In THE SAINT OF BRIGHT DOORS, Fetter is raised to kill. His world is full of cults, devils, anti-gods, and secrets, and his mother has trained him to cut down his sainted father who abandoned them. When his mother deems him ready to take on his mission, Fetter escapes into the world and leaves his mother and destiny behind. He makes a new home for himself in Luriat, a city known for its Bright Doors. The doors are tied to the novel’s central mystery, and as Fetter learns the truth about the doors, he learns the truth about his world. 

 

This is an intriguing book that reads like a myth. Vajra Chandrasekera’s beautiful prose contains several layers of mystery and explores themes of destiny, violence, revolutions, divinity and loss. Through Fetter, the author subverts typical fantasy tropes while also following them, especially in regard to being the chosen one. Fetter’s journey is full of strife as he fights against his destiny, and his humanity is on full display as he grapples with his choices. He’s driven by his upbringing but also by his love for his friends and desire for a different world. He’s a messy and broken character living in a broken world, and his struggles and choices feel real. This is an interesting contrast—despite everything Fetter is capable of, he’s vulnerable and shows weakness throughout the novel. Fetter is a deeply human character in a strange and complex fantasy world, and that was my favourite aspect of this story. 

 

I’m still unpacking my feelings about this book and I think I’ll have to reread it before I can fully appreciate it. There are a lot of interesting concepts and moving parts and I’ll be thinking about Fetter for a long time. Chandrasekera’s prose is what kept me hooked and I look forward to reading more from him. This book is out now; my thanks to Tor Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC.