Beyond the Black Door

by A.M. Strickland

We all have souls. Some are beautiful gardens; others are frightening dungeons. Soulwalkers-like Kamai and her mother-can journey into other people's souls while they sleep.

But no matter where Kamai visits, she sees the black door. It follows her into every soul, and her mother has told her to never, ever open it.

Kamai has touched the door; it was warm and beating, like it had a pulse. She has put her ear to it; she heard her own name whispered from the other side. And when tragedy strikes, Kamai does the unthinkable: She opens the door.

A.M. Strickland's imaginative dark fantasy features court intrigue and romance, a main character coming to terms with her asexuality, and twists and turns as a seductive mystery unfolds that endangers not just Kamai's own soul, but the entire kingdom . . .

• ISBN10: 1250620856
• ISBN13: 9781250620859
• Publish Date: 18 May 2021 (first published 1 November 2019)
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 5 April 2024
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: St Martin's Press
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 416
• Language: English

Reviews

[layawaydragon]

I received this book for free from Fantastic Flying Book Club in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Happy Sunday, again all ya'll! Today to help beat those Sunday blues and the last day of Asexual Awareness Week, it's all about Beyond the Black Door. An #ownvoices dark YA fantasy featuring a Biromantic Ace MC with a full cast of queer characters trying to save their world. Kinda like a standalone Court of Thorns & Roses without the problematic heteronormative bullshit, IMHO. Check the deets, my review & enter for a chance to win a copy for yourself below.

About Beyond the Black Door:

IMHO: Beyond the Black Door

Beyond the Black Door is not quite like anything I've ever read before. It's a medieval world with real gods and goddesses based on a creation myth tied with the moon. I love the use of moon phases throughout, especially to illustrate gender and sexuality spectrums. I don't think I'll be look at them the same way again, and makes a lot of witchy apparel all the more meaningful.

The only magic is soul walking, which has its limitations and mysteries throughout.

There's still sexism and discrimination unfortunately.

Sex positive

Sex worker positive

Ace, Aro, Greys inclusive

Trans inclusive

Look, it's slow. I was into everything except the pacing, especially in the beginning. I kept thinking there has to be a way to speed this up and did this have to be included? Well, after finishing it, I can promise you this: It's all explained in the wind up and count down. And yep, I can't think of a single thing I'd change now.

Now, it all makes sense. It's all necessary and SO worth it. Pays off in spades. Plus, you get to read about wonderful characters like my favorite Nikha, drama, amazing dresses, and a dark thrilling rush of romance while the plot unfolds.

Just trust me and keep going while it's slow building. It will pick up and pay off.
 

Favorite Quotes from Beyond the Black Door:

By then I'd learned that fire would burn me...but only through touching it several times already.

 

 

There were a lot of secrets under this roof. And the more I tried to discover them, the more secrets I found.

 

 

She dropped a coin into a pssing vendor's hand and scooped up a handful of cashews from his cart, ignoring his look of astonishment--perhaps at her armor or the brashness with which she conducted herself, both usually reserved for men.

 

 

 

Better a fight than a marriage.

 

 

 

The pleasure she gave wasn't yours to own.

 

 

 

Walls were going up that I hadn't realized were there until I saw them being built.

 

 

 

No one had told me spying could be so boring.

 

 

I quickly tipped the contents into my mouth and swallowed. Darkness, in turn, swallowed me.

 

About the Author:

Giveaway:

Prize: Win a copy of BEYOND THE BLACK DOOR by A.M. Strickland (US/CAN Only)

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Ends: 6th November 2019

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This review was originally posted on The Layaway Dragon