ARC Review: The Green Door by Heather Kindt

My Review:

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 quickly and 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.

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Rating:

Favorite Parts:

• The excellent character development.
• The imaginative and immersive world behind the green door.
• The love story, of course! 🙂

Recommendations:

This book will appeal to YA fantasy readers. I also think people who like strong and sassy female protagonists, unique fantastical characters, and vivid imagery will enjoy this book.