The Door Within

There are passages and doors that realms that lie unseen. There are roads both wide and narrow and no avenue between. Doors that remain closed for those who in sad vanity yet hide. Yet when Belief is chosen, the key appears inside. What is lived now will soon pass, and what is not will come to be. The Door Within must open, for one to truly see. Do you see? Believe and enter.

Book:The Door Within Trilogy #1: The Door Within, Softcover by Wayne Thomas Batson, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2005

Genre: Fantasy – Allegory

Target Audience: Boys 13+

Subjects: Faith, Good vs. Evil, Salvation, Friendship, Love

Summary: He hates it here! Aidan is furious that he was ever forced to experience this! He was forced to leave his best friend and go far away. It’s going to totally ruin his whole life! At least he assumes it will… until the day he discovers the scrolls hidden in the basement. Suddenly his family moving in with his grandpa doesn’t seem quite as bad. His grandpa doesn’t seem so bad. In fact, he’s the only one who believes Aidan and not only believes, but encourages him. On his grandpa’s advice, Aidan firms up his own belief and enters the Door Within where he begins his adventures in Alleble as a knight of the realm. Dragons, poisonous huge centipede like creatures that like eating humans, a good King, a rebellious follower and betrayer, unicorns, majestic swords can all be found in the old story… and in the world Aidan gets to experience for himself.

Notes: First in the Door Within Trilogy, this book sets up the fantasy world and how Aidan gets there. The allegory is very clear – an all-powerful, loving King who sacrifices Himself to save His people, then comes back to life. A fallen creature who leads people astray, twelve chosen one of whom betrays, and a written account of the King and His interaction with people. From there the author develops his own unique way of telling the story while still using the standard fantasy elements. There is a strong focus on whether or not a person has decided to have faith in the good King or not and an outward indicator of their choice. There are numerous references to the King never abandoning them – “Never alone!” is a phrase the characters repeat multiple times to encourage one another. The book definitely shows a strong focus on love meaning you are willing to give up your life for another.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Matthew 7:7-8 – "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.