I just finished reading Wayne Thomas Batson's The Door Within. It started off slow but really ended up being one of the best fantasy books I've ever read. Too many fantasy books fall into the trap of making action and suspense their primary elements merely for the sake of drawing in the reader. I have nothing against using action in fantasy, in fact my books are rife with it, but when action is not necessary to the plot it can be a hinderance.
The Door Within felt, for the most part, like a fairy tale setting. But I liked that. It started off slow, introduced many characters, and then wrapped up in such a way at the end that I am eagerly waiting to read the second book. Also, I feel I must praise Mr. Batson for doing something that I think is necessary to good fiction, something that most authors are afraid to do: he's not afraid to kill off main characters. If you are like me, when you read, you don't want to be able to predict who will live and who will die. You want to worry for the characters, root for them while all along wondering if they are going to survive.
I recommend this book, especially for Christian readers (the allegorical elements are strong).
1 comment:
I love the Door Withing trilogy! If you liked the first book, the next two only get better, I promise :D
Aye ... he's not only afraid to kill main characters, but when you read his newest book, Isle of Swords, you'll learn he's also not afraid to torture them <_< *kicks Wayne in the shins*
Post a Comment