Image from Amazon.com
Through the Door (The Thin Veil series) by Jodi McIsaac
Inkwood Publishing Inc. Copyright 2012
Pages 306
Formats: Kindle, Paperback, Audiobook
I came to Through the Door as most readers come to most books. The beautiful cover art caught my attention as I scrolled through the Kindle’s selection. Then, I read the jacket and weighed the likelihood that the description had nothing to do with the actual book. And because I was purchasing this book, I also considered the price. All in all it was doable.
I had high hopes for this book as I do every story that I read. I anticipate that maybe I’m readying the Jane Austin of my time. I’m an idealist, shoot me! I’m also a student of literature. I understand the skill and sheer will that it takes to create. I appreciate the hard work of authors. And while I don’t expect every author to be a Pulitzer I do expect and demand that a writer will not waste my time or money with half-assed writing and an ill conceived story. Jodi McIsaac does not waste my time or my money.
As this is the first in a series there are obviously things that she has left to develop until further books. In this book Through the Door three elements stood out: pace, settings, and character development.
McIsaac creates a well-paced story. The protagonist, Cedar McLeod, has begun her journey when we are introduced in the prologue. She has been dating Finn, for several years, and is about to tell him that she is pregnant when he vanishes. As a reader and a writer, I was very pleased with the way the first chapter developed. The action of the prologue concluded and a new question was posed. Throughout the novel this pattern keeps the story moving at a rapid pace. Also, she does not weigh the reader down with unnecessary dialogue or descriptions. When the story reaches its climax near chapter 20, I felt the tempo stumble. Mostly due to a bad fighting scene and a flimsy Tir na nOg. After the climax the story regains its footing and wraps up quickly.
I love to travel, either to real places or make believe ones. And when I’m reading a story, I need to be able to close my eyes and be in the other world. I found that I was taken away to present locations, but never to Tir na nOg. McIsaac attempts to create Tir na nOg through memories of characters, a key painting in the story, and finally by actually having the characters go there. While I was able to picture a place, I don’t feel like I went to the place the writer wanted me to go.
A character that stays the same from beginning to end makes for a boring story that is not the case here. Cedar’s character is put through more than any one real Mom could endure. First, the love of her life leaves her heart broken and pregnant unexpectedly. Then, she finds out that her daughter has magical power, which is complicated because she does not believe in magic. Next, she finds out that her lover is actually an ancient God with a lot of baggage. And that’s not everything! I was impressed with how Jodi decided to show us the romantic idealist Cedar versus the pragmatic shut-down mother that she becomes. McIsaac puts Cedar’s character through the ringer; her abilities, compassion, courage, and love are tested. But with each of Cedar’s trials we are able to experience her growth into the unknowing hero of the story.
Overall, I found the story fulfilling and would recommend it as a beach book.
Hellar Reviews 