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Crystal Doors #1
Crystal Doors #1
This first novel in a new trilogy finds 14-year-old cousins Gwen and Vic accidentally transported through a magical crystal door to the island Elantya. They are soon caught in a tempest of ancient magic and fierce battles all connected to ancient feuds and the cousins' own mysterious roots.
Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2006
17 people are currently reading
562 people want to read
About the author
Kevin J. Anderson
1,033 books3,110 followersYes, I have a lot of books, and if this is your first visit to my amazon author page, it can be a little overwhelming. If you are new to my work, let me recommend a few titles as good places to start. I love my Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. series, humorous horror/mysteries, which begin with DEATH WARMED OVER. My steampunk fantasy adventures, CLOCKWORK ANGELS and CLOCKWORK LIVES, written with Neil Peart, legendary drummer from Rush, are two of my very favorite novels ever. And my magnum opus, the science fiction epic The Saga of Seven Suns, begins with HIDDEN EMPIRE. After you've tried those, I hope you'll check out some of my other series.
I have written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and I'm the co-author of the Dune prequels. My original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series and the Nebula Award-nominated Assemblers of Infinity. I have also written several comic books including the Dark Horse Star Wars collection Tales of the Jedi written in collaboration with Tom Veitch, Predator titles (also for Dark Horse), and X-Files titles for Topps.
I serve as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest.
My wife is author Rebecca Moesta. We currently reside near Monument, Colorado.
I have written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and I'm the co-author of the Dune prequels. My original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series and the Nebula Award-nominated Assemblers of Infinity. I have also written several comic books including the Dark Horse Star Wars collection Tales of the Jedi written in collaboration with Tom Veitch, Predator titles (also for Dark Horse), and X-Files titles for Topps.
I serve as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest.
My wife is author Rebecca Moesta. We currently reside near Monument, Colorado.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
April 20, 2011
Okay FINE. This book isn't actually about a blonde chick with a door to an alternate universe in her head, but the plot line is just as equally contrived.
Gwen and Vic are our two protagonists, and they are also "twin" cousins. This means that their dads are brothers, and their moms are sisters. Yeah - two brothers married two sisters and each couple had a child. I'm not sure if I should be creeped out by that. In fact, I found myself thinking about it often throughout the book and whether or not it should be weird. I don't think it should, but for some reason it seems like it would be.
So, the kids inadvertently stumble into their Uncle/Dad's alternate universe machine and discover a whole new world. The inhabitants of this world are at war with a race of beings called Merlons. Dun, dun, dun...
When I was in middle school, I loved the Young Jedi Knights series (which would make an amaaaaazing TV show!!) that was written by the same authors. It's fair to say that I was obsessed. Now, I'm not sure if I was just to blinded by thoughts like "COOL JEDI TRAINING!!" to see the sad truth about it. The writing is rife with overused and unnessecary words and breaks off topic so easily that it's ridiculous. Maybe this was fine for me during my peak ADD years, but now I need a lot more.
Obviously a juvenile book, The Crystal Door is full of cliches, adjectives, adverbs, words like cerulean and magenta being used to describe the sky and the ocean, evil things, cheesy dialogue, and many other marks of books targeted to younger readers.
In it's entirety, it was fun, cute, and quick, but not a world where I would want to spend a huge amount of time. So it's a good thing that these books are short.
However, it was funny at times and might make a good choice if you are in the mood for a middle grade book!
February 25, 2009
the problem with this book - there was no imagination used and it would've been better if half of it were cut out.
proof: the main characters are gwen and vic. in the new city they go to, the people there have to change their name to fit the language. they become gwenya and viccus. SERIOUSLY!? ok, so there are people who come from other worlds - like afirik (where there are tribal musicians and shamans), chian (where there are medical specialists and weather readers) and grogypt (where there are philosophers and mathematicians). AHH!!! One of the animals was a zemu - it has a striped back! one of the sages was Sage Polup - he was like a squid.
oh the potential, but the execution was a letdown! the worst is that i really want to find out what happens to these kids (because i'm that kind of person) - i just don't think that i can suffer through the last two books. =(
proof: the main characters are gwen and vic. in the new city they go to, the people there have to change their name to fit the language. they become gwenya and viccus. SERIOUSLY!? ok, so there are people who come from other worlds - like afirik (where there are tribal musicians and shamans), chian (where there are medical specialists and weather readers) and grogypt (where there are philosophers and mathematicians). AHH!!! One of the animals was a zemu - it has a striped back! one of the sages was Sage Polup - he was like a squid.
oh the potential, but the execution was a letdown! the worst is that i really want to find out what happens to these kids (because i'm that kind of person) - i just don't think that i can suffer through the last two books. =(
May 12, 2012
Vic and Gwen are cousins, born just five hours after each other. Gwens parents died in a mysterious car accident and Vics mother dissapeared when he was small. One day Vics father accidentally transports them throught the crystal door and into another world where Gwen and Vic are stranded, unable to return to Earth.
I picked this book up because I needed something to read and this looked interesting so I wanted to see what this was about. This is actually a pretty good book and I can't wait to find out what happens in the next book. Who is Vics mother?
I finished this book because it's really good and because curiosity made me want to find out who is the traitor. This was actually a really good book. The story was good and the style that the author used to write this book was really good too although the plot didn't have enough depth to it. I was clear who was the bad people and who were the good people right from the start.
I would recommend this book to Aloka because she might like the action in this book.
I picked this book up because I needed something to read and this looked interesting so I wanted to see what this was about. This is actually a pretty good book and I can't wait to find out what happens in the next book. Who is Vics mother?
I finished this book because it's really good and because curiosity made me want to find out who is the traitor. This was actually a really good book. The story was good and the style that the author used to write this book was really good too although the plot didn't have enough depth to it. I was clear who was the bad people and who were the good people right from the start.
I would recommend this book to Aloka because she might like the action in this book.
October 13, 2009
Th writing was so choppy and heavy-handed that I didn't get very far. I don't remember Anderson's writing being notably bad when I read him as a kid, but maybe I was too young to pay attention... or maybe writing with another person didn't work well for him. In any case, I was constantly by the sudden topical shifts so I didn't read very far and have no comment on the story itself other than to state that if I ever construct and interdimensional portal I won't leave it laying there for my kids to stumble into.
November 4, 2017
The Crystal Doors (Book 1) by Jevin J Anderson and Rebecca Moesta was a fine story with remarkable characters, and a wild watery adventure! It was a little young for my tastes, admittedly, but it read very well and I liked the story overall. It was a fun book, and I spent the last couple of days reading it and wondering why I hadn't encountered this book sooner. I'm pretty sure that if I had read this as a teenager, it would've been one of my most favorite books.
I requested this book from Baen, who kindly sent me a kindle version of it. They also sent me two other physical books which I will review shortly, but am not quite finished reading yet. This one was one I requested because I'm familiar with the author Kevin J. Anderson's works, and have always liked his writing style. I've never read Rebecca Moesta, I don't think. Still, both writers have talent, which is evident in this book here.
As its book 1, I will definitely be needing the next book as it left several things unanswered at the end. I think my favorite character out of the book was probably Afirik (don't ask me to pronounce it, please, lol). She was pretty awesome, though I also like the two main characters Vic and Gwen. Both of them are smart, intelligent kids who have a whole new world to discover and play in with plenty of danger that follows them.
Overrall, this reminded me strongly of series like Animorphs and Dinotopia, both favorites of mine., with its grand epic scope and size of the new world featuring all kinds of people and monsters. I'd easily give this a 5/5 stars, for its clever writing, and witty characters.
So go out and get this book. You won't regret it. It's got everything one could want in an otherworldy adventure!
I requested this book from Baen, who kindly sent me a kindle version of it. They also sent me two other physical books which I will review shortly, but am not quite finished reading yet. This one was one I requested because I'm familiar with the author Kevin J. Anderson's works, and have always liked his writing style. I've never read Rebecca Moesta, I don't think. Still, both writers have talent, which is evident in this book here.
As its book 1, I will definitely be needing the next book as it left several things unanswered at the end. I think my favorite character out of the book was probably Afirik (don't ask me to pronounce it, please, lol). She was pretty awesome, though I also like the two main characters Vic and Gwen. Both of them are smart, intelligent kids who have a whole new world to discover and play in with plenty of danger that follows them.
Overrall, this reminded me strongly of series like Animorphs and Dinotopia, both favorites of mine., with its grand epic scope and size of the new world featuring all kinds of people and monsters. I'd easily give this a 5/5 stars, for its clever writing, and witty characters.
So go out and get this book. You won't regret it. It's got everything one could want in an otherworldy adventure!
December 31, 2023
It wasn't fantastic, but it wasn't horrible. The dialogue was a little cheesy even for the year it was published, there was infodumping in some places and not a lot of explanation in others, and I still don't understand why a bunch of students would be put on a ship for a "training voyage" amidst murderous sea creatures - especially when three of them had literally just got there (Vic, Gwen, and Tiaret), and two of them (Tiaret and Sharif) can't swim.
Not sure if I'll read the rest of the series.
Not sure if I'll read the rest of the series.
April 20, 2025
I am definitely not the target audience for this book but younger me would have liked it at 13 years old or so.
The book is full of cliches and over use of adverbs and adjectives to describe characters and situations. sometimes it works well and sometimes it was just too many words to describe something simple. (Like the overuse of the work petite to describe the one character)
It was a good story with some good characters but definitely a book a preteen or teen could enjoy, concepts are not new and cliches are abundant
The book is full of cliches and over use of adverbs and adjectives to describe characters and situations. sometimes it works well and sometimes it was just too many words to describe something simple. (Like the overuse of the work petite to describe the one character)
It was a good story with some good characters but definitely a book a preteen or teen could enjoy, concepts are not new and cliches are abundant
June 26, 2019
I first read this book on Wattpad, and I'm still waiting to get round to buying the other books to read. I loved the story, how different it was from other things I've read and the concept the different realms
December 31, 2019
Disappointing nonsense. Zapped to
friendly magical isle, the girl just wants to go home, not explore. She sees wrong spell patterns, but looks for chalk mistakes after crystals explode. Her cousin saw mer-enemy wrecked ship, yet new class sails into enemy seas. Typo: c11 p1 coniure is conjure.
friendly magical isle, the girl just wants to go home, not explore. She sees wrong spell patterns, but looks for chalk mistakes after crystals explode. Her cousin saw mer-enemy wrecked ship, yet new class sails into enemy seas. Typo: c11 p1 coniure is conjure.
June 2, 2020
Written by the husband and wife team who have written Star Wars books separately and together, there is a reference to Star Wars in it!
November 18, 2012
Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com
Fourteen-year old cousins Gwen and Vic Pierce are almost nothing alike. Where Gwen is serious, scientific, and analytical, Vic is fun-loving, spontaneous, and outgoing. Older by a mere five hours, Gwen likes to think of herself as the one in charge. Vic likes to use his love of fun to rile his cousin up. Since they both live with Carlton Arthur "Cap" Pierce, Vic's father and Gwen's uncle, things often times get interesting. Gwen's father, Reginald "Rip" Pierce, was Uncle Cap's twin brother. And her mother, Fyera, was the sister of Vic's mom, Kyara. The two brothers met the two sisters on a dig in the Yucatan Peninsula and were instantly smitten. They soon married, and Gwen and Vic arrived on the same day, only hours apart.
Now Gwen's parents are gone, victims of a mysterious car accident. Even Vic's mother, Kyara, is no longer in the picture, having vanished into thin air two years ago only one week after the death of Gwen's parents. Now it's just Cap and the cousins, and the three attempt to make the best life together that they can. Gwen and Vic are raised almost like brother and sister, with Cap as their father. Although Gwen sometimes feels guilty for this new "family," her dreams of one day being a marine biologist keep her reaching towards her goal.
After a nearly disastrous trip to Ocean Kingdoms, the kids are surprised by Cap's strange behavior. He informs them that their family will be leaving the very next day, to avoid danger. Having no idea what he's talking about, Gwen and Vic spend a night of fitful sleep wondering what's gotten into their uncle and father. They awake the next morning to a solarium full of mirrors, crystals, and prisms, and suddenly their world gets a whole lot stranger.
Gwen and Vic find themselves falling through the light that Cap has created, almost as if it were a door. And when they land, they're no longer in a place that they recognize. The kids have come through a crystal door and ended up on the island of Elantya, the center through which all crystal doors unite. Although both bewildered by this new place and uncertain as to how they'll return home, Gwen and Vic are both excited by the people they meet on Elantya--Lyssandra, an interpreter and a telepath; Ali el Sharif, a novice at the Citadel who comes from the flying city of Irrakesh; and Tiaret, a young warrior girl who came from Afrik to also study at the Citadel.
As Gwen and Vic learn that the Elantyans are in the midst of a war with the Merlons, vicious creatures of the sea, they realize that getting back to Earth may be the least of their problems. The two teens will have to work together with their three new friends to protect Elantya from its enemies--and one such enemy might just very well be someone within the Elantyan's own midst.
The first in a trilogy, CRYSTAL DOORS is a highly entertaining contemporary fantasy that readers of all ages will enjoy. I look forward to reading more about life in Elantya, and finding out the reason that Gwen and Vic were brought there. A great read that you'll definitely enjoy!
Fourteen-year old cousins Gwen and Vic Pierce are almost nothing alike. Where Gwen is serious, scientific, and analytical, Vic is fun-loving, spontaneous, and outgoing. Older by a mere five hours, Gwen likes to think of herself as the one in charge. Vic likes to use his love of fun to rile his cousin up. Since they both live with Carlton Arthur "Cap" Pierce, Vic's father and Gwen's uncle, things often times get interesting. Gwen's father, Reginald "Rip" Pierce, was Uncle Cap's twin brother. And her mother, Fyera, was the sister of Vic's mom, Kyara. The two brothers met the two sisters on a dig in the Yucatan Peninsula and were instantly smitten. They soon married, and Gwen and Vic arrived on the same day, only hours apart.
Now Gwen's parents are gone, victims of a mysterious car accident. Even Vic's mother, Kyara, is no longer in the picture, having vanished into thin air two years ago only one week after the death of Gwen's parents. Now it's just Cap and the cousins, and the three attempt to make the best life together that they can. Gwen and Vic are raised almost like brother and sister, with Cap as their father. Although Gwen sometimes feels guilty for this new "family," her dreams of one day being a marine biologist keep her reaching towards her goal.
After a nearly disastrous trip to Ocean Kingdoms, the kids are surprised by Cap's strange behavior. He informs them that their family will be leaving the very next day, to avoid danger. Having no idea what he's talking about, Gwen and Vic spend a night of fitful sleep wondering what's gotten into their uncle and father. They awake the next morning to a solarium full of mirrors, crystals, and prisms, and suddenly their world gets a whole lot stranger.
Gwen and Vic find themselves falling through the light that Cap has created, almost as if it were a door. And when they land, they're no longer in a place that they recognize. The kids have come through a crystal door and ended up on the island of Elantya, the center through which all crystal doors unite. Although both bewildered by this new place and uncertain as to how they'll return home, Gwen and Vic are both excited by the people they meet on Elantya--Lyssandra, an interpreter and a telepath; Ali el Sharif, a novice at the Citadel who comes from the flying city of Irrakesh; and Tiaret, a young warrior girl who came from Afrik to also study at the Citadel.
As Gwen and Vic learn that the Elantyans are in the midst of a war with the Merlons, vicious creatures of the sea, they realize that getting back to Earth may be the least of their problems. The two teens will have to work together with their three new friends to protect Elantya from its enemies--and one such enemy might just very well be someone within the Elantyan's own midst.
The first in a trilogy, CRYSTAL DOORS is a highly entertaining contemporary fantasy that readers of all ages will enjoy. I look forward to reading more about life in Elantya, and finding out the reason that Gwen and Vic were brought there. A great read that you'll definitely enjoy!
September 11, 2018
This first novel in a new trilogy finds 14-year-old cousins Gwen and Vic accidentally transported through a magical crystal door to the island Elantya. They are soon caught in a tempest of ancient magic and fierce battles all connected to ancient feuds and the cousins' own mysterious roots.
14-year-old cousins, Vic and Gwen, are almost nothing alike. Where Vic is fun-loving and outgoing, Gwen is scientifically minded, with an analytical nature. The dynamic between the two happens to be one of the larger parts of the novel. Older by a mere 5 hours, Gwen is the self-appointed person in charge, which, Vic uses to his advantage to rile her up. Their fathers, Carlton Arthur Pierce "Cap", and Reginald Pierce "Rip" were twins, who stumbled upon Fyera and Kyara (the children's mothers) on a dig in the Yucantan Peninsula. They were smitten. Eventually, they were married, and each couple produced a child. Now, due to a mysterious accident, Gwen's parents are gone, and Vic's mother disappeared soon after. Now, its just Cap, and the cousins against the world!
Here enters the plot-twist, a near disaster at Ocean Kingdoms (foresight into the next novel perhaps?) leads Cap to act strangely. He informs them they will be leaving, and a fitful night follows for Gwen and Vic. When they wake, their solarium is full of mirrors, crystals, and prisms. All of a sudden, their world gets a little bit weirder.
The kids fall through a "light", or "door". Landing, in a place neither of them recognise. They're informed this, is a Crystal door, and they have landed on the island of Elantya, where all such doors unify. It is here we meet the majority of the supporting cast in this series, Lyssandra, an interpreter and a telepath; Ali el Sharif, a novice at the Citadel who comes from the flying city of Irrakesh; and Tiaret, a young warrior girl who came from Afrik to also study at the Citadel.
As Gwen and Vic come to terms with their new situation, they find that the Elantyan's are at war, with a race called 'Merlons'. These creatures, are of the sea. Gwen and Vic are forced to work together in order to save their new friends, fighting against a new enemy and even, enemies within.
The first of the trilogy, Island Realm is entertaining and different to what you may have read before. On reveiw it has a similar concept to the Firebird Trilogy, yet, somehow is created in an entirely different contemporary conceptual nature.
14-year-old cousins, Vic and Gwen, are almost nothing alike. Where Vic is fun-loving and outgoing, Gwen is scientifically minded, with an analytical nature. The dynamic between the two happens to be one of the larger parts of the novel. Older by a mere 5 hours, Gwen is the self-appointed person in charge, which, Vic uses to his advantage to rile her up. Their fathers, Carlton Arthur Pierce "Cap", and Reginald Pierce "Rip" were twins, who stumbled upon Fyera and Kyara (the children's mothers) on a dig in the Yucantan Peninsula. They were smitten. Eventually, they were married, and each couple produced a child. Now, due to a mysterious accident, Gwen's parents are gone, and Vic's mother disappeared soon after. Now, its just Cap, and the cousins against the world!
Here enters the plot-twist, a near disaster at Ocean Kingdoms (foresight into the next novel perhaps?) leads Cap to act strangely. He informs them they will be leaving, and a fitful night follows for Gwen and Vic. When they wake, their solarium is full of mirrors, crystals, and prisms. All of a sudden, their world gets a little bit weirder.
The kids fall through a "light", or "door". Landing, in a place neither of them recognise. They're informed this, is a Crystal door, and they have landed on the island of Elantya, where all such doors unify. It is here we meet the majority of the supporting cast in this series, Lyssandra, an interpreter and a telepath; Ali el Sharif, a novice at the Citadel who comes from the flying city of Irrakesh; and Tiaret, a young warrior girl who came from Afrik to also study at the Citadel.
As Gwen and Vic come to terms with their new situation, they find that the Elantyan's are at war, with a race called 'Merlons'. These creatures, are of the sea. Gwen and Vic are forced to work together in order to save their new friends, fighting against a new enemy and even, enemies within.
The first of the trilogy, Island Realm is entertaining and different to what you may have read before. On reveiw it has a similar concept to the Firebird Trilogy, yet, somehow is created in an entirely different contemporary conceptual nature.
October 31, 2014
Gwen and Vic, "twin cousins" born five hours apart, are still recovering from the death of Gwen's parents and the disappearance of Vic's mother. Gwen is sunk in her grief, but Vic tries to go at life full-tilt---until an unexpected accident lands them both on the other side of a crystal door, clear in another world. Now in Elantya, an island nation, they must figure out a way to get home . . . if they can survive long enough to do so.
This was rough, but readable. After a somewhat bogged down beginning which tries to introduce a lot all at once and paints Gwen as a real downer, the story quickly picks up its pace and doesn't let up. I really liked Elantya. It's filled with a number of neat little gadgets and creatures, even if most of them only get a quick glimpse.
The ocean theme is carried well throughout the book, from the beginning in an oceanic fun park to the various facets of the island nation. Magic is heavily tied to crystals, and works by a combination of symbols, physical ingredients, and words. The doors between worlds and their associated Keys are a good way to explain not only how inter-world travel is possible, but also how it might be prevented. And I'm fond of shapeshifting, even if it is only the bad guys who get to have all the fun.
On the less enjoyable side, the book suffers from some puzzling plot decisions. Why, if the enemy is an underwater race that has just sunk a trading vessel, do people think it's a good idea to send students out on an old training ship without any real preparation for being attacked? And it's painfully obvious who the villain is since it's the only person who isn't nice to the main characters.
Overall, this is a rather predictable story, but the world is engaging. Gwen and Vic clearly have some destiny going on, but their powers have yet to show themselves (the potential test at the end was interesting, but no one really explained how you go from lighting up a crystal to determining that means you can train as a Key, or have telepathic powers, or whatnot). This does set up a series, but the plot wraps up for the most part. I rate this book Recommended.
This was rough, but readable. After a somewhat bogged down beginning which tries to introduce a lot all at once and paints Gwen as a real downer, the story quickly picks up its pace and doesn't let up. I really liked Elantya. It's filled with a number of neat little gadgets and creatures, even if most of them only get a quick glimpse.
The ocean theme is carried well throughout the book, from the beginning in an oceanic fun park to the various facets of the island nation. Magic is heavily tied to crystals, and works by a combination of symbols, physical ingredients, and words. The doors between worlds and their associated Keys are a good way to explain not only how inter-world travel is possible, but also how it might be prevented. And I'm fond of shapeshifting, even if it is only the bad guys who get to have all the fun.
On the less enjoyable side, the book suffers from some puzzling plot decisions. Why, if the enemy is an underwater race that has just sunk a trading vessel, do people think it's a good idea to send students out on an old training ship without any real preparation for being attacked? And it's painfully obvious who the villain is since it's the only person who isn't nice to the main characters.
Overall, this is a rather predictable story, but the world is engaging. Gwen and Vic clearly have some destiny going on, but their powers have yet to show themselves (the potential test at the end was interesting, but no one really explained how you go from lighting up a crystal to determining that means you can train as a Key, or have telepathic powers, or whatnot). This does set up a series, but the plot wraps up for the most part. I rate this book Recommended.
September 4, 2011
I got The Crystal Doors audio book forever ago and it takes me such a long time to get through audio books compared to physical books. As much as I enjoy being read to, sometimes I just want the book to be finished so I can go onto something else. This was one of those books.
The Crystal Doors is a middle grade book I would say aimed at ages 10+.
The book follows fourteen year old cousins Gwen and Vic as they are accidently thrown into the strange world of Elantya and desperately try to get back home.
Through their struggles they discover magic and make new friends. When the peaceful island life on Elantya is threatened by sea creatures Vic and Gwen fight alongside Elantyan residents to help them save their small island.
Along the way they also uncover a few secrets about themselves.
I enjoyed probably the first half of this book, after the halfway mark it just seemed to drag on.
I don't know if that would have been different if I wasn't listening to it as an audio book. It seemed like after the halfway mark there wasn't really anything new or surprising in the book. As a reader I pretty much learned everything I needed to know in the first half.
Besides that, the story line in the book is really good. I haven't really read a lot of middle grade books, but I did enjoy the story in this one it wasn't like anything I had ever read before.
I likde the whole concept of the Crystal Doors and how they open into different worlds. I'm guessing if you carry on with the series you will discover these other worlds.
I really liked all the characters in the book, which is strange for me. Usually in books there is at least one character I don't really like. The characters themselves were well thought out and each had their own personalities and traits which helped bring them to life.
I'm not entirely sure if I will be carrying on with this series or not, it's not a series I will be going out of my way to try and find. I enjoyed this book, but not enough that I feel like I desperately need to go out and buy the next book right away.
The Crystal Doors is a middle grade book I would say aimed at ages 10+.
The book follows fourteen year old cousins Gwen and Vic as they are accidently thrown into the strange world of Elantya and desperately try to get back home.
Through their struggles they discover magic and make new friends. When the peaceful island life on Elantya is threatened by sea creatures Vic and Gwen fight alongside Elantyan residents to help them save their small island.
Along the way they also uncover a few secrets about themselves.
I enjoyed probably the first half of this book, after the halfway mark it just seemed to drag on.
I don't know if that would have been different if I wasn't listening to it as an audio book. It seemed like after the halfway mark there wasn't really anything new or surprising in the book. As a reader I pretty much learned everything I needed to know in the first half.
Besides that, the story line in the book is really good. I haven't really read a lot of middle grade books, but I did enjoy the story in this one it wasn't like anything I had ever read before.
I likde the whole concept of the Crystal Doors and how they open into different worlds. I'm guessing if you carry on with the series you will discover these other worlds.
I really liked all the characters in the book, which is strange for me. Usually in books there is at least one character I don't really like. The characters themselves were well thought out and each had their own personalities and traits which helped bring them to life.
I'm not entirely sure if I will be carrying on with this series or not, it's not a series I will be going out of my way to try and find. I enjoyed this book, but not enough that I feel like I desperately need to go out and buy the next book right away.
November 29, 2012
Le temps de noel approche, je me sent festif et je n'ai pas envie de lire un livre violent, noir, pesant et/ou sanglant. Comme je venais de recevoir en cadeau le premier livre de Crystal Door signé par l'auteur de son site personnel, je me suis dit pourquoi pas. Ça va faire changement.
Alors je dois préciser que ce livre est pour enfant et très jeunes adultes. Ma critique est faite sur le fait que je suis un adulte et non sur la qualité au travers des yeux d'un enfant. Avoir lu ce livre il y a 20 ans, j'aurais surement donner 4 et voir même 5 étoiles à ce livre.
Malheureusement ce livre n'existait pas à cette époque et j'ai dû le lire à un moment où mon coeur d'enfant n'était pas ouvert à ce genre de lecture. De là la note plus basse. Car pour être franc ce livre est magnifique, l'idée de base est très bien présenter et la prose de KJA et de sa femme est sans contredit fluide et facile à absorber.
Le problème à mon avis c'est que le principe de base de cette histoire à été que trop utilisé par d'autre auteurs et parmi ces autres, des classiques incontournables existe déjà.
Ce libre bien que bon, ne sera jamais un classique.
Je le recommande pour des lecture pour des enfants, mais pour les adultes il sera à mon avis trop légé, un peu trop réchauffé et la magie du monde ou se passe l'histoire risque de se perdre sur le coeur des adultes qui ne rêvent plus de ces mondes fantastiques.
Alors je dois préciser que ce livre est pour enfant et très jeunes adultes. Ma critique est faite sur le fait que je suis un adulte et non sur la qualité au travers des yeux d'un enfant. Avoir lu ce livre il y a 20 ans, j'aurais surement donner 4 et voir même 5 étoiles à ce livre.
Malheureusement ce livre n'existait pas à cette époque et j'ai dû le lire à un moment où mon coeur d'enfant n'était pas ouvert à ce genre de lecture. De là la note plus basse. Car pour être franc ce livre est magnifique, l'idée de base est très bien présenter et la prose de KJA et de sa femme est sans contredit fluide et facile à absorber.
Le problème à mon avis c'est que le principe de base de cette histoire à été que trop utilisé par d'autre auteurs et parmi ces autres, des classiques incontournables existe déjà.
Ce libre bien que bon, ne sera jamais un classique.
Je le recommande pour des lecture pour des enfants, mais pour les adultes il sera à mon avis trop légé, un peu trop réchauffé et la magie du monde ou se passe l'histoire risque de se perdre sur le coeur des adultes qui ne rêvent plus de ces mondes fantastiques.
November 4, 2022
Twin cousins Gwen and Vic get sucked into the fantasy world of Elantya, where the ocean and the land never seem to get along. There they begin to realize that the disappearances and deaths of their parents are not all they seem to be.
The setting is really cute. I love fantasy, I love Elantya, I love their spells, and random knick knacks. However, I can't seem to care about the main characters at all.. if you can even call them that. I feel like the book is trying to define the main five as the main characters but Tiaret barely gets any interesting screentime after her storytelling. Which SUCKS because she's the only character I actually "like."
And speaking of the characters, I couldn't help but get annoyed with the not needed "romance" in this book. I just felt like there was absolutely no time for romance because Gwen and Vic are in a world they don't know anything about but they just magically stop caring just because.
Anyway, the plot twists in the storyline are all unfortunately predictable. Orpheon being a traitor, the ship full of students getting attacked. But besides that, the magic system is super interesting!! Including all the crystals, aja ink, and how ships pass through crystal doors and such.
The book overall is a short read, I'd give it a recommend for people who enjoy fantasy.
The setting is really cute. I love fantasy, I love Elantya, I love their spells, and random knick knacks. However, I can't seem to care about the main characters at all.. if you can even call them that. I feel like the book is trying to define the main five as the main characters but Tiaret barely gets any interesting screentime after her storytelling. Which SUCKS because she's the only character I actually "like."
And speaking of the characters, I couldn't help but get annoyed with the not needed "romance" in this book. I just felt like there was absolutely no time for romance because Gwen and Vic are in a world they don't know anything about but they just magically stop caring just because.
Anyway, the plot twists in the storyline are all unfortunately predictable. Orpheon being a traitor, the ship full of students getting attacked. But besides that, the magic system is super interesting!! Including all the crystals, aja ink, and how ships pass through crystal doors and such.
The book overall is a short read, I'd give it a recommend for people who enjoy fantasy.
July 18, 2011
I read it and finished it, so it wasn't terrible, but it probably would have been better had I read it as perhaps a pre-teen. The storyline is a little too straightforward and the author has the main characters make obviously bad choices so that there is something substantial to write about. Either that, or they are right there at just the right time to protect the island they are stranded on from certain doom. In general, there are points (many) to wonder about, certain facts that make you think "Come on!", and general questions that should have been answered at least within the first book that were left just stamped in and dangling since the first page as well as random passages slapped into the book that you read and think- "Wow, that could have been handled better". Those points aside, the idea is a good one, the descriptions are fantastic- you can pretty much recreate it in your head and they aren't over-detailed, and the characters within are very diverse/fresh. In general, if it had been just tidied up a little more, had a couple of the sections better formed, it would have been more than just a good read.
October 19, 2013
This is a fun and exciting book with a host of interesting characters. The island of Elantya is an endlessly fascinating world filled with wonder and danger. There, you'll discover everything from flying carpets to a giant battle kraken.
When logical Gwen and free spirited Vic find themselves transported to this island paradise, they discover secrets about their mothers, and themselves, that change everything they ever believed to be true. As the island comes under attack by the vicious merlons, it's up to the cousins and their newfound friends to save the day. But can they prevail with a traitor in their midst?
If you enjoy portal books like The Chronicles of Narnia, then you'll definitely want to give this one a try.
When logical Gwen and free spirited Vic find themselves transported to this island paradise, they discover secrets about their mothers, and themselves, that change everything they ever believed to be true. As the island comes under attack by the vicious merlons, it's up to the cousins and their newfound friends to save the day. But can they prevail with a traitor in their midst?
If you enjoy portal books like The Chronicles of Narnia, then you'll definitely want to give this one a try.
June 21, 2013
An interesting new fantasy world with an incredible magic system.
Twin cousins (Cousins born on the same day whose fathers are brothers and their mothers are sisters) Vic and Gwen, are magically transported to the realm of Elentya, where the entire world is ocean save for one small island that serves as a magical hub to connect all the worlds to each other. Now they have to get home, but to do that they must fulfill a prophesy and save Elantya from the Merlons who are unwilling to share their world with land dwellers.
Good Read but incomplete without the rest of the books.
Twin cousins (Cousins born on the same day whose fathers are brothers and their mothers are sisters) Vic and Gwen, are magically transported to the realm of Elentya, where the entire world is ocean save for one small island that serves as a magical hub to connect all the worlds to each other. Now they have to get home, but to do that they must fulfill a prophesy and save Elantya from the Merlons who are unwilling to share their world with land dwellers.
Good Read but incomplete without the rest of the books.
August 12, 2016
The first book in the Crystal Doors series. Gwen and Vic are fourteen-year-old cousins who live together after the deaths of Gwen's parents and the disappearance of Vic's mother. Vic's scientist father creates a magic crystal door and transports Gwen & Vic to the magical island world of Elantya. Now they find themselves embroiled in a war between the Elantyans and the sea-dwelling merlons. They must learn to live in their new-found home, find a way to return to their world, and discover their own mysterious roots. A charming new series both boys and girls will enjoy.
July 22, 2010
14 year old cousins are accidentally pulled through a crystal door into another universe, and must not only study new philosphies and customs, they must also try to find a way to connect back to earth, and, in the meantime, help fight a war in their new world. There were some fun characters, but overall it was a bit too predictable. Nothing special enough to entice me to read any more in the series.
August 2, 2008
Just finished this book I got a Comic Con. Enjoyable read. It is a kid's book but still fun for adults and I'm looking forward to getting the next one to see what happens. Rebecca and Kevin definitely have me hooked on the story!
January 5, 2010
current fluff material :) Liked it enough to read the sequels. I would have put this in the JFiction section rather than YoungAdult, it was so tame and predictable. Fun take on Atlantis and parellel worlds.
January 5, 2010
The story was good, but it didn't keep my interest. Much of the dialogue felt forced. I ended up skimming the second half of the book because I wanted to know what happened, but I didn't want to invest too much time in it. Obviously I didn't bother getting book two.
November 12, 2010
WOW!!! Goood, clean book! Only a tiny bit of romance in the last page of the last book, which is holding hands and a kiss on the cheek! YES!! I want them to write a fourth book, because it's a cliff hanger, but SOOOO good!
June 27, 2011
It was okay...not the best or the worst. It was too plain and barely any extras besides the main plot it was like this lin(forever plot) ____________________________________________________________________________
August 1, 2011
LOVED this book.. it was a captivating read i could not put it down!.. only braught it too days ago and have already read it.. and ordered the 2nd and 3rd books i loved all the creature they discribed Ecspecially Sharifs tiny Djinni inside the crystal ball and the merlons and the little aquits :)
August 9, 2014
This was a book that kept me on the edge of my seat. I thought it had a good plot, well thought characters and it was certainly action packed. I loved the cover first of all - it was a painting that was drawing the reader or rather inviting the person.
July 3, 2007
this is a good book! its not very good writing i'll admit, but the plot is great and it's not terrible writing! i can't wait to read the second book!
May 6, 2008
I liked how this book was different from other fantasies. It kinda' leaves you hanging at the end. I still really liked it.
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