“When fourteen-year-old Eva Joyce unexpectedly finds herself spending the summer at the mysterious manor house of the English grandmother she's never met, troubling questions arise. Why the estrangement? What's with the house's employees and their guarded secrets? Why must Eva never mention trains, her father, or her favorite childhood fairy tales?
After strange things start happening in the gardens at night, Eva turns to the elderly housekeeper, gardener, and the gardener's great-grandson, Frankie, for answers. Astonishingly, they all seem to believe the fairy tales are true--that portals to other worlds still exist, though hidden and steadily disappearing. They suspect that Eva's grandmother was once a queen in one of those worlds.
But Eva's grandmother denies it all. After a horrific family tragedy when she was young, her heart is closed to the beauty and pain of her past. It's up to Eva, with Frankie's help, to discover what really happened, whether family relationships can be restored, and if the portals are closed forever. As she unravels generational secrets, Eva wrestles with the grief of a vanishing childhood--and the fear that growing up means giving up fairy tales forever.”
Series: Book #1 in a new series. (As of posting this review, I do not know the title of the series.)
Spiritual Content- A Scripture is mentioned, but called a saying rather than a Scripture (“they did not wish to throw their pearls before swine, as the saying goes”); Church going (Eva comments all on the up-and-down standing and sitting in the English church); Eva is disappointed that her grandmother doesn’t go to church with them (it’s implied that she hasn’t gone for many years); Eva’s family have been regular (“if not particularly involved”) churchgoers; There is a giant stag that could represent God/Jesus and it’s said that the stag was strong and “so present in times of dire need” (which makes Eva wonder about her grandmother’s position on disliking the stag & lack of protection for loved ones during an event); Mentions of churches, church going, hymns, priests, services, & stained-glass widows; Mentions of theologians; A few mentions of a monastery (but it’s not said who they worship); A mention of prayers (at a church); A mention of midnight mass at a church for Christmas Eve;
*Note: This is a portal fantasy book meaning there are hidden entrances to other realms/worlds & this is a main focus on the book with many, many mentions of it; The God-like creator of the world called “Magister the World-Weaver” created a flat world and brought forth “animals to roam the land, birds to soar the skies, and sea-beasts to ply the waters. So, too, did he make strange creatures, which, in other worlds, are the stuff of legend. Dryads and dwarves, satyrs and centaurs, and wise animals of every kind” (similar to the events in Genesis 1), later calls people from another world (“Tellus” who he created after his own likeness) to steward his new world (then they were called “The Children of Tellus”), & has an eternal palace in the mountains beyond all words (called “Inspiria”); In the realm called “Ternival”, there’s those who are good and evil; There are gems that have power and are able to sing (when not in use and buried under the ground, their power goes stronger when rediscovered; They are also called “magic”); When those gems are touched, it can take someone into another world, *Spoiler* we see this happen to Eva’s friend and he comes back very shaken after an incident with an evil character’s voice *End of Spoiler*; Eva has recently accepted that there are no portals to other realms, but still hopes they exist and go hunting for answers about portals when at her grandmother’s manor; Some other characters (including adults) believe in portals and some do not; One character & Eva discuss portals being like tunnels, magic paintings, frames, doors that open when they didn’t before, wardrobes, railway platforms, and even amulets and magic carpets; It’s said that another realm calls to others & there’s a loud horn that compels you to follow it; There is the recounting of a powerful enchantress in another realm who uses a powerful enchantment to freeze everyone in place & also mentions of her evil arts; Seeing a giant stag that comes out of a tapestry, trees turn into humans and dance (dryads), & topiaries come to life (up to semi-detailed); The stag also fights off an evil storm (up to semi-detailed); A talking wolf is recounted in a story (implied to be history rather than just a story); A woman is confused at times of what world she is in (*Spoilers* Eva’s grandmother who, after tragedies, has signs of confusion & wanders around at night thinking she’s locked out of another realm; She also gets Eva confused for her sister and Eva plays along, trying to follow the giant stag and find a portal; It’s said that it’s like Eva’s grandmother is under a spell or bound by a “powerful enchantment” *End of Spoilers*); Eva feels as if the stag is supposed to protect them, but her grandmother doesn’t think so *Spoiler* because of her loved ones following him and still dying in accidents, she’s angry with him and it’s up to her at the end to eat a pear (which seems to symbolize accepting that there’s another world (could be considered Heaven) out there)) *End of Spoiler*; Others view the stag as very important & say to trust the stag because it’s the only thing that you can trust; *Big Spoilers* Towards the end, Eva finds a portal door and does not go in due to her grandmother’s pleading; Later, Eva begs to be let into a portal and is given access where she see many different fantasy-like creatures, talking animals, & feels ashamed of how she treated a friend, to which someone says not to worry because everyone felt that way at first and that it doesn’t matter there; It’s said that everyone are queens and kings there & that everyone has a throne, but they have to claim it (or claim it again if they no longer believe like Eva’s grandmother; Eva asks if she can’t choose it for her grandmother and is told that it’s her grandmother’s choice); Eva also meets those who have passed away & is told that they “never left” their loved ones (implied to be Heaven); The stag also talks to Eva and says that “for not everything is thine to know” when she asks questions and adds “nor hast the time yet come to make they dwelling in the Palace Beyond the World’s End.” And tells her to “take heart”; The stag shows Eva visions of past events in weaving clouds where there is a sinister specter where disaster strikes (implied to be Satan with a dark red cape); The stag tells her that someone is “farther than ever from the door [of the portal]” (implying a lack of belief); The stag defeats the enchantress at the end in a recounting of the history of a realm and banishes her to wander the forest alone; After the time skip, Eva tells her grandmother that the stag can be trusted and that her loved ones are safe with him now; It ends with Eva not knowing if her grandmother will eat the golden pear or to choose to join the others to claim her throne since Eva can’t make that choice for her *End of Big Spoilers*; Another woman believes those who believed in other worlds are in a cult and were mad (saying that they “repeat the vow, drink the poison, ride the train” but no other mentions of poison drinking and it’s neither confirmed or denied to be an actual part of the group); A man says that Eva has grown into an “absolute goddess” in her looks; Many things, places, and & events are described as “magic”, “magical”, and being put under a spell; All about many mentions of portals, transporting into another world, the doors being locked, those who have traveled there, & details of those worlds; Mentions of a horn that calls people to a realm & that they feel compelled to follow it; Mentions of prophecies; Mentions of sorceresses, witches, & necromancers (all looked upon as evil); Mentions of fantasy-like creatures (centaurs, dragons, dryads, dwarves, ogres, giants, magic moles, nymphs, sprites); Mentions of gems with special powers; Mentions of others looking elfin; Mentions of a room of a deceased person being like a “creepy graveyard at night”, it feeling sacrilege to go into the room, & telling the person to rest in peace; A few mentions of others acting like they just saw a ghost or “the living dead”; A few mentions of ghosts & ghostlike figures; A couple mentions of the Tooth Fairy; A mention of a group receiving an awful vision of something to come; A mention of the gods of Mount Olympus; A mention of dryads doing a healing dance for someone & it working; A mention of a witch casting a spell; A mention of sorcery; In the author’s Q&A at the end of the book, the author comments on wondering about someone who has a major trauma after an event (like Eva’s grandmother) would probably have a profound effect on her mental health and “on her trust in a good and just universe” & comments on her own grandmother carrying her wounds including a refusal to believe in a good God (but there was a moment at the end that made it seem like she turned back to faith; Also a mention of trusting that the Author is ultimately good and just).
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blah, blah, a ‘gosh’, a ‘who the heck’, two ‘darned’s, two ‘stupid’s; Other phrases are used such as ‘by Jove’ (x1), ‘great Scott!’ (x1), ‘good heavens!’ (x1), ‘thank heaven!’ (x1), ‘by heaven’ (x3), ‘heaven!/heavens’ (x4), ‘my word’ (x4); Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Eva often disobeys & feels no remorse for it (including her trying to hide the blush of shame that always happens when she lies, sneaking into an adult’s room to search for something, going into a room she was told not to go into, hiding an important note, lying about how she got hurt enough to need stitches and having a concussion, feeling rebellious to do something that others would not like, & running away from an adult that’s trying to catch her with good intentions); Eva lies & eavesdrops a few times; Eva keeps secrets from others because of them telling her to not do something (and then she disobeys) & because of pettiness (despite it her knowing that it makes her not a very good friend to someone); Adults tell Eva to keep their secrets & keep things from other adults (such as a housekeeper not telling Eva’s mother about an important thing); Eva gets annoyed with a boy being obedient & a rule follower (she would prefer him not to be that way and it’s evident with her comments on him being “so darned obedient” and complimenting him when he sneaks into an adult’s locked room; She apologizes a couple of times about doing something without him and later gets upset at him again); Eva is sassy towards her mother because of the secrets she keeps (including Eva telling her mother to tell her the truth or she’s pester other people until she finds out what she wants to know, her mother says she can just pester other people then); Eva blows up about her mother keeping secrets from her and her mother then shares some answers to a few of Eva’s questions; Eva feels jealous over another’s relationship with his grandparent; *Spoiler* The final part of the book is set five years later and picks up with Eva visiting her grandmother who is dying from cancer and has pneumonia, but the book ends before her death *End of Spoiler*; Pain, Injuries, Blood/Bleeding, Having to get stitches, & Having a mild concussion (up to semi-detailed); Seeing accidents & deaths (up to semi-detailed); A side character passes away & we see his family’s grief (barely-above-not-detailed); An elderly woman has been very bitter since the death of her daughter (we see this on-page); A wolf attack/fight is recounted in a story & the wolf is killed (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of deaths, a train crash, car accidents, a drowning, injuries, & grieving family members (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of wars (WWI & WWII) & deaths (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of pain, injuries, blood/bleeding, & stitches; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of hunting; A few mentions of slavery in another realm; A few mentions of a man’s divorces (he’s very flippant about them and says he has “no partner at present”); A few mentions of pubs; A few mentions of hatred; A few mentions of nightmares; A few mentions of generational trauma (in the author’s Q&A at the very end); A couple mentions of murders (including a wife killing her husband in the recount of another realm’s history); A couple mentions of survivor’s guilt; A couple mentions of fighting; A couple mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of rumors; A mention of death row inmates; A mention of a guillotine; A mention of an arrest; A mention of poison; A mention of Eva’s parents celebrating news with a bottle of wine; A mention of suicidal ideation & alcohol addiction (in the author’s Q&A at the end);
*Note: Eva wonders if she’s always bound to disappoint everyone no matter what she says or does; Eva gets very mad at people keeping secrets from her and wonders if it’s because her parents didn’t want her blabbing about their secrets (when she confronts her mother with this, she is surprised and said it was not because of that but because of painful memories); Eva feels like she’s ruined everything at one point; Eva’s mother and grandmother have a strained relationship (we see this on page with jabs and sarcasm, Eva’s mother shrinking into herself when with her mother, the grandmother never contacting them in 14+ years, spiteful actions, & it's due to *Spoilers* the grandmother burning important papers to her daughter’s research about an author and her experience in another world; At the end, her grandmother confesses regret over doing that *End of Spoilers*); Eva is embarrassed and also later annoyed by her mother (the first because of her mother’s reactions to her grandmother and the second because of Eva’s mother not liking her grandmother buying her gifts); Eva gets angry at her mother for keeping her away from her grandmother after seeing that they (Eva and her grandmother) get along well (Eva thinks it’s because of her stubbornness); Eva & her mother have a riff between them because of the strained relationship between Eva’s mother and grandmother & her mother keeping secrets; Eva’s grandmother can be rude and ugly towards others (& Eva) if they bring up about another world; *Spoilers* It’s said that Eva’s grandmother’s mind is broken after the tragedies of losing loved ones including a sister; She signs of confusion & wanders around at night thinking she’s locked out of another realm; She also gets Eva confused for her sister and Eva plays along, trying to follow the giant stag and find a portal when causes Eva to disobey and get hurt; It’s later said by someone else that Eva’s grandmother has been forceful during the day with saying that there’s no such thing as other realms because of it being dangerous and would rather Eva “believe a lie than lose” her; *End of Spoilers*; *Big Spoiler* Her grandmother says some harsh words towards the end, but they make up at the very end of the book after a time skip *End of Big Spoiler*; Halfway through, Eva decides that she came to England to heal her grandmother’s mind and that only she could do it & has a vision of the grandmother telling everyone that she couldn’t have been healed without Eva; Eva’s mother comments that she thinks her mother “wants everyone else to feel the same kind of pain she does so that she doesn’t have to be alone in her misery”; Eva gets claustrophobia a few times (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of children’s books, authors, & fictional characters (all classics); Mentions of car brands; A few mentions of centuries of cruelty domestic servants faced.
Sexual Content- A bit of Noticing & Nearness (barely-above-not-detailed); An accidental brush of hands that causes awkwardness and blushes & holding hands; Blushes; *Spoiler* Eva’s mother tells her that her grandmother made a comment about Eva’s father not really loving her, but her connections, which greatly angered and hurt her *End of Spoiler*; A handful of mentions of boyfriends/girlfriends, dates, & dating; A mention of a broken heart; A mention of others thinking two teens could be up to someone inappropriate (does not happen).
-Eva Joyce, age 14
1st person P.O.V. of Eva
Set mostly in 1995 & the last few chapters in 2000
384 pages
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Pre Teens-
New Teens-
Early High School Teens-
Older High School Teens-
My personal Rating-
{ Add a full star for those who enjoy portal fantasy books}
There’s a lot to unpack in this book. As always, I tried my best with listing content and details of the plot, so let’s get started.
I liked Eva at times and discovering more about her British grandmother she’s never met, but the fantasy side of it took me a while to understand. There would be little parts that would sound like it was based off Scripture and could be an allegory, but not completely as not everything matched up to the Bible. Somethings felt allegorical, but not everything had a clear Biblical counterpart. You could definitely argue that there’s an allegory in this book, but I don’t personally feel like it was super obvious. I feel like I was hunting to find the connections like Eva was hunting to find portals until the final chapters where it’s a little clearer in the dual meanings. I do think there could be some possible confusion for younger readers though because of this and the hints to someone no longer believing in another realm that’s implied to be Heaven and that that person has to choose again to believe.
This author definitely wrote the wonder and magic of another world and just the overall whimsy magic feelings well. It reminded me of children’s books I read as a child that had similar themes and I think many will like this book because of that writing style.
I can’t blame Eva for being upset about all the secrets others are keeping and all the secret she has to keep and keep track of who knows what. I grew rather frustrated with that element as well. Some of the adults—like her mother—keep secrets from Eva partially because they don’t want to burden her with past events and partially because they didn’t want to deal with her many questions that would come after.
That said, Eva did make some poor decisions such as not listening to adults’ orders (which are usually for her safety and to not get involved in the other realm/portal hunting), blatantly disobeying their words, sneaking into locked rooms of said adults to hunt for items related to that adventure, and negatively commenting on a young teen being such a rule follower (and then complimenting him when he does break a rule). There are times she’s annoyed at her mother and grandmother and blows up at them There’s no remorse shown and it gives the impression that this is just her personality and that she knows better than the adults. She’s so eager to find out her family’s secrets and about the other world that she thinks she deserves to know about it all.
Her grandmother could be downright ugly at times, especially at a certain scene at the end. That and the grief that she and her sister have made the book very sad at times and I would give a warning for that for sensitive readers.
I will also add that this book felt much more aimed for middle-grade readers than young adult, especially because of Eva’s reactions and attitude about different things. She felt like she was twelve instead of fourteen most of the time. Even though the writing style and quality of the plot felt like it should be for middle-grade readers, I can't say I would recommend this book for that age group due to her actions and disobedience. The pacing was…different and we finally received the majority of the answers I was waiting for at about 75% into the book where things started to kick into gear.
I’m not a portal fantasy fan (it just doesn’t make sense in my brain) so because of that and not liking some of the actions of our main character, this wasn’t really my cup of tea. Those that like this type of fantasy book will probably enjoy it more than I did.
See y’all on Friday with a new review!
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this Advance Reader Copy for free from the Publisher (Waterbrook) for this honest review. Some minor details listed in this review may have been changed in the final version of this book.
