Among the many novels that I have read, A Door in the Dark had me at the edge of my seat with my eyes wide open, longing to flip to the next page. I was at the bookstore one day when this novel caught my eye. I read the description on the back and assumed that it would be a decent read, but as soon as I began reading, a million different emotions hit me at once. I read of friendship, hatred, love, and every one of these things felt so real and relatable. If you enjoy adventure and excitement, then you have found the perfect novel, but keep in mind, this novel is not for the faint of heart.

Warning: Spoilers Ahead!

A Door in the Dark takes place in a magical and highly elitist city known as Kathor. Unlike all the magical worlds that you know of, the magic in Kathor is distributed by the wealthy families and is limited amongst the citizens. The magic is known as Ockleys and they can be bought by coins and are stored in objects known as vessels. Amongst Kathor’s residents, Ren is an intelligent and hardworking girl born into the Lower Quarter (the poorer area of Kathor). Nobody seems to take her seriously because of this, despite her high intelligence, but with her father dead, she must find a way to support her mom and herself. Due to her high performance in school, she is invited to attend Balmerick, a prestigious school. In her free time, she enjoys creating new spells and hopes to earn a position in the Shiverian House, but her hope is crushed when her interviewer for House Shiverian does not show up.

One day, Ren Monroe, her best friend, Timmons, and four other students break out in a fight in a waxway room on campus and are accidentally transported to the wilderness. In their new location, the students discover that one of them is dead. Everyone is shocked by this and has trouble processing it, but to get back home, the party must push on through rough terrain, frigid weather, and many other things getting in the way of their return home. Over their journey back home, the students grow closer and get to know each other, but just as soon, the students are killed one by one by a monster chasing them that will only stop when all of them our dead. Ren is forced to make important choices, even of saving one person from death or the other. How many of the students will make it back to Kathor alive? Will anybody?

Intensity Rating 5/5

For this specific novel, there are many parts that have you holding your breath and clinging to the side of your chair. There are many chasing sequences that are not scary, but definitely make you brace yourself!

Profanity/Drug Usage 3/5

This novel contains some mild language, so make sure that you are aware of this before reading this book. Also, there is a made up drug called “Dragon’s Breath” used by most of the main characters throughout the novel

Overall Book Rating 5/5

Of the many books that I have read, this has been one of my favorites! The novel describes the emotion and setting so well that I almost feel like I been inserted right into the story line. I highly recommend this book if you like magic and adventure!

(I chose to use monster to describe what was chasing the students, but as you progress in the book, you will understand that the monster in not necessarily in the form of a monster, I only used that term to identify what was chasing them in a way that will not spoil the plot in case you would like to read this novel.)

A Door in the Dark by Scott Reintgen is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.