Author: Brian Wilkinson
Publisher: Blue Moon Publishers
Released: April 3, 2018
Received: NetGalley

I read (and loved) Brian Wilkinson’s Paramnesia, and thus I knew I had to give Battledoors: The Golden State a try. Okay, that and the fact that I really did love the cover for both books. So sue me.

Owen Thomas has had his entire life flipped upside down. He’s sixteen years old and struggling to cope with the unexpected death of his mother, plush a fresh uprooting. Now he’s in a whole new town, with new bullies and the works.

To make matters more complicated, Owen just learned that he has a special ability. He can travel to another parallel dimension, and that world is just as complicated as this one. If not more so, magic creates even more complications.

I think the thing I love the most about Battledoors: The Golden State is how believable the foundation of the story is. Owen’s origin is one that many of us can sympathize with: a teenager who just lost his mother and is now struggling with grief and trying to adjust to a new home.

It hits hard. It immediately forces this bond between the readers and the main character, which makes the next twist all the more compelling. We all knew that there was going to be a magical twist, given the genre. Yet it was still a bit of a surprise when it finally arrived.

Brian Wilkinson’s writing style was ideal for this tale, as his descriptions made the world come to life in such vivid ways. I don’t think I would have enjoyed the story nearly as much without those elements.

Overall, I’d say that Battledoors: The Golden State is an entertaining, fast-paced, and interesting read. One worth checking out.

Thanks to Blue Moon Productions and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.