Summary:
To
seventeen-year-old Aiden Ortiz, letting the dead walk through his body to reach
the other side comes with the territory. Being a Gateway isn’t an easy job, but
someone’s gotta send Bleeders where they belong. Heaven. Salvation. Call it
whatever you want. Dead is dead. But when his search for Koren Banks––the girl
who went mysteriously missing seven months ago––leaves him with more questions
than answers, he finds himself involved in something far more sinister and
beyond his control.
With
the threat of the Dark Priest's resurrection, and his plan to summon his demon
brothers from hell, Aiden is left to discover his identity before the Dark
Priest's curse infecting his blood consumes him, and before the world as he
knows it succumbs to the darkness of hell on earth.
Title: THE
GATEWAY THROUGH WHICH THEY CAME
Author: Heather Marie
Series: The Gateway Through Which They Came #1
Source: Digital Copy via the Publisher
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Publication Date: August 25,
2014
I feel like this quote perfectly sums up the book, but in a good way. I loved a lot of this one, but there were some aspects I had a bit of an issue with. It is still a good introduction to the series and one I will definitely be continuing.
I really liked Aiden, I thought he was a strong character. I also LOVE when characters know they have powers and can use them, but still learn a little more about them as they go along. I think that makes for good character development and good story telling. But I don't think it was enough in this case. Partly because a lot of the extra information Aiden was given wasn't told in a "natural" way, it was dumped in our laps in bursts and just felt like I was being taught a lesson rather than learning about the Gateway magic. And that was never really explained, which it doesn't have to be completely explained but a little more than what we got would have been nice. Maybe it will be told more to us in the next one, I'm holding up hope for that.
I liked the idea of the big bad Brethern that were the evil guys. I think it will be interesting to see where it goes from here with them and their story line. I do like the idea of the Original Gateways and Mortal Gateways so I am hoping that gets expanded on a bit in the next novel. I thought the magic/fantasy elements were well developed but just needed to give the reader a bit more information as to how they worked because they were clearly developed.
I liked the idea of Korren and Aiden and I think it was good that he had a bit of closure because I would really like to see him and Julie develop together more. I think Trevor and Evan could have used a bit more character development, but they were still sturdy as best friends. I liked that the trio was able to fight and make up just like "real" people do because it made the story feel as if it could be anyone that it happens to.
I would have liked a bit more from the ending though. It felt like it all happened so quickly and then it was "over". I wanted to see a bit more of the consequences right away and have a bit more explained to me about what happened but otherwise it was a good ending. It set up the fact that there would be another book and made me intrigued to read this other book so it was still a fulfilling ending.
It was definitely worth the read and I would recommend it if you are looking for a good fantasy novel that isn't something you have really read before. I think there are some really amazing things in this novel but it got a bit dragged down by info-dumps. Can't wait to read the next one (I've already started. I don't know why I tried to make it seem like I hadn't)
Summary:
The
battle of good vs. evil wages on for Aiden Ortiz in this final installment of
the Gateway Series: The Gateway of Light and Darkness. With the Dark Priest
defeated, and the Brethren of Shadows refusing to forfeit calling upon the
Darkness, the Brethren are determined more than ever to discover a way to
banish the Men of Light for good. And as the Dark Priest's curse invading
Aiden's veins continues to take on a life of its own, he finds himself in a
standoff between his own kind, and the Brethren that want to recruit him for
all the wrong reasons. Accompanied by fellow Gateway, Julie Martin, and his
best friends Trevor and Evan, seventeen-year-old Aiden prepares himself for the
battle of his life.
Protecting those he loves, and learning to put aside his differences for his father in order to learn the ways of the Light, Aiden begins to realize that the thing endangering their lives might not be the threat of the Brethren alone, but the thing taking shape inside of him —readying to unleash itself upon them all.
Protecting those he loves, and learning to put aside his differences for his father in order to learn the ways of the Light, Aiden begins to realize that the thing endangering their lives might not be the threat of the Brethren alone, but the thing taking shape inside of him —readying to unleash itself upon them all.
Title: THE
GATEWAY OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS
Author: Heather Marie
Series: The Gateway #2
Source: ebook via the Publisher
Publication
Date: April
13, 2015
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
"But
death doesn't stop for anyone. Certainly not for me."
I am kind of
on the fence about this one. I felt like there wasn't much happening in this
one until the very end. It was kind of plot-lite until about 75% through the
novel. I think the events before were trying to lead up to it, but it seemed as
though they were oddly paced or the characters left the scene before it came to
full fruition.
I still really liked Aiden's point of view. I think he is a really interesting character but this book was basically one big character development for him and I don't think it worked. I don't think he had enough inner turmoil or struggle to be such a main focus in this novel without there being more of a plot.
I thought that all the characters became too interconnected. Everyone was either related to someone who had dealings with the Supernatural world, or had some abilities. And it was too much and felt a little forced, imo. I would have liked it more had there been more than just Trevor and Evan being "normal" because even they were involved in the world. I just thought it was too much of a coincidence that EVERYONE knew something -- some little piece of the story -- and they all needed to come together to "solve" it. I thought it was just idk too cutesy for how bloody and gory this story had been.
I feel like we missed a big chunk of how the powers work and get passed around and down. I think there could have been a bit more explanation on why Julie's powers came so much later and why Aiden could suddenly access Creator powers. It was just not well explained and having this explanation would have been just that much more to add to the story.
I did like it though and I would recommend this series to someone who wants a good fantasy with a fairly strong male lead. And there was no love triangle! So that's a plus.
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