A Door in the Dark (Waxways #1)

A Door in the Dark (Waxways #1) by Scott Reintgen (Scholastic) RRP: $22.99 ISBN 9781761642210

Reviewed by Rebecca Fung

A Door in the Dark is the first in the Waxways series. It's a series set in a magic school - will that theme ever get old? It opens strongly with a scene where a group of students realise that there's one dead among them - and one of them must have done the deed. But who was it?

This opening sounds a bit like a whodunnit, but that's not what A Door in the Dark is at all. It's a dark fantasy, a survival quest of self-growth with a splash of romance. After this opening, we go back to the magic school before the events in the opening scene. We find out about the main characters and how they relate.

The protagonist is Ren, and she's a super-smart heroine. She's unfortunately not very likable but if you admire heroines who are extremely skillful over those who are thoughtful, charismatic or kind, Ren is the character you'll enjoy. Ren does have friends and there are attempts at showing she feels for them but she can be extremely callous.

Ren's braininess is an opportunity for the author to show off the well-thought- out magic system. At times it can feel like every step is over-explained, but the detail in the system is amazing.

The prose is smooth and easy enough to read. We build the "before the opening" story and reach the exciting prologue incident - which is then repeated, word-for-word. This is another example where the book has explained just a little too much for its readers.

While this is a magic schoolbook, we don't spend much time in the magic school. The story is about six students who are dragged out into the middle of nowhere and after there is the death, they spend most of the book figuring out how to get back. Ren, Avy, Timmons, Cora, Clyde and Theo. While their characters are distinct, none is as well-developed as Ren. A great deal of the story is predictable for those who've read fantasy, quests or dark books. However, if you are more interested in how the journey progresses rather than what each step is, that won't matter.

There are deaths, there is romance, there is use of magic. It's the magic system that keeps us hooked more so than the characters. The characters explore dark themes and even the romance doesn't lift the mood. Throughout, there's a feeling of emptiness and tragedy in everyone's souls. It's an eerie book that matches the haunting cover.

The book has a solid ending with a promise of more magic to come.