The Introverted Bookworm

Title: A Door into Evermoor

Author:  Kent Wayne

Genre: YA/Fantasy

At the cusp of adulthood, Jon, a nineteen-year-old young adult, suddenly finds himself faced with the existential challenge of trying to resign himself to being an ordinary, boring office worker, with zero imagination, who is stuck in the 9-5 grind. However, he can’t help but feel that there must be more; that he is somehow destined for something better.

When Jon haphazardly runs into the mysterious Sergeant Chris Attriya at an armed forces recruitment centre in San Francsico, things take a strange turn. Weird and inexplicable things begin to happen, with Jon glimpsing portals to a fantasy world – a world that will open new doors to Jon to places that are far beyond his wildest imaginings.

Jon is a character that many people can relate to; his feelings of alienation – as if he doesn’t really fit in anywhere – will resonate with many readers. As such, I felt a personal connection with him; he was a character who I could root for. I also loved his pet dog, Gribbles, who morphs into a character with human form (Gyrax, leader of the Wolven Community) later in the book. When Jon enters into Evermoor, he meets many complex and fascinating characters. He is also faced with a near-impossible task: he must save Evermoor from the White veiled Queen – a mission which only the Prophesised Traveller can accomplish.

Wayne manages to infuse humour, insight, and charm into this unusual story. Fuelled with imagination, A Door into Evermoor is an excellent book for those who enjoy the fantasy genre. An accessible and thought-provoking read, it offers welcome escapism from the trails and tribulations of everyday life. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!