Scan barcode
A review by keysmashhh
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Relationships: 4.5/5
World-Building: 5/5
Genre: 5/5
Plot: I loved the plot, especially the small chapter of exposition at the beginning and the Epilogue at the end - the way it began and ended with Wallace as a human just worked so well. Generally, well-paced - a couple of moments I was a bit meh on (eg. the seance) but generally fun and the plot felt like it was progressively moving forwards.
Characters: The main cast of characters in this book was small but the book worked exactly because of this. The action is focused on Wallace, Hugo, Mei and Nelson with a few other recurring characters. This small cast of characters makes up such an essential part of the dilogy and action. Because of the confines of the book (basically entirely set in the tea shop) - it speaks to the characters' strengths that I didn't find myself getting bored at any of the action. I loved Wallace as the main character, sure he's kind of a bad person and even after death he isn't totally redeemed but I liked him. He was never outright horrible (other than firing that poor woman in Chapter 1) and he had this nice undertone that made him somewhat likeable. Hugo <33 I love him, he deserves the world. He was sweet, kind and generally a good guy (also v. interested in his backstory) Mei was great, I would have loved a little more about her life pre-being a reaper but I loved all of her dialogue. Nelson was a surprising love for me, I'm not usually attached to the older mentor figure character type but I got overwhelmingly emotional when he passed on through to the other side, I was so happy he had a good ending. Cameron was another character that I really felt for, his backstory combined with the empathy Wallace showed was probably my favourite chapter.
Relationships: So of course Hugo and Wallace is the main one to talk about. Beautiful, lovely, amazing. However... the slow burn was SO slow. Like I understand why Wallace was a ghost, they literally couldn't touch let alone kiss but I felt like I was waiting for SO long and I didn't feel fully content with the outcome. Like I need a whole other book that's just them being happy and living together. All of the friendships were super pure as well, a small detail I loved was all the women of the town falling in love with Hugo haha, something about his hands.
World-Building: <333333333 I can't with this book, the world-building, the lore, the myth. AMAZING. All the little intricacies about the way the reaper system and ferryman system work were so cool. My absololte love of this book comes from the fact that so much is left unexplained. Hugo is the first to admit that he has no idea how it all works and I love that, leaving purposeful gaps in the lore made it that much more interesting. And made the Manager seem a lot more powerful because seemingly he had the knowledge.
Genre: This is the perfect type of fantasy for me. Fantasy elements combined with "normal" characters. Similar to The House in the Cerulean Sea I loved how it was recognisably fantasy but didn't feel brain-bending out of place.
Characters: 4.5/5
Relationships: 4.5/5
World-Building: 5/5
Genre: 5/5
Plot: I loved the plot, especially the small chapter of exposition at the beginning and the Epilogue at the end - the way it began and ended with Wallace as a human just worked so well. Generally, well-paced - a couple of moments I was a bit meh on (eg. the seance) but generally fun and the plot felt like it was progressively moving forwards.
Characters: The main cast of characters in this book was small but the book worked exactly because of this. The action is focused on Wallace, Hugo, Mei and Nelson with a few other recurring characters. This small cast of characters makes up such an essential part of the dilogy and action. Because of the confines of the book (basically entirely set in the tea shop) - it speaks to the characters' strengths that I didn't find myself getting bored at any of the action. I loved Wallace as the main character, sure he's kind of a bad person and even after death he isn't totally redeemed but I liked him. He was never outright horrible (other than firing that poor woman in Chapter 1) and he had this nice undertone that made him somewhat likeable. Hugo <33 I love him, he deserves the world. He was sweet, kind and generally a good guy (also v. interested in his backstory) Mei was great, I would have loved a little more about her life pre-being a reaper but I loved all of her dialogue. Nelson was a surprising love for me, I'm not usually attached to the older mentor figure character type but I got overwhelmingly emotional when he passed on through to the other side, I was so happy he had a good ending. Cameron was another character that I really felt for, his backstory combined with the empathy Wallace showed was probably my favourite chapter.
Relationships: So of course Hugo and Wallace is the main one to talk about. Beautiful, lovely, amazing. However... the slow burn was SO slow. Like I understand why Wallace was a ghost, they literally couldn't touch let alone kiss but I felt like I was waiting for SO long and I didn't feel fully content with the outcome. Like I need a whole other book that's just them being happy and living together. All of the friendships were super pure as well, a small detail I loved was all the women of the town falling in love with Hugo haha, something about his hands.
World-Building: <333333333 I can't with this book, the world-building, the lore, the myth. AMAZING. All the little intricacies about the way the reaper system and ferryman system work were so cool. My absololte love of this book comes from the fact that so much is left unexplained. Hugo is the first to admit that he has no idea how it all works and I love that, leaving purposeful gaps in the lore made it that much more interesting. And made the Manager seem a lot more powerful because seemingly he had the knowledge.
Genre: This is the perfect type of fantasy for me. Fantasy elements combined with "normal" characters. Similar to The House in the Cerulean Sea I loved how it was recognisably fantasy but didn't feel brain-bending out of place.