Gates of Hope is the first book in a new fantasy series by J. E. Hannaford, who also wrote the Black Hind’s Wake series. Both series so far are very unique in their own way.
This time we don’t just get one whole new world to explore, but multiple new worlds! The worlds are connected only by portals and dragons—which creates something of a travel issue. However, in her creatures as with her plots, Hannaford may tempt us with a familiar theme, in this case dragons, but quickly diversify into radically different worlds, species, and magic systems.
I fell in love with the worldbuilding straight away. Hannaford brings her science background to bear in creating a world that is inventive, uncanny, and yet totally convincing. The worlds, their flora, fauna, and overall imaginativeness are a major strength of the book. I adored learning about the plants, herbs, and animals while accompanying the protagonists on some good old fashioned fantasy travelling. It all was so smooth and deeply immersive that I felt I had really walked into the pages and completely left the real world.
I particularly liked the way the author handles the issue of communication with animal companions. We humans are creatures of language—we use words to shape our thoughts and instructions without even noticing it. But an animal’s vocabulary is limited to the point of non-existent, and so Hannaford addresses this dilemma with communication conveyed through images and pictures.
The plot has some classic fantasy elements, for example a young adult applying for a simple guard position, only to discover some new powers. He is a rather special example as well, though in the good way? That familiarity gave me enough time to really settle into the story comfortably. However, things quickly get more mysterious and complex as characters leave for some startling and rather traumatic journeys. Events then start to unfold at a rapidly increasing pace.
The book balances moments of darkness with flashes of humour, as well as giving a good mix of action packed incidents and quieter, more reflective and insightful moments. That variation in pace and tone makes for a rich and textured reading experience. We are given several very distinct points of view characters to follow, and—while I loved all of them—there was a delightful freshness each time I got to dive into a new character’s perspective. Hannaford’s enthralling structure of her story kept me glued to the pages at all times!
Gates of Hope features a variety of societies and species, and inevitably, there is a degree to which some people get othered or oppressed. This fantasy world is not a social utopia, it shares the same kind of problems and issues we see in contemporary society, but as ever, fantasy gives us a fresh angle on old problems, while making the world feel deep and real. Especially as we see how differently things are handled in different parts of the world(s)!
I found it hard to pick a favourite character as they were all so well written, and even the annoying ones were recognizably so. If you have seen The Last of Us you will know how very irritating and opinionated fictional (and real) teenagers can be and Hannaford gives us another example of a character we cannot help but empathise with even as we wish she would just grow up!
The multiple point of view characters are all the protagonists in their own stories. While very different from each other, they have goals, agency, and their own agendas and I easily clicked with all of them. Hannaford doesn’t rely on any contrived romance to drive the characters or the story forward, we have elements of budding friendships, and found family but ultimately the characters are forced to rely on each other and that’s what binds them and the story together.
Hannaford breathes life into her characters with some fine prose and eye-catching descriptions.
There is the young man who has led a pretty sheltered life but learns there’s so much more out there than he ever knew. I enjoyed watching him shed that initial naivete as he started to find his feet.
The land was dotted with fallen debris, some old and moss covered while others had not been free of the cliffs long enough for their angry, angular edges to have softened.
There is the woman who is an outcast from her own society, who themselves are all forced into a hard and unforgiving life by the whims of another species. Trust is hard to come by, when you spend your whole life hiding, and afraid.
Elissa’s scars shone various shades of red through to silver—a map of her life, of the sharpness of life in Dragonsbreath.
And there is the girl who thought she was going on an adventure but finds en route a life shattering danger whose consequences will dictate her future—and we all know how teenagers hate to be dictated to!
If I couldn’t see this, what else in these tunnels has been hidden in plain sight?
But of course, there is a final personal favourite of mine—the furry companion! You can see Star on the cover, and I just adore this ball of enthusiasm and canine weirdness.
Star cleared the small fence with ease and knocked his feet out from under him, enveloping Darin in a happy, wagging sensation.
While the end of Gates of Hope has a fitting ending, it definitely sets up even higher stakes and more action, peril and friendships in the sequel! I was left satisfied, but definitely wanting more, and can’t wait to read the next instalment!
Gates of Hope is out now! You can learn more about it and her other works on her website and follow her on Twitter and Facebook!
Editor’s Note: The author lost all of her pre-order sales because of an issue on Amazon. If you are interested in this book at all, it would be a big help to the author if you purchased it this week. Happy Reading!
Jennie Ivins