Beyond the Aching Door

Reviews

• Laurynn

  Finished February 19, 2025

  ”It is your choice. Know that I will follow you to the ends of the Earth,” the King murmured, head tilted as his eyes searched hers. “But we have done this a thousand times, and I never like the ending.” “Is this not beauty?” the King asked, his tone genuine, at least as far as she could tell. “Old roots were cut to the bone here, and yet they reemerge, defiant. Is there anything more beautiful than defiance, than survival? It is the most ancient song and perhaps the sweetest.” “You are my deepest wound,” Oberon murmured, his eyes searching hers. “And yet I cannot live without the taste of blood in my mouth.” “Instead of your sorrow,” the King continued, his gaze boring into hers, “no matter how righteous it may be, I want something else from you. I want your rage.” 💭 My thoughts Why yes I am using several quotes from this book because there are so many good ones. Does a story ever resonate so deeply in your soul that it changes you? It's rare for me to read something that touches me and yet this story did that and more. It's been on my TBR for awhile; something about the colors and the title called to me honestly, it felt special. I’m so glad that it lived up to my expectations and more. While I teared up a few times and didn't outright sob, the longing and the sorrow I felt for the characters hit a deeper, more internal emotion. Victoria's writing is quite mesmerizing, leaving you in a trance quite similar to our FMC. There is nothing spectacular about Raegan, she doesn't have infinite powers, or incredible fighting skills. She is simply a mortal, living in modern times, and yet something deep within is calling to her. She can't quite figure out if it's her grief, depression, anxiety, or maybe something else entirely. But she feels wholly and vividly. The journey you take with her is spectacular on its own. The King, so expected in a story like this and yet so unexpected at the time. If a sword could be a living thing, it would be The King. He’s not a being with a lot to say but you will be hanging on to his every word when he does and it might just cut you. The intelligence and sorrow he invokes with his scarce words makes you feel the gravity of his long existence. I love him and Raegan so much. Alongside the amazing characters, I love Victoria's ability to write in vivid detail the setting in this story. I love when a setting comes to life in my mind and I feel as if I can taste, smell, feel what the characters are experiencing. Truly amazing. The ending was perfectly mysterious and heart-wrenching that I must and will continue this series! I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a slow-burn romance filled with longing and ache and can appreciate an urban setting with heavy folklore. ⚠️ Trigger warnings - Graphic: Mental illness, Confinement, Death - Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, War - Minor: Medical content [Follow my Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/inkstainedemotions?igsh=aTh6eTZ6dGwxMXpy&utm_source=qr)

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• Gracie

  Finished March 1, 2025

  This book was so good! I loved it so much and the world building was amazing. It really made you visualize what the world looked like. You also could really feel Raegan’s emotions. It was incredible. I also really enjoyed the layers to the story, and trying to figure everything out along side Raegan. Who I also loved, the sass, rage, it all felt so real. The ending killed me and I think I’m definitely going to have to read the second book soon! I also loved the bisexual representation and the chronic pain representation. It is nice to see in a story, and see two very strong people dealing with this as well as everything else going on.

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• Acadia

  Started February 18, 2025 · Finished February 28, 2025

  Awesome debut from an indi author. I highlighted a lot of lines in this. The writing was so whimsy and beautiful. I really enjoyed reading it. “She was utterly alone with the weight of otherworldliness on her shoulders.” One of my favorite shows and series is The Magicians, and as I was reading this I kept seeing little hints here and there like easter eggs for that series and I was like wait a minute, is this coincidence or… lol but I realized when I got to the very end the author note mentioned Lev Grossman being one of their favorites and it all clicked together. I loved the MCs and the push and pull of them, the king was very true to his character how he took care in his word choice and how he approached each task at hand, considering all the wisdom his long life had afforded him, while also maintaining this sadness that he has had to relive again and again. The FMC was every bit a mortal throughout this starting in the mundane day to day and unraveling into more later in the book. I do really hope now that shes unlocked some things her character reflects that as well, I felt near the end she was still quite angry and theres a quote that as soon as I thought it someone else in the book mentioned that girl should have her emotions mastered at this point and I was like YES haha Looking forward to book 2 of these.

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