The Ten Thousand Doors of January

How it reads

The Ten Thousand Doors of January is fantasy (portal fantasy, specifically), and its dominant mood is adventurous. It's driven by momentum, discovery and getting into trouble. The pace is moderate — neither a page-turner nor a slow burn — so it holds up whether you read it in long sittings or short ones.

It's set in several locations, in the historical past, told across two timelines. Its central concerns are identity, love and secrets. In weight it sits in the middle: substantial without being heavy going.

It stands alone, so there's nothing else you need to read first or after. The ending resolves happily. At 373 pages it's an ordinary novel's length. It's well known, the kind of book most keen readers have heard of.