different and I love it so much.
Tyran! I loved Tyran and I totally knew who he was when he first met Meg. It wasn't totally obvious but I had the sneaking suspicion. I was so pissed about him working for the King but I forgave him when we learned about his backstory. I knew overall he was a good guy and I'm eager to see what comes of him in the next book.
This was the first book from Heather Kindt I've read-- The Weaver is in the mail, but I'm so so glad I was able to read this book of hers. She has a beautiful way of writing that pulls you into the world without having to go back and reread anything. I felt connected to what was going on the entire time and I didn't stop reading until the wee hours of the morning. Overall, I couldn't put it down. The world was so fleshed out, you knew your main character's motives and you hoped they didn't die because there was no guarantees. Plus with everything going on and people fighting against injustice in our real world, I found myself really connecting with Meg in how she wanted to help these people. I liked that I saw myself in her and appreciated how real she felt to me.
I LOVED this book. LOVED IT. If I had the chance to reread it over for the first time I would. Fantasy, for me, isn't difficult to get into because I love magic but this book exceeded expectations and gave me the drive I needed to get back into reading. I've been having a rough go of it recently and this daring, edge of your seat adventure kept me on my toes. An ominous game where you could possibly get hurt or even killed? Did you read the fine print? If you've been looking for a book where you're walking through portals into new worlds in order to gain riches beyond your wildest dreams, this book is for you.
**Spoilers to come **
I'm a big side-character fan and let me tell you-- I loved all the side characters even the villains. Everyone felt real, complex and interesting. I loved Brek, sorry Carter. Yes, I understand he was different from the typical quarterback persona but I love my childhood friends tropes. The chemistry between Brek and Meg is undeniable even if Meg tries to keep him at arm's length. Maybe Carter and Meg can date for a little bit but Brek and Meg are endgame for me. I have a guy best friend too who's been my rock and everything but I don't know, their relationship is way different and I love it so much.
Tyran! I loved Tyran and I totally knew who he was when he first met Meg. It wasn't totally obvious but I had the sneaking suspicion. I was so pissed about him working for the King but I forgave him when we learned about his backstory. I knew overall he was a good guy and I'm eager to see what comes of him in the next book.
This was the first book from Heather Kindt I've read-- The Weaver is in the mail, but I'm so so glad I was able to read this book of hers. She has a beautiful way of writing that pulls you into the world without having to go back and reread anything. I felt connected to what was going on the entire time and I didn't stop reading until the wee hours of the morning. Overall, I couldn't put it down. The world was so fleshed out, you knew your main character's motives and you hoped they didn't die because there was no guarantees. Plus with everything going on and people fighting against injustice in our real world, I found myself really connecting with Meg in how she wanted to help these people. I liked that I saw myself in her and appreciated how real she felt to me.
July 10, 2020
I just finished reading the Green Door and I super loved it. 😍 This novel contains a lot of themes I like in a fantasy novel. There is adventure, mysteries, magic, action, comedy friendship and romance.
There are total of 7 colored doors mentioned in the beginning. Blue, Brown, Green, Red, Orange, White and the Ebony door. Each of which has a prize money reward given should you be able to survive the game and return to the real world with the desired object. The doors are portals to another world where a pair of players participate.
Due to their financial challenges in life, bestfriends Meg and Brek decided to join the game. They needed money to be able to go to college. They decided to start their adventure with the Green Door based on the carvings on it and on Meg’s gut feeling.
I love Meg’s character. She’s strong, independent and selfless. Brek is more of a voice of reason, sensitive and dependable. Carter on the other hand is the famous charming quarterback in town whose game partner had died too soon and ends up partnering with Meg and Brek in search for the desired object.
I love the type of friendship/unconditional love that Meg and Brek have. Being there for each other even if it means risking their lives is one very important message of the story. This story has also dealt with issues of bullying, physical advances and social classes.
The love triangle trope was okay but I guess we’ll have to find out on the next novel as we are just at the beginning of the series so anything can happen. It’s really up to Meg to decide who really is her “One”.
I felt sad when one of the supporting characters died so soon even before fully enjoying his true form. I don’t to get into details. It’s for you guys to find out! I do feel sad for the wife who needs to lead her people and to be able to fulfil her husband’s wish of peace and unity in their lands. Though I want to know what happened to Maddox?
I hope the author can also make a backstory about the famous magician Tyran and his beloved Shaol. That would be a delight to read as well. 😊
The prologue is intriguing. I guess I have to find out who Mortimer Rosenbaum is in the next installments of this series.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this YA fantasy novel. The story is fast-paced, action-packed and very engaging. I would recommend this to my friends and to you! 😊
I can’t wait to read the Red Door and to be with them in their new adventure. 😊
There are total of 7 colored doors mentioned in the beginning. Blue, Brown, Green, Red, Orange, White and the Ebony door. Each of which has a prize money reward given should you be able to survive the game and return to the real world with the desired object. The doors are portals to another world where a pair of players participate.
Due to their financial challenges in life, bestfriends Meg and Brek decided to join the game. They needed money to be able to go to college. They decided to start their adventure with the Green Door based on the carvings on it and on Meg’s gut feeling.
I love Meg’s character. She’s strong, independent and selfless. Brek is more of a voice of reason, sensitive and dependable. Carter on the other hand is the famous charming quarterback in town whose game partner had died too soon and ends up partnering with Meg and Brek in search for the desired object.
I love the type of friendship/unconditional love that Meg and Brek have. Being there for each other even if it means risking their lives is one very important message of the story. This story has also dealt with issues of bullying, physical advances and social classes.
The love triangle trope was okay but I guess we’ll have to find out on the next novel as we are just at the beginning of the series so anything can happen. It’s really up to Meg to decide who really is her “One”.
I felt sad when one of the supporting characters died so soon even before fully enjoying his true form. I don’t to get into details. It’s for you guys to find out! I do feel sad for the wife who needs to lead her people and to be able to fulfil her husband’s wish of peace and unity in their lands. Though I want to know what happened to Maddox?
I hope the author can also make a backstory about the famous magician Tyran and his beloved Shaol. That would be a delight to read as well. 😊
The prologue is intriguing. I guess I have to find out who Mortimer Rosenbaum is in the next installments of this series.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this YA fantasy novel. The story is fast-paced, action-packed and very engaging. I would recommend this to my friends and to you! 😊
I can’t wait to read the Red Door and to be with them in their new adventure. 😊
July 5, 2020
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
I fully enjoyed the book to the fullest. I didn’t want to stop reading. The concept. The characters. The magical setting. . . It all worked together so well. Even the magical system seemed interesting and sparked debate about freedom.
Who knew? I surely didn’t.
The concept is simple: two kids who are down on their luck (literally live in a place that is called the Dump) enter a contest. They pick a door and complete the assignment for however much it is. The higher the amount of money they can win, the more difficult the task is. They picked the Green Door.
The author executed this concept much better than I thought she would. It is amazing. It is so simple, but yet keeps me engaged. The plot twists and the complications that came with it left me wanting to know more about the world behind the Green Door.
I don’t want to ruin too much, but the setting behind the green door is amazing and described perfectly. I could imagine that world so easily and love the magic bits and pieces thrown in.
The characters were well thought out and not stereotypical which is refreshing. I loved the sassy main character Meg and her best friend, Brek. I loved the fact they joke each other so much. I also enjoyed Carter breaking the stupid jock stereotype. There were a couple of characters I didn’t like, but they were the bad guys so I think that makes sense. I kinda wished she made the villains less stereotypical. They were very cartoonish, but she thought them out. Just very villain-y instead of like people.
Overall, I highly recommend this book if you like a bit mystery and romance with your fantasy. If you don’t like romance in it, then you probably won’t like this book. Anyway, I cannot wait to read the next book!
I fully enjoyed the book to the fullest. I didn’t want to stop reading. The concept. The characters. The magical setting. . . It all worked together so well. Even the magical system seemed interesting and sparked debate about freedom.
Who knew? I surely didn’t.
The concept is simple: two kids who are down on their luck (literally live in a place that is called the Dump) enter a contest. They pick a door and complete the assignment for however much it is. The higher the amount of money they can win, the more difficult the task is. They picked the Green Door.
The author executed this concept much better than I thought she would. It is amazing. It is so simple, but yet keeps me engaged. The plot twists and the complications that came with it left me wanting to know more about the world behind the Green Door.
I don’t want to ruin too much, but the setting behind the green door is amazing and described perfectly. I could imagine that world so easily and love the magic bits and pieces thrown in.
The characters were well thought out and not stereotypical which is refreshing. I loved the sassy main character Meg and her best friend, Brek. I loved the fact they joke each other so much. I also enjoyed Carter breaking the stupid jock stereotype. There were a couple of characters I didn’t like, but they were the bad guys so I think that makes sense. I kinda wished she made the villains less stereotypical. They were very cartoonish, but she thought them out. Just very villain-y instead of like people.
Overall, I highly recommend this book if you like a bit mystery and romance with your fantasy. If you don’t like romance in it, then you probably won’t like this book. Anyway, I cannot wait to read the next book!
June 19, 2020
What I Loved:
I loved all the questions this story provided! The main characters are as lost as the reader as they step through the green door to an unknown world. It was fun and exciting, and I really enjoyed it!
How I Felt:
This is my second book by Heather Kindt, and I am really starting to enjoy her writing! I think that she has a way of creating these fantastic fantasy settings that are rooted in today’s world. It’s a great mix!
The plot of The Green Door took me all over the place! The characters enter the green door to get an egg, but so much more than that happens! I thought it was an exciting adventure for the characters, and I loved the way they encountered so many situations they needed to work through.
The characters were filled with personality. The main character, Meg, was easy to like, and I enjoyed her compassion and her snarky attitude when it was needed. The story is filled with so many other characters that you can love and hate. I think they were well developed when created. So many secondary characters had secrets and depth, and I liked reading about their stories too!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was filled with exciting moments that kept me turning the pages, and I liked the adventure! I look forward to the second book!!
To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend The Green Door to readers that enjoy adventure fantasy stories that have characters from the world we know. Readers that enjoy books like The Hunger Games might enjoy this one!
I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
My full review of this book will post to my blog on 6/23/20. All of my reviews can be found at https://shejustlovesbooks.com/all-boo...
I loved all the questions this story provided! The main characters are as lost as the reader as they step through the green door to an unknown world. It was fun and exciting, and I really enjoyed it!
How I Felt:
This is my second book by Heather Kindt, and I am really starting to enjoy her writing! I think that she has a way of creating these fantastic fantasy settings that are rooted in today’s world. It’s a great mix!
The plot of The Green Door took me all over the place! The characters enter the green door to get an egg, but so much more than that happens! I thought it was an exciting adventure for the characters, and I loved the way they encountered so many situations they needed to work through.
The characters were filled with personality. The main character, Meg, was easy to like, and I enjoyed her compassion and her snarky attitude when it was needed. The story is filled with so many other characters that you can love and hate. I think they were well developed when created. So many secondary characters had secrets and depth, and I liked reading about their stories too!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was filled with exciting moments that kept me turning the pages, and I liked the adventure! I look forward to the second book!!
To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend The Green Door to readers that enjoy adventure fantasy stories that have characters from the world we know. Readers that enjoy books like The Hunger Games might enjoy this one!
I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
My full review of this book will post to my blog on 6/23/20. All of my reviews can be found at https://shejustlovesbooks.com/all-boo...
May 14, 2021
Received this as an ARC book.
My review can also be found on my website: https://queensbookreviews.wixsite.com....
I'd read other reviews and wasn't sure I'd like it, but oh my, this story is amazing! Heather Kindt did an amazing job of telling this original, unique story. First of all, these characters are amazing! The main characters were simply amazing and well written. It seemed their background was extremely thought out and I can't help but have my attention captured by them! Not only were the main characters amazing, her writing for the side characters really helped the story move along.
I was always waiting for what happened next. Now, this book is quite odd! However, I think that's what helps capture your attention. I sure couldn't put it down. Every time I turned a page it would somehow get more unique. This is one of the book's I absolutely couldn't put down.
This book also has romance! It's not overly done like some books but is perfect for the plot. It doesn't overthrow the original plot and story but simply adds to it. This is definitely a love triangle, and my goodness you wouldn't expect what comes of it!
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good love triangle romance, a strong female character or even hard-headed characters who are extremely stubborn.
My review can also be found on my website: https://queensbookreviews.wixsite.com....
I'd read other reviews and wasn't sure I'd like it, but oh my, this story is amazing! Heather Kindt did an amazing job of telling this original, unique story. First of all, these characters are amazing! The main characters were simply amazing and well written. It seemed their background was extremely thought out and I can't help but have my attention captured by them! Not only were the main characters amazing, her writing for the side characters really helped the story move along.
I was always waiting for what happened next. Now, this book is quite odd! However, I think that's what helps capture your attention. I sure couldn't put it down. Every time I turned a page it would somehow get more unique. This is one of the book's I absolutely couldn't put down.
This book also has romance! It's not overly done like some books but is perfect for the plot. It doesn't overthrow the original plot and story but simply adds to it. This is definitely a love triangle, and my goodness you wouldn't expect what comes of it!
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good love triangle romance, a strong female character or even hard-headed characters who are extremely stubborn.
July 22, 2020
The Green Door is the first in a new series by Kindt and has a very interesting plot with Meg and her best friend Brek trying to win money in an unknown game. The money will get Meg out of her neighborhood, "The Dump,” as she is supporting her unemployed father and herself but has dreams of going to college. They enter a game where they only know they go through the green door and need to retrieve a seed. While there Carter joins their group and then there is some insta-love between Meg and Carter that I just wasn’t that into and poor Brek is still just a best friend that is in love with Meg too. Overall this book was a so-so as the plot was interesting but the characters were just flat.
I was provided with an electronic ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I was provided with an electronic ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 10, 2020
This book is right up my alley, another world to discover with magic, talking animals and all sorts of weird things in which Brek and Meg enter a mysterious game that leads them to a unexpected world behind a green door. They need to find a seed and bring it back to earn 10 000 dollar which Meg needs to go to college.
I kept thinking about Narnia and Alice in Wonderland...the other world was well described and we even get a love triangle with a hot quarterback that made me think of Twilight. All in all, you have everything you need in a story and if the writing is good, the plot is interesting then you're in for a good time. And I had a great time reading it, it even gave me some food for thought with the moral dilemma's. I will anxiously await the sequel.
*** An ARC was given to me in exchange for a honest review ***
I kept thinking about Narnia and Alice in Wonderland...the other world was well described and we even get a love triangle with a hot quarterback that made me think of Twilight. All in all, you have everything you need in a story and if the writing is good, the plot is interesting then you're in for a good time. And I had a great time reading it, it even gave me some food for thought with the moral dilemma's. I will anxiously await the sequel.
*** An ARC was given to me in exchange for a honest review ***
June 8, 2020
I received this and as an eARC to read for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Heather Kindt for giving me access.
Remember the story Nerve? Where there was a game to play for money? Mix that with a Narnia like escape room and you have The Green Door.
Does that sound like a complaint? Well, it's not. Heather does an amazing job of world building and making you feel like you are with Meg, Brek, and Carter. The story is fast paced to where I didn't want to put it down.
I am looking forward to The Red Door to continue on their journey and to find out what adventures await them.
*Please be something Wonderland related*
Remember the story Nerve? Where there was a game to play for money? Mix that with a Narnia like escape room and you have The Green Door.
Does that sound like a complaint? Well, it's not. Heather does an amazing job of world building and making you feel like you are with Meg, Brek, and Carter. The story is fast paced to where I didn't want to put it down.
I am looking forward to The Red Door to continue on their journey and to find out what adventures await them.
*Please be something Wonderland related*
July 3, 2020
Wow! This book was fantastic. It was really well written and I didn’t want to put it down!
I loved the idea of a new door each book. I was expecting them to get it all done in one book, but I was pleasantly surprised to focus on one door. I also loved the characters. Meg is a fun and love able character. Brek and Carter were also great additions to the story. I like how they all grow and mature together. I also enjoy the romance between Meg and a certain football player. I really enjoyed learning about the mystery behind the door and I can’t wait to learn about what’s behind the other doors.
I really enjoyed this book and I’m very excited for the next one to come out.
I loved the idea of a new door each book. I was expecting them to get it all done in one book, but I was pleasantly surprised to focus on one door. I also loved the characters. Meg is a fun and love able character. Brek and Carter were also great additions to the story. I like how they all grow and mature together. I also enjoy the romance between Meg and a certain football player. I really enjoyed learning about the mystery behind the door and I can’t wait to learn about what’s behind the other doors.
I really enjoyed this book and I’m very excited for the next one to come out.
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