Beyond the Black Door

Gr 9 Up–Kamai is a soulwalker who visits other people’s souls while they are sleeping. Kamai never knows what she will discover but some souls are simple while others are dark and mysterious. Kamai’s mother, also a soulwalker, is a Pleasure Artist who sleeps with both men and women. Her intimacy with others allows her to know their secrets and sell them to the Twilight Guild, which uses the information to better society. While Kamai is mentored by her mother as a soulwalker, she is warned to never enter the black door, which is always present regardless of which soul Kamai visits. When her mother is murdered, Kamai is lured by the black door and after entering, she finds Vehyn, who is half human. As Kamai learns more about Vehyn, an unexpected twist takes readers deeper into the mind of the main character. While the romance that develops is dark and Beauty and the Beast–like, Kamai begins to come to terms with her asexuality. Other characters also come to terms with their identity and one is transgender. The author has done an outstanding job of helping readers fully understand how these characters feel, delivering a thoughtful explanation without preaching. Kamai is a well-developed heroine who uses her wits and readers will want her to succeed.